Rock bands (and solo artists) have had a revival during the current decade compared to the 90s.
(This blog defines rock bands as a group of musicians (or a solo performer) who play musical instruments and are able to reproduce the the majority of their recorded music as a live act with only minor computerised assistance.).
This revival is impressive since it's been achieved despite many hurdles. Shows such as Pop Idol have become a generational music staple and carefully crafted lip syncing acts dominate the critical teenage music market. At the same time illegal downloads, MP3-4 type formats and iPod have destroyed the classic Record Shop business format and CD sales have dramatically declined in the past ten years. On top of all that genres like hip hop and rap have continued to dominate the critical USA market.
However, whilst the decade has seen many fine bands from both sides of Atlantic and Australia, most have clearly not managed to match the quality of the music of the legendary bands of the 60s and 70s. Nevertheless, I am not suggesting that the decade has not produced great songs worthy of the "classic" tag. Therefore, I have decided to list of my favourite songs of the decade and invite anyone who reads this blog to add their own favourite. However, there are three simple rules for the sake of clarity:
- Any song suggested must have been originally released in the year 2000 or later...late 1999 is also acceptable in order to account for the occasional timing delays in case of some releases between Europe and USA
- Bands/Solo performers who use a lot of sequenced/electronic samples do not qualify for this Top 100! The classic "Drummer, bass player, guitars, keyboards, sax and singer" must be clearly present.
- Solo act with a band may also be included (as opposed to solo acts who are clearly dance acts eg Kylie Minogue's "Can't get you out of my head" or Madonna's "Hung up" do not qualify, but Richard Ashcroft does)
Here are my most favourite rock songs of the decade, in an approximate chronological order from 2000 to 2009. I have kept the list based on 100 albums from various acts and welcome comments with your suggested additions.
- (Band) Coldplay, (Song) a) Yellow. b) Don't panic
- Doves, Firesuite
- Radiohead, Optimistic
- Richard Ashcroft (Verve), a) A song for the lovers b)Brave new world
- Tex Perkins, Please break me gently
- U2, Beautiful day
- The Whitlams, No aphrodisiac
- Gomez, We haven't turned around
- John Myer, Neon
- Kenny Wayne Shepard Band, Black on blue
- Radiohead, a) Knives out, b) I might be wrong
- Starsailor, Poor misguided fool
- Travis, a) Sing, b) Side
- Turin Brakes, The door
- Interpol, Untitled
- Alex Lloyd, Green
- The Roots, Seed 2.0
- The Whiltlams, Kate Kelly
- 3 Doors Down, Here without you
- The Cardigans, For What it's worth
- The Coral, Don't think you're the first
- The Dandy Warhols, a) Heavenly, b) You were the last high
- Death Cab for Cutie, We looked like giants
- Jack Johnson, a) Taylor, b) Cupid
- Jet, Are you gonna be my girl?
- Muse, Endlessly
- Opeth, In my time of need
- Pete Murray, So beautiful
- Radiohead, Punch up at a wedding
- Snow Patrol, a) Run, b) Ways and means
- Stereophonics, Maybe tomorrow
- The Waifs, Lighthouse
- Buckethead, Earth heals itself
- The Cat Empire, Two shoes
- Eskimo Joe, A song is a city
- Evermore, It's too late
- Franz Ferdinand, Dark of the matinee
- Green Day, Boulevard of broken dreams
- Interpol, A time to be so small
- Placebo, To the bitter end
- John Butler Trio, Zebra
- Keane, Everybody's changing
- Maroon 5, This love
- Missy Higgins, Ten days
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, a) Spell, b) Let the bells ring, c) Supernaturally
- REM, Final straw
- Razorlight, Golden touch
- Rocket Science, Being followed
- Ryan Adams, English girls
- Sarah Blasko, Don't you ever
- Tristan Prettyman, When it rains
- Xavier Rudd, Shelter
- Athlete, Wires
- Coldplay, Square one
- Death Cab for Cutie, Your heart is an empty room
- Dream Theatre, These walls
- Elan, Midnight
- Elbow, Great Expectations
- Katie Melua, Nine million bicycles
- Kings of Leon, King of the Rodeo
- Pearl Jam, I am mine
- Pete Murray, Better days
- Stereophonics, Deadhead
- Tristan Prettyman, Please
- Wolfmother, a) Woman, B) Mind's eye
- Turin Brakes, Fishing for a dream
- Angus & Julia Stone, Paper aeroplane
- Eskimo Joe, Black fingernails, red wine
- Evermore, Running
- Jen Cloher, a) rain, b) Spring, c) Peaks & valleys
- John Mayer, Waiting for the world change
- Keane, Nothing in my way
- Muse, Map of problematique
- Silversun Pickups, a) Crazy eye, b) Well thought out twinkles
- Snow Patrol, Shut your eyes
- Arcade Fire, a) Neon Bible, b) Keep the car running
- Interpol, Wrecking ball
- Katie Melua, All in my head
- Amy Winehouse, a) Back to black, b) You know I am no good
- Linkin Park, a) What I've done, b) Get through
- OneRepublic, Apologize (with Timbaland)
- Radiohead, Weird fishes
- Travis, Eyes wide open
- Turin Brakes, For the fire
- The Audreys, Small things
- Death Cab for Cutie, I will possess your heart
- Duffy, a) Breaking my own heart, b) Mercy
- Elbow, The fix
- Empire of the Sun, We are the people
- Fall out Boy, I don't care
- Fleet Foxes, Tiger mountain peasant song
- Gabriella Cilmi, Sweet about me
- Kings of Leon, Sex on fire
- The Last Shadow Puppets, a) Standing next to you, b) The age of the understatementThe c) My mistakes were made for you
- REM, a) Accelerate, b) Houston, c) Sing for the submarine
- TV on the Radio, Love dog
- 3 Doors Down, She don't want the world
- The Verve, Columbo
- Silversun Pickups, a) The royal we, b) Growing old is getting old
- The Fray, You found me
