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15×15 lists: ABOUT | MUSE | SINGER-SONGWRITER | GUILTY PLEASURES | RADIOHEAD | BEST SONGS PT 1 | PT 2 | PT 3

“Tamacun” by Rodrigo y Gabriela – 2006

These former Mexico City metal thrashers gave us the decade’s most impressive piece of guitar work in the instrumental, “Tamacun.” And guess what. They’re both amazing guitarists, but Gabriela is the one that makes this band special. No sense in describing it. Just enjoy the epic awesomeness:

“Paper Planes” by M.I.A. – 2007

Speaking of epic songs… M.I.A., daughter of a Tamil political activist, provided the decade with what must be it’s “biggest” song. What does that mean? I do not know. It has an absolute killer of a hook; so simple, so recognizable, and so big. [Edit: That hook is from The Clash's "Straight to Hell," but I still think M.I.A. and her collaborators, Diplo and Switch, made something totally different out of that riff.] It was featured in one of the decade’s most enjoyed movies, Slumdog Millionaire, and it never fails to catch one’s attention. I could go into the global significance of an artist that embodies the genre-cross-pollination that gave the Naughties the closest thing it has to a musical identity, but I’ll leave that to people who know about that stuff. I just like the music.

“Over and Over” by Hot Chip – 2006

Here’s another genre-bender. This is just plain good dance music. It’s fun, but not too fun. It’s hip but not too hip. It’s noisy and fussy and tension-building, until the release of a crackling guitar solo. It makes me wanna shake around and dance crazy.

“Heartbeats” by The Knife – 2003

I posted about this song way back when I was actually still presenting “Songs of the Day.” Those Scandinavian countries produced a lot of good records and artists in the Naughties. Still, I don’t care where you’re from; if you make songs this good, your titles will grace the screen of my iPod on a regular basis.

“Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” by Kylie Minogue – 2001

Kylie Minogue was my roommate’s first crush…. in the late ’80s. How an the Australian former soap opera star whose biggest previous hit was a cover of “The Loco-Motion” be the source of one of the best songs of the Naughties, a full decade and a half after her peak popularity is a mystery to me. Of course, I could look it up, but I don’t care that much. You know why? Because I’m listening to “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” and I don’t want to think about anything but “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.”