Great songs, according to me (Part 9)
I figured since I took a peek and gave some thoughts about the best 100 albums of the past 20 years (not according to me, of course), I would do another installment of my highly-renowned series of great songs. At least I append "according to me" after it - I'm not arrogant like those punks at Spin! In case you came late to the party, you can see the first eight parts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. See how swell I am?
Let's dive right in!
81. Bring The Noise (by Anthrax on the album Attack Of The Killer B's, 1991): I know Public Enemy did this originally, but one of the criterion of this list is that I must own it, and I don't own the PE version. This one kicks much ass anyway, so I don't feel I'm missing much. It's a great rap song, one that unfortunately lends itself well to the rap/rock crap from a few years ago (which is why Limp Bizkit covered it), but Anthrax was there back in the old days. "Wax is for Anthrax" shouts Chuck D. A fun, fun song. BONUS: Comic book fans - check out the Anthrax web site - it has a pretty cool painting of Judge Dredd by Alex Ross on the front page.
82. The Broad Majestic Shannon (by The Pogues on the album If I Should Fall From Grace With God, 1988): In my mind, this noses out Rum, Sodomy, And The Lash at the top of great Pogues albums, and this song is a big reason why. Shane MacGowan and the boys are wildly underrated when it comes to love songs and sentimental songs. This is a little of both, and it just pulls you along to an Ireland that we all wish existed. It's a rousing song about times gone by and nostalgia and it's a wonderful way to end of wonderful album (it doesn't exactly end it, but it's close enough).
83. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (by Led Zeppelin on the album Led Zeppelin III, 1970): I'm almost afraid to include any more Zep songs, now that I know they stole "Boogie With Stu" from Richie Valens. Any objections to this one, anyone? The "stomp" part of the title is accurate, as this song makes you want to jump up and dance. As usual, the lyrics are piffle, but Page's slide guitar makes it all worthwhile. Groovy stuff..
84. Bullet The Blue Sky (by U2 on the album The Joshua Tree, 1987): I'm surprised this album didn't make Spin's list, but oh well. I hated this song when I first heard it. I don't know why - it just grated on me. Years later, when I hooked up with my lovely wife, she owned the tape (I never got it), and I started listening to the whole thing again. This song started to grow on me. I have no freakin' clue what Bono is talking about (I'm sure I'm too stupid to understand his metaphors), but he says it with such conviction and anguish that I'm inclined to forgive the pomposity. And when the guys starts peeling off those dollar bills - good stuff. And you know, through the walls we can all hear the city groan. Veritas, Bono!
85. Bullet With Butterfly Wings (by Smashing Pumpkins on the album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, 1995): Yes, it's a pretentious title. Yes, it's a pretentious album. Yes, it's too long. Yes, some of the songs could be prescribed as a cure for insomnia. But this song kicks ass. Corgan's snarl at the beginning, telling us the world is a vampire, the cool guitar line picking up his nastiness, and the primal scream of "Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage." When he ends with "And I still believe that I cannot be saved ..." it doesn't sound like a whiny spoiled rock star, it sounds like a spit in the face of those who want to save him.
86. Burden In My Hand (by Soundgarden on the album Down On The Upside, 1996): Another cool tune from Soundgarden's last album, this sounds like a nice song with plaintive Cornell singing and grumbling music underneath until you listen to the lyrics. What the heck is Cornell singing about? "I shot my love today, would you cry for me ..." Wow. A nice song becomes something much darker and more disturbing and achieves greatness. Not that I'm advocating shooting someone and leaving her in the desert, mind you. But it does make the song better.
87. Bureaucrat of Flaccostreet (by Urban Dance Squad on the album Life 'N Perspectives Of A Genuine Crossover, 1991): UDS was a weird little band that never really took off in the States, although they had some modest hits ("Deeper Shade Of Soul," I suppose). This was supposed to be their big "crossover" album (hence the name), but I don't think it did that well, and they eventually split up. This is the last song on the album, and it's a typical UDS song, but it's got a better groove than most and it has a little more on its mind than their usual stuff. They're a neat little band worth checking out.
88. Cabo Wabo (by Van Halen on the album OU812, 1988): Yes, it's another album with a dumb name, but it's still a great song. The debate continues about whether David Lee or Sammy was better, but both groups made some excellent music. Eddie's scratchy guitar and soaring solo sets the tone for this, and Sammy singing about hedonism does the rest. White sand does indeed make a tan look nice, Mr. Hagar.
89. Calling It Quits (by Aimee Mann on the album Bachelor No. 2 Or, The Last Remains Of The Dodo, 2000): Like all children of the 1980s, I knew Aimee Mann from 'Til Tuesday and that video for "Voices Carry," but that was it. My friend Ken always told me she was awesome, but until I saw Magnolia, I didn't realize how good she was. This is a nasty little song about, well, quitting. It has the typical cutting lyrics we've come to expect from Mann, and music that makes it feel epic, even though it's a short pop song. Mann is just the kind of singer who could pull this kind of song off.
90. Camel Walk (by Southern Culture On The Skids on the album Dirt Track Date, 1996): My pal Roxy put this on her Mixed Bag CD from a few months back, and some people didn't cotton to it. Bah. It's a fun song. Not the greatest band, but every once in while, even a band that's not so great can strike gold. "Say, you don't think there's any way I could get that quarter from underneath your pointy boot, do ya? All I want is one more oatmeal pie!" Come on, how can you not love it? Foot-tappingly groovy.
Well, that's another ten songs in the books. Yazil does not like my musical tastes, and that's okay - this is America! If any of y'all want to call me a tasteless hack, feel free! Or you can run out to the record store right now and dig these up on vinyl. It's your choice, people!
Let's dive right in!
81. Bring The Noise (by Anthrax on the album Attack Of The Killer B's, 1991): I know Public Enemy did this originally, but one of the criterion of this list is that I must own it, and I don't own the PE version. This one kicks much ass anyway, so I don't feel I'm missing much. It's a great rap song, one that unfortunately lends itself well to the rap/rock crap from a few years ago (which is why Limp Bizkit covered it), but Anthrax was there back in the old days. "Wax is for Anthrax" shouts Chuck D. A fun, fun song. BONUS: Comic book fans - check out the Anthrax web site - it has a pretty cool painting of Judge Dredd by Alex Ross on the front page.
82. The Broad Majestic Shannon (by The Pogues on the album If I Should Fall From Grace With God, 1988): In my mind, this noses out Rum, Sodomy, And The Lash at the top of great Pogues albums, and this song is a big reason why. Shane MacGowan and the boys are wildly underrated when it comes to love songs and sentimental songs. This is a little of both, and it just pulls you along to an Ireland that we all wish existed. It's a rousing song about times gone by and nostalgia and it's a wonderful way to end of wonderful album (it doesn't exactly end it, but it's close enough).
83. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (by Led Zeppelin on the album Led Zeppelin III, 1970): I'm almost afraid to include any more Zep songs, now that I know they stole "Boogie With Stu" from Richie Valens. Any objections to this one, anyone? The "stomp" part of the title is accurate, as this song makes you want to jump up and dance. As usual, the lyrics are piffle, but Page's slide guitar makes it all worthwhile. Groovy stuff..
84. Bullet The Blue Sky (by U2 on the album The Joshua Tree, 1987): I'm surprised this album didn't make Spin's list, but oh well. I hated this song when I first heard it. I don't know why - it just grated on me. Years later, when I hooked up with my lovely wife, she owned the tape (I never got it), and I started listening to the whole thing again. This song started to grow on me. I have no freakin' clue what Bono is talking about (I'm sure I'm too stupid to understand his metaphors), but he says it with such conviction and anguish that I'm inclined to forgive the pomposity. And when the guys starts peeling off those dollar bills - good stuff. And you know, through the walls we can all hear the city groan. Veritas, Bono!
85. Bullet With Butterfly Wings (by Smashing Pumpkins on the album Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, 1995): Yes, it's a pretentious title. Yes, it's a pretentious album. Yes, it's too long. Yes, some of the songs could be prescribed as a cure for insomnia. But this song kicks ass. Corgan's snarl at the beginning, telling us the world is a vampire, the cool guitar line picking up his nastiness, and the primal scream of "Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage." When he ends with "And I still believe that I cannot be saved ..." it doesn't sound like a whiny spoiled rock star, it sounds like a spit in the face of those who want to save him.
86. Burden In My Hand (by Soundgarden on the album Down On The Upside, 1996): Another cool tune from Soundgarden's last album, this sounds like a nice song with plaintive Cornell singing and grumbling music underneath until you listen to the lyrics. What the heck is Cornell singing about? "I shot my love today, would you cry for me ..." Wow. A nice song becomes something much darker and more disturbing and achieves greatness. Not that I'm advocating shooting someone and leaving her in the desert, mind you. But it does make the song better.
87. Bureaucrat of Flaccostreet (by Urban Dance Squad on the album Life 'N Perspectives Of A Genuine Crossover, 1991): UDS was a weird little band that never really took off in the States, although they had some modest hits ("Deeper Shade Of Soul," I suppose). This was supposed to be their big "crossover" album (hence the name), but I don't think it did that well, and they eventually split up. This is the last song on the album, and it's a typical UDS song, but it's got a better groove than most and it has a little more on its mind than their usual stuff. They're a neat little band worth checking out.
88. Cabo Wabo (by Van Halen on the album OU812, 1988): Yes, it's another album with a dumb name, but it's still a great song. The debate continues about whether David Lee or Sammy was better, but both groups made some excellent music. Eddie's scratchy guitar and soaring solo sets the tone for this, and Sammy singing about hedonism does the rest. White sand does indeed make a tan look nice, Mr. Hagar.
89. Calling It Quits (by Aimee Mann on the album Bachelor No. 2 Or, The Last Remains Of The Dodo, 2000): Like all children of the 1980s, I knew Aimee Mann from 'Til Tuesday and that video for "Voices Carry," but that was it. My friend Ken always told me she was awesome, but until I saw Magnolia, I didn't realize how good she was. This is a nasty little song about, well, quitting. It has the typical cutting lyrics we've come to expect from Mann, and music that makes it feel epic, even though it's a short pop song. Mann is just the kind of singer who could pull this kind of song off.
90. Camel Walk (by Southern Culture On The Skids on the album Dirt Track Date, 1996): My pal Roxy put this on her Mixed Bag CD from a few months back, and some people didn't cotton to it. Bah. It's a fun song. Not the greatest band, but every once in while, even a band that's not so great can strike gold. "Say, you don't think there's any way I could get that quarter from underneath your pointy boot, do ya? All I want is one more oatmeal pie!" Come on, how can you not love it? Foot-tappingly groovy.
Well, that's another ten songs in the books. Yazil does not like my musical tastes, and that's okay - this is America! If any of y'all want to call me a tasteless hack, feel free! Or you can run out to the record store right now and dig these up on vinyl. It's your choice, people!
posted by Greg | 11:43 AM
2 Comments:
Ha ha, you're a music geek too.
That's a great idea. I wonder if I could get away with it on my blog?
I'm not as much of a music geek as I used to be. I'm old.
It's your blog, man! Do what you want! And where exactly is Shed? Do you live in a shed, or is it a town? Inquiring minds want to know!
Post a Comment
<< Home