For fans of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, their drummer Brian Chase plays on another 2001 album I like, Y by The Seconds.

I watched LISTERS tonight thanks to this list and really enjoyed it. I don't remember hearing anyone else even mention that movie, so thanks for calling attention to it!

Yeah, I can't blame anyone for not being into this. I guess I'd recommend it to anyone who liked the Cardiacs album in the '89 tournament, which I also recall being divisive.

Hope so!

Danielson Famile – FETCH THE COMPASS KIDS
Saved this one for last because it’s definitely not for everyone. But you’ll probably know right away whether you love it or hate it.

The Rapture – OUT OF THE RACES & ONTO THE TRACKS
This is an EP, so album purists can ignore it, but the title track was the first Rapture song I ever heard, and it still rules.

Oneida – ANTHEM OF THE MOON
Yes, another NYC band. Every time I listen to Oneida, I wonder why I don’t listen to them more often. Just a solid rock band, and this is one of their best albums.

Liars - THEY THREW US ALL IN A TRENCH . . .
There were lots of hip indie bands from NYC in the '00s, but I think Liars were the most consistent and underrated. I remember this song being kind of popular, so maybe it's a shoo-in?

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – POCKET SYMPHONIES FOR LONESOME SUBWAY CARS
Owen Ashworth is one of my favorite lyricists. Here, he’s just a guy with a Casio keyboard making a bunch of brilliant and depressing 2-minute character sketches.

The Kiss Offs – ROCK BOTTOM
I’ve already mentioned this one a couple times, but don’t think I’ve converted anyone . . . yet (though Kent gave it a Like!). Punk-inflected rock with dueling male/female vocalists singing about the pow-pow-power of rock n roll. What more could you want?

Willie Nelson – RAINBOW CONNECTION
Don’t dismiss this as a children’s album – I like it way better than my kids ever did. Just a great collection of (mostly) covers that you’ll enjoy whether you’ve got kids or not. (Also, has Willie ever made one of these tournaments?)

Deerhoof – HALFBIRD
The first Deerhoof album I ever heard, and still my favorite of their pre-APPLE O’ releases. It’s also maybe their least known album, so don’t sleep on it!

Atom & His Package – REDEFINING MUSIC
Punk rock by one guy and a sequencer, this was also my introduction to the Mountain Goats since he covers three of their songs here (and a Madonna song). It’s a blast!

I thought it sounded like Kirkland brand Fleet Foxes.

"Half Real" is the best.