100 FAVORITE SONGS OF THE 00's: 10-1

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And here you have it, the TOP TEN songs of the decade, as opinioned by yours truly. Let me know if the links are troublesome...I have no clue why it decided to double space everything either.

Top Albums to come soon! I was gonna do it next week, but its probably gonna be a busy one, so perhaps the week after.

#10. Careful

by Guster (2003)

This is one of the rare tracks on this list (especially being so high up) that was actually discovered on the radio. I've never heard it there since, so I must have just been in the right place at the right time. I waited long enough to find out who it was, and went right out to buy the album it came on. Since then its become one of my favorite songs to sing along to. I actually can't help it. If its on, I'm singing right along. Doesn't matter where or with whom.

#9. 12:51

by The Strokes (2003)

Like many a tune on this grand list, this song converted me (hard core) to a band I didn't like. I can't quite remember if it was the Tron music video or the Nintendo guitar work that first snagged me. Maybe it was the super catchy pop song disguised as a hipster hook-up track. The impeccable melody? Or perhaps it was the start of the 80's becoming cool again. Could it have been their ever-present New York swagger and ultra-Italiano names? Well, no, cuz one is named Albert Hammond, Jr. It must have been that awesome misheard lyrics Youtube video. No...I made that years later. Hm...perhaps it's not that good after all?

#8. Come On! Feel the Illinoise!

by Sufjan Stevens (2005)

When it starts with a lil' bit o' Charlie Brown piano, you know its gonna be a good one. Following the quiet prelude opener and Legend of Zelda-style build up introduction of the first two tracks, Suf's massive Illinoise album officially kicks off with this genre-blurred extravaganza. I feel it, Suf. I feel it. If you haven't heard this man before, here is a great place to start. There's only one other tune this decade that left me with such an overwhelmingly positive first impression of an artist. Which brings me to #7...

#7. Yellow

by Coldplay (2000)

Buddy Blair and I were chillin' late one night, watchin' a little VH1 or MTV like we did on occasion (at least they still played videos at night back then), and out of nowhere comes this odd video of some goofball walking on the beach... singing a wonderful little pop nugget. I remember both of us being completely floored by it, wondering where the heck it came from. It had been such a long time since we'd heard such a great, straightforward, and sincere tune (If you look up what was ruling the charts at the time, its no surprise.) We didn't know who they were, but we waited patiently until their album came out so we could support these unknown Brits. Turns out they really didn't need our help.

#6. Across the Night

by Silverchair (2002)

My buddy Lee once said this song was "magical." (If you know Lee, that fact should have a little more power to it.) When I think "orchestral rock" this is the first thing that comes to mind and the explosive opening says it all. Dan-o has some pretty impressive bragging rights when it comes to vocals, but never has he laid it down better than he does right here. The idea of the Diorama album was to encourage escapism. With this opening, the door to another world is blown wide open. Magical indeed.

#5. The Lighthouse's Tale

by Nickel Creek (2000)

It almost doesn't seem fair that three of the most brilliantly talented musicians around also have an incredible knack for melody as well. Not that I'm complaining, cuz then we get wonderful alterna-grass (I think I made that up) tunes like this to grace our eager ears. Few songs become "favorites" instantly, most have to marinate over time. But I knew this beautifully sad tune would end up high on this here list the first time I heard it.

#4. Glosoli

by Sigur Ros (2005)

I first heard this while watching its accompanying video. There is such an incredible innocence to this song about a boy on a journey to find the sun, and it's captured perfectly by the video. (And by the looks of things, Iceland has quite the collection of beautiful pixie children.) Its kind of embarrassing to admit but I was nearly overcome with emotion by the end of it. So pure, epic and amazing. And few, if any, do that better than Sigur Ros.

#3. Everything In Its Right Place

by Radiohead (2000)

While it doesn't quite top the list, it's safe to say this song had a bigger influence on me than any other this decade. It quite literally changed who I was. I walked into Graywhale one afternoon, (probably looking for some nu-metal or something), and the clerk began this song as if the gods of awesomeness told him I needed to be purified. I went in a Radiohater, and came out a full on disciple. I had never heard anything like it in my life, before or since. I was amazed at how Thom's voice, sampled and resampled to perfection, could carry so much pure, emotive tension. Many weeped at the guitar's absence. But to me, the title says it all.

#2. Everything's Not Lost

by Coldplay (2000)

It was a toss up between this and #3, but the one thing that puts this higher is its uncanny ability to give me hope in the grimmest of situations. While Yellow was the instigator, it was this song (and its secret song) that eventually convinced me these guys were going somewhere. It possesses that tried-and-tested Coldplay formula that's made them your mom's favorite band over the years. But, there is one thing that sets it apart from their later monster hits; They're not famous yet. As the final track on their first album, it marked the last time Chris Martin sounded timid. No expectations, nothing to prove, nothing to lose. The last time they were brilliant, without knowing it.

#1. The Greatest View

by Silverchair (2002)

As I was going through my large list of decade decadence, I started to wonder what it was about this song that really makes it better than the others. Its not the most original one here, and it doesn't necessarily even have a meaningful personal experience linked to it. Its just always good. It never gets old for some reason. I think a lot of that has to do with the melody itself. It truly is one of my very favorite melodies ever. There's just something about it that I truly connect with. Its meaningful, somewhat nonsensical, it rocks pretty hard, and has a grand sense of spirituality. Silverchair have always managed to capture the soundtrack to my life with each album, and this one song captures the "bursting from your shell" stage so perfectly to me. It kind of became my anthem after the mission. It makes me wanna stand on top of some huge mountain (or perhaps the Titanic?) and just spread my arms.