To celebrate the end of the decade, some of our writers will be sharing their picks for their favorite albums and songs of the past ten years. We continue today with J. Simpson's picks. Here is his list!Top 10 Albums
1. Angie Aparo – Of Stars and Moon: This guy is like Elton John with a guitar, enough said
2. Blue October – The Answers, Consent to Treatment, History for Sale: These three early Blue October discs are tied because all 3 are great collections of music and it would be a sin to choose one above the other
3. The 88 – Over and Over: A four-piece rock/pop band that can spit out hit songs like its nobody's business and this disc is loaded with plenty of them
4. End of Fashion – End of Fashion: Four lads from Western Australia that know how to make great pop music
5. Green Day – American Idiot: I kinda blame these guys for the watered down music of today because as soon as they started to get big it seemed like everybody and their brother thought they could make music, oh well, this is a great disc with lots of excellent tracks
6. Ocean Street – Ocean Street: This southern beach band has really put together an album full of appealing memorable songs
7. Neurosonic – Drama Queen: Great alternative rock music, unfortunately the drama is over because as of April of 2009 the band is no longer together
8. Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane: Smooth rock music with a jazzy feel
9. Black Label Society – Stronger Than Death: Mean, scary, loud and profane are the best ways to describe this disc chocked full of heavy metal joy
10. Kings of Leon – Youth and Young Manhood: Good stripped down rock music without all the bells and whistles
Songs
1. "Drop" by Blue October: Analyzing of mental stability and dropping acid, just one of the many great songs by early B.O.
2. "Give Me Novacaine" by Green Day: Catchy rock tune about the numbing of the senses
3. "Child You're The Revolution" by Angie Aparo: Could have included a few more of Aparo's songs on this list but I'm gonna spread the luv
4. "Bored To Tears" by Black Label Society: You will definitely not be bored when this heavy metal song rips through your stereo and blows your speakers
5. "It Couldn't Be Me" by Johnathan Rice: Sort of sad and mellow tune about self realization
6. "Boring" by Lifer: Strong alternative song that takes the listener on a ride and leaves them breathless
7. "How Good It Can Be" by The 88: Beautiful mid tempo tune that I believe is about smuggling drugs across the border
8. "Rock Ranger Record" by Matt Mays and El Torpedo: You have to love a song when the first line is "Your Boyfriends A Dick So We Gotta Go"
9. "Shuffle Your Feet" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: This down home southern rock jingle makes ya want to sit on the front porch and sip a jug of moonshine
10. "Sun Doesn't Rise" by Mushroomhead: Because we're all damaged in our own way