My Top 25 Most Played: Help me find new stuff
Here's my top 25 most played on iTunes. I'm hoping that people can read this and point me in the direction of some new stuff |
| 1 | Thrice
The Earth Will Shake
I love everything about this song. The dynamics in sound/tone, the changes in time signature. Then that ending... damn. Powerful stuff |
| 2 | Underoath
In Completion
This song is awesome. Starts slow and atmospheric, builds and builds, then explodes in a stunning climax (don't.). Exceptional stuff from an exceptional band (R.I.P.) |
| 3 | Blindside
Caught a Glimpse
I listened to this song before every football/lacrosse game I ever played in. For my money, it's the best pump-up song ever. |
| 4 | Cunninlynguists
Caved In
I've been watching The Wire lately; this track seems to be the perfect companion piece, detailing instances of urban decay and stressing the resilience of the human spirit. Great beat and an outstanding hook from Cee-Lo round this one out.
This song embodies what I think hip-hop should be about: it's a cry for the perhaps-pointless perseverance of a weary, afflicted community |
| 5 | Muse
Stockholm Syndrome
Ass-kickery at its finest. That riff... and that chorus... damn. Too bad Muse blows ass now. What a waste.
P.S. I'm currently in Chile, where an earthquake happened while I was typing this very post. It's a reminder from the gods how much ass this song kicks. (Might have been cooler during "The Earth Will Shake" but hey. I'm not a liar) |
| 6 | Radiohead
Paranoid Android
3 songs. Chicken voices. The "Rain Down" sequence. I could write an essay about this song but I won't... but it's just incredible |
| 7 | Porcupine Tree
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
This song is about 12 minutes long and has 34 plays on my iTunes. That's a lot of time listening to this song. With its haunting atmospherics and incredible vocal/guitar work, my thoughts: worth it. |
| 8 | John Frusciante
Before the Beginning
Trust me, there's more Frusciante coming. He's something of a (guitar) hero to me. I can't think of another guitarist (B.B. King is pretty damn close) who can do so much emotionally with so few notes, as demonstrated here. If there is, I'd be delighted to find out who that is. |
| 9 | Jimi Hendrix
May This Be Love
Probably the most beautiful guitar work ever recorded. Great vocals from the man himself, and the always-underappreciated Mitch Mitchell rolling the song along fantastically. |
| 10 | Porcupine Tree
Trains
Banjo: A focal instrument in one of the worst musical genres ever crafted by man
Steven Wilson: Mayhaps the only man capable of using said banjo to create one of the most gorgeous passages in all of music. |
| 11 | John Frusciante
Central
All of Frusciante's finest talents on display here: Songwriting, layering, incredible vocal range, great lyrics, and a somewhat-minimalist guitar layer that floors you. |
| 12 | Chiodos
His Story Repeats Itself
Yes, Chiodos sucks (considerably less in the post-Craig Owens era). That, however, doesn't stop this song from having what is without a doubt my favorite vocal hook of all time. |
| 13 | Red Hot Chili Peppers
Funky Monks
The intro to this song is the best thing that's ever happened to a guitar. |
| 14 | The Doobie Brothers
Long Train Runnin'
This song hooked me from the first hammer-on. To me, the perfect blend of pop, rock, funk, and melody. Hats' off to the Doobies |
| 15 | Dispatch
Here We Go
About 20 years later, Dispatch releases "Here We Go." My musical catalogue is pretty downbeat, but this song is almost-annoyingly catchy, a little funky, and one of the songs that has the most fun that I can call to mind. |
| 16 | A Perfect Circle
The Noose
No fun to be found here. This and "Blue" have the same play count, but I had to include this one by virtue of its absolutely bone-chilling outro. Some of MJK's best lyrics, and that's definitely saying something. |
| 17 | Tool
The Pot
Probably the best stand-alone track that Tool has to offer. The higher register suits Maynard's voice greatly, and that bassline is just awesome. It's catchy, complex, and lyrically thought-provoking. I wish more of their material just rocked out like this |
| 18 | Jimi Hendrix
Born Under A Bad Sign
Hey, I love the Albert King version too. But this track, to me, defines what "swag" should be about: it just oozes rock, blues, and swagger. Oh, and it's an instrumental. Suck it Drake. |
| 19 | Binary Star
Honest Expression
While I love bitching about the modern rap game, these guys do it really eloquently here. Calling out mainstream rappers on their false bad-assness and willingness to sell out. |
| 20 | Ataxia
Another
This song ignores the pop-song community's guidelines on dynamics/structure. Instead, it settles in a zone that's hypnotic and addicting. |
| 21 | Stevie Wonder
You Haven't Done Nuthin'
Stevie. Funk. Heaven. "Superstition" has a higher play count, but I'm being Sputnik-y. This politically-charged tune, however, just straight up lays down the funk. Love it. |
| 22 | Red Hot Chili Peppers
Scar Tissue
The live version at Slane Castle takes the original song, which I love, and plays to all my soft spots: it funks-up the verses, ups the tempo, and moves the solo up an octave or so and just let Frusciante go. It's outstanding |
| 23 | Anberlin
The Unwinding Cable Car
I tried really hard to not like Anberlin. I'm not sure why. But this song had me from the first listen and shot straight up to become my favorite acoustic track of all time. |
| 24 | Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hey
This song is so atypical of the Chili Peppers, but it's my favorite song in their catalogue. Between Flea's bassline, Chad's cool little drumline, Anthony's vocals/lyrics, and (surprise) the guitar stylings of John Frusciante, this song is the only song that I would recommend to every person I know, regardless of musical taste. |
| 25 | The Classic Crime
Heaven and Hell
Matt McDonald: you, sir, just cemented your spot as my favorite singer in the game today. Absolutely phenomenal vocal work here.
This song just came out, and isn't (yet) in my top 25. But I had to replace the next one... it felt like a wasted spot. |
| 26 | Creed
With Arms Wide Open
The play count is due to the amount of times I used the song to rehearse for the cover I had to do in high school.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gcyMIkFtKk
I love imitating Scott Stapp and all of his ball-gargling-voiced glory. |
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