The best 250 songs of the noughties: 3-1

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Finally. It's taken a while to get here but I'm glad I stuck it out. So without further stalling, here are my top three songs of the Noughties.

3. Johnny Cash – Hurt

The Noughties in music had its fair share of losses, but not many come close to the death of Johnny Cash. After almost 50 years and 96 albums, his career was already pretty incredible. In the nineties Cash slowed down, and in comparison to his nine album releases in the eighties, he only released four. However, it was the start of a project that Cash would find to be his last. In 1994 Johnny Cash released ‘American Recordings’, produced by Rick Rubin. It became the first in a series of 6 albums that would chart from then until his death in 2003, with two released posthumously. The albums consisted of songs by Cash, but also covers of songs by a range of different artists including Leonard Cohen, Glenn Danzig, Soundgarden, Beck, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (Will Oldham), U2, Depeche Mode, Hank Williams, The Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Hank Williams and, of course, Nine Inch Nails.

Trent Reznor admitted that he was initially "flattered" but worried that "the idea [of Cash covering "Hurt"] sounded a bit gimmicky," but when he heard the song and saw the video for the first time his feelings changed; “I pop the video in, and wow… Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps… Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine anymore… It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning — different, but every bit as pure.”

Reznor’s original is taken to be about struggling with a drug addiction and the numbness to pain that comes with it. Johnny Cash, took that original sentiment and turned it into a song about old age. At first, that may seem like a step backward, but the emotion and true hurt in his version of the song is felt with every word. Rubin accentuates every moment of the song incredibly, using the chorus as a build up to an eventual end. For me, the song is perfect, and it gets to me every single time. It is a truly magnificent song.

2. Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)

When I originally heard Arcade Fire’s album, I didn’t get it. By the second listen, I was tapping my foot along to the beat. By the third listen I was humming along. By the fourth listen I was dancing about the living room, wondering where this album had been all my life. ‘Funeral’ was a revelation, with every track brilliant in it’s own right, but the album taking on a life of it’s own. It’s a celebration packed up in wonderful music that is fuelled by emotion that is, in it’s own way, entirely life-affirming. Neighbourhood #1 is, of course, the best of the bunch. Never wanting to single out any song from this album, I would always make sure to listen to the album in full, but no song filled me with such warmth and love as the opening track. It swells as it pulls you in with a child-like wonder, wondering what is this treat you have before you, and with you thinking of ways to prolong the feeling for as long as possible.
It’s incredible sound is definable to this album and no other, giving it a sense of identity unique, which I will always associate with my family home. As Ian Cohen wrote at pitchfork, "Will there ever be another album like Funeral?... something tells me that as music becomes even more readily available to us in the next decade, we'll still go through it all in the hopes we can find something with the unifying force and astounding emotional payload that only albums like Funeral can provide."What’s more, the incredible guitar sound, the lovely warm vocals, the perfect piano, the perfectly attuned bass, and the ghostly but lively chorus of vocals make it an entirely gorgeous song; One which always has a place in my, and many other music fans hearts, forever.

1. Reuben - A Short History Of Nearly Everything

This is it. It’s my number one song of an entire chunk of my life. Possibly of my whole life, considering how short it has been so far. Reuben have been one of the most important influences on my musical taste that without them, I may not even have been doing this list. Since 2002, the band has impacted my ears on many occasions, with three albums, twelve singles, and two EPs. Starting with the ear-latching single ‘Stux (Tell Me It’s Alright)’ I was immediately interested in the band, but until their next single ‘Let’s Stop Hanging Out’ I would remain a outside observer of the Reuben fanbase. When it came out, I was hooked and I yearned for more, as were many fans, but it would be two years until their debut album ‘Racecar is Racecar Backwards’ was released. Upon that release I began my tradition of heading to the Fopp in Glasgow to pick up a copy of their album on the day of it coming out.

I was flabbergasted at how good it was. I would again be flabbergasted a year later when their follow up was just as good. When their third album 'In Nothing We Trust' came out, I was shocked. Not because it was bad, but because it beat my idea of what it would be and what it could sound like by a million. It was their finest album, and as they say, you always save your best for your last. Not only was their final album their best, but the last song on this release was ‘A Short History Of Nearly Everything’, my number one song of the noughties.
Everything is perfect. It has probably the best lyrics that Jamie Lenman ever wrote, Jon Pearce’s bass-line is at it’s finest, and Guy Davis’ drums were at their peak. Not to mention that Sean Genockey is the finest producer the band ever worked with, as he made sure every moment was as crystal clear as a lucid dream, cementing the album’s effect on it’s fans. The build up is incredible, the break-down better and the finale is outstanding; something I think I captured better in my Definitive top 25 of Reuben “This one is my personal favourite. It starts with this huge lumbering bass riff, and slowly brings the other instruments in, ready to charge forward with the great intensity that Reuben fans can expect by the end of the third album. As Reuben do so well, they show great emotion and burgeoning passion for their music, especially in this song, with piano taking the lead for a while, before the song breaks down to complete silence, only to explode into a chasm of wonderful storytelling and sound. Essentially, the song is about a time when Jamie and a friend climbed a big hill, and had a great day doing it, but it feels like so much more. Even Barry Ronayne agrees stating, “It’s one of the best songs to close an album that I've heard.” He also states that on more than one occasion, the song gives him “chills”. I know that feeling.”

Take note friends, I don’t think it gets better thank this.
Goodnight.
Carl.

The best 250 songs of the noughties: 10-4

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10. Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
And now for something completely different. For most people, Bright Eyes almost seemed to appear out of nowhere when this single was released. Little did they know that Conor Oberst was a hard-working musician for more than a decade already. Who knows whether it was something specifically about this song or whether it was just his time to bloom from indie hit to big time star. For me, this song was just everything I needed to get interested in Bright Eyes. It was all here; brilliant sentiment, lovely guitar sound, incredible bass, and the rest were just left alone. That was enough. And within, they created one of the best love songs that has ever and will ever exist. It marks the beginning of my top ten here, because I listen to it and feel my heart swell. I just threw up a little in my mouth, but it’s true.

9. System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B.
Right from the first moment I heard ‘B.Y.O.B’ I got it. It had an entirely serious point, but because of its feel-good pop chorus it would reach a wide audience. But it wasn’t just a gimmick; it was perfect. It was easy to dance to, but it was also easily the most chaotic thing that System Of A Down had done in the noughties. In using this combination, it made sure not to alienate fans while also appealing to new fans while it spread it’s message. Even if you were to forget all that though, it’s simply a furiously fast and thumping song that uses it’s heavy sections to equally balance out it’s pop sections, and does it in such a way that felt fresh and new. It brought something to the System Of A Down table, which was already pretty diverse, involving eastern European styles and tones in metal. System Of A Down may have split up now, and formed two bands who try to capture that signature sound elsewhere, but this will remain their finest hour in the spotlight, and rightly so.


8. CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
I was never a big fan of electronic music at the start of the decade. It just didn’t really appeal to me. It’s not like I didn’t ever hear it either, with my parents playing it in its droves. Now, I don’t know when that changed, but if it hadn’t, this song wouldn’t even be in the list at all. It’s exactly the kind of thing I would ignore. Thankfully, it did change and it is here and I honestly think my life would have been a little bit worse if I hadn’t of let it in. ‘Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above’ is easily CSS’s best song, and it’s probably thanks to the incredible effortlessness of it’s sound. It’s the little choppy guitar which barely plays two notes; it’s the simple drum beat, it’s the little scratches that pop in and out of each ear; it’s the superbly attuned bassline; it’s the lovely swaying vocals; it’s definitely the heavy rock breakdowns; it’s everything about it. If there’s one thing that truly defines this song though, it’s the theremin. It’s eerily haunting tone sits just in the background of the track, but it defines the whole thing. Say I’m wrong. I dare ya.

7. Million Dead - Living The Dream
Million Dead meant and mean a lot of things to a lot of people. I had barely just gotten into them when they announced their intentions to split up after forthcoming tour. However, seeing them on that one incredible night at the Glasgow Barfly was enough, because I was hooked. It’s then that I realized the importance of ‘Living The Dream’. Every lyric is about brilliant music and what it means to people, and it surely has become something of a comfort to mourning Million Dead fans. It’s an incredible song, and it’s definitely Million Dead’s best. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t let them tell you themselves? “And every line that made me lose my reasoning, every chord that made my conscience ache, every sound a memory that's all I ever need, I always have a song inside my head.” This song seemed to define how I felt about the band as they split up, and still does today. If anything makes it harder to know they will never play live again, it’s those lyrics. Brilliant. Just Brilliant.

6. Reuben - Freddy Krueger
“The anthemic chorus and sing-a-long lyrics are so potent and evident that you can understand it being the biggest acclaim the band ever got, getting a huge amount of play on music channels, and even circulating the radio stations at high velocity. Of course, it’s just a song that shows Reuben are just fun at heart, a message that came through with every interview and live show they ever did.” Two years ago I ran a poll on the Reuben official forum after their ‘indefinite hiatus’ was announced, to find out just what were the definitive songs by the band. While this came in seventh, take that as no small thing, as the top ten was incredibly close and well fought. Freddy Krueger is catchy and infectious and as soon at it has you it won’t let go. From it’s big thunderous drums at the beginning, through it’s incredibly high-spirited choruses, to it’s hugely anthemic ending, it’s a winner. No wonder it sparked huge interest in the band, and built up their fanbase as quickly as you can say ‘This band is fucking great.’ Yeah, I think so too. Ahhhhh.

5. New End Original – Lukewarm
Ever since I heard this amazing little song on a Rock Sound cover CD, I was hooked on New End Original. I sent away for the CD and when it came I was graced with something completely different from what I was expecting. Where this was light, it was dark. Where this is pop, that was heavy. Where this was happy, that was sad. It was a huge thing for me at the time and it’s shaped my musical taste hugely. However, even this, the unshakably pop-punk single for this dark album had hidden darkness within. “People always tell me how happy I could be, I'm never gonna find out.” Still, the pop sensibility wins out here, with its incredible hook taking charge and leading the song like a victory march. It’s a song that means a lot to me, and it was also my first introduction to the incredible music by Jonah Matranga (Onelinedrawing, Far, Gratitude).

4. Outkast - Bombs Over Baghdad
This song is huge to me. When I had heard rap or hip-hop music in the first half of the century it had always been Eminem or Dr Dre or something like that. So when I heard this for the first time, it was huge. It was so much more important than that ilk, and to be fair, a whole lot better too. No messing around at the beginning establishing who’s on the song, the beat or what year it is; just a simple ‘Yeah’ and we get thrown in the deep end, sink or swim. It dives right out of the speakers with every beat shaking your core, and simple backing music being entirely enough to get you moving. As for the incredible vocals? The lyrics themselves aren’t even fantastic, but it’s the rythym and pure speed that they are delivered at that is the most important thing. In truth, both Big Boi and Andre only have one verse each, but that’s all they need, they pack so much into that tiny amount of time that the last three minutes of a five-minute track are almost pure experimentation. Wailing guitars and turntables fly over the top of the beat for a bit before the whole thing descends to another level entirely and the whole song gets lifted up to somewhere completely new. It’s fantastic, so no wonder it made it to number one elsewhere on these fine internets of ours.


Only the top 3 now!
Carl

The best 250 songs of the noughties: 20-11

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20. Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple
Wow. When Gogol Bordello burst onto the music scene it was hard to conceive a band like this doing as well as they have done. In the wake of The Darkness being a mock-up of power-rock bands, could Gogol Bordello have been a mock-up of eastern European folk music? Whether they are or not is all now secondary, as the power and pure incredible fun found within their music is just undeniable. This is their serenading song and the single that launched them into the public eye. Rightfully so, as it packs a punch and is just incredibly fun and silly too. However, it is one song of many impressive songs, and thankfully Gogol Bordello are much more than one-hit-wonders.

19. Down I Go - Saparmurat Niyazov
While the band have been featured in magazines like NME and Kerrang! it’s safe to say that Down I Go may be a well kept secret. With their debut album ‘This is Disastercore’ storming through historical events with a new passion and flame for the terrible, terrifying and downright odd times in the past, their second album ‘Tyrant’ moved focus over to the terrible men who created many more awful situations. While songs focusing on Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin and George W Bush Jnr showed us the terrible in the world, ‘Suparmurat Niyazov really takes the biscuit. It’s this spectacularly odd and horrid man, I think, that lends itself to being a much greater song, inspiring Down I Go to write their best music surrounding him. After all, a man that leads his country to ‘Chew on Bones,’ ‘Shave your beard’ and build a ‘twelve metre high spinning’ statue of himself ‘made of gold’ which turns ‘to face the sun all day long’, is surely a man that inspires brilliant songwriting. This is evident here, in Down I Go’s crowning achievement. Listen

18. Anathallo - Don't Kid Yourself You Need A Physician
Having only heard this song from Anathallo, this could be a fluke. However, I would like to think not, as every second of ‘Don't Kid Yourself You Need A Physician’ fills itself with pure sunshine of stunning brilliance fuelled by a love for the warm sound of instruments. Every element of the song is perfect; the vocals are light and yet full of emotion, the backing vocals are a perfect accompaniment, the guitars are airy without being transparent, the bass is perfectly situated within the song and the drums are striking yet sedate. I haven’t even touched on the brass yet. It’s so warming and so uplifting, and every note fills me with a sense of energy and love. Put this all together and you have one of the greatest songs of the noughties, without an inkling of a shadow of a doubt. Inspired. Listen

17. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
It’s hard not to be impressed with the Postal Service’s singular album. Every single moment is like driving home after a long trip, staring out of the window watching the world fly by. It’s one of those amazing times when your ears are highly receptive, and music like this is comes into its own. Each and every single blip and bloop of ‘Such Great Heights’ seems meticulously planned and caringly introduced to the song. The incredible electronic sound washes over you with intense warmth and blanketed soundscapes, when some people still argue that Electronic music is cold and unlovable. It can only mean one thing. They haven’t heard ‘Such Great Heights’. It’s a revelation.

16. 65daysofstatic - Retreat! Retreat!
Of course, not all electronic music is set to warm your heart with emotion. Some is meant to inspire explosions in your conscious and body. This is that very kind. Every single moment of this electronic fuelled post-rock experience is filled with superb love for the craft of the music which 65daysofstatic own as their own. ‘Retreat! Retreat!’ is from the band’s debut album and is as brilliantly crafted as it is chaotic, which sums up exactly what they were during that period. The fire in their bellies streamed out of their fingers and into their instruments. We, in turn, got to hear the various psychologically joy inducing sounds live and on CD and stood stunned as this incredible sound came from these boys. It’s an incredible song from an incredible album by an incredible band. What more is there to say?

15. Lostprophets - Last Train Home
I thought long and hard about which song from this album would make it high onto my list. When this album came out it was a revelation for a younger me, and while they further tarnish any hope I had in them with every succeeding album, I always return home to their first two superb works. Every single damn moment of ‘Start Something’ meant something to me and associates my memory with a good time. Before all that though, it was an album that I was dreading hearing, for the fear that it would never live up to it’s first single ‘Burn Burn’ or it’s predecessor ‘The Fake Sound of Progress’. I pressed play on my CD player and listened to every moment, and from that first listen, it was a favourite in my collection for years. Choosing one song to represent it though was an obvious choice when it came down to it, really, as ‘Last Train Home’ captured everything that the album meant to me. It was fun, reliable and still heavy. Most of all it conjured up feelings and memories inside me that far surpass any of the others.

14. Reuben - Return Of The Jedi
While I have waxed on about how important Lostprophets second album is to me, it still doesn’t match how important Reuben were to me throughout the decade. While their second album may have been slightly disappointing on first listen, it quickly grew on me. However, one song had always impressed me from first listen to last, without ever waning in my eyes. ‘Return Of The Jedi’ is an inspired, seven-and-a-half minute long behemoth of gigantean proportions. I don’t think I can say it any clearer than I did in my Top 25 Reuben article where the song reached number 1, so I won’t. “In truth (and the words of Dave Venom), it’s a song that “rages against the music industry with such venom”, while still keeping the Reuben upbeat pop sensibility, and utter lyrical grace. It’s Reuben at their most truthful, stating, “these here Helmet rip offs, they don't buy my lunch, so I will get a real job in the office, and I wont bother to make my music, and I wont bother to sing my songs”… Felix Carter explains, “the "Sure..." sung in the last seconds of the song, I always took to be a sarcastic retraction of the previous verse (“I wont bother to make my music”). As if he was so in love with music that it had become an indispensable part of him, and regardless of how poor he was, or unsuccessful, he could never give up music. It's an inspiring sentiment for any musician; now bathed in the twisted light of irony, given Reuben's decline.” What else is left to say?” Nothing, really, Carl of two years ago. Nothing at all… [Was only able to find a live video from their DVD 'What Happens In Aldershot Stays In Aldershot']

13. Battles – Atlas
If you have never experience Battles, you haven’t lived life. If you haven’t seen Battles live, I feel very sorry for you and your wonder-less existence. This band of aliens from another planet heard our music from a distant world and beamed down to show us what they did with it. Let me tell you, it’s inspiring. This seven-minute riot anthem is their crowning achievement and is full of wondrous riffs, vocals, bass, and most of all, drums. The drums in this song sound like a 4-armed man plays them; so thick and so beefy, yet so precisely executed. This is perfect for any party you attend; a club, a kids birthday, the inauguration of a president, a birth or a death. Put this on, everybody be lovin’ it. Try at it your next convenience. Listen [below is the Radio-edit length video]

12. Anthrax - Safe Home
A song title that has become synonymous with parting friends in my circle, ‘Safe Home’ is an excellent song. It’s pure metal energy and ferocious attitude perfectly offset the lovely notion of getting home safe. “You have always been my safe home” Keanu Reaves mimes in the video, and Anthrax sings on CD. Everything about this song is just right there, being brilliant; the vocals, the Drums, the bass and the guitars? Oh, the guitars. The solos here cry out to be heard and are perfectly situated within ‘Safe Home’ giving the song an oomph factor above any of the other Anthrax tunes. To call it anything less than essential music from the noughties would be to do it and yourself a disservice.

11. A Wilhelm Scream - The King Is Dead
Officially, this has the best intro to any song ever. That could be an over-exaggeration, why don’t you have a listen and tell me what you think? Oh, you agree. Exactly! It’s as epic as it gets and the dirty little secret is… it’s Hardcore! No-one does it, at least not in this generation of hardcore. It’s something so hard to find and it something that is unique to A Wilhelm Scream. The epic-etude continues for the whole 3 minutes of fast, potent music and absolute wonderful guitar mastery. Everything comes together here so damn well and there is no better way to open up your album than with something this damn good.


Top 10 very soon!
Carl

The best 250 songs of the noughties: 30-21

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30. Metallica - All Nightmare Long
While I have less of an emotional connection to this one, it’s no less worthy of being here. While it might have had a ridiculously lack lustre video, the song itself is far from it. It’s probably one of the best songs that Metallica have ever released. It definitely joins the top 10 at least, and after 27 years that is no mean feat. It’s full of vim, it’s fast, it has some incredible riffs and vocal lines, and it’s certainly the best song they released in the past fifteen years.


29. Sigur Ros – Glósóli
And now for a band that the BBC ad department are very fond of, Sigur Ros. Well, it’s no wonder, they do write some incredibly beautiful music. This is not only no exception, it’s also their anthem, their defining sound. The guitar gently building in the background, the sludgy drums painting a slow rythym, the high pitched voice of Jonsi all coming together in one incredible moment to explode with such passion and intensity. It’s an absolutely essential song for any lifetime.

28. Misery Signals - Something Was Always Missing But It Was Never You
There are so many Misery Signals songs that are just brilliant, so why pick this one? Well, it’s simple. If any one Misery Signals can get a reaction out of me it’s this one. Everything about is so present. The Vocals are stirring, the Guitar is jarring and seeks out my attention like a heat-seeking missile, the drums and bass are a powerhouse of work. Without a doubt it’s Misery Signals at their best, and that’s why it’s here.


27. Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
Again, the same could be said for Arcade Fire. Why this? Why here? This is my response; have you heard it? It’s bloody brilliant! It’s full of everything that makes Arcade Fire a force to be reckoned with, and then some. It’s not only the best song on their second album; it’s also the best song on their EP. And don’t worry, the re-recorded version looses none of the raw intensity of the first, in fact it creates more. It’s an incredible song, and the build up at the end is absolutely inspired.

26. Thrice - The Whaler
What can I say, other than wow? If you’d told me that Thrice were going to be this damn good when they wrote ‘The Illusion Of Safety’ I’d have never believed you. Hell, if you’d told me a week before it was released, I still wouldn’t have believed you. But it’s true. Thrice use none of their previous experience on this incredible song from the ‘Water’ quarter of The Alchemy Index, and still manage to create a perfect vision of emotion and sea-bound worry. It’s an incredible song that plucks at the heartstrings and wins me over every single time. What an incredible song.

25. This Will Destroy You - The World Is Our
I once said to someone, post-rock could save the world. When I said it, I was thinking about This Will Destroy You, ironically. It may have been a little strong, and probably not true at all, but that’s the way that their debut album ‘Young Mountain’ made me feel at the time; so small and insignificant, yet so powerful and vast. Their music emulated the way it feels to look out into the stars and know that we are a spec of sand on a huge beach. They’ve carefully mastered the genre and I honestly think no band sums it up better than This Will Destroy You. They are everything that makes Post-Rock worth listening to, and they do with style.

24. The Mad Capsule Markets - RL (Pulse)
Damn, this band. Mad Capsule Markets ferociously burst out of the seams with every song, with insanely catchy riffs and singing melodies (even if they are in Japanese). They incorporate elements of Techno, Hardcore, Punk, Pop and Metal to create a sound that is distinct and unmistakeable. Not only do they write brilliant music, but fun music too. 90% of listeners say they are cheered up when they hear MCM in their ears. If you get it, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, you never will, move on.

23. Biffy Clyro – 57
Biffy Clyro’s ‘breakout’ hit is just simply the best in their entire repertoire, and it’s one that make’s an unforgettable live experience. I must have seen Biffy Clyro about 10 times now, and each and every time this song rightfully gets a bigger response than any other. The ‘Hey!’ and the ‘do-do-do’-ing almost make this song all by themselves, although it helps that the riffs, vocals, bass, drums and everything in the damn song make it very worthwhile. Forget ‘Puzzle’, this is where it has always been and will continue to be at.

22. Less Than Jake - Gainesville Rock City
While this song may pale in comparison to “All My Best Friends Are Metalheads” it’s definitely the second best Less Than Jake song, and almost certainly the best thing that they ever did in the Noughties. The decade may have brought some bad decisions and worse albums for LTJ, but with this as a shining beacon right back at the start of the 2000s, the band have started on the rocky road to recovery from 2 terrible disasters of albums to make ‘GNV FLA’. It’s a no-brainer that this song makes it into this list. I can’t recall exactly how many times I’ve danced about like an idiot to this song, but it has to be in at least the hundreds. Hell, I couldn’t resist it right this damn moment to make it one more idiot dancing appearance by me.

21. The Steal – Wonderstuff
For those of you who know about the Steal, move on. You already know that they were a force to be reckoned with. For those of you who are oblivious, The Steal were a hardcore beast that harked back to Kid Dynamite, Bouncing Souls, Descendents and Good Clean Fun, which is no bad thing. They did it all with a big handful of heart and a dash of fun, inciting mass awesome wherever they went. Wonderstuff closed off their 14-track, 20-minute long album, with the saying “leave the best till last” coming in very handy here. Everything about it just says ‘YES! I AM A WINNER!’ and it’s time you two were introduced. You, meet ‘Wonderstuff’. ‘Wonderstuff’, meet you. I think you’ve got a lot to talk about. [Listen | Download Entire Debut Album! | Entire Discography free to download!]

More soon folks!
Carl

The best 250 songs of the noughties: 40-31

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40. Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp
OI! It’s bass drum, snare and Dizzee for 90% of the song. It shows Dizzee’s skeleton bare and it was the perfect introduction for his career. Anything more that needs said can be found in the song.




39. Dragonforce - Through The Fire And Flames
If there was one song in the Noughties that instantly made me smile whenever it was on, it was this. Completely over the top EVERYTHING is all that Dragonforce seem to know how to do, and most of the time it’s wasted on me and I don’t feel anything when I hear it. However, something in this song clicked with my ears and everything is right with the world when I hear it. Maybe it’s that parts of the it sound like the Sonic The Hedgehog soundtrack. Maybe it’s the duelling solo. Maybe it’s the over the top vocals. Maybe it’s everything about it being so ridiculously perfect? That has to be it. They’re still shit though.

38. Machine Head – Imperium
This could be the best metal album intro of all time. Seriously. Stick it on. Tell me I’m wrong. I’m not and you know it. I’ve had many a wonderful night listening to this album with mates all around me not talking for a full 6 minutes and 40 seconds because we’re all just that enthused by it. It’s so ferocious and so bloody brutal that you just have to sit up and take notice. If you haven’t done it yet, get to it, ya nugget.

37. Iron And Wine - Such Great Heights (The Postal Service Cover)
It’s odd when covers come to close to, or surpasses, the effect and brilliance of the original. This cover is one of those very songs. Iron and Wine’s version of ‘Such Great Heights’ is just an incredible and loving and caring cover that you’d be a fool to deny it’s power. To take the original to a new place and make it work this well is a feat to be highly commended. Well done, sir. [No video for this'n, hence the squidgy box below.]

36. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
What a way for a band to shoot themselves into the public eye. It’s an absolutely incredible song that can be called nothing other than such. It’s ferocious and raw, it’s edgy, and it fist pumps right into yer baws. Perfect.




35. Maybeshewill - Not For Want Of Trying
This is an insanely good song by a wonderfully awesome band. Maybeshewill peaked my interest when they brought out ‘Not For Want Of Trying’, and the song that peaked my interest on that album was this absolute belter of a tune. It’s got everything that makes 65daysofstatic work (post-rock elements with heavy guitars and samples) but with it’s own ferocious feeling dousing the entire experience. Using the famous speech from the film ‘Network’ is also a touch of genius and if it weren’t there, the song would only be three quarters as affecting as it is with it. [Again, no video, hence squidgy box.]

34. Colour Of Fire - Italics
Maybe I’m hearing things that other people can’t. I don’t know anyone who knows about this band that didn’t find out about them from me. Their singular album was a sure-fire stunner from start to finish, with ‘Italics’ as its leader. It’s a brilliantly written rock song with lyrics and vocals better than any other band in that bracket. It’s entirely unfortunate that C.O.F. called it a day after only one album, and a real shame that more people haven’t heard their brilliant songs.

33. Cursive - Staying Alive
This epic ten-minute album closer from ‘The Ugly Organ’ is simply one of the greatest experiences any human being can hope to experience. Every single time I listen to this song, my heart skips a beat and my entire head fills with emotion. Personally, I think it’s one of the greatest pieces of music ever released. It’s not exactly technical, it’s not breaking any boundaries, and it’s messy in places; but that’s why it’s so damn incredible. It may be a tad zombie-ish because of the lyrics, but if there is one song I need played at my funeral, it’s this. It’s so full of power and so wonderfully executed that I’m it makes me think about so many emotional times in my life and really tugs every heartstring in my body. I love this song with every fibre of my being.

32. The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist
Wow. What an incredible song. Made up entirely of sound bites from old movies, ‘Frontier Psychiatrist’ almost sounds like a nightmare on paper. However, the results are just incredible.




31. The Stills - Gender Bombs
This is just an inspiring, hugely affecting song. When I first listened to this album I was walking about Troon after a wedding, and it perfectly matched the night sky and the refection of the stars upon the sea. It’s a wonderful song that matched and perfectly captured a wonderful night. It’s perfectly indie and perfectly warm. I love it.


More soon, folks!

The best 250 songs of the noughties: 50-41

250-226 | 225-201 | 200-176 | 175-151
150-126 | 125-101 | 100-76 | 75-51
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11
10-4 | 3-1

50. Flogging Molly - Drunken Lullabies
It’s energetic, it’s fun, and it’s a bloody good old time, innit? If you listen to it, you’ll get it, so do it.





49. GlassJaw - El Mark
Yes, another B-side. Now, I’m not saying that GlassJaw albums are bad, but what I am saying is that they don’t compare in comparison to ‘El Mark’, which is why I was utterly chuffed to see them play it at the last GJ gig I was at. It’s chaotic, it’s full of ebullient vitality and energy and it’s got a fantastic swagger to it. No other GlassJaw song matters as much as this one, no matter how much people insist that this song isn’t as good as the rest of their output, that will never change. Skip to the beat, eh? [Unfortunately, unable to find this on the internet! You'll just have to trust me!]

48. Alexisonfire – Accidents
I’ve heard this song about a billion times; the amount of times I’ve played ‘Watch Out!’ in my house, plus the amount of times I’ve been in other folks houses when it’s been on, plus they’ve played it every time I’ve seen them live, plus the cathouse unders was rather fond of it to equals a fucking billion. Yet, I don’t think I’d ever get sick of it. No matter how bloody brilliant ‘Crisis’ and ‘Young Cardinals/Old Crows’ are, my heart will always have a soft spot for the perhaps slightly juvenile and messy ‘Watch Out!’ as I was at that age when it came out, when I was exactly the same. Those were simpler times, and times which I look back on fondly. And with every ‘Whoa-oh-oh’ in the song, I feel a little more youth in me pop back out, as if I never entered my twenties. Ach well, it’s not like I fucking changed much eh?

47. Take A Worm For A Walk Week - Side Effect
This is true chaos at it’s best. Take A Worm For A Walk Week are nutters. The best and most incredible nutters I know, as only truly exceptional nutters could write this brilliant little song. It’s almost got a swagger underneath all the noise and craziness, and it uses that and an almost recognizable refrain to become a shiny diamond in the rough. Truly inspired. [Another one I'm unable to find! Trust me! Or better yet buy the album!]


46. Muse - Knights Of Cydonia
Now this is about as far from Take A Worm For A Walk Week as you can possibly get. Sure, it’s polished and it’s all about the guitar wankery, but who ever said that was wrong, and probably has an arrow in their eye right about now, as they don't have SENSE. Where was I? Oh, aye. The intro to this song is unquestionably incredible. It merges spaghetti western soundtracks with the futuristic sound that Muse have honed so well over the years, before giving it the rythym of a horseback ride. Now for the flavourings; add some brass, throw on Muse’s brilliant signature vocals and a fucking stupendously good chorus section, and your laughing all the way to the charts. The song is a work of pure genius, and it’s just a shame that it comes at the end of such a disappointing album ‘Black Holes And Revelations’.

45. The Hives - Hate to say I told you so
And then it happened. The Hives hit the big time and ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ shot out of the speakers like a rocket. Bringing a raw punk energy to a generation of indie rock was one of the best things to happen in the noughties. After this, the world was a little bit better, I feel.



44. Feeder - Just A Day
Could this song be home to the best video of all time? Very possibly. Not only was this Feeder at the height of their game, it was also their last release with drummer Jon Lee. The song itself has such raw power and fun channelled into it that it started life as a song on Gran Turismo 3 (Video games: where songs go to die), then crept up to B-Side status on ‘Seven Days In The Sun’ (B-Sides: where half decent songs go to be forgotten). Thankfully, the world spoke up, and the clearly incredible song got released as a single (Singles: where songs can live forever). The internet collaboration with fans for the video surely helped the song solidify it’s place in history and became more than just a stepping stone in the career of Feeder. Without a shadow of a doubt, Feeder’s best song.

43. Outkast - Hey Ya
If it were in doubt, this was the party song of the decade. Put it on, everybody go crazy, and do the triple clap at least once. It’s a sensation. What more need I say? Perfect production, incredible sound, superb pop.




42. City And Colour - The Girl
Wow. I don’t think there’s much more I can add. ‘The Girl’ is an undeniably incredible love song from Dallas Green. If there was one thing I was sure of when I heard that the Guitarist from Alexisonfire was starting a solo career its that the music could never sound this good. I was put in my place by the insanely good ‘Sometimes’, but ‘Bring Me Your Love’ really took the biscuit. Filled with incredibly heartfelt, honest and warm music, Dallas Green perfected an already beautiful sound to be so much better. ‘The Girl’ is not only the best example of this, but Green’s best track to date.

41. Jose Gonzales – Heartbeats
Everyone can relate to this song. Not only is it a cover of the wonderful ‘The Knife’ track, but it was also featured on the most awe-inspiring advert ever made. Although it did truly show that advertising has no power… did you buy that TV? No, me neither. All that aside, the song was just incredible. So stripped back, so relaxing, yet so heart-wrenching and powerful. While this is indicative of José Gonzales’s music, this is the cream of the crop.


More very soon!
Carl