So here are the 50 songs I believe could and, in many cases, should be on the list. I tried to avoid bias, in that I did not just pick songs from artists and bands I like just because I like them. I went for songs that I think are truly great, feel timeless and were, I think, influential. Indeed, many of the songs ARE by personal favorites. However, I did not, say, include "Glass Hotel" by Robyn Hitchcock just because I love it and think it might be his best song. The song has really had no impact outside of Hitchcock fans. It did not help inspire a movement, launch bands, or become a much-loved song played on the radio over and over.
Before I reveal the 50 songs, I have to start with my comments that I feel they chose the wrong songs for The Pixies, and for Television. They chose "Monkey Gone To Heaven" for The Pixies. Great song. Great album. But I originally felt "Here Comes Your Man" should have been the choice. I fucking love the song, plus it's insanely catchy, has sensational instrumentation, and is well known. Then I remembered "Where Is My Mind". Who has not heard the opening guitar guitar assault? The end of Fight Club would not be the same without it. It's both a great song, has had effects outside of Pixie fans, and is a work that represents the band. So it should have been "Where Is My Mind".
Television's "Marquee Moon" is truly sensational. It's a 10 minute guitar orgasm. It never drags or gets boring, and never feels indulgent. I think that is why it was chosen. The length and artistic success of the song impresses. But isn't it more impressive for a band to show all of it's skills, vision and originality in one 3-4 minute song? I think they do that in "Venus". It's everything that was great about Television. The guitars are painterly. It's got a catchy hook. Tom Verlaine's vocals stretch the limits of what he could do. The lyrics illustrate a particular time, place and feeling. "I fell right into the arms of Venus De Milo." It doesn't get better than that. Plus, it was one of Dee Dee Ramone's favorite songs. "Venus". That's the right song.
My 50, in no particular order (with links, a comments here & there):
Nick Lowe:
"Cruel To Be Kind"
"Marie Provost"
A CRIME of omission.
The Replacements:
"Takin' A Ride"
"Unsatisfied"
"Bastards Of Young"
"Left Of The Dial"
"Here Comes A Regular"
How could a band of such influence and worship be forgotten??
Crowded House:
"Don't Dream It's Over"
"Weather With You"
The Stone Roses:
"I Wanna Be Adored" Launched a significant movement in Brit Pop history. WTF??
The Kinks:
"Victoria"
"Celluloid Heroes"
"Lola"
Lo-fucking-la. I'm so stunned I wonder if I missed it.
Ramones:
"Rockaway Beach"
"Danny Says"
"The KKK Took My Baby Away"
Danny Says is the most un-Ramone-like song they ever recorded, but it proves that recording with Phil Spector was NOT a bad idea. It's a beautiful, beautiful song and should have been a hit.
Beat Happening: "Indian Summer"
Pavement: "Here"
The Smiths:
"This Charming Man"
"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
"Panic"
The first, one of the greatest debut singles of all-time. The second, the epitomy of the band's songwriting, and Morrissey's voice, lyrics and empathy. The third, an anthem for 80's kids like me, and all kids everywhere.
The Jam: "Town Called Malice" "That's Entertainment" rightfully made the list. This is just as great, with one of the most famous bass lines in pop history.
The Jesus and Mary Chain:
"Just Like Honey" Like nothing anyone had ever heard at the time.
The New Pornographers:
"The Bleeding Heart Show"
"Letter From An Occupant"
"The Bleeding Heart Show" is their "Born To Run." A sing-a-long at live shows, it's a song that's well-known even by people don't know the band. Plus, one of the best songs of the last decade. "Letter From An Occupant" is an instant classic, and one of the most important indie singles of the last decade.
Sonic Youth: "Teenage Riot"
Matthew Sweet: "Girlfriend"
It's a great, great 3 minute pop song. No everybody can write those.
New Order: "True Faith"
Elliot Smith: "Waltz #2"
Badfinger: "No Matter What" Seriously...where the fuck is this song????
The Cramps:
"TV Set"
"Goo Goo Muck" No room on the list for an extremely influential and ground-breaking band of true rock and roll deviants? All they did was invent, ya know, a whole fucking genre!!
My Bloody Valentine: "You Made Me Realise" The "holocaust" chord!!!!!!!!!!
The Prodigy: "Fire Starter" "Fat of the Land" is the first and only techno album I ever bought. This song was integral to bringing techno into the mainstream here in the states. Plus, it fucking rocks.
The Runaways: "Cherry Bomb" Another one that made me check the list over and over.
The Clean: "Tally Ho!" The first of a couple songs from the classic New Zealand pop scene which I am blatantly partial to. However, it's influence on many important American bands, like Pavement, is documented and undeniable. And The Clean are pretty much the godfathers of Kiwi Pop.
The Verlaines: "Death And The Maiden" Another important Kiwi band, with a widely loved and praised tune. One of Steven Malkmus's favorite songs.
The Buzzcocks: "Ever Fallen In Love"
Superchunk: "Slack Motherfucker" Huge in launching the Chapel Hill, NC scene. Launched the hugely influential Merge Records, created run by Superchunk's own Mac and Laura. AND it a ripping tune, and one of the best kiss off song to your asshole boss ever.
Neko Case:
"Star Witness"
"Hold On, Hold On"
Her 2 masterpieces....so far.
The Undertones: "Teenage Kicks"
The Soft Boys: "Queen Of Eyes" Now this is Robyn Hitchcock's first band, so he does get on the list. But QOE is a masterpiece of psychedelic pop from their legendary and influential "Underwater Moonlight" album.
Blur: "Girls and Boys"
Echo and the Bunnymen: "Seven Seas"
Split Enz: "6 Months In A Leaky Boat"
Hunters and Collectors: "Throw Your Arms Around Me"
Oft covered and highly regarded love song. My god, I love it.
XTC: "The Mayor Of Simpleton" An absolutely perfect pop song that should be studied and worshiped by every band present and future.
Teenage Fanclub: "Ain't That Enough" Again, perfect pop that would make The Byrds swoon, from an album that has grown in stature since it's release 13 years ago. The most under appreciated band that is still together, touring and recording.
PJ Harvey: "Man-Size" One of the most important women in rock for the last 18 years rocks out harder and angrier than most men will ever be capable. A brutalizing track from a modern genius.
There's my list. Like any list there are omissions I struggled with. And so it goes.
Before I reveal the 50 songs, I have to start with my comments that I feel they chose the wrong songs for The Pixies, and for Television. They chose "Monkey Gone To Heaven" for The Pixies. Great song. Great album. But I originally felt "Here Comes Your Man" should have been the choice. I fucking love the song, plus it's insanely catchy, has sensational instrumentation, and is well known. Then I remembered "Where Is My Mind". Who has not heard the opening guitar guitar assault? The end of Fight Club would not be the same without it. It's both a great song, has had effects outside of Pixie fans, and is a work that represents the band. So it should have been "Where Is My Mind".
Television's "Marquee Moon" is truly sensational. It's a 10 minute guitar orgasm. It never drags or gets boring, and never feels indulgent. I think that is why it was chosen. The length and artistic success of the song impresses. But isn't it more impressive for a band to show all of it's skills, vision and originality in one 3-4 minute song? I think they do that in "Venus". It's everything that was great about Television. The guitars are painterly. It's got a catchy hook. Tom Verlaine's vocals stretch the limits of what he could do. The lyrics illustrate a particular time, place and feeling. "I fell right into the arms of Venus De Milo." It doesn't get better than that. Plus, it was one of Dee Dee Ramone's favorite songs. "Venus". That's the right song.
My 50, in no particular order (with links, a comments here & there):
Nick Lowe:
"Cruel To Be Kind"
"Marie Provost"
A CRIME of omission.
The Replacements:
"Takin' A Ride"
"Unsatisfied"
"Bastards Of Young"
"Left Of The Dial"
"Here Comes A Regular"
How could a band of such influence and worship be forgotten??
Crowded House:
"Don't Dream It's Over"
"Weather With You"
The Stone Roses:
"I Wanna Be Adored" Launched a significant movement in Brit Pop history. WTF??
The Kinks:
"Victoria"
"Celluloid Heroes"
"Lola"
Lo-fucking-la. I'm so stunned I wonder if I missed it.
Ramones:
"Rockaway Beach"
"Danny Says"
"The KKK Took My Baby Away"
Danny Says is the most un-Ramone-like song they ever recorded, but it proves that recording with Phil Spector was NOT a bad idea. It's a beautiful, beautiful song and should have been a hit.
Beat Happening: "Indian Summer"
Pavement: "Here"
The Smiths:
"This Charming Man"
"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
"Panic"
The first, one of the greatest debut singles of all-time. The second, the epitomy of the band's songwriting, and Morrissey's voice, lyrics and empathy. The third, an anthem for 80's kids like me, and all kids everywhere.
The Jam: "Town Called Malice" "That's Entertainment" rightfully made the list. This is just as great, with one of the most famous bass lines in pop history.
The Jesus and Mary Chain:
"Just Like Honey" Like nothing anyone had ever heard at the time.
The New Pornographers:
"The Bleeding Heart Show"
"Letter From An Occupant"
"The Bleeding Heart Show" is their "Born To Run." A sing-a-long at live shows, it's a song that's well-known even by people don't know the band. Plus, one of the best songs of the last decade. "Letter From An Occupant" is an instant classic, and one of the most important indie singles of the last decade.
Sonic Youth: "Teenage Riot"
Matthew Sweet: "Girlfriend"
It's a great, great 3 minute pop song. No everybody can write those.
New Order: "True Faith"
Elliot Smith: "Waltz #2"
Badfinger: "No Matter What" Seriously...where the fuck is this song????
The Cramps:
"TV Set"
"Goo Goo Muck" No room on the list for an extremely influential and ground-breaking band of true rock and roll deviants? All they did was invent, ya know, a whole fucking genre!!
My Bloody Valentine: "You Made Me Realise" The "holocaust" chord!!!!!!!!!!
The Prodigy: "Fire Starter" "Fat of the Land" is the first and only techno album I ever bought. This song was integral to bringing techno into the mainstream here in the states. Plus, it fucking rocks.
The Runaways: "Cherry Bomb" Another one that made me check the list over and over.
The Clean: "Tally Ho!" The first of a couple songs from the classic New Zealand pop scene which I am blatantly partial to. However, it's influence on many important American bands, like Pavement, is documented and undeniable. And The Clean are pretty much the godfathers of Kiwi Pop.
The Verlaines: "Death And The Maiden" Another important Kiwi band, with a widely loved and praised tune. One of Steven Malkmus's favorite songs.
The Buzzcocks: "Ever Fallen In Love"
Superchunk: "Slack Motherfucker" Huge in launching the Chapel Hill, NC scene. Launched the hugely influential Merge Records, created run by Superchunk's own Mac and Laura. AND it a ripping tune, and one of the best kiss off song to your asshole boss ever.
Neko Case:
"Star Witness"
"Hold On, Hold On"
Her 2 masterpieces....so far.
The Undertones: "Teenage Kicks"
The Soft Boys: "Queen Of Eyes" Now this is Robyn Hitchcock's first band, so he does get on the list. But QOE is a masterpiece of psychedelic pop from their legendary and influential "Underwater Moonlight" album.
Blur: "Girls and Boys"
Echo and the Bunnymen: "Seven Seas"
Split Enz: "6 Months In A Leaky Boat"
Hunters and Collectors: "Throw Your Arms Around Me"
Oft covered and highly regarded love song. My god, I love it.
XTC: "The Mayor Of Simpleton" An absolutely perfect pop song that should be studied and worshiped by every band present and future.
Teenage Fanclub: "Ain't That Enough" Again, perfect pop that would make The Byrds swoon, from an album that has grown in stature since it's release 13 years ago. The most under appreciated band that is still together, touring and recording.
PJ Harvey: "Man-Size" One of the most important women in rock for the last 18 years rocks out harder and angrier than most men will ever be capable. A brutalizing track from a modern genius.
There's my list. Like any list there are omissions I struggled with. And so it goes.
Like a lot of your choices. Not all, but the magazine's list is utter shit. Metal and it's various genres are underrepresented.
ReplyDeleteI have a soft spot for Modern English - i melt with you.
ReplyDeleteThat's eons better than about 20% of the list, Pam. No doubt. I don't why the list bothered me. It's just a list. But I'm creepy like that.
ReplyDeleteI did omit some things that were tough to leave out. "Let Down" by Radiohead is an inexcusable omission.