Now that the 2000s have been over for 17 years, I would like to pose a question. Which artists the got their start during the first decade of the new millennium should be considered for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Sure, I am focusing on alternative artists, but I want to look at all artists who hit the big time between 2000 and 2009.
As I was constructing the list for the decade under question (The Aughts, right Bondo!?!?), Foo Fighters and Radiohead immediately jumped out ahead of the others. However, do they really count, since they had each released three albums in the Nineties. Then, I choose the Queens of the Stone Age, one of the finest metal/alternative bands of any decade. Now, if I focused on Hip Hop, then Jay-Z, Eminem, Missy Elliott and Kanye West are all shoo-ins. Then, from the pop world, which is always controversial to choose from these artists, my list would include Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Adele, No Doubt/Gwen Steffani, *N SYNC/Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. And, from the rock world, we could have White Stripes/Jack White, The Black Keys and, maybe Coldplay and/or Maroon 5, but people seem to be split on both of them. And, there’s one of my favorite artists of the 21st century, Daft Punk, who deserve induction, if nothing else but pointing out what a great artist/guitarist Nile Rodgers is.
On the other hand, there are the artists, who all at one time or another, I though would get inducted, but now seem like outsiders. I am talking about artists such as The Strokes, The Hives, Kings of Leon, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, LCD Soundsystem, MGMT and Moby. Then, there’s the one of my favorite cult bands, Drive-By Truckers, who deserve consideration, even though their sales are probably more like the Velvet Underground as opposed to Adele. Then, Gnarls Barkley and The Postal Service did not stick together long enough to eek out a career. Finally, what I am supposed to do about Audioslave? Neither Soundgarden nor Rage Against the Machine have been inducted.
In other words, the current array of artists are not making a lasting impression upon music so far this century. Back in the Sixties through the TRL Generation, there always seemed to be a buzz when a great artist was about to release an anticipated album. I really cannot vouch for what happened in the Sixties and Seventies, but the anticipation of the new Prince, Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, even Mellencamp albums could spark a long line at the local record store. And on those big release days, the record would be blaring that new album, plus kids who had just purchased their latest Holy Grail of a rock album would be blaring that very cassette through their Alpine Speakers in their vehicle. Album release day was a magical time. The Napster destroyed everything.
The only new release day that has come close to matching those heady days, was when Adele released her last album. But, the only lines that occurred were the virtual lines in the Amazon checkout and the iTunes download, not some physic record store, one of the last bastions of human contact and interaction.
Now, just because the artists are not as long-lasting as in the part, the songs have become the point of collecting music. So, there are still great songs being released, but that is the only thing being encouraged. So, with that said, let’s take a look at the next section of My 200 Favorite Alternative Songs of the 2000s, or the Aughts (for my good friend Bondo – that’s TWO name-drops!). Let’s see the list from #66 to 115.
66. Audioslave – “Like a Stone” (2002)
67. Scissor Sisters – “Take Your Mama” (2004)
68. The Postal Service – “Such Great Heights” (2003)
69. Arcade Fire – “No Cars Go” (2007)
70. The Shins – “New Slang” (2001)
71. LCD Soundsystem – “Losing My Edge” (2005)
72. Queens of the Stone Age – “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” (2000)
73. Arctic Monkeys – “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” (2006)
74. Snow Patrol – “Chasing Cars” (2006)
75. Green Day – “Know Your Enemy” (2009)
76. Panic! At the Disco – “Nine in the Afternoon” (2008)
77. U2 – “Moment of Surrender” (2009)
78. Paramore – “That’s What You Get” (2007)
79. Weezer – “Hash Pipe” (2001)
80. The Flaming Lips – “Do You Realize??” (2002)
81. Pearl Jam – “The Fixer” (2009)
82. Avril Lavigne – “Sk8r Boi” (2002)
83. Maroon 5 – “This Love” (2002)
84. Fall Out Boy – “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” (2005)
85. Incubus – “Wish You Were Here” (2004)
86. Queens of the Stone Age – “The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret” (2000)
87. blink-182 – “What’s My Age Again” (2000)
88. Everclear – “Wonderful” (2000)
89. Valley Lodge – “All of My Loving” (2005)
90. The Walkmen – “The Rat” (2004)
91. Radiohead – “Everything in Its Right Place” (2000)
92. My Chemical Romance – “Welcome to the Black Parade” (2006)
93. At the Drive-In – “One-Armed Scissor” (2000)
94. Daft Punk – “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” (2001)
95. Belle and Sebastian – “I’m a Cuckoo” (2003)
96. Phoenix – “1901” (2009)
97. blink-182 – “I Miss You” (2003)
98. Hoobastank – “The Reason” (2004)
99. The Strokes – “Barely Legal” (2001)
100. Bowling for Soup – “1985” (2004)
101. blink-182 – “All the Small Things” (2000)
102. Green Day – “Holiday” (2004)
103. blink-182 – “The Rock Show” (2001)
104. Nickelback – “How You Remind Me” (2001)
105. Gorillaz – “Clint Eastwood” (2001)
106. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Dani California” (2006)
107. Green Day – “21 Guns” (2009)
108. The xx – “Crystallized” (2009)
109. The New Pornographers – “Letter from an Occupant” (2000)
110. Beastie Boys – “Ch-Check It Out” (2004)
111. Daft Punk – “Human After All” (2005)
112. Morrissey – “Irish Blood, English Heart” (2004)
113. Fall Out Boy – “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” (2007)
114. Champagne – “Summer and Kisses” (2009). NOTE: This is NOT the ’70s/’80s R&B band of the same name. This Champagne is a power pop band.
115. TV on the Radio – “Wolf Like Me” (2006)
Three days down, and two to go. What song is my number one song for the latest decade to be completed?
If My Records Could Talk 