Apparently, Y2K is back. This was completely unknown to me until my teen asked if I had any Y2K clothes that I had kept. What did Y2K clothing even look like? I think my brain merged early Aughts fashion with '90s looks because all I could think of were crop tops and baby tees. Y2K music is much more in my lane. In fact, the only Y2K clothing I kept are t-shirts from artists that I worked with at the time. So in honor of Y2K’s big comeback, here is my latest playlist.
The intro track is from the Liverpool band, Clinic, whose acclaimed debut album Internal Wrangler was released in the UK in 2000. I first saw them live opening for another band on this playlist, Radiohead, in Victoria Park in London in the fall of 2000. I would have never guessed that a year later I would be part of the press team working on this record in the States. Musically, Broadcast transition seamlessly from Clinic. Their mix of electronic and psychedelic music are a mood. Their album, The Noise Made By People, is beautiful and haunting as is the track “Echo's Answer.”
Another debut album released in 2000 is Australian band The Avalanches' Since I Left You which features the innovative track “Frontier Psychiatrist,” built from a seemingly infinite blend of unique samples. “The Crystal Lake” is from Grandaddy’s highly acclaimed sophomore album The Sophtware Slump.
The next three artists and songs are feminist favorites. “All Hands On The Bad One” is the title track from the fifth album by Sleater-Kinney. Chicks on Speed and Peaches are two of the three Y2K t-shirts that I still have. I was part of the press team on both these releases as well. Munich-based electronic art collective Chicks on Speed’s cover of Malaria!’s song “Kaltes Klares Wasser” and “Sucker” is from the Canadian artist Peaches from her beloved album Teaches of Peaches.
Outkast’s Stankonia blew everyone away when it was released in 2000. “B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad,” was the explosive first single from the album and is an exciting blend of musical styles. PJ Harvey’s Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea and the track “Good Fortune” is her sonic homage to New York City. Many of the songs from the album were inspired by the English artist’s time living here.
Scotland's The Delgados and their song “Accused of Stealing” kick off the indie pop portion of the playlist, followed by “Way You Walk” from Boston’s Papas Fritas and “Once Around The Block” by English singer-songwriter Damon Gough, better known as Badly Drawn Boy.
Bringing the mood down for a couple songs are Mojave 3 with the melancholy folk of “Return To Sender” followed by Johnny Cash’s poignant cover of Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s “I See A Darkness” with Will Oldham (a.k.a Bonnie) providing backing vocals.
Closing out my Y2K playlist is “Mastermind” from Deltron 3030, the project of Dan the Automator, Del The Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala. The group's self-titled concept album features an impressive line up of guest artists, including Blur’s Damon Albarn, Prince Paul and Sean Lennon. Yo La Tengo’s album And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out is probably my favorite of their brilliant and extensive body of work. I chose the song “Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House” not only because it is amazing amazing but also because my husband did drum programming for the track. Playlist favoritism? Perhaps.
2000 was really a great year for music. There were so many more songs that I could have included. Sorry Britney, The Sea & Cake & Smog. At 17 tracks long, it is pretty clear that I struggled whittling this playlist down. Now it is your turn to share your favorite Y2K songs and albums.
Clinic - The Second Line
Broadcast - Echo's Answer
The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist
Grandaddy - The Crystal Lake
Sleater-Kinney - All Hands On The Bad One
Chicks On Speed - Kaltes Klares Wasser
Peaches - Sucker
Outkast - B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad
Radiohead - Idioteque
PJ Harvey - Good Fortune
The Delgados - Accused Of Stealing
Papas Fritas - Way You Walk
Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around The Block
Mojave 3 - Return To Sender
Johnny Cash - I See A Darkness
Deltron 3030 - Mastermind
Yo La Tengo - Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
xo, Julie
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