Although most critics talk about "songs", I think the wrong word is used. A song is a melody line and a set of chords on sheet music. When we talk about our favourite songs, we're probably thinking of a specific track. A track is a performance. It's the way the singer's voice cracks slightly in the third chorus, the way a guitar line weaves across the beat; it's the bass drum and bass guitar locked together, the crack of the snare through a retro 80s gated reverb (thanks Phil). And, yes, sometimes <sigh> it's even the truck driver's gear change, god help us.
Like most people, I listen to a wide range of music but what I really love is pop. That means two things to me. Firstly, "pop", which stopped meaning "popular" a long time ago and now describes a combination of elements, which together produce the potential for mass appeal. For all but the most masochistic listeners, it requires a tune - the old grey whistle test. If I can't sing along, I'm not interested.
Secondly, "music" means just that - and not words. The best lyrics in the world cannot save a mediocre tune or production. There's a reason why only Dylan zealots can remember his original version of All Along The Watchtower - as a musical performance, it's dreadful. (I'd argue the lyrics are pants too, but that's a separate discussion.) However, Jimi Hendrix surpassed himself with the arrangement and performance, and so it's his cover we remember.
Music will take you places that words cannot; it will spin you above the clouds and drop you in an abyss. It must be well arranged, played and recorded. I have no patience with lo-fi amateurs. The best words match the performance perfectly, but such symbiosis is rare. As far as I can tell, most lyrics are just there because scat singing is art-jazz wank. (FWIW, the tracks with the best lyrics - ever! - are "Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3" and "The Winner Takes It All".)
So, clearly that's enough words from me. The world has been waiting; ladies and gentlemen, I present the best tracks of the noughties.
- Queens Of The Stone Age : In The Fade
- Muse : Map Of The Problematique
- Mint Royale : Don't Falter (feat. Lauren Laverne)
- Snow Patrol : Set The Fire To The Third Bar (feat. Martha Wainwright)
- Kate Rusby : No Names
- Low : Monkey
- Calexico : Red Blooms
- Mark Ronson : Stop Me (feat. Daniel Merriweather)
- Kings Of Leon : Sex On Fire
- Queens Of The Stone Age : Go With The Flow
- Sugababes : Stronger
- Junior Boys : In The Morning
- Linkin Park : In The End
- Smashing Pumpkins : Stand Inside Your Love
- Radiohead : Everything In Its Right Place
- Goldfrapp : A&E
- Antony and The Johnsons : Hope There's Someone
- Martha Wainwright : Jesus And Mary
- PJ Harvey : This Mess We're In
- M83 : Teen Angst
- Primal Scream : Shoot Speed/Kill Light
- Ian Brown : F.E.A.R.
- Friendly Fires : Jump In The Pool
- Goldfrapp : Number 1
- The Flaming Lips : In The Morning Of The Magicians
- Gonzales : Real Motherfuckin' Music
- Kasabian : Processed Beats
- Alfie : You Make No Bones (Revisited)
- Neon Neon : Dream Cars
- David Gray : Please Forgive Me
- Midlake : Head Home
- Radiohead : Reckoner
- Radiohead : Videotape
- Elbow : The Bones Of You
- Doves : The Cedar Room
- Outkast : Hey Ya!
- Snow Patrol : Run
- The Clint Boon Experience : White No Sugar (New Improved Bascombe Mix)
- Passion Pit : Sleepyhead
- The Flaming Lips : Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung
- Klaxons : Golden Skans
- Radiohead : I Might Be Wrong (Live)
- White Lies : Death
- Interpol : Evil
- Kylie Minogue : Love At First Sight
- The Feeling : Helicopter
- Supergrass : Diamond Hoo Ha Man
- Elbow : Powder Blue
- Burial : Archangel
- The Avalanches : Since I Left You
- Jose Gonzalez : Heartbeats
- Will Young : Leave Right Now
- Loney, Dear : Violent
- Doves : Jetstream
- MGMT : Time To Pretend
- Girls Aloud : Sound Of The Underground
- Keane : We Might As Well Be Strangers
- Coldplay : Shiver
- Daft Punk : Face To Face
- N.E.R.D. : Rock Star (Jason Nevins Remix Edit)
- Interpol : PDA
- The Music : Getaway
- Lowgold : Beauty Dies Young
- Madonna : What It Feels Like For A Girl
- Franz Ferdinand : Auf Achse
- Kalomoira : Secret Combination
- High School Musical Cast : Breaking Free
- Rilo Kiley : Close Call
- Bloc Party : Helicopter
- Badly Drawn Boy : Disillusion
- Stereophonics : Dakota
- Blonde Redhead : 23
- The Streets : Turn The Page
- Sufjan Stevens : Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
- Aimee Mann : Save Me
- Noonday Underground : London
- The High Fidelity : IThankU
- Girls Aloud : Call The Shots
- Vast : Free
- Miracle Fortress : Have You Seen In Your Dreams
- Mansun : I Can Only Disappoint You
- Fleet Foxes : White Winter Hymnal
- Benjamin Diamond : Little Scare
- Crashland : New Perfume
- The Darkness : Love Is Only A Feeling
- Liberty X : Just A Little
- Turin Brakes : Underdog (Save Me)
- Richard Ashcroft : A Song For The Lovers
- Unamerican : The Closer You Get
- Death In Vegas : Scorpio Rising (feat. Liam Gallagher)
- Daniel Bedingfield : If You're Not The One
- U2 : Electrical Storm
- Hercules & Love Affair : Blind (feat. Antony Hegarty)
- James Morrison : Wonderful World
- Hot Chip : No Fit State
- Spiller : Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
- Seth Lakeman : How Much
- Sia : Taken For Granted
- The Supernaturals : Life Is A Motorway
- The Feeling : I Thought It Was Over
- Kylie Minogue : Spinning Around
- British Sea Power : Carrion
- St Deluxe : New Wave Stars
- Melanie C : Never Be The Same Again (feat. Lisa “Left Eye”Lopez)
- Birth : Last Night
- Joe Bonamassa : Happier Times
- Liberty : Thinking It Over
- Manu Chao : Mr Bobby (Live)
- Flight Of The Conchords : Ladies Of The World
- Carlene Carter : Why Be Blue
Also available as a:
- Spotify playlist (missing 9 tracks sadly)
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