Matt's Top 300 Favorite Songs (MT3FS); numbers 230 - 221 edition.

I'm tired. Here's something quick. 

Matt's Top 300 Favorite Songs (MT3FS) numbers 230-221

Number 230: The Black Keys - "The Lengths" (off of the album "Rubber Factory,") 2004


I'm a huge fan of lyrical dissonance. At first listen, "The Lengths" sounds like it a fun little love song. Then the lyrics kick in. "Tell me where you're goin'.What is goin' wrong? I felt you leavin' before you'd even gone. Hold me now, or never, ever, hold me again. No more talk, could take me from this, pain I'm in." My personal favorite line from the song? "Please yourself so you don't have to be afraid. Make amends, or carry on another way." Anyways, I heard this song right after a break-up, and it really ushered in the "healing process," if you will. I remember talking to my ex-girlfriend's friend Allison about The Black Keys, and said "eh...not really into them." I apologize, Allison. They're a great band.

Number 229: Bad Religion - "Stranger Than Fiction" (off of the album "Stranger Than Fiction,") 1994.


"Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction." Ain't that the truth. A truly underrated track off of an underrated Bad Religion album. Funny side story. After Brett Gurewitz left Bad Religion, Greg Graffin started replacing the line "I wanna know why Hemmingway cracked" with "I wanna know why Gurewitz cracked." Love it.

Number 228: The Get Up Kids - Valentine (off of the album "Something To Write Home About,") 1999


The song that launched my love affair with The Get Up Kids. I was in 9th grade (2000, I believe) when I bought "Something to Write Home About" off of Interpunk. I remember going through the album and landing on "Valentine" and being blown away. "Will you be my valentine if I'm a world away." I remember every year since hearing this track I've asked someone "will you be my valentine if I'm a world away." Cheesy? Probably. But for whatever reason, The Get Up Kids (unlike Saves The Day) has never come off as cheesy to me.

Number 227: Weezer - Buddy Holly (off of the album "The Blue Album,") 1994


One of the best music videos I've ever seen, and one of the first music video's I ever saw that made me think "wow, this is pretty amazing." "The Blue Album" is one of my favorite albums to this day, and still one of the only Weezer albums I'll listen to. Just watch the video. The Fonz is the scene stealer.

Number 226: Elvis Costello - "Radio, Radio" (off of the album "This Year's Model,") 1978


I could talk non-stop about this song. But I think this video, (and subsequent follow up 25 years after) sums everything up.

Number 225: Gaslight Anthem - "1930" (off of the album "Sink Or Swim,") 2007


A song about Brian Fallon's grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's. Sounds all too familiar. The "you said I love you more than the stars in the sky, but your name escapes me tonight" part kills me. Link time. Here's a really good live version of the song, as well as two different versions of Fallon playing the track acoustically. 

Number 224: Rise Against - "Like The Angel" (off of the album "Revolutions Per Minute,") 2003


Quite possibly the only love song that Rise Against has ever written. Also quite possibly their best work. I don't know. There isn't much to say about this song. I like it. That's it.

Number 223: Skee-Lo - "I Wish" (off of the album "I Wish,") 1995


Skee-Lo is from Riverside. Does that mean he's singing about the same "city that's the size of a box" that I grew up around? Maybe. What I do know is "I Wish" is one of my favorite jams. You can't hate on the beat, the lyrics or anything. Even non-hip-hoppers have a soft spot for "I Wish."

Number 222: The Misfits - "Last Caress" (off of the album "Beware,") 1980


"Well I've got something to say...I raped your mother today." So wrong. So vile. Yet I love it. I was introduced to "Last Caress" by AFI's terrific cover. And while it took me a lot longer to come around on The Misfits, I've always been a fan of "Last Caress."

Number 221: Wings - "Band On The Run" (off of the album "Band On The Run,") 1973


Okay, so maybe I don't think the world of the Beatles or Paul McCartney, but "Band On The Run" is a great track. I'm sure I don't have tell all you that.

What's up next? A dude with a ton of problems (but a bitch ain't one), a public service announcement (with guitars), and band that thinks a certain Canadian city sucks.