| Amazing Songs. |
| 1 |  | Kashiwa Daisuke
Program Music I
Stella: This song is absolutely gorgeous. It would seem that the samples would detract
from the delicateness of the melody, but they only add to the incredible atmosphere.
The track builds slowly, creating a subtle and expansive musical soundscape which
only becomes more absorbing as the track progresses. Not one uninteresting
moment. |
| 2 |  | Tortoise
TNT
Tortoise: The jazzy percussion on this track is fervent and persistent, brilliantly
executed too. |
| 3 |  | Streetlight Manifesto
Everything Goes Numb
Everything Went Numb: Starting the album off with a bang, this is a raucous and
massively energetic song, a sign for things to come. Excellent opener, great horn line
(but I didn't need to tell you that). |
| 4 |  | Cryptopsy
None So Vile
Crown Of Horns: Another brilliant album opener; the sample from the Exorcist is a
great use of sampling, and from there the song explodes into a fit of screeching
guitars, lightning speed drums, and of course, amazing vocals from Lord Worm. His
scream is notable at the beginning of the track. |
| 5 |  | Boards Of Canada
Music Has The Right To Children
Roygbiv: Amongst the intricate soundscape and intense imagery evoked by the rest of
the album, Roygbiv seems juvenile and simple. Its defined melody and brisk pace are
unusual to the album, making it somewhat of an outcast. Individual, melodic, warm
and pure, Roygbiv is one of the best Boards of Canada songs. |
| 6 |  | The Dillinger Escape Plan
Ire Works
Milk Lizard: Continuing The Dillinger Escape Plan's departure from the avante-garde,
cacophonous nature of their debut, Milk Lizard has a post-hardcore vibe to it,
accentuated with an unusual playful horn line. |
| 7 |  | Bruce Springsteen
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Darkness On The Edge Of Town: Bruce Springsteen has always had a knack for
writing exciting, catchy, and downright fun tunes. Darkness On The Edge Of Town is
quieter and less majestic than much of his work, much like the album itself, which you
would think would make it an underwhelming closer. Quite the opposite; Darkness On
The Edge Of Town is an immensely satisfying ending to one of the greatest albums
ever. |
| 8 |  | Deftones
White Pony
Elite: Somewhat of an oddball for Deftones, Elite lacks the dynamic contrast between
verse and chorus which is prevalent on much of the album. Instead, Elite is loud from
the start, and never lets up. |
| 9 |  | Anberlin
New Surrender
The Resistance: Heavier than much of their work, yet still instantly satisfying. |
| 10 |  | Off Minor
The Heat Death Of The Universe
The Transient: The lyrics. |
| 11 |  | Mogwai
Young Team
Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home: Cautious, sunny and pretty, this opening track is
excellent. |
| 12 |  | Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels
Banana Clipper: El-P's production is of course fantastic, and the infectious beat and
solid verses from both El-P and Killer Mike are great. One of the best on the album. |
| 13 |  | Cloud Nothings
Attack On Memory
Stay Useless: One of the catchiest songs I've ever heard. Somewhat generic, yet
enthusiastic |
| 14 |  | Minutemen
Double Nickels On The Dime
Corona: Complete with twangy guitars and lyrics about a beer, this highlight from their
double album sounds like in came out in the 50's. Oddly enticing. |
| 15 |  | Frank Sinatra
In The Wee Small Hours
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning: Of course there are beautiful swelling
strings, and Sinatra's voice is as good as ever. A pretty little melody. |
| 16 |  | Justin Timberlake
The 20/20 Experience
Pusher Love Girl: Beginning with the same Sinatra string section, it quickly morphs
into an eight-minute singalong. Extremely catchy and one of the highlights from the
album. |
| 17 |  | Fleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues
The Shrine/An Argument: Another 8 minute epic. There a lot of awesome parts to this
song, all transcending time. Their brand of folk on this song is original yet classic. |
| 18 |  | Fiona Apple
The Idler Wheel...
Hot Knife: Rolling percussion and multiple tracks of Fiona Apple singing different lines
throughout. Brilliant. |
| 19 |  | The Chemical Brothers
Dig Your Own Hole
Block Rockin' Beats: The trademark massive beats from this duo. |
| 20 |  | Carcass
Surgical Steel
Thrasher's Abbatoir: It's always shocking and amazing when a band comes back after
a long period of inactivity and make an album just as good as their previous material.
Carcass managed to do it last year, and the second track from it, Thrasher's Abbatoir
is fast, vile, and brilliant. You would expect nothing less from Carcass. |
| 21 |  | Bob Dylan
Blood On The Tracks
Lily, Rosemary, & The Jack Of Hearts: One of Bob Dylan's most engrossing and
complex lyrical essays off one of his best albums. |
| 22 |  | Massive Attack
Blue Lines
Unfinished Sympathy: This song is an absolute classic and one of the greatest of all
time. Shara Nelson's passionate vocals are wonderful. |
| 23 | | Beastie Boys
Paul's Boutique
The Sounds Of Science: The bouncy, playful rhythm of the first half is unusual and
great. The second half boldly samples The Beatles, but somehow manages to pull it
off. |
| 24 |  | Beach House
Teen Dream
Walk In The Park: Beach House's trademark swirling indie-pop sound is in full force
here. Victoria Legrand's unique voice sounds great too. The highlight is the uplifting,
gorgeous chorus. |
| 25 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Illinois
Casimir Pulaski Day: Placed after the bombast of the stellar single Chicago, Casimir
Pulaski is repetitive and simple. And beautiful. Stevens' voice fits the track very well. |
| 26 |  | At The Gates
Slaughter Of The Soul
Slaughter of The Soul: Fast, melodic and intense, Slaughter Of The Soul is one of the
best tracks on a landmark in melodic death metal. |
| 27 |  | Arctic Monkeys
Whatever People Say I Am...
A Certain Romance: A fantastic closer and most likely the best song on the album. A
Certain Romance is a fitting, massive closer. |
| 28 |  | Disclosure
Settle
Latch: Sam Smith's vocals are a great touch. A wonderful dance track, hugely
infectious. |
| 29 |  | Fugazi
The Argument
Cashout: Starting with a great angular guitar riff, Cashout is odd and surprisingly
calm, feeling like its about to burst at any minute. |
| 30 |  | Laura Stevenson
Wheel
Renee: An absolutely gorgeous opener to one of the best albums in the past 10 years. |
| 31 |  | The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
Roadrunner: By far the most well known Modern Lovers song for a reason.
Unrelenting and innovative for its time, Roadrunner embodies the feeling of Boston in
the seventies with mainly only using 2 chords. |
| 32 |  | Talking Heads
Fear Of Music
Life During Wartime: Its brilliantly catchy riff is clearly the foundation of the song, and
it's really all it needs. The chorus is immensely catchy. One of their best. |
| 33 |  | Love
Forever Changes
You Set The Scene: A gorgeous, epic closer, which goes through a number of changes
without ever settling on a melody. Each part is beautiful in its own right, making it one
of the best songs of the 60s. |
| 34 |  | The Avalanches
Since I Left You
Frontier Psychiatrist: Always entertaining and weird. |
| 35 |  | Miles Davis
Bitches Brew
Pharaoh's Dance: At 20 minutes long, Pharaoh's Dance is completely original,
dissonant, and always compelling. |
| 36 |  | Neil Young
Harvest
Out On The Weekend: Slow and country-tinged, Out On The Weekend is one of the
best Neil Young songs. It's not complex or completely original, but it thrives on its
melody alone. |
| 37 |  | Nick Drake
Pink Moon
Place To Be: Like many of the songs on Pink Moon, Place To Be is over before you
know it. It's only two minutes, but it has beautiful lyrics and the sleepy, gorgeous
guitar tone that is the highlight of the album. |
| 38 |  | Nine Inch Nails
The Downward Spiral
Hurt: One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Heartbreakingly depressing
and the best closer ever. |
| 39 |  | Jeff Buckley
Grace
Last Goodbye: Buckley's vocals are fantastic as usual, and the song lacks traditional
structure, instead moving along as it grows in intensity. One of the best on the album. |
| 40 |  | Nils Frahm
Spaces
Says: The epic second track on spaces. Starting out with a repetitive synth line, Says
gradually turns into a massive, amazing tune. |
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