100. The Corrs — “Breathless” — A hook you can’t get out of your head + Three-part Irish sister harmonies = Pure pop bliss.
99. Rehab — “Bartender Song” — A parody of a country song that became a real hit. Ironically. But really.
98. Adele — “Chasing Pavements” — This is one of those songs that sounds so perfect that you rush out to buy the album, thinking you’ll get a whole album that sounds like that. You won’t. But the song’s still good.
97. Rilo Kiley — “It’s a Hit” — Political ranting has rarely sounded so pretty.
96. Smashing Pumpkins — “Cherub Rock” — The guitars layer on top of each other in such irresistible fashion that when the vocals kick in, you barely care. You just want to listen to the band all day.
95. Snow Patrol — “Chocolate” — This hopeful, mini-epic of a pop tune reminds me of the 2000s. And it reminds me that it wasn’t a bad decade for music after all.
94. Butch Walker — “Suburbia” — Modern suburban life proves to be fertile ground for a power-pop song when Butch is holding the pen.
93. Maroon 5 — “Won’t Go Home Without You” — When I listen to this tune, I actively root for the singer as if he’s the protagonist in a movie. I hope he indeed gets the girl.
92. Bruce Springsteen — “I’m on Fire” — A minimalist, atmospheric classic with memorable lines like “a six-inch valley through the middle of my soul.”
91. The Temper Trap — “Sweet Disposition” — Another song that creates such a beautiful soundscape that you rush out and buy the album, only to be let down by the rest of the tracks. But this song’s still good.
Comments
i love 98 and 91 AND i agree with the commentary. also, 97 is good# Posted By chance | 7/26/10 3:47 PM
It’s interesting how a song can be so good that you just know it’s a safe bet to pick up the album. And then you realize, as with Adele and The Temper Trap, that they are just in the learning phase of how to make music. Yet somehow they created one amazing track, as if by accident. One-hit wonders are indeed a strange mystery of the music world.# Posted By John Hansen | 7/28/10 12:31 AM