After much mental torment, I’ve decided to name the best new bands of the last decade. For one to qualify, they must have met the following criteria: 1) be awesome; and 2) formed in the year 2000 or beyond (which excludes Spoon, Muse, and The Strokes for example).
With the power vested in me, I hereby announce the winners.
Smooth Harold is the official blog of Blake Snow, a freelance writer and media consultant living the good life with a wife and kids. Among other things, he is writing a book on finding offline balance in an increasingly online world. He can be reached by email.
How can I help you? No really, is there something specific I can assist you in? Ask me anything self-employed, writing, design, or life related, and I'll gratuitously reply (usually same day) or put you in contact with someone who can. The Smooth Harold Helpdesk is at your service!
Over the years, I've benefited both personally and professionally from kind and intelligent individuals over lunch. Yes, good people still exist. So if you're ever in the greater Salt Lake area (all are welcome) and want to grab a friendly bite, don't hesitate to ask.
January 18th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Hm, I don’t know what’s up with that Killers video . . . But yeah, they’re pretty good. Top band of the decade, though? I’ll have to think on it.
As for Phoenix — I really like their sound! And I had never heard of them, so yay! New music! :)
January 19th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Anything off Alphabetical or Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is superb, Sara. Although not as strong said albums, It’s Never Been Like That has some good songs too.
January 19th, 2010 at 10:29 am
According to Wikipedia, the fountain of all knowledge, Keane and Phoenix need to be removed from your list due to the fact that they started in the late 90’s and don’t meet your own criteria.
I would also say bands like Audioslave, Jet, Wolfmother, The Black Keys, Street Sweeper Social Club, Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, Maroon 5, Gnarls Barkley and the Fray are better than DeadMau5 and Vampire Weekend.
Sorry to do this to you my friend, but your list has 1 out 5 correct.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I don’t know who has a worse list, Tim or Blake. Street Sweeper Social Club??? Rocco DeLuca??? DeadMau5??? Vampire Weekend??? Gnarls Barkley??? The Fray??? Phoenix??? The Black Keys???
This is a top 5 list, not a one hit wonder list. You two need to go back to the drawing board and pound out a real top five list so people stop laughing at you.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:56 am
I guess Keane are the best band of the decade. I saw them first after the release of under the iron sea and once again last summmer. In studio or live, they are amazing and, in my opinion better than killers.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:29 am
I’ve been thinking about this, and here’s what I’ve come up with:
I didn’t really get into The Killers until pretty recently, actually. They are so, so 80s good. I love the melancholy rock sound.
BUT. I think there are two bands from your list missing: Jack Johnson and The Shins. They changed music forever. Well, Jack Johnson may not have done anything super-new, but he did the acoustic-soft-rock thing better than anyone and made it popular . . .
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Jack Johnson? The Shins? Gross!