New Year, Old Songs
I've been updating my new Zune and it has forced me to look at my music collection, for better or worse. Since I tend to leave New Year resolution lists in smoldering heaps behind me, I decided to make a top 30 list of my favorite songs instead. They're harder to come up with, yet easier to maintain.
Many of these songs may not be my total favorite by the given artist, but what fun can you have reading another 'Stairway To Heaven is number 1' countdown. Also, I tried to pick only one song per band or else this would become the Led Zeppelin/Iron Maiden listravaganza.
In no order:
Artist: Midnight Brown
Album: dope/revenge
Song: go! go! vietnam
This is pretty much my favorite non-canonical band at the moment for many reasons. I'm aware that most of these songs are inside jokes I'll never get, but you can get the gist of it and music is second to none.
Artist: Stephen Rippy, Kevin McMullan (Ensemble Studios)
Album: Age of Mythology
Song: Adult Swim
Rippy and McMullan have made the already spectacular "Age of..." games even more addictive. In fact, It was this was the first game where I took notice of the soundtrack as something I would listen to on my own outside of the game. In the end, I may have listened to this album more than any other on this list.
Album: dope/revenge
Song: go! go! vietnam
This is pretty much my favorite non-canonical band at the moment for many reasons. I'm aware that most of these songs are inside jokes I'll never get, but you can get the gist of it and music is second to none.
Artist: Stephen Rippy, Kevin McMullan (Ensemble Studios)
Album: Age of Mythology
Song: Adult Swim
Rippy and McMullan have made the already spectacular "Age of..." games even more addictive. In fact, It was this was the first game where I took notice of the soundtrack as something I would listen to on my own outside of the game. In the end, I may have listened to this album more than any other on this list.
Artist: Barry White
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: I'm Gonna Love You A Little More, Baby
It's Barry at his best. Moaning, seducing, foreplay...
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: I'm Gonna Love You A Little More, Baby
It's Barry at his best. Moaning, seducing, foreplay...
Artist: Metallica
Album: ...And Justice For All
Song: Harvester of Sorrow
Probably the best album of all time. It was a close call over "To Live Is To Die" and "Blackened", but I think Harvester has a little bit of everything that makes this one so good.
Album: ...And Justice For All
Song: Harvester of Sorrow
Probably the best album of all time. It was a close call over "To Live Is To Die" and "Blackened", but I think Harvester has a little bit of everything that makes this one so good.
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Album: IV
Song: When The Levee Breaks
I bet most people thought of this album when I said that And Justice For All was the greatest of all time. IV has some HoF songs that...wait a minute, you already know how this album rocks, so I'll shut up.
Album: IV
Song: When The Levee Breaks
I bet most people thought of this album when I said that And Justice For All was the greatest of all time. IV has some HoF songs that...wait a minute, you already know how this album rocks, so I'll shut up.
Artist: The Beatles
Album: White Album
Song: Blackbird
Always reminds me of my Uncle Dave on his guitar (no sad story; he's still rockin'). Very lyrical, innocent, and beautiful.
Album: White Album
Song: Blackbird
Always reminds me of my Uncle Dave on his guitar (no sad story; he's still rockin'). Very lyrical, innocent, and beautiful.
Artist: David Bowie
Album: Best of Bowie
Song: Suffragette City
Bowie's best out and out rock song never lets up.
Album: Best of Bowie
Song: Suffragette City
Bowie's best out and out rock song never lets up.
Artist: Muse
Album: Black Holes & Revelations
Song: Map of the Problematique
I'm new to Muse (thanks Trevor and MCR). If you have to sound like anyone, you can't go wrong with Radiohead.
Album: Black Holes & Revelations
Song: Map of the Problematique
I'm new to Muse (thanks Trevor and MCR). If you have to sound like anyone, you can't go wrong with Radiohead.
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
Song: Our Lady of Sorrows
As much as I love their newer stuff, this one sticks out like a rough indie work.
Album: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
Song: Our Lady of Sorrows
As much as I love their newer stuff, this one sticks out like a rough indie work.
Artist: Boston
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: More Than A Feeling
If it works for Carl, it works for me.
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: More Than A Feeling
If it works for Carl, it works for me.
Artist: Anthony Hamilton
Album: Comin' From Where I'm From
Song: Comin' From Where I'm From
Great gritty and commanding voice. An honest song.
Album: Comin' From Where I'm From
Song: Comin' From Where I'm From
Great gritty and commanding voice. An honest song.
Artist: Duncan Sheik
Album: Daylight
Song: On Her Mind
Not really representative of the rest of his work, but it's a good blend of his lighter and dark sides. Check out any of his albums, but avoid Phantom Moon.
Album: Daylight
Song: On Her Mind
Not really representative of the rest of his work, but it's a good blend of his lighter and dark sides. Check out any of his albums, but avoid Phantom Moon.
Artist: Black Sabbath
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: War Pigs
Ozzy did a good job, but he's no Nick Tsocanos
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: War Pigs
Ozzy did a good job, but he's no Nick Tsocanos
Artist: Heart
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Barracuda
Screw you. The song rocks.
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Barracuda
Screw you. The song rocks.
Artist: Chicago
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: 25 Or 6 to 4
I don't know why I like Chicago.
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: 25 Or 6 to 4
I don't know why I like Chicago.
Artist: Starship
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Jane
With Grace Slick gone, there was nothing to fear.
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Jane
With Grace Slick gone, there was nothing to fear.
Artist: Radiohead
Album: Hail To The Thief
Song: Sit Down, Stand Up
Moody and awesome. God only knows what the lyrics meant to convey, but who cares.
Album: Hail To The Thief
Song: Sit Down, Stand Up
Moody and awesome. God only knows what the lyrics meant to convey, but who cares.
Artist: America
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Tin Man
At their peak.
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Tin Man
At their peak.
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Album: Houses of the Holy
Song: The Ocean
This song is so Zeppelin, I had to add it.
Album: Houses of the Holy
Song: The Ocean
This song is so Zeppelin, I had to add it.
Artist: Seal
Album: Human Being
Song: Excerpt From
Ultimate Seal album. No pop, all moody depression and rhythm. Best album you (and the world) never bought.
Artist: James Taylor Quartet
Album: In The Hand of the Inevitable
Song: Keep On Moving
British Acid Jazz has something I should hate about it, but it's actually the opposite.
Album: Human Being
Song: Excerpt From
Ultimate Seal album. No pop, all moody depression and rhythm. Best album you (and the world) never bought.
Artist: James Taylor Quartet
Album: In The Hand of the Inevitable
Song: Keep On Moving
British Acid Jazz has something I should hate about it, but it's actually the opposite.
Artist: Bill Withers
Album: Lean On Me
Song: Use Me
If you haven't listened to Bill Withers outside of Lean on Me (which I actually hate) you'll find more soul than Wilson Pickett and James Brown combined, with a sense of manhood that's missing today. Also check out 'Grandma's Hands'.
Album: Lean On Me
Song: Use Me
If you haven't listened to Bill Withers outside of Lean on Me (which I actually hate) you'll find more soul than Wilson Pickett and James Brown combined, with a sense of manhood that's missing today. Also check out 'Grandma's Hands'.
Artist: Iron Maiden
Album: Live After Death
Song: Powerslave
Means the world to me.
Album: Live After Death
Song: Powerslave
Means the world to me.
Artist: Thievery Corporation
Album: The Mirror Conspiracy
Song: Shadows of Ourselves
If jazz had to evolve, I'm glad it turned into this.
Album: The Mirror Conspiracy
Song: Shadows of Ourselves
If jazz had to evolve, I'm glad it turned into this.
Artist: Danger Doom
Album: The Mouse and the Mask
Song: Sofa King
Songs about cartoons that rock.
Album: The Mouse and the Mask
Song: Sofa King
Songs about cartoons that rock.
Artist: Rush
Album: The Spirit of Radio
Song: Tom Sawyer
If you don't like this song you're dead to me.
Album: The Spirit of Radio
Song: Tom Sawyer
If you don't like this song you're dead to me.
Artist: Gnarls Barkley
Album: St. Elsewhere
Song: Go-Go Gadget Gospel
Sets you up for one of the best musical sets of all time.
Album: St. Elsewhere
Song: Go-Go Gadget Gospel
Sets you up for one of the best musical sets of all time.
Artist: STYX
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Renegade
No Dennis DeYoung, no problem.
Album: Greatest Hits
Song: Renegade
No Dennis DeYoung, no problem.
Artist: Hank Mobley
Album: Third Season
Song: An Aperitif
I wasn't getting married without Hank and his lip hangin' cigarette playing at the reception.
Artist: Weezer
Album: Blue Album
Song: In The Garage
Any song that professes the love a dungeon master feels for his minions gets a spot on my list.
Album: Third Season
Song: An Aperitif
I wasn't getting married without Hank and his lip hangin' cigarette playing at the reception.
Artist: Weezer
Album: Blue Album
Song: In The Garage
Any song that professes the love a dungeon master feels for his minions gets a spot on my list.
