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Music Features

Albums of the decade

10 discs you should own

By CHARLIE GAYLORD | December 23, 2009

More Decade in Review

READ: Sam Pfeifle's " ‘Hit the Ground’: Portland’s Top 10 songs of the decade "

READ: " Local luminaries’ picks: A sample of other ‘best songs of the 2000s’ "

READ: " Growing Maine culture: A look back at the highlights of the decade "

I somehow stumbled into a radio gig playing local music at the beginning of this decade and subsequently had a ringside seat for a lot of what transpired. Though I'm a bit of a carpetbagger (I moved to Maine in 1992) I think we can safely say that this past decade was far and away the greatest decade ever for Maine music. It's really quite incredible when you consider the confluence of local radio, print media, clubs, engineers, promoters, local industry people, and assorted hangers-on who made the scene what it is today. So here's the list of my favorite CDs from 2000-2009. I realize there was also lot of great hard rock, hip-hop, and other assorted indie music made in the decade that did not make my cut, but this list includes the albums I liked best.

New Way Out | Rustic Overtones | 2009

Released just in time to make this list, New Way Out is hands-down the crowning local music achievement of the decade. Just when it seemed Rustic's influence might be waning on the local scene, they come back with their finest album ever. It's a dense, layered work that is even more astounding when you factor in that it was recorded by the band themselves in their less than state-of-the-art practice space. "Love And a 45," "Downside Of Looking Up," and the title track are jaw-droppers and if there is any justice in the musical cosmos, this album will break them nationally.