Golden Pouchcakes: Life Songs: A New Millennium

So, finally up to the year 2000! To be honest, I listen to more old stuff than new, but let’s see what’s been good – I should note that, for a lot of this, I can’t really explain what it is that makes me like it…

2000

Belle & Sebastian — The Wrong Girl; Women’s Realm — I like the other voices on this album, these songs get stuck in my head more often than some others of theirs.
Crüxshadows — Cruelty — Sometimes you just need something dark.
Fatboy Slim — Weapon Of Choice — Bootsy Collins makes it funky. And Christopher Walken is awesome in the video…
Macy Gray — I Try — I know it’s the butt of a number of jokes, but I love her voice with this song.

Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch — Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby — Absolutely adore it.
Dan Tyminski & the Soggy Bottom Boys — I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow — The radio station version please, the one where they sang into the can. Just beautiful.
U2 — Beautiful Day — Finally, they sound like themselves again.
Robbie Williams — Rock DJ — Why do I like this? No idea.

2001

Basement Jaxx — Where’s Your Head At? — Dance floor fave, I blame the Tomb Raider movies.
Daft Punk — One More Time; Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger — I can’t explain why I like Daft Punk so much. Kinda nerdy and funky at the same time.
Missy Elliott — Get Ur Freak On — There’s just something about Miss E.
Gorillaz — Clint Eastwood — You couldn’t get away from this when it came out, and that’s fine — it’s an awesome song.

Colin Hay — Beautiful World — Seriously, this song is just so beautiful. I could listen to it forever.
Ladytron — Playgirl — Sorta ’80s sounding, I like her voice too.
Kylie Minogue — Can’t Get You Out Of My Head — This one’s Jody’s fault.
No Doubt — Hella Good — I just like the energy of this one, there’s a funk under it too.
Pizzicato Five — Nonstop To Tokyo — Just enjoy, so much fun.
Rasputina — Wish You Were Here — I absolutely love their version, cellos just make everything more mournful.
Simple Minds — The Needle And The Damage Done — Interesting cover.
Sloan — The Other Man — This is the one that made me really go back and re-evaluate their catalogue.
They Might Be Giants — Another First Kiss; Yeh Yeh; Older — What can I say, I will always love the boys from Brooklyn. Older is my favourite birthday song.
Rufus Wainwright — One Man Guy — Rufus covers his dad.
White Stripes — Fell In Love With A Girl — So much energy, sort of angry in a non-angry kinda way.
Robbie Williams — Somethin’ Stupid — Okay, I know why I like this one, an old Sinatra tune, here sung with Nicole Kidman.

2002

David Bowie — Cactus; 5:15 The Angels Have Gone — Heathen was a great album, but it was one of those that had that shitty software on it that forced your computer to launch programs just to play it. I sent Sony a letter, I did. Anyway, a very strong album.
Broken Social Scene — KC Accidental; Stars and Sons; Looks Just Like The Sun; Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl; Cause = Time; Lover’s Spit — Really, just get You Forgot It In People, the whole album is amazing.
Chemical Brothers — Galaxy Bounce — Just an overall fun track.
Coldplay — Clocks — I’m over it now, but it was everywhere at the time and the piano made me swoon.

Covenant — Monochrome; Call The Ships To Port; Bullet; Atlas — Those polite boys are at it again. The beat hits that spot in my spine that makes my legs move.
The Delgados — The Light Before We Land — Dreamy, swirly beauty.
Dirty Vegas — Days Go By — I never get tired of this song.
Elvis vs. JXL — A Little Less Conversation — I love these new remixes of super old songs, this one’s a lot of fun. Reminds me of Hustle.
Fischerspooner — Emerge — Another one that’s Jody’s fault.
Flight Of The Conchords — Petrov, Yelyena, and Me; Bus Driver’s Song — Their first album, just love them.
Interpol — PDA — Recommended to me by LaunchCast (remember Launch?). Ended up liking The Editors more, but this was a step in that direction.
Ladytron — Blue Jeans — Same as before, ’80s twist.
Sondre Lerche — Sleep On Needles — There’s an innocence to his voice.
Mirah — The Garden — I came to this later via So You Think You Can Dance. Still a bit obsessed.
Moby — We Are All Made Of Stars — I still love this song, despite it being played into the ground.
Regina Spektor — Consequence of Sounds — That’s one quirky voice she’s got there.
Tahiti 80 — Happy End — The voices have a harmony that’s slightly disconcerting, but it suits the music.
They Might Be Giants — No! ; John Lee Supertaster — Their first children’s album, No! was fantastic for any audience.

2003

Belle & Sebastian — Step Into My Office, Baby — My go-to B&S song.
The Caesars — Jerk It Out — Another song that came to me via Apple commercials. Still fun.
Camera Obscura — Let Me Go Home — I love the throwback feel of this one.

Death Cab For Cutie — New Year; Title And Registration; The Sound Of Settling — Ben Gibbard, refreshed from his Postal Service side project, comes back with Transatlanticism. The world says thank you.
The Decemberists — Los Angeles, I’m Yours — I can see your undies!
Missy Elliott — Pass That Dutch — Miss E proving herself again.
The Fixx — You Don’t Have To Prove Yourself; Want That Life — Unfortunately, this album disappeared before I could actually buy it, so I’ve had to learn to love it via Grooveshark. I’m keeping my eye open for it though.
Jet — Are You Gonna Be My Girl — Another Apple ad fave.
Mercury Rev — In A Funny Way — Feels like a carnival ride.
Metric — Combat Baby — Very up and poppy.
OutKast — Hey Ya! — Yep, I like it. Just like everyone else. Oh, and never shake a Polaroid picture, you’ll make it smudge and warp.

The Postal Service — The District Sleeps Alone Tonight; Such Great Heights; Sleeping In; Brand New Colony — Actually, just get Give Up, you won’t be sorry. The entire album is beautiful.
White Stripes — Seven Nation Army — Awesome video, makes me dizzy.

2004

Feist — Mushaboom; One Evening; Secret Heart — There’s something so late ’70s about One Evening, her voice is like caramel.
Franz Ferdinand — Jacqueline; Take Me Out; The Dark Of The Matinée; This Fire; Michael; Come On Home — Just their whole first album really. What can be said?
Frausdots — Soft Lights — Naïve and sweet.
The Futureheads — Decent Days and Nights — I go back and forth on what I think of them. They make me think a bit of Elvis Costello & The Attractions.
Helio Sequence — Blood Bleeds — Warm and inviting, but slightly off-kilter.
Hidden Cameras — Doot Doot Plot — Sounds like summer to me.

Interpol — Next Exit; Slow Hands — Antics is a better album than their previous outing, these two are my faves.
k-os — Crabbuckit; Man I Used To Be — Jumped on the bandwagon with this one.
Kasabian — Club Foot — Saw this video one night and it disturbed me greatly, but the song wouldn’t leave my head.
Sondre Lerche — Two Way Monologue — Ambitious.
Modest Mouse — Float On; Bury Me With It; The Good Times Are Killing Me — There’s something both innocent and sinister about Modest Mouse.
Rush — Summertime Blues — Love hearing different takes on classic songs, when they’re done well.
Scissor Sisters — It Can’t Come Quickly Enough; Take Your Mama; Lovers In The Back Seat — There’s more than you think here.

William Shatner — Common People; That’s Me Trying; I Can’t Get Behind That — Yeah, that’s right, Has Been is one of my favourite albums of the year. Produced by Ben Folds, lots of awesome guests — and it’s actually good, folks.
Streets — Fit But You Know It — Just hilarious.
Tegan & Sara — Take Me Anywhere; Where Does The Good Go; Walking With A Ghost; So Jealous; Speak Slow — So Jealous is a fantastic album, you couldn’t get away from these songs that year. And I never got sick of it.
They Might Be Giants — Bastard Wants To Hit Me; Damn Good Times; Broke In Two — Super fun, how do they keep doing it?