Middle school is a mile stone for many people. Their first kiss, their first school dance, for me, it was my entry into the music world.
Since 6th grade, I've been the biggest music nerd that you could imagine. I've come across some incredible music. I enjoy a lot of things about music; clever songwriting, giant hooks, but one thing I always apprieciated was someone trying to do something a little bit different. I think my music is scattered but there are a lot of amazing songs.
This is my collection of them all...
First, for the songs that didn't QUITE make the top 50:
55. Maria Mena - You're The Only One
54. Fountains of Wayne - I Know You Well
53. Bright Eyes - Lover I Don't Have To Love
52. Toby Lightman - Real Love
51. Gary Jules - Mad World
And now, for the good stuff:
50. Orgy - Blue Monday (1998)
1998 was a year of glossy pop hits and neutered rock laments, amongst it all came Orgy, pleasing the Hot Topic crowd even before they had masiive corporate chain store to group them together. But they were better than that. Jay Gordon can go from a sleek monotone to a commanding roar. I'm a sucker for a great drumming, and "Blue Monday" puts that talent front and center. Although Orgy didn't really make it into the 2000's, but they torn up the 90's.
Other key tracks: "Stitches"
49. Smoosh - Massive Cure (2004)
It takes some artists decades to create that one masterpiece, Smoosh has penned their first one at the tender age of 10 and 12. Here, Asya's ethereal vocals float and tip toe around Chloe's staccato drum stylings. The result is amazing. They can go from the stomping rage of "La Pump" to the offbeat roll of beats and claps of "Rad", but on "Massive Cure", they show the studio isn't there playground, it's a place of business.
Other key tracks: "Rad", "La Pump", "To Walk Away From"
48. Greenwheel - Breathe (2002)
Originally a Greenwheel original, a polished-up cover by Melissa Etheridge was later done in 2004 which was meet with better success. It being rough around the edges is what made it great. Ryan Jordan's voice was raw, and his band created the imagery of a wasteland, not a 22 minutes mellowdrama. The cover was decent enough, but nothing quite beats the original.
Other key tracks: "Shelter", "Sustain You"
47. Nelly Furtado - Explode (2003)
First, Nelly spat sunny and bubblely pop on "Whoa, Nelly!", then on "Folklore", she dug deeper to generate earthy acoustics, and then pulled another 180 and went for seductive hip-hop on "Loose". Nelly is starting to give "Sybil" a run for her money with her identity crisis. The much overlooked "Folklore" wasn't where she found success, but she struck gold with this track. She pulls off the hook like she was belting it out as she plunges from a cliff. And she does... in cartoon form, in her best video to date.
Other key tracks: "Maneater", "Promiscuous", "**** On The Radio", "Try"
46. Floetry - Say Yes (2002)
Great Britian doesn't usually make you think of all the great MCs that have hailed from there. But Floetry, consisting of floacist Natalie Stewart and songstress Marsha Ambrosius, have dropped as many clever rhymes as they have hit high notes. On "Say Yes", they turn the lights down and shimmer with airy come-ons and sexy pants. You'll find yourself lusting after these black British beauties, orientation irrevalent. Not to mention they penned "Butterflies" for Michael Jackson, one of his few hits in the past 10 years. Now that's quite a feat.
Other key tracks: "Floetic", "Wanna B Where U R (feat. Mos Def)", "Have Faith", "Supastar (feat. Common)
More to come later...
