It's hard to believe that this is actually happening. For years, I have tried to get this project going. On numerous occasions, I found myself gravitating to other things that were more important, particularly college and family life. My personal holy grail would have to wait over and over again to get completed. Even when the actual top 100 (give or take a few hundred) was actually completed, nothing else would get completed, so I would have to rework the top 100 all over again to make sure that it was updated and current. At one point, I thought that I would never complete my most painful of tasks. There were just too many other things going on, too many distractions to prevent me from completing it once and for all.
But there is a thought that keeps popping into my head: "You know, there will be a time when you leave ATRL for good. Do you really want to leave without completing your top 100?" And, honestly, I don't. So I thought about how I would go about finishing the project. I thought about just posting my top 100 songs without any work beyond the top 100 itself, but, honestly, if I set my mind to something, I will go all out to make sure that it's as good as it can possibly be. It's just how I'm wired.
With that in mind, after five long and grueling years, my labor and hard work have finally paid off. Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you...
As far as updates are concerned, I will more than likely include five songs per post. The reason behind there being so few songs per post is because I anticipate that the blurbs will be generally longer than your standard blurb fare. Hell, in some cases, they could be longer than my standard blurb fare, which is saying a lot. But we are talking about my top 100 songs here. There's a LOT to talk about.
And the first update? That will be tonight with songs 100-96 (and maybe even 95-91, if I don't experience writer's block), so stay tuned!
I received special permission to post it here from both Athens and Johnald. Trust me, I would NOT have posted it here if I didn't know that it was okay to do so. Love the new avatar, by the way.
(And no, "special permission" doesn't mean anything sexual. Gosh.)
I received special permission to post it here from both Athens and Johnald. Trust me, I would NOT have posted it here if I didn't know that it was okay to do so. Love the new avatar, by the way.
(And no, "special permission" doesn't mean anything sexual. Gosh.)
No, I mean it, I swear! The only person I've ever had to get THAT kind of "special permission" from is Joe. My mind is forever scarred from that incident.
One quick note before we get to the top 100: there are not one, but TWO YouTube links to be found! To find the other YouTube clip, simply click on the banner for each song. In cases where there are music videos for the songs, those videos will be embedded, while videos with just the songs only can be found when clicking on the banner. If there are no music videos for a particular song on this top 100, then just the song itself will be embedded and, generally, a live performance or alternate version can be found when clicking on the banner.
Sounds like I decided to get one YouTube clip too many, right? Well, the reason for this is simple: If you (potentially) do not want to watch an ad before a music video and get straight to the song, I have given you the option to just listen to the song without any ads before or after the clip. If you don't care and just want to watch the music video, you have the option to do that as well. It's all about being able to choose which clip you want to watch.
With that explanation out of the way, let's get to the top 100! The first set of songs in the top 100 features vast departures from their normal sound for some of my favorite bands, as well as the most recognizable song from one of the seminal bands of the 90's, a song that sneaked into the discussion when compiling the top 100, and the first of MANY songs from my favorite artist. (As if you need to ask who that is. )
The battle for #100 was intense, as there were over 20 songs in the running for this spot. (I will reveal these later, don't worry.) In the end, I gave it to my favorite Killers song and a song that I never really considered to be one of my favorites of all time until it started to move further and further up this list. I think the reason that I like this Killers song more than the others is simply because its sound just appeals to me more. There are many different Killers sounds, and some songs (either by other bands or The Killers themselves) have even touched on this sound, but none have matched the original version's beauty and simplicity.
The first of many Muse songs to make their way onto this top 100 (oh, don't act so shocked), "Dead Star" is also Muse at its most visceral. That's not to say they don't have hard hitting songs. Muse made a name for themselves by being epic. But this song is a different beast altogether. The instruments are drudgy and brutal. Matt Bellamy's vocals here are not soothing. In fact, they are the exact opposite: moody, angry, maybe even a little menacing. And the most surprising thing about that fact is not just that it works but it is also absolutely perfect for the music at hand. As much as I love this song, though, it's not something that I would want Muse to create on a regular basis. This sound could get old fast if performed constantly. As a one-off to showcase a side of Muse never heard before, it's wonderful.
Just three years after their monster radio hit "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", Green Day would create a slow song that was even better that barely made a blip on the radio. Actually, in many ways, it's the "Empire Strikes Back" to the "Star Wars" of "Good Riddance". Yeah, the first was the huge hit and the originator, but the sequel improved on the originator in every way. But it's also a completely different beast entirely. Whereas "Good Riddance" is about something far more simple and personable (letting go/breaking up), "Macy's Day Parade" is about a deeper subject, talking about our fascination with materialism. I can actually connect with both songs on a deeper level, but the musical presentation here is just on a much wider and more grand scale. Oh, and this song also hasn't been played over a million times on the radio, so it still feels fresh today. EVERYBODY WINS!
Looking back, I believe that Lullabies to Paralyze is Queens of the Stone Age's weakest album. It was the first album after bassist Nick Oliveri left the band, and Josh Homme hadn't quite figured out how to make a great album without Queens' longtime rock. That said, there are a couple of true gems to be found. "Someone's in the Wolf" is still just as epic now as it was then, and I think that I actually love "Little Sister" even more now than I ever have. But the best song on the album (and my personal favorite Queens song) is a much softer and quiet tune that constantly gets lost in the shuffle of the classic Queens songs. I love "No One Knows", "Go With the Flow" and "3's & 7's" as much as the next Queens fanatic, but "I Never Came" just sounds so precise, complete with Josh Homme's best vocal performance ever. It's definitely not the song I would use to define the band, but it's definitely the song that resonates with me the most.
I've thought for a couple of minutes about what I want to say about this song. It's always been a personal favorite, even dating back to the days when Britney Spears fought with Korn for Red's Favorite Artist supremacy, and it simply has not gotten old, despite the fact that I've played the song approximately 402,250 times. But what keeps bringing me back when other songs that were similarly high on my list all those years ago have tapered off? Well, for one, this song feels just as fresh today as it did when I first listened to. It still feels modern, which is a testament to the everlasting appeal of the band. But even more important than that is just how powerful the song is. I don't think it's hyperbole to state that this is one of the most powerful songs ever made, both meaning and music, and that kind of power just never gets old. The last couple shouts of "BULLS ON PARADE!" still give me chills every time, too. Oh, who am I kidding? The whole song gives me chills just thinking about it.
The first part of the top 100 is complete! The next set, songs 95-91, features the second appearance of an artist that just appeared in this 100-96 block, perhaps the most unlikely song in the top 100, the best song by an indie darling, an 80's hard rock classic, and one of the most beautiful songs of the 2000's. That set will be posted either tonight or tomorrow, so stay tuned.
And thanks for all of the early comments and support! Even though this top 100 is my personal holy grail that I absolutely have to complete, I'm also doing this for you guys, because it's your comments (hell, even your views if you don't comment) that drive me to work hard to make this top 100 both fun and informative.
too much rock band but i'm still rooting for the full list
Oh, don't worry, there's a surprising(?) amount of pop and non-rock to be found in this top 100. As a matter of fact, after this next block, there is at least one non-rock song in each of the next six blocks.
If I had to rank them:
1) Smile Like You Mean It
2) Macy's Day Parade
3) Bulls On Parade
4) Dead Star
5) I Never Came
Wasn't really jumping out of my seat for any of them though. But I'm still looking forward to the rest of your list.
Well, you took the time to listen to the songs, which is both awesome and exactly what I wanted to inspire. Even if you didn't like the songs that much, the fact that you listened to them is more than enough to make me happy.
Quote:
Originally posted by Raguabros
So it's safe to assume this is The Killers' only entry?
Great song nonetheless.
Yep, and I made sure to double-check. When you see what songs are coming up, the fact that just one Killers song made it will be considered an accomplishment. Or at least, that's the idea.
Oh, don't worry, there's a surprising(?) amount of pop and non-rock to be found in this top 100. As a matter of fact, after this next block, there is at least one non-rock song in each of the next six blocks.
You better put some pop divas in da list. Rock bands are so overated sometimes.
)
too much rock band but i'm still rooting for the full list 
When you see what songs are coming up, the fact that just one Killers song made it will be considered an accomplishment. Or at least, that's the idea. 