Bands of a Generation: A Decade in Retrospect

As the clock changed from 2009 to 2010 this January, we not only welcomed in a new year, but a new decade. The decade that most recently ended saw many changes come about in the music industry, both good and bad. More and more do-it-yourself bands' hard work began to pay off, as the underground scenes flourished. However, the 00's began the losing battle every artist now faces with illegal downloads and file sharing. A leaked album is now not a threat but a fact, and artists must now fight for every dollar they make. And while the internet has essentially killed the need for physical copies of an album, and downloading has eliminated the need to pay for music at all, there were still a high amount of quality bands that either formed, emerged, or became superstars in their own rights throughout the decade. Therefore, the inaugural post of this blog is dedicated to those bands. In no order or preference, these are the bands that helped define the decade that was:

Blink-182
Why they're here: It's tough to find a pop-punk band these days that isn't influenced by the holy triumvirate of Mark, Tom and Travis. While it can be said that their best albums were made in the 90s, I believe that what puts Blink in this discussion is the attention they got when the group parted ways. Sure, Tom DeLonge achieved a decent amount of success with Angels and Airwaves, but from the day the band broke up until that fateful night at the Grammys where the band announced their reformation, all anyone could talk about was how good this band was when they existed, and what they would do to see them again. Thankfully, these wishes were granted, and the band reformed with a megatour in the summer of 2009. Who was on that tour, you ask? The likes of Fall Out Boy, Weezer, the All-American Rejects, Panic at the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, and Valencia, among many others, all of whom sacrificed headlining tours to open for the band that opened the door for pop-punk into the mainstream. Whether we ever get another album from Blink 182 or not, there's no doubt that the band's influence will be felt long after their stay in the limelight ends.
What sets them apart: It has to be the way they grew into a larger-than-life type of band after their break-up. This is the only band who released the bulk of their discography in the 1990s on the list, but the way this band has impacted (and will continue to impact) teens and college kids is unparalleled by any band out there. Blink's spot among the top pop-punk acts in music history is forever reserved, thanks to their notorious sense of humor and their die-hard fanbase.

Brand New
Why they're here: From 2002's Your Favorite Weapon to the most recently released Daisy (2009), no band on this list has changed their music more often than Brand New. The band created a pop-punk classic with Weapon, then rose to the top of the emo world with the impeccable Deja Entendu, and when it seemed they were ready for world domination, Jesse Lacey and Co. took the road less traveled, which resulted in the much darker The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me. The album created a big void between their fans, who were left longing for the Deja/ Weapon days. The band rarely played anything from their first two records (and rarely played any of their previous singles), and as the band's relationship with its fans grew more and more tense, the band released the even darker Daisy, which seems to be Jesse Lacey's way of saying "I'm not going to write what you want me to write, I'll write what I want to write." And it appears fans wouldn't have it any other way.
What sets them apart: Brand New really could have been the next big thing. After Deja blew them up on the magazine and late-nite TV circuit, mainstream success seemed like the only possible step for the band. However, the band's previous two releases have proved that mainstream recognition isn't what they're after: it's all about the music for these guys, and the fans are all the better for it. Brand New has grown and matured with their fans from Weapon to Daisy, and that has allowed for fans to create a deeper connection to the band than many will ever know or understand. Brand New have reinvented themselves with every release, and have somehow been able to keep a steady fan base throughout their career, which is a true testament to the band's commitment to growing and maturing with each release.

Fall Out Boy
Why they're here: Formed in the Chicago hardcore scene, these pop-punk princes have risen to the top at an alarming rate, and have created some gems for everyone along the way. While some fans call their more recent efforts over-saturated and not as good as their earlier releases, while new fans enjoy the pop simplicity of the new material in favor of the harder-hitting earlier material. While Take this to Your Grave and From Under the Cork Tree will forever be in my heart as classics, I can't help but say that the band's last two releases have let me down. However, the way the band was thrust into the spotlight is a sign that all bands react to success differently (just ask Brand New), and Grave and Cork Tree are more than enough to hold me over, despite the seemingly half-hearted efforts they've released recently.
What sets them apart: Sell-outs or not, no one writes a more stinging pop-punk song than the tandem of Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump. No band will ever write another "Grand Theft Autumn," or even a "Sugar, We're Going Down." Fall Out Boy's early releases are so strong that many fans have abandoned hopes of hating them for "selling out," and have given into one of the best guilty pleasure bands in history. Whether you love the band, hate the guys, or just don't get the music, there's no doubt that before you die, you'll have at least one Fall Out Boy song stuck in your head at some point.

Jimmy Eat World
Why they're here: When "The Middle" first reached the ears of radio executives, the star of Jimmy Eat World was born. However, many casual music fans only know the band for their one mainstream hit, and that is one of the biggest travesties in music today. There is so much more to the band than that single, and the emotionally jarring Futures proves that. The band have seemingly never let their fans down with a release, and continue to make good, honest, heartfelt rock that is accessible to anyone. They may never outgrow the monster single "The Middle" turned into, but true fans of the band will quickly tell you of the wondrous release that is Clarity, while others will point to Futures or Bleed American and even Chase This Light as their strongest  release. And the truth is, there isn't really a wrong answer here.
What sets them apart: Jimmy Eat World simply have a knack for making their fans happy. They find new ways to reinvent themselves with each release, yet stay the same band that those fans fell in love with in the first place. They make some of the catchiest, most emotional blend of rock you may ever hear, and their music continues to be accessible to fans new and old.

Death Cab for Cutie
Why they're here: When indie music took over in the mid-2000s, Death Cab emerged as the genre's first sure-fire superstars. Death Cab went from one of the best bands no one knew about to one of the best bands period in a very short time, and fans seemed to be proud of the band's success, rather than afraid of it. This was seen when the band's most recent album, Narrow Stairs, was well-received by major critics and die-hard fans of the band alike. Death Cab has, like many of the bands here, evolved from the little band in your back pocket to the band you remembered knowing before they were huge, and I'd have to say Death Cab has changed the least since their success, for better or for worse. They simply continue to bring their blend of emo/indie pop to the table, and fans continue to eat it up.
What sets them apart: They've essentially written the "Wonderwall" of this decade with "I Will Follow You Into the Dark," but it's Death Cab's commitment to their craft that separates them from just about everyone else. They've done very little to change their sound over the years, yet they still find a way to make their product fresh and new for their fans to enjoy. Their creativity within their genre is admirable, and they show no signs of stopping.

To tell the truth, there were so many more bands that could have made this list ahead of these five. And that's the true beauty of music: it hits everyone differently. That being said, I'll turn it over to you: who did I miss? What did I say wrong? Who would be on your list? I'd love to hear from you.