20: "We Will Fall Together" by Streetlight Manifesto
"As we fall to the ground, to the sea, full speed, no one can save us now". It was over 5 years between the first and second albums by Streetlight (not counting their version of "Keasbey Nights" in the middle), and imagine how blown away I was when this first track started to play. Yesterday I watched a live video of this song, and was just amazed at how good it still is. My favorite part is the horns; they play with such intensity and precision that is just unmatched by other bands in my mind. This song also gave way to Streetlight's first video....which was taken off YouTube by their label.
19: "Erin's Runaway Imagination" by Fatter Than Albert
"I can't see a peaceful face for miles. All my friends are gone, and I think I'm ready to go home". This is the second shortest song on the list, and also the most surprising. I first listened to FTA when I knew I'd be seeing them open for The Flaming Tsunamis this past summer, and I had heard of them before so I got some of their music. They opened with this song, which was already my favorite. Hearing it live skyrocketed my appreciation for it, and that's what it is so high on this list.
18: "Someone" by the Suicide Machines
"I've learned to disappear and learned to hide my pain in a fucked up world where there's too much hate". The first track off the follow up to "Destruction by Definition" picks up where TSM left off (despite the album not following up on this). This is the shortest track on the countdown, slightly over a minute and a half. TSM does their style of ska-punk with hardcore parts and no horns in a nice song about looking for love.
17: "Broke" by Whole Wheat Bread"
"It ain't because I'm black. It's just because I don't have a think. I'm 19 years old and broke as fuck". This is the first song on any WWB album, and as you see they waste no time to discuss their race. This song is a great way to kick off their style of pop-punk. It's easy to understand, but still a great punk song. This song is also called back to in 2009's "Stuck In da Dark".
16: "So Let's Go! Nowhere!" by the Arrogant Sons of Bitches
"It's gonna rain tonight, but it's gotta stop eventually. Let's anticipate the sun and warmth and raise our hands and sing". The last entry from either Jeff Rosenstock band happens to be their closest thing to a hit. Well, they made a video for it, so that's something. A great balance of punk and ska, not too much use of horns, and just a perfect sample of what the usually ASOB song will entail.
15: "L.A.X." by Big D & the Kids Table
"We're built of from nothing, I'm trying to forget to wonder why". This song says "fuck" 28 times...and not for the last 2 and a half minutes of it. The first part is the band's anger at rich, LA area kids who think they have real problems. The second half is about their perspective, being too broke to even buy dinner when being a young, touring band. This looked like it was going to be Big D's "song"... but like all good things they used to do they seemed to not like and and don't always play it live now. The song is perfect for the band, a showcase of punk with horns, not even dependent of ska beats. Plus, it has meaning, and they curse so much to get that anger out in the open. Interesting note" "Built of from Nothing" WAS supposed to be the name of their DVD....which was supposed to come out roughly 2 years ago or so. God only knows what happened to this once amazing band who I still love dearly.
14: "In Her Drawer" by the Rx Bandits
"Whiskey and a green one to forget the past". Like "LAX", this isn't the first track on the album, but the first full song (not an instrumental or intro). Rx always has a lot of substance to their songs, and this no exception. A song about American dependence on drugs, and the attitudes that come along with it. By the time "And the Battle Begins" came out, Rx had done away with their traditional use of ska, but still kept the horns (horn?) very much involved. The trombone on this track is perfect with the song to go between verses.
13: "A Better Place, A Better Time" by Streetlight Manifesto
"Looking through the paper today, looking for a specific page. Don't want to find a full name followed by dates". Yet another song I didn't really like at first but wound of being one of my favorites. Maybe it was the seriousness of it, trying to get a close friend to not commit suicide. After a minutes of a slow start, this song picks up quickly with the horns leading the charge. This is another song they tweaked for live performances, making the beginning and end parts faster, a noticeable flaw of the original recording. But that is the only flaw. Lyrics? Amazing. Instrumentals? Amazing. Overall this is such a powerful song that its understandably hard to get it right the first time. And even if it isn't right in Tomas' mind? It's still DAMN good and I love it regardless
12: "Famous For Nothing" by the Dropkick Murphys
"9 to 3 on weekdays. On the hour Sundays. Jesus Christ was calling me". From the opening school bells of this song to the closing church bells of "Never Forget", the entire "Meanest of Times" album is something special. By far not DKM's best, but still very good. This song starts it off fast and hard. A song about juvenile gang violence, but you'd never know without a close listen. Both vocalists get their fair share on this song, and do a great job balancing each other out. Pipes do a great job throughout this song too.
11: "Great Expectations" by The Gaslight Anthem
"And they burnt up the diner where I always used to find her, licking young boy's blood from her claws". Yet another opening track in this list, this song kicks of the amazingness that is "The '59 Sound". From the opening notes to when the rock part kicks in, you know this is going to be a good song and a great album. I've seen them open the show with the song live, also very effective.
Next up: the top 10. Songs about pricks! Dying! Beer! Sex! and Prostitution!
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