Matt's Top 300 Favorite Songs (MT3FS); numbers 250-241

Today Jen and I hit up Buffalo Wild Wings after work. We were both hungry and wanting to have a drink and seeing is how there is nowhere better to go in the Murrieta/Temecula area, we decided on Buffalo Wild Wings. Okay, I have to be honest; I absolutely hate that place. The crowd is lame (think "Jersey Shore" wannabees and bro-hoes), the music is lame, and the overall atmosphere is lame. Everytime I go there I always ask within five minutes of arriving "why am I here?" However, Buffalo Wild Wings has two redeeming qualities:

1. The wings are delicious
2. The staff is pretty cool. The owner ALWAYS walks up to me and shakes my hand. He talks sports with me. He remembers that I'm an Angels fan, and I give him an earful as he's a Red Sox fan. The bartenders are all extremely nice. Laura especially. 

But overall it's a crappy place. I advice people to stay the hell away from it. How does this tie into music and my Top 300 Favorite Songs?  Well on Thursday nights they have "Rock Band" night. So instead of people singing crappy renditions of crappy songs, people "play" crappy renditions of crappy songs while someone sings a crappy version. Today I heard songs by: System of A Down, The Guess Who ("American Woman," of course), Kansas, Journey (in the running for Matt's least favorite band of all time) and Pearl Jam. Not an ideal list. Here are ten songs that are much better then anything Journey ever put out.

Matt's Top 300 Favorite Songs (MT3FS): numbers 250-241

Number 250: The Ataris - "Teenage Riot" (off of the album "End is Forever," 2001)

Remember when Kris Roe was fat? That was before the major label and the PCP. Anyways, "End is Forever" was one of the most played albums of my youth. I think I mentioned somewhere before how I wanted to be Kris Roe when I was younger, and how I grew out my hair because he did and what not. Seems weird now looking back at it, but it also makes me wonder if ten years from now I'll be like "man, that was weird that I thought Brian Fallon was the coolest dude ever." Anyways, "Teenage Riot" was a fun pop-punk Ataris song that made me fall in love with the band. The Ataris are still good for a listen every now and then.

Number 249: Atmosphere - "Yesterday" (off of the album "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold," 2008)

Okay, so "Yesterday" has a chill old-school rap sound to it, but that's not why I love the song. The lyrical content is off the charts. Allow me to share with you my favorite verse from the track "Since we went our separate paths I've hit a couple of snags that remind me of the past. I can't front, I'm having a blast. But damned if I ain't afraid of how long it's gonna last." Word. If you're not into rap, check out Atmosphere. He might change your mind.

Number 248: The Ramones - "I Wanna Be Sedated" (off of the album "Road To Ruin," 1979)

The Godfathers of American punk rock make their first appearance on my list. I read somewhere that Tom Delonge was inspired to write "All The Small Things" because of his love for The Ramones, hence the "na-na's" I feel we all need a shower after hearing that. Not that I don't like blink-182 or anything but "All The Small Things?" Come on! That's like that stupid Sum-41 Rolling Stone cover that was a blatant rip-off of a Sex Pistols cover thirty years before. And yes, I know "I Wanna Be Sedated" is the popular Ramones track. I don't care. It's a bad ass track. End of story. I feel dirty having such an influential track buried at number 246, but it's my favorite songs, not most influential. Also, The Ramones get more love later on.

Number 247: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "The Impression That I Get" (off of the album "Lets Face It," 1997)

Just one time in my life I want to sing "That's The Impression That I Get" for karaoke, complete with all-out skanking like in the video. Wicked awesome, bro (okay, that's enough Boston talk). Anyways, the lyrical content for "The Impression That I Get" blows me away. Just take a listen. You'll understand. The Bosstones are the band that The Dropkick Murphys wishes they could be. They never will. Dropkick sucks.

Number 246: Gladys Knight & The Pips - "Midnight Train to Georgia" (off of the album "Imagination," 1973)

Gladys Knight has an amazing voice. I love soul music. Anyways, I could talk about why I love this song, but instead I'd rather share two videos that have to do with "Midnight Train to Georgia." The first is from some American Idol special that takes the video above, but replaces the background dancers with Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller and Jack Black. It's pretty funny. Downey moves pretty well. The second comes from a scene in "30 Rock," which is a crack up. Tracy Morgan owns. Also, sorry for that lame text box across the screen.

Number 245: TSOL - "Wash Away" (off of the album "Beneath The Shadows," 1982)

One of the deepest punk rock songs from the early 1980's. TSOL is such an underrated 80's punk band. It's too bad too. Jack Gresham is a really fun/disturbing dude to watch on stage. He's also a pretty nice guy. Alkaline Trio did a really good cover of "Wash Away" for that Tony Hawk soundtrack. Check both out. Matt Skiba has a great voice when it comes to covering bands like TSOL and The Misfits.

Number 244: Big D & The Kids Table - "Shining On" (off of the album "Strictly Rude," 2007)

"Shining On" is one of those songs you put on when you're having a shit day and no matter what it can find a way to put a smile on your face. A lot of Big D tracks have that effect on me. Big D is a great live band, and don't get the credit they deserve. As far as the third-wave ska movement goes, they're probably my favorite.

Number 243: Tegan and Sara - "Call it Off" (off of the album "The Con," 2007)

Both "The Con"  and "Sainthood" are slowly becoming two of my favorite records. "Call it Off" is hauntingly beautiful. One of those songs that leave you unsure whether you're supposed to smile or cry. My music editor for "The Daily Titan" Meghan and I discussed this song a while back. Basically, she said "I hate listening to this song. It kills me. But I've probably listened to it about 50 times in a row. I can't stop listening." (I'm paraphrasing of course). I think she hit the nail on the head. Also, here's a video of Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem and Dave Hause of The Loved Ones playing "Call it Off." Personally I think Dave Hause sounds like shit here. But maybe it's just me.

Number 242: Saves The Day - "Sell My Old Clothes, I'm off to Heaven" (off of the album "Ups And Downs," 2004)

"Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off to Heaven" is by far my favorite Saves The Day song ever. "and hey if you want me to, I'll take a knife to my own bright eyes." Back in the day I thought that was poetry. Now it sounds pretty pathetic. Oh well. Here's a video of Chris Conley playing "Sell My Old Clothes" acoustic; complete with his newer Montana Max singing voice.

Number 241: New Found Glory - "Hit Or Miss" (off of the album "New Found Glory," 2000)

Despite the "Nothing Gold Can Stay" version being more raw, it's the self-titled track that I'm including. By far my favorite song of high school. "Remember the time we wrote our names up on the wall. Remember the time we realized "Thriller" was our favorite song." Actually, this song will always remind me of this chick Nicole whom I met sophomore year of high school. Man, I dug that chick. So did my friend Mike. So I backed off. Turns out, she liked me. Thanks to the stalker website that is Facebook, I found out that she had kids. Weird.

There might be a bit of a delay in the next couple MT3FS posts thanks to the World Cup. But what to expect next? Taking Back Sunday, Tupac and Looking Glass find their way onto Matt's Top 300 Favorite Songs.