The 10 Best Progressive Rock Albums of the 2000s
This list is a reflection of the many great efforts of progressive rock artists of the 2000s and a tribute to the style’s most important musician of the decade.
Brice Ezell
Brice Ezell has written for PopMatters since 2011. His cultural criticism has also appeared in Consequence of Sound, Glide Magazine, and Sea of Tranquility. He is a PhD candidate in the Department of English at the University of Texas.
M83 Get Lost in the Synth Clouds of ‘Fantasy’
With a bloated runtime and a tendency toward monochromatic synth textures, M83’s ninth studio record Fantasy indulges one too many of the group’s clichés.
Nickel Creek Repeat Themselves Anew on ‘Celebrants’
Celebrants finds Nickel Creek returning after nearly a decade. Sean and Sara Watkins tell PopMatters about finding creativity in repetition and their ambitious new album.
Belgian Rockers dEUS Wonder ‘How to Replace It’
The long-running Belgian rock outfit dEUS’ first LP in 11 years is a mixed bag, but it shows that they haven’t lost their experimental verve.
The 10 Best Warren Zevon Lyrics
With Warren Zevon’s acerbic, graceful, and macabre wit still lingering long after his death, we look back on his most lasting lyrical contributions.
Lera Lynn Hits a Career High with ‘Something More Than Love’
Lera Lynn’s ability to balance some of her most personal lyrical matter with a newfound pop ebullience comes through resoundingly on Something More Than Love.
Porcupine Tree Return with a Question Mark on ‘Closure/Continuation’
Closure/Continuation captures and rejuvenates the cerebral and melancholic mood that’s Porcupine Tree’s signature, but uncertainty hangs over the proceedings.
The ‘Limitless’ Sondre Lerche
Norwegian songwriter Sondre Lerche calls Avatars of Love “a really fluid manifestation of song that I’ve hoped for my entire life, and maybe not even dared to dream that I could have.”
Judge – or Let the Market Be the Judge
Michael W. Clune argues that a popular mantra about art – everyone’s judgment is equal – impedes our ability to imagine a world outside of the capitalist marketplace.
Rhiannon Giddens Remains Timeless and Contemporary on ‘They’re Calling Me Home’
Rhiannon Giddens, joined by collaborator Francesco Turrisi, has put together a set of new and traditional songs exemplifying her rootedness in music history.
Ben Howard Becomes More Abstract on ‘Collections from the Whiteout’
Ben Howard’s Collections from the Whiteout, produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner, presents a refracted take on the singer-songwriter album.
The 10 Best Progressive Rock Albums of 2011
In 2011, there were only a few high-quality progressive rock albums, but those that stood out are some of the best the genre had seen in a while.