Here are some notes/interesting facts on the list:
- The list is my 300 favorite songs, not the 300 greatest songs of all time. So while "Stairway to Heaven," "Comfortably Numb," "Creep" and a billion other songs are probably much more deserving on a best of list then the likes of Paramore, Morris Day and the Time and None More Black, keep in mind that this is a list of MY favorite songs.
- Here are the top five (technically seven) most represented bands on the list, just for fun: The Clash (15), Bad Religion (14), Get Up Kids (8), The Gaslight Anthem (8), and Green Day, Alkaline Trio, and The Lawrence Arms (6). That's a total of 63 tracks from these seven bands, or 21% of the list. But don't worry, there's plenty of diversity on it. Bands/singers/rappers/etc.. ranging from Liz Phair to Anti-Flag to Skeelo to Bob Marley are represented on the list.
- Along the song will be a write up including links to live footage of the videos/covers/etc... along with why the song is on the list or anything I find interesting.
- The list, as with any of opinion, is very subjective. So enjoy. Argue over a songs inclusion/exclusion. Tell me I have great taste in music, or my taste blows. It's all good. But hopefully you enjoy the list.
Matt's Top 300 Favorite Songs (MT3FS): Numbers 300 - 291.
Number 300: Banner Pilot - "Skeleton Key" (off of the album "Collapser," 2009)
Banner Pilot caught my attention about midway through 2009 with "Collapser." Think The Lawrence Arms meets Jawbreaker meets The Alkaline Trio (all bands on this list). "Skeleton Key" is by far the standout track on a great album I named the second best album of 2009. If you're a fan of good, honest blue collar punk rock, check out Banner Pilot... and definitely check out "Skeleton Key."
Number 299: The Riot Before - "Words Written Over Coffee" (off of the album "Fists Buried in Pockets," 2008)
The Riot Before pick up right where the likes of Hot Water Music and Against Me! left off. With a bit of Bob Dylan in it, "Words Written Over Coffee" is a piece of folk-punk perfection, but that's not what I love about the track. It's the lyrical content. The song deal's with an internal struggle of faith, and how much of life should be left up to faith. "I cried to God but God did not respond," cries out Brett Adams, vocalist of the band, before ultimately declaring "But my empty hands, my empty heart, could no longer be denied. Yeah I quit, I forfeit eternal life" For a self-proclaimed "god fearing atheist" like myself, the song is absolutely powerful. I don't know. I'm not saying that there is no God, or that religion and spirituality is bad as I don't think The Riot Before is saying that either. What I think the song conveys is that you can't leave everything up to a higher power. You have to do it all yourself.
Number 298: Liz Phair - Why Can't I? (off of the album "Liz Phair," 2003)
Lets get this out of the way. Yes, Liz Phair is hot. No, that's not why she ended up on my top 300 list. Yes, I actually do like this song. Why, you ask? Because I love that this song was heavily played on top 40 radio stations across America and featured in films like "13 Going on 30" and "How to Deal" when the song is about having sex with someone who isn't your spouse (and for the record, I have no idea what "13 Going on 30" and "How to Deal" are other then they are chick flicks. How do I know the song is featured in those movies? Wikipedia!). You might also be asking yourself, "wait, it's not about adultery Matt, what are you talking about. It's a lovey-dovey pop song." Listen to the lyrics again. My favorite lines? "But this is just the beginning. We're already wet and we're gonna go swimming." and "Here we are, we're at the beginning. We haven't fucked yet but my head is spinning." Yes, those are actual lines. Liz Phair is a pretty bad ass chick. Check out her back catalog. But don't overlook "Why Can't I" because you think it's a cheesy love song. Yes, it's a pop song. But it's a good song, and isn't your typical pop song.
Number 297: Coldplay - "Lovers in Japan" (off the album "Viva La Vida or Death and All of His Friends," 2008)
I don't care much for Coldplay, but "Lovers in Japan" is a really, really good song. It's one of those songs that you want to close your eyes to and let the music paint the scene for you. That's not a very common occurrence in music these days. When I close my eyes while listening to this song, I picture rain falling all around me in a big city. It's a pretty cool visualization. Again, I don't really like Coldplay, but I do really like "Lovers in Japan."
Number 296: Notorious B.I.G - "Mo Money, Mo Problems" feat. Puff Daddy and Ma$e (off of the album "Life After Death," 1997)
Back when Diddy was just Puff Daddy, and Ma$e was still a rapper, "Mo Money, Mo Problems" was in heavy rotation on my cd walkman. Released after Biggie's death, the track actually knocked Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You" off the top of the Billboard charts, which I find interesting. Also, the video is ridiculous, and Puff Daddy happens to be playing golf and wins with the help of Biggie.In 1997, do you think Tiger Woods had anything to do with Puffy playing golf?
Number 295: Barry White - "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" (off of the album "Can't Get Enough," 1974)
Yes, that says' Barry White. Say what you will, but White had an absolutely incredible voice. I'm talking seductive. Hell, the dude's voice could soothe even snakes (I couldn't find the actual snake-soothing clip, so here's this clip, just because I think it's hilarious). And don't kid yourself, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" is a slow jam, for sure. A personal story. When I was trying to woo an ex-girlfriend (and doing a damn fine job of it I might add) I was driving her home and put on this song in the car. She laughed and said "are you kidding me." I started singing with White and dancing along to the song. She was loving it. At the end she told me "you're absolutely adorable." Whenever we'd hear that song afterward she'd laugh and smile. Yeah. I'm a Casanova, what can I say.
Number 294: Dashboard Confessional "Again I Go Unnoticed" (off of the album "The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most," 2001)
In high school, my best friend Sean nicknamed me "Mattboard Japfessional," so it's safe to say that high-school Matt liked Dashboard. Yeah, I listened to Bad Religion and Social Distortion too, but I had a soft side as well. Maybe I don't listen to Dashboard Confessional much anymore, but "Again I Go Unnoticed" is still a good song. Who hasn't been in the situation Chris Carrabba find's himself in. I know the dude gets a lot of shit for being a pussy, but he knows how to write a tune.
Number 293: Johnny Cash - "God's Gonna Cut You Down" (off of the album "American V: A Hundred Highways, 2006)
I didn't know until recently that this wasn't an original Johnny Cash track. Weird. Apparently it's an old traditional folk song that has been performed by the likes of Odetta and Elvis Presley before Cash tackled the tune. To be honest, I first heard the track when The Gaslight Anthem covered it for Anchorless Record's Johnny Cash tribute album "All Aboard: A Tribute to Johnny Cash," and I'm glad Gaslight covered it. Cash was an icon. He's one of those artists that, if you're a music fan, you have to like. Also, check out the video. It's a who's who of music superstars, including Mick Jones of the Clash, Iggy Pop, Travis Barker, Bono, Chris Martin and Brian Wilson, to name a few. Johnny Depp and Chris Rock also show up.
Number 292: The Time - "Jungle Love" (off of the album "Ice Cream Castle," 1984)
If you can't groove to "Jungle Love," then something is wrong with you. And yes, I discovered this song watching Kevin Smith films.
Number 291: The Killers -Mr. Brightside (off of the album "Hot Fuss," 2004)
So let me take you back to 2004. I had just started college, albeit at Riverside Community College, Norco Campus, and was enrolled in a math class. I can't remember what math class it was, but it was math. I kind of kept to myself and was a bit bummed because my then-girlfriend Stephanie and I had just broken up. There were these two girls who sat behind me. They were cool chicks, but I know these were the girls who thought they were the shit at their previous high school. They didn't like anyone in that class, and constantly talked shit. Well, for whatever reason they took a liking to me. They would bring me Starbucks every morning, or breakfast from wherever they went to breakfast; stuff like that. Well one day they were talking to me about music and asked me what I listened to. I named artists like Bad Religion, The Clash, and The Postal Service. They looked at me in confusion. I asked them what they listened to. They said "The Killers." I laughed. I said "that stupid, 'somebody told me that you have a girlfriend that looks like a boyfriend' or whatever band? (PS, Watch the link. It's ridiculous). They defended The Killers and said I should listen to "Mr. Brightside." I didn't. Then next class rolled around and they burned me The Killers "Hot Fuss" album. So I took it home and listened to it. It wasn't horrible, and "Mr. Brightside" was actually a good song. Now, six years later, I'm still listening to "Mr. Brightside." I have no idea what happened to those girls. Oh well.
There's the first ten of a long series of blogs. Up next, tracks from Dr. Dre, Atom and His Package, Jackson Five and others. Stay tuned.
No comments:
Post a Comment