40. Pyramid Song – Radiohead

Pyramid Song (from the mediocre Amnesiac) was released right before Radiohead became hyper self aware, tossing out big ideas and excitement for tame blog critic approval. Inspired by a Thom Yorke dream of girlfriends past and the Charles Mingus song “Freedom”.

39. Rise Up With Fists – Jenny Lewis

Are you really that pure sir? Thought I saw you in Vegas, it was not pretty but she was

A breakthrough for Jenny Lewis. The Laurel Canyon sound with a bit of hick thrown in “whuuuut are you changing?”.

38. Glosoli – Sigur Ros

A summer arctic sounding work conjuring up a slow march and glints of sunlight out of the corner of the eye. Sigur Ros’s finest track.

37. Kids – MGMT

Catchy as hell danceable college dorm pop.

36. Jesus of Suburbia – Green Day

Green Day’s sprawling, never ending sonic tribute to youth confusion and melancholy in suburbia.

35. New Slang – The Shins

A few simple acoustic guitar lines and some haunting background vocals propel New Slang into what feels like an effortless piece.

34. Ashes of American Flags – Wilco

Before Jeff Tweedy tried to become the Eagles without the good melodies, he wrote this great song. Some of the finest lyrics of the decade.

33. Paul Simon – The Russian Futurists

One of the more under the radar pop acts of the 2k’s. The Russian Futurists forged a very modern pop sound but don’t really receive the credit for it. Paul Simon is a celebration.

Sample

32. Said the Spider to the Fly – Paper Chase

Foot stomping beats precede a demented piano which is hammered by ugly vocals. An out of tune string section swerves and collides with the other mess. In the end, the track is like a platypus swimming along the river bank – its parts are ugly, but the overall package is irresistible and beloved.

31. It’s Too Late – The Streets

A warm string section wraps around a spritely drum machine and a spotty, surging timpani. Mike Skinner seems lost in a web of dealers, lost lovers and social appointments.

50. Tonto – Battles

A newer rock band actually playing their instruments at a competent level as well as making it catchy? As Yoda once said, “there is hope”.

Sample

49. Year of the Waitress – The Eames era

Cute dork rock taken to its highest level. At times, the lead vocals just kind of fizzle out in the left channel as the singer tries to act “whatever”, but it works.

48. Coyotes – Richard Thompson and Don Edwards

The heartbreaking featured track from the fascinating documentary “Grizzly Man”. As the song proceeds, nature slowly fades from the landscape as referenced by an old timer.

47. Dead Queen – Espers

Enthralling, rambling mystical piece that envokes a sense of timelessness and general wonderment.

Sample

46. Peacebone – Animal Collective

A bouncy, fascinating ride through Animal Collective’s distorted psyche. Happiness encapsulated in musical format.

45. With Crippled Wings – Lift to Experience

A christian rock band delivers the goods in a big way. The sample is the live version, which is inferior to the studio. Try and get your hands on it.

Sample

44. The Scientist – Coldplay

Well done mainstream pop, nothing to apologize for and something sorely lacking this decade.

43. Holy Smokes – Aesop Rock

If Fred Flinstone was in hip hop, I think he would have been like Aesop Rock. Vocal hooks and a slinky melodic synth line will seep into your soul. “I knew it!”.

42. My Immortal – Evanescence

One of the biggest songs of the decade. Beautifully sung with a melody producers would cheat and steal for. True beauty in a sea of auto-tune garbage.

41. I Kissed a Girl – Katy Perry

The song that had all the soccer moms upset, but also had them thinking about their own possible experimentation earlier in life. This song single handedly fucked with suburbia badly, and that’s always a good thing.