First, let me just say that I'm often accused of only liking "oddly brooding epic music," (as this picture might imply) but I think this list is going to shoot that theory down completely. Secondly, let me say the picture that is accompanying today is only because it's been a really weird day. It wasn't meant to be this sad or stark, that's just how it turned out. Thirdly, finishing this list was a really nice way to escape from everything.
And I know, these end of the decade lists are supposed to go up before the end of the decade, but what can I say? I needed an extension. Like all favorite lists, this is clearly subjective. These are my songs, my jams, and quite frankly, they're not even always THE best songs. They're just the ones that got a lot of rotation at chez sabs or are "good" for sentimental reasons.
I only let myself choose one song from an artist, so there were some tough decisions. I'm not even sure I'm going to agree with myself a few months from now let alone at the end of another decade. I'm also sure to regret a few newer songs on there, and I'll probably fall in love with a band that didn't even make the list this time around.
And finally, the numbers are just there to prove the list is at 100. The final top ten are in order, but the rest are broken down into categories in no particular order. It was just easier this way.
- Fischerspooner - Emerge
100% cheeseball, 100% fun. This song epitomizes the electroclash pomp and circumstance of the early aughts and my early 20s. And besides, fun fact, I almost got kicked out of a Fischerspooner concert. - Panda Bear – Comfy in Nautica
When this came out, I was over Animal Collective, but gave this album a listen anyway. Was really glad I did. I imagine this is the music Brian Wilson would be making if he was a hipster of the aughts. - Figurine – IMpossible
I think this song sums up 2001 for me (even if I didn't hear it until the end of the year). I was living in Cambridge and Randall was on the other side of the world. Our relationship was completely IM based and it was difficult to maintain. Twelve point text cannot replace five minutes with you face to face. - Animal Collective – My Girls
This is actually one of my favorites of 2009. I realize it's a bit cliched, but it's such an amazing song. After seeing them in a really lackluster performance, I actually stopped listening to AC completely. But then this song came out and I fell in love all over again. - Ladytron – Playgirl
When this album came out, I was pretty sure it was meant for me. It was called Commodore Rock afterall. I saw them at a club in London with Leslie. I was bored, but the song is still brilliant. - Ratatat – Seventeen Years
I've been rapping for about seventeen years, okay. There's something about the harsh sounds on this that I just love. - Röyksopp – Eple
Put this song on, get into a convertible, drive down the street. I just absolutely love the bleeps and bloops and sound of it all. - Postal Service – Such Great Heights
This is pretty much pop music at its finest. Glitchpop and indierock met and had a baby and it was amazing. I know it's over played, but you're lying to yourself if you say it's a bad song. - Looper – Mondo 77
You may remember this from the Xerox ad, but I remember it as the amazing opening track from the Geometrid. It's weird glitches and drum beats and trumpets just pull me in each time. I dare you not to dance. - Schneider TM – The Light 3000
The original version of this song is one of my absolute favorites of all time. I listened to it in college way too often. So when glitchpop came into vogue, you better believe I put this on heavy rotation. - Lali Puna – Together in Electric Dreams
Another electropop song that's a cover of something from the 80s. To be honest I don't even know the Human League version. I just know that the weird telephone line sounding vocals and whispers make me feel a little sad and yet calm at the same time. - LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great
LCD Soundsystem is another band that I saw live and hated (to be fair they were playing in a cement basement in Sacramento with the world's crappiest acoustics -- everything sounded like a wall of electro sludge at about a bajillion decibels). Usually once a band falls out of favor I never spin their tracks again. But this one, this one is a great song. - Deer Tracks – Slow Collision
Maybe this was me wanting to relieve the glitchy sounds of the first half of the decade, but when I first heard this song from swedish band Deer Tracks I went gaga. I could not stop listening. The la la la is just haunting. - A Silver Mt. Zion – Stumble Then Rise On Some Awkward Morning
I remember lying on my living room listening to this song. There was only one light coming in from the lamppost outside. It sounds dreary but I remember being so amazed by the entire album. - Sigur Ros – Staralfur
This one was a tough call, technically it came out in 99, but was released in the UK in 2000 and US in 2001. It was also a tough call in that it's not necessarily my favorite Sigur Ros track - I prefer the more epic 8th track from (). However this one makes me think of cambridge years, trips to iceland, and zissou. Essentially it makes me think of nearly all of my favorite people and that makes it worthy of the list. - BlackHeart Procession – Tropics of Love
I love how the moodiness of this song pairs so well with it's tropical flair. I'm not even that huge of a BHP fan, but this song gets me every time. - Bjork – Pagan Poetry
Randall and I were lucky enough to see Bjork in a church in london with a few hundred other people. It was one of the most intimate concerts I've ever been to. She walked right past us when she walked in singing. Although to be honest, the end of this song "I love him I love him" always makes me a little embarrassed for her. Pull yourself together dear, you're making a fool of yourself. He knows you love him. He knows. - Broken Social Scene & Fiest – Lover’s Spit
I am sort of breaking my own rules here. BSS is on this list twice, but I consider this song to be Feist covering BSS. I love how slow and moody it is compared to the original. I can't even tell you the number of times I've spun this track, it is one of my absolute faves. - Beach House – Used to Be
A new contender from 2009, this song just makes me think of old houses and sleepy days. Especially the acoustic beach version. - Electrelane – Film Music
This band makes me want to play a farfisa. It is also four gals rocking out, and I think that's what I've always wanted to be part of. It's also a bit moody, and makes me think of riding the trains in England. - Band of Horses – Funeral
I love a song that leads you in slowly and then just kabooms. My only wish is that someone never said to me "his voice sounds like Perry Farrel" because sadly, that's all I hear now. Fun fact: Bmoney took their band photos because it is a small world like that. - Bat for Lashes - Daniel
I think Daniel is a better song, but if I was being true to myself, I probably should've put What's a Girl to Do? on this list instead. Even though I think Daniel is a better song, based on videos alone, I would have prefered to vote for Donnie Darko homage over Karate Kid. Oh well, Daniel-son won that round. - Walkmen – The Rat
It was really hard to pick just one Walkmen song. But this one is just so angry and powerful and so energetic. I dare say if I was ranking all the songs, this would've been number 11. And not just because they turned it up that high. - Los Campesinos – We Throw Parties You Throw Knives
That accent, those harmonies, the lyrics. This is a party I want to go to. - Black Kids – Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance
Despite their awful band name, these kids released one of the most solid tracks of the decade. That summer this song spun non-stop. Even when Randall asked if we could listen to something else. - Cloud Room – Hey Now Now
I never knew my old college pal J had this song in him. From the jangly get go he and his pals double dog dare you to cut up a rug. Fun fact: You can sing his song at the karaoke places in SF's Japantown. I wish i went with him and bridget when they filmed him doing it. - British Sea Power – Carrion
Something about the jangly guitars, the british accent, the whispering and the driving drums just makes me want to sway my hips. - Guillemots – Trains to Brazil
The songs in this category don't really need much explaining. They come on, you get up, you dance. It's just that simple. - Phoenix - Lisztomania
I may regret putting this particular Phoenix song on the list over others (say the one in the car commercial), but come on. This one has been mashed up to the brat pack and several other tributes too. I just want the gang to get together and do this in PDX next time we're all there. - We Are Scientists – Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
I remember loving this stupid video. It felt like BB's Sabotage, but stupid, and with a guy in a bear suit. - Kings of Convenience – I’d Rather Dance With You
This song is actually the antithesis of KoC, and when I told Randall that it was on my list he said that he always skips over it, but I love it. Maybe it's because I've shared a dance floor with Mr. Oye once (true story, he was out at a club in London that Leslie and I went to) and just picture him dancing. Fun fact: An illustration I made of KoC was once illegal used in an ad for the Great American Music Hall. - Faint – Southern Belles in London
This one makes me think of Amy. It also makes me move my feet real fast. - The Strokes – Last Nite
Okay, so technically I might prefer Hard to Explain as a song. But Last Nite is a dancing jam. I remember putting this song on and dancing around my oddly-furnished flat in Cambridge. Also many years later, this jam gets folks on the floor, so it wins for that reason alone. - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction
The Pains aren't doing anything that I haven't heard before, but they're doing it really well. Barrage of guitar, sweet backing female vocals, talk of libraries and coming of age. How can you not love it? - Bravery – An Honest Mistake
Camille once told me that this was nearly the "perfect" song. It sort of sums up a chunk of the Tower years. Dance party twister, shows at the weirdest venue in Orangevale, and great pals I never see anymore. - Communique – Perfect Weapon
I was introduced to this band by an indie label rep during my Tower days. It wasn't anything he was expecting me to love, but this song just did me in. For some reason I always think Communique is what Interpol would sound like if they caught a dancepunk virus. - Yo La Tengo – Cherry Chapstick
It was difficult to choose just one YLT song. You Can Have It All is probably my current fave, but I remember sitting in my living room at the weird crappy table with my shittyass computer speakers blaring this song on repeat. I may have danced in circles in my socks. - TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
There's a driving drum beat, there's a lowfi electric noise, there's howling forever. - Car Sick Cars – Zhong Nan Hai
There's nothing in this you haven't heard before (except maybe the Chinese), Car Sick Cars does 90s era Sonic Youth in a way that makes it exciting again. It's almost impossible to not bounce along. Although truth be told, the reverb wall of sound bit at the end does put a little bit of awkwardness on the dancefloor. - Coldplay - Clocks
On the record, I hate Coldplay. Randall is a fan and I mock him to no end. Off the record, this song is pretty great. It's actually become a joke in our household. If you oversleep the other one puts this song on real loud. You get "clocked" out of bed. Plus Randall's only ever done karaoke once in his life and it was this song. It was super genius. - Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out of My Head
You are lying to yourself if you don't like this song. Randall wants me to mention that it's especially good when it's mixed with New Order's Blue Monday. - Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous
The summer this song came out I was living by myself 4 days a week in a big old house. I'd just put it on and have a dance party. I can't explain it's pretty terrible, but I LOVED it. I also couldn't believe it was Nelly Furtado. - The Shins – Caring is Creepy
I was never a huge Shins fan. And I think I snobbily disliked them on the Garden State principle. However when I put my pretention aside, I have to remember that I really did love this song. - Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
Quit lying, you know this song is on your list too. My favorite memory of it is me and bao singing at the top of lungs in a uhual truck while baby james sat between us bewildered. - U2 – Beautiful Day
You may not know this, but I am a U2 fan. In fact, I used to be a HUGE U2 fan. I have entire drawer filled with cassette tapes full of bootleg shows from the 80s and 90s to prove it. When the Pop album came out in ‘97, I didn’t love it, but still went to the shows (say what you will about Bono and his politics, but that man can put on an amazing show). However I kept hoping that they’d come out with one more album that was solid and good. You know, something to wash the Pop album down. They did and this song, while a bit adult contemporary for my usual tastes, is amazing. As an aside, I’m hoping they come out with one more good album to wash down the last album too. - Modest Mouse – Float On
My favorite Modest Mouse is still the Desert/Tundra swearing yelling angry era, but there's no denying it, this song is catchy. Johnny Marr's addition to the Mouse was so odd at the time, but I get it now. I'm glad a whole new generation gets a taste of the jangly guitar. Fun fact: I have seen modest mouse live several times and have actually fallen asleep two of them. - Outkast - Bombs over Baghdad
Okay, this one is a bit weird. I was fully ready to put Hey Ya! on this list (as it was spun an uncountable number of times in my household). But in all honesty, the more I listen to each tune, the more I think BOB wins. And even though it came out early in the aughts, if you look at the state of the world now, it's pretty apropo. I'm sure I'm giving it extra points for that, but what are you gonna do? - Stars - Your Ex-Lover is Dead
I wouldn't call it brooding, although it does start off with a quote about setting yourself on fire. I love the guitar build and the strings. I also think about the tour they did with the Dears and that weird show in Modesto in that giant auditorium with just 7 people in the audience. - Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Strings, swells, harmonies and more. Something about this song just makes me happy. - Ballboy - A Day in Space
Lo-fi, Scottish accents, and talk about going to space. It's as if this song was engineered for me. Plus much later in the decade juju became good pals with mr. ballboy and that makes it even better. - The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize
This song makes me think of the year with all the weddings. Kimra and Pete got married soon before we did, and Randall doesn't dance. At K&P's wedding I made him promise he'd dance with me once. This was the song. - Regina Spektor - Us
I actually didn't want to like Regina Spektor. I was pretty biased before I heard her (generally speaking pianos and female vocals sort of drive me insane), but then I heard this song and my cold heart melted. Also this song makes me think of Tower and that funny back conference room and politely rummaging through boxes of CDs. - Broadcast - Come On Let's Go
The early part of the decade saw a lot of love for Warp records. This song makes me think of Wes and Juju, and sunny days in Santa Cruz. - Pulp - Bad Cover Version
The video for this song is probably the most amazing video ever recorded. And while I love this song a thousandfold the video just seals the deal. The song is called Bad Cover Version, and in the video (which has a different audio track than the real version) it's all celebrity impersonators performing this track We Are The World style. That ladies and gentlemen, is why cheeky ol' Pulp will always be a fave of mine. - Sondre Lechre - Two Way Monologue
Truth be told, I prefer the edited for radio version of this song. It just delivers the goodness so much faster. I was introduced to this on a sampler provided by then Caroline Chris. Those were some fun days. Sometimes I miss the industry, and sometimes I wonder how I even ended up there to begin with. - The Doves - There Goes the Fear
Randall's New Order obsession pays off big time with this one. (They once recorded a song with Bernard Sumner.) It's rather epic, but jangly at the same time. I dare you not to rock along. - Tilly & The Wall – Sing Songs Along
They don't have a drummer, they have a tap dancer instead. How can you not call this awesome? - American Analog Set - Hard to Find
Something about this song is just breezy and dreamlike. Drive up and down the coast and call it a day. - Asobi Seksu - Thursday
This song takes all of the lovely stuff I love from the shoegaze era, and fuses it with a bit of dream pop. Incredibly poppy and super daydream catchy. - Caribou – Melody Day
I love the sunny beach feeling it brings. Mostly I love the cymbal crashes and tambourines. As an aside, it always makes me think of Randall, mostly because he was the one who "discovered" them for us. - Chemical Brothers - Golden Path
This is another one that makes me think of Randall. CB is one of "his" bands. I also remember demanding we put this song on and literally put the top down. I sometimes miss those convertible days. - Peter, Bjorn, and John - Young Folks
I'm usually not an I heard this band first sort of person, but I remember hearing this song almost a year before it was everywhere. And by everywhere I mean everywhere. I remember hearing random people on the muni whistling it. And if you don't know, then do check it out. Bongos and whistles and it's actually really good. - Broken Social Scene - Cause=Time
I know, I said each artist could only make this list once. But here it is BSS made it twice. It's a big Canadian hipster music collective, and so I think of the other song as a Feist one, and this one as a BSS song. Love this song, but if I think too hard about it, it reminds me that live, BSS is essentially a hipster jam band. I'm not yet ready to admit to that. - Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love
Coming in at 2 minutes, this song is a pure pop explosion. You can't hurry love, but pop happiness rushes right on in. - Teddybears Stockholm - Yours to Keep
This is a confusing entry in that there are really four or five versions of this song. This version, which is the version of Teddybears' Rock'n'Roll Highschool album and features Paola on vocals (not to be confused with the other more rockin/electro version that features Paola). It's the only version worth listening to as far as I'm concerned. I love her low-fi vocals and the weird space noises. Also, this band confuses me. Are they grindcore, pop, electro, or what? - Belle & Sebastian - Stay Loose
I probably should stop lying to myself. B&S's decade didn't really wow me the way the previous decade did. This one is there purely for sentimental reasons. And while there were probably more obvious choices, Jonathan David perhaps, I have always been really fond of this song. - Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
Jarvy is one of the best chanteur's of our time. The story telling and snide voice and over orchestration of everything just really does it for me. And those moves. Gah, how can you ignore those moves. - Camera Obscura - Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
It's poppy, it's jangly, and you can sing, bounce, and dance to it. And while the Lloyd in question is an oblique reference, I prefer thinking that she's talking about Lloyd "Say Anything" Dobler. - Gorillaz - Tomorrow Comes Today
Damon Albarn + Ape Rock (literally look at the band name) + melodica + Jamie Hewlett animation = Ah, maze. And haters who say Feel Good should've been on this list instead, just keep hating. I love the broodiness of this one. - The Beta Band - Squares
This is not the song that will sell five copies of their EP (High Fidelity reference), but it's better. And it has the same Daydream sample that was used by I Monster at the exact same time. I think you can tell where my loyalties went. - Beyonce vs. Unkle - Crazy In Love With My Unkle
Beyonce's Crazy in Love (which almost made this list on its own) was mashed up with one of my favorite songs of all time (Unkle's Be There). The result totally defines the aughts. After all I think the second half of this decade was all about the mashup. And two great tastes now taste great together. Also, I have no idea where Randall even got this track. A google search gives you nothing. It's as if it never existed. - DJ Dangermouse - 99 Problems
Speaking of mashups, I'm really confused by how DJ Dangermouse didn't make most of the tastemakers best of the decade lists. I thought we were all apeshit for the Grey Album. I know I was. - Deltron 3030 - 3030
NASA samples, Del, Dan the Automator, Kid Koala and Damon Albarn all tied up in a neat little concept album about fighting huge corporations in the space future. I don't know if it got much more ape rocking that that. - Nigo - Kung Fu Fightin'
Nigo, the Planet of the Apes fanatic/Bathing Ape head honcho, puts out a ridiculously fun track full of ridiculous samples, Asian instrumentals, and apes. It also makes me think of the trip to Tokyo where Randall tagged along on my buisiness trip like he was Scarlett Johannson in Lost in Translation or something. - RJD2 - The Horror
While A Beautiful Mine might be RJ's most famous track (it's in the opening credits for Mad Men afterall), The Horror is handsdown the best. - Roots Manuva - Witness (1 Hope)
This song fuses a lot of genres that I'm not actually that into (dancehall, ragga, rap), and rolls it up into a nice little package. Maybe I'm just mesmerized by the British accent, but I like to think the weird bleeps, bloops and (i can't describe the noise ) beats are what seals the deal. - Unkle - Burn My Shadow
Unkle is one of the bands that has really molded my tastes over the past decade. It's a bit dark, a bit creepy, and just all out amazing. Note, it was a toss up between Shadow and Eye for an Eye, which for the record, makes me think of lithography class. - Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes
If 15 years ago you'd have told me that I'd love a whole genre of "indie folk" I'd have thought you were nuts. But folks, I've learned to love the fiddle and the glockenspiel, and while Lull might have been a turning point, Fake Palindromes wins for its pop-music sensibilities. - The New Pornographers - Letter from an Occupant
Neko Case's voice is so intriguing to me, in these earlier years it was a little more raw and slightly grating, but for me that's what made it so amazing. I remember listening to this song on tinny laptop speakers and just dancing about. To be honest, I'm not even sure of the words, I'm pretty positive the line I sing with it is all wrong, but that's okay. - Liam Finn - Second Chance
This song live at Bottom of the Hill was probably one of the most amazing performances I'd ever seen in my life. The amount of energy and emotion that radiates out of Liam Finn is astounding. Just watch this live version, if you start to doubt me, skip ahead to 3 minutes when he switches from guitar (sampling/echoing himself) and goes to drums. Phenomenal. - The Decemberists - Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect
This band sings songs about old timey things. It's also one of Randall's favorites. For some reason that always baffles me, but I'm glad he likes them. I don't know if I would've listened if he didn't. - Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around the Block
Jangly, folky, twee and lovely. It makes me quiver like a candle on fire. Also, it's sort of a cheat on this list. The EP with the song came out in August 1999, but I didn't hear it until the album came out the following year. A technicality, but I'm going to let it slide. - Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
I'm already sure that time will prove this to be the wrong GB choice (The Knife or While You Wait come to mind), but I'm going to stick with it anyway. What can I say, I'm a sucker for repetive piano intros and space-sound shimmers. - Mellowdrone - Fashionably Uninvited
I first saw Mellowdrone live as an opening act for Interpol. Normally I don't care much and just tolerate opening acts, but this guy knocked my socks off. He played all the instruments himself and managed to have songs that you could bop your head along to. Imagine seeing this song live looped as sampled as one person jumps from instrument to instrument. - Death Cab for Cutie - Photobooth
I can't believe Ben Gibbard is making the list twice (the other is for his contribution to The Postal Service). But this song was in heavy rotation in 2000 and it's a damn great track. Full disclaimer: I am too snobby to listen to DC4C anymore. - Cinerama - Your Charms
This song gets bonus points for opening with some orchestral tuning, but despite that the song is really solid. Sure everyone said this was The Wedding Present lite, but what if it is? It's still fantastic. Also, D. Gedge once autographed a mousepad for me. That alone has him making this list. - The Microphones - The Moon
I want to say my old housemate Mel really liked this band. I could be wrong. All I know is that this track was in heavy rotation back in 2001/2002 - and then that harddrive died. I forgot about it until a few years ago and am so glad I rediscovered. Such a phenomenal song. - South - Colours in Waves
Starts of quietly and builds up big real quick. This band is like Stone Roses gone Ape Rock. And truth be told, I had a real hard time deciding between this track and Paint the Silence. - Bloc Party - This Modern Love
There's no sentimental attachment to this song, I just like it. I especially love the end and the jangly guitar, and the telephone-sounding vocals. - The Fields - Song for the Fields
Funny story, I actually saw them live, thought it was good but didn't care that much (they were opening for the dears). And then a few months later I heard this song and went WOW. Who is this band? And then realized that I had actually already seen them live. Warning it really rocks out at 1:45.
Remember When We Liked Electronic Music?
My Pal Jeff Once Told Me I Only Like Epic Brooding Music.
It's time for a dance party in my living room. Maybe an angry one.
I'd Be Lying if These Didn't Make The List.
I don't really know what to call this stuff. It's sort of epic, but this time we're not really brooding. Let's call it theatrical.
Throw the top down, we're going for a drive.
I call this stuff Ape Rock. It's a long story, but consider its roots underground hip hop and dance music.
We're folking amazing now, and I use the term "folk" loosely here.
It wouldn't have been the aughts without a bunch of "Indie" music.
And now for the top ten.
10. Park Avenue Music - How's Your 401k?
I am probably a little bit biased (being that these two are my best pals, I've played merch girl on many occassions, and I actually designed the cover art), but this song is just simply amazing. The first time I heard it, I remember feeling incredibly lucky to have friends that were this talented. Juju just uploaded it to their myspace, be sure to check it out.
9. Goldfrapp - Utopia
The first time I heard this song, I don't think I realized that it was her voice making that high noises. This album was the James Bond soundtrack that never was and is just a great chillout hangout makeout lush experience. Also anytime I hear any track from this album, I can't help but think of the Matterhorn house, Clint, and Kaboodle cat.
8. Ian Brown - Stellify
This might be because it’s new (came out fall 2009), but this song is cracking, and it’s his best yet. I had a really hard time deciding though. FEAR is an amazing song as well, but the anthemic march thing going on just blows my mind. Seriously, everytime I hear it, my brain melts a little from awe.
7. M83 - Run Into Flowers
M83 manages to create a giant wall of sound (something that I absolutely adore) out of cold electronic noises. And yet the result is super lush and hypnotic. I don't care what everyone else thinks, I like M83 before they tried to release proper pop songs. This stuff is just a million times more mesmerizing. Although if you want to see mesmerizing, a nice runner up is their song Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun under Spike Jonze's vision for Fully Flared.
6. Interpol - Specialist
I learned about Interpol in early 2001 and got a copy of their early EPs. I remember popping it into my Discman (pre-ipod days, can you even remember those days?) and riding my bike to work. I can't even remember the name of the town my office was in, i just remember having to cross a freeway and having enough time to listen to the EP twice. This song wasn't one of them, but it's better than a time to be small (which was the fave then).
5. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
This album knocks my socks off. To the point where it was difficult to pick just one. In the end I went with #1, because that was the first I'd heard. I still can't believe I decided not to go to the show at Bottom of the Hill. Biggest show regret of 2001.
4. Frozen Feet - Tacks the Boy Disaster
This band was my favorite discovery of the aughts. I wish they'd release a full length, but at the same time, what if it doesn't live up to the EP? This song is pure pop perfection. A jangly guitar, a solid drum rhythym, slightly off-kilter vocals, pianos, and the most amazing toe-tapping sound.
3. Blur - Battery In Your Leg
Blur is probably my favorite band of all time, and this song was the last (for now - hopes) with all four of them on the recording. Damon's voice is sweet and a little sad. You can hear that he, like the rest of us, is getting older, there's something comforting about that thought. Bonus points for the lift off to outerspace guitar swells.
2. Dears - We Can Have It
Randall said I couldn't pick the entire Protest EP since it's actually three songs. The Dears have been my favorite band of the aughts, and selecting a favorite song was next to impossible. Do I go with the first one I ever heard, the crowd pleaser, or current favorite? In the end I went for the one they played when I asked them to. I got the name wrong then (I called it "What We Want" for some reason). They only played it because we were one of 6 people in the audience. It was the weirdest show, but it was sort of magical. Not as magical as the time when the power went out, but it was ours.
1. Radiohead - Idioteque
I know, this is a pretty predictable topper for the list, but what can I say? The song is friggin' genius. Is it pop, is it rock, is it electro? Who cares, it's just amaze. One of my favorite memories is being at the Shoreline in 2001. Despite having field seats, there was something about that night that was amazing. The show was great, and my friends were greater. Maybe it's that I didn't live there and was just visiting. But actually I think it was the huge fighter jets flying over in the sunset. And this song. Absolutely this song.
