Top 10 Lists (by the Friends of BMOWP)
The Corey Vilhauer Top-100: a list that defines the idea of a “great song,” in my opinion at least. Beginning Monday, and progressing through until the end of the week, I’ll be posting my top 100 countdown.
My top 100 is centered in indie rock — widely varied and obscure to most of those that haven’t listened to college radio in the past ten years. It is one person’s tastes in music (mine) and it’s bound to be skimmed by a majority of my readers. One hundred songs is a lot of entries. I’d skim it myself, if it wasn’t my list.
Because of this I asked others to list their top ten; their 10 favorite songs. I also wanted to bring together my friends and family – the real life ones and the members of my adopted blogosphere family – and I’ve assembled a rather interesting group of people.
One striking thing is how different everyone’s tastes are. It was rare to see an artist repeated, let alone a specific song. Some people’s picks were stationed primarily in one genre, while others bounced throughout the spectrum of music. A few people slipped in some really obscure stuff, while others stuck to the well-known, time-tested classics. In short, every list was original.
There’s also an amazing lack of songs that would be considered “important” in the history of popular music. As Scott Hudson said when compiling his top ten, “There is a huge difference from the ten greatest songs (or singles) of all time and my personal favorites.” It’s true. Sure, we all know that “Hey Jude” could be considered the most important – the “best” – Beatles song written, but it’s not my favorite. Give me “In My Life.” Scott would take “Help!” My mother chose “Helter Skelter.”
Like Rob Gordon in High Fidelity, I believe a person can be defined by the music, movies, and books that they indulge in. It’s not an exact science, but you can really tell a lot by glancing at someone’s music collection or book shelves. Additionally, there’s a certain excitement in knowing someone likes the same stuff as you.
I’ve recently realized how close, at times, my friend Sara (the 2nd grade teacher who often camps out at Bonnaroo) and I overlap in musical tastes. The same goes for Hudson, though his indie-rockerness is a few years removed from mine. And the fact that Kerrie and I often overlap goes without saying – we’ve influenced each other’s tastes quite a bit over the past eight and a half years.
So without further adieu (as they say in “the biz”) I present to you The Friends of BMOWP’s Top Ten Lists.
Enjoy.
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UPDATE:
Yes. Sometimes my friends get me things after the deadline. That’s okay — I do the same thing; often, actually. You’ll have to go to the second page, and you’ll have to scroll to the bottom, but they’re there. Eric brought two lists, as did his roommate Tim. An old friend, Jason, rounds out the rest.
So enjoy — regardless of the lateness.
Tammy Briggs
Mother of BMOWP blogger, Oblate, Church secretary.
1. “Stairway to Heaven” — Led Zepplin
2. “D’yer Mak’er” — Led Zepplin
3. “Angie” — Rolling Stones
4. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” — Bob Dylan
5. “Mary, Did You Know?” — Kathy Mattea
6. “Thief” — Third Day
7. “Because I Am” – Harvest
8. “Helter Skelter” — The Beatles
Preferably on high volume!
9. “The Boxer” — Simon and Garfunkel
10. “The Wall” – Kansas
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Deane Barker
Partner in Blend Interactive, Founder of Gadgetopia.
Only ten? How cow, man — I’ll try to narrow it down…
1. “On the Loose” — Saga
It’s odd, old, rarely played. Great song.
2. “Fantasy” — Aldo Nova
Great guitar riff to start it out, and perhaps the stupidest, most embarrassing video to go with it.
3. “Something About the Name Jesus”> — Kirk Franklin
It was on Kirk Franklin’s “Nu Nation Project,” but I don’t know who sang it. Hardcore gospel at its best — always gives me goose bumps.
4. “Why Can’t This Be Love” — Van Halen
Love the guitar riff. Classic 80s music stupidity. I can’t listen to it without smiling from ear-to-ear.
5. “Big Willie Style” — Will Smith
I’m a complete dork for liking this, but it’s handy to play for my 11-year-old in the car. It’s about as innocent a hip-hop tune as you’re going to find, and it’s essentially just a big song about how cool Will Smith it. And he is pretty cool.
6. “Bad Day” — Fuel
Just a good song. “Hemorrhage” is good too, even better since I heard Chris Daughtry sing it on American Idol. He sung it better than Fuel ever did.
7. “Father Figure” — George Michael
That whole album is great.
8. “Fade to Black” — Metallica
Great song about a sad subject. Classic 80s metal tune. I saw it played live twice.
9. “Hold the Line” — Toto
Good piano work on this.
10. “Danke Schane”> — Wayne Newton.
I thought it was sung by a woman for years. I don’t know why I like it, but my wife has it on a CD, and I’ll play it over and over again until my kids scream for mercy.
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Ryan
Substitute teacher (almost), certified teacher (not officially), (occasionally) a daycare provider, and (no longer) a student.
To get this list started I decided that Corey has a much easier job of finding his top 100 songs. For me narrowing it down to 10 was tough and I inevitably left my real top ten out. This was my best shot at 10 which kind of turned into 15 because I couldn’t make a list without a few of them but also couldn’t justify leaving them of the list for various reasons. I might just have to try this top 100 thing, or at least top 10 albums.
1. “Sorry About That” – Alkaline Trio
This will likely show up on other lists if any of our friends choose to participate. The great late night sing along.
2. “Moonpies For Misfits” – Hot Water Music
One of the first Hot Water songs I really got into.
3. “Bob Dylan’s Blues” – Bob Dylan
Anyone who knows me shouldn’t be surprised to see Dylan near the top.
4. “LA” – MU330-
Too many awesome shows and amazing experiences to leave this song off the list.
5. “Radio” – Rancid
This song was on the first “punk” tape that I stole from my brother when I was in 8th grade. It was hard not to make this one higher up. (NOFX and Bad Religion were also part of that tape)
6. “Three Summers Strong” – Hot Water Music
It reminds me of my friends and great times.
7. “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down” – Johnny Cash
Written by Kris Kristofferson made famous by Cash.
8. “Unity” – Operation Ivy
I can’t imagine my top ten without some Op Ivy showing up somewhere.
9. “Mama Tried” – Merle Haggard
Haggard, of course. Anyone surprised it wasn’t Okie From Muskogee?
10. “9th And Pine” – Less Than Jake
One of the first songs I learned how to play on the trombone!
11. “Patience” – Guns N’ Roses
Hey they taught me how to swear when I was in 2nd grade. What can I say.
12. “It’s the Sound” – Patient 957
Almost made the top ten guys — it doesn’t mean I don’t love the song and wouldn’t love to hear it again.
13. “Lovesick Blues” – Hank Williams
This one got pushed off at the last minute.
14. “Gimme Alcohol” – Eric Swanson
Great sing along, got to keep it in the family.
15. “Man in Black” – Johnny Cash
Cash made bridges for so many people to new kinds of music, he opened my eyes to music I never imagined myself listening to.
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PP
A day job doing computer work, Lots of odd jobs, but evenings are spent either with kids or blogging at the SD War College.
My top ten is based on what I enjoyed listening to through High School and College. It was really a transitional time in music as popular tastes moved from arena based rock to sales driven by music videos.
Most of that took place in the 80’s and this is the music that’s stuck with me over time. I DJ’d in High School and College, so I listened to a lot of music; lots of good stuff, and a lot of crap.
There’s everything from hard rock to soft rock with a country twang. One thing that will stand out is the new wave and the early influences of MTV and pre-MTV Music videos. (Remember “Radio 1990” on the USA network?)
1. “Rock and Roll Band” – Boston
To me, this is the epitome of 70’s arena rock. The song is purely about the music in the era before we cared what bands looked like. What other song talks about “Dancin’ in the streets of Hyannis?”
2. “Call Me” – Blondie
There’s a reason why they just got inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame this year. Back in the 80’s they were just that damn good. And this song produced by Georgio Moroder was my favorite Blondie song. It still rocks with the best.
3. “Masquerade” – Berlin
It didn’t chart as high as the novelty song “Sex (I’m a..)” or the “Metro” off of the Pleasure Victim album, but I preferred its driving guitar. (the bad John Travolta movie “Perfect” has an awesome remake of this song). For the fans who liked Berlin before the top gun soundtrack, it’s one of the favorites.
4. “Come on Eileen” – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
The best one-hit-wonder ever. (Didn’t VH1 agree with that assessment?)
5. “The Reflex” – Duran Duran
If you liked 80’s music, this song was just infectious. It didn’t do too badly for them, either (I think it was their first #1.)
6. “Heavy Metal” – Sammy Hagar
Before my senior year, when Def Leppard got big, this defined hard rock. Leading off the sound track for the movie of the same name, It was hard driving rock when no one else was doing much for that type of music in movies at that time.
7. “Hot for Teacher” – Van Halen
For a top ten list in my era, you can’t do one without Van Halen. While it’s hard to choose just one, this song off the 1984 album was a little naughty without it being forced like it was on 5150. Besides, even though I preferred Sammy to Dave, Van Halen wasn’t Van Halen without David Lee Roth. And this song was David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen at their best.
8. “Secret Agent Man” – Johnny Rivers
A throwback to the 60’s that people still include in band playlists. Uncomplicated guitar rock.
9. “Hotel California” – Eagles
Tell me why it shouldn’t be on the list? I originally had Sister Golden Hair from America on it, but in thinking of why I liked it so much, I had to refer back to the band that’s thought of as originating that Southern California Rock with the slight country twang. And this was their best song, although it was a tough choice between this one and “Take it easy.”
10. “Our Lips are Sealed” – Go Go’s
Early music videos and MTV. (You know, back when MTV used to play music). They influenced plenty of other artists and we will probably see them in the hall of fame someday.
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Dave Wick
Donkey herder, artist, male model, blogger for I Stared Straight Into The Sun
1. “All Around the World” — Red Hot Chili Peppers
Fast, hard, loud, yet funky, gets your day going in a flash.
2. “Monkey Wrench” — Foo Fighters
I dig Dave Grohl screaming about that infectious woman who has wrecked all our lives at one point in time.
3. “Doesn’t Remind Me” – AudioSlave
Melodic and True.
4. “Sabotage” — Beastie Boys
Takes me back to the days when I ran the beat.
5. “Pinball Wizard” — The Who
Opening guitar riff will move you every time.
6. “Yellow” – Coldplay
Brings me back to a drunken night in the dorms.
7. “It’s Been Awhile” – Staind
Kinda depressing, but I dig it.
8. Soundtrack to the movies: Braveheart and Gladiator
Great to play in the background while drawing.
9. “Frontin’ (BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge) — Jamie Cullum
Good to get things in the “mood” 🙂 (works for me anyways…)
10. “Can’t Stop” — Red Hot Chili Peppers
John Frusciante on guitar.
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Bob Schwartz
Technician, blogger for Moderates From South Dakota
1. “Smooth” – Santana
Carlos can play.
2. “Fade to Black” – Metallica
Cut my teeth as a metal head.
3. “Every Little Thing She Does” – Police
4. “One Vision” – Queen
Freddy Mercury was a genius.
5. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
See #4
6. “Solsbury Hill” – Peter Gabriel
7. “He Can’t Love You” – Michael Stanley Band
My Cleveland roots are showing.
8. “Hey Jude” – Maynard
Jazz remake of the Beatles tune.
9. “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” – Meatloaf
10. “Who’s Your Daddy” – Toby Keith
Token country song.
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Scott Hudson
Music collector, radio personality, Prime columnist, blogger for Rant-A-Bit by Scott Hudson
Let’s make this clear. There is a huge difference from the ten greatest songs (or singles) of all time and my personal favorites. You’re not going to see “Satisfaction”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Dock of the Bay’, or “Hey Jude”, let alone “Stairway to Heaven” or “Free Bird”. These are MY songs; tunes that I’ll go to my grave defending to anybody and everybody.
1. “I Will Dare” – Replacements
It’s no surprise that the fanboy that I am would pick a Paul Westerberg song as his favorite of all time…but it really should be everybody’s favorite. In a parallel universe it’s the biggest hit of all time. In a life full of disappointment and angst, there’s something about the optimism of the lyrics that somehow brings a smile to my face no matter how down in the dumps I’m currently feeling. “Meet me anyplace or anywhere or anytime/I don’t care, meet me tonight/If you will dare, I will dare!” Plus, it’s the song (and the album it came from, Let It Be) that made me aware that the ‘mats were something more than another noisy Minneapolis band.
2. “Wild Horses” – Rolling Stones
This choice is probably a huge surprise to anybody who knows me. Yes, everybody’s aware that I’ve always been a huge fan of Mick, Keith, and the rest of rock’s greatest geriatrics, but it’s generally the hard-driving rock tracks that appeal to me. “Wild Horses” is that rare ballad that isn’t overly sentimental. In fact, it’s the last nails in the coffin of a relationship, sort of what happens after the thrill of “I Will Dare” is gone forever. “Let’s do some living after the love dies”, sings Jagger. Supposedly, the song originated from a line used after girlfriend Marianne Faithfull came out of a drug-induced coma in Australia.
3. “Idiot Wind” – Bob Dylan
I guess my selections are loosely compiling a story. “Idiot Wind” comes after the dying relationship of “Wild Horses”; that inevitable period where a spurned lover truly hates their former mate. Dylan has written plenty of bitter songs over the years but never has his lyrics been THIS biting. “You’re an idiot, babe/It’s a wonder you still know how to breathe”.
4. “Windfall” – Son Volt
Rock ‘n’ roll (and country) has a long history of road songs, but Jay Farrar’s country-rock lament of a lonely soul traveling the empty highways of middle America is one of the most beautiful examples of the genre. “Switching it over to AM/Searching for a truer sound/Can’t recall the call letters/Steel guitar and settle down/Catching an all-night station somewhere in Louisiana/It sounds like 1963, but for now it sounds like heaven…May the wind take your troubles away”.
5. “No Surrender” – Bruce Springsteen
It would have been easy (and expected) to pick any one of a handful of Springsteen tunes for inclusion -“Rosalita”, “Thunder Road”, “Born To Run”, to name a couple. Yet I’ve always had a soft spot for this declaration of friendship, particularly in it’s place on Born In the U.S.A. right before “Bobbie Jean”’s goodbye note to departing guitarist Little Steve Van Zant. “We learned more from a three-minute record than we ever learned in school” – truer words have never been sung.
6. “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” – The Kinks
Over a decade before the arrival of punk rock, Kinks leader Ray Davies issued the genre’s manifesto – “And I don’t want to ball about like everybody else/And I don’t want to live my life like everybody else/And I won’t say that I feel fine like everybody else/’Cause I’m not like everybody else/I’m not like everybody else”. Too bad that the band buried it as a b-side.
7. “White Man In Hammersmith Palais” – The Clash
A biting look at the English punk scene that they helped create, “White Man” marks the introduction of elements of reggae into the Clash’s sound. It’s also his finest vocal to date. “Turning rebellion into money” indeed.
8. “Help” – The Beatles
Years after the breakup of the Fab Four, John Lennon explained that this song was his first cry of help. While Lennon was known for embellishing his feelings about the band, he certainly wasn’t in a happy place when he wrote this plea. Nonetheless, “Help” was a turning point for the group as it was one of the first songs to break away from the “Love Me Do”/”She Love You” lyrical template. (Other Beatles songs I contemplated using include “Nowhere Man”, “A Day In the Life”, and “I Am the Walrus”.
9. “Radio Radio” – Elvis Costello
The rise of punk rock coincided with the decline of commercial radio. Instead of being run by music fans, radio became big business. The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Styx…the list goes on and on of the bands that were corporate-friendly. “Radio Radio” was our call to arms – “the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin’ to anesethise the way that you feel”. Too bad that the situation is miles worse almost thirty years later.
10. “Right In Time” – Lucinda Williams
Probably the most erotic song of all time. Accompanied by a Byrds-y folk-rock backing, Williams “lie(s) on (her) back and moans at the ceiling”. To be the person she’s longing for.
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Chris
Site host, occasional blogger for Driscocity.com and Misc.Asst., Personal and Charitable Tech Support for BMOWP.
Randomized 10 songs that I frequent (most in car).
1. “Revolution” — KMFDM
2. “Reise, Reise” — Rammstein
3. “Trust” — Megadeth
4. “You Can Call Me Al” – Paul Simon
5. “Speed Me Towards Death” — Rob Dougan
6. “That’s My Boy” — Vast
7. “Cells” — The Servant
8. “My Name is Prince” – Prince
9. “Tears In Heaven” — Eric Clapton
10. “Banana Man” – Tally Hall
(ed’s note: What, no “PoPoZau”?)
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Andres Torres
Alcohol drinker, culture junkie, artist
1. “Light in the Harbor” — Rumbleseat
2. “We’re All to Blame” – Sum 41
3. “Crack Pipes” — Sage Francis
4. “The Widow” — Mars Volta
5. “Bleeder” — Hot Water Music
(Cover of an Alkaline Trio song)
6. “Bedshaped” — Keane
7. “My Michelle” — Guns N’ Roses
8. “Two Words” — Kanye West & Mos Def
9. “13 Monsters” — Lightning Bolt
10. I think it’s called “Testimony” — Kanye West
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Dawnne
Photographer & Programmer, blogger at Synthaetic Synapse
Yes, I live somewhat in the past. So what.
1. “Silence” — Delerium (with Sarah McLaughlin)
The seminal crossover between electronica and the 1990’s version of pop culture.
2. “A Forest” — The Cure
If you don’t care about flashy lights and fireworks, this was, in my humble opinion, the best song to be heard live in the early 1980’s. Later versions of it mix incredibly well with music spanning three decades.
3. “Once in a Lifetime” — Talking Heads
I no longer have the original. Pretty much self-explanatory.
4. “The Eternal” — Joy Division
Where depression meets….I dunno…more depression. This was never mainstream, but it’s an awesome song.
5. “Paranoimia” — The Art of Noise
One of the first massively digitally-abused pop works. There are somewhere above two-dozen unique versions of this song.
6. “Happy House” — Siouxsie and the Banshees
Her first song that got serious play outside of the original Goth set & the first semi-mainstream crossover song for her.
7. “People Are People” — Depeche Mode
Beyond being the real US-breakthrough song for DM, some people actually listened to this song and thought for a while.
8. “Under the Milky Way” — The Church
Yeah, okay, it’s just my favorite sappy love song from the late 1980’s.
9. “All I Want” — Echo and the Bunnymen
One of the original angst with harmony groups, and a pivotal concert song for them.
10. “Blue Room” — The Orb
The grandfather song of techno-ambient/slow trance.
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Roberta
Counselor, dog mom, cat mother, lazy blogger for Noise From The Zoo, Element Owner, overweight slacker, friend, sister, daughter, aunt. I long to be outdoorsy but I get sunburned really easily…and I don’t really like bugs.
I don’t know about “all-time favorite songs,” but when these songs are shuffled I never skip them.
1. “Eternal Flame” — The Bangles
Unforgettable memories from college.
2. “Your Song” — Elton John
I love all of Elton John’s music, but this one makes the list.
3. “Kind and Generous” — Natalie Merchant
4. “Power of Two” — Indigo Girls
Always been a favorite.
5. “I Will Never Be the Same” — Melissa Etheridge
There’s a movie called “Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael,” my sister and I watched it nonstop. This song is used in the movie and that’s all the explanation there is.
6. “Better Man” — Pearl Jam
7. “Both Hands” — Ani DiFranco
I used to fight the ‘Ani-Fever’ my college roomies had, then I gave in. She is like a fine wine—an acquired taste.
8. “The Mountains Win Again” — Blues Traveler
9. “Saving All the Love” — Joe Firstman
Little known artist, can really play guitar and piano.
10. “I’m Movin’ On” — Rascal Flatts
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Sara C.
Currently, 2nd grade teacher. Spare time: worry about what I should be doing.
First of all, this sucks. I decided to go with songs since I was born. Ones that I can listen to over and over. You suck, this sucks, I spent way too much time on this and really don’t think all but my top 3 really count. This is way too much pressure.
(ed’s note: Sorry Sara.)
1. “Delicate” — Damien Rice
Do you really even need to ask? This is the intro song on possibly the best album I own. I could probably listen to this for days straight. The perfect song from the best thing to come from Ireland (I don’t drink much).
2. “Trouble” — Ray LaMontagne
The most soulful voice you’ll ever hear (from a white guy). This guy has hurt and lets it show through lyrics and voice. I heard him talk about how musically the album is not that challenging, but it sure got to me. Honorable mention from this album, Narrow Escape, I literally cried when I figured out the lyrics.
3. “Black” — Pearl Jam
Great song, great album, great band.
4. “Both Hands” — Ani Difranco
The addition of the orchestral arrangement makes this great!
5. “Wish You Were Here” — Pink Floyd
Pretty much the only song I listened to in high school. I was obsessed and never got sick of it.
6. “Crush” — Dave Matthews Band
I know, DMB–too bad! This is a beautiful song.
7. “Homeless” — Paul Simon with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
LSBM- I love the African vibe of this song. Obviously they are from Africa and you can’t go wrong with Paul Simon.
8. “Philosophy” — Ben Folds
The improvising toward the end is unbelievable. It’s only Ben playing.
9. “Kiss Off” — Violent Femmes
A good sing along (or to the dog) in the car song.
10. “I Should’ve Known Better” — Nickel Creek
Spontaneous add on- I really like the bluegrassiness of this. I like to think that I can sing just as well as she. I am wrong.
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Big Dave
Soldier currently stationed in Iraq.
1. “Hotel California (Live)” – Eagles
Remake of a classic from the Hell Freezes Over album. The bass drop about 30 seconds in is awesome.
2. “Devil Went Down to Georgia / Devil Came Back to Georgia” — Charlie Daniels w/ Johnny Cash
Two separate tracks but really the same song. Classic country at its best.
3. “Anna Begins” — Counting Crows
A very nostalgic song for me. Enuff said.
4. “I’m Not That Way Anymore” — Alabama
Being a responsible adult sucks sometimes. I long for the day that “my razor is rusted and my barber is bored.”
5. “The Shiznit” — Snoop Doggy Dogg
Original old school rap. I still know every word.
6. “Shape of My Heart” — Sting
Haunting melody from the closing credits of the Professional. “The hidden law of a probable outcome,” stuff to think about.
7. “Only God Knows Why (Live)” — Kid Rock w/ Trey of Phish
Live remake with an acoustic twist. Great improvement over the worn out radio version.
8. “Here I Go Again” — Whitesnake
Text book example of a power ballad. I dare you not to sing along.
9. “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” — Uncle Kracker
“I don’t know why I come here, but I know I’ll never leave.” Over time, the things we hate are the things we can’t live without. Did somebody say Army?
10. “The Load-Out (Live)” – Jackson Browne
Life on the road is tough. I’ve hung my hat in five different places in the last six months. This song is always on my Mp3 player during the trip.
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Kerrie
Newsletter Coordinator, Contributor to Misc.Asst., Beautiful, intelligent, and charming wife with great taste.
I cheated. And I’m still not sure that these are the songs I’d take with me if I plan on stranding myself on an island.
1. “Fire Door (live)” — Ani DiFranco
I especially enjoy when she rolls into Amazing Grace. My favorite version, on a bootleg, adds a little funk. Oh Ani, the diversity amazes me.
3. “Sweet Lullaby” — Brenda Weiler
A folkie at her finest. Not only does she have a good acoustic beat, but also great lyrics.
4. “Canned Goods” — Greg Brown
OK, so this isn’t the best Greg Brown song, but right now I’m a sucker for anything that reminds me of summer in the middle of March.
5. “Three Summers Strong” — Hot Water Music
This song reminds me of college. And HWM reminds me of my friends…the shows always made me happy because it was a “family” friend reunion and good music all wrapped into one.
6. “Closer To Fine” — Indigo Girls
A classic.
7. “Orange Crush” — R.E.M.
I had to pick a song off of Green, cuz it was the first REM album I purchased (along with Elton John’s Greatest Hits) after I bought my first CD player.
8. “The Day’s Refrain” — Texas Is The Reason
Texas and Sensefield equal high school. Not to mention that I thought the singer was totally hot and he gave me a 20-cent tip when I worked at Bagel Boy.
9. “Silent All These Years” — Tori Amos
Again, a song off of the first Tori album I ever bought.
10. “The Good Life” – Weezer
What else can you say about this song? It gots good beats and it’s fun to sing.
11. “Both Hands (live)” — Ani DiFranco
Yes, I can have two Ani songs in my list. Perhaps I should do top 10 Ani songs next. Hmmmm…
12. “Pass The Mic” — The Beastie Boys
I still know every word to this song. Why is it that numbers 3 and 7 seem to be good songs on many albums?
13. “The Mountain” — Mason Jennings
Will always remember hearing this song live right before Modest Mouse at First Avenue.
14. “Custom Concern” — Modest Mouse
“Gotta go to work, gotta go to work, gotta get a job.” Nuf said.
15. “E-Bow The Letter” — R.E.M.
REM is one of those bands that will always transcend time. Patti Smith in the background does this song well.
16. “Liberation Frequency” – Refused
“We want the airwaves back.” That’s why I have satellite radio.
17. “Strung” — Sense Field
This song reminds me of the love of my life… he painstakingly typed out the words to it and sent it to me in an email–and made me cry in a computer lab my first year of college.
18. “Lodi Dodi” — Snoop Dogg
Yup… If only they had this song at karaoke.
19. “Sorry About That” — Alkaline Trio
JHC and New Year’s Eve. The best sing-along I’ve been to.
20. “Ebroglio” — At The Drive-In
This is one of those bands that can grab you at the heart. It’s all the screamy punkiness you need with fabulous melody intertwined. Pretty.
(ed’s note: Kerrie’s hot.)
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UPDATES
Tim
Friend of BMOWP, political guy.
I work a lot and don’t get to do this kind of thing much.
This list isn’t definitive or anything, they’re not in any real order and I didn’t look at my record collection or anyone elses top 10’s before writing it, so I’m probably gonna read everyone else’s and see a million songs that I’m pissed that I didn’t put on my list, so I just went off the top of my head tonight.
1. “Surrendering The Ghost” — Split Lip
I’m just putting this one in because these guys certainly belong on this list and between Fates Got a Driver and The Moon My Saddle I don’t think I could pick just one because I’d just be thinkin’ about one of the other ones while I was writing down that one. Like cheating on one of them.
2. “As Is” — Ani Difranco
I wish I had written this song, but alas I am nowhere near as cool as Ani.
3. “Highway Patrolman” — Johnny Cash (written by Bruce Sprinsteen)
Johnny could do anybody’s song better than they could…just not fair.
4. “Third Planet” — Modest Mouse
I can’t even explain this one.
5. “Sweet avenue” — Jets to Brazil
Might be the greatest love song ever written.
(Ed’s note — God, I’m dumb for choosing “I Typed For Miles” instead. Duh.)
6. “It’s Hard to Know” — Hot Water Music
Fist is pumpin’, heart is singin’, I don’t have the words.
7. “Million” — Jawbreaker
Shit, dude. Million still gets me every time.
8. “Detroit” — Rancid
This song is so great on so many levels. I think rancid was at their best, and that was a beautiful thing.
9. “Unity” — Operation Ivy
What can I say; this shit defined me in alot of ways when I was younger and made into the person I am today.
10. “Into the Fire” — Bruce Sprinsteen
This shit makes me cry.
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Jason Dannenbring
Graduate Student
1. “Beast of Burden” – The Rolling Stones
2. “The Diamond Sea” (LP Version, alt. ending) – Sonic Youth
3. “Sports Car” – The Wedding Present
4. “Forensic Scene” – Fugazi
5. “Car” – Built To Spill
6. “Mile Me Deaf” – Unwound
7. “Can’t Hardly Wait” – The Replacements
8. “Tinfoil” – Rainer Maria
9. “New Jersey” – Red House Painters
10. “Schizophrenia” – Sonic Youth
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Eric Swanson
Rocker, Misc.Asst. Contributor.
Alright, here are my top ten favorite hip hop songs to hear while riding the bus.
10. “Juicy” — Notorious B.I.G.
All i need to hear is “it was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine” and I’m good.
9. “Can’t Knock the Hustle — Jay-Z
The Scarface beginning is kinda lame, but the rest is great! I like where he says “high stakes/I got more estate than Philly.” Reasonable Doubt is one of the best first records ever. I swear to god don’t get it fucked up.
8. “All Eyez On Me” — 2pac
Yes!
7. “re:DEFinition” — Blackstar
Gotta love Mos and Kweli — best alliance in hip hop y-o!
6. “Fuck the Law” — Dead Prez
Any song where the first words are “slap a white boy” is probably sweet. Plus this song kinda makes me wanna burn shit.
5. “Dog Shit” — The Wu-Tang Clan
ODB RIP. Still collecting welfare checks in heaven, I hope.
4. “Jigga That Nigga — Jay-Z
“Gnarly dude.. I puff Bob Marley dude, all day like Rastafaris do.” Yup, Hova’s the shit. Nuff said.
3. “Living in the World Today — GZA
I think it’s true that “if you livin in the world today, you be hearin the slang that the Wu-Tang say. Niggas that front we don’t have ’em. So we blast ’em. (chk-chik PLOW) Well all right, well ok.” Sweet. If you don’t have GZA’s Liquid Swords, immediately go get it, don’t even read the top two before you buy this record and listen to it twelve times. I’m dead serious.
2. “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” — 2pac
This song is so hard for me to listen to just once, I almost always listen twice. All Eyez On Me is the best double album in the world, two songs in the top ten. Get it.
1. “Let Me Ride” — Dr. Dre
When this song comes up, I usually listen to it like four times, I don’t really know why. Probably because it’s really sweet. In regular life, I like this song, but in transit I absolutely love it! Oh man, I can’t wait to ride the bus home from work today, I’ll probably listen to all ten of these once, but ‘Ambitionz..’ twice and ‘Let Me Ride’ as many times as possible.
And Later:
Here’s a pretty sweet one. Top (first) ten songs to come up in my iPod right now. I’m gonna put my iPod on random and call the first ten songs the top ten. Here we go.
10. “Just Like a Woman — Bob Dylan
Hell yeah, this song is great great great. It makes me really happy. It’s the weirdest sounding pretty song I can think of except “Lay Lady Lay.”
9. “300mhz” — At The Drive-In
This is going well so far. This is my favorite song on that Vaya record. It reminds me of robots and when I had a car, I used to drive to this song alot.
8. “4th Chamber” — GZA
Yeah, this is off the great liquid swords record. Ghostface Killah’s verse at the beginning is so great, I can’t stand it! In a good way.
7. “Two Dope Boyz in a Cadillac” — Outkast
Yeah, ATLiens is a great record and I probably should have included a song from it in the top ten hip hop bus songs, but I didn’t, which was dumb. This song is okay, but there are better songs on the record.
6. “Under Everything” — Hot Water Music
Yeah, I like this song too. It sorta seems like he’s singin about bein’ dead, but I won’t pretend to know that for sure.
5. “Clone” — Avail
This is that “no time for rest no” song. I like it. One of the background vox sounds like a toad if you listen carefully. For a long time Dixie was my favorite Avail record, now I like Over The James. My copy skips, luckily it’s finally being re-released! Hooray for me.
4. “Part II (The Numbers Game)” — Bad Beligion
My iPod has brought bad religion back into my life and I thank the little robot for that. Victory through domination!
3. “Picket Fence Cartel” — At The Drive-In
This song is by far my favorite on this record too. For those of you who don’t know it’s the “if these walls could speak I wouldn’t tell them anything..” song. Really sweet. What’s gonna be next?
2. “Are You Guys Drug Dealers?” — Bill Hicks
Thank you, my iPod, for playing Bill Hicks. Hicks is a hero of mine, and the fact that he was alive gives me faith in humanity. This track is awesome, it’s from the Flying Saucer Tour cd, where he talks a lot of shit to the audience. This is where he’s making fun of a couple of guys for using cell phones. Ah yes, 1993, a different time…
1. “Armchair” — Avail
How is this happening? This is my favorite song on 4am Friday! Yeah, Avail is cool. This record was one I never liked as much as people around me, but I still thougth it was good and I still listen to it today. Hooray!
That was fun. Why did I count backwards? That was weird.
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And that’s it. If you’re still with us after this all-out-assault by top-ten lists, congrats. If not, well, you’re not reading this anyway.
Thanks to everyone who submitted their lists. Music lists RULE!