Finally, the Year End Crazy Ambition's main course, the Top 50 songs of 2006, is here! Lets kick this bad boy off with songs 50 through 36.
[50] Disturbed - Land Of Confusion
-- Leading off the top fifty is a cover song and a quite kickass cover song, Disturbed's cover of Genesis' "Land Of Confusion". I already talked about the awesome video, but the song itself is a perfect fit for Disturbed's style, with David Draiman having a stellar vocal performance here. Probably the best song off of their album
Ten Thousand Fists as well.
2005 #50: My Chemical Romance - Helena
[49] P.O.D. - Going In Blind
-- Probably the most deserving P.O.D. song that wasn't even a minor success, "Going In Blind" is an absolutely beautiful song from a group of guys that have gotten really good at these kinds of songs. Seriously, though, where have the Warriors gone? Did
Testify turn them away from P.O.D. that much? Johnny, help.
2005 #49: Keane - Everybody's Changing
[48] Lupe Fiasco - I Gotcha
-- Your new savior of hip hop, MISTER LUPE FIASCO! "I Gotcha" is a huge breath of fresh air in a world contaminated by far inferior rap artists who are more successful than Lupe. As he mentions in this song, he's bringing the "realness" back to the mainstream and, pretty soon, rap music will go back to the glory days when every rapper told a story. And you can thank Lupe for that.
2005 #48: The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3(Power Out)
[47] 30 Seconds To Mars - From Yesterday
-- This is not even one of the best 30 Seconds To Mars songs but, while "The Kill" got them close, "From Yesterday" will be the song that puts them in the upper echelon of rock bands. Jared Leto's voice is one that I personally love, but I love the lyrics in this song as well and, if all else fails, I can listen to this song at any time and still like it.
2005 #47: Switchfoot - Stars
[46] Muse - Supermassive Black Hole
-- I STILL think this is the most inferior Muse single off of
Black Holes And Revelations, though countless people disagree. It's still a catchy as hell song with insane vocals and a beat that does not sound like Muse at all. This is one of the weakest tracks on BHAR, but that's like saying So-And-So is one of the weakest Hooter Girls, so it's all good.
2005 #46: The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
[45] Thom Yorke - Black Swan
-- It took me MONTHS to get into this song but, when I did, god, was it worth it. Thom Yorke is so low key compared to his normal fare and so is the music but
The Eraser really isn't your normal album, either. "Harrowdown Hill" is also amazing, but didn't quite make this list like "Black Swan" did.
2005 #45: Rammstein - Benzin
[44] Morningwood - Jetsetter
-- It was "Nth Degree" that introduced me to Morningwood, but it was "Jetsetter" that made me a fan. One of the first big songs of 2006 for yours truly, Morningwood in and of themselves exhude fun but it's the sexy vocals of Chantal Claret that bring me back for more and, in "Jetsetter", her vocals set me on fire. One of the most fun songs of 2006 and i've heard quite a few.
2005 #44: The Game - Put You On The Game
[43] Kanye West ft. Lupe Fiasco - Touch The Sky
-- He is, possibly, the most controversial musician of our time. He is cocky, arrogant, conceited, rude and, at times, utterly ridiculous. But he is, somehow, a musical genius. "Touch The Sky" is memorable for many reasons, not the least of which the infectious beat and Kanye West's flow, but it's the big time debut of Lupe Fiasco that is the most memorable thing about this song. This is the song that introduced me to the skills of one Lupe Fiasco. I haven't regretted it.
2005 #43: Jimmy Eat World - Work
[42] Slayer - Cult
-- This is one of a select few songs that I heard in 2006 that helped change my viewpoint on the world of music. Along with other metal artists like Motorhead and Mastodon, Slayer had a HUGE impact on yours truly in the year 2006. Their album
Christ Illusion might go down as one of the most important albums of 2006 for yours truly and plenty of songs on said album will be remembered for years to come, but it's the first single, "Cult", that struck me first and will, likely, strike me last. The pure fury of this song is what makes this song so memorable. If only for four minutes and forty-two seconds, Satan does exist...and its name is Slayer.
2005 #42: Cold - Happens All The Time
[41] Korn - Politics
-- While not one of my favorite songs on the instant classic
See You On The Other Side, "Politics" has its own thing going on for it. Obviously, the song is about politics and, if you have any idea who Korn is, you know that what Korn has to say here is NOT going to be very nice. This was an anthem for many when the 2006 elections came around, including yours truly, and this song got the most play for me during this time. Yes, I don't want to talk about politics and I don't give a **** about politics. Oh, and the bridge just happens to be one of my favorite song moments of 2006.
2005 #41: The Chemical Brothers ft. Q-Tip - Galvanize
[40] The Roots - Don't Feel Right
-- This song right here, folks, has the single most infectious beat of 2006 and no other song is really that close. The rapping is good, the flow is awesome and the lyrics rock, but lets face it, what brought me back to this song was the beat and the OSOME third verse rhythm change. It's a damn shame that this song wasn't bigger. It would have brought some much needed respectability into rap music.
2005 #40: P.O.D. - Goodbye For Now | 2004 #40: Probot ft. Lemmy of Motorhead - Shake Your Blood
[39] Wolfmother - Joker & The Thief
-- 2006 was, among other things, the year of Wolfmother. They have another song coming up that rocked my world, but this song didn't quite catch on with me like the upcoming song did. But when it did...it stuck to me like velcro. The riff is nothing short of incredible. And yes, I know it repeats itself quite often. When you have awesome riffs and vocals like Wolfmother does, it doesn't really matter, now does it?
2005 #39: Gorillaz - Dirty Harry | 2004 #39: Auf Der Maur - Followed The Waves
[38] Pearl Jam - Life Wasted
-- Dangerously lower than expected? Absolutely. A damn good song? You betcha. This song is the opening track on PJ's self-titled album and is one of the best opening tracks of 2006, simply because it sets you up for a Pearl Jam album unlike any album I have ever listened to. Eddie's vocals are top notch and the opening riff is fun, but it's the ending that has left the biggest impression on me. Mike McCready, my panties--boxers go out to you, good sir.
2005 #38: Kanye West - Diamonds From Sierra Leone | Chevelle - Vitamin R(Leading Us Along)
[37] The Ataris - Not Capable Of Love
-- Boy, was this song unexpected, not only because I didn't even know The Ataris were still around, but because they came back with THIS. Sweet merciful crap. This makes their previous songs look weak in comparison. Especially that wretched "Boys Of Summer" cover. Yeah, I know, some of you like it, go on ahead. I'll stick with this beauty of a song that has one of my favorite choruses of 2006, "I'm not capable of love, that kind of love that I felt when I was twenty-one", thank you very much.
2005 #37: Audioslave - Doesn't Remind Me | 2004 #37: Finger Eleven - Stay In Shadow
[36] Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push
-- The singluar song that started the Lupe Fiasco revolution. Leaking way back in 2005, "Kick, Push" already gained him a cult following even before "Touch The Sky". But after "Touch The Sky", ho-lee crap. The Lupe bandwagon has grown by leaps and bounds since then, mostly thanks to our favorite Canadian wench Ben, but it all started with "Kick, Push", with its infectious beat and chorus and lyrics that any average skateboarding joe can get behind.
2005 #36: Muse - Stockholm Syndrome | 2004 #36: Outkast - Roses
And that's the end of that chapter. #s 35-21 will be posted tonight. Best beliee.
