Debut songs by Western rock bands from the 2000s

I Should Have Been a Tsin-tsi (for You)Mew

I Should Have Been a Tsin-tsi (for You)

A song that lets you trace the roots of Mew, the alternative rock band known for its Nordic, cool and beautiful atmosphere and ethereal sound.

Beyond Jonas Bjerre’s translucent high tenor, you’re drawn into a dreamy world woven by the floating synths.

It’s a track whose fragile yet beautiful sound seems imbued with the bittersweet wish to have been there for someone, the kind you want to listen to on a quiet night lost in thought.

Featured on the April 1997 album “A Triumph for Man,” this piece is also known for having a promotional video directed by filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn.

A serene rock tune packed with the seeds of the grand musicality they would later unfold.

HenriettaThe Fratellis

The Fratellis – Henrietta

A song by The Fratellis, a rock band from Glasgow, Scotland.

Released in June 2006 as their debut single, it was the lead single from the acclaimed album Costello Music, which peaked at No.

2 on the UK charts.

The track itself became a hit, reaching No.

19 on the UK Singles Chart and marking the band’s first breakthrough.

Driven by raw, garage rock-inspired guitar riffs and a straight-ahead beat, the song explodes into a catchy chorus that lifts the listener’s energy.

The lyrics convey the protagonist’s slightly forceful, impulsive affection for a woman he’s infatuated with.

Featured in rhythm games as well, it’s an energetic rock number perfect for getting pumped up.

Moving to New YorkThe Wombats

The Wombats – Moving To New York [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

A song by The Wombats, an indie rock band from Liverpool, England.

Featured on their 2007 debut album, “A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation,” it’s known as the signature track that launched the band’s career.

The lyrics, said to be born from a bittersweet personal experience of heartbreak, are set against a fast-paced, danceable sound—the contrast is part of its charm.

Its lively, raucous energy offers an easy, high-quality listen that will likely resonate even with those who don’t usually listen to rock.

First released as a limited edition in October 2006, the track reached No.

13 on the UK charts with its 2008 re-release.

Many will recognize it from the opening of the popular American talk show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” It represents the band’s origins, yet its undimmed sense of style still shines—surely the reason it continues to be loved!

Mansard RoofAnimal Collective

Vampire Weekend – “Mansard Roof”

Vampire Weekend burst onto the late-2000s indie rock scene with the unusual pedigree of being Ivy League graduates from New York.

Their style—folding Afro-pop elements into sleek pop songs—felt remarkably fresh at the time.

This time, we’re focusing on the track that marked the beginning of their brilliant career, released in October 2007.

In just two short minutes, it distills buoyant keyboards and a sprightly beat into something that feels like the pure sound of summertime bliss.

The lyrics by frontman Ezra Koenig—who crowns the title with an architectural style and captures everyday scenes with intellectual flair—are wonderful as well.

This piece opens the landmark debut album Vampire Weekend, a bona fide classic that eloquently encapsulates the band’s musical identity.

It’s a superb song I’d highly recommend when you’re in the mood for intelligent, refreshing rock.

Little ThingsGood Charlotte

Good Charlotte – Little Things (Official Video)

Good Charlotte, formed around the twin Madden brothers, led the pop-punk scene of the 2000s.

This track, which marked their starting point, was the lead single from their debut album “Good Charlotte,” released in 2000.

While its irresistibly catchy melodies and exhilarating drive are striking, the lyrics, in contrast to the sound, portray frustrations with days when nothing goes right and the loneliness of teens who feel misunderstood by those around them.

The way small, everyday events pile up and wear you down resonates deeply precisely because it’s grounded in their personal experiences.

The song premiered on radio in July 2000 and was also featured in the comedy film “Dude, Where’s My Car?”.

It’s the kind of track that speaks for your inner turmoil on days when everything you do seems to backfire.

Oh My GodKaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God (Official Video)

Kaiser Chiefs, hailing from Leeds, England, burst onto the mid-2000s UK rock scene armed with a rousing anthem everyone could sing along to.

This debut track, their starting point, is an energetic song that distills the band’s appeal.

Frontman Ricky Wilson’s passionate vocals brilliantly capture the mix of anxiety about their uncertain future as nobodies and the determination to pin their hopes on a glimmer of possibility.

Initially released in May 2004, the song became their breakthrough upon re-release in 2005, reaching No.

6 on the UK charts, and it was also featured in the game Driver: Parallel Lines.

When things aren’t going your way and you feel like screaming, put this track on and sing along—it’s guaranteed to lift your spirits!

SugarSystem Of A Down

System Of A Down – Sugar (Official HD Video)

Included on the 1998 album “System of a Down.” A four-piece metal band from California formed in 1994.

This is their debut single, and they’re one of the leading acts in the American nu metal scene.

The hard-edged guitar-driven metal sound is interwoven with plenty of mid-song breaks, resulting in a distinctly new-school sound.