Denver punks Public Opinion have built of a reputation as hardcore kids with a lot of love for the 2000s indie rock/garage rock/post-punk era, and on their newly-released debut LP Painted On Smile, they fuse all of that and more into a gritty, catchy album that’s much more than the sum of its influences. For the occasion, bandleader Kevin Hart has made us a list of his 9 favorite 2000s rock songs. It includes tracks by Bloc Party, The Strokes, The Hives, TV On The Radio, Modest Mouse, and more, and he had interesting stuff to say about each one.
Read on for the list, and read my review of Painted On Smile in Notable Releases.
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PUBLIC OPINION – 9 FAVORITE SONGS FROM THE ’00s
Bloc Party – “Little Thoughts”
This might be the most straightforward rock song on the band’s first LP, but it absolutely kicks ass. It makes sense that it was originally released before Silent Alarm but just had to be added because it’s so strong. With a chorus catchy enough that you’re singing along before the song is over is always a win for me, and partner that with the single string guitar work and Kele’s approach (at the time) to lyricism, I’m sold.
The Strokes – “Under Control”
There’s a song on our record that came to be from me trying to learn this guitar part and failing to do so. I’m really into the more meandering, borderline druggy sounding Casablancas songs than the pop hits and this track does it for me – closer to Lou Reed or Gun Club perhaps. This is a perfect example of how to keep album cuts memorable.
The Hives – “Main Offender”
This is my favorite The Hives song in a runaway. Sincerely, everything else is in a race for second place. Big hooky guitars, Howlin’ Pelle barking over the verses and bring it all home with one of the two biggest chorus sing-along hooks on the record? Jesus, man. If you’ve heard my band, especially early on, you know how much this stuff influenced us. I’m glad they’re back at it.
TV On The Radio – “Staring At The Sun”
Maybe the most far-out song on this list, “Staring At The Sun” gets stuck in my head twice a week minimum. Unlike most of the bands on this list, TV On The Radio applies more nods outside of just guitar music, namely electronica as well as doo wop. Just an incredible track with soaring vocals and matching harmonies. This is the first single on their first EP put out by Touch & Go. Fully artful and fully awesome.
Modest Mouse – “Paper Thin Walls”
Isaac Brock is a weirdo. Unapologetically weird, he just also happens to write incredible records. It’s pretty exciting that someone like that and still make his way in a creative world that needs artists to be personable. Three minutes is my preferred Modest Mouse track, and this works perfectly. It’s never fully grounded, but never wandering aimlessly. Really, really good.
Guided By Voices – “Glad Girls”
Uncle Bob’s time to shine in a big studio with a big studio budget and big studio time. It was exciting to find an album with full production to bring out the shiny guitars and huge drums instead of it being buried in a four track cassette recording. “Glad Girls” has one of the best choruses I’ve ever heard, so much so that I don’t mind it happening four times in three and a half minutes. I’m not a full GBV head and relegate myself to enjoying the songs I like and just skipping the rest, but Isolation Drills has a very, very high hit to miss ratio for me. I get why so many of my friends think he’s the best songwriter ever.
The Dismemberment Plan – “The City”
Yes, this is from ‘99 but I picked it right away when the prompt was presented and it’s my favorite on the list so I’m leaving it on. Dismemberment Plan has strange place for me, and I’m often arguing the merits of this song against people who prefer the more spastic material. If you like this track, there’s not a lot of evidence you’ll like anything else on this album… or any, really. I lifted a guitar part (rather shamelessly and obviously) from this song after deciding it was impossible for us to pull off a cover. It’s just a pop classic among vaguely Dischord artsy rock songs.
Pedro The Lion – “Penetration”
I recently decided that Control isn’t my favorite Pedro The Lion record, but this IS my favorite track. I really love David Bazan’s approach to lyrics, and I think this is one of his very best – A frank exploration of how music “works”. The album cut is great, but my go to is this KEXP live session from a few years ago.
Hot Hot Heat – “Middle Of Nowhere”
I believe I first heard Hot Hot Heat with “You Owe Me An IOU” on some video game soundtrack, but “Middle Of Nowhere” is the gold standard for me. Seems like every band has an *on the road* track, but I’ve always found this one to be more interesting than most. A look inside partnership while being a musician is more appealing than “i’m with my broooooo’s in a vaaaaan”.
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Public Opinion — 2024 Tour Dates
09/12 Omaha, NE @ Break Room
09/13 Springfield, IL @ Dumb Records
09/14 Bloomington, IN @ Roses
09/15 Grand Rapids, MI @ TBA
09/16 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
09/17 Minneapolis, MN @ Flying V Music Hall
10/05 Fort Collins, CO @ The Aggie Theatre w/ High Vis, Direct Threat
10/13 Denver, CO @ The O w/ Gel, MSPAINT, Destiny Bond, The Mall
10/30 Kansas City, MO @ Westport Bowery
10/31 St Louis, MO @ Platypus
11/01 Chicago, IL @ Lot 49
11/02 Fort Wayne, IN @ TBA
11/03 Detroit, MI @ Gatekeepers Games
11/04 Toronto, ON @ BSMT 254
11/05 Rochester, NY @ Psychic Garden
11/06 Albany, NY @ Social Justice Center
11/08 Brooklyn, NY @ Gold Sounds
11/09 Baltimore, MD @ Holy Frijoles
11/10 Richmond, VA @ Cobra Cabana
11/11 Raleigh, NC @ Kings
11/12 Charlotte, NC @ Lunchbox Records
11/13 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
11/15 Tulsa, OK @ Flyover Fest