Fishpork’s 100 Favorite Tracks of the 2000s
This is an attempt at the impossible. Here are our 100 favorite songs of the past decade (featuring multiple tracks from Animal Collective, The Knife, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith). Our top two choices are more like 1a and 1b. Be patient, as the page needs to load the embedded songs.
1. Panda Bear - “Bros” (2007)
2. The Knife - “We Share Our Mother’s Health” (2006)
3. Animal Collective - “For Reverend Green” (2007)
4. Grizzly Bear - “While You Wait For The Others” (2009)
5. The Knife - “Heartbeats” (2003)
6. Grizzly Bear - “The Knife” (2005)
7. LCD Soundsystem - “Someone Great” (2007)
8. TV on the Radio - “Staring at the Sun” (2003)
9. Crystal Castles - “Crimewave” (2008)
10. Beirut - “Ciloqut” (2007)
11. Thom Yorke - “Harrowdown Hill
12. Animal Collective - “Derek” (2007)
13. Nine Inch Nails - “Me, I’m Not” (2007)
14. Beck - “Lonesome Tears” (2002)
15. At The Drive-in - “One Armed Scissor” (2004)
16. Animal Collective - “Grass” (2005)
17. Deerhunter - “Nothing Ever Happened” (2008)
18. Atlas Sound - “Recent Bedroom” (2008)
19. Panda Bear - “Comfy in Nautica” (2007)
20. System of a Down - “Chop Suey” (2001)
21. Animal Collective - “Peacebone” (2007)
22. Battles - “Atlas” (2007)
23. Error - “Jack the Ripper” (2004)
24. Enon - “Pleasure and the Privilege”
25. Elliott Smith - “Son of Sam” (2000)
26. Animal Collective - “Did You See the Words” (2005)
27. The Knife - “Marble House” (2006)
28. LCD Soundsystem - “All My Friends” (2007)
29. Thom Yorke - “Analyse” (2006)
30. The Flaming Lips - “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” (2002)
31. Girl Talk - “Smash Your Head” (2006)
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32. A Perfect Circle - “Judith” (2000)
33. Radiohead - “Idioteque” (2000)
34. Tapes N’ Tapes - “Manitoba” (2006)
35. TV On The Radio - “I Was A Lover” (2006)
36. Radiohead - “Reckoner” (2007)
37. Fever Ray - “Coconut” (2009)
38. Animal Collective - “My Girls” (2009)
39. Built to Spill - “Things Fall Apart” (2009)
40. Wilco - “I’m Trying to Break Your Heart” (2002)
41. Modest Mouse - “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” (2000)
42. Animal Collective - “Leaf House” (2004)
43. Modeselektor - “Happy Birthday” (2007)
44. Arcade Fire - “Wake Up” (2004)
45. Autolux - “Blanket” (2004)
46. MGMT - “Time to Pretend” (2007)
47. Built to Spill - “Conventional Wisdom” (2006)
48. Wilco - “Side With the Seeds” (2007)
49. Elliott Smith - “Happiness/The Gondola Man” (2000)
50. Avey Tare - “I’m Your Eagle Kisser” (2007)
51. Department of Eagles - “Waves of Rye” (2008)
52. Animal Collective - “Summertime Clothes” (2009)
53. Radiohead - “2+2 = 5″ (2003)
54. Dredg - “Sang Real” (2005)
55. While Lies - “Farewell to the Fairground” (2009)
56. Grizzly Bear - “Ready, Able” (2009)
57. Matisyahu - “King Without a Crown” (2005)
58. Modest Mouse - “Paper Thin Walls” (2000)
59. Dillinger Escape Plan - “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things” (2002)
60. Elliott Smith - “Twilight” (2004)
61. Deerhunter - “Flourescent Grey” (2007)
62. Holy Fuck - “Lovely Allen” (2007)
63. LCD Soundsystem - “Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up” (2006)
64. The Notwist - “Boneless (Panda Bear Remix)” (2008)
65. Liars - “Nothing Is Ever Lost or Can Be Lost My Science Friend” (2004)
66. The Mars Volta - “Inertiatic E.S.P.” (2003)
67. The Notwist - “Solitaire” (2002)
68. Of Montreal - “The Past is a Grotesque Animal” (2007)
69. Queens of the Stone Age - “Tangled Up in Plaid” (2005)
70. Radiohead - “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” (2007)
71. Saul Williams - “Raised To Be Lowered” (2007)
72. Autolux - “Great Days for the Passenger Element” (2004)
73. Sigur Ros - “Untitled 8″ (2002)
74. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs - “Maps” (2003)
75. Portishead - “Threads” (2008)
76. Sufjan Stevens - “Chicago” (2005)
77. Ugly Casanova - “Things I Don’t Remember” (2002)
78. Animal Collective - “Brothersport” (2009)
79. Radiohead - “Pyramid Song” (2001)
80. Nine Inch Nails - “Only” (2005)
81. El-P - “Flyentology” (2007)
82. Queens of the Stone Age - “No One Knows” (2002)
83. Ghostface Killah - “Shakey Dog” (2006)
84. Modest Mouse - “Missed the Boat” (2007)
85. UNKLE - “Persons and Machinery” (2007)
86. Amon Tobin - “Verbal” (2002)
87. The White Stripes - “Denial Twist” (2005)
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88. Tomahawk - “Captain Midnight” (2003)
89. Modest Mouse - “Bukowski” (2004)
90. Sigur Ros - “Hoppipolia” (2005)
92. Fuck Buttons - “Sweet Love For Planet Earth” (2008)
93. Bon Iver - “Skinny Love” (2008)
94. Built to Spill - “In Your Mind” (2001)
95. The White Stripes - “Icky Thump” (2007)
96. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - “We Are Rockstars” (2008)
97. Dub Trio - “Not Alone” (2006)
98. Modest Mouse - “The World At Large”
99. The Walkmen - “In the New Year” (2008)
100. Nine Inch Nails - “The Great Destroyer (Modwheelmood Remix)” (2007)
Fishpork’s Ten Favorite Shows of 2008
As a collective, Fishpork attended 15 live shows this year (and there are still two more: Of Montreal tomorrow and Crystal Castles on New Year’s Eve, both at the Music Hall of Williamsburg). Unfortunately, a band does not have complete control over how well received their live performance can be. This was the case with all bands that played in our least favorite venue of 2008: The Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Although Animal Collective managed to overcome the venue’s sound limitations the best, others were not so lucky (The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Of Montreal). Unless Jeff Mangum announces a show here, Fishpork will avoid it at all costs in 2009. Highlights of the year included an intoxicating performance by Deerhunter, a sweaty dance party curated by Girl Talk, and a 3am secret show by Modest Mouse. These were our favorite shows of 2008:
- Deerhunter @ The Music Hall of Wiiliamsburg
- Girl Talk @ Starlight Ballroom
- Enon @ Hiro Ballroom
- Modest Mouse @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
- Built to Spill @ Terminal 5
- Animal Collective @ Electric Factory
- Nine Inch Nails @ Wachovia Center
- Radiohead @ APW Festival
- Saul Williams @ The Trocadero
- Battles @ Johnny Brendas
Honorable Mention:
Holy Fuck @ Johnny Brendas
Crystal Castles @ Webster Hall
Health @ House of Blues
TV on the Radio @ Electric Factory
Of Montreal @ Electric Factory
Least Favorite Show of 2008
The Mars Volta @ Electric Factory
Favorite Live Venue of 2008
Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA
Least Favorite Venue of 2008
Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Battles @ Johnny Brenda’s
June 15, 2008- Philadelphia, PA
Battles took the Sunday stage at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly with John Stanier at center stage. That position was appropriate as Stanier’s intense set drove this show into one of the more memorable show’s for an unusually large Brenda’s crowd. The place was packed and the IPAs were flowing as the opening band Thank You took the stage. The few songs I had heard online didn’t make me want to arrive early, but as I arrived midset, I was impressed with their performance enough to garner a second listen. But as Battles began to set up their equipment, the level of intensity of the sold out crowd to new level. Stanier, who at times seems more like an extremely focused, rigorous machine, gave a nod and with that, the stage pulsated with the surging drum pattern of “Leyendeker” (from Battles’ debut on Warp Records “Mirrored“).
As the crowd settled into what was sure to be a true experience rather than just another show, the knockout blow came from ex-Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka’s opening live-sample fustion riff of “TRAS.” This track is a personal favorite of mine, oringinally released as a single, but can now be heard on Warp’s re-release “EP C/B EP.” This release combines the 2004’s “EP C” and “B EP” EPs (say that 10 times fast.) The updated version of this classic blew away the crowd and opened the flood gate to the Battles full catalog of songs. To no disappointment of new fans, they ripped through more familiar songs, “Atlas” and “Tonto,” while ramping up to a intense version of “Race In” which begins with the sweat flying off the arms of an already soaking wet Stanier, as he sat with his head resting only slightly above his kit for the concentrated snare rim click intro.
Not to be overlooked is the architect behind many of the tracks, ex-Don Cab guitarist Ian Williams. William’s masterful use of finger picking and keyboard playing defies ambidextrous logic. Rounding out the quartet perfectly is Tyondia Braxton (son of avant-garde jazz musician Anthony Braxton), who also plays guitar/keyboard and creates live voice samples through a multitude of effect pedals (as seen above). Battles is a must see live set, not to be soon forgotten by me or the crowd at Johnny Brenda’s.
Holy Fuck @ Johnny Brenda’s
Now that I work in Philly, I’m slowly being sucked into the local music scene. No longer is it necessary to drive all the way out here just for a show or take the train into the city. There are so many great venues in this town! One of the best in the area is Johnny Brenda’s. Although it’s in a rough neighborhood, they host some of the greatest bands you’ve never heard of. Best of all, they serve the best local microbrews around. In my winter/spring splurge of Philly concerts (Enon, Holy Fuck, Saul Williams, and Battles), this one had some high expectations. The band is a lo-fi electronica band from Canada. Instead of computers, they make music with toy keyboards, film sequencers, distortion pedals, etc. It’s all in real-time and very improvisational. The decision to use live drums (Matt Schulz from Enon) and bass adds an authentic feel to the sound.
What a great show! The two albums are very good, but the music works best live. If you didn’t see the band on stage, you would have thought that Schulz was replaced by a high-tech drum machine. He was relentless and full of energy. Graham and Brian stood over two huge platforms that contained all their sources for tinkering. The best part was the use of a 35mm film sequencer. I don’t really know how they achieved the sound they did, but it involved pulling 35mm film through the sequencer and the use of a turntable needle. It sounds pretentious (something that Johnny Greenwood would do with Radiohead on Amnesiac), but the result fits perfectly with the backbeat and distortion. The crowd loved it all, as they yelled for an encore at the end of the show. Standouts of the night were Casio Bossa Nova and Tone Bank Jungle. - Mark