Top 100 Songs of the Millennium (2000-2019) - #20-11
Posted: May 6th, 2020, 2:30 pm
Home stretch, people!!
#20
CHIEN
Badly Drawn Boy, The Shining (2000)
Ok so this song wasn’t supposed to be in this list. I had forgotten it when preparing this countdown. I realized it when we were around 50 or 60. And then a bit later I realized I had a problem with my list, I had a song listed twice on it. At first I was pissed and panicking, because we were around #25. Then I realized it was the opportunity to include “The Shining”. Honestly, it would have appeared lower on my list, but I still love that beautiful song. I love how there is something majestic about it, and yet at the same time very fragile and intimate.
GEEZER
Rise Against, Behind Closed Doors (2006)
"Chairs thrown and tables toppled,
Hands armed with broken bottles,
Standing no chance to win but,
We're not runnin', we're not runnin'.
There's a point I think we're missin',
It's in the air we raise our fists in,
In the smiles we cast each other,
My sister, my brother."
If you can hear these lyrics and not shout "Well, that certainly sounds like something that would speak to Geezer," you clearly haven't been paying attention. Which is why despite my problems with the band's direction over the last several years, this track from The Sufferer and the Witness, still remains my favorite, and still belongs in my top 20.
JOHNERLE
Steve Earle, Ashes To Ashes (2002)
"Now, nobody lives forever and nothing stands the test of time
Oh, you heard 'em say, "Never say never"
But it's always best to keep it in mind that every tower ever built tumbles
No matter how strong, no matter how tall
Someday even great walls will crumble and every idol ever raised falls
Someday even man's best laid plans will lie twisted and covered in rust
We've done all that we can but it slipped through our hands
And it's ashes to ashes and dust to dust"
Steve Earle wrote these lyrics shortly after 9-11 during the Iraq War and Dubya administration. Looking back on it now, I wonder if he feels he was being too optimistic?
Also: Amerika 6.0, The Truth
LEESTU
Tropical Fuck Storm, Rubber Bullies (2018)
Gareth Liddiard from The Drones formed a new band and took them in an even more exciting direction. Their debut album, A Laughing Death In Meatspace, is a top 5 album of the year for me, with so many great songs, but this song narrowly beats out You Let My Tyres Down as my favourite from their album. An amazing live band who, considering the chaos in their music at times combined with the strong rhythmic nature, and their short time together, is one of the tightest live bands I’ve seen in a while, playing off each other to perfection.
NSPAN
The Rapture, Get Myself Into It (2006)
My "favorite" Rapture track can vary depending on my mood (or the day of the week), but this is the song I ultimately landed on for this countdown. No regrets.
RON B
Bloc Party, Helicopter (2004)
This song takes me back to the party before 18 era. Also, awesome on Guitar Hero.
SCREEN203
Kungs vs. Cookin’ On 3 Burners, This Girl (2015)
This was the song of my summer 2016. Breezy, catchy, and (for it's time, and a remix) somewhat novel (this was pretty much the first "tropical house" song to really break out. While it seems a bit generic now, it has to be on here for its role in history
SHRYKE
Club Des Belugas, Straight to Memphis (2012)
You want ecletic, Chien? Betcha never saw THIS one coming…
I have the honor of having the top comment on YouTube for this video, which is basically a brief description of the artists, which goes like this.
This will blow your minds, but it comes directly from the group's website: Club Des Belugas combines contemporary European Lounge & Nujazz Styles with Brazilian Beats, Swing and American Black Soul of the fifties, sixties and seventies using their unique creativity and intensity. And now the mind-blowing part... they're from Germany.
SIX
LCD Soundsystem, On Repeat (2005)
This is probably the least-loved LCD song of all time. In 2010, when Pitchfork reviewed every single song to honour their split (which turned out to be a hiatus), they pretty much dismissed this track as a pale imitation of their earlier singles. I say with “On Repeat” they perfected their sound. I love how the song is carefully constructed, its elements each gradually coming together, the Krautrock dance rhythm and funky bassline broken up with burst of post-punk guitar noise, all culminating in a glorious medley of self-consciously hip influences.
SURFER
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Whatever Happened To My Rock And Roll (2001)
Taking influence from long-gone British bands of the late '80s and early '90s era such as The Jesus & Mary Chain and Ride, and combining that with the fuzz and reverb of The Velvet Underground and The Stooges, BRMC blasted the cobwebs of the millennial indie scene with a debut record of real swagger. As pounding drums, introspective lyrics and chugging guitars grind, dashed with plenty of smoke machines, they brought a wonderful dose of the dark and mysterious, and with songs like this, brought a manic intensity desperately needed. While the group went on the vary their sound a little on future records, it is always their debut album and this song that I cherish most in the band.
TRANSFORMERS
Run the Jewels feat. Travis Barker, All Due Respect (2014)
Nearly 3 minutes of pure, venomous rapping behind a knocking beat that will test the limits of even the best subwoofers aka my idea of the perfect hip hop song.
#20
CHIEN
Badly Drawn Boy, The Shining (2000)
Ok so this song wasn’t supposed to be in this list. I had forgotten it when preparing this countdown. I realized it when we were around 50 or 60. And then a bit later I realized I had a problem with my list, I had a song listed twice on it. At first I was pissed and panicking, because we were around #25. Then I realized it was the opportunity to include “The Shining”. Honestly, it would have appeared lower on my list, but I still love that beautiful song. I love how there is something majestic about it, and yet at the same time very fragile and intimate.
GEEZER
Rise Against, Behind Closed Doors (2006)
"Chairs thrown and tables toppled,
Hands armed with broken bottles,
Standing no chance to win but,
We're not runnin', we're not runnin'.
There's a point I think we're missin',
It's in the air we raise our fists in,
In the smiles we cast each other,
My sister, my brother."
If you can hear these lyrics and not shout "Well, that certainly sounds like something that would speak to Geezer," you clearly haven't been paying attention. Which is why despite my problems with the band's direction over the last several years, this track from The Sufferer and the Witness, still remains my favorite, and still belongs in my top 20.
JOHNERLE
Steve Earle, Ashes To Ashes (2002)
"Now, nobody lives forever and nothing stands the test of time
Oh, you heard 'em say, "Never say never"
But it's always best to keep it in mind that every tower ever built tumbles
No matter how strong, no matter how tall
Someday even great walls will crumble and every idol ever raised falls
Someday even man's best laid plans will lie twisted and covered in rust
We've done all that we can but it slipped through our hands
And it's ashes to ashes and dust to dust"
Steve Earle wrote these lyrics shortly after 9-11 during the Iraq War and Dubya administration. Looking back on it now, I wonder if he feels he was being too optimistic?
Also: Amerika 6.0, The Truth
LEESTU
Tropical Fuck Storm, Rubber Bullies (2018)
Gareth Liddiard from The Drones formed a new band and took them in an even more exciting direction. Their debut album, A Laughing Death In Meatspace, is a top 5 album of the year for me, with so many great songs, but this song narrowly beats out You Let My Tyres Down as my favourite from their album. An amazing live band who, considering the chaos in their music at times combined with the strong rhythmic nature, and their short time together, is one of the tightest live bands I’ve seen in a while, playing off each other to perfection.
NSPAN
The Rapture, Get Myself Into It (2006)
My "favorite" Rapture track can vary depending on my mood (or the day of the week), but this is the song I ultimately landed on for this countdown. No regrets.
RON B
Bloc Party, Helicopter (2004)
This song takes me back to the party before 18 era. Also, awesome on Guitar Hero.
SCREEN203
Kungs vs. Cookin’ On 3 Burners, This Girl (2015)
This was the song of my summer 2016. Breezy, catchy, and (for it's time, and a remix) somewhat novel (this was pretty much the first "tropical house" song to really break out. While it seems a bit generic now, it has to be on here for its role in history
SHRYKE
Club Des Belugas, Straight to Memphis (2012)
You want ecletic, Chien? Betcha never saw THIS one coming…
I have the honor of having the top comment on YouTube for this video, which is basically a brief description of the artists, which goes like this.
This will blow your minds, but it comes directly from the group's website: Club Des Belugas combines contemporary European Lounge & Nujazz Styles with Brazilian Beats, Swing and American Black Soul of the fifties, sixties and seventies using their unique creativity and intensity. And now the mind-blowing part... they're from Germany.
SIX
LCD Soundsystem, On Repeat (2005)
This is probably the least-loved LCD song of all time. In 2010, when Pitchfork reviewed every single song to honour their split (which turned out to be a hiatus), they pretty much dismissed this track as a pale imitation of their earlier singles. I say with “On Repeat” they perfected their sound. I love how the song is carefully constructed, its elements each gradually coming together, the Krautrock dance rhythm and funky bassline broken up with burst of post-punk guitar noise, all culminating in a glorious medley of self-consciously hip influences.
SURFER
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Whatever Happened To My Rock And Roll (2001)
Taking influence from long-gone British bands of the late '80s and early '90s era such as The Jesus & Mary Chain and Ride, and combining that with the fuzz and reverb of The Velvet Underground and The Stooges, BRMC blasted the cobwebs of the millennial indie scene with a debut record of real swagger. As pounding drums, introspective lyrics and chugging guitars grind, dashed with plenty of smoke machines, they brought a wonderful dose of the dark and mysterious, and with songs like this, brought a manic intensity desperately needed. While the group went on the vary their sound a little on future records, it is always their debut album and this song that I cherish most in the band.
TRANSFORMERS
Run the Jewels feat. Travis Barker, All Due Respect (2014)
Nearly 3 minutes of pure, venomous rapping behind a knocking beat that will test the limits of even the best subwoofers aka my idea of the perfect hip hop song.