|
|
9lives Top 200 Tracks: Part IV (#125 - #101)Jul 13 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Music
The Bottom Line From the metal of Suicidal Tendencies to the pop of Spandau Ballet. It's a weird one.
9lives Top 200! Part IV features Alanis Morissette, Blur, Bon Jovi, Cheap Trick, Genesis, INXS, Joe Perry Project, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Level 42, Megadeth, Michael Jackson, Motley Crue, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Savoy, Silverchair, Simply Red, Soundgarden, Spandau Ballet, Suicidal Tendencies, Terrorvision, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen! Part IV of my Top 200 Tracks countdown. Part I is here Part II is here Part III is here 125. Freak - Silverchair Own it on: Freak Show Year: 1997 Yeah i'm a freak/If only I could be as cool as you Australia's answer to Nirvana never achieved the world-wide success that was touted in the mid-ninties. MTV tried their best to promote Daniel Johns' angst as the next big musical money-making machine, but the public just weren't buying it. 'Freak' was one of their better songs even if the lyrics leave a lot to be desired (any reference to 'cold sore cream' is just not on). Johns married Natalie Imbruglia though so personally I think he's got all he'll ever need. 124. A New Flame - Simply Red Own it on: A New Flame Year: 1989 She's turned me round/A new flame has come/And nothing she can do/Can do me wrong There was a time when Mick Hucknall, complete with his mental head of hair, was set to become the next Sting. He did middle of the road soul-pop, but he did it with a sparkling ability to write great hooks ('Right Thing', 'Money's too Tight to Mention', 'Stars', 'It's Only Love', 'You've Got It', 'Holding Back the Years', 'Something Got Me Started' - the list is almost endless). Of course he went a bit tame and boring in the mid-90s and although he's ticking over, he looks unlikely to 'do a Kylie' (literally or metaphorically) and recapture the glory days of songs like 'A New Flame'. 123. Through the Barricades - Spandau Ballet Own it on: Gold Year: 2001 And now I know what they're saying as our hearts go to their graves/And we made our love on wasteland and through the barricades I never particularly rated Spandau Ballet outside of a handful of good tunes in the mid-80s. Their short (when compared to the likes of Duran Duran or a-ha) but successful career peaked creatively with a gentle ballad about the Northern Ireland troubles, 'Through the Barricades'. It was to be their last big hit. 122. Subliminal - Suicidal Tendencies Own it on: Still Cyco After All These Years Year: 1993 Mind control the easiest way/Sponsored by the CIA/It's a weapon you cannot see/It's propaganda subliminally At no point would I pretend to be a Suicidal Tendencies fan so when I heard 'Instiutionalised' on the radio in 1993, I assumed I was listening to a brand new release. Turns out that the album "Still Cyco After All These Years" was a re-recording of the band's debut, and eponymous, 1983 LP. Having not heard the original, I can only pluck 'Subliminal' from the latter release - a heavy metal conspiracy whine about government mind control. Whether you believe it or not, it makes a damn good record. 121. Celebrity Hit List - Terrorvision Own it on: Regular Urban Survivors Year: 1996 I gambled with my house, when I lost my car/I gambled with my car, trying to win back my wife/I lost my family on a sure fire thing/Then I lost against the odds when I gambled with my life. The mid-90s belonged to this Bradford band. The unassuming rockers mixed catchy riffs with humorous lyrics and boundless energy to become one of the UKs biggest bands for a couple of years a decade ago. 'Celebrity Hit List' was one of four hit singles from their breakthrough album "Regular Urban Survivors" - an infectious rocker that would probably force you to indiscriminately jump up and down on the spot if you were at one of their gigs. The first of FIVE damn entries for Terrorvision. 120. Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones Own it on: Forty Licks Year: 2002 I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis/She tried to take me upstairs for a ride Third of four Stones entries, and one of their classics. The raw blues-rock sound was a pretty unique sounding entity at this point but it influenced so much music from that point on. 119. Land of Confusion - Genesis Own it on: Turn it On Again: Greatest Hits Year: 1999 There's too many men/Too many people/Making too many problems/And not much love to go round It's trendier to hate Genesis than like them. Their golden era artistically was generally recognised as being the Peter Gabriel days from the first half of the seventies, but Phil Collins led them to great commercial success in the 80s and early 90s. This 1986 hit single is recognised as one of their great tracks and was backed by a terrific satirical video featuring puppets of several world leaders and political figures of the day. 118. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin Own it on: Led Zeppelin III Year: 1970 We come from the land of the ice and snow/from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow A recent survey to find the greatest rock riff of all time saw Guns N Roses 'Sweet Child O' Mine' come out on top. Which of course is total toss. If you're looking for a great riff then look very little further than Led Zep's 'Immigrant Song' - although you could probably throw half a dozen Led Zep songs in to the top 20. The medieval fantasy lyrics, throbbing rhythm and scorching vocals help create one of the most intriguing pieces of music of any era. 117. Always On The Run - Lenny Kravitz Own it on: Greatest Hits Year: 2000 My mama said/Leave those bad boys alone/And my mama said/Be home before the dawn Leaving aside the painful lyrical content and embracing the raucous guitar of guest musician, Slash, 'Always On The Run' was first seen by me performed on a Guns N Roses PPV concert in Paris. Joined on stage by Lenny Kravitz, himself and the rest of the band (sans ridiculous tight-short wearing Axl) stormed their way through this fine 70s retro-funk rocker. 116. Lessons in Love - Level 42 Own it on: The Very Best of Level 42 Year: 1998 But our love went overboard/Lifeboat lies lost at sea/I’ve been trying to reach your shore/Waves of doubt keep drowning me One of the most affable acts of the 80s who like so many failed to make the transition to a 90s audience (although they are still a popular live act today). Lessons in Love was one of their numerous hit singles that profits from Mark King's distinct voice, his great feel for rhythm and oddly-appealing lyrics. 115. Sin - Megadeth Own it on: Risk Year: 1999 Once burned, forever marked/Hurt by just a few but so many have to pay Who knows why I like this song so much. A standard album-only track from Megadeth's less successful late-90s era, but for some reason I can never get the riff out of my head. The lyrics are kind of Mustaine-lite but work pretty well - 'He had an unfamiliar face/Complete life in disarray/A simple man, power drunk...Mirror, mirror please look inside/Do you see the reasons that we sin' - and other such examples of the troubled, sin-hungry race that we are. 114. Earth Song - Michael Jackson Own it on: History Year: 1995 Did you ever stop to notice/All the children dead from war Ok so it was a somewhat sickening example of vanity and, dare I say, total delusion, but 'Earth Song' is a top-notch uplifting pop song that gave Jackson a career lift at just the right time in the mid-90s. 113. Shout at the Devil 97 - Motley Crue Own it on: Generation Swine Year: 1997 He's the tear in your eye/Been tempted by his lie One of the most revered bands in American rock music, Motley Crue lost their way when grunge took over in the early 90s. Shortly after that, Vince Neil, charismatic lead singer, left for a few years but reunited with the band in 1996 to try and reclaim their crown. Their 1997 album "Generation Swine" generated little in the way of quality music and to many their decision to update their classic 1983 track 'Shout at the Devil' was nothing short of metal blasphemy. Maybe, but it was the first time I'd ever heard the track and although it may pale in comparison to the original it's still a damn fine metal tune. 112. Faithful - Pearl Jam Own it on: Yield Year: 1998 And everything is you/Me you, you me, it's all related The first stop at Pearl Jam Hill. What an awesome band. 'Faithful' was one of the groove-rock numbers that enlivened their late-90s album, 'Yield'. With its grunge-style, soft-verse/rock-chorus blueprint, it's a sing-a-long classic. 111. Can't Stop - Red Hot Chilli Peppers Own it on: By the Way Year: 2002 Can't stop the Gods from engineering/Feel no need for any interfering When you hear this song it just seems to hip and cool but really if you read the lyrics, it's a bunch of nonsense. Still it's got a phenomenal hook and Anthony Kiedis rarely-matched charisma lifts this track way above its station. One of the few songs off the dull 'By the Way' worth writing home about. 110. Alice What's the Matter - Terrorvision Own it on: How to Make Friends and Influence People Year: 1994 Something about you, something about me/Something about a, b, c, d and e/Something about hell, something about heaven/Something about 4, 5, 6 and 7 I know, the lyrics are ridiculous. But that's Terrorvision for you. As noted above, they didn't take themselves very seriously. 'Alice What's the Matter' put them on the map (alongside 'Oblivion') and set up what was to become a mainstream breakthrough a couple of years later. The song is an audible mosh akin to waking up at 4am and being totally unaware of where one is. Brilliant. 109. When It's Love - Van Halen Own it on: OU812 Year: 1988 How do I know when it's love?/I can't tell you but it lasts forever I never got the joke behind the album title "OU812" until I realised that the last two numbers should be read as "1-2" rather than "12". 'When It's Love?' was Sammy Hagar-era Van Halen at their best - a straight-on, ballsy power-ballad with enough virtuoso flourishes to keep things fresh and exciting. Big radio-hit in Ireland back in the day of 'pirate' radio stations. 108. Blaze of Glory - Bon Jovi Own it on: Cross Road Year: 1994 I've got an old coat for a pillow/And the earth was last night's bed Whenever I'm asked what the most embarrassing album in my collection is, it might not immediately jump in to my head to suggest that it's 'New Jersey' or 'Cross Road'. Bon Jovi continue to have a stigma of being a teenybopper band who sing the right things in the right way to maximise success. And while that might be true, there is no denying that they've been putting out a strong single every few years. In the last decade or so, stuff like 'It's My Life' and 'Keep the Faith' have saved us from drowning in humdrum ballads for housewives and love-struck students. But back in the early days they fired out classic rockers like 'Blaze of Glory'. Probably an even better song than their infinitely popular duo 'You Give Love a Bad Name' and 'Livin' On a Prayer'. 107. The Flame - Cheap Trick Own it on: Cheap Trick Greatest Hits Year: 1991 Just can’t stand up for fallin’ apart/Can’t see through this veil across my heart I was totally unaware of who Cheap Trick were when 'The Flame' became a big hit in the late 80s. They'd already cut their teeth and garnered national success (and international idolism in Japan) in the late 70s/early 80s before losing their commercial appeal between '82 and '86. Pro songwriters were brought in to help the band make a comeback and they did so with a #1 single in 'The Flame'. A seeping,emotional ballad, it tugs at all the right places even if it is a little saturated in overbearing sentiment. 106. Kiss the Dirt - INXS Own it on: Listen like Thieves Year: 1985 Falling down the mountain/End up kissing dirt If you looked at INXS' career trajectory you would see a gradual improvement in their records from their eponymous debut to the 1987 multi-platinum breakthrough smash-hit, "Kick". Previous release, "Listen Like Thieves", pushed a lot of buttons no more so than with college-radio favourite 'Kiss the Dirt'. Even as a 12 year old in dear old Oirland, I recall seeing the video on TV and being quite taken with the post-punk antics of Hutchence and Co. Great groove and real cool tune, one of their best. 105. Shooting Star - Joe Perry Project Own it on: Let the Music Do The Talking Year: 1980 A lot of wounds that hurt and bleed/The scars of which you'll never see Joe Perry's recent solo album is superior to his Project days in the early 80s but even so I still couldn't help but wish for a song that was as strong as 'Shooting Star'. A rip-roaring riff supplemented by a strong band performance, it's the standout track from JPP. 104. Unsound - Savoy Own it on: Lackluster Me Year: 1997 'Cos I'm/Unsafe, unsound/Unwise to be around Alternative music was in its prime in the 90s and early Savoy fit somewhere in the alt sub-category that could claim to have also contained Garbage, Nirvana, Sonic Youth and even REM. 'Unsound' is a fine example of what Savoy could produce, a buzzing guitar track, downbeat vocal delivery and dramatic lyrics. 103. The Day I Tried to Live - Soundgarden Own it on: Superunknown Year: 1994 The day I tried to live/I stole a thousand beggar's change/And gave it to the rich As Soungarden left alt-metal behind to mould themselves into a mainstream hard-rock outfit, numerous fans got a bit turned off by the happy-go-lucky crossover hit, 'Black Hole Sun'. But I for one loved "Superunknown" - top to bottom one of the best hard-rock albums of its day. 'The Day I Tried to Live' was a grunge-style, mid-tempo rocker with hard-hitting lyrics like 'a voice was in my head/It said seize the day, pull the trigger' and 'The day I tried to win/I dangled from the power lines'. Not exactly uplifting but it takes all kinds. 102. Excuses - Alanis Morissette Own it on: So Called Chaos Year: 1999 Why no one will help me/I am too dumb I am too smart/They'll not understand me 'Excuses', from fourth album "So-Called Chaos", was a real return to form for Alanis, recapturing the aggresive and tuneful angst that personified her breathrough smash "Jagged Little Pill". As catchy as anything from that first album, one you hear 'Excuses' you won't get it out of your head. Honest, I promise. Seriously. 101. Beetlebum - Blur Own it on: Blur Year: 2004 Beetlebum/She’ll suck your thumb/She’ll make you come Showing that there was more to Blur than the Brit-pop of 'Parklife', 'Country House' and 'Charmless Man', and giving an extra dimension to their music that Oasis only showed vaguely in 'Wonderwall', 'Beetlebum' is a 5-minute epic 60s psychedelic-throwback that propelled Blur to a new plane altogether. "Blur" was a great album and there is more to come from it later on in the countdown. Part V coming soon  |
| Write the first comment on this review! |
by starcollector
by kiwifella
![Revelation [Digipak] by Journey Reviews](http://di1.shopping.com/images/pi/73/9c/e0/2046466476-100x100-0-0.jpg?p=p11.a02b7728b04d50f5760a&a=2&c=1&l=8071320&t=120604171950&r=1)
![Irony Is a Dead Scene [EP] by The Dillinger Escape Plan Reviews](http://di1.shopping.com/images/pi/6b/71/9f/2005398205-100x100-0-0.jpg?p=p23.725d3eee5fce66821fac&a=2&c=1&l=8071320&t=120604171951&r=1)
