And I'll be getting to Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound) eventually, but for now...



 

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Right from the get-go, Radiohead was establishing the mood for the decade with these twin releases, recorded simulataneously and released about 6 or 7 months of each other.  (The recent Kid A Mnesia collects both albums on vinyl with bonus tracks.)

Oh, the Strokes and The Stripes.  In 2001, these bands seem to have kicked off a retro guitar garage band renaissance.  There are several adequate condidates that followed in their wake - The Kills, The Hives, The Datsuns, The Mooney Suzukis, and definitely last and probably least The Black Keys.  But for awhile they had their moment.  The Stripes' follow-up Elephant may be more popular and the preferred choice for many.  The Strokes, though, kind of flamed out pretty quick.  Some of their best songs were cut, like their beloved cocaine, out onto future albums, probably in the foresight that their material might start to get thin eventually.  These were the same dipshit executives who decided to replace the classic cover above with an ugly fractal and axe the song "New York City Cops" after 9/11 (both because of America!), but had tracks like "Under Control" and "You Only Live Once", which were already written and ready to go with their first album, had gotten proper release here, substituting a couple of the weaker tracks, then this could truly be called the greatest rock album of the 21st century.  As it is, it's merely great.

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