Homesy's top 50 songs ever (from 2003)

[Laurence]

I did this back at Dotmusic in 2003 and decided to repost it in the unlikely event someone is interested. It would have slightly changed - the dance singles would probably not feature and there wouldn't be quite as much Aimee nowadays. Here's 50-41

50 I've Seen it All Before - Bjork feat Thom Yorke
Selma Songs - Music from Dancer in the Dark
From a film which is at times unbearably difficult to watch - the mix of escapism in the world of musical and the cruelty of the reality - a moving and melodic duet kicks of the top 50.

49 HOUNDS OF LOVE - Kate Bush
Hounds of Love - also #18 hit single
Just pipping Experiment IV and Moments of Pleasure as my favourite Bush single. This is a joyful, playful song which describes all to well the feelings of the big L.O.V.E. ! Love the dog noises too Kate

48 A SPOONFUL WEIGHS A TON - Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin
Can I describe anything from this album without the words 'cinematic' and 'heavenly' - probably not Just discovered this great album and this song stands out the most to my ears. Lifted up my spirits on the way to work I tell you.

47 OPUS 40 - Mercury Rev
Deserters Songs
Well, it could have been 'Dark is Rising' or 'Goddess on a Hi - way' but this song just has that extra je ne c'est pas from the wonderful dreamy group. Camp as Christmas too!

46 CARNIVAL - Tori Amos
Mission Impossible – OST
This is a semi-cover of a 50’s Brazilian samba track from the film ‘Manha de Carnival’ but you don’t need to know that to enjoy this song. Mergers her mysterious electronica which was her style at the time with a gentle love song to create a truly beautiful atmosphere . And then she ends the song rather abruptly with some fierce whispering…

45 WISE UP – Aimee Mann
Magnolia – OST
Although I discovered this song pre Magnolia, it so seems to fit the pain of the film. Very simple but extraordinarily moving. Nothing much more to say rather than listen!!

44 SCENTLESS APPRENTICE – Nirvana
In Utero
‘Go Away’ ‘Go Away’ he shrieks in the chorus, (if you can call it a chorus) to this song which is surely a big F you to all those record company execs/tabloid journalist and insincere fans. Along with ‘All Apologies’ uncomfortable to listen to in light of just what was around the corner.

43 ENJOY THE SILENCE – Depeche Mode
Violator
. Also #6 single How can something so moody and mysterious become such a huge hit? Aww, great memories of this hynoptic song, the best in a great career which sadly seems to have disintegrated it creatively since he’s been of the drugs.. Oh and ignore Tori’s cover. It’s crap.

42 LULLABY – The Cure
Disintegration #5 single
Another indie classic from my childhood days. The vocals do reflect fear and desperation and get so quiet sometimes, that it is often leaving the haunting rythmn and swirling keyboards to conjure up the image of being eaten alive by the spiderman.

41 GET GONE – Fiona Apple
When the Pawn
As recommended by Schizo~C in his sig, this is such a contrast from the tender/needy love she sang about on her debut album ‘Tidal’… Like Alanis’ ‘You Oughta Know’ but with more genuine venom and an astonishing song musically. The chorus is so amazing and so unexpected – she certainly did not follow the conventional song structures.

[Laurence]

40 UNFINISHED SYMPATHY – Massive Attack
Blue Lines #13 single
Legendary track which was one of the very first singles I ever bought. What makes it such a classic – Shara Nelson’s soulful vocals, the intense pinging rhythm or the soaring strings. All of them of course – only over-familiarity has prevented it being much higher.

39 BRING IT ALL BACK – S Club 7
#1 single –
the first of many all-out pop songs in my chart. Let’s face it, even though I would be hard-pressed to name a single member of the group, they did produce EXCELLENT singles – far better than the overrated Spice Girls. This optimistic, summery jingle-type theme remains their best to date.

38 BLUE FLASHING LIGHT – Travis
The Man Who – hidden track
Tellingly, it is this extraordinarily violent hidden track which is the best on their massive, melodic ‘The Man Who’ album. Shock to hear the angelic Fran sing about being ‘a b**** and a slag and a whore’ but this tale of domestic abuse is a harsh dose of gritty reality.

37 BIKE – Pink Floyd
Piper At the Gates of Dawn, Relics, Echoes
I had to include something from this group who I fell in love with at university and why not the Syd Barret Era? ‘I’ve Got a mouse who doesn’t have a house, I don’t know why I call him Gerald’ always makes me crack up when I hear it and just what are those breaking machines and duck noises at the end. My favourite album of the Floyd has to be ‘The Wall’ followed by the criminally underrated ‘Atom Heart Mother’.

36 COWBOYS – Portishead
Portishead
Whilst their debut album ‘Dummy’ was extraordinarily original and introduced the world to Beth Gibbon’s outstanding vocal talents - sometimes it appeared to be a trifle polite, hence the dinner party tag. Happily they went much darker and dramatic with their eponymous second album and this taut opening track remains one of the most nightmarish I have ever heard where repeated listens to do not soften the shock.

35 LITHIUM – Nirvana
Nevermind. #11 single
Yep, Nevermind despite being overrated did produce some of the anthems of the era. Fantastic rock tune with telling self-deprecative lyrics.

34 NEW BORN – Muse
Origin of Symmetry,#12 single
Their first album was good but did suffer from reading the Radiohead manual too much. This first song immediately shattered it with its exaggerated pomp, soaring falsettos and thunderous riff. A seven minute epic masterpiece of fun – and great live band too. Good things do come in small packages

33 AROUND THE WORLD (LA LA LA LA LA) ATC
Planet Pop, #15 single
Eurotrash!! Possibly – but like S Club this was a hypnotic, infectious pop ditty which was massive in Europe two years before a travesty of a remix was commissioned for a UK release. Ignore that, just check out the original.

32 MOMENTUM – Aimee Mann
Magnolia OST
Aimee Mann is the ultimate word of mouth artiste. Far too gimmick-free to be played on radio, all my friends enjoy hearing her great vocals, wry and realistic lyrics and classic melodies. This track from the Magnolia film is a big band jazz style number with lyrics I can relate to – ‘And I know life is getting shorter, I can’t set myself to set the scene. And even though it’s approaching torture, I’ve got my routine.’ It works!

31 DOOM’S NIGHT – Azzido de Bass
#8 single
Eh? It’s only a collection of Whump Whump noises. I’m not the most heavy duty clubber so I can’t express technically what’s great but there is something about this record that ingrains itself to the brain, especially the bits where it slows down and speeds up violently. Love the breaking glass sample too!

[dandyhighwayman]

#39?!!!

[Laurence]

It's one of my guilty pleasures - brings back memories of the great summer of 1999!

[Laurence]

30 THE NATIONAL ANTHEM – Radiohead
Kid A
Well, I could have had NINE Radiohead tracks in my top 50 but that may have been more than the doctor ordered so out went: Like Spinning Plates (live), No Surprises, Paranoid Android, Motion Picture Soundtrack and Lucky - leaving one track from their 95-2001 albums. Kid A’s representative is a stormer, virtually no vocals, just a great chugging bass, loads of horns and keyboards built up to an orgasmic climax. The live version is great too

29 GENIE IN A BOTTLE – Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera, #1 single
Last I promise, poppy pop song and this is just 3 minutes of pure genius. Great, self respecting lyrics too – what happened in the interim to turn her into a dirty whore, eh?

28 GOLD DUST – Tori Amos
Scarlet’s Walk
Tori has had numerous attempts at making the epic string ballad and this is by far the most successful. An ode to losing your potential this seems completely different kettle of fish to the majority of her in places lacklustre ‘Scarlet’s Walk’. Impossible to listen to without being moved.

27 LONG STEM – DJ Shadow
Entroducing
Jon fcking Bon Jovi eh! The poodle haired idiot beat him to a Brit Award for best international male in one of the biggest injustice of modern times. A haunting, atmospheric instrumental from his excellent Entroducing album, I discovered this along with the likes of Mouse of Mars, Amon Tobin and Electric Skychurch on the electronic genre of the Launchcast radio station. 8 minutes long – and completely mesmerised throughout.

26 BE THERE – Unkle/Ian Brown
#8 single
Heard this for the first time on a Christmas morning on Xfm – when everyone else hadn’t got up! Very spooky! Do they use the same choir disembodied choir sample as on Radiohead’s ‘Lucky’ – sounds like it. Beautiful, haunting, atmospheric, spine chilling etc – maybe I should get a thesaurus!

25 ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE – Beatles
various compilations, #1 single
Positive, inspiring, singalong song type which is just perfect for livening pubs up when it comes on the jukebox. Nothing more to add really (not everything I listen too has to be ‘atmospheric’ but I did find myself listening to this and Give Peace a Chance during March/April this year.

24 STARMAN – David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust, #10 single
Again, I don’t think a great pop song like this can be analysed too much – just definitely one of his most endearing numbers and reminds me of certain special times. The rate he was churning out so much original quality music and imagery in this period remains to this day outstanding

23 IN MY PLACE – Coldplay
A Rush of Blood to the Head, #2 single
Radiohead’s apprentices hardly produce the most groundbreakingly original music but they do come up with some of the best things you’ll hear on the radio. This track hit me on first listen, an anthem which inspires strength through vulnerability and yearning. The tune is very reminiscent stucture-wise of one of the songs VERY high in my top 50 – although they’re from completely different genres.

22 STAN – Eminen
The Marshal Mathers LP, #1 single
Was surprised to hear a song from this artist which wasn’t 14 year old bragging or tiresome ‘I’m misunderstood’ whinging. Like hearing a version of the film ‘Misery’ in a three minute nugget – this deliciously dark and at times surprisingly sensitive hit was a breath of fresh air compared to the processed pop tat around at that time.

21 FLOWERS GRAVE – Tom Waits
Alice
I’ve only just started on a mission to discover more of this amazing man’s work (usual thing – don’t have enough money to buy the CDs I want. It’s a tough life )but could anything else of his be more beautiful than this aching orchestral ballad aimed for the heart which refers to the time-old theme of love and death? The parent album is so, so good – avante garde brilliance and madness – people respect your elders and betters!

[Admin]

Ooh, can I comment at the end, when you give us a handy top 50 list.

[dandyhighwayman]

I think I'll do the same, although a pleasing level of Tori, naturally...

I'm intrigued to see what your #2-10 will be.