List: Best Albums of the Decade 80-71

Part Four of my countdown of the top 110 albums of the decade. You can find 110-101 here, 100-91 here, and 90-81 here. But for now, here's 80-71...

80. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)

'Hurt' had that video, one of the best music videos ever. But Johnny Cash's fourth Rick Rubin production contained a hell of a lot more than that Nine Inch Nails cover. His covers again were inspired, from the Eagles' 'Desperado' to the Beatles' 'In My Life', but it was the title track that reminded us of what Cash could really do. 'The Man Comes Around' was the best thing the man in black had written in decades.

79. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising (2002)

This may well be the best response to the horrors of 9/11. That was the defining moment of this decade, setting everything else in motion. It also gave Bruce Springsteen the inspiration for his best album since Born in the USA, almost twenty years earlier. But The Rising wasn't a bleak, downtrodden record. Instead it was a celebration of what we still had, a message in how we could conquer our fears, how the whole world could be reborn.

78. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss - Raising Sand (2007)

There would be no proper Led Zeppelin reunion this decade, when they did get back together it was for a one-off show at London's O2. Even if they wanted to play more gigs, they couldn't, as Robert Plant was touring this excellent album with the bluegrass sensation Allison Krauss. It provided some incredible harmonies, and was the best duets record of the decade. As good as anything Gaye and Tyrell ever did.

77. Lily Allen - Alright, Still (2006)

MySpace didn't quite change music the way many had hoped. It had far more failures than successes. There were also a lot of people who had one-off singles such as the horrible Sandi Thom. But then there was Lily Allen. She had the ability. Regardless of how she got to the top, she was always going to get there eventually. With songs as good as 'LDN', 'Smile', and 'Everything's Just Wonderful', her acerbic wit shone through and worked wonderfully with the brass and ska music, which hadn't been heard on radio in a long, long time.

76. Kanye West - Late Registration (2005)

Before Late Registration, Kanye West was just another hip-hop producer. After it, he became one of the biggest egos in the world. He may be an asshole, but he sure does make great music, than can be liked by anyone. Even people who never ever listen to hip-hop or R&B. A massive crossover success on both sides of the Atlantic, this, his second album showed that his debut was no fluke. Co-produced by Jon Brion, it features the best ever sample of a song by a Welsh Dame.

75. Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek (2000)

Nickel Creek had been on the go for many a year before this album, but whereas their previous two albums were made by wide-eyed youngsters, this was their first proper adult record. Featuring a wonderful mix of new and traditional tunes, this is where Chris Thile first really shone. One of the best musicians of the decade in any genre, he showed that he could also be a fantastic songwriter as well as mandolin player. Their covers of our own Sinead Lohan's 'Out of the Woods' and Scottish poet Robert Burn's 'Sweet Afton' are glorious, but the highlight is the incredibly catchy folk song 'The Fox'.

74. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

An album so good that their label refused to publish it, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of those records which could have been lost due to legal wrangling. Thankfully they were picked up by Nonesuch after the album's success via online streaming. It is still Tweedy's best work, with fantastic songs like the engrossing 'I Am Trying To Break Your Heart' and 'War on War'. It's Tweedy and Jay Bennett's fourth Wilco album, but on it, Tweedy outdid even his finest hours with Uncle Tupelo. Bennett left the band after this album, losing the fabulous interplay the two had developed. Sadly, Bennett died in May of this year but released a number of solo albums this decade. None matched this highpoint though.

73. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (2003 version)

Similarly to Wilco's fourth, Fiona Apple's third album could easily have been lost due to record company incompetence. Jon Brion had produced the album and provided a bleak instrumental platform for Apple. Epic Records, her label was not at all happy with this, and the album's release was cancelled. It was leaked to the internet and a "Free Fiona" campaign was started, which sent fruit to the label's offices. This version was never officially released, instead the songs were re-recorded with producer Mike Elizondo. The second, re-recorded version is a good album itself, but the original leaked copy is the one to own. Brion is a genius, and he really highlights the finest parts of Apple's enchanting voice.

72. Brendan Benson - Lapalco (2002)

Better known now for his work with Jack White and the Raconteurs, Benson's solo career stands on its own merits. His 1999 debut One Mississippi is a beautiful album filled with fun lyrics, such as the splendid 'Tea'. Like the debut, each of the songs here is a lesson in powerpop. Just check our single 'Metarie'. Another of the album's many hits, 'Good to Me', was covered by Jack White's main band (as the B-Side to the massive-selling 'Seven Nation Army'), but the original is the best version. Forget the Raconteurs, it's by himself that Benson does his best work.

71. Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

Face it, Radiohead are never going to make The Bends or OK Computer again. Instead, they change direction with each and every album. Their first album of this decade, and the follow-up to their masterpiece, this divided the opinions of listeners and critics. I know many people who disregard this album totally from the Radiohead canon, but instead of merely rejecting it, it should be listened to. Intently. Again and again. It's one of those albums that is filled with beautiful intricacies and fantastic musicianship, it defies you at every opportunity, but you can't stop yourself listening. Gorgeously addictive but damned unsettling at the same time. You'll never see Coldplay making an album like this.

The Countdown continues tomorrow...

List: Best Albums of the Decade 110-101

I had planned a top 100 albums of the naughties/noughties/00s, but that got a little out of hand, so it's now a 110 albums list. The more the merrier though, right?

110. Gorillaz - Demon Days (2005)

With his second album as Gorillaz, Damon Albarn really stepped out of Blur's shadow. He showed that while Oasis might have won the battle of the 90s, the 00s definitely belonged to Albarn. Gorillaz' second album featured a whole host of guest stars, but none who worked better than Shaun Ryder on the fantastic 'DARE'. And who can forget the opening of 'Feel Good Inc'?

109. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004)

Named after the man responsible for beginning World War I, this Scottish band brought the rock of the Strokes to the far side of the Atlantic. The songs themselves had marvellous videos, and the album contained an untold amount of treasures. There's even a hidden backwards message in 'Michael'. Go on, try it.

108. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow (2003)

While The Shins didn't actually change my life (or yours for that matter), their second album improved many. While many prefer the debut, Oh, Inverted World, with the stand-out 'New Slang', Chutes Too Narrow is definitely a more cohesive and consistent album. There's no stand-out songs, because they're all great.

107. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)

Proving that Parachutes wasn't just a fluke, Chris Martin and his band of merry men went back to the studio to make a more polished record, which was bigger and better in every way. It also moved them out of small venues and into arenas, marking them out as the decade's new U2.

106. N*E*R*D - In Search of... (2001)

Pharell Williams is not just a fantastic producer, he is a wonderful musician in his own right. Instead of having everything "featuring the Neptunes" or the like, the debut album from N*E*R*D was a brilliant fusion of pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B. Their second may have had 'The Way She Moves', but this one had many more great singles: 'Lapdance', 'Provider' and 'Rockstar'. Just don't watch the NSFW 'Lapdance' video at work!

105. Damien Rice - 9 (2006)

It took Damien Rice a long time to record a follow-up to O, and many people thought that it may never happen. When it did, it was somewhat anticlimatic. It was not as good as his debut. But after you got over that initial reaction, and let the album settle, it revealed itself to be a gorgeous album. Lead single '9 Crimes' remains the best thing on the album, and showed the last glimpse of the beautiful Rice-Hannigan interplay.

104. Feeder - Echo Park (2001)

Pop-rock is frowned upon by a lot of my peers, and by a lot of critics. They dismiss it as having no content other than being friendly enough to play on the radio. While Feeder may have been more edgy, and thus more unknown, in their earlier records, what self-respectable artist wouldn't actually want to have a song like 'Buck Rogers' under their belts? The rest of the album was great too, aside from the singles, there was plenty here to savour. Just have a listen to 'tell All Your Friends' if you don't believe me.

103. Nickel Creek - This Side (2002)

All three Nickel Creek albums could definitely have made this list, but the title track on their second proper (adult) album guarantees its place. Produced by legendary bluegrass star Allison Krauss, and containing a magnificent cover of Pavement's 'Spit on a Stranger', This Side was a fantastic album combining instrumental tunes with the beautiful melodies of Chris Thile and the siblings Watkins.

102. Jesse Malin - The Fine Art of Self Destruction (2002)

When I heard Ryan Adams was producing an album for his protege (and fellow musician in the faux-punk band The Finger), my interest was captured. The album itself almost lived up to Adams' own early output, and showcased Malin's excellent gruff New York voice. There may not be a better song this decade than 'Wendy'.

101. The Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers (2005)

Sadly one of the greatest fatalities of the decade was the end of the Silver Jews. (None of the members died, by the way, David Berman just gave up making Silver Jews records.) Tanglewood Numbers was their fifth and penultimate album, and features some of Berman's best ever lyrics. 'Sometimes a Pony Gets Depressed' is just as good as the name suggests. Hilariously brilliant

The Countdown continues tomorrow...