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A while ago I considered making an extensive list of the best songs of the 2000’s. Unfortunately, that endeavour got canned for my making of the all time New York Yankee team to post here. I did want to make mention of the cream of the crop though so that is what this post is all about my top five(or six really since i’m going to cheat and have an honorable mention) songs of this decade. I don’t think i could ever get tired of these songs no matter how often I hear them and the evidence is with my ipod play list as all of them are near the top of my most played songs.

So lets start with the honorable mention of the group:

Mastodon- Blood & Thunder-Leviathan 2002

This song always gets me going the riff is contagious as evidenced by most folks who could care less about metal still being able to get into the riff. As much as I love other songs by Mastodon that are more technical there is just something undeniable about this one.

5. Wilco- Jesus, Etc- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 2002

This one always washes over me and puts me in a relaxed thoughtful mood. I love this one in the car with the windows down on a spring day. This was the first song by Wilco that really “hit me” and it continues to be a favorite for me even today.

4. Arcade Fire- Wake Up- Funeral 2004

I’ll be honest their songs Powerout and Rebellion are both way up there for my favs as well, but all you have to do is see them live one time and you know this is the song. There is a reason they play this song last live and it is because the raw emotion it captures. I get excited every time I hear this song start.

3. Band of Horses- Funeral- Everything All the Time 2006

This is a gut wrenching song for me. I love the lyrics and I love the way the song builds to the break down at the end. They capture the sadness and loss that Arcade Fire’s entire album has in this one little song. This song hit me like a ton of bricks from day one. I recall when their next album came out I liked it more but always thought there is still not a single track on there that comes close to Funeral. One of my fav videos too!

2. Flaming Lips- Do You Realize- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 2002

Simple, Truthful, & Beautiful. How can you argue with the state song of Oklahoma? The Flaming Lips probably are more known for writing songs that bend the limits and explore areas sonically most do not tread on, but they proved here they can write a powerful pop songs with touching lyrics. This one easily slots in at number two on this list for me.

1. TV on the Radio- Staring at the Sun- Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes 2004

So after those songs what could possibly top them? Only song left for me is Staring at the Sun. I must have listened to it a million times when it came out. I simply can’t get enough of it. Many folks like Wolf Like Me and I too love that song and if i made a top 10 list it would probably be in that list, but Starring at the Sun is just more sublime. It has a feel and an emotion of it’s own. Not to mention some great lyrical imagery. Probably one of my favorite songs of all time and I can’t think of a better one to end the list with.

Now I made this list fairly quickly and there were so many good songs out there I’m sure others will have a different opinion, but for my money I’ll take these everyday of the week and twice on Sundays!

20. Battle Royale (2000) – This Japanese horror film is about a class of normal 9th graders fighting to the death (per a government education reform act) on an island… last man standing gets to go home. Some students are natural killers, some just don’t have it in them and some fight only to survive. Once the first kill happens… it is on!

19. Big Fish (2003) – Just thinking about the ending of this movie… “Niagara falls”
18. Garden State (2004) – Who wouldn’t want to spend a couple of weeks falling for NP?
17. Minority Report (2002) – Some of the best chase scenes… ever (right next to Ronin)
16. Cast Away (2000) – “I have made fire!”
15. A Beautiful Mind (2001) – I love a good twist in a movie. This had one of the best along with incredible performances by RC and JC.

14. Juno (2007) – The innocence and warmth this movie portrayed in the backdrop of teenage pregnancy was great. Ellen Page made this movie what it was. She was amazing.
13. Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (2003, 2004) – I am a sucker for a revenge story. HanzoSword!
12. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – One of the best character movies I have ever seen.

11. The Departed (2006) – Great acting, directing, story, gore and MS finally got his Oscar.
10. The Incredibles (2004) – Best Pixar movie.
9. Avatar (2009) – Dances with Wolves (which is one of my favorite movies) on Pandora with the Na’vi with the most advanced CGI to date. Amazing. The love story is the heart of this movie.
8. Apocalypto (2006) A heart pounding adventure/revenge story. What man can’t relate to getting home to save your wife, child and unborn baby?
7. Into the Wild (2007) – This movie is haunting. It will free your spirit. Great soundtrack.
6. Memento (2000) – Most creative, different and interesting script EVER.

5. 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) – Best comedy of the decade.
4. 28 Days Later (2002) – Brought zombie films back into the limelight. Running zombies is not my preference… but this film scared the crap out of me.
3. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – This movie is dark. It also has the best light saber duel and the most intense build up (plot wise) out of all the Star Wars movies.
2. Gladiator (2000) – Best revenge story of the decade. I love history… especially Rome. Ridley Scott nailed this one.
1. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003) – Great movies have great characters. Even though this movie has some of the greatest battle scenes, one of the greatest scores, an amazing plot and Peter Jackson directing… it is the character development that is the heart of this movie.

Best Documentaries: Murderball, Grizzly Man, An Inconvenient Truth, Bowling for Columbine

Blitz and his crew call up Bron and Kobe and challenge them to some reindeer games on the court before their big night:

 

DUNKIN ON DAT REINDEER MERRY CHRISTMAS BLITZ!

Try not to laugh next time you watch a tv show or a movie where this happens.

I was pleased to see one of the masters identifying Romero’s Dawn Of The Dead as one of his top 5 films of all time.

RottenTomatoes: And Peter Jackson shares his five favorite films with us: http://bit.ly/7Ikp7g

I’ll have to agree with two of his picks for sure!

I just watched Daniel Tosh – “Completely Serious” and laughed my ass off. For those of you wondering if there will ever be a white guy that talks about race (with the risk of being shot after the show) in a derogotory way… Daniel Tosh is the answer. I have seen it all. I have seen comedians make fun of every little thing in society, but there has always been those lines that comedians do not cross. Daniel Tosh crossed all of these lines in “Completely Serious” – from troops in Iraq to black people to homeless people to aids and even cancer. You might be saying well did he not make fun of the mentally handicap. Well YES my friend, he did…

Apparently Mr. Daniel Tosh has had a show on Comedy Central called Tosh.0 where he discusses Youtube sensation clips ala “Talk Soup” (forgive me to those who alraeady knew about this show). It is a pretty funny show (I have now seen 2 episodes on-demand) I just learned that the show now has been signed on for a second season. Here is Tosh.0 being sexist to a point that I have never seen on mass communication… genious.