Frag's 25-year Top 500! (up to 121)

[frag]

This idea's been brewing for a few years!

Starting with a playlist for each year from 1999 through to 2016, plus my year-end charts for 2017-23, I created a "shortlist" of around 1000 songs, and over the past year or so, I've put the top 500 into order.

Most (376) of them appeared in my regular weekly chart, with nearly half (212) reaching #1. The remaining 124 are either album tracks, belated discoveries, or singles from during my various chart hiatuses (hiati?). 248 different artists are represented, most of them only once, but four of them 10 or more times.

Let's start with the song that just failed to crack the top 500, after spending three weeks at #1 last July:

#501: Pleaser - The Last Gang (2023)

[frag]

500 - 476
This set kicks off with an album track from Idlewild, and encompassed songs missed by a hiatus (The Interrupters), those missed first time around (Radiohead and Muse), and a smattering of #1s.

I'd like to highlight a fantastic video from this set, for Turin Brakes' 2010 'Sea Change' - ever more relevant now, with record-breaking heatwave after record-breaking year...




500 In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction - Idlewild (2003)

499 Beat Mama - Cast (1999, #1)

498 Take Back The Power - The Interrupters (2015)

497 I Might Be Wrong - Radiohead (2001)

496 Funny Little Frog - Belle & Sebastian (2006, #1)


495 Everything Now - Arcade Fire (2017, #3)

494 No Fun - Declan Welsh and The Decadent West (2019, #1)

493 Try This at Home - Frank Turner (2010, #1)

492 Steve McQueen - The Automatic (2008, #1)

491 Dangerous Kind of Romance - Saint Sapphire (2020, #2)


490 Muscle Museum - Muse (1999)

489 No Light, No Light - Florence & The Machine (2011)

488 Blind - FEVA (2017, #2)

487 Mountains - Biffy Clyro (2008, #2)

486 Raoul - The Automatic (2006, #21)


485 Lion's Mouth - Young Rebel Set (2011)

484 Digifucker - Fight Like Apes (2009)

483 Numb Little Bug - Four Stars (2023, #5)

482 22 - Potty Mouth (2019, #2)

481 Assassin - Muse (2006)


480 Sea Change - Turin Brakes (2010, #1)

479 The Hell Song - Sum 41 (2003, #9)

478 Tooth & Claw - Lawmaker (2022, #3)

477 Just The Way I'm Feeling - Feeder (2003, #1)

476 Take It - Teacup Monster (2018, #1)

[frag]

475 - 451

Two from Elbow in this set, and two more from Muse, including 'The Globalist', which is in some ways a sequel to 'Citizen Erased', which will be much, much higher. Ash would surely have scored another #1 with 'Renegade Cavalcade', if I'd kept my chart going for the rest of 2004.

Several songs/bands grew on me over the years - I remember not liking Kasabian much in 2004 - whereas some went down in my estimation (no Coldplay song made it, for example). At #465, we have a song that's grown on me from a band that has not. Snow Patrol had two 4-week #1 hits ('Run' and 'Chasing Cars') in the 2000s, and I bought three of their albums. But now, only 'Spitting Games' makes my list, despite only barely reaching my chart when it was first out.



475 Get Free - The Vines (2002, #9)

474 Grounds for Divorce - Elbow (2008, #1)

473 Too Many Days - Hangtime (2020, #2)

472 Crescendolls - Daft Punk (2001)

471 Ready For The Magic - Honeyblood (2016)


470 Club Foot - Kasabian (2004)

469 Mr. Understanding - Pete & The Pirates (2008, #4)

468 Run For Cover - The Killers (2017, #1)

467 Ikea - Jonathan Coulton (2003)

466 The Globalist - Muse (2015)


465 Spitting Games - Snow Patrol (2003, #29)

464 Renegade Cavalcade - Ash (2004)

463 Who You Running From? - The Ruby Tuesdays (2019, #6)

462 Slow Hands - Interpol (2005, #3)

461 Little Brains - The Kabeedies (2009, #3)


460 Like A Drug - BRKN LOVE (2022, #3)

459 Forget Myself - Elbow (2005, #1)

458 Uprising - Muse (2009, #1)

457 Song for the Fields - Fields (2007, #11)

456 Teenage Icon - The Vaccines (2012)


455 Afterlife - Daggerplay (2017, #7)

454 Hunting for Witches - Bloc Party (2007, #4)

453 Tracing Lines - Feeder (2008, #1)

452 Halcyon - Delphic (2010, #5)

451 Away from Here - The Enemy (2007, #10)

[frag]

450 - 426

Some big FragChart hits loitering outside the top 400 here, including year-end top 10 hits from Bloc Party, Boy Kill Boy, The Fratellis, and OK Go - who had 4 weeks at #1 in 2003 with 'Get Over It'. I've got a soft spot for the video - fairly simple, with a lot of visual allusions to the lyrics, plus a ping-pong break.



450 I Still Remember - Bloc Party (2007, #1)

449 Come on Over - Royal Blood (2014, #4)

448 I Met You on Halloween - Light Years (2019, #2)

447 Heartbreak Stroll - The Raveonettes (2003, #2)

446 Underdog - Kasabian (2009, #5)


445 Out For Blood - Sum 41 (2019, #5)

444 Radio Violence - Alkaline Trio (2020, #2)

443 Liar Liar - MID CITY (2020, #2)

442 Everyone's the Same - FREAK (2018, #2)

441 Stockholm Syndrome - blink-182 (2003)


440 No Emotion - Idlewild (2007, #1)

439 Birds & Planes - Dinosaur Pile-Up (2010, #5)

438 Midnight City - M83 (2011)

437 Suzie - Boy Kill Boy (2006, #1)

436 The Knock - Feeder (2023)


435 Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis (2006, #1)

434 Living In Chaos - The Offspring (2000)

433 Hyper Music - Muse (2001, #1)

432 Anthem Part Two - blink-182 (2001)

431 These Wooden Ideas - Idlewild (2000)


430 Booooom, Blast & Ruin - Biffy Clyro (2010, #2)

429 Sixteen Saltines - Jack White (2012)

428 9/15ths - Biffy Clyro (2007)

427 Austere - The Joy Formidable (2011, #1)

426 Get Over It - OK Go (2003, #1)

[frag]

425 - 401

There's a smattering of songs in here that I think of as Milliways songs, since I was introduced to either the song or the band by one of his playlists or mix CDs. Ozma fit into that camp, appearing here for the first of three times in the rundown, and featuring the wonderfully geeky lyrics: "An apple pie, the number pi; I studied you in math class, oh; And did all my work but never got your digits"



425 Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy (2009, #1)

424 Man of the People - The Ruby Tuesdays (2021, #3)

423 Tie Me up with Jackets - Fight Like Apes (2009, #5)

422 If You Wanna - The Vaccines (2011, #3)

421 Liar - Potty Mouth (2019, #6)


420 Light's On - Secret Machines (2004)

419 Hard To Explain - The Strokes (2001)

418 Landmines - Sum 41 (2023, #12)

417 Head on a Spike - The Bluetones (2006, #8)

416 Showbiz - Muse (1999)


415 Eddy - Rascalton (2019, #2)

414 Knives Out - Radiohead (2001, #15)

413 Pot Kettle Black - Tilly And The Wall (2009, #1)

412 She's Hearing Voices - Bloc Party (2005)

411 Broke Boys Cartel - The Reytons (2021, #1)


410 Ichiban - Ash (2010, #3)

409 She'd Say (She's Going Out On Friday) - Be Quiet. Shout Loud! (2020, #3)

408 Shatter - Feeder (2005, #1)

407 She's Out Of Her Mind - blink-182 (2016)

406 Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups (2009, #3)


405 Hounds of Love - The Futureheads (2005)

404 Apple Trees - Ozma (2001)

403 Will You Be There? - The Sherlocks (2017, #2)

402 Dreaming of You - The Coral (2002, #8)

401 High Time - Little Triggers (2021, #2)

[frag]

400 - 376

I'm very surprised I didn't chart 'Tribute' originally ('Wonderboy', meanwhile, reached #5). The video is marvellous, though:



400 Newborn - Elbow (2001)

399 Be There - The Voyd (2020, #2)

398 Embers - Ash (2010, #1)

397 Fasten Your Seatbelt (Ft. The Freestylers) - Pendulum (2007)

396 So Fine - Little Triggers (2019, #1)


395 Silver - Hundred Reasons (2002, #1)

394 Annie, Let's Not Wait - Guillemots (2007, #1)

393 The '59 Sound - The Gaslight Anthem (2009, #3)

392 Everything is Fine - All Time Low (2018, #9)

391 Lightning Blue Eyes - Secret Machines (2006, #1)


390 Dashboard - Modest Mouse (2007, #2)

389 The Island, Pt. I (Dawn) - Pendulum (2010, #6)

388 Haven't Been Doing So Well - Frank Turner (2021, #1)

387 Charlotte - Air Traffic (2007, #1)

386 Tribute - Tenacious D (2002)


385 First Date - blink-182 (2001, #2)

384 (Antichrist Television Blues) - Arcade Fire (2007)

383 Life's Too Short - The Lightning Seeds (2000, #4)

382 Death - White Lies (2008, #7)

381 Turn Off The Moon - The Primitives (2012)


380 Pushing The Senses - Feeder (2005, #1)

379 Cloud of Stink - Biffy Clyro (2010)

378 Burn It Down - White Light Parade (2008)

377 Electric 88 - Bad Nerves (2020, #4)

376 Everybody Dances (To Digital Music) - Spray (2020, #3)

[frag]

375 - 351

I mentioned "Milliways songs" earlier; well, Ben Kweller's 'Wasted & Ready' is an Earl Purple song, having featured on one of his mixtapes about 20 years ago. This is his only entry here, and among others, this set also contains the only appearances for Art Brut, The Cribs and Placebo - what a mid-noughties gig that would have been!

Meanwhile, some songs stick in the mind by clearly melding themselves to everyday objects. The Rumble Strips provide one here (also their only appearance), with a catchy lament about alarm clocks: "beep beep beep, get on your feet"



375 Comforting Sounds - Mew (2003, #1)

374 Defector - Muse (2015)

373 Day By Day - Serafin (2003, #1)

372 Teen Angst - M83 (2005, #4)

371 Bang Bang - Green Day (2016)


370 Ellen - Sitting on Stacy (2022, #2)

369 Seven Inch - Randells (2023, #1)

368 We Share the Same Skies - The Cribs (2009, #2)

367 Micro Cuts - Muse (2001)

366 Alarm Clock - The Rumble Strips (2007, #1)


365 Darling - Sons And Daughters (2008, #3)

364 Eradicate the Doubt - Biffy Clyro (2003, #4)

363 Baby Drummer - Bad Nerves (2020, #6)

362 If It Takes You Home - Idlewild (2006, #3)

361 Wasted & Ready - Ben Kweller, John David Kent, Josh Lattanzi, Vincent Chancey (2002)


360 Emily Kane - Art Brut (2005)

359 The Spark That Never Dies - Hellsingland Underground (2010, #4)

358 No Big Loss - Lawsuit Models (2023, #3)

357 Evil Eye - Franz Ferdinand (2013)

356 Harlem - New Politics (2014, #3)


355 My Only One - Hangtime (2020, #3)

354 This Picture - Placebo (2003, #1)

353 White Lies - Kitty In A Casket (2017, #2)

352 Signs of Life - Arcade Fire (2017, #1)

351 A to B - The Futureheads (2004)

[frag]

350 - 326

There are a few novelty/comedy songs in this top 500 - I guess you could count Jonathan Coulton's here, and if you haven't heard of Pig with the Face of a Boy and their "A Complete History of the Soviet Union, Through the Eyes of a Humble Worker", the following is well worth seven minutes of your time:


I am the man who arranges the blocks
That are made by the men in Kazakhstan
They come two weeks late, and they don't tessellate
But we're working to Stalin's Five Year Plan

350 All Star - Smash Mouth (1999)

349 Am I Wry? No - Mew (2003, #2)

348 Pale Bride - The Von Bondies (2008, #17)

347 Questions and Answers - Biffy Clyro (2003)

346 Teacher's Pet - The Young Rochelles (2023, #2)


345 These Four Walls - Pretty Vicious (2019, #1)

344 Stuck in a Head - Mean Jeans (2019, #7)

343 Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club (2010, #3)

342 Peoples Champ - Lawmaker (2022, #7)

341 Criminal - Feeder (2019, #1)


340 Darts Of Pleasure - Franz Ferdinand (2004)

339 Rule the World Tonight - Saint Sapphire (2017, #3)

338 My Mistake - Oakrest (2017, #2)

337 Hoppípolla - Sigur Rós (2005, #1)

336 A Complete History of the Soviet Union, Through the Eyes of a Humble Worker - Pig with the Face of a Boy (2009)


335 Armed to the Teeth - Tusky (2018, #2)

334 In Your World - Muse (2002, #3)

333 Control - Paragon (2020, #2)

332 Gilt Complex - Sons And Daughters (2007, #1)

331 Karen - Valentina De Rosa, Randells (2021, #1)


330 Do You Karate? - Fight Like Apes (2009)

329 Rock And Roll Queen - The Subways (2005, #13)

328 Destiny - The Fizzgigs (2020, #2)

327 Somebody Told Me - The Killers (2004, #1)

326 Typhoons - Royal Blood (2021, #4)

Firsts, lasts, and only things
Making their first appearance in this set: The Von Bondies, The Young Rochelles, Pretty Vicious, Two Door Cinema Club, Tusky, The Subways
Making their last appearance in this set: Mew (2), Saint Sapphire (2)
Making their only appearance in this set: Smash Mouth, Mean Jeans, Oakrest, Sigur Rós, Pig With The Face Of A Boy, Paragon, The Fizzgigs

[frag]

325 - 301

More than half of these songs are from artists making their only appearance, and it's a diverse bunch - from Robbie Williams (who did well early in my chart but faded fast after 2000), via Soulwax (one of a few songs I know from clubbing at Uni), to newer artists like Ricky Rochelle - who is actually in this chart multiple times as frontman of The Young Rochelles, but this is his only solo appearance. It was #1 right at the start of 2021.



325 Too Much Too Fast - Fayence Dream (2021, #14)

324 Across the Sea - The Cog is Dead (2021, #5)

323 It's Only Us - Robbie Williams (2000, #1)

322 Desperation - The Stanfields (2018, #4)

321 E Talking - Soulwax (2005)


320 Songs from My Teens - Helen Love (2020, #1)

319 Ashes To Ashes - Lawmaker (2022, #1)

318 An Honest Mistake - The Bravery (2005)

317 The Hardest Button to Button - The White Stripes (2003, #2)

316 Return of White Rabbit - Ash (2009, #1)


315 Minority - Green Day (2000)

314 The Dark Of The Matinée - Franz Ferdinand (2004, #1)

313 Dirty Air - Two Door Cinema Club (2019, #1)

312 Reptilia - The Strokes (2004, #22)

311 Freakin' U Out - Antarctigo Vespucci (2018, #1)


310 Another Nail in My Heart - American Hi-Fi (2020, #1)

309 Psycho - Muse (2015)

308 Wolves - The White Lakes (2019, #1)

307 Dog Days Are Over - Florence & The Machine (2009, #16)

306 How Did We Get So Dark? - Royal Blood (2017, #9)


305 Lil Bit - Moldy Roses (2023, #3)

304 Go With The Flow - Queens of the Stone Age (2003, #1)

303 House of Noise - Massive Wagons (2020, #1)

302 Don't Put the Chimp in Charge - Ricky Rochelle (2021, #1)

301 Take Me To Electric Town - Be Quiet. Shout Loud! (2020, #1)




Firsts, Lasts + Only Things
First appearance: The White Stripes, Queens Of The Stone Age
Last appearance: The Strokes (2), Be Quiet. Shout Loud! (2)
Only appearance: Fayence Dream, The Cog Is Dead, Robbie Williams, The Stanfields, Soulwax, Helen Love, The Bravery, Antarctigo Vespucci, American Hi-Fi, The White Lakes, Moldy Roses, Massive Wagons, Ricky Rochelle

[frag]

300 - 276

200 down, 300 to go, and some very well-known names and songs in this set. It's Goodbye to The Coral (see what I did there?), and Sum 41 have two songs in very quick succession from their breakthrough album 'All Killer, No Filler'. Alongside album tracks from Muse and Biffy Clyro, we also have 'Seven Nation Army', which somehow became an international football anthem that is sung to this day.

Finally, this set contains two songs to have spent four weeks at #1 in my chart: first Feeder with 'Call Out' (more from that album to come), and then The Blue Giants, who appear here with their only FragChart hit, a modern rock n' roll foot-tapper.




300 Underground - Radkey (2020, #2)

299 Lights Out - Easyworld (2001)

298 Reapers - Muse (2015)

297 What You Know - Two Door Cinema Club (2011, #2)

296 Kicking and Screaming - Cold Years (2022, #5)


295 I Found Out - The Pigeon Detectives (2007, #1)

294 I Wanna - Potty Mouth (2019, #1)

293 Motivation - Sum 41 (2002, #2)

292 Mockingbird - The Corps (2022, #1)

291 Fat Lip - Sum 41 (2001, #1)


290 65 Nickels - Pkew Pkew Pkew (2019, #1)

289 Goodbye - The Coral (2002)

288 Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt - We Are Scientists (2006, #3)

287 Positive Tension - Bloc Party (2005)

286 Mandlebrot Set - Jonathan Coulton (2008)


285 Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes (2003, #4)

284 No Action - Sugarcult (2021, #3)

283 Life Is a Video Game - Altered by Mom (2020, #3)

282 Call Out - Feeder (2010, #1)

281 Violence - blink-182 (2003)


280 Black Clouds - Antagonizers Atl (2020, #2)

279 A Whole Child Ago - Biffy Clyro (2007)

278 I Am Not Robot - The Phenomenauts (2010, #2)

277 She Is Fire - The Blue Giants (2018, #1)

276 Fine - Only Sun (2018, #2)


First appearances: Easyworld, Cold Years, The Pigeon Detectives, The Corps, We Are Scientists, Sugarcult, Only Sun
Last appearance: The Coral
Only appearances: Radkey, Pkew Pkew Pkew, Altered By Mom, Antagonizers Atl, The Phenomenauts, The Blue Giants

[frag]

275 - 251

Halfway through! This set features both #3 and #4 from 2007 (although there are several more to come from that year), as well as the #6 from 2022, coming from Nerf Herder. We also have the only appearance from Doves, memorable for the powerful drumming throughout - pounding, indeed!




275 Toxicity - System Of A Down (2002, #1)

274 Psych Ward 103 - Doc Rotten (2021, #4)

273 I'm Good (I'm Fine) - Honeychurch (2022, #1)

272 Take Her Back - The Pigeon Detectives (2007, #1)

271 We All Got Covid (Except for Linus) - Nerf Herder (2022, #1)


270 This Is Not the World - The Futureheads (2008)

269 Amsterdam - Nothing But Thieves (2017, #1)

268 Little Monster - Royal Blood (2014, #4)

267 Domino Effect - Ozma (2001)

266 Time to Pretend - MGMT (2008, #10)


265 Holiday In The Sun - Randells (2021, #2)

264 Drumming Song - Florence & The Machine (2009, #1)

263 No Cars Go - Arcade Fire (2007, #1)

262 Conspiracy Of One - The Offspring (2000)

261 Jake Summers - Fight Like Apes (2009)


260 Vex Machine - The Subways (2022, #1)

259 Digital Love - Daft Punk (2001, #13)

258 Dimed Out - Titus Andronicus (2015)

257 Sit Down. Stand Up - Radiohead (2003)

256 In Times of Crisis - Feeder (2010)


255 Radio Heart - The Futureheads (2008, #1)

254 The Lightning II - Arcade Fire (2022, #5)

253 Pounding - Doves (2002, #1)

252 The Rock Show - blink-182 (2001, #1)

251 Never Going Nowhere - The Bluetones (2003, #13)


Firsts: System Of A Down, Nothing But Thieves, MGMT
Lasts: Pigeon Detectives
Only: Doc Rotten, Honeychurch, Nerf Herder, Titus Andronicus, Doves

[frag]

250 - 226

I had a hard time deciding which comical song to showcase from this set, so I've gone with two!

One for work (JoCo's anthem for software engineers everywhere):


and one for play (Alestorm's anthem for partying pirates everywhere):


250 Flux - Bloc Party (2007, #1)

249 Move - I Fight Dragons (2021, #2)

248 Brianstorm - Arctic Monkeys (2007, #4)

247 That's What She Said - The Automatic (2006)

246 April's Fool - Sweden (2018, #1)


245 Justboy - Biffy Clyro (2002)

244 Pin - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2003)

243 VCR - Saytr Play (2020, #1)

242 Area - The Futureheads (2005, #2)

241 Hey I Want You - Felix Hagan & the Family (2017, #1)


240 Code Monkey - Jonathan Coulton (2006)

239 Jacqueline - Franz Ferdinand (2004)

238 Try Not To Think - Easyworld (2001)

237 Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - Arcade Fire (2005)

236 Wasted - Sophisticated Dingo (2021, #4)


235 Start All Over - Hangtime (2020, #1)

234 Get Out Of My Head - Bodyjar (2021, #5)

233 It's Always Sunny in Quarantine - Space Monkey Mafia (2022, #1)

232 P.A.R.T.Y. - Alestorm (2022, #3)

231 Move - Pretty Vicious (2018, #3)


230 Oh Yeah - The Subways (2005)

229 Slam - Pendulum (2007)

228 Freakin' Out - Graham Coxon (2004, #10)

227 Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine - The White Stripes (2003)

226 Patience - Only Sun (2018, #3)


Firsts: Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Alestorm
Lasts: Pretty Vicious (2), The Subways (3), Pendulum (3)
Only: I Fight Dragons, Sweden, Satyr Play, Felix Hagan & The Family, Sophisticated Dingo, Bodyjar, Space Monkey Mafia, Graham Coxon

[frag]

225 - 201

I was pretty much the right age for A and Bowling For Soup, who make their only appearances as part of a hat-trick of hits from 2002. Joining them in the "big in the noughties" club are Foals and Arctic Monkeys, who also fail to appear in the top 200, and blink-182, who will.

Just barely outside the top 200 though is Frank Turner, who goes all political with '1933': a song which sadly still feels relevant today. "Be suspicious of simple answers; That sh*t's for fascists and maybe teenagers"



225 Cassius - Foals (2008, #4)

224 I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys (2005, #8)

223 Habits - Marmozets (2017, #3)

222 Planes, Trains & Cars - We The Kings (2017, #1)

221 2020 Is Cancelled - The Enthused (2020, #1)


220 Animal Arithmetic - Jónsi (2010, #1)

219 Always - blink-182 (2003)

218 Who's Got a Match? - Biffy Clyro (2008, #1)

217 Sixteen - The Indelicates (2008)

216 Walking Backwards - The Futureheads (2008, #1)


215 When The Sun Goes Down - Arctic Monkeys (2006, #1)

214 Cochise - Audioslave (2003, #1)

213 Ghost Story - Teenage Bottlerocket (2021, #5)

212 Behind the Door - The Ritz (2020, #2)

211 Guts - Mallory Knox (2019, #2)


210 Your Enemy - The Hazey Janes (2006, #1)

209 Atlas - Battles (2007)

208 This Is Family - Kids On Fire (2023, #1)

207 Dear Detective - The Corps (2022, #2)

206 Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999)


205 Come Back Around - Feeder (2002, #1)

204 Girl All the Bad Guys Want - Bowling For Soup (2002, #1)

203 Starbucks - A (2002, #1)

202 Turtleneck Coverup - Ozma (2003)

201 1933 - Frank Turner (2018, #1)


Firsts: The Indelicates, Teenage Bottlerocket, Mallory Knox, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Lasts: Arctic Monkeys (3), The Corps, Ozma (3), Frank Turner (3)
Only: Foals, Marmozets, We The Kings, The Enthused, Jónsi, Audioslave, The Ritz, The Hazey Janes, Battles, Kids On Fire, Bowling For Soup, A

[frag]

200 - 191


200 Sao Paulo - Guillemots (2006) 2nd appearance

A beaut of an album closing track, moving and extremely slow-building; at over 11 minutes long, it's the longest of the top 500. Incidentally, the shortest was '2020 Is Cancelled', at #221, clocking in at 1:26 - which before the main piano melody in 'Sao Paolo' starts; the lyrics come in at 1:49.


199 Dreamers - Chaser (2021, #4, YEC #15) Only appearance

Uplifting, energetic rock now from SoCal's Chaser. "Side by side, we'll make it on our own"

198 Stunning - Brigade (2008, #1, YEC #40) Only appearance

The only FragChart appearance for Brigade came as a double A-side in 2008 ('Sink Sink Swim' peaked at #19) - they have other albums but evidently none of them made it through the Spotify filters.

197 Seatbelts For Aeroplanes - Brand New Friend (2018, #1, YEC #11) Only appearance

Twee indie-rock now from Northern Ireland's Brand New Friend, with keyboard melodies and boy-girl harmonies. "I know I was never your everything, but I hope I was something"

196 There Is No Point (Other Than the Point That There Is No Point) - bis (2019, #1, YEC #14) First appearance

I don't know how it took 25 years for me to discover "weird synth riot-grrl" band bis - they're a little bit like a weird, Scottish, female-fronted Futureheads.



195 Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum - Alestorm (2022, #1, YEC #13) 2nd & final appearance

Yo ho ho! It's the pirate rock wave of 2022! This metal shanty sounds... yep, just about exactly as you'd think.

194 I Can Talk - Two Door Cinema Club (2009, #2, YEC #8) 4th & final appearance

If you're reading this, then I'm going to assume that Two Door Cinema Club need no introduction. My favourite song of theirs, somehow not reaching #1 in late 2009.

193 Trains To Brazil - Guillemots (2006, #1, YEC #13) 3rd & final appearance

It's the (mostly) British wistful warblers again, for the final time. All three appearances came from the lovely 'Through The Windowpane'.

192 One Day Like This - Elbow (2008, #1, YEC #6) 4th & final appearance

Elbow also bow out at this late stage. This was their fifth and latest FragChart #1, although they're finally back in my weekly top 5 at the moment...

191 I Feel Fantastic - Jonathan Coulton (2008) 4th & final appearance

Geeky soloist JoCo is another name we won't be seeing again. The star of this comedic ditty medicates his entire life, with pills for sleeping, waking up, driving, social anxiety, steak-taste-betterment, and other things.

As is often the case with JoCo, there's an impressive fan-made video:

[frag]

190 - 181

190 Not My Girl - Ejectorseat (2008, #3, YEC #8) Only appearance

Perhaps the most upbeat song about getting dumped?

189 Butterflies and Hurricanes - Muse (2004) 12th appearance

Beautiful piano work sets this album track apart.

188 Headstuck - Steven Neufeld (2023, #1, YEC #13) Only appearance

Steven Neufeld had a great breakthrough year in my chart, with this the first and best of his singles, spending three weeks at #1 in Spring 2023.

187 Recover - The Automatic (2006, #1, YEC #9)  4th appearance

Another song to spend three weeks at the top. Were The Automatic a one-album wonder? Not quite - their follow-up 'This Is A Fix' did yield one song from this rundown, but this is the third from 'Not Accepted Anywhere'.

186 Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters (1999) 1st appearance
185 Coffee & TV - Blur (1999) Only appearance

Grouping these two together as I waxed lyrical about both the songs and videos in my 90s chart last year. Most of my favourite Blur songs were too early for this chart ('Crazy Beat' was nominated but didn't make the cut), but the Foo Fighters have several big FragChart hits still to come.

184 Radio Emergency - Any Other Time (2018, #3, YEC #13) Only appearance

Sitting amongst a storm of hits from much more well-known bands comes Any Other Time's only FragChart appearance, a catchy straight-up indie tune from a band that don't seem to be active any more. They have 10 monthly listeners on Spotify - want to boost that number? open.spotify.com/embed/track/0sKF6h5WS3Uwl2qWA3ZThx[/spotify]

183 Hysteria - Muse (2003, #2, YEC #113)

182 Resistance - Muse (2010, #1, YEC #7)


A double-bill of Muse songs to make it three from this set - and Muse are up to 14 entries already. 'Hysteria' was so low on my year-end chart because it was statistical in those days, and it came out late in the year. 'Resistance'

181 57 - Biffy Clyro (2002) 10th appearance

"and over, AYE, and over, AYE!"

The reason why I chose 57 as my shirt number when I played Ultimate Frisbee at Uni.

[frag]

180 - 171

180 Still Waiting - Sum 41 (2002, #1, YEC #62) 6th appearance

The lead single from Sum 41's follow-up to 'All Killer, No Filler' shows a bit of growth form that album - a bit heavier, a bit more serious.


179 Awkward Feeling - Dead Nature (2023, #2, YEC #11) First appearance

This guy - surprisingly, it's a solo artist - always reminds me of the Arcade Fire's more energetic songs. Tarek Musa was the drummer for Spring King, and set out with this project after that band sadly broke up in around 2018.


178 Stop The World - NOT (2023, #1, YEC #14) Only appearance

NOT style themselves as "hyperactive, caffeine-fuelled pop", and it's hard to argue with that! 'Stop The World' bemoans the capitalist work-til-you-drop culture.


177 Picturesque - Editors (2022, #2, YEC #9) First appearance

Editors went a bit dancey/funky in 2022 - a return to form, as far as I'm concerned, as they didn't have much success in my chart between The Back Room (2005-06) and EBM (2022).


176 I'm A Timebomb - Bad Advice (2023, #1, YEC #10) Only appearance

Catchy German pop-punk now from Bad Advice, who now regularly gatecrash my top 10 with the distinctive (if slightly annoying) singing style and infinite energy.


175 Hold On - Royal Blood (2021, #1, YEC #12) 5th appearance

Hailing from Brighton, one of the coolest artists around at the moment have been remarkably consistent since 2014. Seeing them in MK last summer (supporting Muse) was great fun, even though I spent half of their set queueing up for beer!


174 My Desperate House - Gaffa Tape Sandy (2020, #2, YEC #8) Only appearance

Another Brighton band, this one reminds me somewhat of Ozma. "I'm losing my mind, one love letter at a time"


173 Fishtank - Happy. (2018, #1, YEC #14) Only appearance

Surf-rock/emo-pop trio Happy. had just one FragChart hit back in 2018, managing 3 weeks at #1.


172 The Ideal Height - Biffy Clyro (2003) 11th appearance

"How well do you think that you know me?"
My favourite track from The Vertigo of Bliss, and the third song from this album to feature. I'll post a personal Top 10 Biffy songs list once we reach their last appearance.


171 Lipstick Licking - Milburn (2006) Only appearance

Hailing from Sheffield and riding on the heels of the Arctic Monkeys' success with a very similar sound, Milburn manage to outrank them on this rundown.

[frag]

170 - 161

170 Fake Friends Forever - MID CITY (2019, #1, YEC #7) 2nd appearance

169 Taste The Last Girl - Sons And Daughters (2005, #2, YEC #9) 3rd and final appearance

168 Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park (2005, #4, YEC #3) Only appearance

167 Figure It Out - Royal Blood (2014) 6th appearance

166 In Too Deep - Sum 41 (2001, #1, YEC #101 [2001], #97 [2002]) 7th and final appearance

165 Never Sing Along - Teenage Bottlerocket (2021, #1, YEC #5) 2nd and final appearance

164 Grown Ups - :PM (2017, #1, YEC #1) Only appearance

163 Bandages - Hot Hot Heat (2003, #11, YEC #173) First appearance

162 Just Another Fool - Screeching Weasel (2022, #2, YEC #7) Only appearance

161 I Can Climb Mountains - Hell Is For Heroes (2003) 2nd and final appearance

Lots of artists taking their bow in this set, including Sum 41 - my now-favourite song of theirs was caught between two statistical year-end charts. This set also features the first year-end #1 of the rundown (1999's 'Sunscreen' didn't make it at all), and it's a fairly recent one too - here's :PM with 'Grown Ups':

[frag]

160 - 151







160 Glitter And Trauma - Biffy Clyro (2004) 12th appearance



The opening track for Infinity Land, the build-up is great here.



159 2 + 2 = 5 - Radiohead (2003, #1, YEC #63) 4th appearance



The opening track for Hail To The Thief also has a great buildup; definitely one of the rockier Radiohead songs!



158 No Surrender - MID CITY (2019, #1, YEC #11) 3rd appearance



MID CITY had a great year in 2019, and then in early 2020 I decided against seeing them at a small venue down the road from my office. Had I known how little we'd be able to go out in the following year or two, I'm pretty sure I'd have reconsidered!



157 Revolution Radio - Green Day (2017, #7, YEC #27) 3rd appearance



156 Dear Amy - Hello Gorgeous (2021, #1, YEC #4) Only appearance



One of the best (and most upbeat) break-up songs, brought to you by Swedish band Hello Gorgeous.



155 Decent Days and Nights - The Futureheads (2005, YEC #13) 7th appearance



"But you look confused and you don't know what to do"

Would have been a #1 in early 2005, if I'd been doing a chart then.



154 Under The Knife - BRKN LOVE (2022, #1, YEC #5) 2nd & final appearance



Definitely one to check out if you're into Royal Blood.



153 Lay Down the Law - Switches (2007, #1, YEC #13) Only appearance



This could quite easily be a Franz Ferdinand song. One of several noughties bands that nearly made it big.



152 Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk (2001) 3rd & final appearance



Definitely one of those that grew on me thanks to regular uni club nights, and another one with an excellent fan-made video.



151 This Feeling - The Velvet Hands (2019, #1, YEC #8) Only appearance



Wastes no time getting going, this one, going straight into a heavy riff. Which was unfortunate that one time at work, when I pressed play without my headphones _quite_ being plugged in...

[frag]

150 - 141

150 SUNNY - Ocean Grove (2019, #1, YEC #6) Only appearance

Aussies Ocean Grove got 2019 off to a good start with this anthem, which would probably have done quite well in the 90s.

149 Untouched - The Veronicas (2009, #1, YEC #7) Only appearance

More Aussies! The Veronicas are close to a one-hit wonder in my chart, spending four weeks at the top in 2009 with 'Untouched'.

148 Unperson - Nothing But Thieves (2020, #2, YEC #36) 2nd appearance

Only reaching year-end #36 as recently as 2020, 'Unperson' grew on me while I was compiling this chart, eventually settling in amongst year-end top 10 songs here. Still one more to come from one of the coolest bands around right now.

147 Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) - Florence & The Machine (2009, #1, YEC #5) 4th appearance

Florence & The Machine were huge in the late noughties, and this was the biggest of three hits from their breakthrough album, 'Lungs'.

146 No Case - Masked Intruder (2019, #3, YEC #15) Only appearance

Masked Intruder are an interesting act, since they're literally masked and only identified as Intruder Yellow, Intruder Green, Intruder Red, and Intruder Blue. Perhaps 'No Case' is a true story??

145 Alone, Leave Me - new threads (2018, #2, YEC #8) Only appearance

Formed in Nashville, Tennessee, new threads provide us with this fast-paced number that really shines in the shredding mid-song riff.

144 Fascination - Alphabeat (2008, #7, YEC #30) Only appearance

One of the poppiest entries in the top 200 comes from Danish funsters Alphabeat - one of the rare songs to achieve a better UK chart placing (#6) than their FragChart placing.

143 Vanilla Radio - The Wildhearts (2002, #3, YEC #12) Only appearance

"Where's my Elvis?!"

142 Jesus of Suburbia - Green Day (2005, #3, YEC #42) 4th appearance

Green Day's epic features five distinct named parts, one of two such songs on their rather grown-up 'American Idiot' album.

141 Saturday Night Feeling - Rat Attack (2014, #1, YEC #1) Only appearance

I only managed to keep my chart going for three months in 2014, and Rat Attack's rock'n'roll 'Saturday Night Feeling' was the most successful song in that time.

[frag]

140 - 131

140 Sunshine - Sergeant (2009, #1, YEC #3) Only appearance

139 (I Am) What I Am Not - Idlewild (2003) 5th appearance

138 The Hum - Spring King (2018, #5, YEC #17) Only appearance

137 Tommy Gun - Captives (2019, #1, YEC #12) Only appearance

136 Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies - Biffy Clyro (2007, #1, YEC #9) 13th & final appearance

135 No, Not Now - Hot Hot Heat (2003, #1, YEC #8) 2nd & final appearance

134 Map of the Problematique - Muse (2007, #1, YEC #7) 15th appearance

133 The Beginning of the Twist - The Futureheads (2008, #1, YEC #9) 8th appearance

132 The State of Massachusetts - Dropkick Murphys (2008, #1, YEC #2) Only appearance

131 Helicopter - Bloc Party (2005) 6th & final appearance



Getting serious now, with most of this set reaching year-end top 10s, and two big bands bowing out:

Biffy Clyro



A band that came to my attention via greendemon, who herself found them from Amazon recommendations. Biffy have been mainstays in my chart over the years, with 27 appearances, and top 5 hits from 2003 to 2021, but only two #1 hits - this one, and 'Who's Got A Match' in 2008.

Here's my top 10 Biffy songs:

1 (#136) Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies (Puzzle)
2 (#160) Glitter And Trauma (Infinity Land)
3 (#172) The Ideal Height (The Vertigo of Bliss)
4 (#181) 57 (Blackened Sky)
5 (#218) Who's Got a Match? (Puzzle)
6 (#245) Justboy (Blackened Sky)
7 (#279) A Whole Child Ago (Puzzle)
8 (#347) Questions and Answers (The Vertigo of Bliss)
9 (#364) Eradicate the Doubt (The Vertigo of Bliss)
10 (#379) Cloud of Stink (Only Revolutions)

Bloc Party

Bloc Party also have two FragChart #1s, both from 2007, among 13 FragChart hits, all of which have made the top 30. My favourites of theirs are all from 2005's 'Silent Alarm' or 2007's 'A Weekend At The City':

1 (#131) Helicopter (Silent Alarm)
2 (#250) Flux (A Weekend In the City)
3 (#287) Positive Tension (Silent Alarm)
4 (#412) She's Hearing Voices (Silent Alarm)
5 (#450) I Still Remember (A Weekend In the City)
6 (#454) Hunting for Witches (A Weekend In the City)