47. new year – death cab for cutie (2004)

46. to be young (is to be sad, is to be high) – ryan adams (2000)

45. float on – modest mouse (2004)

44. ms. jackson – outkast (2001)

43. sleepyhead – passion pit (2009)

42. you got yr. cherry bomb – spoon (2007)

41. kids – mgmt (2008)

40. blind – hercules & love affair (2008)

39. do you realize?? – the flaming lips (2002)

57. new slang – the shins (2001)

56. oxford comma – vampire weekend (2008)

55. daniel – bat for lashes (2009)

54. take me to the riot – stars (2007)

53. welcome to jamrock – damian marley (2005)

52. weak become heroes – the streets (2002)

51. avril 14th – aphex twin (2001)

50. first day of my life – bright eyes (2005)

49. i don’t feel like dancin’ – scissor sisters (2006)

67. l.e.s. artistes – santogold (2008)

66. last nite – the strokes (2001)

65. mr. brightside – the killers (2004)

64. umbrella – rihanna (2007)

YouTube won’t let me embed the video. Follow the link to view. Apologies!

63. your cover’s blown – belle and sebastian (2004)

62. 1234 – feist (2007)

61. dat “new” new – kid cudi (2008)

60. milkshake – kelis (2003)

59. the funeral – band of horses (2007)

77. a day at the races – jurassic 5 (2002)

76. falling slowly – swell season (2007)

75. lisztomania – phoenix (2009)

74. kick push – lupe fiasco (2006)

73. in the morning – junior boys (2006)

72. if ain’t got u – alicia keys (2003)

71. the light – common (2000)

70. burning bridges – chris pureka (2004)

Sorry! No album version available on the Tubes.

69. wolf like me – tv on the radio (2006)

I do declare the official band of the 2000s to be

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

Not because they are my favorite, or the best, or the most successful, but because I think they represented the decade the best.

Think about it: like Coldplay, everyone knows (and probably likes) a couple Death Cab songs. But unlike Coldplay, they don’t have all that backlash about being hacks who name their babies Apple for chrissakes.  They have indie cred, mass popularity, and a nut-load of catchy songs. And for extra credit DCFC’s Ben Gibbard’s other band, The Postal Service, released the great electro-pop nugget of an album Give Up which contains such mass appeal gems like “Such Great Heights” and “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight.”

Listen haters, I like Death Cab fine. In fact, a number of their songs evoke a particular memory or feeling from the decade for me and I sometimes get a little emotional. However: Everyone I know– from music snobs, to hip hop heads, to hipsters, to teenyboppers–know of and like at least ONE Death Cab for Cutie song. And THAT’S the reason they are awarded this great honor from the Go Lexis team of pop culture experts.

From the snappy “Sound of Settling,” to the reflective “Brothers on a Hotel Bed,” to the sweeping epic of “Transatlanticism,” to the persistant sentiment of “I Will Possess Your Heart” and a couple dozen others no other band represents the indie pop hipster rock that defined the decade better than Death Cab for Cutie. I dare you to compel me otherwise!

Apropos of this new year (pun INTENDED, louse!), a DCFC music video:

87. stillness is the move – dirty projectors (2009)

86. one mic – nas (2002)

85. fidelity – regina spektor (2006)

84. o valencia – the decemberists (2006)

83. come pick me up – ryan adams (2000)

Same goes for this one as above.

82. kiss my name – antony and the johnsons (2009)

Man, people really need to start making videos for all of their songs. It would make my life easier.

81. hey ya – outkast (2003)

80. public service announcement – danger mouse (2004)

79. machine gun – portishead (2008)

Boom! Back in a few days with the next installment of songs. What will be number one for the decade? Only time will tell. Stay tuned!