GIMME TINNITUS

Welcome to part one of GIMME TINNITUS’ Best Songs Of The Aughts where we look back on the best songs of 2000-2004.

Back when all the “best of the decade” whoopla started earlier this year (with Pitchfork’s Best Of), I began thinking about the songs I would have blogged about had I actually been blogging (or let’s say posting about music on an angelfire page) way back in 2000. I sifted through many tracks to come up with this list, and I hope it helps you reconnect with some tracks you may have forgotten or better yet connect with something you may have missed.

The blog-o-sphere has been in a “best of the decade” craze of late, with all kinds of lists… here and here and here and here and here and here and here. There is even an aggregated page over at largehearted boy specifically for the topic.

Enough setup, here are the songs…

Downloadables + Streamables:

Songs 1-20* (sendspace zip)
Songs 23-38* (sendspace zip)

* does not contain songs with lala links (but you knew that, right?)

1. Small Stakes (mp3) by Spoon
(buy from the band)

2. Alan Is A Cowboy Killer (mp3) by mclusky
(buy it)

3. OK Apartment (mp3) by The Oranges Band
(buy it)

4. Speakers Push The Air (mp3) by Pretty Girls Make Graves
(buy it)

5. The National Anthem (lala stream) by Radiohead

(buy it)

6. Rebellion (Lies) (mp3) by Arcade Fire
(buy from the band)

7. Cause = Time (mp3) by Broken Social Scene
(buy from the label)

8. The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret (mp3) by Queens Of The Stone Age
(buy it)

9. You’re No Rock N’ Roll Fun (mp3) by Sleater-Kinney
(buy from the label)

10. Sentimental Man (mp3) by Dismemberment Plan
(buy from the label)

11. 3rd Planet (lala stream) by Modest Mouse

(buy it)

12. Black History Month (mp3) by Death From Above 1979
(buy it)

13. My Girlfriend’s Best Friend (lala stream) by The Sun

(buy it)

14. Without MSG I Am Nothing (mp3) by mclusky
(buy it)

15. No Jumper Cables (mp3) by Aesop Rock
(buy from the label)

16. Black Metal (mp3) by The Forms
(buy from the label)

17. The Return Of Evil Bill (mp3) by Clinic
(buy from the label)

18. 99 Problems (torrent) by Jay-Z and The Beatles as mashed by Danger Mouse
(not for sale)

19. Barely Legal (lala stream) by The Strokes

(buy it)

20. Two Bit Rhythm (M.I.A. Mix) (mp3) by M.I.A.
(for sale in the UK)

21. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (lala stream) by Wilco

(buy from the band)

22. PDA (lala stream) by Interpol

(buy from the label)

23. Braintrust (mp3) by Hot Snakes
(buy it)

24. Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone? (mp3) by Ted Leo + The Pharmacists
(buy it)

25. Staring At The Sun (mp3) by TV On The Radio
(buy it)

26. Powdered Wig Machine (feat. PJ Harvey) (mp3) by Desert Sessions
(buy it)

27. Everything Hits At Once (mp3) by Spoon
(buy from the band)

28. Fell In Love With A Girl (lala stream) by The White Stripes

(buy it)

29. Slow Rt. Hand (mp3) by Califone
(buy from label)

30. Short Term Effects (mp3) by Motico
(not for sale)

31. Cashout (mp3) by Fugazi
(buy from label)

32. Freedom (mp3) by J Mascis & The Fog
(buy it used)

33. Panic Bullets (mp3) by Skeleton Key
(buy from label)

34. Mr. You’re On Fire Mr. (mp3) by Liars
(buy it)

35. Free (mp3) by Cat Power
(buy from label)

36. Watch Song (mp3) by Shellac
(buy from label)

37. Know Your Onion! (mp3) by The Shins
(buy from label)

38. Huddle Formation (mp3) by The Go! Team
(buy from label)

Also, be sure to check out part two of the Best Songs Of The Aughts 2005-2009. I have not decided whether I will tackle the topic of best albums yet, but the decade isn’t over (though I am running out of time here).

Do you remember the postrock outfit named Somme? They sounded like this.

Downloadable: Massless (mp3)

Well, they have expanded their lineup and changed their name to Other Animals. Their eponymous new album was recorded mainly live in 4 days at Steve Albini’s Electrical Studios in Chicago and was mastered by Mr. Robert Spurr Weston IV (of Shellac and Volcano Suns fame). The album sounds like this.

Downloadable: Boxcar Blue (mp3)

The song above takes a little while to get going, but once it does it’s pretty awesome, no?

And did I mention that the band is presently giving the album away for free on their website. Go grab it.

Downloadable: Other Animals (zip)

If you live in the Chi-town area be sure to check them out live.

Myspace page is here.
Other Animals wordpress is here.

ROCK MATH!

The unsigned UK quartet named The Patio Set is next up in out ROCK MATH! series.

The Equation:

(Shellac Of North America * tempo) / (Television * guitar tone) = The Patio Set

Translation: The Patio Set is chock full of postpunk goodness. Dig it.

Downloadable: Highgate Owl Nightmare (mp3)

Blogspot is here.
Sonic Bids page is here.

Disclaimer: Remember ROCK MATH! is not about things being derivative, it’s about finding commonalities that are awesome.