2000 Deep Dive: Part Three

      I guess the common denominator with my 11-15 albums is great guitar playing. There's some garage revival, indie rock, and wily veterans. Let's just get to it.

15. THE CURE - BLOODFLOWERS ( 4.0 STARS )

     Apparently, I like The Cure, or at least The Cure albums that don't have the hits. The guitar sound on this record is amazing, I'd never heard of Perry Bamonte before this dive, but his tone is great. I was completely blown away by the 11 minute track, "Watching Me Fall". It's hard to believe this is the same band that wrote "Love Cats" or "Just Like Heaven". I would never have expected this level of rock bombastic from The Cure. Maybe I need to do a deep dive of their catalog if there's more material like this. I could see this going up from 4 Stars with more listens. I've also grown to appreciate how Robert Smith lets these songs breathe. He could easily be an egomaniac who overpowers everything, but he chooses to lay back and let the band shine quite a bit. 

14. THE HIVES - VENI VIDI VICIOUS ( 4.0 STARS )

     This album didn't really click with me in 2000, but during this dive it really hit. I didn't expect to have two albums by Swedish bands in my Top 25, but here we are. I love the energy on "Die, Alright". "Main Offender" is classic garage rock. Of course, there's the infectious hit, "Hate to Say I Told You So". That bass solo is killer. 

13. MODEST MOUSE - THE MOON AND ANTARCTICA ( 4.0 STARS )

     "3rd Planet" may be Isaac Brock's greatest piece of songwriting, and that's saying something. "Dark Center of the Universe" may be the second greatest. Two great songs about fucking people over. Even though Modest Mouse's guitar sound is a little derivative of Built to Spill, I still love it. Overall, I don't like this album as much as Good News For People Who Like Bad News, but it's still an essential listen. If for no other reason it has the delightfully bonkers "Wild Packs of Family Dogs". 

12. THE WEAKERTHANS - LEFT AND LEAVING ( 4.0 STARS )

     John K. Samson is one of my favorite songwriters and should be the Poet Laureate of Canada, or at least Winnipeg. Left and Leaving is a 4 Star album just on the strength of three of my favorite Weakerthans songs; "Aside", "Watermark", and "This is a Fire Door Never Leave Open". I've posted about this before, so I won't rehash it here. The only thing keeping this at 4 Stars is that the album kind of drags in the second half, though the lyrics are still great. 

11. THE WHITE STRIPES - De Stijl ( 4.0 STARS )

     I've posted about this one as well. Except, at that time they hadn't yet been elected to the Rock Hall. They are one of the most important bands of the 2000's and were key to the garage revival movement. However, there is plenty of love for the Blues and Jimmy Page on De Stijl, as well. I still kick myself for never going to see them in Detroit when I could have, back in the day. Please get back together Jack and Meg. Peace.