Rodrigo: A Life In Music

2000: Juanes (Fijate Bien) | Los Amigos Invisibles (Arepa 3000: A Venezuelan Journey Into Space)

Regardless of what I’ve said in 1999, I’m still a Latin American. Proof? I listened to Juanes’ debut album and it was impressive. As for Los Amigos Invisibles, my first exposure to them was thanks to Doble 9 playing Sexy [MV] from their second album, but Arepa 3000 might be the best album they have pulled off. I’m really glad I saw them live in 2008.

2001: The Strokes (Is This It)

If people still claim to like The Strokes, it’s a safe bet that songs from the Is This It album will be mentioned.

2002: Coldplay (A Rush of Blood to the Head)

I cannot ignore A Rush of Blood to the Head. It’s an amazing album that I whored out a lot when I purchased it at first.

Runner-up: Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane. I really liked their first album, despite radio and nearly everyone overplaying their songs like She Will Be Loved [MV] and This Love [MV]. I don’t blame them — the album’s great, but overexposing songs to me can be a turn-off.

2003: Linkin Park – Meteora

Dammit, I thought I would be hard for me to come up with albums for the first years. Guess what? It was even harder to come up with something for 2003.

While I mostly listen to music in English, for 2003… Dido? Liked some of her songs, but the entire album didn’t have much going for me. Evanescence? Fuck them. 50 Cent? Only if I was drunk. Joss Stone? Really loved her variation of The White Stripes song Fell In Love With A Girl, but I’d curbstomp her for making that Super Duper Love song. Beyoncé? I’ve seen her live and admitted she had a great intro with the Crazy in Love song, but I’m not a fan of her by any means. Limp Bizkit? They jumped the shark in 2001 when Wes Borland left the band and Results May Vary sucked. Thalia? That song she did with Fat Joe somehow got into my head, but not her album. The White Stripes? Julyssa used them first — wise choice, girl. Blink 182? I didn’t expected to see Amy using Blink 182, to be honest. Foo Fighters? I really love Times Like These, but the album it came from was released in 2002. It would have been my top choice. :(

Something from 2003 you need to know? The MTV Video Music Awards show jumped the shark right after Britney Spears and Madonna locked lips (it was hard to give a damn about the VMAs at all after that moment).

Thankfully, I got lucky. I remembered that I used to like Linkin Park years ago. Meteora had Somewhere I Belong, Faint and Numb, songs that helped me through my depressive life… or maybe worsen it, lol. Still, Linkin Park had songs I liked on Meteora. The chorus from Somewhere I Belong stood out very strong to me and still does from time to time.

Chester: I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real.
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve felt so long.
Mike: Erase all the pain til it’s gone!
Chester: I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real.
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along,
Somewhere I belong.

Runner-up: Molotov – Dance and Dense Denso. It had Here We Kum and Frijolero as well as other good songs.

2004: Franz Ferdinand (Franz Ferdinand)

From here on out, the main selections will be bands that were considered as indie musicians before their album release with one or two exceptions. Has there ever been an album as entertaining as Franz Ferdinand’s debut album? It’s Franztastic!