On That Note: 21st Century Breakdown

[cyclones500]

Rolling Stone recently released its “250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far.”

Link to list with rank and title, in case you want to skip descriptions.

For this week’s segment, we could have some fun with it. Several options, you may apply any or all of these as you wish:
* Post song(s) from the list that you like.
* Choose an alternate track or two by an artist on the list that you prefer to what RS selected.
* Select a song from this century by an artist that does NOT appear on the RS 250. (Can post multiple artists).

Our focus isn’t to debate the ranking order itself, although you’re free to comment on that aspect, too.

“On That Note” is presented each week on Cyclone Fanatic by @MeanDean, @CycloneRulzzz and cyclones500.

• Last week’s OTN: A Bar Song

One to get us rolling:

AGREE:
1901 - Phoenix (#191) … Should be top 75, I’d put it in my top 30.

 

[cyclones500]

ADD:

 

[MeanDean]

(Yes, I knew the topic ahead of time)
I'm old and don't follow much newer music. So I was surprised thinking I'd know more than I expected to when I knew #250. That turned out NOT to be the case, but nevertheless, here's that one.

 

[cyclones500]

AGREE:



But, I like almost as much, from same LP:

 

[MeanDean]

 

[pourcyne]

Have heard about 5 of them. Sorry, not sorry.

But Zevon, yes, only not the title they name from "Life'll Kill Ya" (2000).

A bejeweled dying farewell. Out. Standing.





Do go listen to "My Sh*t's F*cked Up" on YouTube (The rich folks suffer like the rest of us, it'll happen to you...)

 

[MeanDean]

 

[cyclones500]

REPLACE:

“A-Punk” by Vampire Weekend (#151) is OK, but I prefer …

 

[Angie]

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are one of my favorite bands, are fantastic live, and I agree"Maps" is most likely my favorite song (LINK - #2):




Pretty much any version of "Heads Will Roll" is also addictive:

 

[cyclones500]

TO ADD:

From final TP-Heartbreakers LP before his death.

 

[Angie]

Vampire Weekend is maybe my favorite band, and "A-Punk" is good:



...but "Harmony Hall" may be their opus:

 

[pourcyne]

Pretty sure nobody wants to know about mostly furrin' music, but here are my top 5 so far this century...in no particular order.

Reste (2020)



Les gens qui dansent (2025)



Habana (2016)



Crazy (2006 - might be on the list, don't care to go back)



And not off the presses...most all of what's on David Byrnes's latest album, especially...

Don't Be Like That (2025)

 

[Angie]

"Seven Nation Army" by White Stripes (#4) should definitely be on there:



But IMO, so should "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground":

 

[cyclones500]

Agree, but #105 probably a little bit too high. Or, damn right, perhaps not!

 

[clonedude]

What a truly horrible list. And no... I couldn't do better, only because I don't know enough music, but Taylor Swift and Britney Spears in the top 10 of ANY list... disqualifies that whole list IMO. Sorry... just my opinion.

 

[MeanDean]

I jumped in on their 3rd album when a buddy made me a copy. I really liked it. So went back and checked out albums 1 & 2 and to me they were just - meh.

So, instead of The Scientist I'll opt for this one.

 

[CivEFootball]

The Hives came at 99 replacement song



This one should be gearing up for a come back here.

 

[12191987]

The Hives came at 99 replacement song



This one should be gearing up for a come back here.

The Hives are going on tour with the Chats in ‘26.

 

[Cmonwhatarewedoinghereman]

Great topic. Could talk about this all night over drinks with friends. Glad they snuck in Simon’s rewrite and Zevon’s keep me in your heart.

Love the strokes. I prefer Under cover of darkness.



Was glad fleet foxes made the list but my favorite is helplessness blues.

 

[cyclones500]

Can’t believe RS list has zero Weezer songs.

This would be the simplest to include, somewhere. I think the band has a few others from the century better that this.