Most Prolific Artists of the Decade: #41-50

Our latest list-- the Most Prolific Artists of the Decade-- looks to chronicle the most important (for better or for worse) artists of the decade. For one reason or another, be it their positive (or negative) cultural significance, landmark moments for music, staying power or otherwise, these artists mattered a great deal this decade.

In no way is this a list of our favorites of the decade. On the contrary, many of our favorites are not present, while others whom we're actually not fans of, have made the list. So without further ado, check out our the first part of our Most Prolific Artists list below. Next to each artist's name, you'll see a basic numeric list of all primary recordings this decade. For many of these, their impact should probably be self-explanatory. Enjoy, and if you haven't yet read our list of the Best Songs of 2009, or Best Albums of the Decade, read up on those too.

50. Nick Thorburn -- The Unicorns (1 LP/1 EP), Islands (3 LPs), Th' Corn Gangg (live band), Reefer (1 LP), Human Highway (1 LP)

49. of Montreal -- 6 LPs (most recent: 2008's Skeletal Lamping)/2 EPs

48. The Strokes -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2006's First Impressions of Earth)/1 EP

47. Sigur Rós -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2008's Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust)/2 EPs

46. The Killers -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2008's Day & Age)

45. Arctic Monkeys -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2009's Humbug)/2 EPs

44. Lady Gaga -- 2 LPs (most recent: 2009's The Fame Monster)/1 EP

43. The Black Eyed Peas -- 4 LPs (most recent: 2009's The E.N.D.)/4 EPs

42. Chris Brown -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2009's Graffiti)

41. Rihanna -- 4 LPs (most recent: 2009's Rated R)

Best Albums of the Decade: #21-30

We've reached the midway point of our countdown to the best album of the decade, and with that, the increasing possibility that your favorite record was, indeed, left off of our list. Still, don't feel too offended. There's enough albums on this list to fit just about anyone's tastes, so I'm sure you'll find something to your liking. Check out #21-30 below. All album streams are via Lala.com.

30. Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?, The Unicorns (2003)

29. Terrorhawk, Bear vs. Shark (2005)

28. The Blueprint, Jay-Z (2001)

27. Sung Tongs, Animal Collective (2004)

26. You're A Woman, I'm A Machine, Death From Above 1979 (2004)

25. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon (2007)

24. Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, Bright Eyes (2005)

23. Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, of Montreal (2007)

22. Paper Trail, T.I. (2008)

21. Graduation, Kanye West (2007)

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Albums of the Decade: #31-40]

Weekly Top 10: "Ghost" Songs

In light of Halloween coming up this weekend, we decided to make our Weekly Top 10 reflect the holiday. Below is a collection of our favorite songs involving ghosts. You'll notice that the word "ghost" is contained in the title of all of them. So enjoy the tracks. Hopefully your Halloween is both a successful and safe one.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Album Closers]

Music Video Monday: "Jellybones"

Song: Jellybones

Artist: The Unicorns

Album: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?

Year: 2003

There's always been something infinitely entertaining about anything Nick Thorburn touches. From the intrepid Unicorns of the early 00s, to Islands, Human Highway and Th' Corn Gangg today, his projects never lack personality and a humorous charm. With that touch of humor though, there's the inevitable underlying intelligence. As goofy as The Unicorns sounded in their day, you knew that below all of the fuzzy synths and other strange instrumentation was a true vision of death, as the band saw it. Nearly everything Thorburn's been involved in has involved the theme of death- whether it be fearing it, accepting it, dealing with it or being obsessed with it- the man has nearly mastered the undercurrent of the afterlife. Though this song fails to deal with it a ton, the video nevertheless gets involved with death on a personal level.

Of all of the tracks on Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone, "Jellybones" is definitely one of the most poppy and fun. With that and the band's personality in mind, it's no surprise when they begin to play the track live on top of tables in a pizza parlor. The band, dressed in pink, proceeds to play, eventually donning glow-in-the-dark masks alluding to ancient native Central Americans, before the (un)expected, hilarious passing of one of the members mid-show. They lay their comrade to rest in traditional ancient burial, black x's on his eyes, then proceed to go out and drink away their sorrow(?) A seemingly fitting end for a song by this band... I suppose. Give it a look below.