100 Best Albums of the Decade: 60-51

60: Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)

Modest Mouse went from an underground sensation to a semi-recognizable fluke on this album - I mean that in the best possible way. Sure "Float On" was a surprise hit that brought the band mainstream attention for a brief moment, but that doesn't mean you should judge Good News as a some kind of novelty gag. This was Isaac Brock's coming out party for the rest of the world. He went from an indie icon to a bemoaning tattooed freak of nature with a sensitive side buried under plenty of weirdness to keep the listener engaged. Top Tunes: (Ocean Breathes Salty,Float On, The Good Times Are Killing Me)

59: TV On The Radio - Dear Science (2008)

This colorful group of Brooklyn-ites came out of left field with Dear Science which was named the best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone. I must admit when I first gave this album a whirl I wasn't taken aback. I found the whole thing entirely over rated. But since I'm such a nice guy I decided to give these experimental rockers another spin. Good thing I did. This record is a bright, vibrant trip through indie-funk land that makes everyone who wears skinny jeans get up and move. Top Tunes: (Lover's Day, Halfway Home, Family Tree)

58: Muse - Black Holes And Revelations (2006)

Muse die hards think this band is the last great hope for the redemption of rock, but this just in - THEY AREN'T. Having said that, they are one of the more technically savvy bands who find a way to balance prog arrangements and electronic influences along with straight forward "rawk" as well as enough pop shimmer to make it memorable. Radiohead meets a much tamer version of Dream Theater with haircuts. Top Tunes: (Take A Bow, Starlight, Invincible)

57: Bob Dylan - Modern Times (2006)

Bob Dylan embodies the wanderer he's always portrayed himself as perfectly on this album full of shot gun songs and whiskey tunes. There's "Thunder On The Mountain" and "Spirit On The Water" in the world that Dylan inhabits and you never know if it's a good thing or something to dread. All you know is that age can't tame this master poet from doing what he does best. Save for the reference to Alica Keys, every track belongs in depression era Appalachia. Perfect for a rainy day. Top Tunes: (Thunder On The Mountain, Spirit On The Water, The Levee's Gonna Break)

56: Coldplay - Parachutes (2000)

Before Coldplay started filling up stadiums across the globe they were just a small band with nothing to prove and nothing to lose. Parachutes has the pleasure of being a subtle and relaxing album with nothing forced upon it (cough X&Y). Chris Martin had yet to meet Gwenyth Paltrow and yet to think that his band really was a vehicle to change the face of music or the world (it still isnt' for either option). Yeah the album wouldn't exist if Radiohead or U2 hadn't come first, but at least Coldplay acknowledge that and don't lie to me, you or themselves. Top Tunes: (Don't Panic, Yellow, Trouble)

55: The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely (2008)

The Raconteurs go to the swamp and make an earthier follow up to their solid 2006 debut. While Broken Boy Soldiers was focused on structured songwriting, this record is a series of low key jams based off of fantastic riffs by Jack White paired along with brilliant story telling by Brandon Benson. Throw in some violin or horns when needed and everything falls perfectly into place. Top Tunes: (Old Enough, Many Shades Of Black, Consolers Of The Lonely)

54: Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze (2005)

Josh Homme has always been a melancholy character. However for Lullabies To Paralyze the giant ginger (6' 5" of red-headed awesomeness) goes all out morose. A dark and gloomy song cycle, the album sounds like a lonely soul singing under a glowing street lamp in the stillness of the night to a long lost love who will never return. The darkest moment comes on "Someone's In The Wolf" - a 7 minute epic fairy tale where Little Red Riding Hood gets what coming to her. Stay out of the woods kids. Top Tunes: (Burn The Witch, I Never Came, Long Slow Goodbye)

53: Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001)

This idea could have crashed and burned more than any other of the decade. Damon Albarn of Blur got so sick of seeing Britney and N*Sync shake their asses on MTV he decided to create the ultimate prepackaged pop group - one that didn't even exist. Teaming together with animator Jamie Hewlett and producer Dan The Automator, Gorillaz was released in March of 2001 turning the pop world upside down. But it wasn't the gimmick of the whole thing that made it sell, it was the quality of the music that made people feel like these characters were living breathing rock stars. Top Tunes: (Clint Eastwood, 19-2000, Latin Simone)

52: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)

"I don't want to live in America no more" sings Win Butler of Arcade Fire. Who can blame him? An uneasy economy, pointless wars, delusional politicians and the New England Patriots almost going undefeated is enough to make anyone leave the U.S. for good. Neon Bible is reminiscent of the scene in Beauty And The Beast where Belle shows the towns people The Beast with the magic mirror. Butler plays Belle, we're all the scared towns people and The Beast is every greedy white man in a classy business suit who turns a blind eye to the hell he creates for the rest of us to live in. Top Tunes: (Keep The Car Running, Intervention, My Body Is A Cage)

51: The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (2005)

Take Cheap Trick and add just a pinch of Tori Amos and you have The New Pornographers. Irresistibly catchy and ruthlessly efficient at putting a smile on your face, these rockers were the feel good band of the decade. For all the self loathing and pessimistic world view found in bands like Arcade Fire, TNP showed that you could always rock with a grin from ear to ear... no matter how hard it might be to fool yourself. Top Tunes:(The Bleeding Heart Show, Bones Of An Idol, Twin Cinema)