The 100 Greatest Rock Songs Ever: #'s 40-21
Mar 06 '03 (Updated Nov 29 '03)
The Bottom Line N/A
Again, no intro, just on to the list:
40.Black Sabbath: War Pigs: Epic in musical scope, grand in design, War Pigs is a song that seems to jump all over the place, and succeeds because of it. And that solo at the end is positively unforgettable.
39.The Doors: Roadhouse Blues: Again, I hate Jim Morrison, but Roadhouse Blues sounds like a band on a musical rampage. I also think it's one of the few times that Morrison actually does not sound like crap.
38.Van Halen: Panama: No, this is not in here merely to make a specific commentator on the last part of list shut up. Even though some people consider Panama to be one of VH's ultimate "sell out" songs, I think it's just a rollicking good tune, and a hell of a good time.
37.Aerosmith: Dream On: The original "power ballad," no matter what anyone says. Such great music, and possibly the best lyrics Steven Tyler ever wrote.
36.U2: Bad: What can one say about Bad that hasn't been said before? I love the heavily accented out of breath delivery that Bono uses on this song, it makes it sound like every word is going to be his last and it sounds all the more emotional.
35.Bruce Springsteen: My Hometown: While some people thought of 'Born in the USA' as Springsteen's ultimate "pop" album, My Hometown was a heartfelt ballad that just fit the times, with Reagan and everything that came with him.
34.Ramones: Blitzkrieg Bop: The "original" punk anthem, a song so fast, so fun, and so furious that it became better known as "that 'hey ho let's go' song that sports teams play on the PA system."
33.The Clash: Train in Vain: Quite simply, the best pure pop song the Clash ever wrote, 3 simple chords and some excellent background playing. It's too bad bands today can't make it seem this easy.
32.Red Hot Chili Peppers: Under the Bridge: One of the most harrowing songs about drug addiction ever written (along with the previously listed 'Bad'). The song drips with pure honesty in it's lyrics, and the music seems to drip with pure emotion. This is the best thing Rick Rubin has given the rock and roll world (if he's to be believed from the RHCP Behind the Music).
31.Def Leppard: Photograph: I can only imagine the comments this will cause. Whatever. That guitar solo? FIRST TAKE. That hook? Just about unbeatable. In fact, I've always thought that the chorus was the weakest part of the song.
30.Nine Inch Nails: Hurt: Very few songs have had such an effect on my psyche without me even knowing it the way 'Hurt' has. It is, in so many ways, a fragile song that has a bit of hope and redemption in it. I respect this song more and more every time I hear it, and I respect Trent Reznor more and more for writing it everytime I hear it.
29.Pearl Jam: Given to Fly: PJ guitarist Mike McCreedy describes this song as "a wave," with it's ebbs and flows. This song helped reaffirm my faith in Pearl Jam, and with good reason. It is by far the best pure anthem to come out in the last 5 years, bar none.
28.Led Zeppelin: Going to California: Oh, I can see it now. "Hey Matt, were you Given to Fly while Going to California?" Hardy har har. Going to California is such a gorgeous song. I really like the simple, yet extremely adept playing that Page does on this song, and I think Plant's vocal performance is splendid.
27.Nirvana: All Apologies: To be quite honest, this is Cobain's finest masterpiece. The melody is genious, and lyrically, I don't think he ever wrote a better song ('You Know You're Right' being possibly the only exception).
26.Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall Part II: The only Pink Floyd song on the list. It is almost impossible to calculate how much this song, and the album it was a part of ("The Wall") influenced other bands and artists, but to say it was great is an extreme understatement. Sorry Jay Z and Missy Elliott, these guys used kids long before you did.
25.Creedance Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son: Say what you want, but anytime the subject of a military draft comes up in this country, this song is one of the first songs brought up as a strong reminder of why NOT to have a draft. To be able to say that 35 years after it was first released is a big deal, and it goes to show how relevant this song truly is and was.
24.Guns N Roses: Paradise City: A six plus minute long hard rock epic, Paradise City has one of those unforgettable and great hard rock choruses ("take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty"), not to mention some all around fantastic playing but every member of the band.
23.Jimi Hendrix: All Along the Watchtower: Everyone knows that people covering Dylan is a much better thing than Dylan himself performing those same songs. Hendrix made this song what it is, with his fiery and inspired vision of what this song always should have been.
22.Bob Marley: Redemption Song: One of the last major songs Marley wrote before he died, Redemption Song is in effect, the story of his life, and a call to future generations to "sing these songs of freedom." Sing them we do.
21.Metallica: One: First and foremost, this is the greatest true heavy metal song ever put to tape. Yes, it's everyone's "favorite" Metallica song, but that should be looked at as a compliment, not a detriment. This pushed the boundaries of "acceptable" heavy metal in the eyes of true metalheads everywhere, and it's power and influence has yet to be matched.
Coming on Sunday March 9th, the final 20 songs.
The List:
Songs 100-81
Songs 80-61
Songs 60-41
Songs 40-21
Songs 20-1
Related Reviews:
The Fifty Greatest Rock Albums of the 1990s Part One: #'s 50-41
The Fifty Greatest Rock Albums of the 1990s Part Two: #'s 40-31
The Fifty Greatest Rock Albums of the 1990s Part Three: #'s 30-21
The Fifty Greatest Rock Albums of the 1990s Part Four: #'s 20-11
The Fifty Greatest Rock Albums of the 1990s Part Five: #'s 10-1
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
MattA75
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: Matt Aucoin
Location: South Berwick, ME
Reviews written: 1162
Trusted by: 465 members
About Me:
Gonna be a daddy, April 2010!
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.