exploremusic

Some people are calling this a confusing decade for music, but there have certainly been trends and there are artists that deserve recognition for being outstanding and/or representative of the time in some way.

1. Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails

The last NIN record to come out in the 90s was the staggering double-album The Fragile, and the follow-up wouldn’t come until 2005.

With Teeth was a document of Reznor’s addictions, which he had recently recovered (become recovering?) from. He had been away for a while, and his musical return involved laying it all out there for everyone to see.

Then came Year Zero in 2007. Instead of writing songs to express his feelings on US politics, Reznor created a concept album envisioning the Dystopian society that might result if things continue (well, I’ll say hopefully, what might have resulted if things had continued) the way they were going. Oh, and there was an elaborate alternate reality game that led up to the album’s release. It involved USB drives left in washrooms at NIN shows, decoded phrases leading to websites, tracks discovered online, cell phone messages, and one or two actual meetings.

Getting the fans involved in another way, the music was put up online to be remixed, and some submissions ended up on the Year Zero Remixed album.

Now, Trent’s never seemed thrilled about being on a record label, so when NIN became independent, he released a 36-track, instrumental album, Ghosts I-IV, in a variety of formats. The options ranged from a free download of part of the album to a $300 Ultra Deluxe Limited Edition set. There was no advertising or promotion, but the Ultra Deluxe sets sold out very quickly.

Next up was The Slip, which was made available for free download in its entirety. A limited run of CDs was produced for those that needed a physical product, but there was far from any pressure to pay to hear the music.

Note that back in 2006, Trent convinced Saul Williams to put up his new album for free download with the option of buying a higher quality version (Trent co-produced the album).

Trent’s always done what he wants to do within his power. Here’s another example: when he wasn’t satisfied with NIN’s final shows being part of the NINJA tour, he announced more shows to take place in three cities. No matter what he does from here, Trent Reznor is a worthy inspiration musically and otherwise. In 1997, Spin magazine called him “the most vital artist in music,” and I think that description still applies.

2. Radiohead

Kid A must have been a shock to some when it came out in 2000. Here was a rock band doing more than just messing around with electronic elements … here was a rock band releasing an electronic album.

Many who gave it a chance ended up liking it, though, and those who really listened realized that it was still Radiohead.

Two albums later, the band started to bring the guitars back in with Hail to the Thief, and after that came In Rainbows…

Whether or not it was the first time such a thing had been done, and whether it was the band’s idea or someone else’s, the “Pay what you want” scheme for the album got people thinking about the value of music and a whole lot more. The fact that the physical edition, released after the album had been available for free download (if you chose) for a little while, sold quite well made a point about how much some fans value physical products and how trust and acts of good faith work between artists and fans.

3. Jack White

While The Strokes may have sparked the garage rock revival of the 2000s, Jack White delivered on its promise and then some. Along with drummer Meg, Jack, whose guitar playing and vocals include both back to basics rock qualities and artsy quirkiness, entered the mainstream consciousness with the 2001 release of White Blood Cells by The White Stripes. The follow-up, 2003’s Elephant, proved that the duo could keep the hits coming, but they weren’t going to just repeat themselves with every album.

What has Jack done outside of TWS? Well, he’s a member of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, and he founded an ambitious little label called Third Man Records. He’s also produced an album for Loretta Lynn, had a couple of acting roles, has collaborated with Alicia Keys, has made an appearance with The Rolling Stones, and … he’s done a lot, and each thing he’s done has shown a different side of him.

4. Josh Homme

This guy is a real rock star.

As the only constant member of Queens Of The Stone Age, Josh has established his style, which involves robotic riffs, sometimes ghostly vocals, and an attitude that can best be described as “an attitude.”

QOTSA first blew up with 2000’s Rated R and 2002’s Songs for the Deaf, and the styles/influences present included hard rock, psychedelic rock, alternative and stoner rock/metal (which Josh had developed in the 90s as a member of Kyuss).

Josh occasionally takes a seat behind the kit in the garage rock band Eagles of Death Metal, and Them Crooked Vultures, a project that made its debut in 2009, finds Homme in the familiar role of guitarist/vocalist, and it unites him with former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and reunites him with Dave Grohl, who drummed on Songs for the Deaf.

5. Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl’s post-Nirvana band, Foo Fighters, introduced the drummer as a more than competent guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter in the 90s, but this decade established the fact that FF are an enduring force, with hit album after hit album, giant tours, and a greatest hits collection in 2009.

Also, Grohl’s performances on Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf, Them Crooked Vultures’ first album and tour, Tenacious D’s debut album, Killing Joke’s 2003 self-titled album, Nine Inch Nails’ With Teeth, and a couple of tracks from The Prodigy’s latest album, show that he’s still one of the best rock drummers around.

Oh, and we can’t forget about his metal side project Probot.

The Foos are one of the most consistent modern rock bands around, and Dave Grohl is one of the most likeable rock stars out there.

6. Coldplay

When a band is not just good but something really special, you know it when you hear it.

Coldplay’s debut album, Parachutes, came out in 2000 and displayed their trademarks (piano, falsetto, etc.) and that hard to place ingredient that made songs like “Yellow” such ubiquitous hits.

They released three more albums this decade, expanding their influences with each one and deserving the spots on stadium stages more and more.

Coldplay’s most recent album, the Brian Eno-produced Viva La Vida, is about as polished as an alternative rock album can sound.

7. Jason Mraz

He’s famous now, and he got there in the right way.

Jason Mraz played shows and developed into an incredibly engaging performer over time. He gathered a following as his first two albums—2002’s Waiting for My Rocket to Come and 2005’s Mr. A–Z—did well but never quite exploded commercially.

Then, in 2008, the single “I’m Yours” came out before the album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, and the world caught on.

If you don’t like what you’ve heard of his studio material, check out anything live/acoustic that he’s done.

8. Danger Mouse

I think Brian Burton is the producer of the decade. It sounds like he works by getting artists to fit into his vision of what they can do.

His genre-spanning (selected) discography includes Gorillaz’ Demon Days, The Black Keys’ Attack & Release, Martina Topley-Bird’s The Blue God, Beck’s Modern Guilt, and DANGERDOOM’s The Mouse and the Mask.

He’s also one half of Gnarls Barkley, whose first album, St. Elsewhere, yielded the smash hit “Crazy…” one of those rare songs that everybody likes.

9. The Blood Brothers/At the Drive-In

It’s a tie.

You could use terms like post-hardcore, art punk, and screamo to describe The Blood Brothers’ sound, but they were just off in their own world. Frantic, energetic bordering on spastic, and unpredictable.

Jordan Bliley’s vocals provided a normal counterpoint to Johnny Whitney’s unusual vocals, Their lyrical subject matter was often baffling, often disturbing, and every part of every song fit. A vital, unique band whose members have gone on to form some interesting projects.

If you switch the names, the above paragraph can also apply to At the Drive-In, the band that might have reached Nirvana’s status in another dimension.

ATDI’s final album, Relationship of Command, is the only one that came out this decade, and it’s one of the most interesting and inspiring punk albums you can find. As they were headed towards commercial success, they broke up, but that hasn’t had an effect on their legacy.

10. The Mars Volta

When At the Drive-In broke up, vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez formed a band where they could indulge their more progressive inclinations. TMV’s output has been pretty polarizing.

Each of the band’s albums holds distinct characteristics, but experimentation, at least somewhat ambiguous lyrics, and impressive musicianship are three things you can expect to find on every TMV release.

For the albums, Omar has stepped into the role of producer/director, and I believe he also writes every detail of every song. If you can handle The Mars Volta, then look up stuff he’s put out under his own name.