My Top 50 Rock Albums: The 00's

At long last, my top 50 rock albums list is finally here. I've been trying to write this list for some time now. But it was really hard for me because I have a lot of favorite albums, and so the list kept changing everyday. That's why I've decided to narrow it down by picking 10 of my favorite albums from each decade instead. Also, in that way, the list, in its entirety, will be a collection of great albums from different generations.

In the first salvo of this list, I'll be presenting my top 10 rock albums from this decade. So without further ado, here's my list

10. Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence
by Glassjaw
Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence changed the content of my play list, from NU metal to post-hardcore, right after the first time I listened to it. Its aggressive and relentless sound, and the overpowering vocals and guttural screams of Daryl Palumbo, had a raw appeal to me, making it an instant favorite of mine.


9. Relationship of Command
by At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command was the first album I stumbled upon when I started foraying into the new breed of post-hardcore, and I love every single track on it. The album showcases harmonious layered dual-vocals, heavy melodic guitar riffs, and the imaginative lyrics that leaves an impact to the listener. To me, this album has become a modern classic.


8. Leviathan
by Mastodon
Mastodon is probably the best metal band that has come out in recent years, and Leviathan is their monstrous album. Each band member, especially drummer Brann Dailor, displayed their skill mastery and technicality in this album. As a result, we get to listen to complex and sophisticated chops that'll make every musician drool with envy.


7. Wiretap Scars
by Sparta
When At the Drive-In split up, half of its members became Sparta. But instead of filling the gap of two lost members, and trying to emulate their former band, the group poured their efforts into Wiretap Scars, refining their old music and achieved a more melodic sound. No more distorted feedbacks and ear-breaking screams in this album. Just sonic goodness.


6. Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I
by Coheed and Cambria
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I is one of the few albums that have been stapled on my playlist ever since its release date. As a musician and a comic book enthusiast, I just can't stop listening to it. Every song in this album is sublime, musically and lyrically, as they deliver sterling guitar work, drum craft, and the epic story of The Amory Wars.


5. Toxicity
by System of a Down
System of a Down pioneered a music which is very hard to categorize. But it wasn't until Toxicity that I really got into them. Debuted at #1 during its release on 9/11, the album became memorable to me because it encapsulated a sad history, and gave direction to their cacophonic style, birthing a new rock sub-genre, now dubbed as, "Armenian Rock".


4. Absolution
by Muse
I became a fan of Muse after I listened to Absolution. The album was so highly orchestrated that I didn't even realize Muse was only a three-piece band. It's so pleasurable to listen to Bellamy's voice over a cascading piano, heavy guitar riffs and bass lines, and thundering drum work. Additionally, the apocalyptic and dystopian themed lyrics also drew me in.


3. White Pony
by Deftones
Of all the NU metal bands that surfaced during the late 90's, Deftones is amongst the only few that I still listen to up to now. That's mainly because of what they've done in White Pony. On their third album, they've experimented with their music and advanced it beyond the "seven string" assault, giving us a sound that resembles the louder brother of The Cure.


2. Mer De Noms
by A Perfect Circle
I was hungry for Tool when I learned that Maynard James Keenan (vocalist) has a side project called A Perfect Circle. So when they released their album, I jumped right in expecting a Tool rip-off. I was wrong. Mer de Noms, while Maynard sang beautifully in this album as he did in Tool, offers an entirely different experience with its theatrically melodic sounds.


1. De-Loused in the Comatorium
by The Mars Volta
Cedric Bixler-Zabala and Omar Rodriguez formed The Mars Volta after At the Drive-In disbanded. I was disappointed at first but after listening to De-Loused in the Comatorium, I stopped whining. This concept album is laced with various musical styles, such as latin jam, psychedelic rock, and free jazz, and lyrics that'll leave you seeing swirling rainbows.


That concludes my picks for this decade. So, stick around because there's four more decades to go. The next installment, I'll list down my favorite albums from the 90's.

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