It’s that time of the decade where people are compiling all kinds of lists. Richard Skanse of Texas Music Magazine asked me to give him my top ten of the decade for a big list they are compiling. I balked at first, unable to come up with more than two or three, but when Richard reminded me that it was my favorite albums of the decade and not The Best Albums of the decade, it was no trouble at all.

I’ve spent this decade working in the Texas Music industry. Though I have favorite albums outside of this genre from the last 10 years, it has been Texas Music that has defined me for the decade, so I thought this list should reflect that as well.

In no particular order:

Mike McClure Band – Everything Upside Down (2004)
Re-inventing himself after departing Red Dirt stalwarts, the Great Divide. I listen to this record on 11.

Ryan Bingham – Dead Horses/Mescalito (2006/2007)
We called it Dead Horses; Lost Highway called it Mescalito. To-may-to/To-mah-to

Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (2002)
SxSW darling, multi-platinum sales, Grammys, and a Malcolm Gladwell piece in the New Yorker. This album hits on all cylinders.

Sam Baker – Mercy (2004)
If this guy isn’t the best lyricist to grace the state since the passing of Townes, then I’m a three-headed duck.

Dixie Chicks – Home (2002)
Amidst a lawsuit with Sony Records the band decided, the hell with it, let’s just make a record we want to make. I, for one, am glad they did.

Ryan Bingham – Roadhouse Sun (2009)
The rarest sight in the Texas/Red Dirt firmament – an artist evolving.

Jack Ingram – Electric (2002)
After making the best record of his career – and it’s not even close – and having it do very little commercially, Jack decided to play the game “their” way. He’s been successful, but this record is a great reminder of the reservoir of talent that lies beneath the surface.

Rodney Parker and 50 Peso Reward – the Lonesome Dirge (2008)
After a paint-by-Texas-numbers debut, these guys switched from watercolors to oils and started all over again. The end result on the Lonesome Dirge is the freshest sounding Texas CD of the decade. I’m amazed that more people aren’t talking about this record. Eventually, they will.

Now for my two guilty pleasures on this list. These are both records I worked very hard on and remain proud of:

The Groobees – Buy One Get Eleven Free (2001)
This album became the band’s swan song just two short months after it was released.

Randy Rogers Band – Like It Used To Be (2002)
A difficult birth. (I’m looking at you, Hector.) We still get new albums in the  LoneStarMusic inbox that use this disc as their blueprint.

I’m a big fan in the hidden track, the extra footage in movies after the credits, and so on. In that spirit:

Slaid Cleaves – Broke Down (2000)
Hey, if we’re counting this as the last year of the decade (technically incorrect, but I’m riding the wave), then we get to count 2000 as the first year of the decade. Splitting calendar hairs aside, there’s no question this is a great record and still remains Slaid’s best.