Erica Krumm of Sharp Teeth: Favorite Records of the Decade

Cat Power You Are Free: One of the most beautiful albums of the past 10 years, You Are Free tells poetic stories that leave room for interpretation. This record sounds best driving through fall leaves and is one of the few records out there that lends itself to be listened to all the way through. (My favorite album cover of all time.)

The Kills Keep On Your Mean Side: Dirty and raw, the Kills get away with writing songs about feeling the pain without sounding fake or pretentious. With a dark and desperate mood, each song creates a vivid picture of living in the moment, as well as self destruction. The fuzzed out guitar mixed with drum machine beats make perfectly crafted rock songs. Seeing these guys at 7th St. when this record came out was an incredibly memorable experience.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever To Tell: An amazing combination of dance beats and unruly rock. The songs are written with huge attitude contrasting perfectly with a quieter, honesty. Saw these guys play on some late night show one night when the album was first released. I was 20 years old, playing drums in a band, and I remember feeling really excited and rejuvenated in that moment about what was happening in music. This album has love and sex, power and playfulness all wrapped up.

Modest Mouse The Moon and Antarctica: Writing that wrecks you. A rough storytelling feel of soft and delicate material. With beautiful guitar parts and a huge overall sound, this record was my main soundtrack to being 17 years old, crazy in love, and going to visit my boyfriend in the dorms.

The Black Angels Directions to See a Ghost: Psychedelic rock for the future. Each song’s distorted and hauntingly pretty instrumentation kills. This whole album clicks as a new take on an old sound. One of the sexiest records ever.

Also: More of Culture Bully’s Best of the Decade Guest Lists