10 Nostalgic Rock Radio Hits From the 2000s

When I was growing up, my area had an alternative rock station that played a variety of rock hits, indie-ish tracks and songs from local bands. I loved listening to this station and looked forward to it every time I went on a long car ride. In fact, I even imagined driving around aimlessly just so I could listen to this station when I turned sixteen. Evidently, I wasn't familiar with the concept of "gas money."

The station went off the air once, but it eventually came back, which was a huge relief. I read online that the station was planning to move to a new location. And then, one day, the music abruptly stopped and the channel disappeared, never to return.

To this day, I still wonder what happened. The channel's website stopped updating before it finally disappeared, too. I'll probably never know the full story, but in the past year, I've managed to compile a small playlist that contains songs from that era.

These are tracks that I enjoyed in my middle school and preteen years. Each one gives me a burst of mid-2000s nostalgia, and if you were around during that period, you might feel the same. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did when I was a child with no apps, games or smartphone--just the radio for company.

1. Tell Me by Dropping Daylight

Originating in 2001, Dropping Daylight went through a few name changes before choosing this moniker because they thought it reflected their rapidly changing career. "Tell Me," which comes from their 2006 album, Brace Yourself, starts with grungey sound effects before plunging into hard-hitting arrangements and emo-tinged vocals. As an angsty junior high student, "Not giving up till I break down" was my favorite line.

2. These Are The Days by The Exies

With over 200,000 monthly Spotify listeners, The Exies is one of the few bands on this list that maintained relevancy after the 2000s ended. In 2007, they released A Modern Way of Living with the Truth, which included "These Are The Days" as a single. I loved the way this track starts off strong before tipping into a subdued verse, then ramping up again before the explosive chorus.

3. Should've Known Better by Cinder Road

I always thought that Cinder Road and The Exies sounded similar, and sure enough--Scott Stevens from The Exies produced their 2010 album, Damage Control. However, before this collaboration, "Should've Known Better" hit the airwaves to promote 2007's Superhuman. Bold and energetic, this track's upbeat sound offers a strong contrast to the lyrical story about heartbreak and regret.

4. Say What You Will by Ever Stays Red

For a while, I could only find "Say What You Will" on YouTube, so I was thrilled when 2008's On the Brink of It All finally showed up on Spotify. I was surprised to learn that Ever Stays Red is a Christian band, but I can definitely hear the influence in their lyrics: "Run if you want, but I'm not leaving / There is a life that makes this world go around tonight." With a hint of desperation in the vocals, this track burns with quiet intensity.

5. Chemical Reaction by The Vanished

The Vanished's 2006 release, Act I: "Captives", includes the wildly underrated "Chemical Reaction." Husky, charismatic vocals, eclectic production and a deep sense of yearning delighted my preteen heart, and I still regularly listen to this song today. Unfortunately, the band stopped releasing music after 2006, and they're currently sitting at an underwhelming 533 monthly Spotify listeners. Let's change that!

6. Breathe by Greenwheel

"Breathe," which appears on Greenwheel's 2002 album, Soma Holiday, has the unique distinction of earning a Melissa Etheridge cover. The band hasn't released an album since 2006, but "Breathe" made a decent impact on the airwaves--not bad for a group that formed in a Midwest record store in 1999. The lyrics are pure mid-2000s angst, making this track a little ahead of its time.

7. C'mon Baby by Wakefield

Released in 2005, "C'mon Baby" grabs you immediately with catchy pop-punk hooks. Which Side Are You On? wasn't supposed to be Wakefield's last album, but after the band announced that they were back in the studio in 2008, they abruptly disappeared and haven't released anything since. One version of this song has a fast-paced rap in the bridge, and after all this time, I'm still wondering who performs it.

8. What's That You Say by Sprung Monkey

Most of these bands hung it up years ago, but Sprung Monkey is still at it, playing shows regularly and releasing a new album in 2013. "What's That You Say" comes from their 2001 record, Get A Taste. Like "C'mon Baby," this song is instantly catchy and loaded with ear candy. I wasn't surprised to learn that the band started in 1991 because a trace of 90s rock lingers in the verses.

9. Always Something by I Hate Kate

If I'm being honest, I thought I Hate Kate would be another forgotten mid-2000s group, but they're holding steady with over 20,000 monthly Spotify listeners and still releasing music well into the 2020s. "Always Something," from 2006's Act One, combines lo-fi production with a cheerful, upbeat tune. The bombastic chorus is perfect for belting while you're on the road.

10. Aurora by Lapush

This track had completely disappeared from my memory until I dug up some CDs that I'd burned in high school. When the first chords started to play, I felt an intense rush of nostalgia that took me back to 2005, the year that Someplace Closer to Here hit the store shelves. Despite signing with Carson Daly's record label, the band never found mainstream success, but "Aurora" offers a quiet wistfulness that reminds me of nighttime drives and city lights.

Do you know any of these songs? Which ones would you add to the list? Sound off in the comments.