I thought they had a good list overall, though there was a good dose of mindless pop that I didn't expect.

Any songs yall think were missed?

I for one am shocked that Dodos - Fools was not on the list

Actually, for the niches they like to cover, they did a pretty decent job...500 is a very small number when you try to accomodate all music for a full decade.

I think the songs I miss most are ones from bands Pitchfork just won't give credit to for what I percieve to be basically political reasons...they'll praise arty/indie/hip hop/electronic/or the trashiest AM style pop and R&B...but well made mainstream rock or older artists are wolfbane to the site...

Of all the songs I most felt deserved to be on that list, #1 would have been American Music Club's Patriot's Heart...it's a go for the throat, almost Scorcesian lyrical overkill...but for me, there were no two more chilling/devastating verses in all of rock in the 2000s than the section of that song where Mark Eitzel calls out "Come on, Grandpa."

The way the song painfully etches the sad details of the daily grind of it's gay male stripper anti-hero is amazing enough, but then the way Eitzel also repeatedly links his behavior as a perfect working example of cherished right wing capitalist views just makes the song denser and more captivatingly thoughtful than anything else I heard all decade.

If not the best song on a purely musical level, it was one of the decade's true lyrical masterpieces.

Other tracks or albums that I thought or hoped might warrant a mention...

1. Something off Howe Gelb's 'Sno Angel Like You (The Farm would have been my choice)
2. Something off of Mark Lanegan's Bubblegum (I'd probably go with Strange Religion).
3. Parabol/Parabola or Reflection from Tool's Lateralus
4. Heads Explode - Monster Magnet
5. Another Ghostface Killah track - Walk Around.
6. Hopscotch Willie - Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks.
7. More than one track from The Woods - Jumpers was a given...but you can't convince me there were 499 better tracks this decade than Entertain or Roller Coaster.
8. Sometime Around Midnight - Airbourne Toxic Event - Yeah it's a cheesy/overplayed anthem, but it's also a great one.
9 Tiny Little Fractures - Snow Patrol...Another band the site loves to hate, but this is a great song.
10. Your Eyes Open - Keane - Ditto.
11. Fit and You Know It/Dry Your Eyes - The Streets...superior choices to Blinded by the Lights...Pitchfork almost always seems to gravitate away from more directly emotional/humorous material.
12. Something from Rosanne Cash's Black Cadillac, one of the most moving album of the decade.
13. Something from Patty Griffin's Children Running Through...superior if less hipper to anything Neko Case did this decade.
14. A Magic World - Eels - Few songs have better captured the joyous curiosity of young children.
15.Hast Thou Consider the Tetrapod - The emotional high point on album full of them from the Mountain Goat's The Sunset Tree.
16. Stormy High - Black Mountain - One of my favorite hard rock tracks in a long time.
17. Walk On - U2 - one of those bands Pitchfork will never/ever praise...for some reason, U2 bashing has become the clarion call generational differentiator for the under 30s...but this was their last great song in their traditional uplifting style.
18. Salute Your Solution - Raconteurs - Yeah, I know, Jack White had already received many kudos with White Stripes Tracks...but this is another fabulous hard rock song.
19. I Feel Just Like A Child - Devendra Banhart
20. Devils and Dust - Springsteen's best track of decade.
21. Further on up the Road - Johnny Cash - The best Springsteen cover of the decade.
22. Calm - Maritime...loved the opening three tracks of this little '06 pop album, would have loved to see them get a nod.
23. The Mercury Craze - Subtle - One of my favorite Rap Tracks of Decade.
24. Breaker - Low - One of my favorites from '07
25. Wierd Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead - Yeah, Reckoner is a great representative for In Rainbows...but this song feels so unique to me in it's construction...one of my recent favorites of theirs live...such a hard song to play.
26. Dance Chance Romance - Junior Senior - Best Jackson 5 style track since the Jackson 5.
27. Lua - Bright Eyes...impossible to ignore this song...like Patriot's Heart, dark, but one of the most instantly transportive songs of the decade. Criminal this was left off.
28. Milk Lizard - Dillinger Escape Plan - One of the most compelling uses of Brass in Heavy Metal I've ever heard.
29. Coles Corner - Richard Hawley - One of most romantic songs of decade.
30. Mirrorball - Elbow - ditto.
31. Can't Stand Me Now - The Libertines - hard to imagine how this one was left off with that awesome scatter shot open and the narrative fueling the song's lyrics.
32. Sukie in the Graveyard - Belle and Sebastian
33. No Wow - The Kills - Another how could this not be there track.
34. A cut for !!! Myth Takes...Sweet Life would be my choice.
35. That's How I Got to Memphis - Solomon Burke...another phenomenal country performance PK4 choose to ignore.
36. Amerykahn Promise - Erykah Badu
37. Energy - The Apples In Stereo - one of the brightest pop songs of the decade.
38. Mercy - Plants and Animals
39. Something from A Place to Bury Strangers
40. Ed Is A Portal or Raise the Sparks - Akron/Family
41. Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places where Lovers Have Wings - Sunset Rubdown.
42. Collarbone - Fijuya and Miyagi
43. Valentines Day In Juarez - The Ike Rielly Assassination.
44. Furr - Blitzen Trapper
45. 100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
46. 45:33 - LCD Soundsystem

Wow, that's a helluvah list there, Illiniq.

I'm too lazy to put together a top 50 list like you have, but I will say that I too agree that something by Springsteen should have been included, though I don't think "Devils and Dust" was his best track this decade. I think you'd have to choose "Radio Nowhere" for being the best guitar-fronted anthem that he's written since "Born in the USA." Then again, I'm a sucker for fist pumping anthems, so this would naturally be my choice.

"Walk On" is definitely my favorite U2 song this decade, and should be recognized by everybody; I don't understand p4k's entire bashing of these guys for the whole decade.

"Lua" is my favorite Bright Eyes song...after seeing two Bright Eyes' songs make it into the 500-201 section, I had high hopes that there would be another in the top 200, and I was crossing my fingers for it to be this one. This song, in my opinion, is one of the finest lyrical songs I have ever heard - I understand many would find it emo, cliche, and "tries too hard," but nothing else this decade can move me to a place of pure sadness and heartbreak like this song. A close personal choice.

"Furr" is an excellent song as well.

"Salute Your Solution" is a good choice, though I've always thought that "Consolers of the Lonely" and "Carolina Drama" were better.

I'm not crazy about Lua, but I agree with a lot of your other picks. More from The Woods would have been great, and I'm also annoyed that Far Away was their only track from One Beat (prob cause of the 9/11 stuff). But Sympathy is a much better track.

I'm surprised Furr, Collarbone, and 100 Days 100 Nights didn't make it.

I don't think Mirrorball, Can't Stand Me Now or Dance Chance Romance had a chance (ha), but they are great too.

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but I would have liked more Okkervil River and something by Pretty Girls Make Graves. Oh, and She Will Only Bring You Happiness by McLusky. Or really, any other McLusky track (not that To Hell With Good Intentions isn't great). And C'Mon C'Mon by the Von Bondies.

To the first poster: Fools did make the list, it was just fairly low down. I expected it to be higher.

quote:

More from The Woods would have been great, and I'm also annoyed that Far Away was their only track from One Beat (prob cause of the 9/11 stuff). But Sympathy is a much better track.

my thoughts as well. Or they could have thrown in something from All Hands on the Bad One (Youth Decay would be my vote)

other stuff they could have made room for:

Blonde Redhead - In Particular, 23 (Equus was the best song off Misery is a Butterfly, but both these songs and the albums they were on were better)
Do Make Say Think - The Universe! (only one of the most insanely awesome instrumental/post rock tracks of the decade)
Cat Power - The Greatest instead of Lived in Bars and Good Woman instead of I Don't Blame You
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Me and Mia, and also The High Party if you want more from Hearts of Oak
Yo La Tengo - Cherry Chapstick, Today is the Day [EP version], The Story of Yo La Tengo (as much as I liked the two inclusions, they're both mellow songs from the same album and miss the louder awesomeness the band also has)
Mogwai - I could name a half dozen potentials, their exclusion saddens me

Oh god, too many to name, but I was particularly surprised they left off "Surfing On a Rocket" by Air.

quote:

Originally posted by either_or:
Equus was the best song off Misery is a Butterfly

I disagree, although it is a good song.

I personally was most surprised by their exclusion of "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire--so much so that I just joined these forums for the sole reason of making this post.

I know Pitchfork are entitled to their own opinions etc, but to me it's totally inane that "Wake Up"/"Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"/"Crown of Love"/"Haiti" are not on the list, but Gwen Stefani (come on, Pitchfork. Gwen Stefani?!) has two songs. I don't know, but I always had the impression "Hollaback Girl" kind of, you know, sucked.

quote:

Originally posted by HeyThatsMyShoe:
I know Pitchfork are entitled to their own opinions etc, but to me it's totally inane that "Wake Up"/"Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"/"Crown of Love"/"Haiti" are not on the list, but Gwen Stefani (come on, Pitchfork. Gwen Stefani?!) has two songs. I don't know, but I always had the impression "Hollaback Girl" kind of, you know, sucked.

Hollaback Girl totally doesn't suck.

I understand the frustration of leaving off "Wake Up" and even "Neighborhood #3" since I love those songs and expected them to make the list. Either way, I'm glad that both Arcade Fire AND Gwen Stefani got represented accurately, even if an argument could be made in favor of Arcade Fire over Gwen Stefani, I appreciate the variety a hell of a lot more than anything else.

Gwen Stefani doesn't suck, get over it. Fools was on the list like in the top 500. Furr and Wake Up should have been there. I was upset with the placing of Losing My Edge. I don't like that song.

One of Sunn O)))'s "songs" made the Pitchfork list. Its the one that goes "DROOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE".

Here's 15 songs I feel should have made the list instead:

King's Crossing - Elliott Smith
Chillout Tent - The Hold Steady
the fine print - King Geedorah
None Shall Pass - Aesop Rock
A Wolf At The Door (It Girl. Rag Doll) - Radiohead
Can't You Tell - Ra Ra Riot
Phantom Limb - The Shins
Walking With A Ghost - Tegan & Sara
Sweet Talk - Spank Rock
Hello New World - Clipse
You Can't Hold The Hand Of A Rock And Roll Man - Okkervil River
Raver - Burial
Rhinestone Cowboy - Madvillain
Mr. November - The National
Mykonos - Fleet Foxes

I could keep going.

P.S. Did anyone read their write up for Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" on that list? Its pretty much a lesson in how to write a paragraph and and say nothing meaningful.

Did anything by PJ Harvey make the cut? I understand she had kind of a mellow decade, as opposed to her Nineties work, but "Stories of the City..." is one of her best. Any track off of there would have been appreciated.

Good Fortune was on there. I'm like 95 percent sure.

quote:

One of Sunn O)))'s "songs" made the Pitchfork list. Its the one that goes "DROOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE".

Haha! This made me laugh so hard when I read it.

Also, LoS, I agree on a bunch of the songs you felt should have been included, especially "Mr. November," "Mykonos," and "None Shall Pass."

And, obviously, it would have been cool to see "Chillout Tent" on the list, though my personal favorites that I thought Pitchfork might include were "Your Little Hoodrat Friend," "First Night," and "Slapped Actress." Mmmmmm Hold Steady.

Edit: I just wanted to point out that I like Sunn O))), but LoS's comment was clearly funny nonetheless.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: crob3888,

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
One of Sunn O)))'s "songs" made the Pitchfork list. Its the one that goes "DROOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE".

Yea, I really don't get this "OMG It's not music" thing...

Anything by Doves, anything by Elbow...and I know that Pitchfork actually respects/likes these bands unlike the Keane/Snow Patrol/Coldplay set.

I was impressed that British dance/post-punk was pretty well represented. Futureheads, Maximo Park, The Libertines, Klaxons, Franz Ferdinand, Los Campesinos!, Art Brut, Clinic, Bloc Party, Hot Chip were all included. The Clientele and Guillemots were also a nice inclusion.

EDIT: Looking back I see Doves' "Black and White Town" was included. But no "Words", "There Goes The Fear", "Caught by the River" or "The Cedar Room"? J'accuse!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Elitist_Pretentious,

quote:

Originally posted by Portable Joystick:

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
One of Sunn O)))'s "songs" made the Pitchfork list. Its the one that goes "DROOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE".

Yea, I really don't get this "OMG It's not music" thing...

I don't know, I tend to just let people listen to whatever they like.

Honestly I don't know why anyone would want to listen to a "song" that sounds like a broken Frigidaire/exhaust fan, but thats not me is it?

I'm just joking around, so I hope no one's hurt.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I bought a copy of Black One after the Pitchfork review a few years back.

Nah, it's cool. People like what they like. I just honestly don't understand the line of thinking by some that Sunn O))) flat out isn't music. By the way you were putting quotes around "songs" and "music" when referring to them, like it was open for debate, I wasn't sure if you were one of those people.

But hey, joke away.

Some off the top of my head that should've made it IMHO:

"Hurt" - Johnny Cash (One of the best covers ever!)
"John Wayne Gacy Jr." - Sufjan Stevens (How he pulled off such a beautiful song about such an ugly subject...)
"I am Trying to Break Your Heart" or "Ashes of American Flags" - Wilco (I'd have thought these two would be considered the best of the best from YHF)
"Fake Empire" - The National (Seems to be the most popular track from Boxer, one of the great indie albums of the decade)
"How to Disappear Completely" - Radiohead (Maybe the victim of an album track limit with two other Kid A tracks represented, but still well deserving)

and last but definitely not least,
"Wake Up" - Arcade Fire (My second favorite of the decade. If you've experienced it live, there's no way you'd exclude it from the list)

Also, I'll second the underrepresentation of Doves, though it seems they never get the respect they deserve.

Sufjan had "Casimir Pulaski Day" and "Chicago" off Illinois on the list, so I'd say the two of them bumped out "John Wayne Gacey jnr."