This is the first part (the group stage) in Obner's efforts to pick the best album released in the 2000s. In the group stage, there will be 64 groups of 5 albums. The top vote-getter in each group will advance to the 64-album tournament.

Please vote for the album that you feel deserves to be in the tournament. The deadline for this group is Wednesday, August 5 at 1:00PM Eastern Time.

none of today's groups are good

I dunno....I've never spent much time with Smile as I'm not a huge Brian Wilson fan and didn't get what it really offered over Smiley Smile. It also seems a little like it's not really an 00's album in the same sense as the others. But I don't like the others. Abstain.

Only heard the Shins and it doesn't do anything for me.

Also, no more complaints about DBTs get overnominated when M. Ward is in every other group.

true dat...but we finally get a really GOOD m. ward album here at least.

There have only been 3 M. Ward albums I believe.

M. Ward

My favorite Shins record, probably because I got it first.

M. Ward (his best) over Brian Wilson and Dntel.

Really dislike that Shins album.

the shins

Hate "intelligent dance music" even more than "backpacker hip-hop", but vote DNTL by default.

M. Ward over the Shins

Smiley Smile was a total abomination. He intentionally ruined Heroes and Villains by remixing it and burying a lot of the components, and he ruined Wonderful by almost inaudibly whispering the lead vocal over a single, badly eq'd organ line (it was originally one of the standout arrangements). Almost all the tracks that were substitutes for SMiLE tracks on Smiley Smile were inferior, meandering and bad. He omitted many songs, including Surf's Up, which the band later reconstituted against his will, and Cabinessence and Our Prayer, which were tacked on to compilations just to sell them.

SMiLE restored all the original tracks in their intended running order. Although Brian's voice was shredded by years of abuse, the achievement of getting the music and backing vocals so sonically close to the original recordings, as well as the miracle of getting Wilson himself to finish it, makes it such an interesting and unusual story. It's probably a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 without the story, but with the story and Wilson battling those demons for 40 years, in my eyes makes it a 15/10.

eh...I guess I'm just not a fan.

Voted M.Ward despite not owning it, simply to vote against The Shins.

ugh. dntel, i guess.

Chutes

transfig

Veils - obviously underrated here on obner. You guys should check it out. (Specifically Lavinia and The Leavers Dance)

The Leavers Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsb-CE3bgbs&feature=related

The Letter (off newest album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpkJ0WFM7XU

Advice for Young Mothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YowBKqrpJdc&feature=related

Calliope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24rEZS4pD3s&feature=related

I voted Veils and boy am I in the minority. Feels kinda good. Been voting with the winners too often.

Rich, spacious and satisfying guitar sound in that Veils.

I was undecided, but you guys have convinced me to vote Veils.

Never got any of their other albums.

C'moooooon shins. We don't need 14 M. Ward albums.

Normally, among these, I would've voted for that Veils record, which I probably like the best here. I really should check out some of their other work.

BUT, I ended up voting for The Shins in a vote against another M-Ward rekkid.

Besides, I actually think that is The Shins best work. To me it's an overall better album that "Oh, Inverted..". Outside of "Caring is Creepy" and "New Slang", I think "Chutes.." is a far superior record.

Now if they could start putting on a decent live show.

This is the wrong M. Ward to vote against, though. Far, far superior to Transistor Radio, and at least a little better than Post-War.

I won't argue that but it is what it is.

Solid artist. I'm just never moved to pull out any of his records.