Be reminded that this post is entirely opinion. If you feel an opinion that differs to the ones expressed within, please respond without aggravation or violence of tone. Thank you.
This century, so far, has been a train wreck. After living through the incredible cultural rise of Britain during the 1990s, the 21st century is a letdown, to put it lightly.
This is not however the case, with music. In 1997, after the main hype of Britpop had died down, the music scene in the UK was left to wither in a pile of its own puke and Liam Gallagher’s beer cans. In the rest of the world, music was on the up. In particular, The alternative country scene saw North Carolina born Ryan Adams release his debut album “Heartbreaker” following the (half) break up of his influential country-rock band “Whiskeytown”. Adams’ album received many positive reviews, including one from Pop-Veteran Elton John who is quoted to have said, “[Heartbreaker] changed my life, so thank you Ryan Adams, for making it”.
In 2000, Britain got the ball rolling again. Despite the majority of major Britpop bands (Pulp, Massive Attack, Blur, The Verve & The Stone Roses) breaking up, a new indie movement was ready to take centre stage. This alternative rock/indie/post-Britpop scene was to introduce new bands to the new wave of UK teenagers. Coldplay, whose 2000 release, “Parachutes” was to go on and earn the title as one of the greatest British albums of all time, emerged out of (almost) nowhere and grappled audiences around the globe, not just in Britain. On a similar scene, Radiohead’s “Kid-A” also received positive reviews.
Coldplay were to release the equally successful “A Rush of Blood to the Head” in 2002, and indie bands such as The Arctic Monkeys, The Fray, Snow Patrol, Razorlight, The Enemy, The Coral and The Script now representing great Britain.
So here’s the list, wrapping it up rather quickly now:
10.) Oasis
Lost their touch this century… but Noel is still the greatest songwriter of the last three decades.
9.) Lily Allen
Clever, honest and sometimes humorous lyrics
8.) The Streets (Poetry…)
Poetry through the eyes of a lower-middle class Birmingham bloke.
7.) The Coral
Their light-hearted alternative rock is excellent along with their songwriting ability.
6.) Peter Doherty
The Libertines, Babyshambles and solo, he has managed to produce some music that sounds like it was influenced by every decade from the last century, uses his inspiration well.
5.) Vampire Weekend
You thought they’d make number one? Nah… but they’re still damn good (despite Contra…)
4.) Eminem
Don’t laugh… because this Detroit rapper knows what he’s doing… incredibly clever and at times emotionally moving lyrics.
3.) Wynton Marsalis
Though Mr Marsalis may not be the most recognisable musician in the world, he is a great artist and teacher. His contribution to the jazz world, particularly after Hurricane Katrina is inspiring and it is always nice to seem him trying to motivate the youth of today to go out and make something of themselves
2.) Coldplay
Yes… most people in the world find them unbelievably annoying, which is why they didn’t get to number one. But in my opinion, they’ve produced by far some of the greatest songs of this century: Trouble, Parachutes, High Speed, Everything’s Not Lost, Yellow, Shiver, Fix You, Strawberry Swing, Violet Hill, Now My Feet Won’t Touch the Ground, The Scientist, In My Place, Green Eyes, Warning Sign and the list goes on…
1.) Ryan Adams
There’s not a lot to say here, but: Underrated. Mr Adams has received praise from the likes of Noel & Liam Gallagher (Oasis), Elton John, Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), Bob Dylan, Hank Williams III, Willie Nelson, Stephen King, Mandy Moore (to whom he is married!), Cheryl Crow, Jonathan Ross, Bob Harris and Cameron Crowe. And that’s a pretty impressive list I think.
If you haven’t heard of him… check out his version of Wonderwall… spellbinding… Noel Gallagher commented that he’d never really understood the song until he heard Ryan Adams’ version of it.
So yeah, enough said.
Footnote:
Lady Gaga… check out her piano playing.
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