2001: Favorite Music

2001 is a year that didn’t have many headlines in regards to the music world, but its presence is definitely still felt today. Nu-Metal was dying, while we started to see the seeds of the decade’s alternative music start to be sewn.

Of course September 11th is the overbearing story of that year, but its effect on music wouldn’t really be felt until the following years. However, two albums that rest on my shelf and are played to this day came out on that fateful Tuesday morning: Ben Folds’ solo debut Rockin The Suburbs and Ryan Adam’s career album, Gold (Who’s single “New York, New York”, saw a heavy air-play with its music video that was shot only 4 days before 9/11 in front of the city’s skyline.)

Also 2001 was special to me because the pop-alternative (i hate using punk to describe these bands) genre saw some great albums. Amongst others blink-182 released Take Off Your Pants and Jacket which provided the song of the summer in The Rock Show. My two favorite would be Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American and Saves The Day’s Stay What You Are. Both bands had a similar career path as they had a certain loyal following, but these albums boosted them to the forefront, admittedly JEW a lot more as a result of The Middle. But I see these albums as these artists at their best.

That being said, here is my pick for my favorite album of 2001.

John Mayer: Room For Squares

A little part of why I like John Mayer is that homerism factor where we want to root for the artist, team, or movie that we liked before anyone else did. I discovered JMay by mere chance one night when during a commercial break from some show I was watching, I flipped down to CN8 and this scrawny, baby-faced looking guy was singing on stage with an acoustic guitar and what I could at the time, only assume was a severe constipation problem. Despite his ridiculous facial expressions he displayed (and still does), I was hooked by the melodies he was churning out, song after song.

Flash forward 8 years, 7 grammys, and 11 million albums sold and that little kid is now 31 and is one of the most respected musicians in the world by his contemporaries. He may not be the coolest guy in the world; hell he knows how lame he is, but Mayer knows music and he shows that on his first album, Room For Squares, my favorite record of 2001.

On first listen, it is an album that hits you immediately with its melody, which gets stuck in your head with songs like Why Georgia, Back to You, and his first hit, No Such Thing. Even a song like You’re Body is a Wonderland is a pretty good pop song, even if it is a tad cheesy and very played out.

After a few more, you start to hear how expansive the musical elements are involved and most notably the guitar parts, like those found on the bluesy-gem Neon. Then after a few more you appreciate his lyrical talents as displayed in the sweet St. Patrick’s Day. Throw in a couple dozen more, and maybe you’ll feel the same way I do about this album.

Room For Squares has everything I am looking for in a pop album. In fact, its my favorite pop album of all time. And though it is a small, often quiet album that lacks the kind of bombast or persona to be identified with what is considered the best pop albums of all time like Abbey Road or the White Album (Actually any Beatles album basically) or Pet Sounds, I think based on sheer quality it deserves to at least be taken seriously with those albums when people are studying music a hundred years from now.

(Boy am I gonna get killed for this lol)

By Ryan Hoffman

A Second Opinion

2001. The real Y2K. Albums that were considered. Brand New’s debut “Your Favorite Weapon”, Incubus’s “Morning View”, Jimmy Eat World’s “Bleed American”, and Ben Folds’ “Rockin’ The Suburbs”. But I really have no other choice but to give the honor to The Strokes debut “Is This It”.

The first great thing about the album is the fact that nothing strange jumps out at you. Not the boogeyman, or something like that. Every song meshes together so well that the album feels like it’s whole, a complete solid effort.

I honestly can’t tell some songs apart, and honestly, I feel that helps the overall product. The drummer seems to keep the same steady beat while the guitars and bass attack you with everything at their disposal. JC’s voice sounds like he’s tired and laying on the couch reading Entertainment Weekly. And you know what? It sounds good!

Someday is my personal favorite. I guess I have a thing for happy tunes. Nice melody, with lyrics which appear to be about moving on and starting anew. Last Night is good too. People liked that, right? Hard to Explain has the same quick tempo upbeat sound and does a nice job pulling off the “abrupt ending”.

The Strokes brought on the so called Garage Rock Revival, which includes bands like The White Stripes and The Hives. Good for them. This stands as the best album The Strokes have made, although “Heart in a Cage” may be their best song.

By Cameron Baker