A. Arctic Monkeys can do so much better
B. Franz - true say, my friend.
C. Jay Z - moment of silence = brilliance.
D. GD, KoL, Gaslight, Weez, Tings, etc. all other solid rock acts
Finally, we're back. This time, we get to the top 50! Not only that, but YouTube videos will start popping up for the top 50. Aren't these songs just special? Maybe?
**** it, I'll just go ahead and make the statement right now: This is the most fun Static-X song. Period. Keep in mind that this is the same band that gave us "I'm With Stupid". And that song is still super catchy. But this song actually has a solo. A good one. The chorus is even more fun to sing-along to. And the beat of the music itself is just extremely infectious. Hmm. Actually, stop this writeup. This reminds me that I need to go to listen to "I'm With Stupid" again. Excuse me. Have fun with "Z28".
People don't know this now, but this song had a LOT to do with me staying sane during the summer. This summer was definitely not a great one for me, personally. On ATRL, it was probably my favorite summer, actually (or close to it), but, away from ATRL, let's just say it wasn't great. Thank you, "It's Alright", for providing that spark that kept me going. I especially love the bass line in the bridge area of the song. We need more bass lines that are completely funky and awesome, I say.
I think Them Crooked Vultures was a lost opportunity for me, and one that I'm probably going to regret in the coming years. Not "New Fang", though. From its very laid back guitar sound to its driving bass riff (by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones. LED ZEPPELIN'S. JOHN PAUL JONES.) to the intense drumming of drum master Dave Grohl, everything just screams awesome here. And that's before you get to Josh Homme's lackadaisical vocals. They're so care free, much like the song he's singing along to.
Johnald has said to me, repeatedly, that this is the best song off of Only by the Night. While I do disagree, it's up there as one of the best, for sure. There's something about this song that feels more sexual, more raw than any of their more well-known singles. Caleb Folowill's vocals are beyond sexual; I wouldn't be surprised if they cause women to lose their minds. The music suitably backs Caleb up with a laid back and 50's-like workman's mentality. All of it comes together to create a song that does more than enough to bring back the raw sexuality that rock is truly missing today.
There's something inherently raw and grungy about The Dead Weather's album Horehound. I'm not sure if that's all because of the music, or if Alison Mosshart's vocals just make everything sound more rough around the edges, but Horehound is proof that the grunge sound can still sound good in 2009, where almost all music sounds overproduced to the point where you can tell where computers have been used to enhance the sound. While another Dead Weather single is higher, "Hang You From the Heavens" is the song that most epitomizes that sound, with Mosshart's unique vocals grinding their way through a sludge of musical instruments. This song, more than any other on the album, will give you an indication of whether or not you will like the band.
I'm surprised that THIS was the Manson single that wound up being the highest on my year-ender. But I probably shouldn't be, because it's one of a few songs off of Manson's The High End of Low that I still play relatively frequently, along with "Running to the Edge of the World", "Pretty as a Swastika" and "WOW". This was also the first song to be leaked/released from the album, and it got me extremely excited for the album. Its frantic sounds would be a sign of things to come, and Manson's equally frantic vocals help keep the song running steady throughout. This is the Manson that I was hoping to see return, and I wasn't disappointed with this song.
Yeah, it really shouldn't surprise you that this song is here at all, considering all of the posts I have made about it here. Actually, it probably surprises you that it's so *low*. I just wish I had caught onto this song when it first came out, because this powerful piece of pop would be WAY higher. I will readily admit that the other songs I've heard of La Roux haven't hooked me AS much as "Bulletproof" has, which has to do with the powerful vocals of Elly Jackson. Her vocals can be a bit much, at times. I mean, "In for the Kill", for god's sake. Is it a great song? Yes. Are the vocals overbearing, at times? Without a doubt. Here, the vocals are definitely powerful, BUT they are also not irritatingly so. Instead, they showcase a future queen of pop at work.
Don't worry, Johnald. Another Flyleaf song is coming. But I definitely like this song. It's Flyleaf staying within their comfort zone, but it works, so why go against something that works so well? Lacey Mosley continues to carry the band with her sweet and pondering vocals, and the music does not overpower to the point where it overshadows the real star of the band. The result is pure magic.
I'm going to regret having this song so low, aren't I? I thought long and hard about pairing this song with another song later on, but I decided against it, which will seem pretty hypocritical in the next block. (Spoiler alert?) But anyway, "11th Dimension" will likely be most people's favorite song from Casablancas' fantastic debut solo effort Phrazes for the Young, and for good reason. It's just so god damn catchy! Dare I say, this song has one of the best music beats of the year. It's a feast for the senses, one that everyone should listen to at least once.
Yes, yes, a hundred times yes. "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD! DANCE 'TIL YOU'RE DEAD!" I cannot even describe this song rationally without mentioning that lyric. It's just so universally awesome, and it helps elevate the song into something special. That's not to say the rest of the song isn't great, though, because it sure is, one of the few songs this year that, I will admit it, made me dance until I was dead. Or close to it, anyway.
That's 50-41, finally. 40-31 will come later, and the top 100 will be done by either Tuesday or Wednesday night. And thank god for that.