Discussion: The Decade Defined
Note: This is not our list of the best music of the decade. The songs listed below appear in the show as part of our discussion on the decade's defining moments and trends. We'll post a multi-genre list of the 50 most important recordings of the decade next week.
Language Advisory: The language in some of the featured songs is not suitable for all ages.
Top row, left to right: Missy Elliott, Taylor Hicks, Eminem; Second row: Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Regina Spektor; Bottom row: Cover for Danger Mouse's The Grey Album, Sufjan Stevens.
It's hard to believe, but the first decade of the new millennium is rapidly drawing to a close — and it's been a remarkable one for music. AllSongs Considered, which launched on Jan. 1, 2000, has had a front-row seat for all the amazing artists, albums and songs released in the past 10 years, from the klezmer music of Kaila Flexer (featured on our first episode) to the noise-rock of the New Zealand band The Dead C (featured last week).
In this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen looks back at some of the defining trends, sounds and historic moments that made the '00s stand out, in a roundtable discussion with Monitor Mix blogger Carrie Brownstein, All Songs Considered producer Robin Hilton and NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson.
A Timeline of the Decade in Music
Nominate the decade's most important recordings.
Complete coverage of the decade in music.
Subscribe to the Second Stage podcast to automatically download each song to your computer.
Submit your music for possible inclusion in Second Stage or All Songs Considered.
Discussion: The Decade Defined
Eminem
- Album: Marshall Mathers LP
- Song: Stan
Purchase Featured Music
- "Stan"
- Album: Marshall Mathers LP
- Artist: Eminem
- Label: Interscope
- Released: 2000
The Equals
- Album: Greatest Hits
- Song: Hold Me Closer
Purchase Featured Music
- "Hold Me Closer"
- Album: Greatest Hits
- Artist: The Equals
- Label: Koch
- Released: 1974
The Postal Service
- Album: Give Up
- Song: The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
Purchase Featured Music
- "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight"
- Album: Give Up
- Artist: The Postal Service
- Label: Sub Pop
- Released: 2009
Randy Newman
- Album: The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1
- Song: Political Science
Purchase Featured Music
- "Political Science"
- Album: The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1
- Artist: Randy Newman
- Label: Nonesuch
- Released: 2009
Minutemen
- Album: Double Nickels on the Dime
- Song: Theatre Is the Life of You
Purchase Featured Music
- "Theatre Is the Life of You"
- Album: Double Nickels on the Dime
- Artist: Minutemen
- Label: SST
- Released: 2009
The Avalanches
- Album: Since I Left You
- Song: Frontier Psychiatrist
Purchase Featured Music
- "Frontier Psychiatrist"
- Album: Since I Left You
- Artist: The Avalanches
- Label: Decca
- Released: 2000
Animal Collective
- Album: Strawberry Jam
- Song: Peacebone
Purchase Featured Music
- "Peacebone"
- Album: Strawberry Jam
- Artist: Animal Collective
- Label: Domino
- Released: 2007
Harry McClintock
- Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- Song: Big Rock Candy Mountain
Purchase Featured Music
- "Big Rock Candy Mountain"
- Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- Artist: Harry McClintock
- Label: Universal
- Released: 2007
Taylor Hicks
- Album: Do I Make You Proud/Takin' It to the Streets
- Song: Do I Make You Proud
Purchase Featured Music
- "Do I Make You Proud"
- Album: Do I Make You Proud/Takin' It to the Streets
- Artist: Taylor Hicks
- Label: RCA
- Released: 2006
Danger Mouse
- Album: Grey Album
- Song: 99 Problems
This album was never officially released and is not available for purchase.
Wilco
- Album: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- Song: I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Purchase Featured Music
- "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart"
- Album: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- Artist: Wilco
- Label: Nonesuch
- Released: 2009
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- Album: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- Song: Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood
Purchase Featured Music
- "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood"
- Album: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- Artist: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- Label: Wichita Recordings
- Released: 2005
Sufjan Stevens
- Album: Illinoise
- Song: Casimir Pulaski Day
Purchase Featured Music
- "Casimir Pulaski Day"
- Album: Illinoise
- Artist: Sufjan Stevens
- Label: Asthmatic Kitty
- Released: 2009
The Rapture
- Album: Echoes
- Song: House of Jealous Lovers
Purchase Featured Music
- "House of Jealous Lovers"
- Album: Echoes
- Artist: The Rapture
- Label: Strummer/Universal
- Released: 2003
Dirty Vegas
- Album: Dirty Vegas
- Song: Days Go By
Purchase Featured Music
- "Days Go By"
- Album: Dirty Vegas
- Artist: Dirty Vegas
- Label: Capitol
- Released: 2002
Arcade Fire
- Album: Funeral
- Song: Rebellion (Lies)
Purchase Featured Music
- "Rebellion (Lies)"
- Album: Funeral
- Artist: Arcade Fire
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2008
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