My 100 Favourite Song (30 - 21)

Something that I've been having a good time with when making this list is making it not only a list, but a playlist. As I review each song, I listen to it over and over again in a playlist, so the order in how these songs play has become fairly important to me. If a transition from one song to the next is jarring, that's not something I want to experience over and over so I make the overall arc of my list part of the enjoyment of it. You might think I'm over thinking this, but have a listen. My eventual goal when this is all done is to put together a proper Grooveshark playlist or something along those lines so you can listen at your own leisure.

Today's collection carries me through a series of emotions, but there is a certain sadness to many of the songs here with the exception of a few. The songs are fairly solemn, particularly near the end, but I decided to finish today's collection with some optimism. This shows the complex relationship people have with music. Some of these songs sadden me, yet I adore them for this very reason. Am I a glutton for punishment or is there an amount of strength I find in past and present pain? Or do I find humanity in my weaknesses? Elton John did sing that “sad songs say so much.” (No, that's not on the list.) I think that in any art, musical or otherwise, we find truth. And finding truth brings an amount of satisfaction in the journey.

30.) Radiohead – Like Spinning Plates (2001)

There are very few songs that have struck me with sheer emotional brute force like Radiohead's exhilarating “Like Spinning Plates,” their darkest moment from their gloomy 2001 release Amnesiac, but this song pulls at me and haunts me like no other piece of music has. It's a spiritual experience every time. There was one day where emotionally it just overwhelmed me and brought me to my knees. It was a strange moment, but unforgettable.
The creation of this song is fascinating, with their, at the time, unreleased song “I Will” played in reverse as the main backbone of the song. Also, Thom Yorke learned to sing the song in reverse and recorded it as such, then flipped it around. This gives a ghostly effect to his singing and also is the reason why at times you can't understand what he's saying. That being said, I can't imagine that being an easy thing to do and it worked out fairly well.

The song talks about a divorce, like spinning plates referencing the the dividing of assets, or perhaps a more violent alternative of a literal throwing of plates. Most of all, it captures the emotional core of broken relationships; the darkness, the confusion, the dispersion of identity. It makes me feel like I'm sinking and drowning.

Song writing of this calibre is not common. To be so experimental yet so precise in the emotions that they evoke just reaffirms that Radiohead are among the best musicians of this generation. I consider them one of my favourite bands ever and as such, they will get another entry on this list.

29.) Röyksopp – Röyksopp's Night Out (2002)

Melody AM was an exceptional debut album from electronic Norwegian band Röyksopp and probably its finest moment is “Röyksopp's Night Out,” a dark and dramatic instrumental with a forceful energy charging it the whole way through. It takes a pretty amazing musical theme and builds on it and strips it down so it goes through movements of build up and a build down into a noir sci-fi ambiance. The whole time the throbbing beat keeps it all connected. But my favourite moment of the song is after it's all stripped down it erupts again into a grand, fully energized finale.

At seven and half minutes, it's far from overstaying its welcome. It evolves and changes often and so naturally that it's hard to even recognize how many movements it goes through. It is truly an amazing piece of work.

An amusing memory with this song was quite a few years ago when I lived with my brother. It was late at night and I was listening to this song and enjoying it far too much. So, I started to dramatically drum to it without a care in the world. My brother walks by, looking for something else, making me stop quite suddenly. He continues what he was doing but says “Too late. I saw it.” Anyway, the point is that the music is so good it elicits a physical response from me. Every time I hear that percussion, I feel the same urge to thump along to it. And I still gladly do when I think I'm alone.

28.) Rob Dougan – Clubbed To Death (1995)

To specify, the song I'm referring to is the most famous version of this song, the Kurayamino Variation. The original contains quite a few of the same elements but tonally is quite different and suited more for club music, hence the title “Clubbed To Death.” This version was the second track on the original single CD release and was the one that made its way into pop culture, heard by many in the soundtrack to The Matrix, which is where I first heard it.

I did at one point almost find myself sick of this song, but thankfully I avoided such over saturation. This was around the time where all of a sudden it was in tons of movie trailers, which was easily over ten years after the song was initially released. I think that's because when it came out it was ahead of its time. This was an electronica song worth taking seriously in a time when club music was pointless and shallow.

I've told the story a few times on Sour Grapes Winery on how I was literally searching for this song for years and I don't feel a need to reiterate the story. Check out my review on Rob Dougan's album Furious Angels if you want more on that. But I will say that despite knowing it for so long and hearing it probably hundreds of times, there is something extra special about this piece of music. The way that dark synthesizer bursts into the song still sounds amazing and the dramatic turns the song takes are poignant and dramatic. It moves from string arrangements to synthesized beats, then into a piano solo and then back into the electronic hook. It's the kind of song that makes you want to drive around in a music video through highways at night. It's the cinematic quality of the song; it naturally evokes imagery like that, which is probably why it was used in as many trailers as it was.

Furious Angels is amazing from start to finish, but its only understandable that, as this was the song that brought me that album, in a sense, it is the one that is closest to me. That being said I almost went with his track “Chateau” from The Matrix: Reloaded soundtrack because that's one I can play over and over again also.

27.) Ashley Slater – Private Sunshine (2002)

There is a bitter sweetness to this song for me. When I originally put it on the list, it was just wonderful, but now there is this layer of sadness that it brings. It's not off putting though. If anything it is encouraging. I don't know exactly how to describe how this makes me feel, but I'll explain why. This was a song that I dedicated to my wife and while we were dating I put it on a CD compilation for her. It is a song that I still feel is connected to her and I don't know if that will change even though we're no longer together. The sentiment of a 'private sunshine,' to me, implies a beauty that is hidden away, so only he can see it and I think at times I really connected to that notion.

I first heard it on the often wonderful Nu-Jazz compilations called Saint-Germain-des-Prés Café. This one was the final track on volume 2 and it struck me enough that I sought out more from Ashley Slater. Finding a copy of his album was a bit of a challenge, but I found a copy through his record label Plush. They even threw in a copy of the “Private Sunshine” single.

Musically I find this song quite moving. It is truly genuine and unique. It mixes orchestral elements with jazz rhythm and mood, and on top of it there is a glitchy electronic component which adds a distinct flavour. On top of that, Slater's voice seems ideal for jazz, with a relaxed smoothness that is naturally romantic. It's one of the most beautiful songs I know and I feel that it's tragically overlooked by many. But for me, it is a classic.

26.) Passengers – Slug (1995)

Passengers, for those of you who don't know, was the short lived side project of U2. But for this album, which was called Original Soundtracks: Volume 1, they opened themselves up to collaborating with many artists and had their regular producer Brian Eno contribute as a full songwriter. The vision of the album was to create music for fictional movies, which feels like it fully justifies the radically diverse collection of songs on here. I love this album. The more I hear it the more I admire it. It's U2's secret art project. And while I said that I would only have two songs per artist in my list, I don't really consider “Slug” to be a U2 song because I do feel that Eno has a distinct mark on the music. Unless you know before, you wouldn't hear this song and necessarily make the connection that it was Bono singing particularly because he sings in a lower register than his usual vocals. And I have to admit that I really like the way he sounds in this song. During the 90's he seemed more willing to do some different things with his voice, singing both high and low depending on the song, and that fell in line with the adventurous spirit that U2 had during that era.

But what a fantastic piece of music “Slug” is. Held together with a deep thumping rhythm and glossy synthesizers, the smooth production is only half of what makes the song work. The other half is that real sense of longing and desperation that is conveyed through the vocals and music. It comes across as very personal and almost sweet in its sentiment.

I get really nostalgic listening to it. I've loved it for easily ten years and it makes me think of a girl that I really liked in grade 12. And it also makes me think about myself and who I was at that point of time in my life, as there is a touch of self reflection in the song. And I can't help but feel that the lyrics of this song convey some of my personality in them. Perhaps this is the songs that reflects me the most.

25.) David Gray – Please Forgive Me (1998)

In my write up of Collective Soul's “Run,” I talked about the notion of a long lost song, one that we hear at a point in our lives and we seek it out, but have no success finding it until years later. Well, I also had that experience with David Gray's “Please Forgive Me,” the first track off of his break through album White Ladder. I remember I saw a live version of it late at night on TV and I didn't catch who it was or the name of the song. Then later I heard it on the radio and missed that vital bit of information again. Quite some time later, and this is over the span of a few years, I was used CD shopping and a friend plugged this into the store's stereo and it was another moment of “THIS SONG!” He bought the album, not me, so I had to pick it up a little later, but it was good to reconnect with it.

And I have to admit that this song is so good that it almost sets up the rest of the album for failure. Not to say that the music is bad, it just isn't as initially rewarding and might leave impatient listeners unimpressed. I will say that White Ladder grew on me and is quite good, but nothing is really quite as beautiful as “Please Forgive Me.”

It's a case where it's really a straight forward song with a lot of very simple elements pasted together, but it's so well constructed. Simple ideas can make great songs. His selection of chords is beautiful and emotive, and the beat gives your head something to bounce to, but in such a way that it's more contemplative than dancey. Gray's voice is filled with passion and desire, selling the song on an emotional level. And it top it all off, the lyrics are really beautiful and impossibly romantic. And in a way, it seems realistically romantic also, in that there is a very real layer of sadness through the track that gives the song weight and meaning. Upon more consideration, I suppose really the song isn't that simple or straight forward. In fact, it seems to capture the complexities of emotion and love all too well.

24.) The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony (1997)

How can anyone not love “Bittersweet Symphony?” The Verve were one of the most promising acts to make big splash in 1997 with their hugely successful album Urban Hymns. And it is a very good album, though admittedly this big hit is a little misleading as far their musical direction goes, but not really in the mood and quality of their music. I remember not really liking this song too much when it was really big, probably because it played so much, but a few years later I heard it again and realized how brilliant it is.

What The Verve pulled off in this song was really quite interesting, in that they created a pop song with a level of gravitas and weight, but there is a strange emotional disconnect between the singer and listener. He seems aloof and distant, but for some reason it seems relatable. What a strange contrast, not unlike the feeling of something bittersweet. I suppose that means it's quite fitting.

At the risk of sounding like an old man, I have to say that they really don't make music like this anymore. What on the radio these days comes anywhere close to the quality of “Bittersweet Symphony?” (Actually, 1997 had some really classy hits all in all, a few of which are on this list.) It's got emotional and cultural significance, a beat that you can move your head to, and a certain timelessness to it in that it doesn't sound like a product of the 90's. This is truly one of the great one hit wonders, though I do feel like they deserved so much more. Didn't help that The Verve broke up after the release of Urban Hymns and didn't reunite until over a decade later... and then they released another album and promptly broke up again. It's a shame when a band clearly makes really good music together, but can't actually get along for the life of them.

23.) Simple Minds – Don't You (Forget About Me) (1985)

What I find most interesting about this song is it's creation. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" was written by some guy to be released for The Breakfast Club and was brought to several artists such as Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol, who said no, and Simple Minds were the next in line and they finally agreed to record it. Well, apparently they declined originally, but their label encouraged them to do it so they eventually agreed. And it became their biggest hit and easily their most remembered song. But they never actually cared that much about it. They rarely played it live, didn't include it on an album, and barely even acknowledged its existence. They just continued making what kind of music they made which wasn't what “Don't You (Forget About Me)” sounded like. I guess to them this song was just a job and turned out to be a well paying one. And what's interesting about it on a personal level is that, generally speaking, their moody art rock style is a little more in line with what kind of music I enjoy. But they took this cheesy synth-pop style and really worked it well so I can't help but love this song. It's a really great poppy New Wave classic, but I wouldn't recommend this to represent Simple Minds. Take it for its own entity.

But one has to admit, for a song made for a paycheque, they sure hit it out of the park. I'm totally sold. Near the end, when he breaks into his “lalala” portions, I just want to put my hands up in the air and shout it out. It holds such passion and charisma. And what is kind of interesting is that, while it feels like a dance song, there is a sort of dark, emotional complexity to it that really makes it easy for me to connect to. And that's fair enough because I think that the music almost contradicts the lyrical substance, so good on Simple Minds for capturing that ambivalent quality of the song and making it a strength. I can't help but wonder what a Bryan Ferry version would sound like though. I think he could have make it work too.
Okay, and one final note on this... I hate it when a song has a title and then they finish the title in brackets. Just... is the song called “Don't You” or “Don't You Forget About Me”? Either works. Just pick one.

22.) The Notwist – Consequence (2002)

Some songs move me, some songs cool me down, and other songs, like this one, I find emotionally devastating. Like, it just rips me open and spills my guts out all over the floor, but I can't stop listening to it despite this. Or maybe I can't stop listening due to this. If what makes music good is its sincerity and ability to make a listener feel, then this is perfect music.

The same could be said for much of The Notwist's Neon Golden, their critically acclaimed break through album which had a couple songs that could have made this list. Particularly, I feel it's worth mentioning “One With The Freaks” as a runner up. But as far as sheer emotional impact and beautiful musicality, ultimately I am more invested in “Consequence.”

And much of what sells this song is the harrowing vocal performance of Markus Acher. He so naturally carries the song with heartbreak and bereavement that one can help but wish to weep along side him. Yet, he is restrained and I never feel overwhelmed with melodrama. Something about the whole production of this song feels very natural and it progresses with an emotional arc of sorts, starting off mellow and building into what feels like a pretty grand conclusion. But the music services the emotions, which are accentuated by the lyrics. Truly some great breakup lines are in here, such as “Fail with consequence, lose with eloquence and a smile.” But very few musical moments resonate quite like the chorus of the song as he sings in a subdued, defeated fashion “Leave me paralyzed, Love. Leave me hypnotized, Love.”

This was one of those cases where, when I first heard it, I knew that this would be one of my favourites. Sometimes songs need some time for one to realize that it means a lot to me or me and a song need to go on some sort of journey together first, but with The Notwist's “Consequence,” I knew when I heard it that it clicked for me. I got this song and I felt this song and that's only grown more with time.

21.) David Meece – The Water Is Fine (1987)

This is one from the deepest depths of my childhood. I don't remember a time when I didn't know this song, but my favourite memory of it is when I was in the car with my family and we had the cassette tape of Candle In The Rain, the album which this is from. “The Water Is Fine” was my favourite song at the time, but I had no idea what it was called so I asked that we play the one with the “deeerrr naaa naaa deeeerr naaa naaa” part. I was referring to a synth part in the chorus, but I must have done a really bad job of imitating the sound that I liked so much because neither of my parents had any idea what I was talking about. I was disappointed then, but now it's an amusing memory and I often this of that when I hear this track.

As I mentioned in previous instalments of this series, I went through a phase of rediscovering old songs and albums that I heard when I was a kid and I got back into listening to David Meece with mixed results on how I felt about his music. I think he really hit his stride with his last three albums, this one is the first of that bundle, but it's hard to have a real objective opinion on these albums because they were such staples of my childhood. Finding a copy of Candle In The Rain on CD was difficult. I only found one on eBay and it was a little too rich for my blood. I think the guy knew he had a rare CD, so all power to him. I wasn't biting, so luckily iTunes had it. And upon hearing the album again, I quite enjoy it and wouldn't you know, “The Water Is Fine” is still my favourite track, but for very different reasons.

There is a very dramatic, grandiose feel to this song while keeping it relatively downplayed. It doesn't feel like he's trying to make a 'big' song, it just elevates very naturally. I love the thick bass and the tapping sound which is either guitar or synthesizer, I'm not really sure. Truthfully, it's a little bit dated, but it doesn't bother me in the least. It's a great song that lifts me up and leaves me optimistic.  

My 100 Favourite Songs (40 - 31)

This week I have an eclectic mix of songs, indulging in both the old and new, finding pleasure in both emotionally charged tunes and missed dance floor opportunities. I can feel the list is reaching an awesome breaking point as with each new edition I find myself loving this project more and more. My excitement grows even though writing these has proven to be more time consuming than I initially anticipated, which is common for my writing so eventually I'll have to start anticipating correctly.

For now, enjoy this playlist.

40.) Coldplay – Warning Sign (2002)

There was a time where I was very fond of Coldplay and counted them as one of my favourite bands simply on the strength of their second release A Rush of Blood to the Head. When that album came out I was in my late high school years and suddenly found myself familiarized with heartbreak, unrequited love, and and a sense of longing for my grand ambitions. Thus, I was the perfect audience for Coldplay, who made melodic, self-reflective, and undeniably emotional, rock music. Nowadays, I'm not as big a fan, and find that my enjoyment of their music really depends on which album of theirs is playing. I also really like Viva La Vida and am fond of most of Parachutes. Eh, you know, even X&Y and Mylo Xyloto have their moments of greatness. As I listen to their discography again, I suspect I'm a bigger fan that I give credit for. I took on the task of listening to all of their songs in order to figure out which track of theirs was my favourite. But the moment “Warning Song” started playing and hit its chorus, I realized that it was the one and it became entirely indispensable.

“Warning Sign,” in a sense, captures the emotional essence of A Rush of Blood to the Head in a single song. This track stirs me up quite deeply. While the chorus could have come across as quite trite or overly sentimental, what cures it from that is the entirely genuine delivery of Chris Martin's vocals. It honestly almost moves me to tears which is strange for a song that isn't connected to a particular break up or relationship memory. It just captures that feeling of longing and loneliness so well.

I know that Coldplay has their haters, and I have at times expressed disappointment in some of their output, but I think it's because of songs like “Warning Sign” which show me that sometimes they really hit home and are capable of so much when they put their exposed souls into their music.

39.) Neon Indian – Polish Girl (2011)

I was resistant at first to getting into Neon Indian due to a bit of an over saturation in the lo-fi electronic genre, at least for me at the time I discovered them. A friend of mine shared a song with me from their first album Psychic Chasms, and I felt it was a bit lukewarm. It wasn't until I heard this song, “Polish Girl” from their vastly superior second album Era Extraña that I really grew to appreciate Neon Indian. I feel that's one of the best albums of 2011 and found that Psychic Chasms grew a fair bit on me as well, but the love all started with this song.

This is another fairly recent song on the list, but I feel that it's earned its place on here. And sometimes when you hear a song, sometimes you just know that you've stumbled upon something special. I definitely felt that way when I first heard this track. “Polish Girl” is a marvellous song and a modern electronic masterpiece.

When I hear this song, it always takes me back to a fundraiser night that my production crew put on to raise money for our yet-to-be-shot feature film. I put together the soundtrack for the evening and this was the most memorable song of the mix. Though it was not a particularly successful fundraiser, it was a ridiculously fun event and this song brings back the feelings of excitement and wonder that came with the evening.

38.) The Clash – Rock The Casbah (1982)

Combat Rock is not an amazing album. In fact, considering it's just three years after The Clash's masterpiece London Calling, it's kind of a surprising drop in quality. Not that it's bad, it's just really uneven and shrug worthy. That being said, there were a couple of good song in there and one song which is miles and miles ahead of the rest. “Rock The Casbah” is incredible literally from the first note onward. Just listen to that piano introduction. If you aren't sold on that opening 20 seconds there is no hope for you. Just move along.

This song never gets old. It capitalizes on the strengths of The Clash, which is their attitude. I mean, come on, Joe Strummer is not a good singer. BUT he's got a hell of an attitude and you feel it in the music. So, when you have legitimate punk energy mixed with a catchy dance beat, it makes for a truly unique and memorably song. I can't think of anything else quite like it and that's likely because it's the kind of song that only The Clash could make. No one can quite do what The Clash did. And I also like the lyrics in that they're inventive and unique. It's a fictional account of a rock music ban in a kingdom which insights the population into rebellion... thus they 'rock the casbah.” And why not write a song about that? We need more narrative style lyric writing like this. Screw sentimental emotions! Let's sing about a king calling jet fighters to open fire on the populous!

And just to clarify, I find that I enjoy the single version more than the album version. There are few significant differences, but to hear the two side by side shows what differences production can do for a song. Something about the thick bass and piano reverb works a little better for me, but I might also attribute that to the fact that this is the version I heard first. Sometimes we just tend to side with the familiar. Either way you hear the song though, “Rock The Casbah” is a fun, rebellious, little track that gets into your head and stays there.

Okay, but seriously, this might be my favourite piano part in a song ever. It is wonderful. Just listen to it. How can anyone write stuff this good?

37.) Newsboys – Hallelujah (1998)

Newsboys were a band I grew up listening to, but some time in my preteen years they more or less jumped off my radar. It wasn't until my mom got me their album Step Up To The Microphone that I started to become interested again, and it was a couple years old at that point. Initially I wasn't that impressed with the album, but as time went on I grew to appreciate it a lot more. But even when I was at my most sceptical, the song “Hallelujah” stood out and I was immediately into it.

While most of their music can be easily classified in the rock genre, this one has an edgier, darker tone to it and boasts some electronic influences making it the most unique and engaging track the album has to offer. What is interesting about this song is that, as it progresses, somehow that darker element is transformed into optimism.

There is a reason that Newsboys were one of the most popular Christian rock acts out there all through the 90's and beyond; they wrote songs with personality, integrity, and resonance. And while “Hallelujah” is not one of their more popular tunes, perhaps because it lacks that fun, comedic touch of some of their bigger hits, it is still a classic in its own right and at the very least left a very strong impression on me.
And... just to clarify, this is not the Newsboys song “Hallelujah” off of their Adoration album. That song is not particularly good and I think that they really could have thought of another name for it. There's just something weird about a band having two completely different songs with the same name.

36.) Animal Collective – My Girls (2009)

A friend of mine tried to get me into Animal Collective years ago and it didn't really work. I just found myself confused and disinterested. At the time their newest album was Feels and I was looking for people's opinions on the best albums of the year. I didn't quite agree. Then, years later, when it was announced for the Sasquatch music festival that Animal Collective would be playing there, my brother and I checked out their opening single for their new latest album Merriweather Post Pavilion. And that was “My Girls.” And from the moment I heard it, I thought it was magnificent. And I haven't gotten bored of it since.
But what “My Girls” achieved on top of that was somehow making me enjoy Animal Collective retroactively. As I listened to Feels again and a couple of their other albums, suddenly I understood the kind of music that they make. “My Girls” was the pitch I needed... either that or I was finally ready for them. Whatever the case, this song made me appreciate the band as a whole much more. Granted, I can't help but feel that they haven't written a song as good as this one before or since, but hey, not everyone can ever write a song this good at all.

It's just one of those kind of songs where can't fathom how anyone could not like it. It's insanely catchy, very accessible, but a completely unique entity of its own. The way it's constructed is very unique in that it has a very strange, and minimal, percussion part, and the rest in mostly just synthesized beeps and bass bumps. It's got no obvious dance beat, but you can't help but move your body to it. What a strange song... but absolutely brilliant.

35.) Juno Reactor - Conquistador I + II (2004)

This is my final cheat. Technically these are two tracks, but I feel the least guilty about putting these two together in that they're both called “Conquistador” and they are definitely meant to be together. In fact, my favourite part of this song is where they join together. Despite the fact that the two halves are so radically different in sound, speed, and tone, they are incomplete without one another. They work best together not because they share similar elements, but because they're so different and clearly contrast one another. The suspense of the first half justifies the melodrama of the second half. The pay off justifies the build up of the first half. Does that make sense?

“Conquistador I” is lead by a Spanish guitar mixed with Gamelan percussion, choir vocals and dark synthesizer. A strange collection of cultural musics brought together to somehow create something unique and beautiful. As the song progressed though, you get the sense that it's leading up to something more. Something bigger. It slowly builds in tension until it eventually enters “Conquistador II.”

This one thunders in with thick dance synthetic beats, thick tribal percussion, and an eerie processed vocal part. This track was made around the same time when Juno Reactor were making music for the two Martix sequels and you can hear some of that in the later half of the track as dramatic string arrangements make their way into the mix.

I love the music and how grand an ambitious it is. Despite it being primarily electronic, there is a real ethereal aspect to Juno Reactor's music. It's as if they are exploring what ancient world music would be if it were made with modern instruments. The whole album this is off of, Labyrinth, is really solid, but it starts off ideally with the two “Conquistador” songs, which I call epic, with no feeling of exaggeration.

34.) mewithoutYou - Torches Together (2004)

Through the years, mewithoutYou have chilled out quite a bit, but “Torches Together” is from that point in their career where they were angsty, abrasive and undeniably passionate. When a friend of mine sent me this song those many years ago, I did not like it at all. I thought these guys were melodramatic and really hard to listen to... and I haven't necessarily changed that point of view, except for some reason one day I discovered that I love it. I guess it's hard to listen to music with so much earnest passion without coming to appreciate it.

Truth is that overall, I enjoy the lighter mewithoutYou more than the brutally hardcore version, but they've had great songs through their whole career. This is easily one of the best moments of their collection. The lyrics are deep and passionate and the music is heavy and dramatic. Anyone who complains that Christian Rock is too fluffy and generic will find solace in the bare and telling grievances of the real world struggles that Aaron Weiss sings of. There is a strange beauty in the chugging guitar and tortured poetic spoken word vocal style. I admire their boldness and openness. That unrestrained style takes some getting used to, but rewards those who give it the time.

33.) Fatboy Slim – Praise You (1998)

This was a fun track growing up with. Out of Fatboy Slim's output, I find that this is one of his songs that has aged the best. I mean, “The Rockafeller Skank” is fun and all, but it's a little past its expiry date. “Praise You” is still has the exact same affect on me as it did when I was 12 years old, if not a little stronger now, amplified by nostalgia. It makes me want to dance. I can't dance, but it makes me want to. Something about that beat and the piano riff pull me in every time.

I can't help but feel that the video for this song over shadowed the song itself. It just seems that every time I mention this, people exclaim about how awesome the video is and while I like it, I actually enjoy listening to the song on its own a bit more. Helps that it has two extra minutes.
My understanding is that very few of the main sounds in this song are original, as its mostly cut and pasted from other songs, but he really turned these ideas into a surprisingly cohesive whole. These completely separate musical ideas work so well together it's really amazing. Check Wikipedia for where he gets his samples from and you can find them all on Youtube. It's like a fun music history lesson.

Doing some research on this track has actually made it even more enjoyable for me. It's fun and catchy, but if you really listen, the things he's able to do with those three samples, building on them and turning them into a song with a whole start, progression and finish, is really impressive. It makes me have a lot more respect for Fatboy Slim.

Hey... where has that guy been lately?

32.) The Flaming Lips – The W.A.N.D (The Will Always Negates Defeat) (2006)

Imagine if you will a homeless man with a stick and he's pointing and yelling at things that aren't there. It is as if he is fighting off invisible creatures. You would probably dismiss him as crazy and go on with your day. The Flaming Lips front man, Wayne Coyne on the other hand, stopped and wondered what if he really was fighting off invisible monsters and only he could see them? What if he was saving us all? Thus, the song “The W.A.N.D.” was born, one of the best tracks on their album At War With The Mystics, one of my favourite records of 2006. And you know, it's probably one of the best songs they've written.

This was the first new Flaming Lips song that I heard. What I mean by that is when I first started listening to them it was around 2004 or 2005 and I listened to their album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and then The Soft Bulletin, but they were finished albums that had already been out for a few years. But “The W.A.N.D.” was the launching single for their next album and so I remember the excitement that came with hearing this. It still feels very fresh to me. It's that feeling of discovery that music brings back sometimes. Discovery eventually becomes nostalgia. Oh man... I'm getting nostalgic for 2006! Yikes...

Apart from the sentimental value of this track, it also happens to be really cool. It has a fierce energy to it, energized by processed vocals and distorted guitar. It has volume, majesty and a tough playfulness to it. This is the kind of original, well produced, alternative rock sound that The Flaming Lips perfected during this time in their careers. And come on, just listen to that final “You've got that right!” and tell me it isn't awesome?

31.) Underworld – To Heal (2007)

I like some of Underworld's songs, but haven't been able to get into them as a whole. But “To Heal” seems to me to be a fairly unique entity in their discography, with no focus on dance beat, going for divine simplicity.

I first heard this little gem in the Danny Boyle movie Sunshine which was one of my favourite films of 2007. This was the unofficial theme of the film, which captured the contemplative, outer worldly nature of the picture. And while I couldn't find the soundtrack of the movie, I did work out what album this song was off of, Oblivion With Bells, and I picked the track up from iTunes. I'm really glad I did, but not much else of the album interested me much.

It's something to take note of that sometimes, all you need to know to make a good song is the right chords to put together to create a beautiful atmosphere. It is entrancing the way this song progresses without any strain or confusion.

And let me get this straight also; just because the song is really simple doesn't necessarily mean it was easy to make. They could have spent a long time finding that perfect combination of effects and notes. They may have put a lot of emotion and energy into it. It feels like it to me.

I knew this had to make it on my list for the simple reason that it is the most played song on my iPod. Apparently I can't listen to it just once. Every time I see it, I have to hear it.  

My 100 Favourite Song (50 - 41)

We're down to the top 50 so this is where it starts to get really good... though I already thought that it was really good so maybe I'm just being a bit redundant.

I thought I would take this time to share a few more artists that somehow didn't make the list, much to my surprise. I don't know how they got excluded, but for whatever reason there was no room on my list for one of their songs. And while I would love to incorporate them, I can't bring myself to nudge anything else off. Tricky situation. So this is an honourable mention area of sorts.

Franz Ferdinand are a band that I enjoy quite a lot and have a particular fondness for their first album. “Take Me Out” and “Matinee” are notable highlights, but for some reason didn't quite make my list. I did, for the longest time, consider fitting one in but again, I didn't feel like anything was expendable. They will just have to settle for this compromise.

Icelandic singer Bjork has an amazing discography and many songs that I enjoy thoroughly, but pinpointing a favourite track of her's proved to be quite difficult. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I recognized my favourite track of hers and this was well after I was already putting together these articles. Her duet with Radiohead's Thom Yorke called “I've Seen It All” is a beautiful piece and I almost considered nudging something off to fit it in, but I just couldn't. Alas.

Then of course there are the Arena Rock legends Queen. No, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is not my favourite song of theirs. I'm more of a “Seven Seas of Rhye” and “Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy” kinda guy, but they just didn't feel right for my list.

And lastly, I couldn't seem to fit in any songs by Belle and Sebastian, a great Scottish band who I've enjoyed for quite a few years. My favourite album of theirs is probably The Life Pursuit, but the song I find I can play over and over again is ten years older than that release from their debut album Tigermilk. "Electronic Renaissance" was the odd ball of that album, but is extremely compelling and a lot of fun. I still feel that I should make room for it on here somewhere, but I guess this will have to do.

Okay, back to the list...

50.) Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride (1968)

Ah, yes, sometimes the classics are classic for a reason and this hit song from rock band Steppenwolf is a great demonstration of the long, healthy life that good rock 'n roll can have. I was never that fond of their biggest hit “Born to Be Wild,” but “Magic Carpet Ride” is definitely a well deserved rock classic. Shall I say classic one more time? What you need to do when listening to this song is forget the over saturation this song has had in media. Forget every movie trailer and car commercial you've heard this in and just sit and listen to the song. And that's hard because music naturally triggers memories.

But it's a great song that's just fun and quotable, but not without a dramatic edge to it. And the blend of the organ and the guitar is very 1960's, but the really good, less hippie-esque music of the 60's. A big aspect of the song's charm comes from the long music solo near the end that just seems to take you on a meandering journey. It stays simple, but feels adventurous.

Like I need to sell you on “Magic Carpet Ride.” Seriously. You know the song and at this point you either like it or you don't. For me, I feel that it stands the test of time.

49.) U2 – Last Night On Earth (1997)

I remember the first time I heard this song. It was some time in 2002 when U2 released their Best of 1990 – 2000 compilation and DVD music video collection. “Last Night On Earth” was not a hit song of U2's but was included in the bonus songs section of the DVD because hey, why not? I hadn't heard their album Pop before because my dad never owned it as he, as well as quite a few other U2 fans, were not huge fans of the album. I was always curious to hear it despite the negative reviews, but didn't get the chance to hear any of the songs until that fateful evening. The music video played and the moment the chorus came on I sat up and said “What is this song?” or something to that effect. I was hooked at that very moment. “Last Night On Earth” blew me away. And I know that U2 themselves were never satisfied with the final product of this track, but it hits me every time I hear it so I don't know what they were hoping for from it. Maybe it had the potential in their minds to be the best rock song ever written?

This is the edgier harder rock sound of U2 that creeps up from time to time and that tends to be a side of them I really enjoy. Despite a lot of people overlooking the era, I really like the U2 of the 1990's. They were bold and adventurous, not letting expectations get in the way of them releasing albums. And while not everyone is happy with the work, I find Pop to be a grossly underrated album, beautiful in its imperfections. I was unsure at first, but my appreciation of the album grew and grew, but right from the start I knew that I loved “Last Night On Earth” and it would keep me coming back.

There will be another U2 song to come on this list. They are one of the bands that I had to have more than one song of.

48.) The Helio Sequence – Let It Fall Apart (2004)

I would definitely make the claim that the most overlooked album of 2004 was The Helio Sequence's Love and Distance. From start to finish it is an energetic and exciting collection of songs. It is an underrated masterpiece. Picking a favourite track wasn't too difficult though because, while I admire every song on that album and some are even much catchier than this track, this is one that has the most emotional draw. It's actually kind of impressive that a band that is so focused on interesting guitar effects and glitchy programmed rhythms, that they can still be affective song writers. There is a strong emotional core to the song and it all fits together once the chorus comes in. I just like the whole mood and feel of the song. It's accessible, but is unique in structure and style. I don't know what else to say about it really. It sounds great. It feels great. It makes me want to sing along to it. Every time the chorus plays I have to mouth the “whoa-oh” parts with a passionate look on my face. Can't be helped. I'm a slave to the music.

47.) Collective Soul – Run (1999)

Sometimes there is a song that escapes us, yet resonates in our heads, just waiting to be discovered again. This was a problem of the 90's. If a song played and you loved it and the DJ neglected to tell you what it was, there wasn't much you could do about it. Well, that was me and “Run” for a long time. It wasn't until years later when a friend of mine lent me a Collective Soul compilation that I found it again. There was literally a moment where it played and I exclaimed “This song!” and revelled in being reunited. And I think that the experience enhanced my enjoyment of this song to some degree. I guess I just came to appreciate it more as a result.

That being said, the song is amazing by its own merits also of course. I think it's an exceptionally well written rock song, with a great emotional edge to it. It successfully conveys a sense of yearning and searching. And I don't know about you, but I find that hook in the chorus is extremely compelling. There is something so genuine about the way the line “Have I got a long way to run?” is sung.

Their album Dosage, which “Run” comes from is a pretty solid pop rock album and Collective Soul have had a few pretty good songs over the years, but not much comes close to “Run”.

46.) Eels – Fresh Feeling (2001)

Eels are a great band and have made some pretty great albums over the years, but I think that one of their finest songs is one that isn't too typical for them. Most of their songs are more alternative rock, performed with the usual guitar, bass, and drums set up and that's fine. “Fresh Feeling” has a beautiful string arrangement leading the song. But the aspect of the song I enjoy the most might actually be the lyrics. They're wonderfully written, quotable, and undeniably romantic. In fact, the whole mood and vision of this song is unbelievable in how romantic it is. I wanna get married right here and right now just listening to it... but you know, can't do that by myself.

The swell of emotion that this song brings me shows just how affecting music can be. It stimulates memories of old crushes, creates stories in my head, and keeps my toe tapping the whole time. What a wonderful piece of music. It sweeps me off my feet. I have nothing but the utmost respect for E (Mark Everett)and the Eels band. To make a song with such relatively simple ideas into this beautiful masterpiece is something to be admired.

45.) Pet Shot Boys – Opportunities (1986)

After a whole lot of serious songs of reflection and longing, I think it's time for something a little different. So, let's go in the opposite direction and listen to a cheesy 80's tune about a couple of guys planning a heist of some sort. It's pure 80's camp, but it is marvellous.

I'm really not the biggest Pet Shop Boys fan, despite having a fleeting desire to be one (a fan, not a Pet Shop Boy). Just couldn't take the unfiltered corniness of their sound for the most part, but this track is just... too good. I even named a one act play I wrote after it and one day I hope to expand that into a feature film. One day...

But this song and its unusual tone were a source of inspiration for me. It balances a campy playfulness with a genuinely thrilling tone. Not just just anyone can mix those elements so well, in fact, I'm amazed anyone could. It's also something to be admired that they wrote a song on such an unusual subject matter. I mean, there are millions of love songs written, but how many about a mastermind planning some big heist? This is the only one I can think of, especially in the mainstream. Granted, it was the 80's and people were willing to take cheese in higher doses then. A song like this couldn't work today... or could it?

44.) Tom Vek – C-C (You Set The Fire In Me) (2005)

This one took me by surprise. It was one of the very last songs to make it into my list, but once it was in there, I knew I couldn't take it out. It suddenly became indispensable. Sometimes I don't know how much I love a song until I admitted to myself that I love it. And then I realize, yeah, I love it a lot. And hey, my iPod play count supports the claim.

While there isn't anything that obviously unusual about multi-instrumentalist Tom Vek's “C-C (You Set The Fire In Me),” in that it has a pretty typical structure and and tone, musically there are some really interesting things going. First thing to mention is that drum part. It is such a strange rhythm and it's one of those things that you'd notice if you were a drummer or a big music fan, but might not hear right away otherwise. Though it becomes a little more obvious during the drum solo in the last half of the song. The other thing that is strange in this song, but works really well, is Tom Vek's voice. He isn't a terrific singer, but he knows how to make it work. It's playful, earnest and truly his own. There is something so appealing about the way he sings “C-C” as the song fades out. He sounds so genuine.

Tom Vek is a talented guy and I think the album We Have Sound is a really overlooked treasure, but for sure he hit it out of the park with this song.

43.) Deltron 3030 – 3030 (2000)

Deltron 3030 are a hip-hop super group from the early 2000s containing rapper Del The Funky Homosapien (best known for rapping for Gorillaz in their big hit “Clint Eastwood”), Kid Koala, and Dan the Automator. They released a single self titled concept album telling the story of the world in the year 3030, and it was a huge success as far as underground rap groups are concerned, though it didn't gain too much mainstream attention. But critically it was praised for being innovative and for covering much more interesting subject matter than their peers. Social commentary through science fiction imagery was something not typical for the genre of hip-hop. As such, it gathered a following outside of the standard rap fan base.

The album is great, but by far and away the finest moment in the album is the song “3030,” the thunderous opening song that deserves the use of the word epic. In fact, I would dare make the bold statement that this is the best rap song ever composed. I'm not exaggerating. Just listen to it. Marvel at it. One of my complaints about hip-hop as a genre for the most part is that it seems to be lazy musically, with very little going on under the rapping. This is certainly not the case here with orchestral and choir compositions mixed in with glitchy synthesized loops and groovy base lines. And you know what, it's worth mentioning that Del himself sounds really cool. He's just got a voice made for hip-hop.

And now, over a decade later Deltron 3030 finally released their second album just over a year ago. It'll be hard to live up to the expectations that this album set and they would be hard pressed to make a song that's as good as “3030,” but hey, I'm willing to hear them try.

42.) Pink Floyd – The Trial (1979)

This was a very difficult decision to make and some might criticize me for my choice, but hear me out. The thing about Pink Floyd is that they're a band that makes stronger albums than they do specific songs. As an album I would have to say that Dark Side of the Moon is their masterpiece, but removing any song from it takes some of the impact out of them. Admittedly, I was very close to selecting “The Great Gig in the Sky” because it is marvellous. But what made “The Trial” so appealing to me for this list was that I feel that it is just as strong on its own as it is in The Wall. In fact, I don't even enjoy The Wall as much as some do. I often find the product as a whole a bit bloated and self indulgent, though I will not dispute that there are some amazing moments in it. I respect its vision and much of its execution, but there is just a bit too much in the final product. But whenever I hear it, it always seems worth the journey when “The Trial” comes on. It is the moment to boast about in The Wall and one of the finest moments in Pink Floyd's career.

It is the climax of the emotional story of a man losing his sanity, where a man's mind is being put on trial and his insecurities are the witnesses. They are portrayed through his old school master, his mother, and his ex-wife. But the finale of the song, when the judge is giving out his sentence is so intense it makes me really emotional every time I hear it. What this song successfully does it takes sounds that might be fun in other contexts and twists them so they are dark and hopeless. It is the music of madness, aided by Roger Waters' brilliant lyrics and quirky vocals which are extremely theatrical and add that dramatic credibility to the song.

It's interesting that my Pink Floyd pick is a song that's decidedly un-Pink Floydish, but it's hard to dispute that this is one of their most emotionally powerful pieces. The judge brings his hammer down and shouts “Since, my friend, you have revealed your deepest fear, I sentence you to be exposed before your peers!” followed by the chanting of “tear down the wall” as the song fades out. It is a sound that doesn't leave you quickly.

41.) King Crimson – Starless (1974)

One of my two King Crimson picks is the legendary “Starless” from their highly influential album Red. To some this may be an obvious choice or a King Crimson fan, or a lover of progressive rock in general, but I actually almost didn't pick this one. My love for this song was one that blossomed slowly and it didn't sink it how brilliant it was until I was reviewing this album in my History of the Crimson King series.

“Starless” is a song in three movements. The first movement is the slow and dark lyrical portion lead by an eerie mellotron and John Wetton's passionate vocals. It's probably his best vocal performance of his career, but that's a somewhat uneducated statement. I just know he hits it out of the park here.

The second movement is dramatic build up, as it brings more and more tension between the three musicians. I don't know how they do it, but it just feels like it's swelling into something so big that it can't be contained. They essentially build up musical suspense, with the guitar notes climbing higher and higher and the drums smashing faster and more intense.

And then the third act explodes, breaking into a fast paced, jazz-like, free form musical conniption. While blasting a sonic assault at the listener, they also manage to tie it back to the original musical themes of the beginning of the song, giving it a sense of closure.
This song is a masterpiece and moves me every time I hear it, taking me on an incredible journey for 12 minutes. And after it plays, I often take the opportunity to listen to it again.

This live version shows an early version of the song, but all studio versions are pulled from Youtube regularly. But the album Red is amazing so you should just buy it. You won't regret it. 

. 

My 100 Favourite Songs (60 - 51)

So far it's been a lot of fun listening to and discussing my favourite songs. But what does music really mean to me? While I feel that I have a broader knowledge than some on the technical level of music as well as the history and context of the albums and songs that are out there, I don't think there is anything particularly special about my actual ability to enjoy the music. I think that to the general public, music is more about the feeling it gives you, whether it's the urge to dance or a sadness and I don't feel that I'm any different. Like so many people, I react to music on an emotional and physical level to varying degrees.

The songs in this portion of this list are quite diverse in how they appeal to me, but I find that there are two main types of songs on here. There are the escapism songs that I appreciate strongly on a very physical level. They make me feel excited and energized and never cease doing so. But there are some that provide me an opportunity to find something deep inside myself. They help me learn and grow.

So, what does music really mean to me? I suppose like everyone, it helps me feel.

60.)The Killers – Bling (Confessions of a King) (2006)

Picking a favourite song by The Killers was actually surprisingly difficult and I have to say that “Smile Like You Mean It” almost took this spot, but in the end “Bling (Confession of a King)” made the top of my list because there is a certain compelling energy to it. It's the kind of song that takes you by surprise with how good it is because you wouldn't know if from the introduction. It's not really that spectacular at first, but once that chorus comes in, everything fits together. That chorus is pitch perfect with a knock-out synth sound paired with sweet guitar chords and a thumping bass beat. I should discount the verses though. That bass section that rolls down sounds great and every time I hear it I feel compelled to air-bass guitar it. It almost forces a physical reaction out of me and that's when I know that something about this song really works.

I liked the album Sam's Town, which this song came from, but I did feel it was a somewhat disappointing follow-up to their very strong debut Hot Fuss. But this track stood out instantly as the strongest of the collection and could easily stand up to the strongest moments in Hot Fuss.

59.) Led Zeppelin – Trampled Under Foot (1975)

Wouldn't you know it, my favourite Led Zeppelin song isn't “Stairway To Heaven.” And it's not that I don't like that song, it's just there are a handful of Zeppelin songs that I like a lot more. And the top pick was pretty close, with their “Song Remains The Same” being a close runner up, but there is something about “Trampled Under Foot” that really appeals to me. Sometimes I feel that the band gets a little bit caught up in their riffs and how awesome they are that they forget to cut their song's run time off at a reasonable length and forget to have a bit of fun while performing it. And that goes for a lot of the songs off of Physical Graffiti, the album which this track originates from. But man, when they hit it, they hit it out of the park. It's the energy and the playfulness of this song that really make it and, while it's longer than the typical pop song, “Trampled Under Foot” has enough gusto that it's far from running out of steam. It feels so unpretentious, yet sort of sophisticated. Frantic, but under control. They seem to play it straight, but it's quirky as hell. An underrated Zeppelin classic in my opinion.

58.) Miracle Fortress – Hold Your Secrets To Your Heart (2007)

And now for something completely different, we have Miracle Fortress, a band that I discovered when they opened for Stars back in '07 or '08. Their debut album Five Roses is not an amazing record, but it grew on me and I've come to appreciate the out-of-the-box song writing approach that they had. But individually, there are only two really exceptionally good tracks on the album and the best of those two is “Hold Your Secrets to Your Heart.” I knew it was great when I heard it live and the album version doesn't disappoint.

Conceptually it's not too ambitious. It focuses entirely around a single lyrical hook, as if there is no verse and just a chorus. But they build around that hook and tinker with the sounds as it goes. It's kind of fascinating. It works because that hook is strangely compelling, both catchy and passionate. It resonates with me.

The best part of the song, where the hook reaches its maximum potential is at the 1 minute 45 second mark where it all seems to mesh together perfectly. It's music to my ears... literally, I suppose.

By the way, the other really good song off the album is “This Thing About You” in case you were curious.

57.) Battles – Atlas (2007)

Math rock outfit, Battles, really scored with their lead single, though, the full album version is far superior to the single edit. “Atlas” is unlike anything you've heard before; complex, catchy, and quirky beyond anything that makes any sense. You have to ask yourself, what were they thinking?! Only brilliant thoughts, my friend. They dared to make something different from anything else you heard that year and it was a success. Well, it was a success critically, making a lot of top lists for 2007 and the decade. Commercially the album did well enough, getting the attention of music nuts and the like. I think that the ingenuity and pure gumption that this song is something to be admired and also, when it comes down to it, it's a really fun and catchy tune. That's something kind of rare actually and I think that's what makes “Atlas” work as well as it does. Usually when you hear progressive or experimental music, you don't instantly think 'fun and catchy.' Being able to blend those elements is something that's fairly unique and worth remembering. It's something that the 1980's King Crimson, Talking Heads, and David Bowie were able to do, which is good company to be in, but Battles give it a distinctly modern edge in a time where such talents are rare.

Did I mention that the vocals sound like an army of robot hamsters? Yeah, that alone makes it worth your time.

56.) Michael W. Smith – Old Enough To Know (1986)

Michael W. Smith's third album The Big Picture was an album that I heard a lot when I was a very young child because my mom loved it and had the record. 20 or so years later when I was rediscovering vinyl, my mom let me take the albums from her collection that interested me. I listened to a lot of records, many of which didn't really interest me that much, but rediscovering the couple Michael W. Smith albums was a treat, particularly The Big Picture. The music is fairly dated by today's standards, but it's still sharply produced, well written, and extremely earnest.

The highlight of the album for me is “Old Enough To Know” which, despite its catchy hook and energetic beat, actually is very sad. It stirs me up emotionally, telling the story of a Christian girl battling with sexual temptation as the man she loves is pressuring her to give in and sleep with him. And while many readers may be like “uhh, so what?” I think that this rings very true as a problem still prevalent in Christian culture. It's about compromising values and boundaries and what I connect to in this song is that I've been on both ends of that story, to a lesser degree, but still much to my regret. It actually makes me very sad, but in such a way that builds character, if that makes sense. I feel that this song makes me vulnerable and inspires me to ponder life and the world we live in. This struggle is not something everyone goes through because our culture is very accepting of premarital sex, it is the norm, and the song admits that with the line “You're a breed of few and far between, holding onto your romantic dream.” But for those of us who face that battle, this song is a very honest and telling piece and well worth listening to and reflecting on.

55.) White Town – Your Woman (1997)

Back in 1997 I never thought much about it, but now it seems more and more strange that White Town's “Your Woman” was a hit. There are so many strange elements that work when it seems like they shouldn't. First, it samples a really old timey jazz song's muted trumpet part, puts it to an electronic beat, and then has a man singing from a woman's point of view much to listener's confusion. And for whatever reason, it sounds terrific.

I guess despite the fact that he's singing as if he were a woman, Mr. White Town gives a very honest and passionate vocal performance. He's not an obvious vocal talent, but he knows how to make his sound work. The music is actually pretty well written, with a great selection of chords and great thumping beat. And it takes a few interesting turns on occasion while remaining an accessible pop song. It's just like he takes the scenic route through the song, allowing musical asides which don't feel superfluous and actually wind up being quite memorable.

And more personally, there isn't a specific memory with this one because at the time it was on the radio so much, but it more takes me back to that particular time in my life. Seems to me that the radio played much better stuff around that time. Or maybe that's just what I choose to remember, but with songs like “Your Woman,” it sure makes a compelling case.

54.) Roxy Music – Same Old Scene (1980)

I love Roxy Music. There is something about their edgy, romantic groove that affects me in such a subtle, yet blissful way. It's my parents fault really; they both really enjoyed their final album Avalon quite a bit so it was a staple of my childhood music. And while that album is much more personal to me, there are few tracks that I would say stand out from the collection. The albums before was entitled Flesh & Blood and I heard it much later in my life, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. But off that album there was one song in particular that really stood out as Roxy Music's masterpiece: “Same Old Scene.”

This is a dance track through and through. If you don't feel like you have to move your body when listening to this song... well, I won't believe you. You look me in the eye and tell me that you get nothing from that bouncy synth part or that thumping bass line. You come here and tell me that Bryan Ferry's voice doesn't romance you into bed. Go on, say that the saxophone solo doesn't your soul soar to new heights.

That's right... you can't. So, basically, if you really want to see me dance, just put this track on and I'll have no choice. Use this power wisely.

53.) Yeasayer – 2080 (2007)

It was 2007 and my brother and I were preparing to go to the Sasquatch music festival. And by preparing, I mean we were looking at what bands would be there and finding the ones we didn't know and listened to some of their songs to see if they were worth checking out live. We found a few favourite bands that year and one of them was Yeasayer, a New York act full of eccentrics who decided that they wanted to put together an odd experimental folk album called All Hour Cymbals. Just to let you know, that album is great, but I remain the most fond of the first track I heard by them, “2080.”

And come on, just listen to that guitar riff. It's fast, complex, and absolutely beautiful. I could listen to just that on repeat for a good 20 minutes. That's probably just me though and fortunately Yeasayer are better song writers than that. All together “2080” forms an anthemic, near ethereal experience that borrows sounds from that past and turns them into ideas from the future. There is a lot of classic folk instrumentation, but the composition is something truly unique and exciting. It's also lead with melancholy lyrics and the frantic vocals of Chris Keating who is an oddly charming front man, if not a bit manic.

If you ever find yourself losing faith in modern music, Yeasayer are an act worth turning to.

52.) The Dandy Warhols – Plan A (2003)

What was so brilliant about Welcome to the Monkey House, The Dandy Warhols' fourth album, was that it was so completely different than anything else they had done before. Not to discredit their past albums of course, they were wonderful, but their music in general was very straight forward catchy rock 'n roll. With this album they delved into a bizarre New Wave/Synth Pop sound which aggravated some fans, but appealed heavily to others, including myself. I always love it when bands try something new and adventurous.

The song that caught me instantly from that album was “Plan A,” a song that's carried by a chant rather than a chorus. It's also shows lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor's ability to sing falsetto, which I actually really enjoy. The tune feels unambitious and straight forward, but it actually kind of has an unusual structure for a track that feels like a pop song. It has an introduction and then goes through all of the verses, one after the other, and then the chant “All of us sing about it!” carries the song right to the end. It's quick, it's effective, and it's unbelievably catchy. This song gets in my head and always feels welcome to stay there. It's the kind of song you just can't help singing along to. It helps that the lyrics are pretty easy to remember.

51.) Jeff Buckley – Mojo Pin (1994)

Grace is an album that has become something of a legend amongst music lovers. It's sacred ground to many. You can't bash it. You're simply not allowed. Jeff Buckley, son of musician Tim Buckley, also had the instincts of a song writer and released a single album before he tragically died in 1997 at the age of 30. The album he left behind initially didn't sell too well and received mixed reviews, but has garnered popularity over the years and is now a critical darling and has made all kinds of 'best of' lists. So, all that aside, is Grace really a good album? I'm going to tell you the truth right here, right now.

Yes.

There are a lot of superb moments within it, but in my opinion its finest moment is the very first track, an emotional powerhouse of song called “Mojo Pin.” You know how sometimes you hear a song and you realize that you're listening to something really special? This song is special. It is an exceptionally well written rock song, playing with tempo, dynamics, and all that fun stuff, but it never feels like that's what they're trying to do because it all serves the emotion of the song. The sincerity of the songwriting comes first. The very atmosphere draws me in. It is an amazing rock song because it is earnest first, and crafted finely second.

What a gorgeous piece of music. The more I listen to it, the more I wonder why it's not even higher on my list. When I was putting this section together, this made sense, but even now as I listen to it, I'm reminded just how much I love this song. Whatever... here it is.

If you're still not sold on the song, it's simple; just listen to Jeff Buckley's singing at the 3:55 mark. That is all.