Fan of The Bends, look away now...
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Continuing with our countdown of the Noughties' 21 best albums, here are the works that were voted into our Top 10 by our writers. A list of the contributors is below. Just so you know who to blame.
 Have you seen numbers 21-11 yet?
10. The National - Boxer (Beggars Banquet, 2008)
Towards the end of the decade the UK woke up to the secret Ohio had been harbouring all along. With their intense live shows that saw Matt Berninger baring his soul to the public,
the band are not necessarily built for comfort or speed.
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9. The Streets - Original Pirate Material (679, 2002)
Opinion remains sharply divided on Mike Skinner. Is he really a visionary artist able to convey everyday sentiments in simple songs? Or is he simply reciting a load of drivel over half arsed beats? The former was most definitely the case on Original Pirate Material, where late night raves, early morning fry ups, too much brandy and not enough of other things were all matters at hand. And to think some people thought this album was a novelty record. Tut.
8. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (DFA/EMI, 2007)
Towards the end of the decade it felt like everything New York's DFA Records touched turned to gold. Or, in the case of label boss James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem, a chrome plated silver. This was a shimmering, affirming album. The follow-up is due in Spring 2010 and we can scarcely wait.
7. The Knife - Silent Shout (Rabid/Brille, 2006)
Karin Dreijer Andersson may have been giving her followers frostbite as Fever Ray in 2009, but her third album with her brother Olof Dreijer has established something like lore since its release in 2006.
6. Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City, 2006)
Newsom's voice is a strange thing indeed. Paired with a harp and a folksy feel, and with orchestration and production assistance from Van Dyke Parks, this was one of the most original releases of the decade.
5. Sigur Rós - ( ) (FatCat, 2003)
One of only two acts to score a double in our Top 21, Sigur Rós's untitled 'brackets' album, comprised of officially untitled songs, would deserve a place for the last of its eight pieces alone, which goes by the unofficial name of Popplagid.
4. Radiohead - In Rainbows (Radiohead.com/XL, 2007)
Enough has been written about this album's innovative 'pay-what-you-like' retail device, but the music is often sublime on the Oxford quintet's latest release.
3. The Strokes - Is This It? (Rough Trade, 2001)
New York again - but by no means were they bringing us down. The Strokes' debut album came with anthems aplenty, soaring to the sky.
2. Radiohead - Kid A (Parlophone, 2000)
Part of a double album released in consecutive years (Amnesiac being the second half), this was the answer to "How the Hell can they follow OK Computer?". Its influence has only grown as the decade drew on.
1. Arcade Fire - Funeral (Rough Trade, 2005)
The raw power of Neighborhood and The Power Out announced the Quebecans as one of the decade's most impressive debutants. Sync deals with mid-decade TV serials and plaudits from artists and critics alike followed; the consensus was, this was a staggering achievement. Listen to it again today and discover that it hasn't dated in the least, remaining a towering achievement in modern music.
musicOMH's albums of the decade were voted on by:
Andrew Burgess, Christian Cottingham, Michael Cragg, Justin de la Cruz, Gemma Hampson, Darren Harvey, Peter Hayward, Ryan Helfand, Tony Heywood, Ben Hogwood, Michael Hubbard, Tim Lee, Jamie Milton, Christopher Monk, John Murphy, Camilla Pia, Ian Roullier, Sam Shepherd, Ben Urdang, David Welsh, Ben Winbolt-Lewis
Check out reviews of the latest and upcoming album releases here.
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