Holly Newsom of Zoo Animal: Favorite Albums of the Decade
I believe these albums were catalysts for cultural, musical or personal shifts. Because of that, I think they are some of the “Best Albums of the Decade.” In no particular order…
Drukqs by Aphex Twin: Though this may not have been widely appreciated commercially, I think this album was very influential in a lot of musicians creative lives, not just electronic musicians either. When I first heard this I was flabbergasted. The way he shifts from frailty to aggression is mind-blowing. You can find one of my favorite songs on this album, “Avril 14th,” a slow, mesmerizing piano piece sandwiched between electronic and spastic compositions. Not always an album I put on to enjoy in the background, but I learned a lot about composition from listening to this through headphones, attentive to nothing else. I have a feeling I’m not the only one.
Hail to the Thief by Radiohead: I mentioned this to some folks and they couldn’t believe of all the Radiohead albums in the last decade, that I would choose this one. The reason I did is because I think it displays the art of the song articulately. Though Kid A sliced through cliches like a knife, this record was like a thousand pound weight. I like the obvious guitar, piano, and drums heard on this record. It inspires me to make good with what I have.
Seven Swans by Sufjan Stevens: What musician wasn’t inspired to be more elegant and musical after listening to this? I also think it widened perspective for many listeners. This may be the closest thing to “classical” music in many hipsters libraries.
The Hours Soundtrack by Philip Glass: Glass influences musicians, and makes people feel. I think this soundtrack brought him to a broader audience. Everyone should listen to this.
You Are Free by Cat Power: I learned to communicate with emotion by listening to this record. I distinctly remember being in my mother’s basement having a profound feeling I was “known” while listening to this record. You probably had a similar experience.
Great choices and you can totally see how Zoo Animal was influenced by the sparse, but tense music aforementioned. I think that space creates tension and that’s Holly’s strong point in songwriting.
My picks: Of Montreal’s “Hissing Fauna,” Wilco’s “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” Flaming Lip’s “Yoshimi,” Beck’s “Sea Change,” and then I’m going with Built to Spill’s “Keep it Like a Secret,” which was released in 1999 but still within the last ten years. I cheated. So what.
yoshimi was almost on this list. I’m also a big fan of the rest of the albums you picked.
Let me know if you’re ever taking applications for BFF.
It’s nice to see “Hail to the Thief” get some props. It gets unjustly overshadowed, I think, by other, easier-to-write-about Radiohead albums. But it’s got some KILLER songs.