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In the past ten years, pop stardom met reality TV, the mobile phone met the MP3 player, and music stores and record labels met their doom. Some say that as a result, music has never been so democratic and accessible. Others claim it has never sounded worse. We find out ...

Listen to today's Smackdown with New York Times pop music critic Jon Pareles and Newsday pop music critic Glenn Gamboa. And: leave a comment and cast your vote in our Best Albums of the Decade listener poll.

We have another two weeks before this decade, the first of the 21^st century, officially ends. I sort of liked Time magazine’s recent name for it: “The Decade From Hell.”  I suspect almost everyone associated with the music recording industry would agree with that wholeheartedly.

Neon Indian
"Deadbeat Summer"
Playing at: Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston St., East Village)
Get: Tickets SOLD OUT | Directions

The Antlers
"Two"
Playing at: Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St., L.E.S.)
Get: Tickets (SOLD OUT) | Directions

When the Fiery Furnaces hit the stage, it's all about their lead singer.

David Binney
"Third Occasion"
Playing at: 55 Bar (55 Christopher St., Greenwich Village)
Get: Tickets ($12 at door) | Directions