#15 of the 00s - The National

If music took structure and albums were rooms and places, the National would be... the dusty attic in your parents' house in the country, dried up with cobwebs in the corners, with the light invading through cracks in the boarded up windows, where -adult now, visiting - you'd sit alone in the corner with your headphones on, hiding away from the world and your friends for hours and days. Comfortable, comforting and cowardly.

15. The National - Boxer

You have to do it running but you do everything that they ask you to
cause you don't mind seeing yourself in a picture
as long as you look faraway, as long as you look removed
showered and blue-blazered, fill yourself with quarters

You get mistaken for strangers by your own friends
when you pass them at night under the silvery, silvery citibank lights
arm in arm in arm and eyes and eyes glazing under
oh you wouldn't want an angel watching over
surprise, surprise they wouldn't wannna watch
another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults

-

Falling out of touch with all my
friends are somewhere getting wasted,
hope they're staying glued together,
I have arms for them.

-

Well stay inside til somebody finds us
do whatever the TV tells us
stay inside our rosy-minded fuzz for days

-

We expected something, something better than before.
We expected something more
Do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave
Walk away now and you're gonna start a war

-

They're gonna send us to prison for jerks
for having vague ideas of the way to turn each other on again

They'll find us here here here in the guest room
where we throw money at each other and cry, oh my

We miss being ruffians

-

Ada don't talk about reasons
why you don't want to talk about reasons
why you don't wanna talk
-
We're half-awake in a fake empire
-
You might need me more than you think you will

#16 of the 00s - Of Montreal

Rude foul-mouth poets of Sex and the motherfucking City, shooting lyrics like lines, at the beat of the modern commute. For a lyrics junkie like me, it's like A.D.D.

16. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping

I'm so sick of sucking the dick of this cruel cruel city
I've forgotten what it takes to please a woman
But that's all gonna change

Now the freaks wanna take me home to see
If the rumors are true,
so I kick open the doors and windows
To let the world hear sure
There's so much anger and pain
But come see, there's still some gentle people
fucking to strawberry letter 23

Maybe I'll blow you
Whatever kind of kisses you want
Because you've got so much in common
With my big cock creator
We function on the lowest human level
Yet somehow keep living
I thought it was over but it all still hurts the same
It still hurts the same

-

You should call me sometime. I won't answer but, at least I'll know you care.
(How will you know it was me?)
You think I ain't got caller ID?

I guess I should be happy for you, for your success and all that
But your fame ain't got nothing for us
I supported you kid, back when no one else did (oh yeah, oh yeah)
You know I waved your flag, back when no one else did
I just want things to be the way they used to be,
When you only set a place for me

-

Turning tricks on the hood of Jasmine's car
That whole summer was really just too peculiar
You know I would of given it up to almost anybody
That had a little money and was sweet to me

Mama my heart's not dead
It's just really bad weather in my temporary head

-

I confess to really being quite charmed
By your feminine effects
You're the only one With whom I would role play Oedipus Rex

I want you to be my pleasure puss
I want to know what it's like to be inside you

-

You only like him because he's sexually appealing
But I read his journal, it was very revealing
He fucked your sister in an elevator junior year
(Oh yeah, oh yeah)
And let your brother suck him but then beat him
So he could prove he wasn't queer
(Oh no)
So what do you think he has in store for you my dear?
(I don't know)

What it is that you want from me
But you -You cannot have me
If you could read my mind
Know what I really feel
I wonder would we still be friends?

-
we can do it softcore if you want
but you should know I take it both ways
-
Oh don't you pimp out my heart
-
Do you remember, our last summer as independents?
-
This life is not a prison; we are always free to go, anytime
-
Can't help it if it's true,
don't wanna be your man,
just wanna play with you

#17 of the 00s - The Klaxons

17. The Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Come with me, come with me
We'll travel to INFINITY
I'll always be there : Uh OH : My Future Love
I'll always be there, for you : My Future Love

-

Magick, without tears
Magick, without tears
Magick, without tears
The magick-al veneer

The way to mother noose
The way to suck an egg
The way to golden dawn
The way to Koh Phangan

#18 of the 00s - Kelly Clarkson

Fine, I'm guilty. I blame Tyler/Kelly Boy and his alluring free tickets to Kelly's gig in London a few years back, back when i hadn't even heard of her.

I'm a convert since that, and the fresh scornful honesty of Chivas and Never Again. You could be too.


18. Kelly Clarkson - My December



I hope the ring you gave to her
Turns her finger green
I hope when you're in bed with her
You think of me
I would never wish bad things
But I don't wish you well

-

You're not worth it babe
The trouble you bring the noise you keep
And you don't even care

I'm so sick of you babe
Nights wasted I'm through faking
You don't turn me on
You don't do anything at all

Baby I can't stand the sight of your face
Baby I don't even want to hear your name

Don't know what I saw
But are you seeing it now
Woke up this morning, bitterness in my mouth

Guess I fell too fast
Guess I learned my lesson
So much for true love
I'll take this Chivas instead

#19 of the 00s - The Gift

Music fabric that covers the walls of my head and my home and takes me back to Lisbon. The English-speaking Portuguese band is Portugal's best musical export outside the traditional fado music of Mariza and the international darlings Madredeus.

19. The Gift - Film / AM FM / Facil d'Entender

Even I'm gone, I know you will be fine
I'm sure we'll pick a new film
Next time don't smile

You care but you don't know when
You drink but you don't know why
You drive but you don't know where
You want but you don't know how

-

Maybe I will find you in another place
Maybe I will find you with somebody else

Keep breathing and join the carrousel
Stop breathing pretend a pantomine
Keep breathing today we woke up blue
Stop breathing perhaps we lay down dark
Keep breathing I'm trying to get some sleep
Stop breathing allow me to repeat

-


I tried to kill those ghosts inside of me
That voice you spoke is yelling in my ears
And I don't believe in love fools...

I'd like to have those eyes you want to kiss
Wishing something
I wish I had that voice you want to hear

You and I know
You and I try
You and I run
Leaving old stories far behind

And it feels good
And it's so warm
Having those eyes
Playing with me, myself and I...


-

Give me please, five minutes of everything

The clock won't stop
And even if it stops
Five minutes of love
Five minutes of hate
Five minutes I try to call your name
Of passion
Five minutes of everything
Of everything
Maybe you want to talk about old questions
Right next to my ear
But I don't care about those silly things
Cause all I need is five minutes of everything

-

It's because I met you
It's because I'm here
It's because I felt you
It's because I'm near

That's the reason why
You don't have to go
The reason that I adore you
You know

#20 of the 00s - Madonna!

It's the pre-queer-requisite.

It made the top 20 beating the other 10 because I'm absolutely sick to my stomach of still hearing it everywhere I turn and go, and still not being able to stop myself from dancing to it like a crazy fag.

20. Madonna - Confessions on the Dancefloor / Hard Candy

Time goes by... so slowly

Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
Baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you

Time goes by so slowly for those who wait
No time to hesitate
Those who run seem to have all the fun
I'm caught up
I don't know what to do

Ring, ring, ring goes the telephone
The lights are on but there's no-one home
Tick tick tock it's a quarter to two
And I'm done
I'm hangin' up on you

(Note to Gone4sure: only the first named and pictured album counts for the vote)

Top 20 Albums of the 00s

Lists make me happy inside.

From today until 12/20 I'll be joining my blog space in gone4sure's rally for a Greek bloggers' countdown to the top 20 albums of the decade, posting one pick a day until the #1 on 12/20.

I'm kicking off with my top 30 to 21 picks that almost made the final list:

30. Girls Aloud – Chemistry / Tangled Up


Did you tell him? No, no, no
Give him kisses? No, no, no
Whisper honey? No, no, no
You're delicious? Hell no!
Were you dancing? No, no, no
Sweet as toffee? No, no, no
You get his number? No, no, no
Get him out for coffee? Hell yeah!


29. Adele - 19


Daydreamer, sittin’ on the seat
Soaking up the sun he is a
Real lover, makin’ up the past and feeling up his girl like he’s never felt her figure before
A jaw dropper
Looks good when he when he walks, he is the subject of their talk
He would be hard to chase, but good to catch and he could change the world with his hands behind his back, Oh…



28. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois


Seven miles above the earth,
There is Emmanuel of mothers.
With his sword, with his robe,
He comes dividing man from brothers.

In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel.
In the powers of the earth, we wait until it rips and rips.
In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel.
Oh my mother, she betrayed us, but my father loved and bathed us.

Still I go to the deepest grave,
Where I go to sleep alone


27. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black


He left no time to regret
Kept his dick wet
With his same old safe bet
Me and my head high
And my tears dry
Get on without my guy
You went back to what you knew
So far removed from all that we went through
And I tread a troubled track
My odds are stacked
I'll go back to black


26. Duffy - Rockferry


I remember, way back, way back when
I said I never wanna see your face again
Cause you were loving, yes you were loving somebody else
And I knew, oh yes I knew I could control myself
And now they bring you back into my life again
And so I put on a face just like your friends
But I think you know, oh yes you know what's going on
*Take it all or leave me alone*

25. M83 - Saturdays = Youth

Kim & Jessie,
they have a secret world in the twilight,
kids outside worlds.
They are crazy 'bout romance and illusion


24. Hercules and the Love Affair - Hercules and the Love Affair

As a child I knew
that the stars could only get brighter
then we could get closer
leaving this darkness - behind

Now that I'm older
the stars shed light upon my face
but when I found myself alone
I feel like I, I am blind


23. Kylie Minogue - X / Fever

Let it go, here we go
Just let it slip inside
That's right, here we go
One button at a time
Who cares who sees tonight?
Look, looking, looking wow

Flash it in fashion with me
Skin to skin, body to body
Dare to ever let me see
Nu-di-ty


22. Gossip - Music For Men


It's a cruel cruel world, to face on your own,
A heavy cross, to carry alone,
The lights are on, but everyone's gone,
And it's cruel

We can play it safe, or play it cool,
Follow the leader, or make up all the rules,
Whatever you want, the choice is yours,
So choose, I trust you



21. The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing


They call me 'hell'
They call me 'Stacey'
They call me 'her'
They call me 'Jane'
That's not my name...

They call me 'quiet'
But I'm a riot
Mary-Jo-Lisa
Always the same
That's not my name...

A Petri Dish of Unnatural Progress

Here's what Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch accomplished during their year on the Fantastic Four magazine. A team of vaguely familiar refugees from 500 years in the future led a mass evacuation of the population of the dying future Earth (due to some environmental cautionary tale or another) onto an artificial "Nu-Earth" (it's Millar, we let him get away with it), a build-to-prospect life-size Earth replica (manufactured as an escape plan for the rich and powerful in just this far-future eventuality) orbiting on the other side of the Sun from "Old Bitty Earth".

I admired the concept, really. "Hey the future is only a short rocket ride around the sun from here"! Some ill-named 'Fantastic Force' mini-series explored the world further, but I think it's a case of "If noone's reading the book, did the tree really ever fall in the forest to provide the paper for it?".

Cue Jonathan Hickman, taking over from Millar as new writer on the book, and starting off with a very well-received storyline. Other writers would simply choose to ignore everything that came before and just take things where they want them taken. It's a true and tried method of conducting business (and if you slap a #1 on the cover it also makes for a sweet jump in sales), but readers eventually catch on and tire from the constant dis- in their continuity. Props to Hickman then for deciding to take an issue off from his own plans to tie up loose plot threads from the departing creative team and give readers a sense of coherence between the two runs. Credit to Hickman for doing it in such a brass and enjoyably shameless manner.

This issue, the Thing and Human Torch journey back to Nu-Earth for some R&R and future Nu-strippers (btw thumbs up for the delightfully misleading cover) but instead find themselves in the middle of Nu-Mad Max. While only a few weeks have gone by on Earth, years have passed there (I'm avoiding doing the logistics here, considering both Earths inhabit opposite ends of the same orbit, tralalalala), and civilisation has died, blah blah, while beloved annoying characters from Millar's run have perished, turned evil, or become walking brains-in-a-jar. By the issue's end, the whole dangling concept has been safely shelved on the attic of Limbo and the characters scattered in the four corners of the Marvel U (hopefully) never to be seen again. Poor Banner Jr.

As far as house-cleaning issues go, I'd put this right up there with exploding buses full of unwanted extraneous depowered students, falling satellites with c-list Justice Leaguers, and robot bug infested island genocides. The future is dead, now let's get on with our stories.

Source: Fantastic Four #573 (Marvel Comics)

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