It was the decade I started listening to good music. I was 10 years old when I first discovered life changing genres in music like post-rock, electronica and indie-rock. The noughties had just began.

(I decided not to pick more than one release from each artist on this list)

(It was very hard to write about these albums. Check them out. That’s basically what I’m trying to say)

1. Radiohead — Kid A (2000)

“Kid A” opened my eyes for electronic music. I couldn’t believe my ears. This was completely new to me back then. “OK Computer” had long been my dearest belonging, now this strange records blew my mind the most. Radiohead became my absolute favorite band of the decade because of their sense of experiments, originality, but most of all dedication and quality. With “Kid A” Radiohead took the pulse of the decade before it had begun. Every single track on this record mean the world to me.

2. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band with Choir — “This Is Our Punk Rock,” Thee Rusted Satellites Gather + Sing (2003)

Silver Mt. Zion should have got at least three of the spots on this list. Rising from the ashes of legendary Godspeed You Black Emperor!, the stubborn Canadians in SMZ with their heartbreaking post-rock symphonies, captured my heart with this decade. “This is our punk rock…” is their most perfect album, as well as track number one “Sow some lonesome corner so many flowers bloom” the most perfect track.

3. Sigur Rós — ( ) (2002)

Iceland. A small, strange, northern island country, suddenly appearing with a bunch of bands making marvelous music. After Björk, this quartet of innovative shy young men learned me a lot about music. How music can’t really be described by words. Their grandiose second album “Ágætis Byrjun” from 1999 put Sigur Rós on musical world map. This record, as their third LP-release, turned out more purer. Angel-like vocal in a own-made language, shivering electric guitar, organs, bass, drums and the outstanding string quartet Amiina = 1 hour and 5 minutes of heaven.

4. Efterklang — Tripper (2004)

This century gave us Myspace. A whole new world of great music to explore. That was where I found Efterklang. The danish guys with their orchestrated electronica-based post-rock-pop. Their debut album “Tripper” made my heart stop for a couple of seconds. This was the music I like.

5. Coldplay — Parachutes (2000)

“The first album I ever bought myself” is normally embarrassing to tell. Not to me. I had just heard “Trouble” on the radio, I was 10 years old and I was hooked. “Parachutes” is truly an album of great acoustic taste and heart. Chris Martin sings with a rare and special honesty on these songs.  Coldplay has never been better than this.

6. Godspeed You Black Emperor! — Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (2000)

For a worried young teenager like me, Godspeed You Black Emperor! reviled as musical gods to follow. Pure, honest, strongly political, heartbreaking instrumental music in the deepest name of post-rock. They still are gods, and this might be their best release.

7. Arcade Fire — Funeral (2004)

Sad, sad lyrics about fears, death, family and traditions — still so dancy!  The Arcade Fire orchestra started out marching for real in 2004. Now they are the best and biggest bands from Canada. “Children wake up! Hold your mistake up before they turn to summer into dust!” Je t’adore.

8. Sufjan Stevens — Come On Feel the Illinoise! (2007)

A jungle of singer/song-writers came out of the 2000’s. Only one of them stood out as my absolute favorite. A christian guy from Michigan with his banjo (choir and orchestra) delivered albums that haunted me through all of the century. His album about Illinois is simply breathtaking.

9. Serena Maneesh– Serena-Maneesh (2005)

Their first LP sounded very unlike other norwegian debuts. With the love of the good pop melody buried deep, walls of shivering guitars and dreamy organs and vocals, this record taught me all about the art of noisepop. They also led me into legendary bands like My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth. Leader Emil Nikolaisen became one of my biggest heros. (Look out for their next release, coming out in March!)

10. Justice — † (2007)

Dancy darkness. Twisted, funky, destroyed sounds. Oh lord, what an album.

11. Damien Rice — O (2002)

Simple, pure and honest; three words of quality. Damien Rice put music on what love could feel like. Both incredible hurtful and incredible special.

12. Jaga Jazzist — What we must (2005)

What happens when the best, most well educated musicians of Norway join together in a majestic jazz/post-rock/eletronica orchestra? Well, basically the sound of Jaga Jazzist. For me, 2005’s “What we must” stood out the most.

13. Mew — And the glasshanded kites (2005)

Denmark’s band life bloomed a lot this century. Mew’s debut “Frenger” blew most of the indie rock lovers away, including both Bono and I. Jonas Bjerre’s highly recognizable vocals combined by the bands urge for strange beats, dreamy synth and guitar riffs made the deal. “And the glasshanded kites” took the band to a brand new level of composition, and I am forever thankful.

14. Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson — Unnoticable in a tiny town (2006)

Yes! You don’t have to live in Montréal to make great post-rock! A 6-piece Norwegian journalists started out jamming one day, and ended up with this masterpiece. “We may be remembered by what we did when we sat down”.

15. Outkast — The Love Below (2003)

Outkast?! Yes! A fantastic album by the genius André 3000. Jazz, hip hop and big band combined with a handful of humor. Do yourself a favor and check it out!