#90-86
#90
"Los" - Rammstein
Take away the shock factor that this is far and beyond what you would ever expect from the band, take away the German-ness which might give the song any boost, take all the "extras" away, and this song would still be on this list, I guarantee it. The complexion of this song is mindblowingly excellent. Basic little drum beat underscores an almost demonic acoustic guitarline--an acoustic guitar in Drop C, the first time I've ever heard of that--Till delivering some sterling vocals, and when the bridge comes, add a little flair with a jazzy electric guitar snippet. And just for flavor, toss in a tooting harmonica. Even if I hadn't heard this song and just got those details, I would be more than inclined to go listen to it. It will almost instantaneously get your foot tapping.
#89
"Superunknown" - Soundgarden
This song is the absolute best essence of psychadelia-meets-alternative-meets-grunge out there... well, it might be the only song under that category, but still. This is the apex of Kim Thayil's unbashad guitar slinging ability in my opinion, particularly on the absolutely clusterbomb of a sound wave solo during the bridge. Absolutely godlike. Cornell also wails to the best of his vocal cord's ability. Underneath it all, Matt Cameron is banging out a very jamlike drumline, which gives life to the whole song. And again, Ben Shephard is highly underrated. Most people will probably miss the nifty little nine he puts up right before the second chorus. The whole song together is absolute craziness; craziness that makes you want to bob your head and twitch your feet and sing along.
#88
"Hey You" - Pink Floyd
Extremely despondant and sullen, the intro music gives off a very ethereal feel. It's like Gilmour is playing it so effortlessly. Waters' vocals are king here, though, as it seemingly always is. So full of emotion and thought. His lyrics have never been better. I'm given shivers when he recites "Open your heart/I'm coming home". It's a loving line, but he says it so ... threateningly. It breaks way to the amazingly conceived revolving chord bridge while Gilmour slaps out a nice solo. I can't exactly count how many guitarlines there are in this song... at very least 3 electric, 2 acoustic, as well as at least 2 keyboard lines, a bass, and drum line, plus the vocals. Constructed masterpiece. The last verse is sang with such beautiful desperation it almost brings a tear to my eye.
#87
"241" - Reel Big Fish
The finest ska instrumental ever. The opening blare of the trumpets will snap a comatose patient right back to his senses. The show is all about the trumpets and the trombones, both of whom get a "verse" to flash a nifty little line before going into the outro where the lead trumpet and trombone "battle" so to speak going 2 measures at a time and outdoing each other each time before it ritards to a magnificent ending. Flat out amazing. I can recall really wanting to try to find sheet music to this song to see if the high school jazz band would like to undertake the song. I never did find any sheet music. Damn.
#86
"...But Home is Nowhere" - AFI
The attainment of this song will not be forgotten. Way back when I still had dialup, I was a downloader, but it took me over a half hour to download each song. I tried downloading this one, just as a test track to see if I wanted to get their then-new album. I had to download this song 3 times because the first 2 were corrupt. And when I got the real track, it took over an hour to download. I remember what I said when it downloaded: "This song better be good".
Needless to say, it was good. Hell, it's 86th favorite song good. The whole song is deep, dark, and bleak. Led in by the cricket quiet intro, the song erupts like Mt. St. Helens come the chorus with the choir-like vocals complimenting Davey Havok's unquestionable genius. The last chorus with the inclusion of lonely bells in the background just makes me drop my jaw every time. I'm not a huge AFI fan, but if I ever persue more of there music, it will be because of this spectacular display of a song.
"This is my life, this is eternal..."
"Los" - Rammstein
Take away the shock factor that this is far and beyond what you would ever expect from the band, take away the German-ness which might give the song any boost, take all the "extras" away, and this song would still be on this list, I guarantee it. The complexion of this song is mindblowingly excellent. Basic little drum beat underscores an almost demonic acoustic guitarline--an acoustic guitar in Drop C, the first time I've ever heard of that--Till delivering some sterling vocals, and when the bridge comes, add a little flair with a jazzy electric guitar snippet. And just for flavor, toss in a tooting harmonica. Even if I hadn't heard this song and just got those details, I would be more than inclined to go listen to it. It will almost instantaneously get your foot tapping.
#89
"Superunknown" - Soundgarden
This song is the absolute best essence of psychadelia-meets-alternative-meets-grunge out there... well, it might be the only song under that category, but still. This is the apex of Kim Thayil's unbashad guitar slinging ability in my opinion, particularly on the absolutely clusterbomb of a sound wave solo during the bridge. Absolutely godlike. Cornell also wails to the best of his vocal cord's ability. Underneath it all, Matt Cameron is banging out a very jamlike drumline, which gives life to the whole song. And again, Ben Shephard is highly underrated. Most people will probably miss the nifty little nine he puts up right before the second chorus. The whole song together is absolute craziness; craziness that makes you want to bob your head and twitch your feet and sing along.
#88
"Hey You" - Pink Floyd
Extremely despondant and sullen, the intro music gives off a very ethereal feel. It's like Gilmour is playing it so effortlessly. Waters' vocals are king here, though, as it seemingly always is. So full of emotion and thought. His lyrics have never been better. I'm given shivers when he recites "Open your heart/I'm coming home". It's a loving line, but he says it so ... threateningly. It breaks way to the amazingly conceived revolving chord bridge while Gilmour slaps out a nice solo. I can't exactly count how many guitarlines there are in this song... at very least 3 electric, 2 acoustic, as well as at least 2 keyboard lines, a bass, and drum line, plus the vocals. Constructed masterpiece. The last verse is sang with such beautiful desperation it almost brings a tear to my eye.
#87
"241" - Reel Big Fish
The finest ska instrumental ever. The opening blare of the trumpets will snap a comatose patient right back to his senses. The show is all about the trumpets and the trombones, both of whom get a "verse" to flash a nifty little line before going into the outro where the lead trumpet and trombone "battle" so to speak going 2 measures at a time and outdoing each other each time before it ritards to a magnificent ending. Flat out amazing. I can recall really wanting to try to find sheet music to this song to see if the high school jazz band would like to undertake the song. I never did find any sheet music. Damn.
#86
"...But Home is Nowhere" - AFI
The attainment of this song will not be forgotten. Way back when I still had dialup, I was a downloader, but it took me over a half hour to download each song. I tried downloading this one, just as a test track to see if I wanted to get their then-new album. I had to download this song 3 times because the first 2 were corrupt. And when I got the real track, it took over an hour to download. I remember what I said when it downloaded: "This song better be good".
Needless to say, it was good. Hell, it's 86th favorite song good. The whole song is deep, dark, and bleak. Led in by the cricket quiet intro, the song erupts like Mt. St. Helens come the chorus with the choir-like vocals complimenting Davey Havok's unquestionable genius. The last chorus with the inclusion of lonely bells in the background just makes me drop my jaw every time. I'm not a huge AFI fan, but if I ever persue more of there music, it will be because of this spectacular display of a song.
"This is my life, this is eternal..."