The following is a list of the 100 best songs ever.
1. Violenza Domestica - Mr. Bungle. This is an uncommon song. Although portions of it are recognizable as 'normal' music, the common pop-radio listener will dismiss it as a jumble of noise. Upon closer inspection by the intelligent, open-minded individual, one will note the structure of this song is quite average and in fact very normal. This song, like many Mr. Bungle songs, shows that while the musicians seem to simply have a short attention span, they simultaneously convey a savant-like approach that gives it a complicated feel. It is not complicated, it is creative.
2. He's Misstra Know it All - Stevie Wonder. This is Stevie Wonder at his creative prime. This is simply a good, mellow song. If performed by another artist, it would probably not be on this list, but Stevie lends his piano and vocal style masterfuly here.
3. Author Unknown - Jason Falkner. Yes, this is power-pop, and yes, he thinks he is a Beatle. This song (and the album it comes from) takes on a new dimension when you discover that Jason Falkner plays every instrument on every song. I bought the album completely at random, and knew right away there was something special. Turns out Jason Falkner was allowed to leave regular school early to attend the Juliard music school. He was never able to comfortably fit into a band (two of which are recognized on this list), so he is out on his own now playing every instrument in order to make it sound exactly the way he wants.
4. Stubb (A Dubb) - Mr. Bungle. This is another short attention span song. Each segment of the structure has a definite, almost distracting mood change. The heavy handed playing of the piano combined with the use of the saxophone and circus organ give the song a bizarre sound. Certain portions of the vocal track sound as though they were distorted on purpose, with someone in the studio actually placing their hands on the tape reel to produce a psychotic warbling. Again, the song is quite standard in structure, but very creative in presentation. The song is about a family that gets a puppy, and we follow the dog through his life, as he thinks he is human (a theory of dog studiers), as he gets cataract and glaucoma (common illnesses in dogs), and then dies.
5. Housework - Fishbone. This song sounds very much like Mr. Bungle. The old western saloon style piano and the saxophones give this song a bright and bizarre feel. The mix really pushes the bass, and every note of the bass is booming and clear. A high energy song that is very refreshing. I believe this is the only song on my list with a tuba solo.
6. Green Into Gold - Angie Aparo. The first time I heard this song I was amazed, and that has only ever happened for me with Mr. Bungle, Stevie Wonder, and Jason Falkner.
7. Penitent - Suzane Vega. There are many of her songs that could have made it onto this list, and I probably would have put more if not for this song. This song sets the bar high above any of her other songs. Her last few albums have been collections of brilliant songs, all understated on purpose. This song follows her same formula by using just a few instruments all playing genius lines over each other in increasing intensity until they reach a climax that is the most confoundingly compelling and yet simple melody I have ever heard. This song is easily number one on the list, but the overall tone is too depressing to make that cut.
8. 365 Reasons To Commit Suicide - Illwill. Hard to believe the guitar player here is the guy that plays for King Diamond, because this is some very different music from King's. The vocalist is an unknown to me, but I think he saw what King was doing and decided to take it ten steps further. This song is so far over the top it is undescribeable. It is a punishing song which, for some reason, is very soothing to me.
9. Seņor Limpio - COC. This song is the epitome of the COC sound. A groovin', screamin', rockin' song with low down out of tune guitars and lots of anger. The band is now gone because the drummer hurt himself permanently the way he played the drums.
10. Brother - Steve Vai.
11. Rocket Man - Elton John.
12. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due - Megadeth. For me, this is the benchmark by which all other heavy metal songs are measured. Unfortunately for Megadeth, this song was a few years too late, and showed up right as metal was starting to lose out to the everything-sounds-like-Pearl-Jam-Seattle-sound crizzap (a time in music which blessed us with over a dozen good songs!). This song is pure genious, no question.
13. Peace Train - Lincoln Mayorga (not the Cat Stevens original).
14. Bird's Eye View/Sittin' Pretty - Brendan Benson.
15. Down in a Willow Garden - traditional.
16. Eastman's Cure - King Diamond.
17. Carousel - Mr. Bungle.
18. Allentown - Billy Joel.
19. Caught in a Web - Dream Theater.
20. She Goes to Bed - Jason Falkner.
21. Erase/Rewind - The Cardigans.
22. Next Door To An Angel - Neil Sedaka.
23. Leaving Town - Dexter Freebish.
24. Nobody Hears - Suicidal Tendencies.
25. Recovery - Olivia Newton-John.
26. Red Vines - Aimee Mann
27. Goodnight Sweet Night - Jason Falkner
28. Summer Soft - Stevie Wonder
29. Insanity - King Diamond
30. Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show - Neil Diamond
31. Last Love Letter - Alison Krauss & Union Station
32. Lighthouse's Tale - Nickel Creek
33. Hobo's Prayer - Marty Stuart
34. Kid A - Radiohead
35. Spaceship - Angie Aparo
36. Rock and Roll Hoochie Coo - Rick Derringer
37. Badlands - Metal Church
38. Temptation's Wings - Down
39. If I Were A Killer - King Diamond
40. Very Best Years - The Grays
41. Bye Bye Love - The Cars
42. The Hunter - Iced Earth
43. Wiseblood - COC
44. Stranger in a Strange Land - Iron Maiden
45. Abigail - King Diamond
46. As - Stevie Wonder
47. Dreams - King Diamond
48. 21st Century Digital Boy - Bad Religion
49. Cupid - Sam Cooke
50. Livin' on a Chain Gang - Skid Row
51. Forgiveness - Psychefunkapus
52. My Name Is Jonas - Weezer
53. Red Barchetta - Rush
54. The End - Linkin Park
55. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
56. Vision of Love - Mariah Carey
57. Jeremy - Pearl Jam
58. We Can Work It Out - Stevie Wonder
59. Stomp! - The Brothers' Johnson
60. Hangar 18 - Megadeth
61. All About Eve - Steve Vai
62. Horn - Phish
63. The Hero - Queen
64. Just - Radiohead
65. Choctaw Hayride - Alison Krauss and Union Station
66. Pact Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box - Radiohead
67. The Man I Used To Be - Jellyfish
68. She Watch Channel Zero - Public Enemy
69. Downeaster Alexa - Billy Joel
70. Black Lodge - Anthrax
71. Empty Garden - Elton John
72. Railhead Overture - Mike Post
73. Promises - The Cranberries
74. 'Clean My Wounds' - COC
75. Africa - Toto
76. Creep - Radiohead
77. Would? - Alice in Chains
78. What About Your Friends? - TLC
79. Joining a Fan Club - Jellyfish
80. Tommy the Cat - Primus
81. She's a Heartbreaker - ZZ Top
82. Hollow - Pantera
83. Rusty Cage - Soundgarden
84. Stronger - Britney Spears
85. Hit - The Sugarcubes
86. Space Oddity - David Bowie
87. Say Hello To Heaven - Temple of the Dog
88. Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
89. Memphis City Rain - Angie Aparo
90. Tiny Spark - Brendan Benson
91. Peace Train - Sam Harris (not the Cat Stevens original)
92. Prison Sex - Tool
93. Mexican Blackbird - ZZ Top
94. In My Dreams With You - Steve Vai
95. Stolen Prayer - Alice Cooper
96. Auto-Man - Newcleus
97. Let Me Touch You For A While - Alison Krauss and Union Station
98. World Before Columbus - Suzane Vega
99. Strawberry Letter #23 - The Brothers' Johnson
100. Camarillo Brillo - Frank Zappa
101. Machine Gun - The Commodores
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