Paul Weller has named The Strokes’ ‘Last Nite’ and Villagers’ ‘I Saw the Dead’ as his standout songs of the 21st century, representing his choices for the 2000s and 2010s respectively. The selections underline his admiration for artists who, in his view, renewed guitar music or pushed musical boundaries while retaining a distinctive identity.

Weller described ‘Last Nite’ as an exciting and fresh-sounding guitar record at a time when he felt little else was happening in that area, linking The Strokes’ impact to that of his own former band, The Jam. He called Villagers frontman Conor O’Brien a genius, praising his increasingly ambitious work and live performances; ‘I Saw the Dead’ was chosen as the leading song of the 2010s.