Cru Jones Society

 

This list was more difficult to put together than the movie one. Since most of the decade was spent drinking it would have been very easy to pick nothing but party music. There was also my tendency to only want to talk about the albums Rancid and the Bouncing Souls released since 2000, but they have been rocking my soul since the mid 90s. But I combed through all my music and found the 5 acts that really seemed important to the decade. So crank it to 11 and let’s rock again.

Green Day

Sure Green Day made their mark in the 90s but they blew up again in the 00s. In the early part of the decade Green Day was a bit stagnant. They were making music and they had a few hits, but the majority of it did not have a new sound and did little to make a mark. But then in 2004 they released American Idiot and made their name huge again.

Preparing for this article I re-listened to American Idiot and I felt the exact same way I did the first time I heard it. It comes on strong with the in your face punk title track, then follows it up with what has always made me think of The Who’s Tommy. American Idiot is punkier and easier to relate to than Tommy. American Idiot is a 21^st century rock opera designed for a new generation. And much like Tommy has been made into a play, some folks in Berkley have staged a production of American Idiot. How many musical acts of the 2000s can say that? Also I will listen to any record that makes me think of The Who.

I think what I really enjoy about Green Day in the new millennium is the fact that I can hear growth in their music. It is a lot more punk rock to try something new than it is to stick to what works. A lot of people said Green Day sold out when they made Dookie and those same people claimed American Idiot and 21^st Century Breakdown proved them wrong. But in my mind all those albums told me that Green Day said, “Piss off. We’re making the music we want.”

American Idiot and 21^st Century Breakdown contain strong political overtones, but like Rise Against, Green Day lets the music tell their stance and use their live shows for non-stop rock. I saw them early in the decade and they played two hours straight, barely stopping to say a word to the crowd. We were there for music and they understood that. And with only ten less songs than they made in the 90s, Green Day is poised to keep on rocking.

Gorillaz

I don’t think any list about music from this past decade would be complete without mentioning the Gorillaz. Granted their music wasn’t anything all that special, it has good beats and I enjoy the mellowness of it as well as the occasional rapping that would be thrown on over it. What really makes the Gorillaz one of the best bands of the aughts was what they did for virtual bands. A genre once relegated to children’s programming like Alvin and the Chipmunks and Josie and the Pussycats, the Gorillaz made it mainstream and acceptable as well as making it awesome and slightly frightening.

The Gorillaz have successfully combined two art forms, music and drawing. And they did it without half assing either aspect. The Gorillaz do it completely straight too which is what makes it work. This is not a gimmick, this a real band that just happens to be cartoons. Their live shows consist of real musicians behind a screen displaying the animated band. They even went as far as to do an episode of MTV Cribs with the cartoon versions. The animated band comes across so well that they can even confuse some of the, well dumber, fans as shown by this comment taken from Youtube, “murdoc is sutch a badass in the begining! he has 2 chicks rubbing his chest and he can still play the bass like that! badass! [sic]”

The Gorillaz redefined what a double platinum band could be. Their bold step to do something different has changed the face of music, but in a good way, not like the way boy bands changed the face of music.

Transplants

Did you really expect me to write a list of the music I loved from the 00s and not talk about something from Tim Armstrong? Much like the W.K., the Transplants fueled many a drink fest for me through the decade, or at least fired the starting pistol. Just this past summer in Vegas Dagger put on “Tall Cans,” and as soon as that opening beat came in everyone was on their feet, some on the beds, and we were bouncing around the hotel room like Compton Ass Terry.

I was lucky enough to catch the Transplants on the Warped Tour, one of their rare appearances in my wonderful state, and it was incredible. Watching Travis Barker, of “Meet the Barkers” fame, beat the hell out of the drums was one of the most excellent demonstrations of music playing I have ever witnessed. His drumming for the Transplants is much faster than it is for Blink 182, and to actually see him do it live was amazing.

The Transplants got a lot of airplay in the aughts, though not in the way most bands go about it. They licensed one of their songs to Garnier Fructis shampoo commercials and it is still getting used. I always found this funny for two reasons, the song they use has a lot of drug references and the three core members of the band have very little hair between them.

But if you think they gave a f***, then you better think twice. Transplants brought nothing but fun to my life.

Outkast

Outkast has been around since the early 90s, but they really gained recognition starting in 2000, and then only released one album and one double album. Despite the limited releases in this decade Outkast has become extremely popular.

Outkast caught people’s attention with the slower “Mrs. Jackson” showing a softer more sensitive side to the band. Then Outkast showed their more wild and big pimpin’ side with, “So Fresh, So Clean.” Giving us a video where we got our first glimpse into the bizarre fashion sense of Andre 3000. This also showed that Outkast was a group that was having fun. They enjoyed themselves and it showed and it came across in their music.

Outkast really blew up with their double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Each disc was a solo album from each member. Big Boi gave us a more soulful funk album with Speakerboxxx and the single “The Way You Move.” But it was Andre 3000′s “Hey Ya” that tore the music world asunder. There was a stretch of about two years where I couldn’t go a day without hearing “Hey Ya.” It is no surprise “Hey Ya” was/is as popular as it was/is. The song is up-tempo, catchy, and despite the lyrics, it has a very positive vibe to it. I can almost guarantee that if you walked into any room and just asked, “what’s cooler than bein’ cool?”  anyone in the room will be able to answer correctly. I’m sure most of you just did.

In the 00s Outkast got us shaking it like a Polaroid picture, and that is why they made my list.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

In 2002 we lost punk rock legend Joe Strummer, but not before he could give us three more albums. Joe Strummer hooked up with some of the music buddies he has made over the years and created Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros.

The Clash started their career with a pure punk sound. Then starting with London Calling and throughout the following albums The Clash experimented with other sounds and explored many genres of music. This is a practice Strummer would use with the Mecaleros. The sound was very heartfelt, mellow at times, but still brought what Bob Seger would call, that old time rock and roll. The diversity of it all lets me know that Joe Strummer is someone who loves music, all music and all he wants is to make as much of it as he can.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros was the perfect music for the nights when you didn’t want to mess with a party or wade your way through the humanity at the bar. Those nights when you wanted a smooth glass of whiskey, a star filled sky, and a good friend or two to shoot the breeze with. Dagger and I have had many nights like that all with Strummer supplying the soundtrack.

When life feels hectic and overwhelming I will throw on Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros and be reminded that there is so much to love about life and I recall those simple times and know that I will get there again. The Mescaleros also helped me to open my mind to more music, but will always remind me that somewhere in my soul there is always rock and roll.

Tomorrow: Our Special Guest’s 5 Favorite Music Acts of the 00s

See ya on the radio…

lee.s.hart@crujonessociety.com