Here it is, the top 10.
10: "Johnny Quest (Thinks We're Sellouts)" by Less Than Jake
"Or is it that you think ska just sucks? Johnny Quest, he thinks we're what?!". For a band that I used to not hesitate to list as "my favorite band", it's interesting to see over time how they've faded on me. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE Less Than Jake. But when this is the lone song on this list it says something. This song was a former #1 back in the first days of this list, and I never lost sight of why I love this song so much. Great, fast song, powerful horns, nice "fuck you" style lyrics. This song may move up and down the list, but will always be pretty high and I'll never forget why it used to be #1.
9: "The Big Sleep" by Streetlight Manifesto
"The last two soldiers on the battle field, survivors of the war. They aim at one another while their mothers beg the lord, 'if you're listening, I'm missing him, so somehow bring him home. How did it come to this?'". This song will always be compared to "A Better Place, A Better Time" by me. They're the two longer songs on the album, and I used to not like them too much. They're also the two highest from that album on this list, so my have they've grown. While it is about death, it comes off as a hopeful song and a very sweet one as well. I've said enough about the music played by Streetlight already that there is no need to go into more here, it once again carries over into this song.
8: "Hey Ska!" by The Suicide Machines
"Well I listen to your fucking shit, I can't make any sense of it". TSM hardly ever used horns in their songs, but boy do they use them right in this one. This is one of the best ska-punk songs ever in my mind, fast, hard, great beats, and a catchy horn section. While the back of the album says it is called "Hey", the album notes say "Hey Ska", and Google/YouTube searches for "Hey Suicide Machines" and "Hey Ska Suicide Machines" produce the same results. Plus, you know a song is amazing when Streetlight would cover it live.
7: "The Impression That I Get" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"Have you ever had to jump so high you need the strength that none posses? Or has it ever come down to do or die, you've got to rise above the rest?" Oh cliche-core! I don't care, there is a reason why this was the Bosstones most popular song. Another song that everyone, even those who "hate ska", loves. Why? Well for a third wave ska song, it is very good. Catchy, simple, good beat. Granted it's far from your staple "Bosstones" song, but without it they wouldn't still be touring to this day.
6: "Beer" by Reel Big Fish
"And she said, 'well it's ok boy cause you know we'll be good friends' and I said, 'I think I'll have myself a beer'". More cliche! Ahhh! Once again, there is a reason why this is Reel Big Fish's most popular song. Another song that everyone knows and loves, it too is the reason Reel Big Fish is still making music to this day. While it wasn't a single, it is their biggest song, a pretty rare occurrence. Musically, I love the beat, that subtle use of horns, and of course the sad, depressed lyrics. And who doesn't love a great drinking song about beer?
5: "Seed" by Sublime
"I knew we could make it, but I only knew that the bitch would break it. I hope her parents love her so". A song about sex, "Seed" incorporates what I love most about Sublime's music. Sublime was so good because of their ability to play punk, reggae, and ska. This song has all 3 throughout, switching genres at different parts of the song. I don't think this song was ever #1, but it was the first Sublime song I really listened to and it is the reason I love them today. I first heard it in "Tony Hawk's Underground", and it has stuck with me ever since.
4: "Dear Sergio" by Streetlight Manifesto
"So wake up, wake up, wake up. Don't cry cause you'll fuck up your makeup. And if you do, you wont get laid. You won't make money and you won't get paid". The 12th and final appearance by Streetlight is a song that was officially recorded twice before this version ever surfaced. Originally by Catch 22 on their "Keasbey Nights", it was re-done by Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution with the third verse put in. Later, Tomas and Streetlight would perfect it to what it is now, an amazing song. Hard punk and ska. Hard horns that all have their own individual parts that stand out. Meaningful lyrics, and an amazing third verse that didn't exist with Catch 22. Seeing Streetlight play this live was a big highlight for me, and I'd love that to happen again sometime soon.
3: "Have the Time" by The Slackers
"There's never enough time to do what you must". Maybe I love this song so much because it was the first I heard by The Slackers. Maybe because it was their biggest hit, and had a music video. Maybe because it is arguably their best song, and never fails to make me happy when I hear it. Such a good island sound to it, helped by the video, puts in the mood for summer every time I hear it.
2: "And the Battle Begun" by the Rx Bandits
"One kiss for all the world, a taste for all that's precious". Over and over on this, I've said how much I love the Rx Bandits, especially the album "And the Battle Begins...". The lone "single" (well, it had a video) off the album, this song starts quiet and slow and progressively builds up as it goes on. Little use of horns, but it is the prefect amount for this song. A hint of their ska roots, and the right amount of hard punk of their later sound. Just under five minutes, this track is essentially all that is great about Rx. Only a band with this much talent can make a song this good, and it is even better live. They throw in a couple minutes of percussion jamming in the middle, drawing the song out even more and allowing the crowd to enjoy it for even more time. This song is so good, I moved it from 3 to 2 on the list as I wrote this, as I realized it I just love it that much.
1: "If We Want To" by Big D & the Kids Table
"So why not? Cause we can stay if we want to". I'll be honest, this is FAR from the best song on this list. I mean, I couldn't even pick a stand out lyric to quote up there. Dave's voice, which isn't amazing to begin with, doesn't exactly shine on this one. While this may not be the best song of all time, it is my favorite song of all time. And has been for probably 5 years now. "How It Goes" has been my favorite album since I got it for Christmas 04, but this song took a little while for me to warm up to. I remember exactly where I was when I first fell in love with it. April 05: Baltimore, Maryland. We were visiting my sister at school, I think we had Yankee-Orioles tickets so we were staying in the Inner Harbor. With time to kill during the day, I was walking around the harbor with my iPod. This song came on. It was a nice sunny day, and the music of this song just took over me. The horns on this song were (and still are) like nothing I had ever heard before. Each verse they increase in length and intensity. By time it's the climax of the song, the horns are just so powerful that I still get caught up in them every time. Listening to those horns, on that bright spring morning in Baltimore at age 16, I was hooked. I know that the other 9 songs in this entry alone are probably better, but the way this song hit me will always have such a special place to me that I'm pretty sure, after nearly 5 years, this song will forever be number one.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
100 Favorite Songs: 20-11
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!
"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!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
100 Favorite Songs: 30-21
30: "Piss Off" by the Arrogant Sons of Bitches!
"And all my friends told me 'watch out' cause you were treating me like shit. I swallowed my pride and bit my tongue and thought nothing it". Another ASOB break up song? Why not. I like this song probably from a video of seeing it live before of ASOB ending the show. It does end with "This is the last goodbye" over and over, so that works really well. Also, it puts me in a good mood when I'm pissed off, makes me want to tell people to piss off. The ending of the song is a lot of fun too
29: "Faded" by Big D & the Kids Table
"So this is your first tour? I bet a beer that it's your last. Don't bother stickering the bathroom kid, I'll be covering it up in March". This is a very angry song, and I'm not so sure why. Big D doesn't seem like the band to hate on kids trying to make it big. Maybe it is their way of expressing that they finally made it and can be a little arrogant, but this song is a little too much. Another track I like because of it's live placement, this time as a show opener. It's one of Big D's best hard punk song, with the horns going along with that level of intensity.
28: "Kinder Words" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"Kinder words here we can choose, we kinda got a lot to lose. The temperature? We need that to drop". I used to not really give this song much attention at all. In fact, the whole "Question the Answers" album never really appealed to me much. Then they opened in Boston with this in December 08. I've been hooked ever since. Slow build up into a hard punk-ska song is perfect way to open a show/album. Pretty good video that goes along with this song, but not nearly as good as the one for "The Rascal King"
27: "The Dirt Whispered" by Rise Against
"The dirt whispered, 'child, I'm coming home'". Maybe this song is an example of Rise Against "selling out" on their latest album, "Appeal to Reason". It is a pretty poppy song, not very hard, and features no hardcore parts. Oh well, it's a catchy song that sounds very sweet and I like it a lot. I could really seeing this make it onto a Guitar Hero, guitar seems like one of those songs.
26: "The Old School Off the Bright" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"Bring in the skins with the pins and patches on their packs". In 08, the Bosstones opened with "Kinder Words". In 07 it was this song, which is also when I realized what a good song this was, especially to open with. This is a deceptively violent song masked by the instrumentals, but I like it for how it sounds more than what it is about.
25: "Down, Down, Down, to Mephisto's Cafe" by Streetlight Manifesto
"And the gears will spin and sinners sin but at least will give you hell. And the righteous few will spit on you, so I bid you all farewell". This is the first song I heard off of "Somewhere in the Between" after it was on a Victory Records sampler with a couple Voodoo Glow Skulls songs (also on it was "Watch it Crash"). I still think that overall, this is Streetlight's best song. Their strongest song. You really need to listen to it 8 times to REALLY appreciate how good it is. Once for the vocals. Once for the guitar. Once for the bass (yes, the bass is amazing). Once for the drums. Once for each sax, and once for both the trombone and trumpet parts. The ability to make 8 different parts into one amazing song is why I appreciate ska so much, especially what Streetlight is doing. It's almost as if they can do no wrong, and don't care what you have to say about what it is they're doing. "Mephisto" is over 5 minutes of non-stop musical greatness, and I can only wish that one day they'll top this.
24: "The '59 Sound" by The Gaslight Anthem
"Did you hear your favorite song one last time?". My friend Tommy describes this as the saddest song he's ever heard. You might not pick up on that if you casually listen, but listen closely to the words and you may agree. This is the kind of song I want to play when I die, really puts someone's death into a different perspective. This will probably go down as Gaslight's "song", and I have no problem hearing this song at every one of their live shows from now on.
23: "WTFIU" by the Hub City Stompers
"So get on that dance floor and do what you do. This is going out to my Jersey crew". If you're wondering, it stands for 'what the fuck is up'. This is one of HCS' very aggressive songs, one of many in fact, and a great way to kick off their "Dirty Jersey" album. It's one of the most energetic songs on this list by far, and shows how they're not here to fuck around.
22: "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash
"You've been drinking brews for breakfast. Rudie can't fail". Like Sublime, The Clash is a great way to trap people into admitting that they do in fact like ska music. The Clash are not known for their Jamaican roots song, but this is a flat out ska song, and one of the first couple tracks on "London Calling", their most successful and famous album. I probably like this song the most because it is The Clash playing a ska song about ska fans, but musically it is also very good.
21: "Little Bitch" by Big D & the Kids Table
"I know, you know, you're just a little bitch! One-Two!" A cover of the song made famous by The Specials, Big D brings 70's style British ska to a 2000's style of punk ska. The horns on this version are much more present, and replacing the organ solo with a guitar solo was a nice touch too. This song had about 6 videos, all of Dave drinking excessively at the bar...but in different cities! As a result, this becomes a great drinking song, so drink up and be merry listening to the fun sound of Big D.
Up Next: Remember when I said I tend to like opening tracks of albums? 5 of the next 10 are that! Songs about being black and broke! Looking for love! Life sucking! Drugs! Suicide! More gang violence! And, the word "fuck"....a lot
"And all my friends told me 'watch out' cause you were treating me like shit. I swallowed my pride and bit my tongue and thought nothing it". Another ASOB break up song? Why not. I like this song probably from a video of seeing it live before of ASOB ending the show. It does end with "This is the last goodbye" over and over, so that works really well. Also, it puts me in a good mood when I'm pissed off, makes me want to tell people to piss off. The ending of the song is a lot of fun too
29: "Faded" by Big D & the Kids Table
"So this is your first tour? I bet a beer that it's your last. Don't bother stickering the bathroom kid, I'll be covering it up in March". This is a very angry song, and I'm not so sure why. Big D doesn't seem like the band to hate on kids trying to make it big. Maybe it is their way of expressing that they finally made it and can be a little arrogant, but this song is a little too much. Another track I like because of it's live placement, this time as a show opener. It's one of Big D's best hard punk song, with the horns going along with that level of intensity.
28: "Kinder Words" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"Kinder words here we can choose, we kinda got a lot to lose. The temperature? We need that to drop". I used to not really give this song much attention at all. In fact, the whole "Question the Answers" album never really appealed to me much. Then they opened in Boston with this in December 08. I've been hooked ever since. Slow build up into a hard punk-ska song is perfect way to open a show/album. Pretty good video that goes along with this song, but not nearly as good as the one for "The Rascal King"
27: "The Dirt Whispered" by Rise Against
"The dirt whispered, 'child, I'm coming home'". Maybe this song is an example of Rise Against "selling out" on their latest album, "Appeal to Reason". It is a pretty poppy song, not very hard, and features no hardcore parts. Oh well, it's a catchy song that sounds very sweet and I like it a lot. I could really seeing this make it onto a Guitar Hero, guitar seems like one of those songs.
26: "The Old School Off the Bright" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"Bring in the skins with the pins and patches on their packs". In 08, the Bosstones opened with "Kinder Words". In 07 it was this song, which is also when I realized what a good song this was, especially to open with. This is a deceptively violent song masked by the instrumentals, but I like it for how it sounds more than what it is about.
25: "Down, Down, Down, to Mephisto's Cafe" by Streetlight Manifesto
"And the gears will spin and sinners sin but at least will give you hell. And the righteous few will spit on you, so I bid you all farewell". This is the first song I heard off of "Somewhere in the Between" after it was on a Victory Records sampler with a couple Voodoo Glow Skulls songs (also on it was "Watch it Crash"). I still think that overall, this is Streetlight's best song. Their strongest song. You really need to listen to it 8 times to REALLY appreciate how good it is. Once for the vocals. Once for the guitar. Once for the bass (yes, the bass is amazing). Once for the drums. Once for each sax, and once for both the trombone and trumpet parts. The ability to make 8 different parts into one amazing song is why I appreciate ska so much, especially what Streetlight is doing. It's almost as if they can do no wrong, and don't care what you have to say about what it is they're doing. "Mephisto" is over 5 minutes of non-stop musical greatness, and I can only wish that one day they'll top this.
24: "The '59 Sound" by The Gaslight Anthem
"Did you hear your favorite song one last time?". My friend Tommy describes this as the saddest song he's ever heard. You might not pick up on that if you casually listen, but listen closely to the words and you may agree. This is the kind of song I want to play when I die, really puts someone's death into a different perspective. This will probably go down as Gaslight's "song", and I have no problem hearing this song at every one of their live shows from now on.
23: "WTFIU" by the Hub City Stompers
"So get on that dance floor and do what you do. This is going out to my Jersey crew". If you're wondering, it stands for 'what the fuck is up'. This is one of HCS' very aggressive songs, one of many in fact, and a great way to kick off their "Dirty Jersey" album. It's one of the most energetic songs on this list by far, and shows how they're not here to fuck around.
22: "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash
"You've been drinking brews for breakfast. Rudie can't fail". Like Sublime, The Clash is a great way to trap people into admitting that they do in fact like ska music. The Clash are not known for their Jamaican roots song, but this is a flat out ska song, and one of the first couple tracks on "London Calling", their most successful and famous album. I probably like this song the most because it is The Clash playing a ska song about ska fans, but musically it is also very good.
21: "Little Bitch" by Big D & the Kids Table
"I know, you know, you're just a little bitch! One-Two!" A cover of the song made famous by The Specials, Big D brings 70's style British ska to a 2000's style of punk ska. The horns on this version are much more present, and replacing the organ solo with a guitar solo was a nice touch too. This song had about 6 videos, all of Dave drinking excessively at the bar...but in different cities! As a result, this becomes a great drinking song, so drink up and be merry listening to the fun sound of Big D.
Up Next: Remember when I said I tend to like opening tracks of albums? 5 of the next 10 are that! Songs about being black and broke! Looking for love! Life sucking! Drugs! Suicide! More gang violence! And, the word "fuck"....a lot
Monday, March 22, 2010
100 Favorite Songs: 40-31
40: "Survive" by Rise Against
"All smiles and sunshine. A perfect world on a perfect day. Everything always works out. I have never felt so fucking great". A slow, over a minute build up into one of RA's harder songs. While the instrumentals are hard punk, the vocals are more on the pop side, and easily understandable. That is until it approaches the last third of the song where Tim once again showcases his ability to make hardcore screaming something special, and very talented.
39: "Noise Brigade" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"A moment of silence, a lifetime of laughter". I've always felt that first track on an album is probably the most important. This song does exactly what an opening track should do, start things off with an indication of what the album will entail. This song is fast and catchy, with nice horn parts and lyrics that are easy to understand. After hearing this track you know that the rest of "Let's Face It" will quite enjoyable
38: "Date Rape" by Sublime
"Date rape stylee!". Oh, cliche city. Everyone likes this song. I like it because it is a great ska song, and was a very important one for the genre back in 1995. The band said they didn't like it much, which is understandable because it isn't the most impressive song musically. But it did very well, and really got ska back on the market for a whole 2 years! I love it when people say the music I like sucks. I ask them if they like "Date Rape", almost always I get a yes. Sorry, you like ska. You just don't know it cause you only like the popular songs, which this is probably in the top 5 in terms of popularity. This song is very good live if you've ever heard that version. This song also got me an A once in high school. We had to turn in a song that was a ballad and told a story, this one did that quite well in fact.
37: "Sell Out" by Reel Big Fish
"And she said, 'but I can't work in fast food all my life'". More cliche singles! But once again, there is a reason why this was RBF's only real hit. Also, this is once again a great example of how powerful an intro song can be. It really sets the pace for the whole album that is RBF's best, "Turn the Radio Off". This song also has a great video, but then again most of the RBF videos are great (NOT "Where Have you Been"). This is another one of those songs people like who claim they don't like ska, but not as much as the next RBF entry.
36: "Keasbey Nights" by Streetlight Manifesto
"My, my, my how the time does fly when you know you're going to die by the end of the night". Alas, the middle 1/3 of "Point/Keasbey Nights/Counterpoint". If that is confusing, look it up on Youtube, you'll see how they play it live. Earlier, "Walking Away" made it's appearance off of the original "Keasbey Nights" album by Catch 22, but this is the first off of Streetlight's re-release, which I think is much better. As for the song, it reminds me of summer so much, and is also one of those songs the "skafan-lite" might know. If you are a local band from Jersey, law requires you to cover this song in your first 2 years of preforming
35: "The Patient Ferris Wheel" by The Gaslight Anthem
"I never felt so strange standing in the Jersey rain". How fitting is it that today is very rainy, and what a perfect song to go along with it. I'm absolutely biased for the Jersey mentioning in the chorus, so deal with it because it is a great song all around. I'd like to think this is one of the tracks off of "The '59 Sound" that has Gaslight's style summed up, straight from the roots of Bruce. Also, that lyric I used serves its away message and Facebook status purposes often, especially while home in Jersey.
34: "Too Much" by The Suicide Machines
"Well I listen to your fucking shit and I can't make any sense of it". Punk Rawk to the max! This song starts out with hard chords and doesn't let up much until the ska parts towards the end. Even then it ends on a hard note. This song always makes me just want to have fun and never fails to get me in an excited mood. Another song that sums up a band's, and album's ("Destruction by Definition", my second favorite album), sound. This song is a perfect mix of punk, hardcore, and ska, what TSM always did best.
33: "To Our Unborn Daughters" by the Rx Bandits
"The matriarch was murdered, now woman is a four-lettered word". I used to not like this song very much at all. Then a year after the album was released, Rx released a recording of their performances at Bonaroo 07. This is what the opened with, and from that I really listened to the song. Nearly 3 years later it still blows me away every time. The lyrics are so meaningful about society, and the instrumentals compliment it with plenty of both hard and slow parts throughout the song. This comes near the end of "And the Battle Begins", but I think could have worked at the opening despite being a pretty slow song overall. But then again, that album is near flawless, so who am I to judge. This is one of several on there that would make a good Guitar Hero song.
32: "Everything Went Numb" by Streetlight Manifesto
"Ski mask? Check! Sawed-off? Check! Guilty conscience? Fear of Death? Check! Check! Check!". I wish I liked ska back in 02 when this album came out. I would have been looking forward to this so much, the first release from Tomas Kalnoky since "Keasbey Nights" in 1998. The first notes of the song never fail to catch my attention. Simple tunes from the saxes, then the other horns, then the rest of the band into what kicks off one of the best albums I have ever heard. This post had a lot of first-track-songs, and I think the solo horn parts in the beginning do it better than all the others. Throughout the horns are amazing. The song is fast. The lyrics tell a good story. This song basically kicked off what was destined to be a great career for Streetlight Manifesto.
31: "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash
"If they got anything to say, there's many black ears here to listen". This song came out in the late 70's a time of social turmoil in London, and it does a great job to bring several big social issues into question through the lyrics. A nice tribute to Jamaican reggae and ska, this is the first instance of The Clash playing non-traditional punk and mixing it with other genres. Great cover of this song: The Aggrolites. Horrible cover of this song: 311. Why? Anything more ironic than 311 singing the lyric "You think it's funny turning rebellion into money?"? Didn't think so.
Up next comes where it is hard to decided which songs are better. Some of them include songs about: Break ups! Crappy bands! Gang fights! Death! And oh, so much more!
"All smiles and sunshine. A perfect world on a perfect day. Everything always works out. I have never felt so fucking great". A slow, over a minute build up into one of RA's harder songs. While the instrumentals are hard punk, the vocals are more on the pop side, and easily understandable. That is until it approaches the last third of the song where Tim once again showcases his ability to make hardcore screaming something special, and very talented.
39: "Noise Brigade" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"A moment of silence, a lifetime of laughter". I've always felt that first track on an album is probably the most important. This song does exactly what an opening track should do, start things off with an indication of what the album will entail. This song is fast and catchy, with nice horn parts and lyrics that are easy to understand. After hearing this track you know that the rest of "Let's Face It" will quite enjoyable
38: "Date Rape" by Sublime
"Date rape stylee!". Oh, cliche city. Everyone likes this song. I like it because it is a great ska song, and was a very important one for the genre back in 1995. The band said they didn't like it much, which is understandable because it isn't the most impressive song musically. But it did very well, and really got ska back on the market for a whole 2 years! I love it when people say the music I like sucks. I ask them if they like "Date Rape", almost always I get a yes. Sorry, you like ska. You just don't know it cause you only like the popular songs, which this is probably in the top 5 in terms of popularity. This song is very good live if you've ever heard that version. This song also got me an A once in high school. We had to turn in a song that was a ballad and told a story, this one did that quite well in fact.
37: "Sell Out" by Reel Big Fish
"And she said, 'but I can't work in fast food all my life'". More cliche singles! But once again, there is a reason why this was RBF's only real hit. Also, this is once again a great example of how powerful an intro song can be. It really sets the pace for the whole album that is RBF's best, "Turn the Radio Off". This song also has a great video, but then again most of the RBF videos are great (NOT "Where Have you Been"). This is another one of those songs people like who claim they don't like ska, but not as much as the next RBF entry.
36: "Keasbey Nights" by Streetlight Manifesto
"My, my, my how the time does fly when you know you're going to die by the end of the night". Alas, the middle 1/3 of "Point/Keasbey Nights/Counterpoint". If that is confusing, look it up on Youtube, you'll see how they play it live. Earlier, "Walking Away" made it's appearance off of the original "Keasbey Nights" album by Catch 22, but this is the first off of Streetlight's re-release, which I think is much better. As for the song, it reminds me of summer so much, and is also one of those songs the "skafan-lite" might know. If you are a local band from Jersey, law requires you to cover this song in your first 2 years of preforming
35: "The Patient Ferris Wheel" by The Gaslight Anthem
"I never felt so strange standing in the Jersey rain". How fitting is it that today is very rainy, and what a perfect song to go along with it. I'm absolutely biased for the Jersey mentioning in the chorus, so deal with it because it is a great song all around. I'd like to think this is one of the tracks off of "The '59 Sound" that has Gaslight's style summed up, straight from the roots of Bruce. Also, that lyric I used serves its away message and Facebook status purposes often, especially while home in Jersey.
34: "Too Much" by The Suicide Machines
"Well I listen to your fucking shit and I can't make any sense of it". Punk Rawk to the max! This song starts out with hard chords and doesn't let up much until the ska parts towards the end. Even then it ends on a hard note. This song always makes me just want to have fun and never fails to get me in an excited mood. Another song that sums up a band's, and album's ("Destruction by Definition", my second favorite album), sound. This song is a perfect mix of punk, hardcore, and ska, what TSM always did best.
33: "To Our Unborn Daughters" by the Rx Bandits
"The matriarch was murdered, now woman is a four-lettered word". I used to not like this song very much at all. Then a year after the album was released, Rx released a recording of their performances at Bonaroo 07. This is what the opened with, and from that I really listened to the song. Nearly 3 years later it still blows me away every time. The lyrics are so meaningful about society, and the instrumentals compliment it with plenty of both hard and slow parts throughout the song. This comes near the end of "And the Battle Begins", but I think could have worked at the opening despite being a pretty slow song overall. But then again, that album is near flawless, so who am I to judge. This is one of several on there that would make a good Guitar Hero song.
32: "Everything Went Numb" by Streetlight Manifesto
"Ski mask? Check! Sawed-off? Check! Guilty conscience? Fear of Death? Check! Check! Check!". I wish I liked ska back in 02 when this album came out. I would have been looking forward to this so much, the first release from Tomas Kalnoky since "Keasbey Nights" in 1998. The first notes of the song never fail to catch my attention. Simple tunes from the saxes, then the other horns, then the rest of the band into what kicks off one of the best albums I have ever heard. This post had a lot of first-track-songs, and I think the solo horn parts in the beginning do it better than all the others. Throughout the horns are amazing. The song is fast. The lyrics tell a good story. This song basically kicked off what was destined to be a great career for Streetlight Manifesto.
31: "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash
"If they got anything to say, there's many black ears here to listen". This song came out in the late 70's a time of social turmoil in London, and it does a great job to bring several big social issues into question through the lyrics. A nice tribute to Jamaican reggae and ska, this is the first instance of The Clash playing non-traditional punk and mixing it with other genres. Great cover of this song: The Aggrolites. Horrible cover of this song: 311. Why? Anything more ironic than 311 singing the lyric "You think it's funny turning rebellion into money?"? Didn't think so.
Up next comes where it is hard to decided which songs are better. Some of them include songs about: Break ups! Crappy bands! Gang fights! Death! And oh, so much more!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
100 Favorite Songs: 50-41
Top 50, here we go
50: "Beer (Song)" by Mustard Plug"
"They will not take me all away, not one foot, not one inch!". As I remember them saying in their album notes, it's interesting that their "biggest" song, called beer, has nothing to do with beer. Still, as far as 3rd wave ska goes, this is one of the better songs of the pop-punk/ska movement of the 90's. This is Mustard Plug's "song", their staple song, and damn it is good.
49: "Myself" by Big D & the Kids Table
"As the pendulum is swinging from side to side I often wonder, why the things that mean the most to me, can never be". The first song on this by Big D is the first off their first full album, "Good Luck". Oh the sounds of old Big D, how I miss thee. A fun, fast paced ska-punk song. Crappy vocals, mediocre instrumentals and catchy horns. Simpler times. But the song redeems itself, with messages of friends, and striving to move forward in a crappy life.
48: "Bright Spring Morning" by Suburban Legends
"Go, roll down that window. Go, crank up that radio. Let's drive until we meet the sky". I really wanted to include the whole chorus on this one, as it just pumps me up on nice weather days. But I wanted to get this post in, so you'll have to listen yourself on this one. Back when Suburban Legends played pop-ska (more nostalgia), this song was as good as it got for them. They even re-recorded it to pay tribute to former trombone player, Dallas, who died in a hit and run accident. Fast, it is a motivational song to live your life and enjoy what nature provides. Slow, it is a sad song, reminding those who are fortunate enough to enjoy life while you can, and make the most of it. Today's weather called for this song.
47: "Cheers! The World's Almost Over" by Westbound Train
" She said, 'can I kiss you, once again'". While I don't think this song is about the world ending, it is a nice love song about not knowing when time will run out. It starts slow and picks up to a fun song to dance to, and WBT has always balanced slow melodies with the ability to dance and have fun. This song is no exception, and is a great addition to their love song catalog.
46: "Dogs and Chaplains" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstons
"Drunks and children, always tell the truth". Those lyrics are the original title of this song, and not sure why they changed them for their second album. Still, this is the better version of the song, with more to the bridge, and harder chords. And it is true, those are as truthful as it gets, so make use of that while you can. A good drinking song.
45: "The Good Left Undone" by Rise Against
" All because of you I believe in angles, not the kind with wings, no not the kind with halos. The kind who bring you home, when home becomes a strange place". That lyrics is a big change in the song. Earlier, it seems more that the "you" hurt him, and this song is about striving forward. Maybe at the end he sees that "you" made things better than he realizes. Who cares, great, great punk song.
44: "Point/Counterpoint" by Streetlight Manifesto
"And every time I make a point you make a counterpoint". I guess that lyric was a boring representation of this great song. Oh well, I'm drunk, so deal with it. "Point" and "Counterpoint" are only 2/3 of this song, a later edition really comes in the middle. And oh, what a song. You have to hear it to know why Streetlight is so good, so go listen.
43: "Checklist" by Big D & the Kids Table
"You don't have to dress up, it's not a fucking fashion show". Ah, sweet good, old Big D. This song is in it's own league in terms of what it is. Big D is great for its hard punk and horns. This song is them at their hardest, with the horns at their hardest. Love every second of it.
42: "Kill the President" by the Arrogant Sons of Bitches!
"Over and over again, I'm so useless". Looking over this list, I'm shocked this is only at 42. Maybe it works better as a part of the whole album, but wow is this a good song. Punk, ska, horns, catchy chorus, meaningful lyrics. Really, you can't go wrong. Once again this is a song I can't really put into words why I love it. Maybe that's what music should be, just songs you like for reasons you don't know. Oh well, enjoy it cause it is great.
41: "High Lonesome" by The Gaslight Anthem
"And Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hands. I always kind of, sort of wished, I looked like Elvis". Hard drum roll, hard chords, what a way to start off a song. Lyrics are amazing, as they are on this whole album. Instrumentals on this one are something better than the rest, I almost resent putting it this low on the list. Live, this song is even better. Just a good pump-up song, but one with meaning behind its lyrics.
Up next: Rise Against gets pumped, Date Rape again!, making money, the other 1/3 of an earlier song, and The Clash playing reggae!
50: "Beer (Song)" by Mustard Plug"
"They will not take me all away, not one foot, not one inch!". As I remember them saying in their album notes, it's interesting that their "biggest" song, called beer, has nothing to do with beer. Still, as far as 3rd wave ska goes, this is one of the better songs of the pop-punk/ska movement of the 90's. This is Mustard Plug's "song", their staple song, and damn it is good.
49: "Myself" by Big D & the Kids Table
"As the pendulum is swinging from side to side I often wonder, why the things that mean the most to me, can never be". The first song on this by Big D is the first off their first full album, "Good Luck". Oh the sounds of old Big D, how I miss thee. A fun, fast paced ska-punk song. Crappy vocals, mediocre instrumentals and catchy horns. Simpler times. But the song redeems itself, with messages of friends, and striving to move forward in a crappy life.
48: "Bright Spring Morning" by Suburban Legends
"Go, roll down that window. Go, crank up that radio. Let's drive until we meet the sky". I really wanted to include the whole chorus on this one, as it just pumps me up on nice weather days. But I wanted to get this post in, so you'll have to listen yourself on this one. Back when Suburban Legends played pop-ska (more nostalgia), this song was as good as it got for them. They even re-recorded it to pay tribute to former trombone player, Dallas, who died in a hit and run accident. Fast, it is a motivational song to live your life and enjoy what nature provides. Slow, it is a sad song, reminding those who are fortunate enough to enjoy life while you can, and make the most of it. Today's weather called for this song.
47: "Cheers! The World's Almost Over" by Westbound Train
" She said, 'can I kiss you, once again'". While I don't think this song is about the world ending, it is a nice love song about not knowing when time will run out. It starts slow and picks up to a fun song to dance to, and WBT has always balanced slow melodies with the ability to dance and have fun. This song is no exception, and is a great addition to their love song catalog.
46: "Dogs and Chaplains" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstons
"Drunks and children, always tell the truth". Those lyrics are the original title of this song, and not sure why they changed them for their second album. Still, this is the better version of the song, with more to the bridge, and harder chords. And it is true, those are as truthful as it gets, so make use of that while you can. A good drinking song.
45: "The Good Left Undone" by Rise Against
" All because of you I believe in angles, not the kind with wings, no not the kind with halos. The kind who bring you home, when home becomes a strange place". That lyrics is a big change in the song. Earlier, it seems more that the "you" hurt him, and this song is about striving forward. Maybe at the end he sees that "you" made things better than he realizes. Who cares, great, great punk song.
44: "Point/Counterpoint" by Streetlight Manifesto
"And every time I make a point you make a counterpoint". I guess that lyric was a boring representation of this great song. Oh well, I'm drunk, so deal with it. "Point" and "Counterpoint" are only 2/3 of this song, a later edition really comes in the middle. And oh, what a song. You have to hear it to know why Streetlight is so good, so go listen.
43: "Checklist" by Big D & the Kids Table
"You don't have to dress up, it's not a fucking fashion show". Ah, sweet good, old Big D. This song is in it's own league in terms of what it is. Big D is great for its hard punk and horns. This song is them at their hardest, with the horns at their hardest. Love every second of it.
42: "Kill the President" by the Arrogant Sons of Bitches!
"Over and over again, I'm so useless". Looking over this list, I'm shocked this is only at 42. Maybe it works better as a part of the whole album, but wow is this a good song. Punk, ska, horns, catchy chorus, meaningful lyrics. Really, you can't go wrong. Once again this is a song I can't really put into words why I love it. Maybe that's what music should be, just songs you like for reasons you don't know. Oh well, enjoy it cause it is great.
41: "High Lonesome" by The Gaslight Anthem
"And Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hands. I always kind of, sort of wished, I looked like Elvis". Hard drum roll, hard chords, what a way to start off a song. Lyrics are amazing, as they are on this whole album. Instrumentals on this one are something better than the rest, I almost resent putting it this low on the list. Live, this song is even better. Just a good pump-up song, but one with meaning behind its lyrics.
Up next: Rise Against gets pumped, Date Rape again!, making money, the other 1/3 of an earlier song, and The Clash playing reggae!
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