Let's Update Nature's Best: 2005-2006
Part Three gives us one of the all time great Kiwi tracks to consider
Okay, we’ve done an intro post, then sorted tracks from 2001-2002 and 2003-2004. This exercise is only going to get harder, starting with our first new song to consider today from one of this country’s best bands.
But first …
2003-2004 reconsidered:
A few little changes to make here. Scribe’s “Not Many” received more than half its votes to move higher, so I’m bumping it up to #19. Both Goldenhorse’s “Maybe Tomorrow” and Elemeno P’s “Verona” received equal votes for both higher and lower, so I’m going to leave them where they are. Brooke Fraser’s “Arithmetic” received slightly more votes to move lower … but I’m concerned part of that is due to the stigma around her at present, so I’ll leave this where it is. The rest of the tracks, there wasn’t enough votes to swing it one way or the other.
On to the next batch!
> Fat Freddy's Drop - "Wandering Eye"
Fat Freddys’ debut album Based On A True Story dominated the 2005 Aotearoa Music Awards, winning Album Of The Year, Best Group, Best Aotearoa Roots Album, and the Peoples Choice Award, then winning Highest Selling NZ Album and Best Music Video in 2006 thanks to the success of this song, “Wandering Eye”, I would argue one of the definitive Kiwi songs ever made. And that is why I think #5 is the right place to pop this one.
> Pluto - "Long White Cross"
I would argue that Pluto, and frontman Milan Borich, have had a somewhat outsized influence on NZ music in the years since they emerged - with two successful albums in the early 2000s, leading to Borich showing up in a lot of side projects, including the Come Together concerts that have been recreating classic albums live. “Long White Cross” is Pluto’s best song; it won Single Of The Year in 2006. I’m feeling #85 for this one, but I do wonder if it should be higher.
> Savage - "Swing"
Okay, here is the case for putting “Swing” in the Top 50 (#44 is where I’ve put it):
Savage was a driving force in the success of Dawn Raid Entertainment, whose pop culture footprint in the early 2000s is kind of hard to explain (it was huge); he was part of a collective on the label called the Deceptikonz, then went solo. “Swing” was the first single from his debut solo album, Moonshine, and went to #1 on the NZ singles chart, then went to #36 on the Australian singles chart, then it was included in a key scene in Judd Apatow comedy Knocked Up, then a remix with Soulja Boy went to #45 in the USA.
Prior to Savage’s success, the list of artists to hit big globally was incredibly small - and they were nearly all historical acts. Heck, Shihad renamed themselves Pacifier for a crack at the US and failed, eventually coming home and switching back to the original name. Savage was the first Kiwi artist of this new era to hit big internationally. And for that reason, I think “Swing” deserves a place in the Top 50.
> The Phoenix Foundation - "Damn The River"
Led by Samuel F Scott, the Wellington group The Phoenix Foundation were leaders in the new millenium where alternative rock is concerned; they’re also a regular nominee at the Aotearoa Music Awards during the 2000s. “Damn The River” is one of their best songs, balancing the act between experimental indie and alt-rock. I’ve put it at #47 as an acknowledgement of TPFs longevity.
> The D4 - "What I Want"
I don’t think The D4 are necessarily an influential or transcendent act in NZ music history. But I do think they were a huge part of the time. And I reckon “What I Want” is the best song in their repertoire to put on this list. I mean, its also a really good song too. I’m feeling a #69 for this one.
> Shapeshifter - "Long White Cloud (ft Joe Dukie)"
One of the genres in which New Zealand artists have excelled is in the realm of electronic music - particularly the drum’n’bass stylings of artists like Shapeshifter, Concord Dawn, and the rest. Shapeshifter’s longevity means that they’ve become synonymous with the genre these days, a true headliner from our country who’ve been touring the globe as well. “Long White Cloud” was one of their earliest crossover hits, driving their second album Riddim Wise LP to gold sales in NZ and a peak chart placing at #29. I’m feeling #29 on our list.
> Mt Raskil Preservation Society - "Bathe In The River (ft Hollie Smith)"
I’m not going to say much about this other than it was robbed for Single Of The Year in 2006 by Pluto’s “Long White Cross”. A seminal song from the 2000s and another placing for the Muttonbirds’ Don McGlashan. #16 feels rights.
> Aaradhna - "Down Time"
Alongside Savage and Scribe and Mareko and the rest, Aaradhna was also part of the Dawn Raid explosion, guesting on tracks from the likes of Adeaze (their song “Getting Stronger” hit #1 on the singles chart), Savage, David Dallas and Paul Mac. Her debut album I Love You peaked at #13 on the album chart and achieved gold sales status, but its debut single “Down Time” peaked at #13. Aaradhna has gone on to greater heights (as we’ll see) but I think this is a worthy addition at #94.
> Minuit - "Fuji"
I personally love Minuit, a mainstay of 2000s electro-pop funk: their second album The Guards Themselves is a brilliant album, peaking at #12 on the album chart. “Fuji” is the biggest single from the album and, maybe, the best song. However, I’m not feeling Minuit for the list and am leaving them off.
> Brooke Fraser - "Albertine"
Okay, I know Brooke Fraser is already on the list - and I know there is controversy around at the moment - but her second album, Albertine, landed almost as strongly as her debut and, I would argue, is a better collection of songs. The title track is beautiful and I think deserves a spot at #104 here.
Alright, we’ve added another 9 tracks to the list, and I realised I had accidentally removed one so I’ve put that back in too. We’re now at 127 tracks in total.
Thanks for reading team - don’t forget to share this around because the more votes we get, theoretically the more accurate the placings should be.
Mā te wā,
Chris