Are These the Greatest Rock Songs of the Century?

January 15, 2021 2 min read

Are These the Greatest Rock Songs of the Century?

Earlier this week, an article popped up in my newsfeed that caught my attention.

Titled “The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of the Century… So Far”, it ran down the best tracks of the 2000s and 2010s as chosen by the staff of Louder Sound. It’s quite a list, and if you’ve got a couple of hours to spend listening to some great tunes, I’d recommend having a read of it in full.

For the time being, though, here is the top 20:

20. Muse - Supermassive Black Hole 

19. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way 

18. Rival Sons - Keep On Swinging

17. The Struts - Kiss This

16. Motorhead - Life's A Bitch

15. Green Day - American Idiot

14. Slash featuring Andrew Stockdale - By The Sword

13. The Wildhearts - Diagnosis

12. Clutch - Electric Worry 

11. ZZ Top - I Gotsa Get Paid

10. Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows

9. Iron Maiden - Blood Brothers

8. Audioslave - Cochise

7. Velvet Revolver - Slither 

6. Rush - Caravan

5. The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

4. Foo Fighters - Best Of You

3. Alter Bridge - Blackbird

2. AC/DC - Rock N Roll Train

1. The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love

After a while of reading and re-reading this list, I gave up trying to weigh up the merits and demerits of the selections and whether or not they truly were the “greatest.” Ultimately, it’s impossible to qualify that, given the subjectivity of these things. Besides, I loved so many of the songs on the list in equal measure, I found it way too difficult to rank them.

But, it did get me to wondering; what are the tracks that have really impacted me in the past twenty years? Which songs have ear wormed their way through my brain and made me truly grateful for the existence of guitar-based music

In no particular order, I’ve decided to share a couple of my favourites that didn’t make it onto Louder Sound’s list: 

Jared James Nichols – Nails in the Coffin

 
Graveyard – The Siren

 
Priestess – Lay Down

 
KISS – Modern Day Delilah

So those are just a couple of mine (that probably betray my love for classic sounding hard rock, but there ya go!).

But I want to know what yours are. Which songs have spoken to you over the past two decades? Doesn’t have to be rock. Doesn’t even have to be guitar based. It can be unsigned local bands you dig, or major stadium fillers.

Whatever’s been speaking to you, we want to know about it! So as always, share your stories in the comments section.

Oh, and hey, if you want to use this thread to promote your own music, we won’t hold that against ya either!



Also in Fingerboard Stories

Step On Simplicity!
Step On Simplicity!

January 17, 2025 5 min read

You’ve probably heard this from other people, but it bears repeating: we live in a golden age of guitar technology! Between the multiple options for high-quality instruments (from inexpensive to ridiculously expensive), amplifier modelling technology, quality tube and transistor amplifiers, and pedal builders building pedals galore, we have more choice!
 
However, like a kid in a candy store, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting one of everything and eventually end up with too much, especially when it comes to pedals.
Music Is The Best: The Wisdom Of Frank Zappa
Music Is The Best: The Wisdom Of Frank Zappa

January 03, 2025 3 min read

Of all the famous musicians in history, you will likely never find another of the likes of Frank Zappa.

From playing the bicycle on the Steve Allen Show to psychedelic rock with The Mothers of Invention to the years of compositional rock n’ roll madness, attracting the best of the best musicians to play in his band (likely because they’re the only ones who can pull off his music).

Rhythm, Groove and Bombast
Rhythm, Groove and Bombast

October 18, 2024 4 min read

It’s safe to say that some of the most influential musicians in the 1960s came from Britain. The list sure backs up that fact: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Peter Green, Richie Blackmore, John Lennon, George Harrison, and I can go on and on and on...


Notice, though, that I said musicians, not just guitarists. There are many heroes to be found for every instrument, particularly with our focus for this piece: the drums.