Boston Rock Music Examiner picks the Essential albums of the 00s

Essentially speaking, these are the must have records of the 00s.

There was a ton of great music that came out over the last ten years. Some of if you should know, and there’s some you might not.

But countdowns and “Best of the Decade” lists have become too passé in recent months, so here’s a list of 25 recordings that you need to own from the last decade before moving into the next, in no particular order whatsoever.

The Gaslight Anthem - The ’59 Sound

High energy odes to girls named Maria, sailor tattoos while name checking Elvis and quoting Bruce Springsteen songs made this mix of punk and storytelling one of best records ever to come out of New Jersey.

Muse - Absolution

Mix in Radiohead-style vocals over burgeoning Queen-like theatrics and an endless spate of virtuosity in guitars and piano and the stage was set for the most exciting rock band to come out in years to hit the mainstream worldwide. That feat would be accomplished with the next release, Black Holes and Revelations, but this one packs a much more raw punch.

Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

This was the record that had Dave Grohl put the Foo Fighters on hiatus just so he could get back behind the drum kit and rawk out again. Questionable production aside, which was obviously the point, this is as uncompromising as it gets.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Bite sized bits of hip-swiveling soul and funk are enough to placate even the most jaded listeners because of how smoothly the bursts of rock come through. And there is still no denying the catchy power of "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb.”

The Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle

The first release post-Afghan Whigs for Twilight head Greg Dulli and recorded after the death of his good friend, director Ted Demme, Blackberry Belle was an expression of darkness and despair. Start to finish it’s a ride full of tragedy and lost love with just enough of a pop sheen to mask the lyrical bloodletting.

Green Day - American Idiot 

Snot-nosed punkers grew up and constructed a rock opera that stayed true to its roots while managing to draw in everyone in from disaffected youth to suburban housewives whose kids were out of college.

Feist - Let it Die

Split between Parisian lounge music and jazzy folk, this is music built for chill Sunday afternoons or lonely Saturday nights.

Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights

Guitars move like molten lava across a concrete jungle, eventually turning plucky and then downright frenetic. That’s post-punk in the mold of Joy Division for you, but Interpol made it feel fresh and no less passionate than the first time around.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand

What does an aging golden god do when he wants to leave the 70s bombast behind? Sign up with a bluegrass princess for a long waltz around chestnuts by the Everly Brothers and Mel Tillis that fully deserved its Album of the Year Grammy this year.

The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Wayne Coyne and Co. will always be eccentric to the nth degree, but this airy and melodic exposition of “those evil robots” being battled by our hero Yoshimi is quite possibly the band’s most accessible, if not gloriously beautiful work.

U2 - All That You Can’t Leave Behind

This put the earnest Irish rockers back into the thick of the mainstream appeal, but it never comes off as patronizing or inauthentic. If anything, it’s like the band rebooted itself to boldly press forward for another 10 years.

The Killers - Hot Fuss

Once again, the Brits were ahead of the States in going gaga over this Las Vegas based synth act. Paying respect to Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and New Order brought glam pop back to the charts.

Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll

Part eulogy for guitarist Dennis Danell and part celebration of the shortness of life, this is a coming of age record that has its punk sneer tempered by expert songcraft and brilliant melodies.

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Beats and bass swirl back and forth, often met by quick shots of furious guitar and a pleading set of vocals by Kele Okereke. It rocks, it can be danced to, and it feels smarter than anything else out there.

The White Stripes - Elephant

After this record, there was no point in arguing about the genius of Jack White. Blues conjured up out of thin air, the ubiquitous “Seven Nation Army” and the stark nakedness of just drums and a guitar set this up to be the album of the year before 2003 was even a third over.

Metallica - Death Magnetic

It’s what hard rock fans had been waiting for since the early 90s from Metallica; uncompromisingly heavy, focused and pulverizing metal.

Weezer - The Green Album

Delivering a perfect pop record almost out of nowhere made the five year wait between recordings completely worth it.

Stereophonics - Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

This Welsh trio hit a groove big time on its fifth release with a confident blast of rock and roll that was tailor made for European festivals with anthems like “Devil” and the ultra-catchy “Dakota.” Here in the States, we lucked out when they played intimate venues.

Gorillaz Gorillaz

Part Britpop, part Hip-hop and fronted by cartoon characters designed by Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett, this collaboration between Blur’s Damon Albarn and Dan The Automator is as sonically fun as it is groundbreakingly cool.

The Black Keys - Rubber Factory

It’s like guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney discovered a time machine that took them back to the birth of the Delta blues, making a stop on the way back in the 60s to nick the best of the Kinks.

The National - Boxer

Dark, somber but at times furiously spirited, Boxer defines the term “grower” that only the greatest bands over time manage to produce.

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

Flying dangerously close to an emo vibe before descending into dark piano tones and quiet strummings, it’s the plaintive nature of Transatlanticism and its shades of Elliott Smith with quiet and sparse electric guitars that make for a work of spellbinding loneliness and longing.

The Strokes - Is This It

Unshakable melodies and a bold swagger made this poppy garage rock gem from New York City hipsters one of the true masterpieces to start off the 00s.

Morrissey - You Are the Quarry

Seven years since his last album of full length material brought a reinvigorated king of pain back to the top of his game in 2004. No less full of mope and self-loathing, Mozzer forgives Jesus and asks you to close your eyes when you let him kiss you, lest you see “someone you physically despise.”

The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike

This record turns conventional wisdom on its ear when it comes to what a listening experience should be like. Is it fresh? Is that a sample? Is that part recorded on a toy cassette player? Yes, yes and yes. It’s mind-blowing.