The best 250 songs of the noughties: 30-21

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

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