The greatest guitar songs of the 21st century – 2001
Buck Rodgers – Feeder
The chorus was so big Feeder had to upsize venues just to contain it. The cleverly harmonised guitars in the verses mark this as one of modern rock’s all-time classics.
Chop Suey! – System Of A Down
What does it take to write an anthem? There is no universal answer, but Daron Malakian nailed it on this single from SOAD’s sophomore album
Hash Pipe – Weezer
Few thought Weezer capable of a riff this heavy or insistent. Hash Pipe marked the welcome return of the “whoa-oh” chorus.
The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
This song dominated the 2001 airwaves, proving emo pop had gone mainstream. With hooks this strong, it was inevitable.
Lateralus – Tool
Adam Jones’ drop-D-tuned riff follows two bars of 9/8 and one of 6/8, and with its mid-riff offbeat change, it’s a tough one to nail.
The Masses Against The Classes – Manic Street Preachers
The fuzz on the vocals and guitars is as spiky as the lyrics, and it revived the punk guitar solo.
Sing – Travis
This inescapable hit signalled the arrival of the banjo in indie. We’re unsure whether to be grateful.
Last Night – The Strokes
What The Hives blasted out in punk aggression, The Strokes made up for with considered, textured parts – and to prove the case here’s Exhibit A, Last Nite, the second single from the latter’s debut.
Kicking off with a series of octave eighth notes in C, it’s a simple opener. Enter guitar 2, which moves between F and G octaves. On its own, this is another straightforward part, but over the C it implies the uncoloured harmony of 4th and 5th
