The best 250 songs of the noughties: 225-201

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

225. Nelly - Ride Wit Me
Look all you want, you won’t find ‘Hot in Herre’ on my list. However, Nelly did produce something I think is entirely worthwhile of entry onto the songs of the decade list. It’s perfectly fun, light and laid back, and it doesn’t try and impress much on you. It does what it does and doesn’t mind if you walk on by, it doesn’t need your attention. And I love it for that. Listen

224. Hundred Reasons - Kill Your Own
Hundred Reasons were, at one point, my favourite band. By the time this had rolled around, I had moved on to better things, but this showed me what I was missing and tempted me back to the Hundred Reasons fan club once more. I mean, Andy did ruin it by leaving, and they’ve never been the same since, but this was certainly one of the best songs they created together. Listen

223. Ne-Yo – Closer
I hated the stuff by this man. He’s rubbish. He really is. But somehow, I can’t deny this utter charmer on this excellent pop song. It’s so stripped back, yet so danceable, and it has a brilliantly catchy chorus that will stick in your head for days. I almost didn’t include it for petty pride, but I just couldn’t, it’s that damn good.


222. Metric - Monster Hospital
It’s a great little rock song that perfectly pulls off the line “I fought the war, But the war won.” It’s so small, yet opens up a world to the listener that should make them think at least a little. And if not, you can definitely shake your booty to it on the dancefloor! Listen

221. Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls
It’s a perfect little slice of pop heaven that has a subtle darkness to it. And that is what makes it perfect. The kid is ‘Suicidal’ when the girl breaks up with him. It’s lovely and slightly OTT, but works like a charm. Listen

220. Mastodon - Hand Of Stone
It’s that sultry riff that lures you into a false sense of security and your lapped up in the waves of ‘Hand Of Stone’ until it’s closing second. This song is a beast and it will take you away on a magical trip of epic guitar playing proportions. The axe work on this one is just the stand out work from ‘Blood Mountain’. Listen

219. Paul Anka - Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden Cover)
Even Paul Anka, who’s been making hits for decades can still bring out something that will impress anybody. This sensational cover of Black Hole Sun is superb, and about as far away from the original as possible. It’s brilliant, if a little odd at first! Listen

218. Deftones – Hexagram
Most of Deftones’ best stuff came out came out before the decade had even begun, but they were still able to hand in a good effort with this incredible number that is packed full of punch. It has a great wee melody at it’s heart too, which makes the whole thing ramp up a level. Video

217. The Streets - The Irony Of It All
If there were ever a song that aptly pitted a drunken lout against a lovely weed-smoking bloke, this is it. Actually, I think this is the only one. Still, it’s a genius little number that Mike Skinner perfectly crafts in a way that only a man who is just a little of both could do. It’s got a good beat too.

216. Brand New - Sic Transit Gloria ... Glory Fades
It’s the bass line. That super little bass carrys this tune on it’s back that makes the whole song feel dirty, and pulls an absolute gem along with it. It’s a little sultry number with an explosive chorus that shows up the rest of the albums weak points by being so damn good. Video

215. System Of A Down – Toxicity
Right then, System entry 2. This is where I should mention there can be more than one track by any artist… because I’m not a fucking idiot. Anyway, this song is great. What more do you want? Fuck you. Alright then, It comes from System Of A Down’s superb second album, and while I could probably have picked any song from it, I picked this one because it tends to hold the album together, encompassing everything that makes the album what it is. Probably why it has the same title, you muppet. Listen

214. Dave House - You Are On My Frequency (Live Band Version)
This is the single version of Dave House’s brilliant song of the same name from his superb debut album ‘Kingston’s Current.’ This version adds just about everything it can, but never feels crowded, and never feels forced. This is something that obviously was a superb idea and completely changed what Dave House thought he knew about making acoustic music. “You don’t have to do it acoustically,” he said. He didn’t but for a second there you thought you were reading the NME didn’t you? Just thought I’d bring you down to earth. [So, this is the first one I couldn't find on the web! Here's the original acoustic version and the first 30 seconds of this is a snippet of the full band version.]

213. The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Mister Mental
It’s a speedy little number that blisters through it’s 3 minutes as if it were nothing at all. But you? You’re changed forever. You have to go back and listen, again and again. It’s a fantastic song by a band that aren’t that fantastic… but they look cool. I guess you can’t have everything. But is this song enough? Yes, it is. Listen

212. Puffy Ami Yumi - Tokyo I'm On My Way
This song is brilliant. It’s written by Dexter Holland from the Offspring, and sang by the same girls that sang the Teen Titans theme. Clearly, a match made in Pop-Punk heaven. That is all. Video

211. Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
Some people may think that this is really low for a song that is this good. However, those people are idiots, as every song on this list is BRILLIANT. And at some point you have to make choices. I made this one. This is a super little song that is too good to analyse really. So I won’t. Except… That solo is fucking sweet. Listen

210. A Wilhelm Scream - The Rip
Right from moment one, this song will floor you. It’s a little beast that kicks you in the teeth and jumps on your bleeding face for 3 minutes relentlessly… or whatever is the best equivalent of that. Ice cream. This is like a whole big double cone of awesomeness… with blood for raspberry sauce. It’s a belter. Listen

209. Fony - Circles
Let’s get serious for a moment. This is the song that introduced me to Post-Rock. I know, fucking dumb huh? This little nu-metal band brought out the album ‘Circles’ and aside from having a couple of acoustic songs you can find on most metal albums nowadays, it was entirely angsty nu-metal. Apart from slap bang in the middle, they had a post-rock song. A post-rock song. It was amazing. Sure, it made me think “why are the band wasting their time on the other 90% of this album,” but that doesn’t matter. The rest of the album was good, but this was from another world. I love this song, and what it introduced me too, so I thank Fony for the impact they had, even if they did became a terrible indie band on album number three. Go figure. Listen

208. No Comply - The Price Of You
There is nothing bad I can say about No Comply. No way. They took hardcore, and threw in brass instruments, and somehow, it really fucking works. Not to mention that there is some superb riffs in here, along with really emotional vocal work from Kelly. They played the Thursday night at Leeds festival one year, and I met the band the same weekend and they were the nicest people I’ve ever met. Well, apart from my family and friends, but they don’t count. Super wee band, shame their gone. Video

207. Head Automatica - Beating Heart Baby
The cheesiest thing one of the best Hardcore frontmen ever could do? Yes. Does it work? Absolutely! It’s an excellent experiment into pop by a legendary man. However, the album surrounding it was god awful, and there was really no need to draw it out for two of them, was there? Really, he should’ve just gotten back to GlassJaw sooner, rather than be a dick and fire everyone. Still, it’s a choon! Video

206. Protest The Hero - The Dissentience
It’s math-metal. Now that all the fuck-o’s have gone, all you geniuses have a listen and tell me that’s not just the finest motherfucking stuff you’ve heard since the last time you tapped your guitar like it was a typewriter, Shakespeare. I don’t care if you don’t agree, I fucking love this guitar wankery, especially that bit at 2:55. Superb. Listen

205. From Autumn To Ashes - The After Dinner Payback
You won’t like this song. But I do and I know someone else who does too. Get it up ye. It’s like Pop invaded emo and they had a deformed child that didn’t understand pop too much, but gave it a shot anyway. It’s sloppy, it’s trying to hard, and it has a bloody great drummer. It’s the love that you feel that makes this track what it is. Do you feel it? Right there. That’s love. Probably. Video

204. Rise Against - Prayer of the Refugee
This is what happens when one great song has sex with another great song. It switches back and forth between the two positions and each one has it’s merits. It’s calm and loving at one minute and a powerful thrusting beast at the next. It’s brilliant.


203. Laura Marling - The Captain And Hourglass
Laura Marling is something of a brilliant little songwriter, and this song is the perfect example of her songwriting prowess. It’s got a distinct air about, and nothing much happens, but it’s enough. It’s just so powerful, without doing very much, and that’s the kind of song that no-one can deny. Listen

202. Matchbook Romance - You Can Run, But We'll Find You
I hear you moaning “Ugh… emo.” I hear you. You can fuck right off. Denying this perfectly dark little pop song into your heart just because it has connotations of “emotional hardcore” is your bad. It broods, it sways and it bleeds glorious little beads of enigmatic sweat that it will use to drown you in a superbly good guitar lick and tempo change. It’s amazing, so fuck you unbeliever! Hello? Anybody there? Come back! Listen

201. Sparta - Cut Your Ribbon
Will I get shot for putting this above ‘One-Armed Scissor’? Probably, but I couldn’t care less, as this song is just far superior. It’s got a power and drive that At The Drive-In dive right over, while Sparta bathe in and come out with a dark and light blend that is one half hardcore and one half pop. Superb. Listen

Part three soon!