Pitchfork's AOTYs of the 2000s
Pitchfork's Albums of the Year Tier List
In this video, Anthony Fantano reviews Pitchfork Media's albums of the year from the 2000s and ranks them according to his personal opinion. He discusses each album in detail and provides insights into their significance.
Kid A by Radiohead (2000)
- Pitchfork named Kid A as the album of the year for 2000.
- Anthony considers it a classic record and one of Radiohead's best.
- He thinks it belongs in the A tier.
The Glow Pt. 2 by The Microphones (2001)
- Anthony is a fan of Phil Elverum's work, especially The Glow Pt. 2.
- He considers it a keystone in Phil's discography and puts it in the S tier.
Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol (2002)
- Pitchfork named Turn on the Bright Lights as the album of the year for 2002.
- Anthony thinks it is a solid rock record but not necessarily bold or interesting enough to be at the top of Pitchfork's list.
Album of the Year 2002
The speaker discusses the album of the year for 2002 and shares their opinion on whether or not it was a good choice.
Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol
- The speaker thinks there were more interesting picks for album of the year in 2002.
- They appreciate some aspects of the album, but overall find it weak compared to other artists and groups at that time.
Album of the Year 2003
The speaker talks about another album of the year and shares their thoughts on its quality.
Echoes by The Rapture
- The speaker was not into this band's music at that time.
- They find that while there are some good aspects to this record, overall it is weak compared to other artists and groups during that period.
- There were more interesting picks for album of the year in 2003.
Album of the Year 2004
The speaker discusses Arcade Fire's debut album, which won album of the year in 2004.
Funeral by Arcade Fire
- While this is one of the most beloved indie albums of all time, to the speaker it has not aged well.
- They appreciate some aspects such as its instrumental presentation, but overall find some songs drab and vocal performances lacking.
- Despite this, they think it was not a bad choice for album of the year in 2004.
Best Albums of the Decade
In this section, the speaker discusses some of the best albums of the decade and their significance.
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
- The album is considered one of the best albums of the modern era.
- Pitchfork's album of the year in 2005.
- The album is placed in S tier and is fantastically put together.
The Knife - Silent Shout
- Pitchfork's album of the year in 2006.
- The album expanded electro-pop genre into eerie, dark, otherworldly, and surreal territory.
- The record has unique production and vocals for these styles of music.
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
- Pitchfork's album of the year in 2007.
- Animal Collective fans may like it but not everyone does.
- Some sound palettes are interesting but every track on this record slowly grows less interesting over time.
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
- Pitchfork's album of the year in 2008.
- A super solid beautiful indie folk record with stunning atmosphere and vocals.
Pitchfork's Albums of the Decade (2000-2009)
In this section, the speaker discusses Pitchfork's albums of the decade from 2000 to 2009. The speaker shares their thoughts on some of the standout records and provides a tier list for these albums.
Personal Place and Beautiful Folky Ear Candy
- The speaker believes that some tracks on these records are more personal.
- They describe the record as beautiful folky ear candy that is pleasant, ornate, and pretty.
- However, they feel that it does not dig deep emotionally compared to its follow-up.
Quality Record in B Row
- The speaker thinks that this record is still a quality and nice record overall.
- They would put it in the B row and consider it a solid pick for album of the year.
- While there was competition like Portishead's Third, they do not think there was as much competition since it wasn't as dense a year as 2007.
Merriweather Post Pavilion - A Groundbreaking Record
- This album created and sparked so much debate at the time of its release.
- It was a watershed moment for Animal Collective and Indie scene in general.
- The reaction to this album was mixed with some people calling it their favorite while others criticized those who liked it.
- The speaker personally likes this record and considers it one of the most beautifully produced psychedelic records of all time.
- They acknowledge other great records released in 2009 like Converge's Axe to Fall or Sun's Magnum Opus Monolith and Dimensions but still consider Merriweather Post Pavilion a fantastic record.
Tier List for Pitchfork's Albums of the Decade
- The speaker concludes by sharing their tier list for Pitchfork's albums of the decade from 2000 to 2009.
- They invite the audience to share their thoughts on these records and their own tier list.