Top 100 Songs of the Millennium (2000-2019) - #80-71
Posted: February 24th, 2020, 11:16 am
On we go!
#80
CHIEN
Noir désir, Le vent nous portera (2001)
It may not sound like it, when you listen to this song, but Noir Désir is one of the biggest French rock bands of the 90’s. If you can, listen to “Un jour en France” and “L’homme pressé”, fantastic French rock songs. “Le vent nous portera” is a softer song, but one that stuck with me. In French we have a word, “ritournelle”, designing a small music that runs and doesn’t leave, and this is exactly what this song feels like. It’s simple, but really beautiful.
GEEZER
Off With Their Heads, Start Walking (2013)
The opening track of what was my favorite album of 2013, and easily one of my favorite albums of the last 20 years. I love this band for their aggressive style and angry lyrics, without being too hardcore that the music loses its listenability. Just a great punk band, and great guys too. They've opened many shows with this when I've seen them and it just starts the atmosphere off perfectly.
JOHNERLE
Cake, Short Skirt/Long Jacket (2001)
If you had asked me six months ago I would have sworn this was a 90s tune, but when I double-checked it turned out to be from 2001.
“She is changing her name from Kitty to Karen
She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron”
Also: Sick Of You, Sheep Go To Heaven
LEESTU
Thee Oh Sees, The Dream (2011)
Oh Sees, as they are now going by, are easily one of my favourite bands of the last ten years. Amazing prolific band that just keep releasing album after album, each one with its own distinctive flavour but all identifiably that Oh Sees sound. Amazing live too…I’ve been lucky enough to catch them twice.
NSPAN
Got a Girl, I'll Never Hold You Back (2014)
Dan the Automator + Mary Elizabeth Winstead. This project never got much attention, but I believe it's a true achievement. Winstead has surprisingly effective vocals, and Automator provides the perfect backdrop and atmosphere.
RON B
The Prodigy, Omen (2009)
So, so sad about their frontman Keith Flint. I was lucky enough to catch The Prodigy around a decade ago. One of the best live shows i've ever seen.
SCREEN203
Chelsea Wolfe, Carrion Flowers (2015)
If a drum enthusiast wants to impress others, they should perform this song - whoever plays the drums here should be considered one of the greats.The heavy bass that kicks off the song is very impressive (you can almost feel it vibrating through you), and adds to Wolfe's haunting vocals to make an unforgettably creepy (in a good way) experience.
SHRYKE
Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars (2006)
This song, according to Wiki, was the most widely played song of the first decade of the millennium in the UK, and remains to this day the most widely played song of the millennium on UK radio. So yeah, I’m going to force y’all to endure it one more time. Despite having heard it a hundred times, I love the way Gary Lightbody’s voice plays out over the spars guitars, which eventually build to a beautiful crescendo before tapering off again.
SIX
ANOHNI, Drone Bomb Me (2016)
Antony (& the Johnsons) has been around for some time, partly thanks to being discovered by Lou Reed, but it was in 2016 that I think he made his masterpiece Hopelessness. Here, he combined his unique vocals, which I can only describe as Nina Simone in mourning, with political outrage. This synth-drenched track is just incredible.
SURFER
Purple Mountains, All My Happiness Is Gone (2019)
Last year, David Berman released his final, and for me, best record. A lot has been said about the s/t album as well as the overall legacy of David Berman, and I can only concur on so much that has been expressed. His work with Silver Jews and Purple Mountains is some of the most emotive I have heard over the past couple of decades, and while I guess the struggles he faced were too much to bear in the end, what he left us with was one of the best records of the millennium. The fact that he can emote so much pain within his lyrics (as well as a hell of a wit), while still making music that is fundamentally joyous is quite a feat. I am still struck every so often by the sheer beauty of his writing, so much so you have to stop what you are doing and embrace it. It's a shame it has taken his passing for him to finally get the world wide recognition for his work, but if there was to be a record to remember him by, this is as good as anything.
TRANSFORMERS
System of a Down, Needles (2001)
Toxicity is among my top 10 favorite records of all time and this track has always been a standout among the collection of standouts that make up that album. It just does an excellent job of portraying the eccentric, off-kilter heaviness and combination of smart political/social commentary and sophomoric humor that made SOAD the most interesting band that the nu metal era of extreme music spawned.
#80
CHIEN
Noir désir, Le vent nous portera (2001)
It may not sound like it, when you listen to this song, but Noir Désir is one of the biggest French rock bands of the 90’s. If you can, listen to “Un jour en France” and “L’homme pressé”, fantastic French rock songs. “Le vent nous portera” is a softer song, but one that stuck with me. In French we have a word, “ritournelle”, designing a small music that runs and doesn’t leave, and this is exactly what this song feels like. It’s simple, but really beautiful.
GEEZER
Off With Their Heads, Start Walking (2013)
The opening track of what was my favorite album of 2013, and easily one of my favorite albums of the last 20 years. I love this band for their aggressive style and angry lyrics, without being too hardcore that the music loses its listenability. Just a great punk band, and great guys too. They've opened many shows with this when I've seen them and it just starts the atmosphere off perfectly.
JOHNERLE
Cake, Short Skirt/Long Jacket (2001)
If you had asked me six months ago I would have sworn this was a 90s tune, but when I double-checked it turned out to be from 2001.
“She is changing her name from Kitty to Karen
She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron”
Also: Sick Of You, Sheep Go To Heaven
LEESTU
Thee Oh Sees, The Dream (2011)
Oh Sees, as they are now going by, are easily one of my favourite bands of the last ten years. Amazing prolific band that just keep releasing album after album, each one with its own distinctive flavour but all identifiably that Oh Sees sound. Amazing live too…I’ve been lucky enough to catch them twice.
NSPAN
Got a Girl, I'll Never Hold You Back (2014)
Dan the Automator + Mary Elizabeth Winstead. This project never got much attention, but I believe it's a true achievement. Winstead has surprisingly effective vocals, and Automator provides the perfect backdrop and atmosphere.
RON B
The Prodigy, Omen (2009)
So, so sad about their frontman Keith Flint. I was lucky enough to catch The Prodigy around a decade ago. One of the best live shows i've ever seen.
SCREEN203
Chelsea Wolfe, Carrion Flowers (2015)
If a drum enthusiast wants to impress others, they should perform this song - whoever plays the drums here should be considered one of the greats.The heavy bass that kicks off the song is very impressive (you can almost feel it vibrating through you), and adds to Wolfe's haunting vocals to make an unforgettably creepy (in a good way) experience.
SHRYKE
Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars (2006)
This song, according to Wiki, was the most widely played song of the first decade of the millennium in the UK, and remains to this day the most widely played song of the millennium on UK radio. So yeah, I’m going to force y’all to endure it one more time. Despite having heard it a hundred times, I love the way Gary Lightbody’s voice plays out over the spars guitars, which eventually build to a beautiful crescendo before tapering off again.
SIX
ANOHNI, Drone Bomb Me (2016)
Antony (& the Johnsons) has been around for some time, partly thanks to being discovered by Lou Reed, but it was in 2016 that I think he made his masterpiece Hopelessness. Here, he combined his unique vocals, which I can only describe as Nina Simone in mourning, with political outrage. This synth-drenched track is just incredible.
SURFER
Purple Mountains, All My Happiness Is Gone (2019)
Last year, David Berman released his final, and for me, best record. A lot has been said about the s/t album as well as the overall legacy of David Berman, and I can only concur on so much that has been expressed. His work with Silver Jews and Purple Mountains is some of the most emotive I have heard over the past couple of decades, and while I guess the struggles he faced were too much to bear in the end, what he left us with was one of the best records of the millennium. The fact that he can emote so much pain within his lyrics (as well as a hell of a wit), while still making music that is fundamentally joyous is quite a feat. I am still struck every so often by the sheer beauty of his writing, so much so you have to stop what you are doing and embrace it. It's a shame it has taken his passing for him to finally get the world wide recognition for his work, but if there was to be a record to remember him by, this is as good as anything.
TRANSFORMERS
System of a Down, Needles (2001)
Toxicity is among my top 10 favorite records of all time and this track has always been a standout among the collection of standouts that make up that album. It just does an excellent job of portraying the eccentric, off-kilter heaviness and combination of smart political/social commentary and sophomoric humor that made SOAD the most interesting band that the nu metal era of extreme music spawned.