ILM Top 100 2000-2004: TRACKS

It got a few high scores, suggesting more than one person really does love the song rather than just liking Grandaddy in general and acknowledging their representation here.

No. 88

Points: 158
No. of votes: 9
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: KYLIE MINOGUE
Title: COME INTO MY WORLD (FISCHERSPOONER REMIX)
Label: EMI
Year: 2002

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/comeintomyworld.jpg

If the intention was to mash-up 'Emerge' with 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' - two of the best dance tracks of the decade - here then respect is due. It doesn't quite come off as good as either of the aforementioned songs though - caught between the two stools of club cred (the stark zero-resonant synths and thudding 909 beats are retained) and pop sensibilities (Kylie's rinsed vox still scattered throughout) as it is - but seeing as they're not around right now...

I don't think there was any trickle up. If you didn't use all your votes then you just lost the unused points.

Jay - surely people will often vote for whatever tracks by a favourite band are available to vote for, even it it wouldn't be their personal choice. I was like that with Superpitcher.

x-post

oh, understood, sorry about that. i think it comes down to strategy once again. the song may not be your favorite but if it's the only song in the noms from said group then you might vote for it just because you really like the group, etc. (xpost)

i didnt do that (what alba said). if i didnt think a track or an album was feasibly one of the best of the decade i didn't vote for it. For example i didnt vote for "Country on the Click" beacause i think the best fall album of the past 5 years is "The Unutterable", so no Fall votes from me in spite of the fact they are one of my favourite bands. As a result of this i only voted for (i think) seven albums and nine tracks in total.

I think it would've been better to always pick 15 of both personally but that's more to do with the nature of the poll. Each to their own of course...

stevem - this is the genius bit! A real time drip drip drip results service with plenty of time for aggro on the way up the chart. I'm so excited I don't want to leave work (and I've never said that before). What *will* number 87 be?

I had Kylie as my number 18 or whatever, so glad to see she made it without me.

Yeah, well I do love 'Heroin'. Just not as much as 'The Long Way' or 'To Turn You On', say.

If I really didn't like a nominated track or album by an otherwise favoured artist then I didn't vote for it. (like with B&S's last, which has a handful of great tracks and some guff that prevents me from really wanting to listen to the whole thing).

im beginning to regret my strategy a little.

No. 87

Points: 162
No. of votes: 7
No. of #1 votes: 1

Artist: OUTKAST (FEATURING KILLER MIKE)
Title: THE WHOLE WORLD
Label: LaFace
Year: 2002

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/thewholeworld.jpg

I remember this being one of the first hits I heard with an obvious (if not literal) reference to the political situation at the time. Andre's heavy sigh at the beginning the perfect 'well, on with the show" statement before confessing he's afraid as well. There's a back-to-basics feel about the whole thing yet at the time it felt quite different to everything else out there in mainstreamland, rhythmically, vocally and lyrically...the point at which Killer Mike is introduced halfway through seems to act as a little 'sit up' point for anyone slumping from the effortless plod of the track up to that point, but it's lively stuff throughout - even Big Boi's monotone tongue-twisting rhymes at the end.

Oh carp. And by that, I do mean carp.

Is the "Come Into My World" remix mentioned here the same one that's in the video? If so, shame on me for not voting for it.

Video mix = original mix. FS remix = WE ARE KYLIE-FUCKING ROBOTS WITH FUNNY HAIRCUTS

I wish I'd nominated System Of a Down.

i forgot to say 'The WHole World' remains great because it reminds me of 'Addams Groove'

No. 86

Points: 165
No. of votes: 9
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: DEAD PREZ
Title: HIP HOP
Label: Loud
Year: 2000

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/hiphop.jpg

Like classic PE, militant noise you can roll, bounce and shake to.

hurry up! i'm getting an ulcer here!

No. 85

Points: 166
No. of votes: 10
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: THE STREETS
Title: THE IRONY OF IT ALL
Label: Locked On
Year: 2001

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/theironyofitall1.jpg http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/theironyofitall2.jpg

One of the highlights from 'Original Pirate Material', Mike Skinner's amusing social commentary on the hypocrisy and double-standards surrounding the culture of drinking and smoking in society...the beauty being it transcends that to touch on class and character divides (middle class student vs about-town hooligan), with the change in music highlighting the conflict and contrast further but the tongue always remaining in cheek. It may not be the most inspired, radical observation to make but that doesn't make it any less true. And more importantly, it's bloody hilarious (as is the video natch).

No. 84

Points: 168
No. of votes: 9
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: BLUR
Title: OUT OF TIME
Label: Parlophone
Year: 2003

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/outoftime.jpg

(ILX server too busy again for search results...help!)...I don't know, perhaps this will be considered one of the most surprising appearances in the list for many. Something you either love or loathe? If it CAN stir one of those emotions in you then it can't be all bad. What I do like about it is some of the effects - Albarn's ghostly echoes of himself when 'feeling the sunshine' a confused mix of relief and despair, the subtle change in tone of the track as it turns, slowly, that corner from A to B, it's disregard for conventional song formula (when is a verse not a verse? can a bridge be a bridge if there is no chorus? if a tree falls in the forest but only Damon Albarn is there to hear it, does anyone still give a shit?) and the way it somehow ends with a cool sun peeking out from the grim overcast nature of the previous three minutes. I don't know how relevant it is that it's a Blur song...it seems to be trying not to be a Blur song, or even a song at all, which can be construed as intriguing, five out of every ten seconds...wait I've got it. If a tree falls in the forest ON Damon Albarn, THEN this song would make sense. Maybe THAT's why it's here.

good description steve. I liked Out of Time a lot.

i was going to ask you to write something about it ;) that was a struggle - I think I like it more than the Grandaddy one but these two are my least favourite tracks in the list so far (and I can't help thinking I'm not alone here).

I quite like the Silver Jews one tho, having only heard it for the first time just before I posted it.

The Blur single is the first genuinely shit record to make an appearance here. Otherwise this is a great list so far.

It's hard to believe that Blur have done so little in the noughties. We've had Gorillaz, that one shitty non-album single and Think Tank. I'd forgotten "13" was in 1999.

Why hard to believe? They've had the usual problems for a band who've been going for around 15 years.

Holy shit, there's a video for "The Irony Of It All"!?!? God that's a great song.

i've got the video - if anyone wants to download it, gmail me and i'll work something out

No. 83

Points: 173
No. of votes: 8
No. of #1 votes: 1

Artist: BLACK DICE
Title: THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
Label: Fat Cat
Year: 2003

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/thingswillneverbethesame.jpg

From the pictured album Beaches & Canyons, just under 10 minutes long, tall, dark waves of...something else. Emoceanal, you might say, if you're looking for a slap.

Comments: This (album) rules, straight up. It could use a little more variation, but the screaming feedback/drone/noise/electronic bleeps n' blips make a great soundtrack to being stoned out of your gourd, going to sleep, or driving late at night. The only complaint I've ever heard by someone I've played it for is that "YOU PLAY THIS ALL THE TIME. I AM SICK OF IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE ELEPHANTS DYING." by my girlfriend... Ian Johnson

not so much "i expected more", but just that I was about to say something like "Coffee and TV" would have been a better choice - that's if it had come out this decade. Sure, Blur are nowhere close to what they used to be back in the day. However the fact that "Out Of Time", a middling song by anyone's standards, is their best effort from the last four years, well it's a bit of a shame really.

'Out of time' is my favourite Blur record. I'm not a fan, though.

"The Blur single is the first genuinely shit record to make an appearance here."

Grrrrrrrr.....

I think "Out of Time" is pretty gorgeous, actually, not in a OMG way, more like in a OTM way. I'm not sure even I know what I'm trying to say with that statement, btw.

"...that one shitty non-album single..."

I would have voted for Music Is My Radar if it had been nominated.

No. 82

Points: 180
No. of votes: 13
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: TWISTA (FEATURING KANYE WEST & JAMIE FOXX)
Title: SLOW JAMZ
Label: Atlantic
Year: 2003

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/slowjamz.jpg

There are huge tunes and then there are HUGE TUNES, tributes and TRIBUTES, cheeky digs at Michael Jackson and CHEEKY DIGS AT MICHAEL JACKSON. This is a kitchen sink affair that not only incorporates the aformentioned elements but adds comedy bongos, sexy low female voices talking, sexy high female voices talking, laid back smooth soul chorus, classic sunshine flavour of bygone eras and breakneck rhymin' from debutant Twista to result in one hell of an anthem. In fact it packs so much into such a small space you might even be left wondering what the fuss is all about just because your ears 'blinked' for that one moment. Apparently though it's all about the Collipark remix. Now, with Vandross being cool again, how long for the Ray Parker Jr and Oran Juice Jones comebacks?

And it's the second genuinely shit track to appear here.

Not enough Grandaddy hate! ;)

How can anyone hate "Slow Jamz"?!?! Dom you're mad.

I can't believe anyone could pick out any one Grandaddy song from the rest of their fucking boring songs to nominate or indeed vote for.

Don't listen to Dom, Slow Jamz is amazing.

No. 81

Points: 180
No. of votes: 7
No. of #1 votes: 3

Artist: SHELLAC
Title: A PRAYER TO GOD
Label: Touch & Go
Year: 2003

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/aprayertogod.jpg

Comments: This is the story of Steve losing his girlfriend, but it also manages to show an unseen side of Shellac. Steve is plaintive, almost humble, initially but manages to conceal his feelings of betrayal. When he turns to the man his ire rises, culminating in the plea for his death that dominates the track. That said, his spite is kept restrained till it can be kept in no more, and explodes over the penultimate repetition leaving a shattered man making one last desperate effort. Closes with 'Amen'. Quietly. I actually prefer the cover by Maestro Echoplex, but this is the song to play to people you want to convert to Shellac. aldo cowpat

I loved "Out of Time". It took a while to grow on me but the sound of it is great, so much space and 'atmosphere' (to get cliched). That blurb by Steve was OTM.

Glad to see my nomination ("Things Will Never Be The Same") made it. I can't remember if that #1 vote was mine.

No it wasn't, so you had me worried I'd missed yours for a second there! I'm sure he won't mind me revealing that it was the lovely Jon Williams who enjoys oceanic elephant death the most.

No. 80

Points: 184
No. of votes: 12
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: JAMELIA
Title: SUPERSTAR
Label: Parlophone
Year: 2003

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/superstar.jpg

Comments: Common sense suggests that if you laud enough British R&B hopes one of them will end up producing a great single. Plucky Jamelia's breakthrough hit is pretty unassuming, it was only after hearing it about a dozen times that I realised how much I loved the chorus, and it still feels like a sturdy bit of craft in the midst of all these more spectacular pop triumphs. It's a reliable banker for the party DJ too, even if it never raises the roof. But perhaps we should take a moment to appreciate the modest, hard-working pop song - and give three hearty cheers for British engineering excellence, too. Tom Ewing

yay for plucky Brits! I think Tom's blurb slightly underrates "Superstar" though, it's not just a sturdy run-of-the-mill pop tune.

I'm going to be making a big 3CD compilation of this lot.

Wouldn't one mp3 disc do the trick?

yep, it's all in hand

No. 79

Points: 198
No. of votes: 9
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: THE DISMEMBERMENT PLAN
Title: FACE OF THE EARTH
Label: Desoto
Year: 2001

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/faceoftheearth.jpg

From the pictured album Change, more charged but staid indie fodder for those that find they like it.

Comments: (All I could find was:) Face of the Earth by the Dismemberment Plan is about your lover disappearing in front of your eyes in a sci-fi stylee...Tom Ewing

Is that a mistake?

i want to see all the nominees again, but the pages seem to have come down. is there an active link?

No. 78

Points: 201
No. of votes: 10
No. of #1 votes: 0

Artist: ANDREW WK
Title: SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
Label: Mercury
Year: 2002

http://base58.com/ilx/ilm/top100/20002004/tracks/sheisbeautiful.jpg

Is she ever. The guitars nag and push more than the rock cliches they reference by being more stripped down harmonically and melodically and more beefed up sonically to the point of being this mass of pop texture. More of a 'real tune' here but not so much so that it's not still something you could beat your head inwards to. Sundar Subramanian

Ah, I knew this list would run aground somewhere.