Best Albums of the Decade: #41-50

As mentioned earlier, we're going to be running different features throughout the month, in conjunction with our day-by-day countdown to the 30 best albums of 2009. This week's list is dedicated to the decade in music, specifically the top 50 albums of the past ten years. So for those who missed our top 50 tracks of 2009, read about it all here. And for everyone that's been paying attention to music this decade, read below. All album streams courtesy of Lala.

50. Parachutes, Coldplay (2000)

49. Welcome to the Night Sky, Wintersleep (2008)

48. Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins (2003)

47. Transatlanticism, Death Cab for Cutie (2003)

46. The Mouse and the Mask, Danger Doom (2006)

45. Antics, Interpol (2004)

44. Give Up, The Postal Service (2004)

43. Is This It, The Strokes (2001)

42. Elephant, The White Stripes (2003)

41. Discovery, Daft Punk (2002)

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Songs of 2009: #1-10]

Weekly Top 10: Songs Without Choruses

The days of the one size fits all, hook-heavy, verse/chorus/verse formula are long gone. These days, songs come in many shapes and sizes, and although we have nothing wrong with a good catchy chorus, this week's Top 10 highlights our favorite songs that do without. These tunes make it on their own merits, without the help of a memorable rallying point. They stand out for their unique structures and varying styles. Check them out below.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Songs About New York]

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]

Weekly Top 10: Album Closers

Nothing seems to make, or ruin, a great album like the last song. Something otherwise great can be sullied in your eyes (ears) if that final glimpse leaves much to be desired, and something a little above average can gain a much higher evaluation solely off of that last collection of notes. Here, we list our favorites of the ladder category-- our favorite album closers. Though Imeem does not have one of my top picks, Grizzly Bear's "Foreground," I'll forgive them for the most part, as the rest of the list is pretty solid. Enjoy below.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Songs Featured on How I Met Your Mother]

Weekly Top 10: Songs Under Two Minutes Long

Another playlist this week, however it's of the shorter variety-- Our favorite songs that clock in at under two minutes. Unfortunately, we were unable to include some of our favorite selections from The Beatles, The Olivia Tremor Control and Animal Collective, but we still made due with what we had. Enjoy the list below. It shouldn't take long.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Songs About Baseball]

Video Monday: "Oblivion"

Track: Oblivion

Artist: Wintersleep

Album: Welcome to the Night Sky

Year: 2007

Another Monday, another video.  This week's feature is Wintersleep's "Oblivion", from their 2007 release, Welcome to the Night Sky.  I was first introduced to these guys when I saw them open for Wolf Parade, last summer in New York, and being that we haven't spoken about them yet, I felt this would be a good time.  They are truly, one of the most underrated bands around.

The meaning of the song itself is hard to grasp.  The lyrics read like a list of unrelated observations, made by an ADHD-stricken, chronic channel changer who's been watching the TV on mute.  And this is why the video is so fitting.  The shot opens in static, and then begins to rapidly change focus in a room full of screens.  Along with the band, the monitors are showing what appear to be video clips of cold-war era learning material, news reels, and cartoons.  This further adds to the overwhelming feeling of uneasiness that the song seems to project.  It strikes me as a metaphor for having too much on your mind to really process it all.  A very cool concept.  Check it out below.