I have previously compiled my Top 100 lists of 2000-2019 in benji2's threads, 20 years worth. So I recently turned my eyes to the 90s to add this decade to the list and do so in its own thread!
For me it was a strange decade of music as the early 90s was perhaps the most engaged period of listening to current music of my life, with the rise and fall of Shoegaze, Grunge and Madchester. By the mid-late 90s it seemed that all music was Tool and Rancid (who were ace) and a thousand bands who were trying to sound like Tool and Rancid. I also spent most of the back end of the 90s travelling and away from Australia so didn't hear much Aussie music in this time so that is possibly an unfair characterisation, we'll see.
I'll kick things off with my fave tunes from 1999 in the pm of 24th May and see what delights the 90s bring. Last edited:
1999 found me traipsing across Europe, with a slight detour to Cuba so my opportunities to actually listen to much current music was limited bar the occasional hit of BBC Radio One. Not sure I heard any Australian music at all this year. So much of what will follow are songs that I discovered after the fact, with a few key songs I managed to get across at the time.
I actually listened to live all the Triple J Hottest 100s from 2000-2019 (with the exception of 2018) but only ever listened to one before this (1995), so a big source of the songs that make up my 2000 onwards lists is missing for 1999, although I did pick up the CD at some stage.
As with all of these lists, there have to be the unlucky few who just miss out, for 1999 this was
110
She's In Fashion - Suede
109
Prove My Hypothesis - Death Cab For Cutie
108
Northern Lites - Super Furry Animals
107
Blue Moon Rising - Gomez
106
Muscle Museum - Muse
105
The Big Three Killed My Baby - White Stripes, The
104
Asleep In Perfection - Augie March
103
Instant Messenger - Muse
102
Exerciser - Rhubarb
101
Round The Bend - Beta Band, The
So to see what actually resonated with me in 1999 read onwards....
100. Theophilus Thistler (An Exercise In Vowels) - Sonic Animation
This is one I found on the Hottest 100 CD. It's certainly a bouncy little tune but I dare you to try and say the title of the song ten times quickly!
If you've ever seen the video clip, the Telly-Tubby type characters in it were a part of Sonic Animation's live show (well at least they were the one time I saw them).
As an aside, Sonic Animation become the 14th artist to only have one entry in my yearly countdowns at #100 (Sun Kil Moon, Oh Mercy, Future, Danny Brown, Art Vs. Science, Anderson .Paak, Bloody Beetroots, The Holy Soul, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Even, Mansun, Even and Tones and I are the others if you were wondering).
99. Waltz #2 (XO) - Elliot Smith
Past entries:
2004
Memory Lane
70
2000
Son Of Sam
96
This song certainly comes with a big wrap and while it is a good song (hence it made this list) I must admit I don't quite get all the fuss (hence it isn't any higher). Certainly knowing his story and tragic end make his legacy viewed somewhat differently (see Kurt Cobain, Ian Curtis as well for this) for better or worse
98. Bigger Than Tina - Fauves, The
Past Entries:
2000
Celebrate The Failure
90
From the film of the same name about someone who is obsessed with Tina Arena. The Fauves are a mid 90s favourite of mine. It seemed every couple of months they would be playing at The Annandale Hotel in Sydney with Underground Lovers and I was always there. They were quite a chaotic live act and the tension in the band did spill over a couple of times and plenty of choice language was exchanged between the members at times. I particular like Andrew Cox's voice and his amusing lyrics.
97. Blue Moon - Endorphin
A band that I didn't really know too much about, apart from their #100 Hottest 100 song Sex and Violence, which I didn't really get into. This is very different to that and I have to thank benji2 for introducing me to this one. It is quite an uptempo song and the percussion is great, no idea what they are shouting in the background though but who cares right?
96. Charlie Big Potato - Skunk Anansie
A band I associate from the mid 90s, I wasn't aware of this one at the time (thanks to benji2 again). I wasn't really a fan of their earlier work but this is a very different sound, a little bit more industrial/electronic than the straight up rock I remember. I saw them at a Reading Festival in 97 or 98 and while I didn't really enjoy the music, Skin was an excellent front-person, very charismatic, a great performer and you couldn't take your eyes off her.
If you were wondering, Charlie Big Potato is a London East End expression for a "Hot Shot". You're welcome...
95. Six - Mansun
Past Entries:
2000
I Can Only Dissapoint U
100
And then there were 13!
Mansun were a band that I very much liked in the late 90s. I heard them on the BBC in 1997 I think and in the couple of years following. I liked the broody nature of their songs and were a little bit different than the similar English indie-pop bands of the time.
They got a bit of a bad rap in the music press in England as a bit of a generic Brit Pop band but they hit the right notes for me!
94. Easter Theatre - XTC
Past Entries:
2000
Stupidly Happy
99
Bizarrely, 2000's #100 artist is followed by the #99 artist (and 4 artists from the 90s are in this years 90s as well!). Hijinx won't be happy if he reads this as this was his #1 but at least it gets a guernsey.
XTC are a fantastic band with a really strong output spanning the 70s, 80s and 90s and are definately the most famous band to come out of Swindon. They returned in 1999 after a gap of 7 years with their 13th album and it is a good one at that. There is a strong Beatles feel to this song (and the album was recorded in Abbey Road). The orchestration is top notch and really lifts the song. Andy Patridge considers this one of the few perfect songs he wrote in his career.
93. The Free Design - Stereolab
The first appearance in my lists for the last band I saw before the Covid-19 lockdown!
Stereolab just ooze cool and the French connections (Latitia Sadier the lead singer is French) shine through in their avant-pop songs. When I first saw them live in the mid 90s, she had a galss of red wine in one hand and a cigarette (in holder) in the other and while I don't condone smoking, how cool is that?
This is definitely representative of their late 90s output, very pop oriented with a repetitive beat. They were one of the first ever bands to be labelled post-rock, a label they will share with quite a few other bands to grace this list.
92. Spit On A Stranger - Pavement
Another first appearance from one of my other favourite 90s acts, Pavement. In fact the first single from their last album Terror Twilight. It got a bit of negative press from the band and fans alike when it came out but on reflection is a pretty good album. They were trying I think to produce a more poppier or lighter record than their previous slacker rock albums and this song does reflect this, while still definitely sounding like Pavement.
91. Photograph - Something For Kate
Past Entries:
2003
Déjà Vu
77
2001
Monsters
17
2001
Jerry, Stand Up
39
2000
Beautiful Sharks
9
No strangers here to these countdowns is the wonderful Something For Kate. I first heard them while listening to the 2000 Hottest 100 and their awesome song Beautiful Sharks. This is from the same album and is a really beautiful slower song, I like the tempo and subtle keyboards in the background, that give it a slight shimmery sound and it is a great choice for the last song of the album. But that voice.... just sublime
Paul Dempsey is another great lead singer, really draws your attention in their live shows. Last edited:
The Tindersticks were a thing in the 90s. In my mind a symbol of the rivalry between Melody Maker (who loved them) and NME (not as much). Also Nick Cave's favourite band of the period and you can hear his influence on their sound, especially the vocals (that deep voice). This is actually a pretty uptempo number by their standards, with hints of soul and jazz but it is great, I especially like the female backing vocals.
89. Bodyrock - Moby
Past Entries:
2000
Porcelain
12
I remember this one from 1999. This album was everywhere at the time. It is peculiar because nothing Moby has done previously or since really stacks up, just this one album. Coming on the back of Fatboy Slim's release of the year before, it was a real change of approach to dance music, with the inclusion of really fast paced guitar music fused in, as well as many other samples throughout the history of music. Bodyrock is probably the rockiest example to be found on the album.
88. If Everyone Looked The Same - Groove Armada
Past Entries:
2007
Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)
79
2002
Purple Haze
15
2001
Superstylin'
6
Interestingly the longest tenured band so far, reaching back to 2007. I'm actually surprised that they have only 3 songs before this as they always seem to get something on my shortlist. I heard their new song on Double J recently and it's another good effort.
As with all good Groove Armada songs, this one has a fantastic, well, groove to it. Great interchanging male and female vocals as well. Dare I say banger!!
87. Good Witch/Bad Witch - Charlatans, The
Past Entries:
2008
Bird/Reprise
60
2001
You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty
73
And just like that, we have a new longest tenured band, back to 2008.
Definitely a band associated with the earlier years of the decade and the Madchester movement. They never broke up and are still making music to the present day. Tim Burgess (the lead singer) is actually doing Twitter deep dives into their and his muso mates albums every Monday during lockdown.
As to this song it is an interesting one. Broody and pulsating, quite different than what you might think if you are familiar with their other works (poppy and melodic).
On a side note, I have a mate who absolutely detests the use of non-alphabet characters (think -/!# etc) in song titles (as well as all capitals) and all their songs to previously make my lists contain them. What he'll make of their new song $#^&*(( I have no idea.
86. Demetrius - Sufjan Stevens
Past Entries:
2019
Love Yourself
15
2015
Fourth Of July
1
2015
Should Have Known Better
9
2015
John My Beloved
25
2015
All Of Me Wants All Of You
53
2010
Too Much
89
2009
You Are The Blood
81
2005
Chicago
37
2004
He Woke Me Up Again
48
And a new leader, going all the way to the present 2019 and the first artist to previously be #1. And looking back I can't believe I only had Chicago at #37 in 2005, should been higher.
As you might gather, I really love Sufjan Stevens. His creativity and unique approach to music is a joy to me. All of his albums are different and trying new things. Sometimes they come off and sometimes not but they are always different.
This is the same, it starts off more like Sonic Youth than anything else and then halfway in the pan pipes kick in and it kinda sorta works and then it goes middle eastern and still kinda sorta works. Its really interesting to see so many divergent ideas try to come together in one song. The whole album (A Sun Came!) is like this. Later on, some of the songs were reworked and probably sound more coherent but some of the bizarre magic is lost along the way.
85. I Know What I'm Here For - James
Past Entries:
2001
Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)
13
Another song I remember hearing a lot back in 1999. James are probably more well known for their early 90s output but they consistently put out some good work all through the 90s. This marked a change in direction for them, moving to a more electronic sound than their folk/rock origins. Not sure about the cowboy hat in the video clip though...
84. Glockenpop - Spiderbait
Past Entries:
2004
F***kin Awesome
68
2002
Arse Huggin Pants
56
2001
Four On The Floor
71
The first of a few songs that I'm shocked didn't make the Hottest 100 of the year. Spiderbait had 3 songs but not this one???
All Spiderbait songs can be (IMHO) put into two category. Kram bangers and Janet pop songs. This definitely comes in the later category. It is an absolutely spankingly sparkling pop song.
83. Billie - Pavement
Past Entries:
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
And just like that, our first repeat performers of 1999.
I freely admit that this one makes the list because it most reminds me of their earlier work,a great slacker rock song. The way the singing shifts around the line "Sue the fortune teller" is particularly great and the slow down in tempo halfway through the song as well.
On a side note, I saw Pavement in 1993 and the support act was Magic Dirt, playing their first ever Sydney show. They were both great!!
82. Get Up - Sleeter-Kinney
Past Entries:
2019
Hurry On Home
12
2015
A New Wave
69
Another act that stretches from 1999-2019 is Washington State's Sleeter Kinney. I first came across them in 2000 when I read they worked on the comeback Go Betweens album. I checked out their back catalogue and this song stuck with me in particular.
It's sad to think so in the present day but it was still unusual to have an all female rock band in 1999 and earlier and Sleeter Kinney were part of the riot grrrl movement that tried to correct that.
This song hits me because of the intricate guitar interplaying as well as the unusual semi-shouting vocal delivery. It all adds up to a great rock song.
81. Else - Built To Spill
Past Entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
Built To Spill are one of indie rocks greatest bands and Keep It Like A Secret is one of indie rocks greatest albums. They are definitely an album band and the consistency of the songs on the albums are one of their major qualities but it does make it hard to differentiate when making lists like this as honestly any song could have made it.
The guitar playing on this song is just flat out fantastic, the bit at around 3 minutes in just soars, just perfect.
Another act I'm surprised by the lack of previous entries as I always seem to like their songs (except The Salmon Dance, pants).
This is actually a pretty simple song with just a few elements repeating throughout the song but the way they all come together over and over is great. They always have good videos as well and this is no different.
79. Major Leagues - Pavement
Past Entries:
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
It's turning into a Pavement party!
Their last ever release. It is certainly more melodic than some of their previous efforts but still retains that downtempo sound. Last time I saw them was in 2009 or 2010 and they still sounded fantastic. Would be interesting to see what they could come up with if they decided to go around once more...
78. Lucky Denver Mint - Jimmy Eat World
Past Entries:
2019
All The Way (Stay)
99
2005
Over
63
2005
Disintegration
79
2002
A Praise Chorus
34
2002
Sweetness
100
2001
Bleed American
28
Another band to stretch over the last 20 years! Also I must have been smoking something illegal when I did my 2005 list because Disintegration should be much higher #justiceforchicagoanddisintegration
If there is something that absolutely draws me into liking a band is earnestness and Jimmy Eat World have it in spades (see also The Smith Street Band). I really get drawn into the songs and lyrics. This is a more poppier sound than their later efforts but still contains all the Jimmy Eat World ingredients.
Side note if you've ever seen the video clip. Yes, ultimate frisbee was absolutely a thing in the 90s and I took part. Sigh.
77. Spider In The Snow - Dismemberment Plan, The
I have Hijinx to thank for this one as his 1999 list prodded me to check this album out as I have always seen it on various best of lists but probably got put off by the band name. Sounds like an insurance plan for Leatherface and in my mind it was a heavy rock sound, which isn't really my thing.
But it's not that at all, it's just another fantastic indie rock album that also doesn't really sound like anything else I've ever heard. I like this song in particular because of the orchestral parts and vocal harmonies and the unusual bass/drum patterns, which as a old bass player myself really appeal.
76. Sexx Laws - Beck
Past Entries:
2015
Dreams
24
2009
Heaven Can Wait (with Charlotte Gainsbourg)
75
2006
Think I'm In Love
72
2005
Girl
47
2002
The Golden Age
21
2002
Guess I'm Doing Fine
55
2002
Already Dead
65
2000
Mixed Bizness
74
The musical chameleon that is Beck! Another artist that seems to deliberately change styles every couple of albums, really successfully. Midnite Vultures (spelling Beck please) probably combines well with Mutations released the year before in exploring a more funk oriented sound.
My favourite random Beck fact that he is in the video clip for "The Hardest Button To Button" presenting "a box with something in it"
75. Falling Down - Muse
Past Entries:
2007
Knights Of Cydonia
77
2006
Starlight
46
2003
Stockholm Syndrome
12
2003
Hysteria
32
2003
Time Is Running Out
80
2001
Plug In Baby
30
2000
Sunburn
39
Back to the very first Muse album (Showbiz). This one wasn't a single just an album track but it appeals to me. I like the vocal delivery (did someone mention earnest before!!), it makes for a really beautiful song, not the rockers you normally associate with them.
74. Hallways - Something For Kate
Past Entries:
2003
Déjà Vu
77
2001
Monsters
17
2001
Jerry, Stand Up
39
2000
Beautiful Sharks
9
1999
Photograph
91
A much rockier offering than Photograph at #91. There is no one thing in particular that stands out about this one, just a rock song done really professionally (not a bad thing). Did I mention that voice....
73. Nice Guys Finish Last - Green Day
Past Entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
I'm a sucker for a sharp pop-punk song and Green Day do it better than most. It was a sound that (in part) defined the 90s.
Lots of energy and momentum driving this one along (great bass playing as well) and a degree of self-aware silliness to cap it all off.
72. The Day The World Went Away - Nine Inch Nails
This starts very slow and quiet and then ramps it up very quickly, only to slow down again in time for the start of the vocals, rinse and repeat. The last minute is particularly great.
I like Nine Inch Nails alot, I've always thought Trent Reznor was a really clever musician, always lots going on and each of their albums move the sound along just enough to be identifiable but different.
71. Bad Light - Built To Spill
Past Entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
1999
Else
81
Hello again!
This one is more a fast/slow number. Again defined by fantastic guitar work.
One of the reasons that this album is so good is that it is a more polished/produced album and really highlighted the technical prowess of the musicianship and made it easier to hear this aspect of the band. Last edited:
Post rock is the genre that probably dominates this list (not giving anything away). But why does that matter when musing this delicate indie pop/folk offering of Will Oldham aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy? Well he took the photo that appears on the cover of the 1991 Spiderland album by Slint, considered the first post rock album (and copied by The Shins in their video for New Slang).
Also, Angel Olsen an absolute favourite of mine was one of his backing singers earlier in her career.
He's pretty good as well, if a bit grim sometimes.
69. The Next Movement - Roots, The
Past Entries:
2003
The Seed (2.0)
37
So Hip Hop as a genre often leaves me a bit cold. It is more something that I say I respect rather than enjoy. Having said that, there are a few bands that manage to break that down for me. Usually the more melodic offerings are what I'm attracted to (see Outkast, Jurassic 5, Thundamentals etc) and The Roots certainly qualify on this front.
This is a really funky offering. Really like the vocal delivery (the hot hot music, the hot music!)
68. Rendez-vu - Basement Jaxx
Past Entries:
2009
Raindrops
68
2006
Take Me Back To Your House
81
2003
Good Luck
57
2002
Get Me Off
46
2001
Romeo
10
2001
Where's Your Head At
59
Another banger alert and a song I remember being all over the radio at the time.
Basement Jaxx have a pretty strong catalogue. I look at all the songs that have previously made my lists as well as this one and can't really draw a common thread between them, they are all different. Just really strong pop songs really.
67. Devil Will Ride - Gomez
Past Entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
So I reckon this was actually the only album I bought in 1999, Liquid Skin by Gomez! It is a fantastic blues album by a fantastic band at the peak of their powers, following on from their 1998 debut. They are a really versatile band, with 3 of the members taking lead vocals at different times (sometimes in the same song) and a variety of instruments being played and they are one of the most fun bands to see. They seem to be having a blast and that rubs off on the audience.
Anyway, this song is a great mix of the dirty blues guitars at times and then the strings, horns and vocoded vocals all coming together very nicely indeed.
66. The Plan - Built To Spill
Past Entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
1999
Bad Light
71
1999
Else
81
And Built To Spill equal Pavement with 3 songs in so far. Well done sirs.
This is probably the rockiest song on the album (and in reflection of the countdown so far), really rocking out before coming down towards the end of the song. I said about all the other Built To Spill songs but the guitar playing is exemplary.
I also just realised that it the song I've least played on the album, according to iTunes and Else the most. I wonder what that means (well, nothing)
65. Pumping On Your Stereo - Supergrass
Past Entries:
2000
Mary
44
Another band I associate with the middle of the decade (and having very retro hair). I reckon they have two types of songs, the indie rock ones (like Mary or Caught By The Fuzz) and the indie pop ones like this (or Alright). It is a really good pop song, accompanied by a great video made with the Henson Studios.
I have very fuzzy memories of dancing to this in a bar in Sydney in the early 2000s with Burke from Gerling at an ungodly hour in the morning. Good times indeed.
64. Already Gone - Powderfinger
Past Entries:
2009
All Of The Dreamers
91
2003
Sunsets
13
2003
Love Your Way
64
2003
Stumblin
75
2003
Rockin'Rocks
86
2000
The Metre
79
There hasn't been much Australian music as yet so here's a good one by the recently emerged from isolation (literally) Powderfinger.
I was unaware of Powderfinger in the 90s and got caught up on my return to Australia in 2000 and checking out the Hottest 100 CDs but they were absolutely killing it at that stage in terms of their popularity. Not sure how strong their albums are but the singles were pretty much all excellent like this one. It really reminds me of the Aussie "Pub Rock" tradition of the 80s, which is no bad thing.
63. Praise You - Fatboy Slim
Past Entries:
2001
Weapon Of Choice
44
Fatboy Slim was absolutely all over the radio in England in 1998/1999 and was actually married to the breakfast presenter of Radio One (Zoe Ball) so I'm very familiar with his work. Like Moby, mentioned before it was a different style of music pulled together from a multitude of samples and when done well like in this song, it is great, really radio friendly. It is a slower number than the other big singles.
Have to mention the video though, what a classic! Academy Award winner Spike Jonze really pulls out all the stops here in a truly bizarre video. The Torrance Community Dance Group rulez!
62. Lucky Star - Alex Lloyd
Past Entries:
2003
Coming Home
89
Triple J Hottest 100 #1s don't have a great record of resonating with me and I must admit that as Amazing was the first Alex Lloyd song I heard and didn't like, I had him marked down. Then I heard this song. It is really different. I love the way it is produced. Like Amazing it is based around an acoustic guitar riff but very different backing tracks, almost a dub mix sound with different filters worked on the vocals at stages as well.
61. Stop The Rock - Apollo 440
Past Entries:
2001
Say What (with 28 Days)
50
2000
Charlie's Angels 2000
91
Another stable of English radio of the late 90s. Did you know that their name comes from the pitch note that concert orchestra tune their instruments to, An A note at 440Hz. Well you did now!
All of their songs have really high energy electronic big beat sounds. The (very distorted) vocals on this one were performed by Ian Hoxley of Gay Bikers On Acid. Last edited:
I only came across this a few years ago (2016 I think), when they released their second album and it referenced the 1999 debut as one of the most influential emo records and being somewhat a fan gave it a whirl and was most impressed. It is more like the raw emo of Brand New or Modern Baseball rather than the pomp and pageantry of AFI or My Chemical Romance. This is just a really heartfelt song
"So, let's just pretend Everything and anything Between you and me Was never meant"
Just a minute, I've got something in my eye
59. Touched - V.A.S.T.
And now it is benji2's turn to be either disappointed or impressed as this was his #1 and I only recently heard this after checking out his list. It is quite a tune. On first listen it was really quite surprising the musical twists and turns. Starts quite simply and then explodes into all sorts of different sounds and has a bit of a middle eastern twist.
In reflection of the list so far there are quite a few artists represented that are trying to push the boundaries of their music, whether from breaking away from Hardcore into new directions (American Football and The Dismemberment Plan) or trying to redefine electronic music (Moby and Fatboy Slim). Very interesting indeed.
58. All The Small Things - Blink 182
Past entries:
2016
Bored To Death
45
2003
I Miss You
50
2003
Feeling This
85
2000
Man Overboard
89
To be honest, I really want to hate this song but I just can't, it is just too infectious. The perfect example of the merging of pop and punk in my mind.
And the video clip just cracks me up every time.
57. The City - Dismemberment Plan, The
Past entries:
1999
Spider In The Snow - Dismemberment Plan, The
77
Another track from the excellent Emergency & I album. Like I mentioned with Moby earlier, nothing the band had done previously or would go on to do approached the heights of this album and (according to interviews I've read) apparently the band could sense this as the album took shape.
Anyway, this song has a great synth intro over the top of the guitar and the vocals are in a semi-spoken delivery and the whole feeling it generates is a nervous energy and a sense of regret at the way things are. It actually sums up life in isolation really well.
"The parks lay empty like my unmade bed The streets are silent like my lifeless telephone And this is where I live, but I've never felt less at home"
56. Otherside - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Past entries:
2002
Can't Stop
58
2002
The Zephyr Song
77
Take 2 on songs I couldn't believe weren't in the Triple J Hottest 100 (also see Can't Stop in 2002). I think maybe the voting list (which I've never seen) were more restrictive as there were some odd omissions in the 90s (Everlong and Disarm are 2 that come to mind).
Californication marked the return of John Frusciante to the fold after leaving after Blood Sugar Sex Magik and it does seem to mark a return to form for the band. I've always thought that one of the main strengths of the band was how tight the musicianship is, one element doesn't dominate over the others and that they have a very distinctive sound as well. Otherside is a great example of both of these. Slapping bass and drum lines, understated but intricate guitar playing, great vocals delivery and it just sounds like a Chili Peppers song.
55. Rhythm and Blues Alibi - Gomez
Past entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
1999
Devil Will Ride
67
Another great track from Gomez. I mentioned the multiple lead singers but Ben Ottewell is my favourite of them. He has a really amazing voice, it is so deep and gravelly and a perfect blues voice and his lines in this are what does it for me.
54. Electricity - Something For Kate
Past entries:
2003
Déjà Vu
77
2001
Monsters
17
2001
Jerry, Stand Up
39
2000
Beautiful Sharks
9
1999
Hallways
74
1999
Photograph
91
Another band to clock up 3 entries!
This one flat out just rocks, very different to the other two songs to appear so far. It just never lets up through the whole song. Great song to hear live.
53. Harvest Festival - XTC
Past entries:
2000
Stupidly Happy
99
1999
Easter Theatre
94
I actually woke this morning and had this song swirling around in my head. It is an ear worm. It really evokes the Beatles or Beach Boys at their best and is has lyrics about reflection of events from the path (and pagan festivals of course).
52. It's Not Too Beautiful - Beta Band, The
Can you talk about The Beta Band without mentioning the movie High Fidelity. Let's see...
After their early EPs, the buzz around The Beta Band was huge and their debut album dropping in 1999 had massive expectations. The end result was, well, not so much. The band themselves described it as "f*cking awful" It's actually not really all that bad (well they did come in here and #101 as well) but it is a bit of an incoherent mess. The sounds of a band possibly biting off more than they could chew. I say good on them for having a go.
This is a long one (8 minutes), with a feedback loop repeating throughout and the guitars and drums placed on top with all sorts of other accompanying sounds. It's a relaxing listen
I was introduced to the band through that memorable scene from High Fidelity in 2000......damn!
51. Burn Girl Prom Queen - Mogwai
Past entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
Just missing the top 50 is (as you can see above) one of my favourite bands Mogwai. In my Top 100 lists 1999-2019, they have the 3rd most songs included (behind Radiohead and Interpol). They are a very prolific band and all of their albums are great.
This song came on an EP (imaginatively titled EP) a couple of months after their second album, Come On Die Young and it (to me) marks a change of direction for the band. It is the first "softer" song that is reliant on keyboards to create the atmosphere, rather than just the guitars. As usual for Mogwai (and all post rock really), the song builds up slowly and then fades away just as slowly. It really is quite beautiful. Last edited:
Madonna had a really surprising resurgence in the late 90s (The William Orbit years shall we say), after being a bit pants in the early 90s (IMHO) and this was a highlight. She is another musical chameleon, always seeming to adapt to what the current style is or move pop music itself in a new direction. Not many people can claim to have done that over such a long period of time.
Simply a great pop song.
49. Testify - Rage Against The Machine
Past entries:
2000
Sleep Now In The Fire
3
2000
Renegades of Funk
21
2000
Maria
80
Another surprising omission from the Triple J Hottest 100 is this cracker. The Battle of Los Angeles, the album that this comes from is their (to date) last album of original material and it is great. Not as spotty as their previous albums, it was a work of a band at the peak of their powers, so for them to break up within a couple of years is a shame. Although there are always rumours of a reunion.
If you know their work, this doesn't veer from the formula very much, mix of metal and hip-hop. Big guitar riffs, hip hop style singing, very political lyrics.
48. Blow Up The Pokies - Whitlams, The
Had some technical issues but I'm back using the German forum, looks much nicer actually. If only I could read German, so this entry is the second time I've typed this one out.
Another entry I'm surprised didn't make the Hottest 100. I thought The Whitlams bossed these things.
I'm not really a fan to be honest but this is a really beautiful song. The piano, the strings and the gut wrenching lyrics will do it for me everytime. Tim Freedman has a really great voice, when he is being serious and this captures it at its best.
47. Ana's Song (Open Fire) - Silverchair
Past entries:
2002
Without You
82
Another act you can file in the not really a fan category is Silverchair. I didn't like either the grunge early stuff and the pop of the later stuff but this centre point between the two hits a sweet spot for me.
It is a nicely constructed pop song, with some rockier elements sprinkled throughout. I never knew until recently that Ana is the nickname of Anorexia given by sufferers. I did know that he was a sufferer and the song makes sense more that I know this (why was he hoping for Ana to die I always wondered).
Apologies, with technical difficulties and a longer than expected Skype call with the family didn't get time to complete this block...
46. Willful Suspension Of Disbelief - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
You can colour me a fan of Modest Mouse though, another act to have previously made #1 on my lists.
I mentioned in the comments that I'm being a bit generous of the release date of some songs as it is generally hard to find out with some songs, anyway as best I can tell this was released (in Japan only) in 1999 and then the USA in 2002. It was definately recorded 1999 so here it is.
This song quite nicely sums up the crossroads that Modest Mouse were at at the time. They had signed for a major label after the success of their second album and this comes out of the first recordings they did for Epic. You can immediately recognise this as Modest Mouse from the country-like guitar playing and Isaac Borck's voice but the increased production values are obvious as well, a deeper more brooding sound and a real pointer that something better was just around the corner.
45. Bring It On - Gomez
Past entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
1999
Rhythm and Blues Alibi
55
1999
Devil Will Ride
67
Another act to have 3 songs appear (after Pavement, Built To Spill and Something For Kate if you needed to catch up).
The first single from their second album, which is also confusingly the title of their debut album, Bring It On. Interestingly this and Rhythm and Blues Alibi were their highest charting singles in the UK (reaching #21 and #18 respectively).
It is a more straightforward blues number. The reverberating guitar sound at the beginning and end of the song is great and Ben's voice, just perfect.
44. Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Past entries:
2002
Can't Stop
58
2002
The Zephyr Song
77
1999
Otherside
56
One thing I really admire is the ability of singers to make their voice just another instrument in the song and this is a perfect example. Anthony Kiedis could be singing just nonsense lyrics (and let's be honest maybe is) but the way his delivery fits into the music around him is just perfect, the lengthening and shortening of the syllables is great. I can just close the eyes and block out what he's actually saying and listen to the sounds.
43. Mutha Fucka On A Motorcycle - Machine Gun Fellatio
Past entries:
2002
Take It Slow
36
2002
Rollercoaster
83
2000
Unsent Letter
2
<snigger>
Seriously, how do you come up with something like this? Well I guess if your band name is Machine Gun Fellatio, you do. They actually can get down and write some really heartfelt serious songs if they so choose (see Unsent Letter). Another band with multiple singers, this one is sung by KK Juggy (yes really), whose mother and father called Christa Hughes, whose grandfather (Richard Hughes) was a famous war correspondent and was the inspiration for the character Dikko Henderson in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel You Only Live Twice, and for 'Old Craw' in John le Carré's The Honourable Schoolboy.
Anyway, put the song title aside for a second, this is a pretty good song but it hard to put that song title aside....
42. My Favourite Game - Cardigans
Another song that was plastered all over BBC Radio at the time is this rocky little number by The Cardigans out of Sweden, the first but possibly not the last Scandinavian act to feature.
It has an absolute iconic guitar riff and the softness of the vocal delivery works really well aside it. A great snappy pop song.
41. Let Forever Be {Ft. Noel Gallagher} - Chemical Brothers, The
Past entries:
2015
Go {Ft. Q-Tip}
68
2003
The Golden Path {Ft. The Flaming Lips}
71
1999
Hey Boy Hey Girl
80
The Chemical Brothers actually ruined a quite impressive resume by having this song appear. Before this, they had only one song in the 90s, 2000s and 2010s appear in my lists. Wonder if anyone else could replicate this feat?
Anyway, The Chemical Brothers go back to Noel Gallagher (after 1996's Setting Sun) and it is an effective partnership. Like most of their songs there is an absolute kicking beat backing it all up .
Have to mention the video clip though, an absolute classic, by another Academy Award winner, Michel Gondry. Last edited:
Another slab of politically tinged rock from Rage Against The Machine. The bass is fantastic in this one and the way everything comes together in the last half a minute or so of the song. Best song in the 1999 Hottest 100 to have the lyrics "Turn That Sh*t Up"!
39. I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio - Sterophonics
And back to the BBC! This one was a big summer radio hit in my memory. I associate it with sunny days around the Thames River (I was living in a village on the Thames near Oxford this summer).
Not as rocky as other Stereophonics songs and has a fantastically nonsensical lyric which always makes me smile
"If I had myself a flying giraffe You'd have one in a box with a window"
38. The Pop Singers Fear Of The Pollen Count - Divine Comedy, The
Past entries:
2006
A Lady Of A Certain Age
41
Another massive summer ear worm. I've actually been quite surprised how many of the songs I heard on English radio have stuck with me. Interesting.
The Divine Comedy, who hail from Northern Ireland, were a good indie-pop band and always had witty lyrics (and song titles for that matter) to go with some infectious music. This is actually a reworked version of the song, that originally appeared on their 1993 album.
37. What's My Age Again? - Blink 182
Past entries:
2016
Bored To Death
45
2003
I Miss You
50
2003
Feeling This
85
2000
Man Overboard
89
1999
All The Small Things
58
Another slice of punk-pop from Blink-182, a band that are very happy to not take themselves very seriously both in their lyrics and videos. Can often be very amusing and this is no different. Short, sharp and funny.
36. Carry The Zero - Built To Spill
Past entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
1999
The Plan
66
1999
Bad Light
71
1999
Else
81
Well someone had to first to 4 songs and it is Idaho's finest (actually does anyone know any other bands from Idaho) Built To Spill.
The second longest songs from Keep It Like A Secret, it would have been the second shortest on the previous album as Doug Martsch (singer, guitar player extraordinaire and song writer of the band) made the conscious decision to write shorter and more concise songs.
As with all their work, it is really the complex guitar playing that is the centrepiece. The guitar playing at 4 minutes in, carrying onto the end of the song is just divine.
35. Staralfur - Sigur Ros
Past entries:
2013
Brennistein
35
2013
Isjaki
58
2012
Varuo
20
2008
Gobbledigook
18
2008
Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur
59
2007
Hljomalind
26
2005
Glosoli
4
2005
Svo Hljott
14
2005
Hoppipolla
29
2005
Saeglopur
44
2005
Gong
54
2002
Vaka
3
2002
Njosnavellin
7
2002
Frysta
53
2000
Ny Batteri
20
Another one of my all time favourite bands, Sigur Rós. One of the best Post-Rock artists. This album is really like nothing else I had ever heard before (and this was the first song I heard from it). Using violin bows to play the guitar, the ethereal vocals, truly amazing stuff.
I'd love to say I was across it in 1999 but (like pretty much everyone) it passed me by but I heard this song (on a mixtape a friend had) a few years later and was struck by it. The piano and strings that form the basis of the song are quite beautifully arranged. I can just picture this playing in some remote valley in Iceland and it just filling up all that space. Even though it is quite different, this might be the most "normal" song on the album. But just to be different, the strings are composed to be palindromic (the same played backwards or forwards).
34. Ex-Cowboy - Mogwai
Past entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
1999
Burn Girl Prom Queen
51
Post rock royalty back to back!
Mogwai appeared previously at #51 and I praised the beauty of that particular song. This is the other side of Mogwai, dark, brooding and brutal. There is a similar approach to the song in that is builds up and then fades away.
Ex-Cowboy builds with layer upon layer of guitars over the first 3 and a half minutes, slows down to catch a breath for a minute or so and then starts the process over again but goes harder. At 6-7 minutes in there are so many layers of feedback guitars it is quite dazzling and then back down again.
Get a pair of good headphones and listen to this late at night in the dark. Awesome.
33. Electricity - Suede
Another early/mid 90s artist, this was Suede's last big hit. While this era of Suede didn't hit the heights of their earlier work this is still a cracking glam-pop song and still very reminiscent of David Bowie's early 70s work!
I actually saw them perform in London in a HMV store when the record this was on was released (Head Music, their 4th) and as they played all the new tracks I got very excited when they said they were going to do an old song to close off (I'm a very big fan of their first two records) and they then proceeded to play Trash from their third album ;(. Still a good song though...
32. Steal My Sunshine - Len
How can you not love this song in all its nonsense.
"Well, does he like butter tarts?"
Yes, we all like butter tarts.
"My sticky paws were into making straws out of big fat slurpy treats"
OK, now you've lost me.
Anyway, this is just an incredibly bouncy sunny pop song.
31. Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros
Past entries:
2013
Brennistein
35
2013
Isjaki
58
2012
Varuo
20
2008
Gobbledigook
18
2008
Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur
59
2007
Hljomalind
26
2005
Glosoli
4
2005
Svo Hljott
14
2005
Hoppipolla
29
2005
Saeglopur
44
2005
Gong
54
2002
Vaka
3
2002
Njosnavellin
7
2002
Frysta
53
2000
Ny Batteri
20
1999
Staralfur
35
Another piece of ethereal beauty by Sigur Ros and the title track for their second album.
There is a real fragility about this song, especially around the piano and vocals by Jonsi. The last section is sung in a made up language (Vonlenska or Hopelandic). As the song progresses, additional elements are added but it remains quite simple.
Agaetis Byrjun translates (roughly) as "a good beginning" which was attributed to a friend on hearing this song (which was the first recorded for the album) and it stuck! Last edited:
Another big radio hit (surprisingly given the naughty words) and completing the set of one song in my 90s, 2000s and 2010s lists is Kelis and her call out to her ex
"I hate you so much right now"
Tell us how you really feel Kelis.
29. Writing To Reach You - Travis
Past entries:
2000
Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
31
Another song I'm surprised didn't make the Hottest 100, given that the third single from the album (and so possibly the 3rd best song from the The Man Who) did make the Hottest 100 of 2000!
Well this is the 1st single (and album opener for that fact) and was another song I remember hearing alot at the time. It is a really sweet melodic indie-pop song really but does have a couple of rockier moments as well. It uses very similar chords to Wonderwall and, in acknowledgement has the lyric "and what's a wonderwall, anyway?".
This album was a monster hit in the UK, spending 9 weeks at #1 and is certified 9 x Platinum.
28. Anthem For The Year 2000 - Silverchair
Past entries:
2002
Without You
82
1999
Ana's Song (Open Fire)
47
I did say earlier that I didn't like Silverchair's grungier offerings but I am willing to make this exception. This one absolutely rocks out, more in Queen style than pure grunge!
I do like that "The Freak" from Prisoner is in the dystopian film clip.
27. These Days - Powderfinger
Past entries:
2009
All Of The Dreamers
91
2003
Sunsets
13
2003
Love Your Way
64
2003
Stumblin
75
2003
Rockin'Rocks
86
2000
The Metre
79
1999
Already Gone
64
This is an absolute iconic Aussie song.
Made for the film Two Hands, it was originally released as a B-side and the went on to top the Hottest 100!
It is a pretty simple song actually but all the parts fit together seamlessly and the lyrics really evoke some strong feelings in me (hopelessness, sadness etc).
26. Right Here, Right Now - Fatboy Slim
Past entries:
2001
Weapon Of Choice
44
1999
Praise You
63
The best Fatboy Slim song (IMHO). The backing beat is awesome.
When I first heard this (on the radio in England of course) I thought that the line "Right Here, Right Now" was sampled from the movie "The Outsiders" and was said by Ralph Macchio's character in a very iconic scene. I now realise that I could actually look this up on the interwebs and find out if this is true but I choose not to because I want to go on believing it is
25. Carrot Rope - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
The best and silliest song on Terror Twilight, this is a snappy piece of slacker rock, very identifiable as Pavement but you can hear the added production work (by Nigel Godrich of Radiohead fame). The duelling vocals of Steve Malkamus and Scott Kannberg at the beginning of the song is great, which wasn't used too much in their last couple of albums.
24. Flame - Sebodah
Funny that Sebadoh comes after Pavement as they are probably the two highest profile lo-fi bands. This album was their only major label release.
It is such a funky song, the bass and drum beat is massive and powers through the whole song and Lou Barlow's vocal is great.
"You can feel anything you wanna feel And call it real"
23. Tender - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
Britpop's finest (take that Oasis)! I remember being quite surprised when this first came on the radio, as it is quite different. But then go back and listen to Parklife and see how many different styles they are attempting and maybe I shouldn't have been.
A song about the breakup between Damon Albarn and Justine Frischmann with vocal duties shared between Damon and Graham Coxon. The best feature of the song though is the backing vocals of the London Gospel Community Choir.
This was the last of their 9 ARIA Top 100 singles BTW, reaching #32. In counterpoint to their popularity in the UK, it was their 12th top 10 hit (#2).
22. Sea Song - Doves
Past entries:
2002
There Goes The Fear
29
2002
Pounding
41
2002
M62 Song
63
2000
Catch The Sun
41
2000
The Cedar Room
60
An early release from Doves (a criminally underrated band IMHO) from their second EP.
Great high energy acoustic guitar backing and drawn out vocal delivery drive this one forward. It sounds quite urgent actually. Can't make out any of the lyrics but doesn't really matter, sounds just beautiful, like all their work really.
Kicking off the top 20 is The Flaming Lips. Before this album the only song of theirs I knew was the rather silly She Don't Eat Jelly. When I first heard The Soft Bulletin, I would never have equated the two. They went from guitar heavy alt-rock into much more layered and intricate pop songs. Quite a change.
I love the uplifting string arrangements and the percussion in partcular. Another song that is relevant in our pandemic-tinged reality
"Two scientists are racing For the good of all mankind Both of them side-by-side So determined Locked in heated battle For the cure that is their prize But it's so dangerous But they're determined"
19. Dirge - Death In Vegas
Past entries:
2003
Hands Around My Throat
15
2000
Aisha {Ft. Iggy Pop}
15
At #19 is the very consistent Death In Vegas. No more than one song per year but always in the Top 20.
If you're not familiar with their work, they are an English electro-rock band. They generally write instrumentals but do occasionally have guest vocalists (it is Dot Allison providing the la la las here). Over her backing, additional sounds/instruments are added to the song one by one. It is quite the rocker by the end.
18. Red Alert - Basement Jaxx
Past entries:
2009
Raindrops
68
2006
Take Me Back To Your House
81
2003
Good Luck
57
2002
Get Me Off
46
2001
Romeo
10
2001
Where's Your Head At
59
1999
Rendez-vu
68
A banger red alert has been issued.
How about that slapping bass line! Got a bit of a funk sound and is a lot of fun. Great pop song that was my introduction to Basement Jazz back in 1999.
17. Shazam! - Spiderbait
Past entries:
2004
F***kin Awesome
68
2002
Arse Huggin Pants
56
2001
Four On The Floor
71
1999
Glockenpop
84
An absolute cracker and my favourite Spiderbait song. A much longer extended version of this was used as the opening track of their live performances the two times I saw them in the early 2000s, which was awesome and part of why I love this song so much.
Kram is in fine form on this one (both with the drums and vocals).
16. Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? - Moby
Past entries:
2000
Porcelain
12
1999
Bodyrock
89
I think this was my first introduction to Moby. It certainly make me pay attention as I'd never really heard anything like it before.
It is much slower than most of the rest of the album and has a very melancholic feel.The sample used from the wonderfully named Banks Brothers and the Greater Harvest Back Home Choir is really well done.
Video clip goes very well with the song as well.
15. Christmas Steps - Mogwai
Past entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
1999
Ex-Cowboy - Mogwai
34
1999
Burn Girl Prom Queen
51
Entry #3 for Mogwai for 1999 and #24 overall is a 10 minute long brooding post rock number. They originally got their name when they first formed from the creatures in the movie Gremlins but always intended on getting a better one but never got around to it!
Here is my minute by minute coverage of the songs
Minute 1 - This is quite pretty really Minute 2 - Still pretty Minute 3 - Like the addition of the deep bass line Minute 4 - I'm actually feeling anxious now because I know it will kick in soon but not sure exactly when Minute 5 - Now Minute 6 - Absolutely losing my shit. I think my ears are bleeding... Minute 7 - Calms down somewhat (both the song and me that is) Minute 8 - This is quite pretty really Minute 9 - Getting very quiet now Minute 10 - Takes a deep breath. Wow
14. You Don't Care About Us - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
Another band with plenty of previous entries. Another album I owned in 1999 but I actually bought it in 1998. This song lands in 1999 because of the vagaries of Hottest 100 voting really.
One of the rockier numbers on the album, it flips manically between wise, sighing despair and spitting adolescent rage and the guitar riffs do likewise.
13. Adam's Song - Blink 182
Past entries:
2016
Bored To Death
45
2003
I Miss You
50
2003
Feeling This
85
2000
Man Overboard
89
1999
What's My Age Again?
37
1999
All The Small Things
58
I must admit that when I started to compile this list, I would never have expected this to be so high but here it is.
I'm an absolute sucker for a sad song and this certainly covers that. It reads as a suicide note but apparently was written about Mark Hoppus' depression he experienced when touring.
"Please tell mom this is not her fault"
12. Little Discourage - Idlewild
Past entries:
2000
Roseability
10
I discovered Idlewild through their 2000 song Roseability (my #10 for 2000) and this appears on the same album but was released as single a year earlier.
Great indie rock sound which always floats my boat. The repeated chorus "All I need is a little discourage" over the swirling guitars is great.
11. Driftwood - Travis
Past entries:
2000
Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
31
1999
Writing To Reach You - Travis
29
Just missing out on the Top 10 is this beautiful indie-pop number from Travis, the 2nd single from The Man Who
It's quite a wistful song, quite low tempo, with some beautiful guitar playing and vocals. Just lie back and let it wash over you.
They do great film clips and this is no different.
"You're driftwood floating underwater Breaking into pieces, pieces, pieces Just driftwood, hollow and of no use Waterfalls will find you, bind you, grind you" Last edited:
I think that this is Sigur Ros' tribute to the Olsen twins but I won't bother checking if that is true or nor because it should be.
Once the bass line kicks in, you are just taken on a dreamy voyage. Jonsi's vocals seems like they are echoing from far away, giving a sense of space for the music to fill. Flutes, strings, horns, it's got it all and it builds into a wonderful crescendo.
9. Moya - Godspeed You! Black Emporer
Past entries:
2015
Peasantry or "Light! Inside Of Light!"
74
2012
Mladic
8
2000
Antennas To Heavan
19
2000
Storm
22
2000
Sleep
36
2000
Static
61
More post rock royalty at #9, with Canada's Godspeed You! Black Emporer. I've ruminated the fact that the three titans of post rock in my list (GYBE, Sigur Ros and Mogwai) all come from sparsely populated countries (Canada, Iceland and Scotland) with lots of emptiness and they are trying find a sound to fill it. GYBE have said they were influenced by the flight of non-french speakers out of Montreal leading up to the Quebec Succession Referendum and the empty buildings left behind they would record in. It's a though at least....
First time I saw them live, all these people got onto the stage after the support act and started setting up/playing around with the instruments, I assumed they were roadies, but before too long they had started their first song. It was the band, all 9 of them.
For a band that has no vocals, there is so much emotion their music. For a band that is inspired by dystopia and anarchy and decay, there is so much hope in their music For a band with a violinist and a cello player, there is so much rock!
8. What Do You Me To Say - Dismemberment Plan, The
Past entries:
1999
The City - Dismemberment Plan, The
57
1999
Spider In The Snow - Dismemberment Plan, The
77
Is there a question mark in the song title? I bought the album on iTunes and it doesn't have a ? but the Wikipedia page for the album does. Intriguing.
Somewhat of a more straightforward indie-rock number than some of the more experimental tracks but it is a killer. There is something slightly off about the guitar in the verses which gives it a nervous or anxious sound, which suits as it is a breakup (or break apart more accurately) song.
"There was a time when you could make me laugh at will And you can do it still But never is it for the right reasons."
7. Waitin' For A Superman - Flaming Lips, The
Past entries:
2003
The Golden Path (with The Chemical Brothers)
71
2002
Do You Realise?
24
2002
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
60
1999
Race For The Prize
20
This was my introduction to the new sound of the Flaming Lips (I'm pretty sure it was on the same that I discovered Sigur Ros on as well - thanks Andy).
It's such a beautiful song (I know I say that alot but it really is). Quite down tempo, fantastic percussion with really melancholic lyrics.
"Tell everybody Waitin' for Superman That they should try to Hold on Best they can He hasn't dropped them Forgot them Or anything It's just too heavy for Superman to lift"
6. What Its Like - Everlast
I reckon this is the most randomly awesome song ever. Didn't like House of Pain don't like any other Everlast songs but this one just presses all the right buttons for me.
It's all about the lyrics for me on this one (but the backing beat is pretty cool as well), basically saying don't judge other people and their choices until you try and walk in the shoes (then you really might know what it's like )
"God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes 'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues"
5. CODY - Mogwai
Past entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
1999
Christmas Steps
15
1999
Ex-Cowboy
34
1999
Burn Girl Prom Queen
51
We are not done with Mogwai yet, as they bring up their 25th entry in my lists. Pass the cake!
This is from the album Come On Die Young (get it CODY!) and most peculiarly for Mogwai has some singing on it. No ear bleeding here, its a slower and sadder number, intertwining guitars form the backdrop to
"Old songs stay till the end Sad songs remind me of friends And the way it is, I could leave it all And I ask myself, would you care at all?"
4. Every You Every Me - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
A change of pace with the ubiquitous Every You Every Me (it does my head in a bit that the lyrics are actually Every Me Every You).
I'm a big fan, you all know this one. Nothing else needs be said. Rock on.
3. Coffee and TV - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Tender
23
The Graham Coxon penned and sung Coffee & TV. Didn't quite become their 13th Top 10 hit in the UK as it peaked at #11.
I saw Blur at the Reading Festival in 1999 and this was one of the best numbers but when they did Song 2, the crowd went absolutely nuts. I've never seen anything like it. I was a good 25m or so from the stage and the mosh pit went far beyond me. Don't know how many people were there (20,000?) but everyone was shouting "woo hoo". Good times.
2. Enter Space Capsule - Gerling
Past entries:
2003
In The City
59
2002
Hot Computer (Summer Laptop Remix)
19
2001
Dust Me Selecta
1
2001
G-House Project
20
2001
Phazer Kidz In The Windy City
48
2001
Hi Jackers Manual
75
2000
The Deer In You
11
My old drinking/dancing buddy Burke and his mates (to be fair he just happened to be in the same pub in the same state of intoxication and decided to get up and dance with us) and another previous #1 artist. I love Gerling. Their albums are great and they were one of the most fantastic live acts I've ever seen. They put on a Christmas Show every year at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney and it was always mental.
I also have a massive spot for this absolute banger of a tune as I used to rock my middle daughter to sleep to this when she was a baby (the oldest preferred Dust Me Selecta). Can absolutely bliss out to this....
1. Svefn-G-Englar - Sigur Ros
Past entries:
2013
Brennistein
35
2013
Isjaki
58
2012
Varuo
20
2008
Gobbledigook
18
2008
Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur
59
2007
Hljomalind
26
2005
Glosoli
4
2005
Svo Hljott
14
2005
Hoppipolla
29
2005
Saeglopur
44
2005
Gong
54
2002
Vaka
3
2002
Njosnavellin
7
2002
Frysta
53
2000
Ny Batteri
20
1999
Olsen Olsen
10
1999
Agaetis Byrjun
31
1999
Staralfur
35
It couldn't be anything else could it? Well, there were 1000s of songs released in 1999 so I guess it could but in my mind this was always going to be #1 and by a long way. Apparently the name is an Icelandic pun mixing "sleepwalkers" and "sleep angels". It certainly sounds like both of these things
I reckon if you looked the meaning of ethereal in the dictionary it would just point to this. No more words, just float away now......
Happy to see Touched in there at #59, very close to where it landed in the actual Hottest 100 . It is actually technically a 1998 release, but due to my rules of including all the Hottest 100 songs of a year I had to include it in 1999.
It's actually Bulgarian Folk music Jon Crosby sampled, with devastating effect.
Good to see Lucky Star in there as well, my favourite Alex Lloyd song. Last edited:
I like The Whitlams, though Love This City was such a letdown after the great Eternal Nightcap.
Agree that Blow Up The Pokies is full of heart and should have made the Hottest 100 instead of 'Chunky Chunky Air Guitar' I don't think it was released as a single until mid-2000 which may not have helped. It was very relevant at the time and still is now.
Guerrilla Radio is of course the centerpiece of the 1999 Hottest 100, as a song that mentions a radio/stereo, and insisting one to turn that shit up.
You often have to wonder about how many of those crazy omissions were just really close, because there's another timeline where many are baffled that Passenger didn't make the cut for Powderfinger. And curiously enough, it's that #100 finish that keeps Powderfinger ahead of Hilltop Hoods for entries (Foo Fighters doing the same with their #100 which is a song that existed).
Very nice. Great to see Sigur Ros make two of, I suspect, several appearances from their Aegetus Byrjun album. I must confess I was unaware of them until about 2001 as well. Blowed if I can recall how I discovered them, it might have been on one of those chill out compilations I think. Went out and got the album, and the rest is history.
And the 1999 vesion of These Days is the definitive one, not the overproduced album version.
Interesting point Hijinx, without access to the voting lists and also the 101-200 lists (which we can see now) there is a bit of mystery to the 90s Hottest 100s. Did Everlong come in at #101 or did Triple J just forget to put it on the voting list, who knows?
I've never seen that before thanks. Looks like really limited number of songs (only 254 in total, rather than the 2000+ now), so they obviously just omitted it in favour of Monkey Wrench, which doesn't look a great decision in hindsight
The really small voting list is in a way one of the most interesting things because it puts a different perspective on what it means to crack the Hottest 100 back then. You're literally only in the top 40 percentile of the list, with a lot less votes too, so there's probably a lot of erratic effects, like say someone convinced all their friends to vote for a song, it'd probably actually matter. In some respects, a #200 finish in 2019 has a lot more credibility than a #100 finish in 1997.
(I've heard that's more or less how Pale made the list in 1994).
Actually though with that in mind, it was still possible to be voted into the list without being on the list. I know Louis Burdett did just that, and it strongly suggests that The Whitlams were robbed of a much higher placing for that, but maybe on the other hand, that helped No Aphrodisiac get the win on a less split voting card. THAT, we'll never know. Last edited:
I remember The Vaughns with their wonderful (not) track Who Farted? in 1995 admitted they got all their friends to vote multiple times and it got into the 50s. It certainly was possible to do something like this then but couldn't now.
Very nice 25-11 OBOne! Really looking forward to your Top 10, though I think I know some of the candidates
Thanks for the 1997 voting list link Hijinx. It might help me get to 200 for that year, so I can post my next list
Nup...still don't understand how Everlong isn't on that list. It may have been on the 1998 voting list, as My Hero was from the same album, but still no excuse for it not being in either countdown!
I know the 1999 voting list is online somewhere, will see if I can find it.
I remember using the internet (at Uni) to vote for the first time in early 1997 (for the 1996 countdown).
The vaughans must have gotten all their friends to buy the single as well for it to have made it to the ARIA top 50 in 1995. Stayed in the top 100 for 2 months. 8 wasted weeks of what was actually a good year for music
Great list! I’m particularly pleased to see the excellent Driftwood with such a high ranking, along with Writing To Reach You appearing. I also enjoy seeing the multiple entries for Silverchair, Powderfinger, Blink 182, Blur and RHCP. Also very happy about The Whitlams, Len and Stereophonics nabbing a place, among many others.
1998 saw me still based in the UK but I did visit Australia for a mate's wedding and was presented with a couple of great Australian albums (from 1997) that had singles released in 1998 and find their way here. Also think I was a bit more engaged to new music as there are quite a few other albums in the list that I had at the time. Still was listening to a lot of BBC Radio One, so a few pop songs of the time are here as well. Haven't listened to the Triple J Hottest 100, just the CD (which is one of my least favourite), so it doesn't really register here.
Deloitte's found a couple of errors in my original list. A song that was released as a single in 1997 but was on a 1998 album has been reclassified to 1997. Alternatively, if a song was released on an album in 1997 but as a single in 1998, I'll put it in the 1998 list for reasons that are unclear! They also pointed out a song that had the wrong year in my iTunes collection (was on a best of and had that year rather than the original release year). This meant that The Beautiful South started at 101, snuck in at 100 and were then relegated to 101 again .
I'll list the also-rans out to 111 as well...
101
Look What I Found In My Beer - Beautiful South, The
102
Baker Street - Foo Fighters
103
Is It Wicked Not To Care - Belle & Sebastian
104
Undercurrent - Windy & Carl
105
Drunken Angel - Lucinda Williams
106
Luv Machine - Blonde Redhead
107
Metal Heart - Cat Power
108
Gangster Trippin' - Fatboy Slim
109
She-Riff - Magic Dirt
110
Leit af lífi (recycled by Sigur Ros) - Sigur Ros
111
Pig - Sparklehorse
And onwards to the (un)official guide to the best 100 songs from 1998.
Redneck Wonderland (the album) was a bit of a departure for Midnight Oil as it was both more rockier and electronic than the previous few albums. Amusingly, Peter Garret has always claimed that Midnight Oil are a dance band because he dances to them!
I saw their supposed last ever show in 2017 (since not their last ever show) and this song kicked things off so it is only fitting it does so again!
99. Sweetest Thing - U2
Another debut to my charts from a big 80s band. This song started out life as the B-side to "Where The Streets Have No Name" in 1987 but got re-recorded in 1998 for their Greatest Hits collection. U2 purists will tell you that the original version is better but they're wrong!
Hit #6 in the ARIA charts as well, their 15th of 23 Top 10 Australian hits
98. Sinner - Neil Finn
Yet another big 80s artist to make their debut, will Kajagoogoo be next
Quite surprisingly this was Neil Finn's first solo album, after many many Split Enz and Crowded House releases and it is a good one. More instrumental than Crowded House but very recognisable as Neil Finn, it just shows that he is one of the great songwriters. This is a really relaxed song and was a minor hit in Australia and the UK (where I heard it) but not New Zealand.
97. I'm Ready - Royal Trux
Ah, well they were around in the 80s and this is their debut on my lists
A very different sound to Neil Finn, Royal Trux are an American low-fi alternative rock duo peddling the drums/guitar sound that would be taken up by White Stripes (among others).
Interestingly, while other well known low-fi artists of the early 90s like Pavement and Sebadoh were refining their sound in the late 90s, Royal Trux just kept on trucking. It is a pretty simple, repetitive song but sounds great.
96. Black Umbrella - Even
Past entries:
2001
Shining Star
100
Finally an act that has appeared before, if barely. Even follow up their #100 of 2001 with a credible #96 in 1998. I have it in my mind that they used to be called Even As We Speak but can't find any evidence to back this up.
This is a pretty sparkly snappy indie pop number. That will do it for me everytime!!
95. The Boy With The Arab Strap - Belle & Sebastian
Past entries:
2006
White Collar Boy
96
2005
Funny Little Frog
84
2004
I'm A Cuckoo
46
2003
Step Into My Office Baby
24
2001
I'm Waking Up To Us
91
2000
Legal Man
47
The title track of Belle and Sebastian's third album, inspired by fellow Scottish band Arab Strap. It is a bit of a different sound to both their previous and subsequent releases, which can best be described as twee. The rollicking piano and keyboards drive this along and the backing vocals by Isobel Cambell beg the question why she wasn't used more.
94. Brittle Then Broken - Pollyanna
I have two very spurious connections to Maryke the bass player of Pollyanna. She worked with my sister and was also the flat mate of a friend of mine!
Probably the rockiest of their releases. There is some very fine shouty singing in the last minute or so of the song, which is always nice.
93. Daysleeper - R.E.M.
Well, yet another 80s staple making a first appearance in my lists. R.E.M. are a big favourite of mine but I do think their 90s output lags far below their 80s output (Automatic For The People being an exception).
This is a good song though, very recognisable as R.E.M. with Michael Stipe's vocals and lyrics a standout. Don't know any other songs that have "circadian rhythms" in the lyrics. This was the first R.E.M. album to include the lyrics on the album sleeve BTW.
92. This Is Hardcore - Pulp
Pulp are a band that inspires a lot of reverence but I'm not really that big a fan.
They do have their moments though and this is one. After the big success of Different Class, they returned with something very different. Musically, this is very big sounding, lots of strings, horns and percussion, not the snappy pop sound they were famous for. It does have the (too?) clever lyrics they were famous for though.
"What exactly do you do for an encore"
I will say they usually do great film clips and this is no different.
As an aside, Jarvis Cocker's dad was a DJ at DoubleJ/TripleJ in the 80s!
91. Walking After You - Foo Fighters
Past entries:
2005
DOA
88
2002
Time Like These
97
2000
Generator
72
This is a re-recorded version of one of the songs from The Colour and the Shape album done for the X-Files soundtrack. It adds more instrumentation than the original version and the vocals were redone as well.
It's one of Foo Fighter's quieter sweeter songs and it was the first Foo Fighters song I really registered.
"If you walk out on me I'm walking after you"
Rumours he wrote the song after listening to Mental As Anything have yet to be confirmed. Last edited:
90. I Might Be A C*** But I'm Not A Fucking C*** - TISM
From the it could only be TISM files....
Not their first dalliance with the C word as their 1993 EP "Australia The Lucky C***" was amusingly later renamed "Censored Due To Legal Advice".
Putting all that to one side, this is a pretty rockin' song incorporating all the electronic elements of their 90s output (drum machines etc) with their jab at people who justify doing something bad by pointing out that it could have been worse in typical TISM fashion.
"I might have screwed your sister, but I'll never screw your mum"
If nothing else, TISM are a very unique band. I don't know of anyone even vaguely similar to them.
"I mightn't tell the truth all the time, hey, what's your mum's number?"
89. Never Ending Math Equation - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
The first previous #1 artist to appear and the beneficiary of my last minute realisation that this was actually released in 1998, not 2000 as my iTunes library says (from the Building Nothing Out of Something compilation).
This was one of Modest Mouse's last releases before signing to a major label. I read somewhere that Modest Mouse songs are either quiet and brooding or dark and pounding. This falls into the later. It starts fairly straightforwardly and then two minutes through just goes off!! Another band defined by really unique and clever lyrics.
"The universe works on a math equation That never even ever really even ends in the end Infinity spirals out creation We're on the tip of its tongue, and it is saying "Well, we ain't sure where you stand You ain't machines and you ain't land""
88. Push It - Garbage
Lots of artists making their first appearance in my lists. Maybe 1998 was marking the end of a musical era. Food for thought....
Garbage were another act that I wouldn't say I was a big fan of compared to their general popularity but this song is great. Really interesting sound and vocal delivery to match. Not as straightforward poppy as other songs by them.
87. The Restless Waves - Dirty Three, The
I saw The Dirty Three in 1998. They supported PJ Harvey at the Hammersmith Palais. Even though they were Australian, I had never heard of them before. They were amazing.
The combination of violin, guitar and drums is an unusual one but it works really well. Warren Ellis' violin guides the song and the others provide backing. The song sounds exactly like Restless Waves would, swelling and then ebbing. Just beautiful.
86. Regular John - Queens of the Stone Age
Past entries:
2017
The Way You Used To Do
18
2017
The Evil Has Landed
48
2013
If I Had A Tail
8
2013
My God Is The Sun
13
2013
I Sat By The Ocean
17
2013
I Appear Missing
43
2005
In My Head
23
2005
Little Sister
91
2002
No One Knows
2
2002
Go With The Flow
8
2002
First It Giveth
16
2002
Hangin' Tree
28
2002
God Is In The Radio
45
2002
You Think I 'Aint Worth A Dollar But I Feel Like A Millionaire
68
2002
The Sky Is Fallin'
76
2000
The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret
18
A very common entrant to my lists (8th highest entries) spanning 19 years is Queens Of The Stone Age.
This is off their debut album but is very recognisable right from the get go as QOTSA with that dirty stoner guitar sound and Josh Homme's voice. This song wouldn't be out of place on Songs For The Deaf, which is high praise indeed.
85. Sixtyten - Boards Of Canada
Nothing that came before sounds like Boards Of Canada's 1998 album "Music Has A Right To Children" with its mix of old school synthesizers, analogue recording, samples, field recordings and hip-hop beats. Not too much since has either for that matter.
Sixyten revolves around a looped garbled sample and an absolute stomping beat and just adds and subtracts elements over the course of 5 minutes.
84. Never There - Cake
Past entries:
2001
Short Skirt/Long Jacket
77
Ah, the laconic bass driven stylings of Cake. What ever happened to them? Dare I say, did someone have their Cake and eat it....
83. Rosa Parks - Outkast
Past entries:
2004
Ghetto Musick
19
2003
Hey Ya!
4
2003
The Way You Move
29
2003
Last Call
41
2003
Prototype
62
2003
Bowtie
90
2003
Roses
97
2001
So Fresh, So Clean
52
2001
The Whole World
82
2000
Ms Jackson
8
2000
B.O.B.
45
Another familiar face to my lists. Many Outkast purists say that Aquemini is their best album. They'd be wrong but there is still some fine tunes to be found including this one.
I'm not sure about the Rosa Parks reference as it talks about going to the back of the bus not standing up to the man (and she sued them as well). It is the most straight up funky and fun song on the album and is a great example of how Andre and Big Boi can work together on one song when they so choose.
82. Bad Old Man - Babybird
I only know two Babybird and they are very different from each other (You're Gorgeous is the other BTW).
This is a brooding electronic number, with some downright disturbing lyrics.
"He had a bad old man who beat him Took a hammer to his knees just to please him Now he's thirty-five and half-alive"
When I first heard it on the radio, I didn't register the lyrics and just tapped along and half way through the song remember thinking, did he just say "paedophile" and paid attention after that.
81. New Noise - Refused
From one of the greatest album titles of all time, "The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombination in 12 Bursts". The 90s were an interesting time for Hardcore as split off genres became more successful (Grunge, Industrial and Post Rock being the three most obvious). By the late 90s there weren't that many bands left who were purely hardcore anymore.
Refused decided that you couldn't marry the anti-establishment message at the core of hardcore with the increasingly commercial sound that the genre had encompassed, so something new was needed (a New Noise if you will).
They did this best in this track, incorporating drum and bass sounds into traditional hardcore sounds. I reckon Slipknot were listening..... Last edited:
Harking back to the terminology battle of the mid 90s over a really bad haircut, on the losing side are Wales' favourite suns Super Furry Animals. Until this song, they were very consistently ranking in my lists. The band thought this song was too poppy and "naff" and decided to name it after a "naff" haircut.
Its hard to describe Super Furry Animals and this song as well as it/they is a mix of a whole lot of styles and changes constantly. I particularly like the singing the chorus even though I don't really know any of the words, too poppy indeed, as if that's bad!
79. Get It On - Turbonegro
Turbonegro are a Norweigan self described deathpunk band. There is more than a hint of early KISS about their sound and their makeup choices.
They've got 10 albums but I've only heard the one this is from (Apocalypse Dudes). It's pretty silly and fun.
78. Whatareya? - TISM
Past entries:
1998
I Might Be A C*** But I'm Not A Fucking C*** - TISM
90
Neatly dividing the world into two clubs (Yob or Wanker) could actually describe alot of TISM's output. I think they see themselves as Yobs but in reality they're Wankers.
"A wanker fights class prejudice A yobbo just fights Yob or wanker, wanker or yob Pass me the brush to tar ya Make your choice then live your life Come on, pal, whatareya?"
Very clever as usual. The guitar in this song is a bit heavier than the rest of the album and the drum machine bits underneath tie it together well.
77. God Is A DJ - Faithless
Past entries:
2004
Mass Destruction
58
A classic trance track. Not usually a style that I appreciate but there is something quite captivating about this one.
76. Cold Feeling - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
Underground Lovers are one of my absolute favourite bands and probably the band I have seen live more than any other (including earlier this year). They probably were the closest of any Australian band to replicate the Madchester/Shoegaze sound, which I absolutely adored.
By the time the late 90s came around, they had moved their sound on to a more electronic sound. This was the lead single off their album of the same name and it is a fairly subdued number, acoustic guitar over keyboards and a fairly understated vocal delivery. Quite dreamy actually.
75. Road Rage - Catatonia
The Welsh are taking over....
I love that Cerys sounds so Welsh in her singing, most people lose their accent. My absolute favourite thing about this song is the way she rolls her Rs when singing Rage. Is that wrong? Anyway, this was all over the radio waves in the UK in 1998, certainly takes me back there.
They had 4 albums but I've never heard anything by them other that the singles from this album.
74. Here We Go - Arab Strap
And so are the Scots...
And if Cerys sounds Welsh when she sings, Aidan Moffat sounds very Scottish when he sings.
Here We Go is an uncomplicated gentle wistful song that drifts along quite pleasantly.
Apparently Belle and Sebastian using their name in their album title created a bit of a feud between the two Scottish bands.
73. Legacy - Mansun
Past entries:
2000
I Can Only Dissapoint U
100
1999
Six
95
They are certainly creeping higher year by year.
A rocky little number from one of Britpop's other stars. There are some blistering guitar bits through the song. The lyrics are a bit down though...
"Life is wearing me thin I feel so drained My legacy a sea of faces just like me"
72. No Shelter - Rage Against The Machine
Past entries:
2000
Sleep Now In The Fire
3
2000
Renegades of Funk
21
2000
Maria
80
1999
Guerilla Radio
40
1999
Testify
49
Another song from a movie soundtrack. The song is much better than the movie (Godzilla), which the song ironically acknowledges.
"Godzilla, pure motherfucking filler; to get your eyes off the real killer"
It is, surprise surprise, a politically charged song attacking consumerism and sounds like a RATM song should
71. Your Bruise - Death Cab For Cutie
Past entries:
2011
You Are A Tourist
94
2009
Meet Me On The Equinox
13
2008
I Will Possess Your Heart
1
2008
Bixby Canyon Bridge
27
2008
Cath...
66
2005
I Will Follow You Into The Dark
22
2005
Soul Meets Body
61
2003
Transatlanticism
6
2003
We Looked Like Giants
17
2003
The New Year
31
2003
Tiny Vessels
76
2003
Title And Registration
83
2001
A Movie Script Ending
76
Taken from Death Cab's debut album, Something About Airplanes (which confusingly has a rowboat on the cover).
Death Cab are a very recognisable band. Earnest, easy on the ear, dropping place names, distinctive guitar sounds, broken up drums. I reckon this song is the template that was filled in for all future Death Cab songs. Last edited:
More Welshness in the form of Sterophonics. This was my introduction to them as it was the first of their 10 top 5 hits in the UK. I remember them actually playing this live on Top of the Pops (as opposed to lip syncing as most artists did) while not wearing shoes!
It is certainly one of the rockier numbers in their repertoire.
69. Brimful of Asha (Norman Cook Remix) - Cornershop
Well benji2 will appreciate this. His least favourite song from 1997 remixed by the artist of his least favourite song of 1998.
This is a tremendous remix, it absolutely transforms the original to almost be unrecognisable (as all good remixes do). The tempo is much increased and the beat in the background is top notch. A great dance pop number. This was a big #1 smash in the UK.
Apparently Cornershop weren't too impressed by the success as it gave people a false impression as to their sound.
68. Ava Adore - Smashing Pumpkins, The
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
Adore gets a bit of a bad wrap in the Pumpkins pantheon but it actually is a pretty good record (if no Mellon Collie...). It is meant to signify a door (get it!) into a new sound for the band
This was the first single released and marks that newer musical direction, which a more electronic sound on top of the traditional guitar sound they are know for but Billy Corgan sounds just Like Billy Corgan, which is a good thing.
67. Cross Bones Style - Cat Power
I never really got into Cat Power. I remember her getting a bit of airplay in the early 2000s on TripleJ but not really liking it as it wasn't a genre I enjoyed at the time. But of course, time moves on and it is a genre that I do very much enjoy now.
Just the very bare bones of a folk song, an acoustic guitar and her amazing voice. That'll do it for me every time.
66. Begin Again - Space
On the other hand, Space were one of my favourite acts at the time! I loved the over the top theatrics of their songs, like a pop soap opera and the bad horror movie type synth work is great!
"It's me again, insignificant me again, Just me again and my broken heart. How can I love again, Now she's gone again, I'm on that ship again, Called a sinking heart."
It is a put down the car windows on a sunny day and belt out the lyrics kind of song.
65. Wildflower Soul - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
Is that the sound of distorted guitar feedback? It could only be Sonic Youth then. Sonic Youth purists will tell you that the 80s output of the band is the best but they're wrong. I think the 90s albums are more enjoyable (which should be the point of listening).
Anyway, Wildflower Soul is a 9 minute jam, with trademark Sonic Youth sounds and Thurston Moore's laidback vocals and a delightfully trippy middle section.
64. For Martha - Smashing Pumpkins, The
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
Ava Adore
68
One of the things I most like about The Smashing Pumpkins is that they have a large range of songs/styles. For example, Rhinocerous sounds nothing like Today, which sounds nothing like Disarm, which sounds nothing like Bullet With Butterfly Wings, which sounds nothing like Tonight Tonight, which sounds nothing like 1979, which sounds nothing like this one.
It is a tribute to Billy Corgan's mother and was recorded in one live take and the drums are played by Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam).
The beautiful piano introduction, the guitar playing at the 4 minute mark, the subdued vocals. Just beautiful.
"If you have to go don't say goodbye If you have to go don't you cry If you have to go I will get by Someday I'll follow you and see you on the other side"
63. Stay - Bernard Butler
The debut single from ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. It certainly musically evokes Dog Man Star era Suede (his last album with the band). A radio friendly rock number, with some great guitar work and he's actually got a pretty good voice as well.
62. The Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim
Past entries:
2001
Weapon Of Choice
44
1999
Right Here, Right Now
26
1999
Praise You
63
1998
Brimful of Asha (Norman Cook Remix)
69
Apologies to benji2 but this is a classic. I remember when it first came on the radio thinking I'd never heard anything like it, like a very infectious mix of big beats and surf music. It does go on a bit maybe but still great.
61. Polyester Girl - Regurgitator
Past entries:
2004
My Friend Robot
84
2001
Fat Cop
31
The first of those 1997 classic Australian albums that I got in 1998! Still one of my favourite albums.
Polyester Girl was Regurgitator's highest charting song (#14) and it's probably the most overtly poppy song on the album (so shiny...) and another great singalong song (and I know most of the lyrics as a bonus!!)
Spelling please! Everytime I listen to Mercury Rev, I'm surprised how rocky they are. Not sure why but I expect them to be mellower. I saw them live in the early 2000s and was a bit underwhelmed but Deserter Songs is a classic album.
Goddess On A Hiway was actually written when Jonathon Donahue was still a member of The Flaming Lips and has more than a hint of their early work.
59. President of What? - Death Cab For Cutie
Past entries:
2011
You Are A Tourist
94
2009
Meet Me On The Equinox
13
2008
I Will Possess Your Heart
1
2008
Bixby Canyon Bridge
27
2008
Cath...
66
2005
I Will Follow You Into The Dark
22
2005
Soul Meets Body
61
2003
Transatlanticism
6
2003
We Looked Like Giants
17
2003
The New Year
31
2003
Tiny Vessels
76
2003
Title And Registration
83
2001
A Movie Script Ending
76
1998
Your Bruise
71
A more uptempo number by Death Cab For Cutie than their previous entry. I really like the swirling keyboards on this one and there is something slightly odd about the sound, like it's moving to a different beat to the lyrics (but in a good way) and then it all comes together right here
"'Cause nothing hurts like nothing at all"
58. Wildsurf - Ash
Past entries:
2001
Shining Light
18
2001
Burn Baby Burn
67
Representation for all the British Isles now as Northern Ireland's Ash power pop along.
When they get it right (which they certainly do here) Ash are quite an exhilarating listen, beefy guitars and catchy hooks.
I saw them in the mid 90s play when they were but a three piece and still underage. They were plastered and really couldn't play properly but were obviously having lots of fun. Surprisingly it was a pretty good gig.
57. Second Solution - Living End, The
Past entries:
2003
Who's Gonna Save Us
96
Another band I don't really like that much is The Living End. To me they always sounded a bit formulaic but obviously they hit the mark with many people. This is a favourite of theirs for me, very catchy and more straight up rocky than most of their other songs. The line "and what I want to know is will I get death row" is best sung at high volume.
56. Pillars - Sunny Day Real Estate
Not to be confused with Sunny Day In Glasgow (which I do) or to anything sunny really. I imagine as they were one of the earliest emo bands it is an ironic name! They also pretty much broke up after every one of their 4 albums, this coming from their third. Their previous break up happened because two of the members joined Foo Fighters in 1996. One returned two years later and more music ensued...
Pillars alternates between being broody and blistering with some fairly inscrutable lyrics.
"Don't tell me you've gone astray I walk in circles I've seen million things that tell me so"
55. Drowned World/Substitute For Love - Madonna
Past entries:
2000
Music
38
1999
Beautiful Stranger
50
Ray Of Light the album marked a return to form for Madonna (IMHO) and this is the most interesting song on the album and is quite different for a Madonna song.
Little bit of trip hop, drum loops, acoustic and electric guitars, it rises and falls and it all seems quite sad.
54. Rabbit In Your Headlights {Ft. Thom Yorke} - UNKLE
Past entries (Thom Yorke):
2019
Dawn Chorus
87
2006
Black Swan
76
2001
This Mess We're In - (with PJ Harvey)
3
It is very hard to separate this song from its film clip, once you've seem it you can't listen to the song without visualising the triumphant scene at the end of the song, it just all fits together so well and when the music quietens down you just know what's coming.
I encountered this in the 2000s sometime and didn't realise it was from the 90s untila couple of years ago (thanks benji2).
And well done to Thom Yorke for being the first artist to span more than 20 years in my lists.
53. The Impression That I Get - Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The
Another debut act and a ska-punk classic! They've been releasing albums of the last 30 years but this is the only song of theirs I know.
Another great belt out loud chorus, especially the yelling out of the "never" in "never had to knock on wood".
52. Telephasic Workshop - Boards of Canada
Past entries:
1998
Sixtyten
85
This song shudders! No idea how they came up with the sound but it sounds great if a bit unnerving. Even the garbled sample later in the song shudders. The only thing that doesn't shudder are the ethereal chimes in the background and the words "Boards of Canada".
51. TNT - Tortoise
Tortoise are a hard band to pigeon hole. Some people would say they are post rock but I don't really see it. Experimental free-jazz? Maybe. Math rock? Maybe. Whatever the genre it is quite unlike anything else.
This is the title track of their third album and to me just really sounds like a bunch of really talented musicians having an epic seven and a half minute jam! Last edited:
Kicking off the top 50 are the ever reliable James with yet another of their great 90s singles. I've never actually listened to one of their albums, just heard the singles and this was a single released on their Best Of in 1998. I'm somewhat surprised that they never were bigger on Triple J.
Anyway, this is just a great indie pop song, a move on from James' earlier folk styling. Very anthemic and lush. Love the emphasis placed on the words "freaks" and "unique" at the end of the lines in the verse.
49. Kelly Watch The Stars - Air
Past entries:
2004
Cherry Blossom Girl
85
2000
Playground Love
98
I just went to the TripleJ website to see where this song placed in the 1998 Hottest 100 and was absolutely shocked to see that it didn't! I had always assumed it did. I actually checked 1997 and 1999 as well I was so sure that it had. It was a hit in the UK and maybe that is why I was thinking so.
Anyway, this is some absolutely cool French electro-pop. It's a pretty simple song, just one refrain repeated over and over with additional elements added over time but it is just so funky (see also Daft Punk and Caribou).
I saw them perform at the Opera House a couple of years ago and they were fantastic.
48. Tijuana Lady - Gomez
Past entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
1999
Bring It On
45
1999
Rhythm and Blues Alibi
55
1999
Devil Will Ride
67
1998 saw my love affair with Gomez start when I got their debut album Bring It On (not be confused with the song of the same name of their second album!!).
Tijuana Lady is as close to a ballad as Gomez has ever gotten, as always tinged with the blues and Ben Ottewell's distinctive voice. It's really beautiful actually.
"Tijuana lady, where did you go Yeah, I been chasing you around all Mejico"
I saw them in 2018, playing this album in full (20 year anniversary) and this was the absolute standout.
47. Candlefire - Dawn Of The Replicants
Another fine Scottish act! I only know their 1998 debut of their five albums but it is a pretty solid record. Very much in the indie-rock wheelhouse, with just a little bit of quirkiness added to the mix.
46. Black Bugs - Regurgitator
Past entries:
2004
My Friend Robot
84
2001
Fat Cop
31
1998
Polyester Girl
61
More Gurge. This is a rockier number than Polyester Girl and a previous #1 winner of the QLVG (whatever happened to that?). Probably on Unit, this has the most similar sound to their previous efforst, the rest of the album was really a musical jump forward for the band.
45. Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
I reckon if I did this list 10 years ago this would have been much higher but still places a respectable #45.
It's quite an iconic song from an iconic band. The robotic singing, turntables, great rapping, funny/silly lyrics
"If you try to knock me, you'll get mocked I'll stir fry you in my wok Your knees'll start shaking and your fingers pop Like a pinch on the neck from Mr. Spock"
And (as always) a very amusing film clip.
44. Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel
Jeff Magnum read "The Diary Of Anne Frank" and started having very vivid dreams about it and used those dreams to (in part) form part of Neutral Milk Hotel's second Album "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea". It is a quite extraordinary album and has gotten me through both the best and worst of times over the last 15 or so years since I first heard it.
Holland, 1945 is the rockiest number on the album and is quite frenetic musically and lyrically, relentlessly driving forward. The horns towards the end are great. Anne Frank was from Holland and died (in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp) in 1945.
"The only girl I've ever loved Was born with roses in her eyes But then they buried her alive One evening in 1945 With just her sister at her side"
43. Spottieottedopalicious - Outkast
Past entries:
2004
Ghetto Musick
19
2003
Hey Ya!
4
2003
The Way You Move
29
2003
Last Call
41
2003
Prototype
62
2003
Bowtie
90
2003
Roses
97
2001
So Fresh, So Clean
52
2001
The Whole World
82
2000
Ms Jackson
8
2000
B.O.B.
45
1998
Rosa Parks
83
An downright Prince-like seven minute jam by Outkast.
It sounds like a couple of mates having a late night reminiscence about a big night out in Atlanta and the loves found and lost with some slick guitar work and billowy horns in the background. It really shouldn't work but it certainly does.
42. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
After the Air travesty before, I checked that this came in the Hottest 100 as well and it did at #35!!
This is the only Harvey Danger song I know, so no idea if it is representative of their sound. A great pop-punk-rock sound, blistering guitar playing, fantastic lyrics, what more could you want!
"Fingertips have memories Mine can't forget the curves of your body"
41. Cigarettes Will Kill You - Ben Lee
Past entries:
2004
Gamble Everything For Love
45
2002
Something Borrowed Something Blue
43
An artist I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with. He has some amazing songs (like this one) and some absolute rubbish ones as well. And let's face it, he's a bit of a tosser! Last edited:
When Massive Attack first came out in the early 90s, I wasn't a fan as it didn't mesh with what I was listening to at the time but by the time Protection came out in 1995 I was a big time convert and had gotten into Blue Lines as well.
Slow and druggy beats to a wall of guitar sound (anyone else hear hints of A Forest here?) adds up to one top notch song. The song samples The Incredible Bongo Band song, "Last Bongo in Belgium", which surprisingly isn't the last time Bongos will be mentioned in this list.
If you look closely in the film clip, you will spot all three members of Massive Attack and Horace Andy (the guest vocalist)!
39. Everybody Here Wants You - Jeff Buckley
Past entries:
2004
Forget Her
54
The divine voice of the sadly departed Jeff Buckley. I still remember where I was when I found out he had died (reading a newspaper on a bus between Hungary and Croatia!). For someone who only ever had one officially released studio album, he has quite the legacy.
This sounds like a fully realised song but I guess we'll never know if it was or not. As this was his first song I heard after his death, I feel a sadness when listening to it but feel its beauty quite keenly as well.
38. Windy Miller - Dawn of the Replicants
Past entries:
1998
Candlefire
47
A more unusual song by Dawn Of The Replicants. The syncopated drum patterns in particular are quite jarring. For all of that, it is a pretty good sing along, everyone now....
"I am Windy Miller And you are the wind"
37. Every Day Should Be a Holiday - Dandy Warhols, The
Past entries:
2003
You Were The Last High
16
2003
We Used To Be Friends
74
2000
Get Off
7
2000
Bohemian Like You
43
2000
Mohammed
55
Some high energy indie-pop from The Dandy Warhols. For a band that doesn't have a bass player (similar to The Doors), the keyboards do a good job of providing that bounce a bass would normally. As an ex bass player I can't say I fully approve but I'll give them a pass just this once.
"Summertime, If I was getting paid For getting drunk and getting laid. I'd grab a phone Just to call you up and say Quit your job Cause I got it made."
36. The Funny Bird - Mercury Rev
Past entries:
1998
Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev
60
You know how I mentioned that I get surprised at how rocky Mercury Rev are when I listen to Deserter Songs, that's because I sort of think that they sound like they do on this song (my favourite) all the time.
Hints of psychedelia, 70s rock as well as some kick ass guitar playing. Aren't they all like this and if not why not....
35. Rie's Wagon - Gomez
Past entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
1999
Bring It On
45
1999
Rhythm and Blues Alibi
55
1999
Devil Will Ride
67
1998
Tijuana Lady
48
Nine minute of blissed out blues from Gomez.
They have experimented with different sounds throughout their career (sometimes on the same song) but this southern blues style suits them the best I think. The dirty guitars, the gravely voice, the harmonica playing in the middle when the tempo picks up are all top notch.
34. Shimmer - Fuel
Another band where it's the only song I know, so no idea if it is representative of their sound but it is certainly a radio friendly grunge-lite sound and there is nothing at all wrong with that.
33. Mulder and Scully - Catatonia
Past entries:
1998
Road Rage
75
This was my introduction to Catatonia and IMHO their best song. I love the way Cerys pronounces Scully (Scally). I think in this song there is more of a balance between her singing and the music, while Road Rage focuses too much on her singing, or maybe I'm overthinking it all.
Wouldn't have hurt this songs popularity that 1998 would have been peak X-Files popularity.
32. Sexy Boy - Air
Past entries:
2004
Cherry Blossom Girl
85
2000
Playground Love
98
1998
Kelly Watch The Stars
49
Copy and paste my shock that Kelly Watch The Stars wasn't in the Hottest 100 and double it! I would have thought this would have been quite high up the list.
It is the beefiest song on Moon Safari, with a really deep keyboard bass sound and it all sounds, well sexy.
It has been covered by Franz Ferdinand and Nena (of 99 Luft Balloons fame)!
31. She's The One - Beta Band, The
Past entries:
1999
It's Not Too Beautiful
52
Yet another Scottish band. There is a very iconic moment in the 2000 movie High Fidelity when John Cusack says "I will now sell five copies of "The Three EPs" by The Beta Band." Well this isn't the song he put on but it does come from that album and I did only check out The Beta Band after seeing the movie.
They are a fairly quirky band and this is a fairly quirky song, mixing some straightforward music ideas (acoustic guitars etc) with more unusual ones (sped up samples) and throwing it all together over the eight plus minutes of the song but it all comes off fantastically. Last edited:
benji2 messaged me last night and made the bold prediction that Holland, 1945 wouldn't be the last Neutral Milk Hotel song in the list. He's right!
Ten years ago I did a similar online ranking of various songs and I rated this as my favourite song ever, which is obviously not the case still but it still resonates very strongly with me, even though it is quite short (at 1:57 is the second shortest song on the list). One of the things missed about Neutral Milk Hotel is how great the musicianship is. There are some really unusual sounds and instruments played and on this song I love the dreamy/swirling nature of the music and the horns at the end. There is an aching beauty to the lyrics as well.
"And wanting something warm and moving Bends towards herself, the soothing Proves that she must still exist She moves herself about her fist"
I saw them live in 2013 or so and strangely this was the only song from this album they didn't play.
29. Sich Offnen - Not From There
Another band where it's the only song I know, so no idea if it is representative of their sound. To add to the confusion I had always assumed they were German but have discovered they're Ausssie!
The German singing is great though, backed by some beefy rock. Works for me...
28. The Grouch - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
Another short song is this sharp, snappy slice of pop-punk from Green Day. It's all a bit fun, driving guitars, solid backing beat and as I grow older some wonderful lyrics.
"I don't have fun and I hate everything The world owes me, so fuck you"
27. It's Like That - Run D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins
This was #1 in the UK for an eternity and was all over the radio for a long time. Another great example of how to do a remix. An absolute stomping beat backs this one.
Unfortunately, lightning didn't strike twice and the remix of It's Tricky, not so much.
26. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
1998
The Grouch
28
Before this was released who would have ever thought Green Day would be played at weddings? It is certainly a change of pace and approach. It was written about an ex of Billy Joe's who moved overseas to express his anger at her but also his good wishes.
It is a contemplative song and quite beautiful really. The addition of the strings is a nice touch. It could have all come off as twee or fake but they've handled it nicely.
"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go"
25. A Perfect Day Elise - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
Polly Jean Harvey is a big favourite of mine (5th most entries), as you can see above. Surprisingly, this is the only album of hers I don't own, so I only know this and a couple of other songs from the album. This is her highest ever placed single on the UK charts at #25, the only one of her 14 top 50 singles to crack the top 25 (and was one of her 5 top 100 ARIA hits as well).
A Perfect Day Elise continues the calmer nature of PJ Harvey's music, started on the previous album but it has a really edgy nature to it as well. The guitar work is ace, great hypnotic, distorted, echoed sound.
As I mentioned earlier, I saw PJ Harvey play in London in 1998 and I took away two things. She is really tiny and sounds just as awesome live as on record!
24. Sunday - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
1998
Wildflower Soul
65
More great rock by Sonic Youth. For all their experimental-art-noise tendencies they had great sense of melody that really came out (occasionally) on their 90s albums. This album saw them try and cover both styles but this is more in the melodic style.
Great interchanging guitars from Thurston Moore and Lee Ranauldo and a typically low-key vocal delivery from Thurston define Sunday. Some great noise at about the 2:30 mark, just to show they can still do it!
Macauley Caulkin makes an appearance in the film clip as well.
23. Oh Comely - Neutral Milk Hotel
Past entries:
1998
Holland, 1945
44
1998
Communist Daughter
30
More Anne Frank musings from Neutral Milk Hotel.
"I know they buried her body with others Her sister and mother and five-hundred families And will she remember me fifty years later? I wished I could save her in some sort of time machine"
There is a pause (quite short but it seems to extend forever to me) before Jeff Magnum sings these lines and he sing a bit lower and my heart breaks a little time everytime I hear it.
An amazing fact I picked up from hijinx is that this was recorded in one take, not bad for an eight minute song. It is just Jef Magnum playing acoustic guitar and singing throughout. Simple but beautiful.
22. East Hastings - Godspeed You! Black Emporer
Past entries:
2015
Peasantry or "Light! Inside Of Light!"
74
2012
Mladic
8
2000
Antennas To Heavan
19
2000
Storm
22
2000
Sleep
36
2000
Static
61
1999
Moya
9
Had a bit of a dilema with this album, the wonderfully named F#A#∞ as it was released on vinyl in 1997 but re-recorded for a CD release in 1998. I went with 1998.
If you've ever seen the movie 28 Days Later (and you should if you haven't) you heard this song as it is being played as Cillian Murphy wanders around a deserted London. East Hastings is named after East Hastings Street, a run down area of Vancouver, blighted by drugs and abandoned buildings, which is the sense (abandoned landscapes) that Godspeed are trying to achieve.
At 18 minutes long, it flows through different movements and builds up steam to hit full speed at 11 minutes in, then to fade away again.
21. The Day You Come - Powderfinger
Past entries:
2009
All Of The Dreamers
91
2003
Sunsets
13
2003
Love Your Way
64
2003
Stumblin
75
2003
Rockin'Rocks
86
2000
The Metre
79
1999
These Days
27
1999
Already Gone
64
Lead single from Internationalist, Powderfinger's first ARIA #1 album (of five), this is a slow brooding number (although not as brooding as East Hastings) and was (IIRC) the first Powderfinger song I really liked and probably about the time they really discovered their "sound". Last edited:
In somewhat of a theme, another band where this is the only song of theirs I know, so no idea if it is representative of their sound.
The lead singer might smell sex and candy but this song actually sounds like sex and candy. Sort of low-fi, sort of grungy, sort of funky as well. It's good stuff.
19. Pure Morning - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
The first single from the very excellent "Without You I'm Nothing". A slower sound to Every You Every Me and You Don't Care About Us with some great lyrics and nice guitar work throughout.
"A friend in need's a friend indeed, A friend with weed is better"
Apparently Brian Molko improvised the lyrics during original recordings and decided he liked them!
18. Just Ace - Grinspoon
Past entries:
2005
Sweet As Sugar
90
2002
Lost Control
71
2002
1000 Miles
81
Not a big fan of Grinspoon but this very short pop-punk song is, well, just ace!
Lyrics are absolute rubbish but the sound is, well, just ace! Great bass line in this one!
17. Two Headed Boy pt 2 - Neutral Milk Hotel
Past entries:
1998
Oh Comely
23
1998
Communist Daughter
30
1998
Holland, 1945
44
This was the song that got me through the worst of times
"But don't hate her when she gets up to leave"
Similar to Oh Comely, in that it is just Jeff Magnum singing over an acoustic guitar.
"And in my dreams you're alive and you're crying"
It is so completely heartfelt and emotional.
"Daddy, please hear this song that I sing In your heart there's a spark that just screams For a lover to bring a child to your chest That could lay as you sleep And love all you have left like your boy used to be Long ago wrapped in sheets warm and wet"
16. Bongo Bong - Manu Chao
From your favourite French Basque Punk Anarchist, Manu Chao. The album this is from (Clandestino) has sold over 5 million copies world wide and is one of the biggest selling French albums ever. I saw him perform at the Sydney Festival in around 2013 and it seemed like every French person in Sydney was there. He absolutely rocked the park down, singing songs in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and English.
Probably the least punk and poppiest number on the album (especially when run into Je Ne T'aime Plus) and disappointingly doesn't actually feature any bongos but it is just a great listen.
15. Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No. 2) - Whitlams, The
Past entries:
1999
Blow Up The Pokies
48
That piano introduction!! Just beautiful.
This was the second of the 1997 albums I was given when I visited Australia in 1998. I must admit to being quite shocked as, when I left Australia in 1996, The Whitlams were just a joke band with songs about making hamburgers and Woody Allen and they had grown up all of a sudden.
14. ! (The Song Formerly Known As) - Regurgitator
Past entries:
2004
My Friend Robot
84
2001
Fat Cop
31
1998
Black Bugs
46
1998
Polyester Girl
61
And back to the first of those 1997 albums.
If you had told me in 1996 that Regurgitator would release a song that basically sounds like Prince, I would have scoffed. But here they are.
An amazingly funky song, that the paisley one would have been proud of. The lyrics are great as well.
"You won't see me tribal raving baby 'cause I won't ever look that good I'd rather dance in ugly pants in the comfort of a loungeroom in suburbia"
13. Whipping Picadilly - Gomez
Past entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
1999
Bring It On
45
1999
Rhythm and Blues Alibi
55
1999
Devil Will Ride
67
1998
Rie's Wagon
35
1998
Tijuana Lady
48
There's a story that goes with this one. When I first heard this song I was staying with a friend who lived in a place called Buxton in England. The nearest big city was Manchester and if you wanted to go for a day out, you jumped on the train to Manchester Piccadilly! The last stop of the train was Southport, where Gomez are from. This song is about jumping on that train and going for a day out to Manchester. Maybe they took the waters in Buxton too!
"Once upon a time, not too long ago, we took a day out in Manchester"
In any case, it is an incredibly sunny and breezy song.
12. King of Carrot Flowers pt 1 - Neutral Milk Hotel
Past entries:
1998
Oh Comely
23
1998
Communist Daughter
30
1998
Holland, 1945
44
1998
Two Headed Boy pt 2
17
This is the opening track to In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and starts up the album as a story of new love
"And this is the room one afternoon, I knew I could love you And from above you how I sank into your soul Into that secret place where no one dares to go"
Just as the last track (Two Headed Boy - Part 2) finishes the album with that love being lost. Nice book ends
When my youngest daughter was 3, we received the end of year kindergarten video, in which all the kids were asked various questions, like "What is your favourite song?" After hearing many responses like Jingle Bells or Hot Potato, there is my little angel saying "King of Carrot Flowers". Priceless
11. Boys Better - Dandy Warhols, The
Past entries:
2003
You Were The Last High
16
2003
We Used To Be Friends
74
2000
Get Off
7
2000
Bohemian Like You
43
2000
Mohammed
55
1998
Every Day Should Be a Holiday
37
Was originally going to have this in 1997 but saw this was released as a single in 1998 and, as 1997 might be a very top heavy year, put it here.
An absolutely driving track, high energy that never lets up, swirling guitars and slightly distorted vocals. I particularly like this being on the radio at the time, to belt it out at loud volume. I think it was the first Dandy Warhols song I heard. Last edited:
10. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers
On 1st February 1995, Richie Edwards, guitarist and co-lyric writer of Manic Street Preachers disappeared. He is presumed to have committed suicide by jumping of the Severn Bridge as his car was later found nearby. When I heard this, I must admit to thinking that might be the end of The Manics as it would be something hard to come back from. They did come back, starting with Everything Must Go in 1996 (partially featuring some of Richie's last lyrics). But they came back different, less angry, wearier and worldlier.
If You Tolerate This... was the first single from their first full album without Richie.
"So if I can shoot rabbits then I can shoot fascists"
The politically charged messages are still there but the delivery has changed enormously. The emotion is stripped from the song and the music less frenetic, a world weary declaration rather than an angry outburst if you will.
"Gravity keeps my head down Or is it maybe shame At being so young and being so vain"
9. The Ballad of Tom Jones - Space with Cerys Matthews
Past entries:
1998
Begin Again
66
From the very, very serious to the very, very silly (but both featuring Welshness).
"Why are we still together? Oh, I can't leave you till you're dead You mean till death do us part I mean like cyanide, strangulation or an axe through your head"
Space were one of my favourite bands of the period and the addition of Cerys Matthews is great. The story of two jaded lovers rediscovering their love through the music of Tom Jones is fabulously done to the backdrop of Space's usual sci-fi whirrings and buzzings! Not sure there is much a future for them though...
"But just a word of warning now Just in case we ever get tired of his voice I know the Mafia, Godzilla, King Kong And I know an atom bomb that's going for a song"
8. La Femme D'argent - Air
Past entries:
2004
Cherry Blossom Girl
85
2000
Playground Love
98
1998
Sexy Boy
32
1998
Kelly Watch The Stars
49
From the very, very serious to the very, very silly to the very, very cool.
This is surely one of the great opening tracks to an album in terms of how it sonically sets the scene for what is to follow. La Femme D'argent welcomes you into the sultry, sexy, sophisticated world of Air. A hint of bongos, slapping bass line and layered synths and keyboards rise and fall over seven minutes, an absolute aural treat.
7. No Surprises - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
Radiohead's 27th song to appear in my yearly lists (2nd behind Interpol) and moved from 1997 to 1998 (it was released as a single then) to avoid a logjam of songs from OK Computer!!
I love the incredibly delicate guitar playing that provides the backing for this song. It is quite restrained and quiet but it packs a punch.
"A job that slowly kills you"
This was actually the first song recorded for OK Computer, whose theme was the a world filled with consumerism, alienation, isolation, political malaise and ultimately pointlessness and No Surprises points to these themes. They seem just as relevant now as back then
"Bring down the government They don't, they don't speak for us"
6. Get Myself Arrested - Gomez
Past entries:
2002
Shot Shot
59
2000
We Haven't Turned Around
4
2000
Machismo
29
1999
Bring It On
45
1999
Rhythm and Blues Alibi
55
1999
Devil Will Ride
67
1998
Whipping Picadilly
13
1998
Rie's Wagon
35
1998
Tijuana Lady
48
Another excellent track from Gomez and a great example of the blues infused indie rock that they were aiming at. The duelling vocals, acoustic/electric guitar work, the handclaps (!) all come together fantastically. Another great singalong song.
5. The Dead Flag Blues - Godspeed You! Black Emporer
Past entries:
2015
Peasantry or "Light! Inside Of Light!"
74
2012
Mladic
8
2000
Antennas To Heavan
19
2000
Storm
22
2000
Sleep
36
2000
Static
61
1999
Moya
9
1998
East Hastings
22
"It went like this:
The buildings toppled in on themselves Mothers clutching babies Picked through the rubble And pulled out their hair
The skyline was beautiful on fire All twisted metal stretching upwards Everything washed in a thin orange haze
I said, "Kiss me, you're beautiful - These are truly the last days"
You grabbed my hand And we fell into it Like a daydream Or a fever"
The above spoken word piece towards the beginning of the song (backed by sad violins) catch my breath everytime I listen to it. Is there a sense of hope in there? I think so. Is that hope being crushed by despair while seeing a flicker of possibility. Yes. Welcome to the universe of Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
This is the first song of their first album and says everything you need to know about the landscape they were trying to achieve. All their music fits into the world described above, a world where civilization is heading towards collapse. Yet there is so much beauty to be found in this world, a glimmer of hope that we may find redemption.
4. Teardrop - Massive Attack
Past entries:
2010
Atlas Air
26
2009
Splitting The Atom
99
1998
Angel
40
Massive Attack have had some great featured vocalists over the years, Sinead O'Connor, Tracy Thorn, Tricky to name a few but was there ever a more perfect pairing for them than Liz Fraser? Apparently one of the members wanted to use Madonna instead. Glad the other two won out (no offence to Madonna) because it just wouldn't sound right otherwise. Liz Fraser has dedicated the song to Jeff Buckley as she heard about his death while recording it
The ethereal vocals are just divine, the delicate musical backing just perfect. It really sounds like it is from another time and place.
3. Without You I'm Nothing - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
1998
Pure Morning
19
The title (and standout) track of the excellent Without You I'm Nothing.
"You're slipping slowly from my reach"
A real sense of desperation and despair sweep over this song, with the occasional sense of urgency that then dies away into despair again, especially just before the first refrain of Without You I'm Nothing.
There are some absolutely blistering guitar sections as well, indicating that urgency. I'm a sucker for a sad song and this one has it in spades.
"Without you, I'm nothing at all"
Didn't at all like the version with David Bowie, lost all the facets above that made it great.
2. Brick - Ben Folds Five
Did I mention I'm a sucker for a sad song...
Ben Folds autobiographical song about a couple going through the process of having an abortion.
Contains one of my favourite lyrics ever.
"Driving back to her apartment For the moment, we're alone Yeah, she's alone, and I'm alone And now I know it"
1. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
Past entries:
1998
King of Carrot Flowers pt 1
12
1998
Two Headed Boy pt 2
17
1998
Oh Comely
23
1998
Communist Daughter
30
1998
Holland, 1945
44
Not a sad song at all, in fact it is quite joyous. It makes me smile and lifts my spirits everytime I hear it.
"And one day we will die And our ashes will fly From the aeroplane over the sea But for now we are young Let us lay in the sun And count every beautiful thing we can see"
It absolutely soars. I was always intrigued by the weird ghost-like sound in the background and when I saw them live I discovered that it was a saw being played with a violin bow! Silly me for not realising.
"What a beautiful face I have found in this place That is circling all round the sun"
A truly magnificent song that forms the centrepiece of a truly magnificent album and a very worthy #1 of 1998. Last edited:
Cool countdowns. I really like the links that were shared of the voting lists from the 90s. LL Cool J was even on it lol. To answer the lower number of songs on the voting list, songs were only included if they were released as a single. These days every artist has a good 5+ songs on the voting list unless they haven't released an album and have just a random song or two included. I don't think any artist has 5 inclusions in the 90s voting list from what I can see. I was always surprised Axcidently Kelly Street never made it and to see it as one of the first songs on the list is more of a surprise. Have I read that there are lists now for positions #101-#200 for the 90s countdowns? Would love to see them if they are available.
I've never seen 101-200 lists for the 90s countdowns but agree it would be cool to see. I think that the 4 songs Regurgitator had on the list for 1998 was the most in the 90s.
Even Janet Jackson was on the 1997 list. Kylie Minogue doesn't appear to be on the list and made the countdown without being one of the shortlisted songs. Leonardo's Bride and The Offspring feature on the list but not with their bigger hits from that year with Even When I'm Sleeping or Gone Away and more surprisingly is Faithless and Daft Punk both feature but not with their iconic anthems Insomnia and Around The World. I would have thought Meet Her At The Love Parade would have been shortlisted. Freed From Desire is another. Also seeing no Oasis when they were the ones crowned as the #1 winners the year beforeI am still blown away that LL Cool J was a Triple J hit!
I've seen top 100 charts for most of 1994,98% of 1995, half of 1996 and the occasional ones from 93, 97-99,but never have i seen anything below 100. I agree with OB that it would be cool to see
Before I started with this year's list I set down a couple of significant markers from a couple of albums from later years.
2002 - Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights - 9 entries (plus 1 in 2003) - 4 top 10 2011 - The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy - 9 entries (plus 1 in 2010) - 3 top 10
Why, no reason
1997 was the first full year I spent away from Australia, so another year of no Hottest 100 or Australian music and listening to BBC Radio 1. It did mark my first visit to the Reading Festival though, where You Am I played so there is that. I spent three months backpacking around Eastern Europe and bizarrely heard Menatl As anything playing in a restaurant in Debrecen near the Hungary/Romania border
And the unlucky few to just miss out
101
Why Is Everybody Always Picking On Me - Bloodhound Gang, The
102
Your Love Is the Place Where I Come From - Teenage Fanclub
103
Mutilated Lips - Ween
104
Legend Of A Cowgirl - Imani Coppola
105
Closed For Business - Mansun
106
Capsule - Bailter Space
107
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
108
The Ghost Of Tom Joad - Rage Against The Macghine
109
Le soleil est près de moi - Air
110
Battle of Who Could Care Less - Ben Fold Fives
Read on from the 22nd August as all will be revealed.
No, not really, just joking. Radiohead, what were you thinking???
The real #100 posted soon.
And back to reality....
100. Risingson - Massive Attack
Past entries:
2010
Atlas Air
26
2009
Splitting The Atom
99
1998
Teardrop
4
1998
Angel
40
The dark brooding lead single from Mezzanine kicks us off (for real this time). Unusually for Massive Attack it is actually the band members singing rather than guest vocalists. They don't do a bad job but they're no Elizabeth Fraser, Tricky or Tracy Thorn . Contains a sample of a Velvet Underground song (I Found A Reason) so Lou Reed gets a writing credit.
99. Your F*cking Sunny Day - Lambchop
BTW, I'm not sure what the auto-censor does to spicy language, so have self-censored just in case.
Nashville band Lambchop have released 13 albums (last was in 2019) but this is the only song of their's I know. Not sure how I came across it either but it is a sunny song!
When my kids were just little people they loved a kids TV show called Lamb Chop's Play-Along and I always wanted Lamb Chop to sing Lambchop. Never happened sadly.
98. Tellin' Stories - Charlatans, The
Past entries:
2008
Bird/Reprise
60
2001
You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty
73
1999
Good Witch - Bad Witch
87
Most people would say that The Charlatans have gotten worse over time but they have only gotten higher in my lists. So there!
Tellin' Stories is from their fifth album (of the same name), which remains their biggest selling album to date and one of their two #1s in the UK. Their keyboard player Rob Collins died in a car accident halfway through recording, which I remember hearing about on the news at the time.
Their sound has moved on from their Madchester beginnings by this stage (and this is their most Britpop sounding album) but there are still hints of it to be found, which is a good thing.
97. Rented Rooms - Tindersticks, The
Past entries:
1999
Can We Start Again
90
Not sounding like Madchester or Britpop are Nottingham's Tindersticks. They definitely display a Nick Cave (hold that thought...) influence (or even deference).
They have 12 albums (and again up to 2019) and this is off their third but I have only heard the first four. Should check the others out as I do like their sound (and Nick Cave).
96. Are You The One I've Been Waiting For - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Past entries:
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
And here's the man himself.
When I was growing up, I didn't really have anyone who influenced my musical tastes. In fact, neither of my parents really listened to music at all. My dad if pushed said he liked Nat King Cole and my mum John Farnham. I had an older cousin who liked The Church (hold that thought) but that was it. I was pretty much free to form my own opinions and influences.
Why am I telling you all this? Well I'm glad you asked. Some time in the early 2000s while I was visiting my mum, she pulled out a CD and tells me I should listen as it is really good (which she had never done before or since). It was The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave.
I should check if she still has it...
95. Florian Trout - Refo:Mation, The
Who said inserting punctuation marks into a band name was a 2010s thing!
You may never have heard The Refo:mation before but you've heard of them (or the members at least). Marty Wilson Piper had an interesting relationship with the rest of The Church and after Magician Among The Spirits was finished, he went to Europe to work on some solo stuff. So the rest of The Church got their original guitarist Peter Koppes in tow who had left in 1992 (the reformation get it) and recorded and released an album.
It is less experimental than The Church albums of the time and more guitar focused but it is still a fairly unusual album.
94. Dig Me Out - Sleater Kinney
Past entries:
2019
Hurry On Home
12
2015
A New Wave
69
1999
Get Up
82
Another title track and the first act to appear in both 1997 and 2019!
I love the aggressive punky music of Sleater Kinney coupled with their great harmonies. It is quite exhilarating!
93. Miss Modular - Sterolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
They obviously like 93 as both their entries in my lists have ended up there.
Stereolab were the last band I saw before lockdown and I'm not sure when the next will come along as I'm sure The National tour is not going ahead for December. I do miss it!!
I dare you to listen to this song and not tap your toes along. It is hard to resist their Anglo-Gallic charm. Tres cool indeed.
92. Demons - Super Furry Animals
Past entries:
2009
The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
48
2003
Golden Retriever
48
2001
(Drawing) Rings Around The World
49
2000
Ysbeidau Heulog
58
1998
Ice Hockey Hair
80
I reckon everyone had Super Furry Animals pegged as Britpop wannabes after their debut album Fuzzy Logic (which is still a pretty good album) but they changed course for album #2 1997's Radiator. It is more varied, more interesting, more experimental and sounds more like an album.
I first saw them live in 1997 at the Reading Festival! I can't remember if they played this song!!!
Interestingly the filmclip for Demons was filmed in Columbia because why not!
91. Captain (Million Miles An Hour) - Something For Kate
Past entries:
2003
Déjà Vu
77
2001
Monsters
17
2001
Jerry, Stand Up
39
2000
Beautiful Sharks
9
1999
Electricity
54
1999
Hallways
74
1999
Photograph
91
Before they were sophisticated songsmiths they were a bit of a grungy rock band. Well maybe, as this is the only song I know from their first album. It must have been changing bass players after this album that set them on a different path.
They're about to release a new album apparently. Last edited:
5th song by a band starting with S in a row and also the fifth UK top 10 single released from Suede's third album Coming Up. First album they recorded after Bernard Butler left. I must admit I thought they would struggle to recreate their sound but Richard Oakes was an able replacement.
If you do know Suede's work this is one of their slower ballads, rather than the up tempo Bowiesque bangers they are better known for.
I also saw Suede at Reading this year headlining the first night. I wasn't very impressed with their live sound and wandered off to see The Boo Radleys play elsewhere.
89. Summertime - Sundays, The
Make that 6!
Another big act from the earlier part of the decade, their music (I think) fits in better with the later 90s style rather than the Madchester scene they were up against when they started. Harriet Wheeler has a very distinctive voice but I do remember listening to their first album and thinking it wore a bit thin when you listen to the whole album.
So I only have this song from their third album and it works just fine thank you very much.
88. Dirt - Death In Vegas
Past entries:
2003
Hands Around My Throat
15
2000
Aisha {Ft. Iggy Pop}
15
1999
Dirge
19
Not only is the string of S bands broken but so is Death In Vegas' streak of Top 20 songs in my list!
They played very early on one of the days of the Reading Festival and I had never heard of them before. They were really impressive live and I've been a fan ever since.
This was their first ever single and is a banger! Think electro-rock with a few samples over the top, no vocals. Has a great if somewhat disturbing video as well.
87. From "Jumbled In The Common Box" - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
The second last band I saw before Lockdown, as they were the support act to Stereolab. I follow them on Facebook and before the gig they made a call out for requests for the show. I nominated Live GI, a live favourite from back in the day. Both the band and Glenn Bennie liked my post and sure enough at the gig, they didn't play it. Bastards. Probably the band I have seen live the most of any over the years.
The lyrics from this are taken from a WH Auden poem funnily enough called Jumbled In The Common Box. The music, like most on their 5th album Ways T'Burn, is more electronic than their earlier albums.
86. Wrong Number - Cure, The
Past entries:
2004
The End Of The World
90
2001
Cut Here
96
2000
Where The Birds Always Sing
57
2000
The Last Day Of Summer
76
I have completed these yearly 100 lists from 1998-2019 (and soon 1997 as well). Interpol have the most entries over that time with 35, Radiohead are lurking 8 songs behind! And, bringing this back to The Cure (currently in 134th place), I reckon if I took this all the way back to the late 70s, The Cure would be in #1 place easily.
I remember in the 1995 Hottest 100 (the only 90s one I listened to), the DJ said The Cure could fart in a jar and it would make the Hottest 100. Obviously the smell had increased by 1997 as this was their last entry in a Hottest 100.
85. Electricity - Spiritualized
Past entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
So in the discussions around my 1999 list there is a link that Hijinx posted to the 1997 Hottest 100 voting list. In the discussions below my 1998 list, there is a link to another thread where the songs were identified by K8 and benji2 (as the quality wasn't great). This was one of the songs on the list!!
The first single from their third album (which is why it was on the voting list I guess). Probably the rockiest Spiritualized song I can think of. Still hints of the blues and psychedelia they are better known for though. The last half minute of so is pretty wild, with harmonica and organs blazing. For an album called "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" it sure doesn't sound like it.
84. You're Not The Only One Who Feels This Way - Ammonia
I have been checking out benji2's YouTube playlists for each year as I get down to making these lists, usually reminds me of songs I had forgotten to put on my shortlist. There were three songs in 1997 that were odd. A song I'd never heard before by a band I'd never heard of, a song I had heard before (but didn't know the name of) by a band I'd never heard of and this one and a song I had heard before (but didn't know the name of) by a band I had heard of. This is the latter. Hope that all made sense.
I have no idea where I had heard this song before but it is a good one. I know of Ammonia because they had a song on the 1995 Hottest 100 CD but this one???? Maybe on the radio. Mystery.
83. Waving My Dick In The Wind - Ween
Past entries:
2008
Your Party
78
2005
Gabrielle
17
I'll say three things about Ween. First, they can be pretty funny at times. Second, musically they are fantastic, really tight songs. Third, they are really varied, covering all sorts of styles. Put all three together and they're an underestimated band I reckon because when all three of those come of it is pretty great.
82. White Skin Black Heart - Midnight Oil
Past entries:
1998
Redneck Wonderland
100
So remember when Deloitte audited my 1998 list and one song got moved to 1997. No, well this was it anyway. The lead single off Redneck Wonderland (which was 1998) and signalled both the rockier (there is some really shredding guitar work near the end) and more electronic sound the album was going to take.
They've still got it after all these years as their recent single is pretty good and seeing them live a couple of years ago was awesome.
81. Made Up Dreams - Built To Spill
Past entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
1999
You Were Right
21
1999
Carry The Zero
36
1999
The Plan
66
1999
Bad Light
71
1999
Else
81
Perfect From Now On is widely considered an indie rock masterpiece! It is an odd album to try and pick out individual songs because it is the album as a whole that is great, listened to from front to back. But I'll give it a go, Made Up Dreams is probably as close to a single as anything on the album! Last edited:
Another bright and breezy Janet sung Spiderbait pop song and their highest ARIA chart placing (#13) until Black Betty came along. Would be one of the shortest songs to feature in a Hottest 100 at 1:51 (although Buy Me A Pony is still shorter by 5 seconds).
79. Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
"I'm in heaven Trying to figure out which stack They're going to stuff atheists into And Peter and his monkey laugh And I laugh with them I'm not sure what at"
The Lonesome Crowded West is also widely considered an indie rock masterpiece! It was certainly the point at which people started to take notice of Modest Mouse, if not actually buy their records (that came in 2004).
This is the album closer and is an absolute jam, especially when the drums kick in at 2:45. Has all the elements of Modest Mouse, shouty vocals, odd lyrics, really groovy music. They still play it as part of their live shows. As a note the song they have played live the most is my #1 song from 2000 Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes!
78. The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) - Missy Elliot
Past entries:
2015
WTF {Ft. Pharrel Williams}
77
2002
Work It
69
2001
Get Ur Freak On
26
The first ever single from the one and only Missy Elliot. Samples the 70s song "I Can't Stand The Rain" and has a fantastic video, with typical crazy Missy Elliot costumes and plenty of cameos. She certainly started like she meant to go on...
77. Dogs Got A Bone - Beta Band, The
Past entries:
1999
It's Not Too Beautiful
52
1998
She's The One
31
I first encountered The Beta Band at the Reading Festival but they didn't really make an impression (it was only their third ever gig I later found out). I paid more attention after their mention in High Fidelity and checked out the collection of their first three EPs, originally called The Three EPs.
This is from EP#1, Champion Versions! Like Modest Mouse, very easily recognisable. Acoustic guitar, vaguely Scottish sounding vocals and ever increasingly odd sounds to accompany!
76. Exit Music (For A Film) - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
OK Computer is also widely considered an indie rock masterpiece! No really it is!
This song was actually named because it was written for the Romeo+Juliet movie and ended up being played over the End Credits. Clever, heh!
One of the softer, quieter and more haunting songs on OK Computer, at least until the last minute and a half. OK Computer was (partly) recorded in a mansion owned by Jane Seymour and the vocal reverberation on this song is due to it being recorded in a stone staircase!
75. No Aphrodisiac - Whitlams, The
Past entries:
1999
Blow Up The Pokies
48
1998
Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No. 2)
15
The top 10 of the 1997 Hottest 100 is widely thought of as one of the best. The only year all of the Top 10 have made any of my lists is 2011, so can 1997 equal that!
Well this was the #1 and the first sign of the more serious Whitlams. I'm not really a fan but this is pretty good stuff. I particularly like the Pinky and Chit Chat (from Machine Gun Fellatio) lyrics, taken from the personal section of a newspaper.
"Forty, shaved, sexy, wants to do it all day With a gun-toting trigger-happy tranny named Kinky Renée"
74. Joga - Bjork
Another artist I'm not that big of a fan off. Find her music quite hit or miss (same as The Sugarcubes for that matter). Some good songs (like this) but some pretty average ones as well (obviously only in my opinion).
Its quite a big sounding song, sweeping strings, strong vocals. Is meant to be inspired by Iceland and its geography.
73. Cop Shoot Cop - Spiritualized
Past entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Electricity
85
"Hey man, there's a hole in my arm where all the money goes."
Now this one sounds more like floating in space. A 17 minute odyssey, touching on jazz, gospel and pretty much everything in between. Dr John provides some piano backing as well.
At its heart, Ladies and Gentlemen... is an album about wanting something and not having it. Wanting to fill that hole in the arm or a hole in the heart. It was written in the aftermath of his (then) girlfriend (and still band member) Kate Radley leaving him and marrying Richard Ashcroft.
The song is named after another band, not actual cops shooting each other!!
72. Shady Lane - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
Some great slacker rock from Pavement. They had a great handle on both noise and melody and could switch between them when required. This one falls on the melodic side and is just a great indi pop song.
Video was directed by Spike Jonze, who was a busy boy around this time.
71. Truckers Atlas - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
15
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
Two themes that are repeated in Modest Mouse's lyrics are travel (usually by car or truck) and distance (and the emptiness and loneliness that entails).
"This truckers atlas roads the ways The freeways and highways don't know"
The drumming is fantastic throughout and the last five minutes of the song is just a great instrumental jam. Last edited:
Released a month before Unit, this didn't really give an indication of how different to their old stuff it would be as it sounds like their old stuff! Another very short pop-rock song, clocking in at 2:12.
Wonderfully bad film clip as well.
69. Myrkur - Sigur Ros
Past entries:
2013
Brennistein
35
2013
Isjaki
58
2012
Varuo
20
2008
Gobbledigook
18
2008
Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur
59
2007
Hljomalind
26
2005
Glosoli
4
2005
Svo Hljott
14
2005
Hoppipolla
29
2005
Saeglopur
44
2005
Gong
54
2002
Vaka
3
2002
Njosnavellin
7
2002
Frysta
53
2000
Ny Batteri
20
1999
Svefn-G-Englar
1
1999
Olsen Olsen
10
1999
Agaetis Byrjun
31
1999
Staralfur
35
Hello shoegaze!! This seriously could be Ride or Slowdive. Not much of a hint of what would be coming a couple of years down the track. In any case, I love shoegaze and great harmonies so get a big tick from me.
68. Your Woman - White Town
Repeating a theme from 1998, this is the only song I know by White Town. It was certainly all over the radio waves in 1997. It is quite distinctive and was a massive hit (#1 in UK, #2 in AUS). Darren Hayes and British India have both covered it!
Also another artist from 1997 still releasing new music, last album was last year.
67. Lovefool - Cardigans, The
Past entries:
1999
My Favourite Game
42
Another song from the Romeo+Juliet soundtrack although it wasn't recorded for the movie. Like #68 above was all over the radio and a massive hit. This was my first introduction to The Cardigans.
The lyrics are somewhat dark while the music is incredibly light and airy.
"I don't care if you really care As long as you don't go"
66. Lazy - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Saturday Night
90
And this is the 4th of those UK top 10 singles from Coming Up. Definitely falls in to the Bowie inspired rocker. A real 70s feel to it.
A few of the songs on the album have lyrics that are related to the vacuousness and vanity of the celebrity driven culture as they saw it.
"Here they come with their make-up on As lovely as the clouds, come and see them"
65. Ain't That Enough - Teenage Fanclub
Past entries:
2016
I'm In Love
99
2000
I Need Direction
87
On the 1997 Hottest 100 voting list is Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub! Which is nice considering that it had already made the Hottest 100 in 1995. I wonder if this was actually meant to be on the voting list instead.
Beautiful guitar work, fantastic harmonies, they just wrote fantastic songs. Definitely a Byrds influence to be found there.
This was their biggest "hit" as well, peaking at #17 on the UK charts.
64. Dark Mavis - Mansun
Past entries:
2000
I Can Only Dissapoint U
100
1999
Six
95
1998
Legacy
73
Still climbing my lists is Mansun.
For a band that is probably better known for their singles, it is this 8 and a half minute album closer that grabbed me from their debut album. The album (The Attack Of The Grey Lantern) is partly about a superhero who encounters all sorts of dubious people in an English Village, including Dark Mavis (who is also the Stripper Vicar from another song).
Has a little bit of a Hey Jude vibe, especially the chanting towards the end.
63. Sun Hits The Sky - Supergrass
Past entries:
2000
Mary
44
1999
Pumping On Your Stereo
65
Another UK 90s band that had a series of great singles. I've never listened to a whole album of theirs but have enjoyed all the singles I've heard, including this one. They always had great sideburns as well!
I first encountered Supergrass on Hey Hey It's Saturday, when they played Caught By The Fuzz. Weird huh! I later encountered them at the Reading Festival in 1997, can't remember if I enjoyed them or not!
62. Leaving Home - Jebediah
Past entries:
2002
Nothing Lasts Forever
98
2000
Please Leave
78
Another Hottest 100 top 10 and a pretty iconic (and distinctively) Aussie song of the era. Hearing this on the Hottest 100 CD was my introduction to them.
Was never the biggest fan but I did like their first two album titles, Slightly Odway and Of Someday Shambles.
61. Hitchin' A Ride - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
1998
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
26
1998
The Grouch
28
One of the odd things about being in the UK in the late 90s was the lack of radio/TV coverage of non-mainstream US music. So while I was a big Green Day fan already, I didn't ever hear anything from Nimrod (except for Good Riddance) there.
Anyway I love the way this song builds up and then explodes over the last minute or so. Last edited:
One of my daughters while listening to this described it as music you could dance to but also just sit back and listen to. Nailed it much better than I ever could.
Spike Jonze video clip as well. Not as big a fan of this clip as I think it distracts too much from the music, which kinda defeats the purpose.
59. Never Say Never - that dog.
Seems using lower case as well as punctuation was a 90s thing.
If you're not familiar, that dog. are an American all-female except for the drummer rock band (which was quite the thing, Hole, Breeders etc) but were on the poppier side of that spectrum, especially on this song.
They broke up after this album (their third) but recently got back together to record an another album last year.
58. Infatuation - Moler
So this is the song I listened to from benji2's list that I had never heard of either the band or the song before. I don't know who or what or where a Moler is but I approve. Great Indie-rock, female vocals.
They do remind me of someone else but I can't quite figure out who (Life Without Buildings maybe).
57. Trip Like I Do - Filter and The Crystal Method
Past entries (Filter):
2000
Take A Picture
32
Another song recorded for a movie soundtrack, in this case Spawn. Never heard of it!!
This song is OK but then at 1:55 in, it absolutely explodes with noise and is awesome from this point onwards. It is a reworking of a Crystal Method song Trip Like I Do. Never heard it!!!
56. Bound For The Floor - Local H
"And you just don't get it You keep it copacetic"
The third of the discoveries from benji2. I don't know who or what or where a Local H is but I approve. I do know this song though, no idea how. I also don't know what copacetic means as well. I know I can look these things up on Google or something but the mystery is good sometimes.
Must have heard this on the radio or on a TV show and just assumed it was a particularly good Silverchair song (as that is what I assumed it was).
55. Stereo - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Shady Lane
72
And here we have the other extreme of Pavement, the noise. Very reminiscent of their first album, which is probably why it appeals so much!
I saw them at a Reading Festival, but 1999 not 1997! I've seen them 4 times overall and they are a really great live band. Very tight and can be quite funny.
54. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub - Apollo 440
Past entries:
2001
Say What (with 28 Days)
50
2000
Charlie's Angels 2000
91
1999
Stop The Rock
61
A three day festival can be quite a slog. By the third day you're pretty exhausted. Anyway, on the third and last day of the Reading Festival Apollo 440 were the first act of the day on the main stage. I had just heard this song on the radio leading up to the festival and was keen to hear how the rock/dub/ska mix would fare in a live setting so dragged all my mates along to see them.
They weren't very good and I wasn't a very popular fellow. I remember one wag turning to me after the first couple of songs and saying. "Well it is only 11 hours until The Verve are playing, glad we're here."
53. The Drugs Don't Work - Verve, The
Speaking of which....
Urban Hymns was such a massive hit but I'm not sure (as a whole) that it stands up that well anymore. In 1997 this would have been top 10 for sure but has slipped over time.
"Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown This time I'm comin' down"
So as mentioned before I saw The Verve at the Reading Festival. I was really looking forward to it. They were really fantastic but Richard Ashcroft just walked around in a small circle on the stage for the whole show and didn't talk to the audience at all. Very very odd.
"Now the drugs don't work They just make you worse"
Don't do drugs kids!! Walking around in circles on a stage isn't a great look!
52. Funky Shit - Prodigy, The
With a very distinctive sample from the Beastie Boys in tow come The Prodigy. A real dance number this one, really wild. Was an odd choice to be on the Hottest 100 voting list as it was never released as a single as opposed to Smack My Bitch Up, which was (TripleJ being controversy adverse perhaps).
I saw them live in Sydney in around 94 or so and they were excellent. Lots of people losing their nut dancing.
51. Little Babies - Sleater-Kinney
Past entries:
2019
Hurry On Home
12
2015
A New Wave
69
1999
Get Up
82
1997
Dig Me Out
94
"Dum dum dee dee dee dum dum dee dum do All the little babies go oh oh I want to Dum dum dee dee dee dum dum dee dum yeah Rock the little babies with one two three"
Those above lyrics have no right being so infectiously catchy as they are. I can't help but sing along at high volume every time I hear them.
A short extremely catchy pop-punk song, Little Babies is actually more about protesting the traditional roles of women in society (raising babies etc).
"I'm the water I'm the dishes I'm the suds I will comfort, make you clean, help you cope When you're tired feeling helpless Come inside I am the shelter And then when you're feeling better I'll Watch you go" Last edited:
Kicking off the top 50 is the last of the great Flying Nun bands of the early 90s, Bailter Space (IMHO). The Chills, Tall Dwarves and Straitjacket Fits et al were no more and this was Bailter Space's last album bringing an incredible era of music to an end.
Bailter Space to me were always a heavier Shoegaze act (more Jesus and Mary Chain than Ride) and are in top form here. Just a blistering song.
49. Staring At The Sun - U2
Past Entries:
1998
Sweetest Thing
99
On the Hottest 100 voting list, you could vote for Discotheque or Mofo of U2's Pop album but not this one. Not the last strange voting list omission.
To me this is a bit of a throwback song, a more 'traditional' U2 song rather than the more experimental Zooropa/Achtung Baby songs and is just a great pop song, something they forgot they did very well at times. The Edge is a fantastic guitar player, really understated part of their appeal.
48. High Noon - DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow was the first artist that I ever heard the term Hip Hop applied to (it was in 1996). What we would now call Hip Hop was referred to as Rap. I'm not sure when the terms were altered but there you go.
Anyway, this song sounds nothing like Kendrick Lamar! It is completely sampled even though it feels like an actual band playing. It is somewhat (although not entirely) looped. Given that is made up entirely of samples, it is intricately and painstakingly put together. Not sure I would have the patience...
47. Convenient Parking - Modest Mouse
Past Entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
"Soon the chain reaction started in the parking lot Waiting to bleed onto the big streets That bleed out onto the highways And off to others cities built to store and sell these rocks"
More songs about travel (well you have to park at the end of the trip) by Modest Mouse. More a song about Urban Sprawl and the loss of green space to create malls and parking lots. Isaac Brook (the lead singer) even had a term to describe this - "mall f**ked".
Definitely one of the rockier songs on the album. Thumping bass line and squalling guitars throughout.
46. Yob - TISM
Past Entries:
1998
Whatareya?
78
1998
I Might Be A C**t But I'm Not A Fucking C**t
90
"If it's different, punch If it's lager, lunch"
More existential angst about the yob/wanker dichotomy from TISM. They could certainly write a great pop song in the process and let's face it, although it is far from PC it is pretty funny stuff.
"If it moves, root Quacks, shoot"
45. Don't Move - Refo:Mation, The
Past Entries:
1997
Florian Trout
95
"Composed of solid song, we get along Distance crunching honchos with echo units"
Um, sure Steve. The one and only Refo:Mation album was called "Pharmakoi/Distance Crunching Honchos With Echo Units". Can I stress again, please don't take drugs kids
It does create a really smooth psychedelic pop sound though, definitely more of a Church sound (Starfish era).
44. Rocco - Death In Vegas
Past Entries:
2003
Hands Around My Throat
15
2000
Aisha {Ft. Iggy Pop}
15
1999
Dirge
19
1997
Dirt
88
Fresh off breaking their only in the teens rule, they've broken the one song a year rule too. Well in for a penny in for a pound.
A really driving rock beat in this one, fantastic guitars and bass lines.
Think the filmclip is filmed in the same underpass as their 2003 song "Hands Around My Throat".
43. All Mine - Portishead
Past Entries:
2008
The Rip
19
2008
Machine Gun
88
The unmistakable voice of Beth Gibbons. This was their biggest hit (#8 in the UK), which seems wrong given that Sour Times and Glory Box are things.
Not that it isn't a great song though, the vocal delivery is just amazing, especially the high notes and the guitar work is ace. It's a bit of a torch song really.
Tom Jones did a cover as well, which is something.
42. Come Together - Spiritualized
Past Entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
"So little J's a f**ked up boy Who dulled the pain but killed the joy And little J's a f**kin' mess But when he's offered, just says yes"
For those counting, 3 apiece for Modest Mouse and Spritualized.
Sort of sounds like floating in space but just a great rock song. From the minute the drums count us in and the immediate elevation with gospel singing, synths, guitars etc it is fantastic and doesn't let up.
Like DJ Shadow, the songs on Ladies and Gentlemen... are meticulously put together, they are seem very complex but every single note also seems important.
41. The Female Of The Species - Space
Past Entries:
1998
The Ballad of Tom Jones (with Cerys Matthews)
9
1998
Begin Again
66
This was an odd song to make the 1997 Hottest 100, not because it isn't worthy but because it was released in May 1996!!
Space were one of my favourite bands of the era. I like the slightly unusual makeup of their songs, weird percussion or synth lines over otherwise straight up indie-pop songs. Last edited:
"Sun so bright that I'm nearly blind Cool, 'cause I'm wired and I'm out of my mind Warms the dope running down my spine But I don't care about you and I've got nothing to do"
Eight minutes of very chilled music. The first half is a bit Spacemen 3's with its growling synthesizer drone, dub, soul, thick, stunted bass line and twisted harmonica howls. The back half is a sassy, saxophone-backed dialogue between Jason Pierce's self-confidence and his self-doubt
"I think I can fly Probably just falling"
One of the things I do like about Ladies and Gentlemen... is the emotional ambiguity of it all. There are lots of references to love and falling in love. Is it a person he's in love with or the drugs, is he in love with the drugs because of the broken heart caused by falling love and being heart broken? We don't know...
39. Weeping Willow - Verve, The
Past Entries:
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
Just to stick it in, the cause of Jason Pierce's heartache slides in one spot higher.
Even though I said Urban Hymns maybe doesn't stand up too well in 2020, doesn't mean there aren't any gems to be found.
This is the song on the album that reminds me the most of their older albums (especially A Storm in Heaven). Louder and more psychedelic.
38. Mountain People - Super Furry Animals
Past Entries:
2009
The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
48
2003
Golden Retriever
48
2001
(Drawing) Rings Around The World
49
2000
Ysbeidau Heulog
58
1998
Ice Hockey Hair
80
1997
Demons
92
This was the album closer for Radiator and probably best summed up the fact they were moving in a new direction. It starts as a fairly straight forward pop (and good) song and then gradually builds into a volcanic explosion of squelching, thumping techno like nothing you've ever heard before. Great stuff.
37. Cowboy Dan - Modest Mouse
Past Entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Convienient Parking
47
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
For those counting, 4 apiece for Modest Mouse and Spritualized.
"Well, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean"
Why was I unaware that there was such a thing as a cowboy scene?
Cowboy Dan effortlessly moves between loud, angry sections and quiet reflective sections. The lyrics in particular are just great.
"Everytime you think you're walking, you're just moving the ground Everytime you think you're talking, you're just moving your mouth"
The themes of the green spaces of the American west been swallowed up are apparent, probably why Cowboy Dan is so mean.
"He "didn't move to the city, the city moved to me And I want out desperately""
36. Beetlebum - Blur
Past Entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Beetlebum
36
One of two UK#1s that Blur had (Country House being the other). Shares themes with Spiritualized, as it is apparently about taking Heroin.
"Nothing is wrong I just slip away and I am gone"
35. Bitter Sweet Symphony - Verve, The
Past Entries:
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
3rd song from the Hottest 100 Top 10 and the third song from Urban Hyms, which I said wasn't that good
Very iconic. Just the sound of those violins and you know what it is immediately. The Rolling Stones....
Some songs on this list are quite subtle and take many listens to appreciate. Not this one. This aims big and delivers immediately. A true anthem.
34. Remember Me - Blue Boy
The one and only song I know by Blue Boy and very well covered by Tame Impala.
It's not quite trip hop but not quite dance either. Very distinctive beat though.
33. Mogwai Fear Satan - Mogwai
Past Entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
1999
CODY
5
1999
Christmas Steps
15
1999
Ex-Cowboy
34
1999
Burn Girl Prom Queen
51
Six years after Slint laid the Breadcrumb Trails, post rock had its first commercially "successful" album in Mogwai's first album 1997's Young Team. Famously Steve Albini said in his review of that Slint album (paraphrasing here), no one will get it now but in ten years everyone will.
Mogwai Fear Satan is probably the most "famous" song from the album. The name comes from the fact that the bassist was actually scared of Satan from his Catholic upbringing. It is a 16 minutes instrumental that is, in turns, blisteringly loud and delicately soft.
The thing that always bothered me is that if they fear Satan, why is this so loud, surely will attract unwanted attention!!
32. Trailer Trash - Modest Mouse
Past Entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Cowboy Dan
37
1997
Convienient Parking
47
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
"Short love with a long divorce And a couple of kids, of course They don't mean anything Live in trailers with no class"
Isaac Brock sings of his upbringing in an trailer park as a child and his sense of guilt that he escaped but others didn't.
"Eating snowflakes with plastic forks And a paper plate, of course"
It’s woven into the most gripping intricate and beautiful melodies on the record that culminates with a guitar solo that is to die for. Alot of the songs on The Lonesome Crowded West sound angry and aggressive. Trailer Trash sounds weary and sad.
31. Subterranean Homesick Alien - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
Quite an ethereal song this one. More themes of alienation that pervade OK Computer.
"Up above Aliens hover Making home movies For the folks back home"
Did they foreshadow the drones/go pro movement of the 2010s? Last edited:
Built To Spill are a fairly anonymous band. They don't do film clips. I have no idea what Doug Martsch (the only permanent member) looks like. It's just all about the music!
"There's a mean bone in my body It's connected to the problems that I won't take for an answer And I won't take that from you Because I'd hurt a fly"
In 2000, they released a live album (imaginatively called Live) and this was the stand out song on it for me.
29. DCx3 - Grinspoon
Past Entries:
2005
Sweet As Sugar
90
2002
Lost Control
71
2002
1000 Miles
81
1998
Just Ace
18
Shouldn't this be called DC3x? Anyway, just like Just Ace, this is a pretty lyrically silly song (in a Pixes kinda way) but it absolutely rocks. I do like singing it to our cat at home. He ignores me of course.
28. Hun Jord - Sigur Ros
Past Entries:
2013
Brennistein
35
2013
Isjaki
58
2012
Varuo
20
2008
Gobbledigook
18
2008
Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur
59
2007
Hljomalind
26
2005
Glosoli
4
2005
Svo Hljott
14
2005
Hoppipolla
29
2005
Saeglopur
44
2005
Gong
54
2002
Vaka
3
2002
Njosnavellin
7
2002
Frysta
53
2000
Ny Batteri
20
1999
Svefn-G-Englar
1
1999
Olsen Olsen
10
1999
Agaetis Byrjun
31
1999
Staralfur
35
1997
Myrkur
69
Translated as Mother Earth, Hun Jord is creeping closer to the sound Sigur Ros would be known for. Darker and heavier than Myrkur, while still having the same Shoegaze tendancies.
I only heard this album (Von) after hearing Agaetis Byrjun, () and Takk and didn't really give it too much though at the time but came back to it later and can appreciate it more.
27. She's A Star - James
Past Entries:
2001
Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)
13
1999
I Know What I'm Here For
85
1998
Destiny Calling
50
Just a stunningly beautiful pop song. One of their 4 UK top 10 hits (2 of which are re-recorded versions of Sit Down )
"Her shadow is always with her Her shadow could always keep her small So frightened that he won't love her She builds up a wall"
I was always a bit surprised at their lack of success (commercially and Hottest 100 wise) in Australia (with only 2 ARIA and Hottest 100 entries a piece). They always did it for me.
26. A Life Less Ordinary - Ash
Past Entries:
2001
Shining Light
18
2001
Burn Baby Burn
67
1998
Wildsurf
58
Another song from a movie and the first Ash song to feature Charlotte Hatherley.
Ditto the above comment about James and lack of success in Australia, although Ash were a bit more successful than James here. Another band still together (without Charlotte again) and releasing music, I must admit I haven't heard anything by them since their 2004 album.
25. Ashes To Ashes - Faith No More
The dark brooding sounds of Faith No More kick off the top 25.
At the heights of their unexpected popularity in 1990 (Epic was #1 at the time), they were playing at a small suburban Sydney venue near me (The Venue in Dee Why). I went down at 12pm to try and get tickets and the line went all the way round the block. A couple of hours later, I had my tickets. They were great, very funny and did a great cover of Vogue by Madonna.
24. Tubthumping - Chumbawumba
Top 10 #4 and a much derided song by everyone's favourite anarchist collective.
It still hold up really well (to me anyway) and is just as catchy as it was in 1997.
I must admit to being really surprised by this back in the day as I had previously heard their 1986 album "Pictures Of Starving Children Sell Millions Of Records" - a Band Aid protest of sorts. It was really terrible and nothing like Tubthumping.
23. Lucky - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
"It's gonna be a glorious day"
The third single from OK Computer and the first song to be recorded from the album and, according to the band, shaped the sound of the album.
It was inspired by the war in Bosnia, I went to Sarajevo in 1997 (war was over by then) but it was a pretty sobering experience. When I hear this song I think about the bombed out bridges and houses and the infamous sniper alley I saw.
22. I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff - Regurgitator
Past Entries:
2004
My Friend Robot
84
2001
Fat Cop
31
1998
! (The Song Formerly Known As)
14
1998
Black Bugs
46
1998
Polyester Girl
61
1997
Everyday Formula
70
Much better than the remix is the first song from Unit. Perfectly capturing the fact they had indeed a new sound and that some fans would hate it. It is very witty.
Apart from that it is just a great song. Very easy to sing along (you've only got one line to remember).
21. Pulse - Front End Loader
Rewind to 1992 and a young OBOne is the bass player in a band in the Sydney Uni Bandcomp. We thought we were pretty good and made it through to the quarter finals. We were very confident turning up! First band to play was Front End Loader. By the time their set finished, we new we weren't winning! Bastards. They made the final (as did Frenzal Rhomb) but lost to some crappy jazz band
This is probably the 'poppiest' they ever sounded. I believe the song was written about a friend's suicide. Last edited:
And the 5th 1997 Hottest 100 top 10, wait what!?! A peculiar voting list omission to be sure.
Another iconic song, there sure are a few of them in 1997. Probably the first song by them that I registered that there might be something more than 'just another rock band' to be found. Great pop sensibilities.
Great film clip as well. Michel Gondry not Spike Jonze though.
19. The Last Australian Guitar Hero - TISM
Past Entries:
1998
Whatareya?
78
1998
I Might Be A C**t But I'm Not A Fucking C**t
90
1997
Yob
46
"In a tiny inner city pub, the amps were being stacked Leads were getting wound up, it was full of pissed ANZACs "Got no more gigs for Tuesday nights," said the barman to the Star "We're putting pokies in the lounge, and strippers in the bar""
TISM railing against the decline of rock music venues and the rise of electronic music.
"Work out what happened to real music, is what I'd like to ask Everything is all machine, run with MIDI and A-DAT But all they do is go ping-ping-ping like a truck that's backing back"
It is the B-side of Yob (remember B-Sides!!). I got sent the CD single (remember CD singles!!) in 1997 and it cracked me up in 1997 and still cracks me up today.
"What's the f*cking point of drum 'n' bass If no one can play guitar?"
Of course because this is TISM, the song has only electronic music (keyboards and drum machine) no guitar to be found anywhere.
"I wouldn't drop a tab of 'E' if you fucking paid me, man I've got the guts for LSD and the only jungle I know was 'Nam"
18. Let Down - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
"Let down and hanging around Crushed like a bug in the ground"
There is a real disconnect between the beautiful guitar playing and the downright depressing lyrics. Two things I adore in a song.
17. The Perfect Drug - Nine Inch Nails
Past Entries:
1999
The Day The World Went Away
72
"Without you everything falls apart Without you It's not as much fun to pick up the pieces"
This is one of my favourite lyrics.
Really great, harsh industrial sound with the music contrasted with some beautiful lyrics. The crazy drumming before the above lyrics in particular I love and the way it all calms down while they are being sung as well.
16. Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth - Dandy Warhols, The
Past Entries:
2003
You Were The Last High
16
2003
We Used To Be Friends
74
2000
Get Off
7
2000
Bohemian Like You
43
2000
Mohammed
55
1998
Boys Better
11
1998
Every Day Should Be a Holiday
37
"You never thought you'd get addicted, just be cooler in an obvious way I could say, shouldn't you have got a couple piercings and decided maybe that you were gay,"
Another song with great lyrics and a memorable song title.
I love the music in the intro, the way it pulses is great and leads into the great pop sound of the Dandys. They certainly had some great songs in the late 90s and early 00s.
15. Dry The Rain - Beta Band, The
Past Entries:
1999
It's Not Too Beautiful
52
1998
She's The One
31
1997
Dogs Got A Bone
77
The first song off their first EP and their finest moment, all downhill from here.
It has a terrifically stoned groove, acoustic guitar and an arrangement that builds steadily from one verse to the next. Great sing along as well.
14. Into My Arms - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Past Entries:
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
Iconic!!
So this was the song that my mum heard that inspired her to buy the Nick Cave CD.
A really simple song really, just the voice and a piano. Don't need anything more really.
13. Dammit - Blink 182
Past Entries:
2016
Bored To Death
45
2003
I Miss You
50
2003
Feeling This
85
2000
Man Overboard
89
1999
Adam's Song
13
1999
What's My Age Again?
37
1999
All The Small Things
58
Top 10 #5
I do hate myself for having this ahead of Nick Cave but there you go. It is just a fun (and funny) song. It recalls a situation that most people have experienced (being dumped) and how we react, I guess this is growing up.
"And I'll smile and you'll wave, we'll pretend it's okay The charade, it won't last, when he's gone, I won't come back"
12. Climbing Up The Walls - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
For me, this is the darkest song on OK Computer both lyrically and musically, inspired by Thom Yorke working in a mental hospital and serial killers in general.
"So lock the kids up safe tonight Shut the eyes in the cupboard I've got the smell of a local man Who's got the loneliest feeling"
11. Karma Police - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
Top 10 #6 and Radiohead's 6th song of the year. Hard to believe that this isn't in the top 10, I reckon any other year it would have been for sure, just a particularly good year for music really, certainly the top 10 is my favourite (so far).
"He buzzes like a fridge"
Part of the inspiration for OK Computer was the mindless noise of the modern world, the buzzing of fridges, car and air-plane noise etc.
The piano and fuzzy guitars are particularly nice. Really well arranged song. Well done Radiohead. Last edited:
What an absolute blast of a song. Short and to the point, no mucking about.
Shame it couldn't slot in at #2 (its Hottest 100 position) or #22 (its Hottest 100 of the 20 years position). I do wonder slightly if Triple J slightly manipulate the positions to fit some narrative or other.
9. Airbag - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
Welcome to the world of OK Computer as this is the first song on the album.
Ivan Pavlov came up with a concept called the "conditioned reflex" about our biological response to external stimulus. he did it by ringing a bell when his dogs ate and observing that after a time they would salivate when the bell rang, even if there wasn't any food.
I think part of my love for this song is a conditioned response. Hearing those beefy guitars start up, makes me salivate, thinking I'm going to hear OK Computer. Even now, with iTunes and random songs, if Airbag comes on, my ears prick up and it has my full attention.
Or it could just be an awesome song...
8. Avenging Angels - Space
Past Entries:
1998
The Ballad of Tom Jones (with Cerys Matthews)
9
1998
Begin Again
66
1997
The Female Of The Species
41
"Calling all avenging angels Angels Kick-ass angels"
Who these avenging angels are and what are they doing and why are they kick-ass angels has always piqued my curiosity, since I first heard this song in 1997. I have visions of halo clad warriors with flaming swords chasing down robbers and other assorted bad guys and as they vanquish their foes, turning to each other and saying
"Vengeance is cold as ice"
Anyway, a great sing along song with the usual Space bells and whistles chugging along in the background (possibly literally).
Released as a single on 29 December 1997, so just misses out on being able to be much higher in 1998!
7. Gorecki - Lamb
Past Entries:
2001
Gabriel
19
Henryk Gorecki was a Polish classical music composer, whose 1976 Symphony of Sorrowful Songs has sold over 1 million copies and been sung/interpreted by many artists, including Beth Gibbons. Lamb sample the music from the second movement and produce one hell of a love song.
"Could we stay right here Till the end of time until the earth stops turning Wanna love you until the seas run dry I've found the one I've waited for"
Some of the lyrics were used by Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge as well.
Lamb are an English duo and their style falls somewhere in the trip hop/drum and bass line. Don't know much of their other works (except Gabriel from 2001).
6. Nancy Boy - Placebo
Past Entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
1998
Without You I'm Nothing
3
1998
Pure Morning
19
Continuing their record of having a top 10 in each of my 90s lists so far is the song that started my love of Placebo. When I first heard it, I was hooked.
Fourth single from their debut album but a re-recorded version from the one on the album. Was their (equal) highest placed single on the UK charts at #4
"Alcoholic kind of mood Lose my clothes Lose my lube"
More aggressive than their subsequent releases but still the same sly sense of humour, Nancy Boy covers sex drugs and rock and roll in the usual Placebo manner.
5. Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love) - Spiritualized
Past Entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
Well that's certainly a mouthful. Originally it was just called "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" but uses the lyrics from the Elvis song. The Elvis estate originally didn't give approval and those lines were scrubbed off the song in all pressings after the first one. Eventually in 2009, permission was granted as long as the song title was updated. Surprisingly not the longest song title to make my lists though. That would be "You Are the Generation Who Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve" from 2004
"All I want in life's a little bit of love To take the pain away"
There is so much going on in this song. Starts simply enough with the above lyric song repeated. Then the Elvis lyrics are sung over the top
"Wise men say Only fools rush in But I I can't help falling Falling in love with you"
And then different lyrics over the top again
"I will love you 'til I die And I will love you all the time So please put your sweet hand in mine And float in space and drift in time"
All the while the music is building and before you know it there are gospel choirs singing and strings and harmonica and guitars. It is all so painstakingly put together and just a beautiful listening experience and a hell of a way to open one hell of an album.
4. New Paths To Helicon, Pt. 1 - Mogwai
Past Entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
1999
CODY
5
1999
Christmas Steps
15
1999
Ex-Cowboy
34
1999
Burn Girl Prom Queen
51
1997
Mogwai Fear Satan
33
Another mouthful of a song title (these days usually referred to as Helicon 1) and another beautiful listening experience.
It must be harder for bands who don't have lyrics to come up with song titles, as these usually come from the lyrics. A look at the 26 Mogwai songs listed above (putting them 3rd behind Radiohead's 34 and Interpol's 35) shows it can also be a hit and miss exercise.
Helicon 1 starts slow with just a single guitar, slowly a bass and more guitars join in. At 2:50 there is a pause (and for me a bit of conditioned reflex) and the most heavenly noise explodes. Just bliss and then it all fades away again.
Having seen them live a few times, this is the only song that Stuart Braithwaite plays bass on, plays guitar on every other one and it does have a very nice bass line.
3. Broken Heart - Spiritualized
Past Entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love)
5
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
And as much as Jason Pierce want to fall in love and feel love, it is the absence of that love that provides the real emotional heft of the album and (to me at least) its centrepiece.
"Though I have a broken heart I'm too busy to be heartbroken There's a lot of things that need to be done Lord I have a broken heart"
Although he denies it, You feel that this beautiful album has come about to distract him from his heartbreak.
"And I'm wasted all the time I've gotta drink you right off of my mind I've been told that this will heal, given time Lord, I have a broken heart"
Given there are very explicit drug references throughout the album, it ties it back to the why. This is an album of emotion and empathy and context.
It is a longish song (about 7 minutes) and the lyrics are over in the first half, the song's overwhelming sadness and beauty depends entirely on this length and its ability to establish an atmosphere provided by the music (particularly the strings).
2. R U Still Into It - Mogwai
Past Entries:
2017
Party In The Dark
55
2014
The Lord Is Out Of Control
67
2014
Teenage Exorcists
77
2014
Hexon Bogon
95
2013
Remurdered
76
2012
Wizard Motor
91
2011
Drunk and Crazy
20
2011
How To Be A Werewolf
60
2011
Hasenheide
77
2010
Rano Pano
71
2008
Batcat
29
2008
I'm Jim Morrison I'm Dead
45
2006
We're No Here
10
2006
Travel Is Dangerous
26
2006
Friend Of The Night
38
2003
Hunted By A Freak
18
2003
I Know You Are But What Am I?
52
2001
My Father My King
5
2001
D To E
47
2001
Take Me Somewhere Nice
53
2001
2 Wrongs Make 1 Right
64
1999
CODY
5
1999
Christmas Steps
15
1999
Ex-Cowboy
34
1999
Burn Girl Prom Queen
51
1997
New Paths To Helicon, Pt. 1
4
1997
Mogwai Fear Satan
33
Another achingly sad but beautiful song.
"Will you still miss me when I'm gone? Is there love there, even when I'm wrong? Will you still kiss me if you find out? I will now leave you, but don't follow me"
With the singing provided by Aidan Moffat from Arab Strap (who have just released new music).
It's not a well know Mogwai song (if there is such a thing) as it was just an album track but there is just something about it that grabs my heart everytime I hear it.
"we can go to the pub at night We can get right tanked up and go home and have a fight"
The music is just beautifully played guitars, understated drums and bass, which is like so many other Mogwai songs, maybe it is the unusual singing (which isn't). Whatever it is, this is hands down one of my favourite songs ever.
Which leaves just one more song.....
1. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Past Entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
So, one evening in 1986 a young OBOne is listening to the radio. It was tuned to 2SM and Club Veg (recently moved from TripleJ. Roy and HG were their replacements BTW). A song came on the radio but not just any song. I was immediately captivated by said song and pressed play on my cassette recorder. I had never heard anything like it before, it sounded so important and so vital and I obsessively listened to it for days afterwards. The song was This Charming Man by The Smiths.
Thus began my love of music and it has been a massive part of my life ever since. Hardly a day goes by when I don't listen to something.
What has this got to do with Paranoid Android I hear you ask. Good question. That immediate feeling of importance I experienced the very first time I heard "This Charming Man" and that obsessive listening for days afterwards has only happened to me subsequently three times, in 1991, 1993 and in 1997. Most of the songs I consider my favourites have grown on me over time. I won't reveal the 1991 and 1993 songs (just yet) but (obviously) the 1997 one was Paranoid Android.
OK Computer was released 4 days before my birthday and I bought it (even though I was pretty broke) as a birthday present to myself, having loved The Bends so much. Airbag came on and I was pretty happy with my purchase and then Paranoid Android happened (maybe my reflex to Airbag is more about Paranoid Android being next). Subterranean Homesick Alien (the third song on the album) had to wait hours until it was played as I just repeated Paranoid Android over and over and over.
Every time I listened to it I heard something else, something amazing, something incredible, something important. I still hear all those things to this day everytime I listen and I remember that amazing feeling. I don't get that feeling anymore from This Charming Man (still an awesome song but there are much better Smiths songs) or the songs from 1991 and 1993 (neither of which will be the #1 from that year but will still feature highly).
My late 90s travels started in mid-1996, as I departed Australia for the UK, not to return (except for occasional visits) until late 2000.
Musically 1996 turned out to be something of a let-down after the giddy heights of 1997. No song from 1996 would have cracked the top 10 in 1997. It was also, by far, the year in the 90s that I had the fewest songs from in my iTunes library.
Not all doom and gloom though because after you scratch the surface there are some gems to be found. It was also one of the few years that I didn't have a preconceived idea of what would be #1. I think 2005 and 2014 are the only other years this happened.
Anyway, the unlucky ones to just miss out for 1996 are as follows, 100 onwards from 21/10.
100. Hallo Spaceboy {Pet Shop Boys Remix} - David Bowie
Past entries (David Bowie):
2016
Lazarus
4
2016
Blackstar
76
It will be another 20 years until David Bowie makes on of my lists as (until Blackstar) the 2000s weren't (IMHO) a great period for him.
The Pet Shop Boys remix mentions Major Tom (which the original doesn't) and (sort of) completes a trilogy of songs after Ashes to Ashes and Space Oddity. It was released as a single in 1996 and seems a good way to kick things off!
99. Bigmouth Strikes Again - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
1998
Without You I'm Nothing
3
1998
Pure Morning
19
1997
Nancy Boy
6
Placebo have made the Top 10 of my lists in every year of the 90s so far. Can this continue?
"Now I know how Joan of Arc felt As the flames rose to her Roman nose And her Discman started to melt"
This is a cover of a Smiths song and changes lyrics from Walkman to Discman in the above to update it for the times, which seems quaint given how outdated Discmans are now. If anyone covered it again today they'd have to say bluetooth headphones, which sort of works!
98. Exit Does Not Exist - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Trailer Trash
32
1997
Cowboy Dan
37
1997
Convienient Parking
47
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
Modest Mouse are another band that have had plenty of success in my lists in the 90s and are back once more.
Like most people I guess, I first heard of them when Float On came out in 2004. I checked out their 2000 album as well but nothing else at the time.
Sun Kil Moon released an album of Modest Mouse covers in 2005 (called Tiny Cities). There was only one song from the 2000 and 2004 albums on it and the rest of the covers were from the 90s Modest Mouse releases, including this one. It is a really beautiful short song actually. This inspired me to get "This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About" (the album which contains this song). When I first listened to this song, it wasn't beautiful, it is harsh and jagged. Once I gave the whole album a chance though the beauty came peeking out and became apparent.
97. Everything Is Good For You - Crowded House
And a newcomer to these parts (although Neil Finn was seen in 1998)! I'm sure they will be seen again in the 90s though!!
This was a single recorded for the 1996 best of compilation and was the last of their 3 top 10 singles in Australia.
96. ATLiens - Outkast
Past entries:
2004
Ghetto Musick
19
2003
Hey Ya!
4
2003
The Way You Move
29
2003
Last Call
41
2003
Prototype
62
2003
Bowtie
90
2003
Roses
97
2001
So Fresh, So Clean
52
2001
The Whole World
82
2000
Ms Jackson
8
2000
B.O.B.
45
1998
Spottieottedopalicious
43
1998
Rosa Parks
83
The title song from Outkast's second album, back when Andre and BigBoi actually recorded songs together. It is certainly a smooth jam!
Outkast are from Atlanta, usually shorterned to ATL. ATLiens, get it!!
95. Taut - PJ Harvey and John Parish
Past entries (PJ Harvey):
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
Sounds like a song from a horror movie in parts! Some great demonic singing from PJ Harvey.
Before embarking on a solo career PJ Harvey played in John Parrish's band Automatic Dhlamini and he has subsequently collaborated on some of her albums and been a part of her touring band. This is from the first of two collaboration albums they have done so far.
94. Setting Sun - Chemical Brothers, The
Past entries:
2015
Go {Ft. Q-Tip}
68
2003
The Golden Path {Ft. The Flaming Lips}
71
1999
Let Forever Be
41
1999
Hey Boy Hey Girl
80
Usual mix of good song and great film clip from The Chemical Brothers. Features Noel Gallagher on vocals like Let Forever Be.
93. Takes You Back - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
Creeping closer to their early 90s heyday are Underground Lovers (affectionately known as Undie Lovers by fans).
Rushall Station (their fourth) was the first album recorded without Phillipa Nihill, as she left to pursue a solo career (but would be back when the reformed in the 2010s) and their first since breakthrough 'hit' Losing It in 1994. Sadly they didn't seem to get any momentum out of it and the album and singles didn't make any headway on the charts.
92. Going Out - Supergrass
Past entries:
2000
Mary
44
1999
Pumping On Your Stereo
65
1997
Sun Hits The Sky
63
This was the 1996 lead in single to 1997's In It For The Money and is one of their six UK Top 10 hits.
They certainly have a sound and look and stick to their guns here.
91. Not An Addict - K's Choice
As mentioned in the prelude, 1996 is my least represented year in terms of songs in my library. Looking for inspiration, I came across this one in benji2's 1996 list and while I've no idea who K's Choice are, I certainly know this song from back in the day!
The last remnants of grunge (like this) were still around in 1996 but Britpop was surely taking over the airways. Last edited:
90. The Day We Rode The Train - Ocean Colour Scene
So with Britpop taking over, this meant there was a plethora of new bands trying their hands at it. For every Blur there was a Menswear (truly terrible) but also bands like Ocean Colour Scene who were pretty good but didn't really stand out from the crowd in any way.
You can hear a bit of Blur, a bit of Oasis, its all very generic Britpop but still a good song and lets face it, we all love riding on trains don't we
89. Djed - Tortoise
Past entries:
1998
TNT
51
Not mining either Britpop or Grunge are Tortoise. One of the pioneers of post-rock but their sound is quite different to Godspeed, Sigur Ros, Slint (although Dave Pajo performed on this track), Mogwai or other 'well known' post rock acts. They have both more a jazz and electronic influence to their music.
Djed is a 20 minute jam. It is quite upbeat (another point of difference to other post rock artists) but has a consistency to the beat and repetition (hello post rock!!). Great one to just settle back and let it wash over you.
88. Naomi - Neutral Milk Hotel
Past entries:
1998
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
1
1998
King of Carrot Flowers pt 1
12
1998
Two Headed Boy pt 2
17
1998
Oh Comely
23
1998
Communist Daughter
30
1998
Holland, 1945
44
Before In The Aeroplane Over The Sea there was On Avery Island. It is true that there is a gulf in class between the two albums (in favour of Aeroplane) but there are still some hints of what is to come to be found.
An underrated part of Neutral Milk's appeal comes from the unusual music in the songs, which come to the fore in Naomi in the shape of the organs, just great.
87. Teenage Angst - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
1998
Without You I'm Nothing
3
1998
Pure Morning
19
1997
Nancy Boy
6
1996
Bigmouth Strikes Again
99
Doesn't Teenage Angst just sound like the perfect Placebo song title? It was the 4th single from their debut album and the first to get any notice. It is immediately recognisable as Placebo with the guitars and Brian Molko's vocals, which is always a good thing.
86. Jet Ski - Bikini Kill
Some great punk from Bikini Kill from their last album.
Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer, unintentionally came up with the title of Smells Like Teen Spirit when she wrote Kurt smells like teen spirit on his wall! She is also married to Adam Horovitz from the Beastie Boys. Rock n Roll Royalty indeed.
85. Stereotypes - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
Did someone mention Britpop?
Alot of The Great Escape (the album this comes from) actually tries to move on from Britpop but all the singles were very much to type (The Universal excepted) and this was the third.
84. The Official Ironmen Rally Song - Guided By Voices
Past entries:
2001
Chasing Heather Crazy
68
Before 1996, Guided by Voices were mainly famous for releasing albums with "sketches of songs" rather than fully formed ones. Under the Bushes Under the Stars (their 9th) changed that and an album with songs longer than 2 minutes appeared. The odd titles were still there though.
It is a bit lo-fi but the melody is great. Robert Pollard certainly has an ear for a pop tune!
They released their 30th and 31st albums this year!
83. Hey Dude - Kula Shaker
<read everything I wrote for Ocean Colour Scene but note these guys had at least one minor hit>
82. Aneurysm - Nirvana
Speaking of Smells Like Teen Spirit, this was the B-side!
It is allowed in 1996 as it was released as a single and appeared in the TripleJ Hottest 100.
In any case, a classic grunge track. I especially the way it builds up at the beginning. It is a bit of a fan favourite as well and was performed (with Kim Gordon doing the vocals) by the rest of the band when they were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
81. The Box - Orbital
This is the only song I know by Orbital and is a great if a bit unusual piece of electronica. I reckon I came across it on MTV as the video is good, starring Tilda Swinton. Last edited:
It's all very silly I know but it still makes me smile. Take away the silly lyrics and it is a pretty good rock song but...
"If I had my little way, I'd eat peaches every day"
I hear you brother....
79. Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers
Past entries:
1998
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
10
Not silly at all. This is from (and title track of) the first Manic Street Preachers album after the disappearance (and presumed suicide) of Richie Edwards. It is certainly a more sombre album but the same themes of anger and rebellion are there.
"It's high time for a walk on the real side Let's admit the bastards beat us"
It's not really Britpop but it is some shade of pop. Just a good song really.
78. Born Slippy .NUXX - Underworld
Very important that .NUXX as it represents the 9 minute blissed out version rather than the radio edit as those extra 6 minute or so of pure techno are absolutely the best bit.
Also synonymous with the film Trainspotting!
77. How To Make Gravy - Paul Kelly
"If I get good behaviour, I'll be out of here by July Won't you kiss my kids on Christmas Day Please don't let 'em cry for me"
A classic Aussie track here. Another ode from an absent father song as well from Paul Kelly (after To Her Door). Like most of his work, a simple but extremely heartfelt song.
I don't like gravy so it doesn't work as well on me I guess!!
76. Made Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Trailer Trash
32
1997
Cowboy Dan
37
1997
Convienient Parking
47
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
1996
Exit Does Not Exist
98
"And I said, "You shouldn't make facts out of opinions""
That is a very relevant line in these times, are you listening politicians of the world.
The closing (well almost, there is a 1 minute exit piece after) song of the album, this just cap things off perfectly and quite beautifully. Starts almost country like, speeds up a bit, goes a bit wonky in the middle and then just blisses out with some amazingly sweet guitar work.
75. So Slow - Sophia
Past entries:
2004
Oh My Love
27
"I turn of the light but leave the television talking No, tonight I don't want to be alone I try to close my eyes, but I'm afraid of the dark I see you everywhere"
This was part of a split 7" single (remember them!) with Swervedriver and is their debut release. Sophia is basically just Robin Proper-Sheppard, ex of The God Machine and a rotating cast of musicians.
So Slow was written after the death of another member of The God Machine. It is quite the sad number.
Another act from 1996 who have released music in 2020!
74. Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage
Past entries:
1998
Push It
88
Just a great pop song really. It is actually meant to be poking fun at the doom and gloom lyrics of most alternative rock at the time while being musically very up-tempo.
Was actually released in 1995 but was in the Hottest 100 in 1996 and I needed some extras so here it is!!
73. Flowers In December - Mazzy Star
Past entries:
2013
California
65
2011
Common Burn
73
Among My Swan is a great album but it hard to pick stand out songs, as its all just so calm and relaxing.
Like Underground Lovers, Mazzy Star were coming off a commercial breakthrough with their last album/single and also failed to pick up any traction, although this was their biggest 'hit' in the UK, peaking at #40.
72. Stripper Vicar - Mansun
Past entries:
2000
I Can Only Disappoint U
100
1999
Six
95
1998
Legacy
73
1997
Dark Mavis
64
Joining Placebo and Modest Mouse as the only artists to have songs from 1999-1996 (all have one in 2000 for that matter) are Mansun. Sadly their run of improving each year is over!
It is quite the saucy song title though. The song itself is very indie pop and another one with quite silly lyrics but if you get past that it is quite the banger.
71. E-Bow The Letter - REM
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
This is a really haunting song, especially the Patti Smith backing vocals. It is meant to be a tribute to River Phoenix so that makes sense I guess.
"I wear my own crown of sadness and sorrow And who'd have thought tomorrow would be so strange? My loss, and here we go again" Last edited:
Some Swedish grunge! The alternative music scene in Sweden in the late 90s and early 00s was pretty ace (think The Hives, The Knife, International Noise Conspiracy etc) and this is another good example. I had a friend who lived in Sweden in the 2000s and he introduced me to this one.
69. The Distance - CAKE
Past entries:
2001
Short Skirt/Long Jacket
77
1998
Never There
85
"Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force"
I love that lyric and the very recognisable sound of CAKE (or Cake I never could tell)!
Did you know that this song was a bigger hit in Australia (#21) than anywhere else in the world? Go us!
68. Zero - Smashing Pumkins, The
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
From the Dawn to Dusk disc of Mellon Collie, is one of the rockier Smashing Pumpkins songs, Zero. It was the first song recorded for the album!
"Intoxicated with the madness, I'm in love with my sadness Bullshit fakers, enchanted kingdoms"
It is a harsh sounding song, both musically and lyrically and never lets up.
Zero was played in The Simpsons as well, as a part of Homerpalooza, one of my fave Simpsons epsodes!
67. The First Big Weekend - Arab Strap
Past entries:
1998
Here We Go
74
I love a Scottish accent! So the semi-spoken word singing by Aidan Moffet in his broad Scottish accent suits me very well.
This is an unusually constructed song, the semi spoken word, electronic beats, guitars wouldn't seem to come together so well but they do, especially in the way they build throughout the song.
Also released new music in 2020!
66. All Your Sisters - Mazzy Star
Past entries:
2013
California
65
2011
Common Burn
73
1996
Flowers In December
73
Another very calming, relaxing song from Mazzy Star. Not much else to say really!!
65. That Was My Veil - PJ Harvey and John Parish
Past entries (PJ Harvey):
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
"It starts at daylight I see him Before my sad eyes I hear him breathing"
A very different sounding song to Taut is this acoustic guitar driven song one of the more recognisable songs from the album as being PJ Harvey.
As an aside, with this PJ Harvey moves past Sigur Ros into having the 4th most songs in my yearly lists.
64. Stem/Long Stem - DJ Shadow
Past entries:
1997
High Noon
48
For a song that is entirely made from samples it doesn't really sound like it at all. Some samples are obvious but the musical backing in particular sounds really coherent.
Some of the samples used are by Giorgio Moroder, KRS-One, Nirvana (the 60s British band).
63. God! Show Me Magic - Super Furry Animals
Past entries:
2009
The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
48
2003
Golden Retriever
48
2001
(Drawing) Rings Around The World
49
2000
Ysbeidau Heulog
58
1998
Ice Hockey Hair
80
1997
Mountain People
38
1997
Demons
92
An incredibly infectious 2 minutes of Britpop! Super Furry Animals would move on in subsequent albums but their first (Fuzzy Logic) was very Britpop tinged.
Another aside, before this Super Furry Animals were tied with Kendrick Lamar for having 7 entries a piece in my yearly lists with a highest position of 38, which isn't something you see everyday!
62. Silver Lizard - Tumbleweed
Tumbleweed were (are) a great bad, especially live. They had a definite sound, sludgy 70s infused psychedelic rock and this is a good example.
61. Novocaine For The Soul - Eels
Past entries:
2001
Souljacker - Part 1
51
I saw Eels play at the Reading Festival in 1997. I only knew this song by them at the time. After the first song E said (and I paraphrase) "A lot of you are only here to here Novocaine, so here it is." They then played it with a Bossanova beat, sounding nothing like the original. Afterwards he said "Right you've heard it, now f**k off. Anyone who wants to stay, welcome to the show.". I stayed and they were great! Last edited:
I must admit I don't know anything about this song or Matthew Trapnell and Trapezoid other than that it appears on the Hottest 100 CD.
It features samples of Ella Fitzgerald (who died in 1996) talking about playing the harmonica over some trippy music. There is some great harmonica playing towards the end, an underrated instrument IMHO.
59. Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Trailer Trash
32
1997
Cowboy Dan
37
1997
Convienient Parking
47
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
1996
Made Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds
76
1996
Exit Does Not Exist
98
Has the perfect title for a Modest Mouse song (especially from the first two albums) as they always start with talking shit lyrics (in the best possible way) before morphing into beautiful music as the sun sets. I can just picture it listening to this song.
"Looking kind of anxious in your cross-armed stance Like a bad-tempered prom queen at a homecoming dance And I claim I'm not excited with my life anymore So I blame this town, this job, these friends The truth is it's myself"
58. One Day - UGK
I'm not a massive hip hop fan but the songs I particularly like are usually more Southern Hip Hop as I find it more soulful and musically interesting (see Outkast). Texas's UGK certainly count as a part of this movement and One Day is a great example of the genre.
57. Big Bang Baby - Stone Temple Pilots
Past entries:
2000
Sour Girl
13
Tiny Music is my least favourite of the first 4 Stone Temple Pilots albums but there is still some good songs to be found. Sounding more psychedelic or glam than grunge by this stage of their career, Big Bang Baby is just a great pop song.
56. Midnight In A Perfect World - DJ Shadow
Past entries:
1997
High Noon
48
1996
Stem/Long Stem
64
This starts more obviously as using samples but soon also morphs into something you'd never really guess was entirely sampled, it has such a fully realised ambience to it.
BTW, Guinness Book of World Records cited this album (Endtroducing...) as the first created entirely from samples.
55. Woman - Neneh Cherry
Another Swedish act but perhaps better known than Fireside. This is meant to be her take on "It's A Man's Man's World" by James Brown.
I hear Portishead's Glory Box in the music but can't find anything that indicates if it uses it at all.
Surprisingly this was her biggest single in Australia (#20), beating Buffalo Stance (what an awesome song) by one place (#21). I also like the appearance of Gollum (Andy Serkis) in the film clip.
54. Professional Widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix - Radio Edit) - Tori Amos
Past entries:
2001
Strange Little Girl
79
Another important distinction is that this is the radio edit of the remix, the whole 9 minutes one is too much for me!! The remix completely changes the original version on the album (rumoured to be about Courtney Love) into something that doesn't really sound like Tori Amos at all, a sign of a really good remix.
53. Hyperballad - Bjork
Past entries:
1997
Joga
74
This is probably the first Bjork solo song that I heard in which I thought that was a move away from the tweeness of The Sugarcubes (not that tweeness is necessarily a bad thing) and that she might be forging a new direction for herself, which I think we can safely say she has (not that I'm really a fan).
52. Milk {Ft. Tricky} (The Wicked remix) - Garbage
Past entries (Garbage):
1998
Push It
88
1996
Only Happy When It Rains
74
Another great remix that really changes the song (though not as dramatically as Tori Amos) is the Tricky remix of Milk with the addition of his vocals underneath Shirley's, as opposed to The Siren remix without his vocals. Clear!
51. Cheetham Hill - Fall, The
First appearance in my lists of the curmudgeon that is Mark E Smith and The Fall. This was the last Fall album to feature Brix Smith.
Cheetham Hill unusually features some vocals by Mike Bennet (the producer) but Mark E Smith's Mancunian growl also features heavily.
I've seen them live a few times over the years and he was a great presence on stage and the band always sounded great. Sadly missed. Last edited:
Kicking off the second half is Bush, an act that I assumed were American for a long time (due to the grunge sound and Gavin Rossdale being married to Gwen Stefani I reckon) but are actually British.
Glycerine would have been much higher in this list in 1996 or even 10 years ago but has slipped somewhat in my estimation over time. It hit #5 in the ARAI charts, their highest position anywhere in the world over their career
And, what do you know, they've released an album in 2020.
49. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins, The
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
1996
Zero
68
"With the headlights pointed at the dawn We were sure we'd never see an end to it all"
1979 is somewhat the opposite of Glycerine in that it has probably risen in my estimation over the years. Probably wouldn't have made it in my 100 favourites back in 1996 at all.
It certainly didn't sound like anything else they had done. Much poppier and incorporating loops and samples for the first time and a more reflective Billy Corgan. It was the last song recorded for Mellon Collie, which seems appropriate as it is more a pointer for the future direction than the past.
Due to release an album in 2020!!
48. The Man Don't Give A F*ck - Super Furry Animals
Past entries:
2009
The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
48
2003
Golden Retriever
48
2001
(Drawing) Rings Around The World
49
2000
Ysbeidau Heulog
58
1998
Ice Hockey Hair
80
1997
Mountain People
38
1997
Demons
92
1996
God! Show Me Magic
63
An absolutely infectious pop song this one! A little bit psychedelic, little bit Britpoppy. It is a protest song about the British government of the time and samples a line from Steely Dan more than 50 times, a record for the use of the f-word the time!
"You know they don't give a f*ck about anybody else"
47. How Bizarre - OMC
Another guilty pleasure. Don't know anything about OMC except that they were from New Zealand. This was a big radio hit in the UK.
46. Beauty Of The Ride - Sebadoh
Past entries:
1999
Flame
24
I was first aware of Lou Barlow due to his work in Dinosaur Jr in the late 80s (especially Freak Scene) but didn't latch on to Sebadoh until the early 90s and their third album Sebadoh III, which was held up with Pavement's first album as the cornerstones of the lo-fi movement.
Anyway, this is off their sixth album and isn't really lo-fi anymore, just good alternative rock. I bet you it sounds familiar as many bands have subsequently used this template.
45. Come Home - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
1998
Without You I'm Nothing
3
1998
Pure Morning
19
1997
Nancy Boy
6
1996
Teenage Angst
87
1996
Bigmouth Strikes Again
99
Probably the harshest and angriest of the early Placebo singles is Come Home. Can't ever mistake Brian Molko's vocals as anything but Placebo but the music is definitely thrashier and punkier than subsequent releases (but in a good way).
It was actually re-recorded for their debut album and doesn't appear on their singles compilation!
44. Shovel - Magic Dirt
Past entries:
2003
Plastic Loveless Letter
30
2003
All My Crushes
54
2003
Watch Out Boys
72
2001
City Trash
9
2001
Supagloo
40
2000
Dirty Jeans
26
2000
Pace It
92
First 90s entries for Magic Dirt from their debut album (they had released a couple of EPs by this point though). It is a sludgy number and the last minute in particularly really rocks out.
There aren't many Aussie acts in my 90s lists because a) I didn't really listen to much at the time so it is hard to discover new music after 20+ years and b) alot of it that I have heard hasn't aged very well.
Love the album cover as well!
43. Goldfinger - Ash
Past entries:
2001
Shining Light
18
2001
Burn Baby Burn
67
1998
Wildsurf
58
1997
A Life Less Ordinary
26
42. Oh Yeah - Ash
Past entries:
2001
Shining Light
18
2001
Burn Baby Burn
67
1998
Wildsurf
58
1997
A Life Less Ordinary
26
1996
Goldfinger
43
Let's do these two together, as I flip flop all the time as to which I prefer the most and the positions could change depending on which day it is. Today 'Oh Yeah' comes out tops. Definitely both fit within Ash's 'sound' of pop-rock.
These were the 4th and 5th singles released from Ash's debut album (1995's 1977 ) and were Ash's two biggest hits in the UK (#5 and #6 respectively) and Goldfinger was the only top 50 hit they had in Australia (#50).
41. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others - Supergrass
Past entries:
2000
Mary
44
1999
Pumping On Your Stereo
65
1997
Sun Hits The Sky
63
1996
Going Out
92
Another cover of a Smiths song. Both this and the Placebo one earlier were part of a covers album called 'The Smiths Are Dead', with artists covering the songs from 'The Queen Is Dead', which would possibly be my favourite album of all time so of course the best ones will feature here.
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (the original) is an odd song to say the least. Very silly lyrics (detecting a theme here) but the most gorgeously delicate music imaginable. Supergrass decide to just rock it out rather than imitate and it sounds just awesome. Last edited:
Similar to Bush, would have been higher in my estimation at the time or 10 years ago is Scooby Snacks. It is also similar to Bush in that it just sounds like the mid 90s with its rock/electro crossover.
Bonus marks for the Pulp Fiction samples and actually writing a song about Scooby Snacks, which much younger me would have loved (being a big fan of Scooby Doo).
I've just noticed that the acts that came 90, 80, 70, 60, 50 and now 40 are appearing on my lists for the first time, what will 30 bring?
39. Slight Return - Bluetones, The
Past entries:
2000
Autophilia Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love My Car
30
I had a ticket to see The Bluetones in May this year, which was cancelled of course.
Read everything said about Ocean Colour Scene and Kula Shaker about generic Britpop, although I reckon most people would have heard this song even if they don't recall it.
The Bluetones did manage to forge a post Britpop career for themselves and evolved their sound. Their third album, Science and Nature, is particularly good.
38. Champagne Supernova - Oasis
"Where were you while we were getting high?"
It is somewhat surprising to me that this is the first sighting of Oasis in my lists (what happened to The Hindu Times in 2002? Must have forgotten it).
It is quite the trippy number but does manage to really rock out towards the end.
Did you know there is an actual supernova, SN2003g, named after this song?
37. Breathe - Prodigy, The
Past entries:
1997
Funky Shit
52
A dark and intense piece of electronic music from The Prodigy. This, for a long time, held the record for most weeks in the Australian Top 10 singles, which seems odd.
Uses samples from Thin Lizzy and Wu-Tang Clan as well. My favourite story about samples and The Prodigy is that The Cosmic Psychos get a writing credit on Fuel My Fire (last song on Fat of the Land) because it is a cover of an L7 song that sampled one of their songs!
36. Where It's At - Beck
Past entries:
2015
Dreams
24
2009
Heaven Can Wait (with Charlotte Gainsbourg)
75
2006
Think I'm In Love
72
2005
Girl
47
2002
The Golden Age
21
2002
Guess I'm Doing Fine
55
2002
Already Dead
65
2000
Mixed Bizness
74
1999
Sexx Laws
76
This song always makes me think of Adam and Will on TripleJ as they went for a time with a 'theme song' saying 'we're just two fat bastards with a micrpohone'.
Another song to feature a number of samples, must have been a big 1996 thing!
35. The Opera House - Olivia Tremor Control
Olivia Tremor Control came out of the same musical collective that Neutral Milk Hotel did (The Elephant 6 Recording Company) and indeed Jeff Magnum (lead singer of NMH) appears. This is the opening song from their debut album "Music From The Unrealized Film Script: Dusk At Cubist Castle", which is quite a mouthful.
It is a great indie pop song, wonderful driving beat and some weird and wonderful music underlaying it all
34. The State I Am In - Belle and Sebastian
Past entries:
2006
White Collar Boy
96
2005
Funny Little Frog
84
2004
I'm A Cuckoo
46
2003
Step Into My Office Baby
24
2001
I'm Waking Up To Us
91
2000
Legal Man
47
1998
The Boy With The Arab Strap
95
"The priest in the booth had a photographic memory For all he had heard He took all of my sins and he wrote a pocket novel Called The State That I'm In"
Back to where it all began for Belle and Sebastian, as this was the first song from their debut album (Tigermilk).
They can sometimes end up sounding a bit too twee but they get the twee levels just right here! The lyrics are great and you just find yourself listening along, nodding and tapping a toe. I love the way the tempo of the song really slowly builds without you necessarily realising it.
33. On A Rope - Rocket From The Crypt
Another act where this is the only song of their I actually know. This was the first song I saw on Top of the Pops that I actually liked!
This song is somewhere in the punk/rock/ska triangle. Not very complicated (in a good way) and great for a sing along.
32. She Cries Your Name - Beth Orton
Past entries:
2000
Central Reservation
37
Another song I first encountered on Top of the Pops. She is like Bush as I always assumed she was American (due to the Country sound) until much later finding out she is British. Even the film clip looks like it is filmed in America!
31. Ladykillers - Lush
When Lush first hit the scene in the early 90s I remember the British Press calling them the new ABBA as they had the two female/male dynamics and their surnames spelled ABBA (as opposed to the first names spelling ABBA in the actual ABBA).
By 1996, Mereil Barham had left but the amazing vocal harmonies between Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson remained. The music had become more straightforward indie pop, rather than the shoegaze they had been known for and , not surprisingly, this era had their highest placing chart songs! Last edited:
"I want to fly and run 'til it hurts Sleep for a while and speak no words in Australia"
The lyrics are speaking to Nicky Wire's desire to escape all the emotional turmoil around Richie Edward's disappearance and he reckons Australia is as far as you can get from Wales, to escape it all. New Zealand is actually farther but doesn't really count does it
29. If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You - Super Furry Animals
Past entries:
2009
The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
48
2003
Golden Retriever
48
2001
(Drawing) Rings Around The World
49
2000
Ysbeidau Heulog
58
1998
Ice Hockey Hair
80
1997
Mountain People
38
1997
Demons
92
1996
The Man Don't Give A Fuck
48
1996
God! Show Me Magic
63
Certainly the most Britpop of all Super Furry Animal's songs, this could pass of as Oasis if you squinted long enough, with a definite nod to the 60s.
The B-side "(Nid) Hon Yw'r Gân Sy'n Mynd I Achub Yr Iaith" translates in English as "This Is (Not) The Song That Will Save The Welsh Language", which is funny.
28. Devils Haircut - Beck
Past entries:
2015
Dreams
24
2009
Heaven Can Wait (with Charlotte Gainsbourg)
75
2006
Think I'm In Love
72
2005
Girl
47
2002
The Golden Age
21
2002
Guess I'm Doing Fine
55
2002
Already Dead
65
2000
Mixed Bizness
74
1999
Sexx Laws
76
1996
Where It's At
36
Another standout from Odelay is Devils Haircut. I love the angular percussion samples and the beefy guitar hook. Silly lyrics, which is definitely a thing for 1996.
27. Candlestick - Bellicose
I don't know who or what or where Bellicose are as I had never heard of them or this song before listening to benji2's 1996 list but I approve wholeheartedly.
26. D.A.F. - Powderfinger
Past entries:
2009
All Of The Dreamers
91
2003
Sunsets
13
2003
Love Your Way
64
2003
Stumblin
75
2003
Rockin'Rocks
86
2000
The Metre
79
1999
These Days
27
1999
Already Gone
64
1998
The Day You Come
21
I reckon hearing this on the 1996 Hottest 100 was the first time I encountered Powderfinger. Haven't been as big a fan as the rest of Australia and I do find them a bit hit and miss. File this one under hit then!
25. Alice - Cocteau Twins
The ethereal sound of The Cocteau Twins, just beautiful. There is simply no one around who can sing like Elizabeth Fraser.
I encountered this song (and Gorecki by Lamb, my #7 of 1997) from the soundtrack to the movie Stealing Beauty but it is probably better known from featuring in The Lovely Bones.
Sadly 1996 was the last year Cocteau Twins released any new music.
24. Charmless Man - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Stereotypes
85
"Educated the expensive way He knows his claret from his beaujolais I think he'd like to have been Ronnie Kray But then nature didn't make him that way"
I certainly don't know what beaujolais is (a light beer maybe)! A very Blur like song (which is of course a good thing). Very upbeat and singalongable!
23. Beautiful Ones - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
"Shaved heads, rave heads, on the pill Got too much time to kill Get into bands and gangs"
Channelling their inner-Bowie to the max are Suede! Coming out was a change of direction for Suede after Bernard Butler left and the darkness of Dog Man Star. Beautiful Ones was the one of the first guitar riff written by his replacement, Richard Oakes, in recording sessions for the new album and it is a good one!
It is a somewhat sneering but also affectionate look at the 90s club culture prevalent in the 90s.
Kim Wilde covered it as well!!
22. Popular - Nada Surf
Past entries:
2002
Killian's Red
88
The debut single and best known song by Nada Surf and it is a pretty identifiable grunge/rock song from the era.
I recommend checking out their third album (2002's Let Go). It is very different in sound to this and pretty fine! They're still going strong and, yes you guessed, released a new album in 2020!
21. Bulls On Parade - Rage Against The Machine
Past entries:
2000
Sleep Now In The Fire
3
2000
Renegades of Funk
21
2000
Maria
80
1999
Guerilla Radio
40
1999
Testify
49
1998
No Shelter
72
"Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal"
Another very identifable rock song from the era is Bulls on Parade, with its unique guitar riff!!
The song was inspired by the US starting build a wall along the border with Mexico. Things haven't really changed have they? Last edited:
This song certainly benefitted from the decrease in quality in 1996 compared to 1997, as I originally had the album version of this in the mid 30s in 1997 until I remembered that it was released originally as a (slightly different) single in 1996!
It is consistent post rock sound but also is as close to a pop number as they have ever released. Starts slow and builds up tempo nicely.
It is the only official Mogwai video that they appear in (that I've seen in any case). They look so young (and have hair)!!
19. Susan's House - Eels
Past entries:
2001
Souljacker - Part 1
51
1996
Novocaine For The Soul
61
"Here comes a girl with long brown hair who can't be more than seventeen She sucks on a red popsicle while she pushes a baby girl in a pink carriage And I'm thinking that must be her sister That must be her sister, right?"
In which, E goes through all the crazy stuff that goes down in his neighbourhood as he walks to his girlfriend's house. The minute details are wonderfully observed.
18. Dramamine - Modest Mouse
Past entries:
2007
Dashboard
29
2004
Float On
14
2004
Ocean Breathes Salty
24
2004
Bukowski
37
2000
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
1
2000
3rd Planet
34
2000
Dark Centre Of The Universe
53
2000
Lives
85
1999
Willful Suspension Of Disbelief
46
1998
Never Ending Math Equation
89
1997
Trailer Trash
32
1997
Cowboy Dan
37
1997
Convienient Parking
47
1997
Truckers Atlas
71
1997
Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice, Alright
79
1996
Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset
59
1996
Made Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds
76
1996
Exit Does Not Exist
98
"Travelling, swallowing Dramamine Feeling spaced, breathing out Listerine I'd said what I'd said, that I'd tell ya And that you'd killed the better part of me"
Dramamine is medicine used to combat motion sickness and is a great name for the feeling generated by these Modest Mouse early songs, which are generally about travelling and disorientation. This is the first song on their debut album so sets the scene very early indeed.
It is a really beautiful, delicate song with a haunting guitar melody repeated throughout. I can just picture looking out a window at the endless unchanging countryside during a long drive while I listen to this.
17. Stinkfist - Tool
Past entries:
2006
Vicarious
54
2006
The Pot
82
2001
Schism
87
Not a beautiful or delicate song is this slab of industrial rock by Tool. Taking the supposed subject matter away, it is just a great rock song pure and simple. The musical arrangements are spot on.
16. Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
"This machine will, will not communicate These thoughts and the strain I am under"
The final track on The Bends and the last single released. With this Radiohead move past Interpol to have the most song in my lists, round of applause please.
We've moved back to delicate again, which is a word that could accurately describe most of The Bends but this song in particular, with the arpeggiated guitar work (rather than the acoustic guitar that dominated the other slower songs on the album).
15. Henry Lee {Ft. PJ Harvey} - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Past entries (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds):
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Into My Arms
14
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
Past entries (PJ Harvey):
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
"She leaned herself against a fence Just for a kiss or two And with a little pen-knife held in her hand Well she plugged him through and through"
If ever there was a match made in heaven (hell) it was Nick Cave and PJ Harvey and for a while in the mid 90s they were a couple. It ended just as well as it did for Henry Lee. I remember seeing a picture of them in a music mag around this time and they were both looking suitably miserable!!
Henry Lee is based on a traditional Scottish folk song, Young Hunting, which details a scorned lover's revenge on her cheating beau!
14. Firestarter - Prodigy, The
Past entries:
1997
Funky Shit
52
1996
Breathe
37
This song rocks so much! From the second the unmistakeable guitar riff kicks in (sampled from The Breeders) and the beat just blasts out. It is quite sinister in style and lyrically as well.
It was the first Prodigy song I remember Keith singing on as well (RIP)
13. Disco 2000 - Pulp
Past entries:
1998
This Is Hardcore
92
"Oh, what are you doing Sunday, baby? Would you like to come and meet me maybe? You can even bring your baby"
There is just something about this song that I absolutely love, even though I'm not a big fan of Pulp. Could be the great guitar, the amazing driving tempo, the great lyrics, my love of singing along at volume. Or even all of these things!!
12. Naked Eye - Luscious Jackson
A song so good it made two Hottest 100s!
It is the only song I know by Luscious Jackson I must admit but it is certainly a style I do like, with the female harmonies and guitar driven indie pop.
11. Dogs Are The Best People - Fauves, The
Past entries:
2000
Celebrate The Failure
90
1999
Bigger Than Tina
98
"It's true dogs are the best people His love comes free and unconditionally Come on how long till you let him sleep with us? Little head on the bed but you say no way"
Another silly song, which is on form for The Fauves! They could be very intense on stage (I once witnessed a screaming match between two members) but were always entertaining.
I am a dog person rather than a cat person so this one rings true for me. Last edited:
Metronomic Underground is the opening track to Stereolab's 'best known' album Emperor Tomato Ketchup, which apart from the naff title is a fabulous album that is included on many best of decade lists for the 90s.
It is built around a couple of loops, some thumping bass and cool synth lines. The vocals are more just another instrument to loop around (mainly just the repeated line "Crazy, sturdy, a torpedo" with some backing). The guitar weaves in and out and everything just ramps up over the nearly 8 minutes of the song.
I never really think of Sterolab as being a post-rock band, as alot of their work is very avant-garde pop but then I listen to songs like this and you can really hear it.
9. Neighbourhood - Space
Past entries:
1998
The Ballad of Tom Jones (with Cerys Matthews)
9
1998
Begin Again
66
1997
Avenging Angels
8
1997
The Female Of The Species
41
"Oh they want to knock us down, cuz they think we're scum But we will all be waiting when the bulldozers come In a neighbourhood like this you know it's hard to survive So you better come prepared cuz they won't take us alive"
I'm not sure whose neighbourhood has a better collection of colourful characters, Space's or Susan and E's!! It is semi-autobiographical about growing up in the council estates of Liverpool.
Juicy pop hooks, with a hint of reggae and dub to it, and some wry lyrics all make a great song!
8. Buy Me A Pony - Spiderbait
Past entries:
2004
F***kin Awesome
68
2002
Arse Huggin Pants
56
2001
Four On The Floor
71
1999
Shazam!
17
1999
Glockenpop
84
1997
Calypso
80
"But wait out in the hall We've just received a call We'll have to dump you all"
Continuing the S band top 10 is the first ever Australian artist to take out #1 in the Hottest 100 (which was a big thing back in 1996), Spiderbait, with their very catchy and very short rock song Buy Me A Pony.
It is fitting that it is so short (1:45) as it is about the fleeting stardom of being in a band at the mercy of record companies.
I wonder if we'll ever have a rock song hit #1 in the Hottest 100 again? 3 of the first 6 #1s were (Cranberries, Spiderbait and Offspring) and then 2 of the next 8 (QOTSA and Jet) and then Muse in 2007 was the last!
7. Trash - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
"But we are trash, you and me, We're the litter on the breeze, We're the lovers on the streets"
Keeping up the S's is an absolute perfect power pop song by Suede. This was their first release after Bernard Butler left and was a fantastic way to signal the new era. It doesn't really sound much different to their early singles (Metal Mickey, The Drowners, Animal Nitrate) just ups the glam to 11.
6. Stagger Lee - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Past entries:
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Into My Arms
14
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
1996
Henry Lee {Ft. PJ Harvey}
15
"She saw the barkeep, said, "O God, he can't be dead!" Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head!""
I reckon Stagger Lee would fit right into Space's beautiful neighbourhood! Another song loosely based on an old folk song (this time American). Stagger Lee is a bad, bad man indeed.
I love the story of Stagger Lee but I particularly like this song for the insane blast of music in the last minute of the song. It is intense. I'm assuming that we have Blixa Bargeld to thank for it as it is somewhat similar to Einstürzende Neubauten's sound.
5. Talk Show Host - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
"You want me? Fuckin' well come and find me I'll be waiting With a gun and a pack of sandwiches"
The B-side to #16, Street Sprit (Fade Out), is actually better than the A-side (although both are ace)! It is a strong sign of what was to come in 1997 with OK Computer as I reckon this could easily have been included. It reminds me a little of Climbing Up The Walls.
4. A Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers
Past entries:
1998
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
10
1996
Australia
30
1996
Everything Must Go
79
"We don't talk about love We only wanna get drunk"
This was the first release after Richie Edward's disappearance and, to my mind, seems an attempt to grapple with the feelings generated but according to the band is more about the class struggle still going on in the UK.
Ironically, if this ever got played on a jukebox in a pub the UK while I was living there, everyone would sing it at top volume rather than talk about love!!
This hit #2 and began a run of 18 top 20 singles in the UK for The Manics.
3. Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis
Past entries:
1996
Champagne Supernova
38
Written as Noel Gallagher's attempt to create a cross between Bowie and The Beatles is Don't Look Back In Anger. I must admit I've always liked Noel Gallagher's singing better than Liam.
This really is the ultimate sing along song. I saw Oasis in the early 2000s and Noel didn't even bother singing most of the time as the crowd did it for him.
It's one of Oasis's 8 #1 singles in the UK (strangely does not include Wonderwall, their only #1 in Australia).
2. Wide Open Space - Mansun
Past entries:
2000
I Can Only Disappoint U
100
1999
Six
95
1998
Legacy
73
1997
Dark Mavis
64
1996
Stripper Vicar
72
"I'm in a wide open space, I'm staring There's something quite bizzare I cannot see"
This was the first song I really remember getting into when I first moved to the UK in mid 1996. It was released late in the year and I had bought a crappy car for a couple of hundred pounds and was able to travel about abit. The cassette player didn't work and the radio was the only option. I drove up through Scotland (which really is a wide open space) in December and would be hanging out for this to come on the radio again!
The song really brings across a sense of dread, hopelessness and loneliness, both musically and lyrically and towers over anything else Mansun did before or subsequently.
1. Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
1996
1979
49
1996
Zero
68
"Believe in me as I believe in you"
So when I started this exercise I genuinely had no idea what would end up at #1 and, what do you know, Smashing Pumpkins did with their gorgeous ballad Tonight, Tonight.
Like 1979, it doesn't really sound like anything else they had ever done but unlike 1979 it does sound like them. From the soaring vocals, the wonderful lyrics, the orchestral music, the change of pace throughout the song. Just a wonderful listening experience.
It also helps that the film clip is amazing as well. Like a Jules Verne novel come to life on the screen! Last edited:
1995 was the last year in the 90s I was in Australia and also marked the only time I listened to (and voted in) the Triple J Hottest 100. It was an interesting Hottest 100, given there was no voting list, you just rang a hotline and said the song you were voting for (at a premium of 55c). Obviously, this led to both songs Triple J had never played before getting voted in (Alannis Morrisette most famously) but also people voting multiple times for the same song (The Vaughns voting for themselves most famously). If you’re interested in what song I actually voted for, well you’ll find out if you keep reading.
Musically Britpop and Trip Hop were in full swing, Grunge, Shoegaze and Madchester were dying but still flickering a bit of life here and there and electronic and rap (soon to be called hip hop) music was branching out a bit more.
It was a really good year for music for me and probably the hardest year for me so far to narrow the list to 100 songs, the bottom of the list is really, really strong. I must admit that songs like Brain Stew, Vow and Aeroplane are really unlucky to not get in, as are all the songs from the wonderful Tindersticks second self titled album. So in recognition, I expanded the just missed cut to include 101-120.
Alien Lanes is an unusual album. 28 songs crammed into 42 minutes, averaging exactly 1 minute 30 seconds per song! It is not so much an album of songs but an album of sketches of songs. You find yourself just getting into songs and they just end! But there some absolute gems to be found.
So it is kind of fitting that the 1:31 introduction to this unusual album introduces us to the weird and wonderful music of 1995.
99. Where The Wild Roses Grow {Ft. Kylie Minogue} - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Past entries:
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Into My Arms
14
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
1996
Stagger Lee
6
1996
Henry Lee {Ft. PJ Harvey}
15
I must admit I’m not a Kylie fan at all! So this song didn’t excite me as much as the exploits of the Lee brothers in 1996 but there is still something there to enjoy! The added publicity did allow Nick Cave to have his first ARIA top 10 hit as well.
I do like the story that Nick Cave became obsessed with Kylie Minogue after hearing “I Should Be So Lucky” while in rehab, trying to get off his Heroin addiction. Paints quite a picture really.
98. Yes - McAlmont & Butler
Past entries (Bernard Butler):
1998
Stay
63
The duo of Bernard Butler (ex of Suede) and David McAlmont. This was the first music Bernard Butler worked on after leaving Suede and it certainly has some musical similarity to Dog Man Star (the last Suede album he worked on) in the lush orchestration.
I must admit I don’t really know too much about David McAlmont, except that he has a heavenly voice!
97. He's On The Phone - Saint Etienne
Speaking of heavenly voices, here is another, Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne! He’s On The Phone is probably the last of their songs I remember from their run of great singles of the early 90s. They were always electronic influenced but this is more of a club dance sound than the Indy-Pop of their earlier work. It is their biggest hit in the UK reaching #11.
96. Natural One - Folk Implosion, The
“Your world is falling down, you may as well crash with me”
Question without notice. In Lou Barlow’s career in Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh etc, what was his biggest “hit”? For everyone who answered “Natural One” by The Folk Implosion, well it was kinda obvious wasn't it ! If you knew this before I asked the question though, give yourself a high five.
This was recorded for the Kids soundtrack and became a minor hit in the USA/UK (reaching #29 in the USA).
95. Sad Song - Screaming Jets
“Will you be the first one when things get me down Will you be the first one to bring me around Resurrect my sense of believing 'Cause I sure could use the feeling”
Not sure if this is one of the songs that got voted into the Hottest 100 that Triple J never played but it does seem a more Triple M type of song. Good one though from Newcastle’s second finest. I particularly like the lyrics.
Interestingly, they had 16 ARIA top 100 singles but this isn’t one of them!
94. Stars - HUM
“I found her out back, sitting naked Looking up and looking dead A crumpled yellow piece of paper, with seven nines and tens”
Some grunge from HUM (or Hum - I’ve seen it written as both). It has a little bit of a Jesus and Mary Chain feel to it as well. This is the only song by them that I know.
They released an album this year, after a gap of 22 years. Lots of 90s acts getting bored in COVID releasing stuff I guess!!
93. Reverend Black Grape - Black Grape
Some sampledelic big beat pop, with a hint of Madchester, from Black Grape, the band Shaun Ryder and Bez formed when Happy Mondays split. It is a great upbeat pop song and a lot of fun and much better than the last Happy Mondays album (which admittedly isn't saying much).
92. Apartment - Custard
“I've got a new apartment baby Interior colour of red”
Interestingly, the sixth new artist in a row to feature in my lists (eight if you include Kylie and David McAlmont).
This one has always bugged me and is probably lower than it otherwise would be because I reckon it is a rip-off of the Underground Lovers song “Live GI”.
“I've got a big apartment baby And I painted it all blue”
Is it a rip-off? I don’t know but it does bug me. Good song though….
91. Pop Quiz - Sterolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
“Ways of doing and work Definition of truth Sexual regulations Language allowed/forbidden”
Breaking the streak of new entries is a band who have made a habit of being in the 90s in the 90s so to speak , the wonderful Stereolab with another very cool, suave indie-pop number from the wonderfully titled Music for the Amorphous Body Study Center mini album, which was created in collaboration with sculptor Charles Long, with each song complementing one of his sculptures in an exhibition. I think only Stereolab could pull that off!
“It's an impulsive thing But we caught the other Climbed into bed with all our previous lovers It gets crowded in there There's no more affairs”
Very good at being in the 90s in odd numbered years in the 90s (😉) is Tindersticks.
I mentioned in my opening blurb that the second self-titled Tindersticks album (usually referred to as Tindersticks II) is a wonderful affair. It is great to listen to, front to back, and just take in the wonderful stories and marvellous characters it creates. It actually takes your breath away on some occasions, sometimes with beauty, other times in horror.
No More Affairs is as close as it comes to an actual single to be found. Lush orchestration, subdued vocals and a sad story. Just beautiful.
89. Crush With Eyeliner - REM
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
1996
E-Bow The Letter
71
Some fantastic glam-rock by REM, something I probably never expected to hear. This was the 4th single released from Monster and features Thurston Moore on backing vocals. I’m pushing anything from 1994 that could qualify in 1995 here as 1994 will be a bumper year I think.
Typically good Spike Jonze video as well.
88. Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck - Catherine Wheel
I was a big fan of the first Catherine Wheel album, a medium fan of the second and, I must admit, didn’t really pay the third much attention at all, except for registering a couple of the singles. So this song passed me by completely until very recently when benji2 put me on to it via his 1995 list.
Interestingly, other than the distinctive voice of Rob Dickinson, it doesn’t really sound like Catherine Wheel at all. The massive, layered, Shoegaze/Rock guitars are completely absent and it is much slower tempo than their previous albums. But it is quite captivating in its own low-fi way.
87. Carnival - Natalie Merchant
“And I've walked these streets In the madhouse asylum They can be Where a wild-eyed misfit prophet On a traffic island stopped And he raved of saving me”
Another song that is different to what I was expecting based on my previous experience of the artist. Admittedly in Natalie Merchant’s case, that was my Cassingle copy of 10,000 Maniac’s “Candy Everybody Wants” but it still was a few years after 1995 that I found out that Carnival was the same singer!!
A great reflection of walking on the bustling streets of New York. Musically, a bit of a slow burner but the guitars kick in nicely when they need to.
86. Entertain Me - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
It wouldn’t be a list of my favourite songs of the mid 90s without Blur!
Some of The Great Escape was (IMHO) deliberately not BritPop, the start of their moving away from the genre they had a lot to do with creating in the first place (although you could also make an argument that a chunk of Parklife was not BritPop either).
This is not one of those songs!
85. All Over You - Live
Live were quite the thing in 1995! Not my thing, I will freely admit, but I do enjoy this song.
84. I Am Superman - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
Setting a record for the longest gap in these lists (20 years on the button) is Swervedriver, one of my favourite bands of the 90s. It is funny that they appear a few tracks after Catherine Wheel as they were the two English Showgaze bands that really rocked out, sounded more than a bit American and neither sounded like their old selves in 1995!
I Am Superman is a bit psychedelic and even verges on Britpop in places. Never thought I’d ever hear a “la la la la la la la la” in a Swervedriver song. It all fits together nicely though.
BTW, Adam Franklin, the lead singer and guitarist is flat out the best guitarist I have ever seen live in my life! The sounds he conjured out his guitar are just otherwordly.
83. Monty - Spiderbait
Past entries:
2004
F***kin Awesome
68
2002
Arse Huggin Pants
56
2001
Four On The Floor
71
1999
Shazam!
17
1999
Glockenpop
84
1997
Calypso
80
1996
Buy Me A Pony
8
Some awesome stomping guitar work here from Spiderbait. This was their first ever charting single, reaching #44 on the ARIA charts. Fantastically named B-side as well “We Came To See The Other Band Play”.
A truly bad film clip though!
82. Purple Sneakers - You Am I
“Every thought that once had a sound Will have to hide 'til no one is around”
The first You Am I song to make my charts (and 10th overall newcomer in 1995 – changing of the guard year?)! Another act you can say I’m not that big a fan of.
The slower tempo (compared to their earlier songs) and keyboards are what appeals to me as well as the lyrics.
81. Lump - Presidents of the Untied States, The
Past entries:
1996
Peaches
80
Landing one place lower than Peaches is Lump, the first song I ever heard by The Presidents. Would have been much higher in my estimation in 1995 but time hasn’t aged it all that well, still good but definitely a dated sound.
Quite a lot of short songs (less than 2:30) in this list (Guided by Voices, Monty, Apartment, Lump) – must have been a 1995 thing. More to come as well…
Another new act to my list (that’s 11 so far!) are the wonderful New Zealand band The Bats. A staple of the Flying Nun Dunedin scene of the late 80s/early 90s (even though they were from Christchurch). I must admit to not having heard any of their releases post ’91, so thanks benji2 for the reminder of what a great band they are.
Afternoon In Bed is a pretty good distillation of The Bats’ sound. Very melodic pop/rock, a bit jingly jangly but always easy on the ear.
79. When You Feel Miserable - Starflyer 59
Starflyer 59 are an American Shoegaze band and like most American Shoegaze bands (and Swervedriver and Catherine Wheel) took their sound from Psychcandy and the first My Bloody Valentine album. It is a beefier and rockier sound than their British counterparts, who generally made more melodic and pop influenced songs. I must admit to enjoying both!
Song title sounds like it could come from any of the first couple of Jesus and Mary Chain albums as well and was exactly what Garbage were poking fun at with "Only Happy When It Rains".
78. The Masterplan - Oasis
Past entries:
1996
Don't Look Back In Anger
3
1996
Champagne Supernova
38
“Take the time to make some sense Of what you want to say And cast your words away upon the waves”
The B-Side (remember them!) to Wonderwall, a track we may or may not encounter later. It’s a Noel singing song, which I always like. Noel himself has said that this is one of the best songs he has written.
It is a bigger sound than other Oasis songs of the time, mainly through the orchestra and towards the end of the song you can hear Noel singing Octopus’s Garden faintly in the background if you were wondering where the song’s inspiration came from.
77. Why You Asking? - Glide
Glide were one of the better Australian Shoegaze bands (with Jupiter and early Underground Lovers) and were a staple of the live scene in Sydney in the early 90s. This still has hints of that early sound but a bit more straight pop/rock. Sadly William Arthur, their lead singer, passed away in 1999.
I saw Ride live in 1992 and the two support acts were Glide and Ripe, which I found amusing!!
76. In The Name Of The Father - Black Grape
Past entries:
1995
Reverend Black Grape
93
The second song by Bez and friends to feature in 1995! It probably reminds me more of a Happy Mondays song than Reverend Black Grape, so I like it more!!
75. Father To A Sister Of Thought - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
After the double plus good double of Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, my hopes were set sky high for Pavement’s third album, Wowee Zowee. Those hopes were not realised and I must admit to being disappointed and not listening to it much after it initially came out. It was a departure from the low fi sound they were famous for and was a bit more eclectic and experimental. I pulled it back out a few years ago and gave it another listen and it not that bad, if still not as good as the first two albums. The first 8 songs in particular (of which this is one) are really consistent and give a coherent feel to listening to them.
74. Kilkeel - Crow
Another staple of the early 90s Sydney music scene are Crow. Their shows with Straightjacket Fits were legendary! They also took the heavier rock influenced Shoegaze route.
Kilkeel has the added bonus of featuring Warren Ellis’ violin work, which is great as always.
The lead singer, Peter Fenton, is also a (sort of) well known Australian actor, mainly known for being in Love Is A Four Letter Word.
73. Waterfalls - TLC
You can definitely put this one in the never played on Triple J before the Hottest 100. It is illuminating to get a gauge on what listeners actually like when they aren’t constrained by a list! Would have been interesting if they had done the Hottest 100 of the decade without a list (Taylor Swift anyone??). As it was, it was interesting that Adele (who was only ever played once I believe) featured, as opposed to Beyonce, Drake or Post Malone. But I digress.
Just a great pop song!
72. Say It Aint So - Weezer
Past entries:
2009
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
6
2008
Pork & Beans
53
2002
Keep Fishin'
62
2001
Hash Pipe
42
Weezer were always a bit hit and miss for me. This one is definitely in the hit range. It is one of the beefier rock songs that Weezer have written and the lyrics are more forcefully sung, especially the actual “Say It Ain’t So” line.
71. Southpaw - Morrissey
Past entries:
2004
First Of The Gang To Die
42
“So you ran with your pals in the sun You turned around You were alone Again”
Love him or hate him (and over time it is becoming harder to do the former), Morrissey has a very distinctive sound that he has stuck with from 1988’s Viva Hate to 2020’s I Am Not A Dog On A Chain. With one exception, which was 1995’s Southpaw Grammar. The album was very negatively received at the time (and I guess made him revert to formula) but I actually quite like it. The lows are pretty blah but the highs are great
Southpaw is the album closer and clocks in at a very un-Morrissey 10 minutes. The focus of the song is really the music, rather than Morrissey himself. The guitars around the repeated line “The girl of your dreams is sad and is all alone” are just achingly beautiful. The last 6 or so minutes are purely instrumental and have some interesting drum patterns interspersed as well.
Another band that I held high hopes for after a couple of great albums, were Teenage Fanclub and, unlike Pavement, they delivered in the form of the wonderful album Grand Prix. All traces of the rock influences of Bandwagonesque and Thirteen had gone and they doubled down on the beautiful pop sound (The Byrds rather than Big Star!). There is a wonderfully timeless quality to the album.
Neil Jung was originally called “Brothers In Rock” and was written by Norman Blake about a friend of his going through relationship difficulties. Just great vocal harmonies. The guitars that close out the song are wonderfully intertwined as well.
69. All Homeboys Are Dickheads - TISM
Past entries:
1998
Whatareya?
78
1998
I Might Be A C*nt But I'm Not A Fucking C*nt
90
1997
The Last Australian Guitar Hero
19
1997
Yob
46
“We all support empowerment and positive discrimination When your class, your race, your age, your face determines your social station A baseball cap and a love of rap, might need sympathy but still Possibly a homeboy could be a dickhead pure and simple”
Oh TISM, how we love your ability to mix the profound with the puerile!
Listed on the album cover as “You And Me Baby Love”!
68. Everything Zen - Bush
Past entries:
1996
Glycerine
50
“I don't believe that Elvis is dead”
Now this one certainly rocks! The first ever release by England’s Bush is certainly inspired by Seattle’s Grunge.
Back in 1995, before google and the like, I would always sing the above lyric (very loudly of course) as “I don't believe in evidence”. As most of the lyrics are quite nonsensical (I present to you “Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow”), it didn’t seem out of place.
67. Lemonsuck - Pollyanna Past entries:
1998
Brittle Then Broken
94
“When you wake up feeling older Like you couldn't have done anymore”
Certainly seems to be more Australian acts in 1995 than the later 90s lists, a trend continues by Sydney’s Pollyanna and their noisy little indy-rock number Lemonsuck.
Interestingly Matt Handley, the lead singer, used to be in another Sydney band called Catherine Wheel, just not the Catherine Wheel that appeared at #88!
66. Begging You - Stone Roses, The
I mentioned before the expectation there was on Pavement and Teenage Fanclub to produce after critically successful albums, well I don’t think any band in history had as much pressure to come out with a new album as much as The Stone Roses did after their amazing 1989 debut! The fact that it took them until 1994 to do so just heightened expectations to a level that it would be near impossible to satisfy. Sure enough, it never lived up to the heights expected.
Begging You was released as the third single in 1995 and is probably the most similar in its Madchester sound to the 1989 album, with its driving beats and swirling guitars! Its no Fools Gold or She Bangs The Drums but, let’s face it, what else is?
65. Judy Staring At The Sun {Ft. Tanya Donelly} - Catherine Wheel
Past entries:
1995
Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck
88
Speaking of Catherine Wheel (UK), here they are again, this time teaming up with one of the early 90s indie rock royalty, Tanya Donelly. She was part of Throwing Muses, The Breeders and Belly during that time!
I do remember this one from 1995, a little bit Britpop, little bit indie rock. The dualling vocals are a highlight.
64. Better Man - Pearl Jam
Past entries:
2000
Nothing As It Seems
24
“She lies and says she's in love with him”
Did someone mention royalty? Pearl Jam are another band that I don’t generally like but every so often they do produce a song that grabs my attention. Pearl Jam were famously reluctant to release this song, first knocking it back from appearing on Vs and then not releasing it as a single once it appeared on Vitalogy. Go figure!
63. Rutti - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
Swervedriver move over, we have a new record. With 22 years between entries is Slowdive. Their 1993 album Souvlaki is considered to be one of the finest Shoegaze albums. The follow up, 1995’s Pygmalion is not Shoegaze at all. It is sparce, ambient, dreamy electronic soundscapes.
Rutti is the 10 minute album opener, sparce guitars and a slow snare loop around each other and some even sparcer vocals. The whole effect is quite woozy and strangely calming. It is perfect late at night in the dark.
Interestingly, both Swervedriver and Slowdive were dropped by Creation (their record company) in 1995 one week after their respective albums came out, meaning that they were both long out of print until recent re-issues.
62. Blubber Boy - Regurgitator
Past entries:
2004
My Friend Robot
84
2001
Fat Cop
31
1998
! (The Song Formerly Known As)
14
1998
Black Bugs
46
1998
Polyester Girl
61
1997
I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff
22
1997
Everyday Formula
70
Interestingly, just the 4th act to have 5 or more songs appear in my list post 1995. As a reference, I hit that mark at #95 in 1996. Another great pop/punk song by Regurgitator, the first song of theirs I remember hearing.
61. Just - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
“Can't get the stink off He's been hanging 'round for days”
Well Radiohead were always going to feature weren’t they? Just is one of the rockier songs on The Bends but not as derivative grunge as Pablo Honey was. Apparently Jonny Greenwood wrote the music trying to fit as many chords into one song as he could.
Well PJ Harvey was always going to feature wasn’t she?
The first and title track from her third album, To Bring You My Love, is a slow burner of a track, with mostly just a single guitar track and her high-register singing (she is a classically trained opera singer), some keyboard eventually joins in towards the end. A great introduction to a great album.
59. Country House - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
Some of The Great Escape was deliberately not BritPop, the start of their moving away from the genre they had a lot to do with creating in the first place.
This is also not one of those songs (but is a lot of fun)!
58. Heroin Girl - Everclear
“They found her out in the fields about a mile from home Her face was warm from the sun but her body was cold I heard a policeman say, "just another overdose" Just another overdose”
I hated this song in 1995! Over time it really grew on me and probably would have been much higher ten years ago. I particularly like the lyrics quoted above, fantastic to yell out while singing along.
57. Life Just Bounces - Fall, The
Past entries:
1996
Cheetham Hill
51
This song does just what it says in the title, it just bounces along! I originally encountered it as the B-side to White Lightning in 1990 but it received a touch up and was re-recorded for Cerebral Caustic, The Fall’s seventeenth album.
56. Waking Up - Elastica
Another song that would have been higher in the past. I really dug Elastica’s sound but must admit that it does seem a little entrenched in the 90s now. Still do enjoy the driving indie-pop sound though, just not as much.
55. (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River - TISM
Past entries:
1998
Whatareya?
78
1998
I Might Be A C*nt But I'm Not A Fucking C*nt
90
1997
The Last Australian Guitar Hero
19
1997
Yob
46
1995
All Homeboys Are Dickheads
69
“Hillary had Everest in his veins Armstrong did moon, was not the same Heroes explore to give us hope River pushed back the envelope”
Oh TISM, how you amuse me.
Listed on the album cover as “I Love You Baby”!
54. Verisimilitude - Teenage Fanclub
Past entries:
2016
I'm In Love
99
2000
I Need Direction
87
1997
Ain't That Enough
65
1995
Neil Jung
70
“I've got a pocketful of words in my brain I'll try to find something I can give to you”
Did you know that verisimilitude is an actual word? It is the philosophical notion that some propositions are closer to being true than other propositions. Neither did I until just now! Raymond McGinley (who wrote it) wanted to write a love song that was honest, rather than just appearing to be so on the surface Anyway, another gorgeous pop song from Teenage Fanclub. No soaring harmonies this time but just a lovely, calming song.
53. How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
I Am Superman
84
“Candy's insomnia astounds me Brain ticking until the light At least she gave me some words to write”
This is probably the closest song on Ejector Seat Reservation to capture the blistering guitar sound of earlier Swervedriver. Having said that, it also has some very different elements as well (horns, keys in particular) and a (sort of) sample of Burt Bacharach.
I mentioned before that both Swervedriver and Slowdive were dropped by Creation Records a week after their 1995 albums were released. In Swervedriver’s case, this meant that the record never got released in the US as Creation wouldn’t release the rights to another label.
52. Bruise Pristine - Placebo
Past entries:
2009
For What It's Worth
86
2006
Meds
15
2006
Song To Say Goodbye
36
2006
Infra-Red
86
2004
English Summer Rain
32
2004
Twenty Years
66
2003
Running Up That Hill
27
2003
The Bitter End
53
2003
Special Needs
82
2001
Special K
78
2000
Slave To The Wage
14
2000
Taste In Men
94
1999
Every You Every Me
4
1999
You Don't Care About Us
14
1998
Without You I'm Nothing
3
1998
Pure Morning
19
1997
Nancy Boy
6
1996
Come Home
45
1996
Teenage Angst
87
1995
Bigmouth Strikes Again
99
1995
Bruise Pristine
52
Back to where it all started for Placebo, their debut single. It was later re-recorded for their debut album in 1996 but the original is an interesting sketch of where they would end up. The production values are fairly low but you can hear something interesting taking form.
51. Gamera - Tortoise
Past entries:
1998
TNT
51
1996
Djed
89
Some more free jazz/math rock from Tortoise. It starts as more of a folk-tinged song but soon finds it groove (literally) once the beat kicks in at 2:30 and then is just a chilled out listen for the next ten minutes.
Kicking off the second half is Bob Mould and his excellent band Sugar. Gee Angel was the third single lifted of F.U.E.L. (or File Under Easy Listening) and I remember being disappointed with the album at the time. It had neither the great pop songs of Copper Blue or the ferocity and darkness of Beaster and sort of filled the middle ground between the two extremes. In hindsight, it is a good album and Gee Angel rocks out just enough and is just poppy enough to satisfy.
49. Tingly {Ft. Angie Hart} - Pop!
Angie Hart guest vocalling some beautiful pop with Pop!. What could be better, other than the next 48 songs of course.
48. New Generation - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
“And like all the boys in all the cities I take the poison, take the pity But she and I, we soon discovered We'd take the pills to find each other”
After REM and Sugar, this is the third third single from a 1994 album that was released in 1995 😊.
In Suede’s case it is good to separate this song from the rest of Dog Man Star as it is really the only song on the album that sounds like their previous and subsequent albums, the very identifiable 70s Bowie inspired glam rock. Not that it is a bad thing though, it is a stompingly good track.
47. Miss Sarajevo - Passengers
A surprisingly decent collaboration between Pavarotti, Brian Eno and U2. Never thought I’d hear opera singing in the Hottest 100 but it is great!
46. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me - U2
Past entries:
1998
Sweetest Thing
99
1997
Staring At The Sun
49
A double from U2! A good song from a terrible movie (which seems to be a 90s thing see RATM in 98 and Filter in 97) is this song from the Batman Forever movie. I love the guitar riffs that kick things off!
This was the third of their five #1 hits in Australia.
45. Grind - Alice In Chains
I always had a soft spot for Alice In Chains, even though Grunge isn’t my favourite genre. I love their songs (like Grind) where both Layne Stanley and Jerry Cantrell sing. It isn’t really harmonies but their voices work well against each other.
44. Bring Me The Head Of The Fortune Teller - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy
53
1995
I Am Superman
84
Another great rock song from Swervedriver! Slower in tempo than usual to start off and then the guitars kick in during the chorus.
Glorious.
43. When I Come Around - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
1998
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
26
1998
The Grouch
28
1997
Hitchin' A Ride
61
As I mentioned in the blurb, 1995 was the first (and only) yearly Hottest 100 I listened to in the 90s. This came in at #99 and there were some really good songs in the first 15 songs or so and I remember thinking this is going to be good. It didn’t keep up with those high standards though and the quality diluted somewhat afterwards (although the top 15 or so is pretty good).
In any case, When I Come Around is the traditional Green Day more-pop than punk song on Dookie. The film clip is even similar to Good Riddance, which was this song on the next album!
42. Summer - Buffalo Tom
“Sight unseen, sadder seas Summer song sung all along Dragged across the seven seas To the beach come follow me”
I only know two Buffalo Tom songs, this one and Taillights Fade and they are both so goddam sad! Cheer up, things aren't really that bad. I do like a sad song though!!
41. The Universal - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
Some of The Great Escape was deliberately not BritPop, the start of their moving away from the genre they had a lot to do with creating in the first place.
This IS one of those songs!
Like the Clockwork Orange inspired film clip as well.
“When you motor away beyond the once-red lips When you free yourself from the chance of a lifetime You can be anyone they told you to You can belittle every little voice that told you so”
Clocking in at a positively epic 2:09 is another pop gem from Guided By Voices. It actually seems longer than that as it is packed pretty tightly with hooks.
39. Angel Interceptor - Ash
Past entries:
2001
Shining Light
18
2001
Burn Baby Burn
67
1998
Wildsurf
58
1997
A Life Less Ordinary
26
1996
Oh Yeah
42
1996
Goldfinger
43
Some gorgeous indie pop from Norn Iron’s Ash. I saw them live in 1995. They were all teenagers at the time and were hideously drunk. It was a fun, messy gig, even if they weren’t quite as tight as they could have been.
Interestingly, the band weren’t satisfied with the backing vocals on the song and this was part of the motivation for seeking a fourth, female member for the band.
38. Karmacoma {Ft. Tricky} - Massive Attack
Past entries (Massive Attack):
2010
Atlas Air
26
2009
Splitting The Atom
99
1998
Teardrop
4
1998
Angel
40
1997
Risingson
100
Past entries (Tricky):
1996
Milk (remix) (with Garbage)
52
“You sure you want to be with me? I've nothing to give Won't lie and say this lovin's best Leave us in emotional peace Take a walk, taste the rest No take a rest”
Another third single from a 1994 album, it’s officially a thing!
A great sampled loop backs this track, which is taken from Aaja Sajan Aaja by Alka Yagnik (no, me either ). It all sounds a little bit ska, a little bit eastern, a little bit trip hop and comes together really well. The rap vocals by Tricky and 3D are great.
37. Overcome - Tricky
Past entries:
1996
Milk (remix) (with Garbage)
52
1995
Karmacoma (with Massive Attack)
38
“You sure you want to be with me? I've nothing to give Won't lie and say this loving's best Whoa, leave us in emotional peace Mmm, take a walk take a rest And taste the rest”
Recognise those lyrics? Scroll up one song if you don’t. Tricky took the lyrics he wrote for Karmacoma and created something very different with them.
For a start, Martina Topley-Bird sings and the music is a dark, sludgy, claustrophobic trip hop dreamscape. It is a completely captivating experience.
36. The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Students - Morrissey
Past entries:
2004
First Of The Gang To Die
42
1995
Southpaw
71
“Say the wrong word to our children We'll have you, oh yes, we'll have you”
In 1985 The Smiths song “The Headmaster Ritual” about teachers terrifying students was released and ten years later Morrissey released this, which is kind of like the revenge of the students, where the teachers are now the ones afraid!
It is the 11 minute album opener and contains a looped sample of a Shostakovich symphony and some of the thrashiest guitar work on a Morrissey song. It really rocks out in the middle sections.
35. Wonderwall - Oasis
Past entries:
1996
Don't Look Back In Anger
3
1996
Champagne Supernova
38
1995
The Masterplan
78
The actual Hottest #1 and an absolute classic. I remember them playing the Mike Flowers version first on the actual broadcast. There is something quite simple and easy on the ear about the song (in a good way).
Got to #1 in Australia but not their home country, where it stalled at #2.
34. Geek Stink Breath - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
1998
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
26
1998
The Grouch
28
1997
Hitchin' A Ride
61
1995
When I Come Around
43
“I'm on a mission I made my decision To lead a path of self destruction A slow progression killing my complexion And it's rotting out my teeth”
A short, sharp, ferocious pop-punk number by Green Day about the effects of taking Meth. Don’t do drugs kids!!
If you don’t like the dentist, don’t watch the film clip.
33. Let It Flow - Spiritualized
Past entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Broken Heart - Spiritualised
3
1997
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love)
5
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
A very chilled song by Spiritualized, also about drug use but more complimentary about it that Green Day.
32. The Diamond Sea - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
1998
Sunday
24
1998
Wildflower Soul
65
Here’s something that bugs me as well. Triple J have always said that the longest song to be in a yearly Hottest 100 are Runaway and Jesus of Suburbia that are 9:08. Um, what about The Diamond Sea, that came in at #42 and clocks in at 19:35. Triple J didn’t play the song in its entirety but I doubt people were ringing up and voting for the shorter radio edit of the song!
It is a very chilled out art-rock song, another great “lay back with headphones on and let it wash over you” kinda thing. Like floating on the diamond sea I guess.
31. Crazy For You - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
1995
Rutti
63
Another ambient soundscape from Slowdive. It is an unusual composition, looped keyboards and hushed and indistinct vocals with the threat of guitars lurking in the background but never really eventuating. Another one for The Diamond Sea I guess!!
A flat out fantastic rock song from Oasis. The Britpop has been shelved temporarily and the amps turned up to 11 on this one for sure.
Interestingly, it was only released as a single in Australia and New Zealand, not in the UK.
Also gets bonus credit for The Wombles doing a cover, called “What’s The Story Tobermory”.
29. History - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
“I've gotta tell you my tale Of how I loved and how I failed”
Probably the song on The Verve’s excellent second album “A Northern Soul” that hints at the future direction of the band. The strings and expansiveness of the song, the more personal lyrics. Liam Gallagher performs handclaps for good measure.
The band broke up (for the first time) before this was actually released, although they partially reunited soon after (and fully so by 1997’s Urban Hymns).
28. Blue Skied an' Clear - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
1995
Crazy For You
31
1995
Rutti
63
You can almost make out the lyrics in this one! It shares some similarities with “I Believe In You” a Talk Talk track from Spirit Of Eden, a precursor post-rock album (mainly in the hushed backing vocals), while simultaneously sounding like nothing else I have ever heard!
Shoegaze is a busy genre of music, usually creating a wall of sound effect. It is (maybe) telling that Slowdive’s move away from the genre has such an emptiness to the sound. There is very limited sounds that are very distinctive (Mark Hollis from Talk Talk famously used to say that less is more). You find yourself really paying attention to every note and the beauty that it creates. It is quite hypnotic.
27. Hell Is Round The Corner - Tricky
Past entries:
1996
Milk (remix) (with Garbage)
52
1995
Overcome
37
1995
Karmacoma (with Massive Attack)
38
Based around a sample from “Ike’s Rap II” by Isaac Hayes, Hell Is Round The Corner is a dark and nightmarish trip hop classic. Tricky himself sings most of the lyrics (as opposed to Martina Topley-Bird). The crackle and static, like the sound of a vinyl record playing, really add to the atmosphere.
26. Glory Box - Portishead
Past entries:
2008
The Rip
19
2008
Machine Gun
88
1997
All Mine
43
“Give me a reason to love you”
Based around a sample from “Ike’s Rap II” by Isaac Hayes, Glory Box is a light and breezy trip hop classic. It is interesting that two songs using the same sample can sound so different. For a long time I always thought Tricky was ripping off Portishead, as his album came out a year later!
And third single from a 1994 album!!!
25. This Is Music - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
1995
History
29
“Finding myself used to be hard But now I see the light If love is a drug Then I don't need it”
While History point towards the future direction of The Verve, This Is Music is very reminiscent of their past. In particular the somewhat psychedelic, somewhat shoegaze sound of A Storm In Heaven. It really builds up the tempo and guitar sound throughout to it all comes to a crescendo towards the end as Richard Ashcroft almost yells “This Is Music” over the top.
24. Long Snake Moan - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
“In my dreaming You'll be drowning Hell's low, God above All drunk on my love”
Just a great rock song. PJ really lets rip on this one, amps areset at 12 I think. The guitars are waling, she is screeching, the bass and drums are thumping. There is anger in the delivery but it is also quite sensual at the same time, one of the main themes of the album, the first she collaborated with John Parish and Flood on.
The album was her first real success outside of the UK (#38 in Aus and #40 in US).
23. Fire In The Head - Tea Party, The
Past entries:
2001
Lullaby
61
“This is the way, step inside”
Some sort of bizarre love child between Led Zeppelin (the music), The Doors (the singing) and Joy Division (the lyrics). I have no idea how they pull it off without sounding completely naff but they do.
22. Splat - Bailter Space
Past entries:
1997
Pass It Up
50
Another Christchurch band. Splat is probably one of their most Shoegaze inspired song, most of their previous songs were more similar to noise rock (ie Sonic Youth). It sounds quite jarring at first, with the different sounds competing against each other but as you listen longer it all makes fuzzy sense. Reminds me of a couple of earlier Ride songs.
The album this comes from (Wammo) is another that has long been out of print outside of NZ/Aus. Apparently it is going to get a 25th anniversary re-issue by Matador!
21. My Son Cool - Guided By Voices
Past entries:
2001
Chasing Heather Crazy
68
1996
The Official Ironmen Rally Song
84
1995
Motor Away
40
1995
A Salty Salute
100
Two verses, a chorus all crammed into 1:43 of glorious indie-pop.
Alien Lanes is also going to get a 25th anniversary re-issue by Matador! Last edited:
“But she's really had it this time She's had it so much it's starting to make her sick She says lets exit quick And this is her last day on earth”
The 4th Swervedriver entry for 1995 is a curious beast. It is not really a rock song, although the guitars are certainly beefy enough when needed but it is not really a pop song either but is certainly catchy enough. It sort of inhabits some sort of middle ground between the two. I love the violins playing in the chorus and the melancholic nature of the lyrics. It is all quite beautiful.
19. Pale Grey Eyes - Pollyanna
Past entries:
1998
Brittle Then Broken
94
1995
Lemonsuck
67
“I'll see, then I'll know I'll break you bone by bone”
I used to sing along to this one so loudly back in 1995 that my flatmates and the neighbours all (politely I must say) asked me to stop! Probably didn’t help that I had no real idea what the actual lyrics were. Just a fantastic high energy rock song.
18. The Bends - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
Just
61
“Where do we go from here? The words are coming out all weird Where are you now when I need you?”
Title track from Radiohead’s second album. Another great rock song that I may or may not be prone to singing out loudly. I love the lyrics and how Thom Yorke sings them, in particular the quoted ones above that form the outro to the song. It just reeks of despair and desperation and is just so damn sad. I love it! Thom Yorke reckons that it is meant to be humorous rather than sad but what would he know!
17. Time Bomb - Rancid
“Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac Yeah, the boy's a time bomb”
Another song that I am prone to singing loudly, I always forget about the white shoes though! For all its upbeat energy it is actually about the rise and then death of a young gang member. A great mix of punk and ska, very high energy and impossible to not nod the head along to. A couple of guitar chords to start and it never lets up after that.
16. Bright Yellow Gun - Throwing Muses
“You leak one apple a week to survive And you still have to ask if you're alive”
I always thought the above lyrics were “You need whatever a week to survive”. I must admit I like mine better!
Kristin Hersch started Throwing Muses (no The) with Tanya Donnelly, her step sister, when they were both teenagers in 1981. Tanya had moved on to many other things by 1995 though.
This is just a great indie rock song, great guitar work and driving beat, very easy to listen to.
One of the very many albums I spent my hard earned money on in the 90s on the strength of hearing one song, only to realise it is the only good song on the album!! Given how much I liked her solo album of 1994 and some earlier Throwing Muses albums, I was disappointed.
15. Black Steel {Been Caught Steeling Remix} - Tricky
Past entries:
1996
Milk (remix) (with Garbage)
52
1995
Hell Is Round The Corner
27
1995
Overcome
37
1995
Karmacoma (with Massive Attack)
38
“They wanted me for their army or whatever Picture me givin' a damn, I said, never”
Also making a fourth appearance is Tricky, with an absolute rocking remix of his Public Enemy cover, Black Steel. All trip hop backing has been stripped away and a trashing guitar track put in its place, it really adds to the song.
14. Wake Up Boo! - Boo Radleys, The
“Twenty-five Don't recall a time I felt this alive So wake up boo There's so many things for us to do”
For those still wondering what I spent my 55c on to vote in the Hottest 100, here you are. The gloriously Britpoppy Wake Up Boo! Didn’t come in though ☹. I demand a recount in the Supreme Court!
It is quite incredible how they had transformed their sound from the Shoegaze/Psychedelic infused Giant Steps of 1993 to the very, very Britpop sound of 1995’s Wake Up. The vocal harmonies are just divine. They were great live too!
13. Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
Past entries:
2004
Forget Her
54
1998
Everybody Here Wants You
39
“Just hear this and then I'll go You gave me more to live for More than you'll ever know”
The beautiful voice of Jeff Buckley. The 1995 Hottest 100 was the first time I actually ever heard any of his songs, had passed me by somehow.
This is such a beautiful song, the voice, the lyrics, the music, just about perfect.
12. Greg! The Stop Sign!! - TISM
Past entries:
1998
Whatareya?
78
1998
I Might Be A C*nt But I'm Not A Fucking C*nt
90
1997
The Last Australian Guitar Hero
19
1997
Yob
46
1995
(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River
55
1995
All Homeboys Are Dickheads
69
“The rich kid becomes a junkie, the poor kid an advertiser What a tragic waste of potential – being a junkie's not so good either”
Stop it TISM, you’re killing me
Listed on the album cover as “Baby Baby Baby”!
11. High And Dry - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
The Bends
18
1995
Just
61
“It's the best thing that you've ever had The best thing you've had has gone away”
For the second time in 2 years Radiohead end up at #11.
This was the first song from The Bends I heard. I never made the connection at the time that it was Radiohead (only had heard Creep before), just that this was an amazingly beautiful song. They never back announced it so I was unaware who it was. Was speaking to a friend about it and could remember the high and dry part of the lyrics. They told me it was Radiohead and I didn’t believe them. Eventually I was able to confirm that it was actually Radiohead and immediately went out and bought The Bends. Good choice I reckon!
Thom Yorke hates it apparently but what would he know!!
“The breeze blowing softly on my face, Reminds me of something else. Something that in my memory has been replaced, Suddenly it all comes back. And as I look to the stars.”
A particularly rocky singalong song from Ash. The first song of theirs I ever heard.
They write fantastic songs about lost or past loves that have a palpable sense of longing about them (and then rock out at the appropriate moment).
9. Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
1996
Tonight, Tonight
1
1996
1979
49
1996
Zero
68
"Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage"
Lead single from the excellent Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness album of 1995 (in a lesser year, some of the excellent album tracks would have made an appearance here as well). Certainly one of the rockier Smashing Pumpkin's numbers and a very memorable lyric as above. It might shock you all to know I love singing it at high volume.
8. My Sister - Tindersticks
Past entries:
1999
Can We Start Again
90
1997
Rented Rooms
97
1995
No More Affairs
90
“She went blind at the age of five. We'd stand at the bedroom window and she'd get me to tell her what I saw. I'd describe the houses opposite, the little patch of grass next to the path, the gate with its rotten hinges forever wedged open that dad was always going to fix. She'd stand there quiet for a moment. I thought she was trying to develop the images in her own head. then she'd say:
"I can see little twinkly stars Like Christmas tree lights in faraway windows Rings of brightly coloured rocks Floating around orange and mustard planets"
"I can see huge tiger-striped fishes Chasing tiny blue and yellow dashes All tails and fins and bubbles"
I'd look at the grey house opposite, and close the curtains” I guarantee you that you’ve never heard a song like My Sister before. Go and listen to it now, I’ll wait! You back? Did you laugh, did you cry? Were you utterly captivated by the story of the sister? I am every time I listen to this song. The lyrics are just incredible, easily one of the best ever (IMHO). It was hard to not copy down the whole song.
The music is fantastic as well, a real cabaret sound to it, horns and percussion, it’s impossible not to tap the toes along. It is 8 minutes long but seems to just fly by in a flash.
The album it comes from is filled with so many stories like this one (just not as good obviously). One of the albums of 1995 for me.
7. Sparky's Dream - Teenage Fanclub
Past entries:
2016
I'm In Love
99
2000
I Need Direction
87
1997
Ain't That Enough
65
1995
Verisimilitude
54
1995
Neil Jung
70
“I took a wrong direction From a shooting star”
Teenage Fanclub absolutely nail it on this number. A classic love song with stunningly beautiful harmonies. Incredibly easy on the ear.
They are an unusual band in that there are three songwriters in the band (most bands have one, some two but rarely three) but they still have a very distinctive sound. Their three songs in this list contain one song by each of the three.
I have seen them live a few times over the years and they are a blast. Incredibly tight and very amusing.
6. Grace - Jeff Buckley
Past entries:
2004
Forget Her
54
1998
Everybody Here Wants You
39
1995
Last Goodbye
13
“And she weeps on my arm Walking to the bright lights in sorrow Oh drink a bit of wine we both might go tomorrow, oh my love”
I have admitted my love of singing along to songs quite readily. I won’t ever attempt this one though. I would just embarrass myself (even though I’m the only one listening) as this is just the most divine vocal performance ever. I would love to be able to sing like this. The guitar chords are also fantastic as they sweep the song along. Truly beautiful song.
5. Protection {Ft. Tracey Thorn} - Massive Attack
Past entries:
2010
Atlas Air
26
2009
Splitting The Atom
99
1998
Teardrop
4
1998
Angel
40
1997
Risingson
100
1995
Karmacoma {Ft. Tricky}
38
"I know you want to live yourself But could you forgive yourself If you left her just the way you found her?"
A very chilled track this one featuring the gorgeous vocals of Tracey Thorn from Everything But The Girl. It is labelled Trip Hop but it is so much more than that. It dabbles in R&B, soul, dub, hip hop and more and weaves it all together masterfully. A great late at night come down song. Lights off and let it all wash over you.
4. Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
High And Dry
11
1995
The Bends
18
1995
Just
61
“If I could be who you wanted All the time”
High and Dry was the song that brought me into the wonderful world of Radiohead but Fake Plastic Trees was the one that got me hooked. It is infinitely better than anything on Pablo Honey, a real creative jump. The grunge is gone and all the music is very understated and minimalist. Another terribly sad song as well. Thom Yorke reckons that it is funny but what would he know!
Apparently, Thom Yorke was inspired by Jeff Buckley in his delivery of the vocals in this song.
3. Sulk - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
Fake Plastic Trees
4
1995
High And Dry
11
1995
The Bends
18
1995
Just
61
“Sometimes you sulk Sometimes you burn”
So Fake Plastic Trees got me hooked into Radiohead but over time it has been supplanted as my favourite song from the album.
I love the syncopated guitar sounds to start the song! I love the passion in the vocal delivery in parts of the song, especially the line above. I love the deadpan nature of the vocal delivery in other parts of the song.
I am unaware of any opinions Thom Yorke has about the song.
2. Black Star- Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
Sulk
3
1995
Fake Plastic Trees
4
1995
High And Dry
11
1995
The Bends
18
1995
Just
61
“I get on the train and I just stand about Now that I don't think of you I keep falling over, I keep passing out When I see a face like you”
This is just a devastatingly beautiful song. From the guitars fading in at the beginning of the song, getting bigger and bigger. It’s a song about the highs and (mainly) lows of an intense relationship and there is a real sense of sadness throughout but also beauty.
Interestingly, it was the only song on the album produced by Nigel Godrich, who has produced everything they have done after this.
1. Down By The Water - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
“Oh help me, Jesus Come through this storm I had to lose her To do her harm”
When I first heard this song, I was a bit unsure about it as it didn’t really sound like anything she had done before. The punk/rock sound just wasn’t there, it was all synthesisers, organs and strings. By the time the song was over, I was sold completely. Even though the music was different, Polly Jean still sounded like herself and like no one else. The music is great BTW, shimmery and alive and sounds a little bit dangerous.
It is a very seductive, sultry song in both the music and the vocal delivery, which is odd as it is basically a song about a woman drowning her daughter. The end of the song, with PJ repeating “little fish, big fish swimming in the water / come back here, man, gimme my daughter” is just so sexy as well as disturbing.
Very odd film clip, with PJ dancing in a red satin dress with a large wig and excessive make-up. Beavis and Butt-head loved the video, so that's something. The song was nominated for a Grammy and the video for an MTV award! Last edited:
A year in which there were so many great albums released (seriously so so many great albums). Albums that I still listen to constantly today. This meant that competition for places was at an all time high and plenty of very worthy songs just missed out. Lots of cover versions as well.
As this is the first time I’ve done this kind of blurb after joining the 21st Century and getting Spotify, I did enjoy checking out the most popular streamed songs by the artists that did make it in.
But of course, not everyone can make it in and here is a list of who was left standing on the outside looking in.
100. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer - Rubber Band, The
So a Danish Beatles cover band, The Rubber Band, decides to a Christmas album featuring well known Christmas songs done to the tunes of well known Beatles songs, called Xmas! - The Beatmas.
Brilliant!
Sort of.
The only song on my list I can’t find on Spotify (although Daddy Long Legs just outside also couldn’t be found). It is on YouTube if you’re interested in indulging.
And Taxman, in case you were wondering 😉
99. Kicker Of Elves - Guided By Voices
Past entries:
2001
Chasing Heather Crazy
68
1996
The Official Ironmen Rally Song
84
1995
My Son Cool
21
1995
Motor Away
40
1995
A Salty Salute
100
Bloody Elves…..
98. Rhoda - Slint
Slint are one of the most influential bands you’ve never heard of, as their 1991 album Spiderland was one of the formation albums for post rock. The process of making the album was so stressful that they broke up before it was ever released. We will encounter one of the first bands to try and copy their sound later as well as a band copying the album cover in their film clip (as The Shins did in New Slang in the 2000s).
Rhoda was recorded before Spiderland but never released until 1994 (the band was still broken up but becoming popular by 1994). It nicely captures the mid point between their hardcore background and the new direction they would take on Spiderland. It is very loud 😉
97. In/Out - Come
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a great album. More bluesy than grungy and Thalia Zedek is a great lead singer (always thought Courtney Love sounded like her). Chris Brokaw (of Codeine fame) is their guitarist as well.
Interestingly, Spotify just has this album on (which is their second of four albums). Their first (11:11) is even greater!
96. Seether - Veruca Salt
Surprisingly, this is only just Veruca Salt’s most streamed song on Spotify. Something called Volcano Girls is just behind, both with around 11.5 million streams. Nothing else has hit 1 million!
The only other thing I know about Veruca Salt is that the album this comes from is named after a line in an AC/DC song (American Thighs)!
95. Deep Blue Breath - A.R. Kane
“Take me to the ocean And that little summer flower breeze Take me to the shore And I will wait for you down on my knees”
Did you know that the A and R of A.R. Kane are the same A and (first) R in M/A/R/R/S? Well, you do now!
This doesn’t sound anything like M/A/R/R/S though. A.R. Kane had broken up in the late 80s but they were approached by David Byrne to record a new album on his label in 1994 and they obliged. It is a similar mix to their proto-shoegaze/dream pop mix from the eighties.
They were apparently one of the inspirations behind the drastic change of direction for My Bloody Valentine between their first and second albums.
94. The Maven - Church, The
Fifth new artist in a row (like 1995 actually) are The Church with a song of their 9th (of 25) album and the first without Peter Koppes.
It is a great example of why Marty Wilson-Piper is a great guitarist, the last couple of minutes are just awesome guitar work! An epic, sprawling track!
Would it surprise you to know that Under The Milky Way is by far and away their most streamed song on Spotify? Me neither.
93. Your Ghost {Ft. Michael Stipe} - Kristin Hersh
Both Kristin Hersh and Michael Stipe have landed on these lists before but not as themselves!
Hips and Makers is a great album. Pretty much just an acoustic album, with the occasional strings but nothing like the indy-rock of Throwing Muses. Back to front a great listen as it is really consistent in its sound and content.
Sadly, I think the only reason this song got traction (it was in the Hottest 100 and charted in the UK) was the appearance of Michael Stipe but it did expose her beautiful music to more people so it’s not all bad.
And, unsurprisingly, her most streamed song on Spotify by a huge margin.
92. Better Get A Lawyer - Cruel Sea, The
Past entries:
2001
Cocaine
81
I once saw The Cruel Sea (supporting Billy Bragg) without Tex Perkins. It was like listening to elevator music. Truly terrible.
91. Ich Bin Ein Auslander - Pop Will Eat Itself
“Freedom of expression doesn't make it alright Trampled under foot by the rise of the right”
The wonderful Pop Will Eat Itself! Dos Dedos Mis Amigos is a great ablbum.
It is interesting that a song released in 1994 about racist attitudes towards immigration from the political right is still relevant today. Some things, sadly, never change.
This is their second most streamed song on Spotify behind Def Con One, which is surprising as I thought Can U Dig It? or Wise Up Sucker would be #1. Last edited:
I really, really don’t like the mullet braid in the film clip. Cut it off dude!
89. Berlin Chair - You Am I
Past entries:
1995
Purple Sneakers
82
I think there are a lot of people who like this song more than me.
88. Jubilee - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
“He's not being like anyone Jubilee is not like anyone else”
Parklife isn’t a great album, it’s much, much better than that! There are so many great songs on the album and they’re all so different. From the German omm-pah-pah music of The Debt Collector, to the psychedelia of Far Out, to the folky sound of Clover Over Dover to the Song 2-esque thrash of Jubilee. Blur were just not like anyone else!
87. Fine Friend - Pale Saints
Certain UK record labels had certain sounds in the 90s. Creation had the shoegaze bands (Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Swervedriver) and 4AD had all the ambient, dream pop bands (Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance etc). Pale Saints were on 4AD and combined the dreamy pop with shoegaze quite effectively really and really sounded like both labels (as did their label mates Lush).
Their first two records are classic dream pop releases but by their third (this one), original singer Ian Masters had left, leaving vocal duties to Meriel Barham (the original vocalist of Lush – how incestuous). It doesn’t hit the heights of the first two albums but this is certainly a standout.
86. Skull - Sebadoh
Past entries:
1999
Flame
24
1996
Beauty Of The Ride
46
Bakesale is a great album. Just a really accessible indy-pop record. More polished than their previous releases and certainly more consistent, it certainly marked a change of direction. Very arresting album cover of Lou Barlow (aged 1).
85. Bang and Blame - REM
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
1996
E-Bow The Letter
71
1995
Crush With Eyeliner
89
Monster was a great album! I probably wasn’t as enamoured at the time as it was a step down from Automatic For The People but that was a very high bar to attain. Over time I have appreciated it more, in particular the fact that it is different to Automatic.
84. Beercan - Beck
Past entries:
2015
Dreams
24
2009
Heaven Can Wait (with Charlotte Gainsbourg)
75
2006
Think I'm In Love
72
2005
Girl
47
2002
The Golden Age
21
2002
Guess I'm Doing Fine
55
2002
Already Dead
65
2000
Mixed Bizness
74
1999
Sexx Laws
76
1996
Devils Haircut
28
1996
Where It's At
36
“I’m sad and unhappy”
So the above quote from this song intrigues me. Is it just familiar because I’ve heard it so many times over the last 20+ years in this song or did I already know it from somewhere else and that knowledge has just been replaced by the fact it is from Beercan. First world worries indeed.
83. Bizarre Love Triangle - Frente!
A cover!
I was travelling through eastern China in 2000 and ended up one night in a karaoke bar in Kashgar. The people I was travelling with were into karaoke and were all having a go. I looked at the “menu” and saw Bizarre Love Triangle there. Being a massive New Order fan, I thought I could manage to get through that one and I bravely strode to the front of the bar.
The music came on and instead of the big electronic whoosh of New Order I heard the twee acoustic guitar of Frente! The people I was travelling with were all European so they had no idea what was going on but I soldiered on and nailed it (not really).
82. Thirsty Dog - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Into My Arms
14
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
1996
Stagger Lee
6
1996
Henry Lee {Ft. PJ Harvey}
15
1995
Where The Wild Roses Grow {Ft. Kylie Minogue}
99
“I'm sorry that I'm always pissed I'm sorry that I exist And when I look into your eyes I can see you're sorry too”
Let Love In is a great album and Thirsty Dog is a frenetic ode to drowning your sorrows and feeling sorry (for everything it seems).
Into Your Arms is Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds most streamed song but it is closer than you’d think!
Another jingly jangly entry at 80 for Christchurch’s finest. They released a new album in 2020 but I must admit I haven’t checked it out yet.
The two most streamed Bats songs are Made Up In Blue followed by North By North, which makes sense.
79. Corpus Christi Carol (For Roy) - Jeff Buckley
Past entries:
2004
Forget Her
54
1998
Everybody Here Wants You
39
1995
Grace
6
1995
Last Goodbye
13
“And on this bed there lyeth a knight His wound is bleeding day and night By his bedside kneeleth a maid And she weepeth both night and day”
Grace is a great album. A couple of the songs are a bit weak, which stops it being better than great!!
This is another cover as well and an interesting one as well because no one knows who wrote the original or even when it was originally written. It was first written down (in Middle English) in 1504 but was already well known by that stage.
It is beautifully sung by Jeff Buckley (if only I could sing like that). A great sense of sadness hangs over the song.
My iTunes library has the song title as Corpus Christi Carol (For Roy) but Spotify has removed the (For Roy). If I could be bothered digging into the box where all my CDs live (as I no longer have a CD player) I could figure out the answer but it will have to remain a mystery :p
78. Voodoo Lady - Ween
Past entries:
2008
Your Party
78
2005
Gabrielle
17
1997
Waving My Dick In The Wind
83
And I quote from my list from 1997 “I'll say three things about Ween. First, they can be pretty funny at times. Second, musically they are fantastic, really tight songs. Third, they are really varied, covering all sorts of styles. Put all three together and they're an underestimated band I reckon because when all three of those come of it is pretty great.”
77. Everything's Cool - Pop Will Eat Itself
Past entries:
1994
Ich Bin Ein Auslander
91
“Take your places, choose your sins Everyone loses, no one wins I have seen the future And this is how it begins”
The first double up!
Another great dystopian thrasher and one of their only two songs to hit the ARIA top 100 (#97). Contains samples from both Ministry and Annie Lennox, which is an odd combination.
They are from Stourbridge, a town in the UK with a population of around 60,000. The Wonderstuff and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin were also from Stourbridge and all formed around the same time (late 80s), forming the Grebo scene!
76. Today - Smashing Pumpkins
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
1996
Tonight, Tonight
1
1996
1979
49
1996
Zero
68
1995
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
9
“Can’t wait for tomorrow I might not have that long”
Siamese Dreams is a great album, even if it was released in 1993. It is odd that Today was included in the Hottest 100 of 1994, rather than 1993 (when it also was released).
On the surface it seems quite an upbeat song but according to Billy Corgan, Today was written while he was at his lowest point and seriously considering killing himself. He wrote it to basically say to himself, either kill yourself or just get on with life!
75. 9th Wonder (Blackitolism) - Digable Planets
I’ve always thought that Daft Punk (RIP) ripped off the beginning of this song on Da Funk but I can’t find any evidence to back this up.
74. Longview - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
1998
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
26
1998
The Grouch
28
1997
Hitchin' A Ride
61
1995
Geek Stink Breath
34
1995
When I Come Around
43
“When masturbation's lost its fun, you're fucking lonely”
Dookie is a great album. The song that launched Green Day into the public consciousness. It certainly borrows from The Sex Pistol’s mantra of faux shock (in a good way). Good sing along song though.
73. Ice - Magic Dirt
Past entries:
2003
Plastic Loveless Letter
30
2003
All My Crushes
54
2003
Watch Out Boys
72
2001
City Trash
9
2001
Supagloo
40
2000
Dirty Jeans
26
2000
Pace It
92
1996
Shovel
44
Life Was Better is a great EP! Ice is just a great indie rock song. The screaming and feedback at the end is great.
72. Dirty Water - Jesus and Mary Chain, The
Stoned and Dethroned is a great album. The Jesus and Mary Chain chill out and get a bit of a country vibe on! The slide guitar in particular in this song is awesome.
I saw them live on this tour (was in 94 or 95) and they could certainly still create massive feedback squalls when they wanted to.
Experimental, Jet Set, Trash and No Star is a great album (I know this is repetitive but it is amazing how many there were). Very much a move away from the more “commercial” sound of Dirty, more experimental, quieter and apparently influenced by the low fi sound of Pavement and Sebadoh who has supported them previously.
The music in Bull In The Heather never sounds “right”, it is always slightly off-key and creates an eerie sound. Typically great Kim Gordon vocals as well.
69. Ain't No Thing - Outkast
Past entries:
2004
Ghetto Musick
19
2003
Hey Ya!
4
2003
The Way You Move
29
2003
Last Call
41
2003
Prototype
62
2003
Bowtie
90
2003
Roses
97
2001
So Fresh, So Clean
52
2001
The Whole World
82
2000
Ms Jackson
8
2000
B.O.B.
45
1998
Spottieottedopalicious
43
1998
Rosa Parks
83
1996
ATLiens
96
“Nowhere to duck, bullets fly, niggas die”
Unusual in Outkast’s discography in that it is a “gangsta rap” song, glorifying gun violence.
Would it surprise you you that Hey Ya! Is their most streamed song on Spotify. Me neither
68. Wilmot - Sabres Of Paradise, The
Haunted Dancehall is a great album.
18 years before Diplo was messing around with Jamaican Dancehall music on Get Free, Andy Weatherall and friends were doing the same. The Sabres of Paradise originally got together to make music for the massive raves in London in the early 90s and eventually decided to release the music for general consumption. Great music to accompany a BBQ and beers on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
67. My Wave - Soundgarden
“Hate, if you want to hate If it keeps you safe If it makes you brave”
Superunknown is a great album.
I saw them play live at The Big Day Out in 1994. They were the headline act and absolutely nailed it. This was before the release of Superunknown and you could tell the new songs had something about them (although the highlight was of course Jesus Christ Pose). I distinctly remember how tall their bass player is!
My Wave is a more uptempo number that a lot of the other songs on the album but still has the signature unusual chord progressions to keep you on your toes.
66. Soul In A Jar - Veldt, The
The Veldt are now the 900th different artist to appear on my lists, high fives all round.
They are an American Shoegaze band formed by identical twin brothers and cite previously heard AR Kane as one of their main influences! This is the only song I know by them.
65. Undone (Sweater Song) - Weezer
Past entries:
2020
Beginning Of The End (Wyld Stallyns Edit)
91
2009
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
6
2008
Pork & Beans
53
2002
Keep Fishin'
62
2001
Hash Pipe
42
1995
Say It Aint So
72
The first act to also appear in 2020 is Weezer! You know what I’m going to say, The Blue Album is a great album. This was the first Weezer song I ever heard (well saw as it was on Rage) and I was very taken by the filmclip, one of may great Spike Jonze filmclips from 1994. They haven’t really changed a great deal since 1994 but they do know how to write a catchy pop song.
64. Headache - Frank Black
Teenager of the Year is a great album! Probably his best solo album
It was no surprise that the first ever Frank Black solo song was a cover of The Beach Boys as behind all the quirkiness and noise of Pixies was a wonderful sense of pure pop music. He certainly explored that more with his solo material.
This is just a great catchy pop song. The lyrics are the usual science fiction ramblings as well, which is comforting.
63. Into Dust - Mazzy Star
Past entries:
2013
California
65
2011
Common Burn
73
1996
All Your Sisters
66
1996
Flowers In December
73
So Tonight That I May See is a great album. Mazzy Star are also very consistent in that all their songs have appeared in the range 63-73.
Sometimes less is more and this song is a great example. Some beautiful picked guitar from Dave Roback and Hope Sandoval’s heavenly voice is all that is needed. Like all their songs, best listened to on headphones late at night.
This song was referenced by none other than Red Hot Chili Peppers on 1995’s Aeroplane.
“I'm turning into dust again My melancholy baby The star of Mazzy must Push her voice inside of me”
62. Hurt - Nine Inch Nails
Past entries:
1999
The Day The World Went Away
72
1997
The Perfect Drug
17
“The needle tears a hole The old familiar sting Try to kill it all away But I remember everything”
The Downward Spiral is a great album (this is getting boring but plenty more to go). Hurt is the last song on the album and is a great way to sign off.
Hurt isn’t a cover but is probably better known as being covered by Johnny Cash.
61. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Past entries:
2004
Forget Her
54
1998
Everybody Here Wants You
39
1995
Grace
6
1995
Last Goodbye
13
1994
Corpus Christi Carol (For Roy)
79
“Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her”
This is a cover though! Another song that benefits from its minimalistic approach, just guitar and Jeff Buckley’s voice. Whenever I put this on, my kids always complain that it isn’t the one from Shrek (which was Rufus Wainwright I think).
It will surprise nobody that this is Jeff Buckley’s most streamed song by a long way.
Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged album is great. Really stripped away a lot of the noise around their songs and just revealed them for just being great songs. Interesting covers as well, especially The Man Who Sold The World.
It made sense to do this song on their unplugged as it was possibly the poppiest song in their back catalogue (along with All Apologies which they also did).
59. Come Out And Play - Offspring
Just like Pretty Fly For A White Guy except not rubbish.
58. Losin' It - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
“I'm gonna lose my love I'm gonna lose my soul I'm gonna lose my records and the will to know I'm gonna lose this city and then I'll lose you too”
Dream It Down is a great album, the first of the only two (of their 9) to dent the ARIA album top 100, as this was the only single that did the same (#93). It was their first album to move away from the shoegaze sound and just concentrate on great pop songs like this one. It is quite a sad song for all of its poppiness.
They were a great band and they were at their peak in 1994, with three great albums behind them they had lots of great songs and always put on a great show and Vincent Giarusso is a great front man.
Again, unsurprisingly their most streamed song by a mile.
57. A Girl Like You - Edwyn Collins
The big sound of Edwyn Collins and the only song by him I know, which made it #6 on the ARIA singles charts. Interestingly Tame Impala just covered it for Like A Version.
On a side note, I always got Orange Juice (his old band) and Aztec Camera confused for some reason.
56. Basket Case - Green Day
Past entries:
2005
Jesus of Surburbia
15
2001
Maria
99
2000
Warning
62
2000
Waiting
73
1999
Nice Guys Finish Last
73
1998
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
26
1998
The Grouch
28
1997
Hitchin' A Ride
61
1995
Geek Stink Breath
34
1995
When I Come Around
43
1994
Longview
74
Just a great pop-punk song. Rock on boys!
Their most streamed song on Spotify, slightly surprising.
55. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get - Morrissey
Past entries:
2004
First Of The Gang To Die
42
1995
The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Students
36
1995
Southpaw
71
“Beware! I bear more grudges Than lonely high court judges”
Vauxhall and I is a great album, probably his last great one (a couple more were good). From the first song (My Heart Is Full) to the last (Speedway), it just classic pop songs one after another with his classic lyrics and wit (before he got bitter).
Interestingly, this was his only song to appear in a Hottest 100 (although Suedehead was in the #101-200 range in the 1991 Hottest 100 of all time). It was his only top 10 single in the UK in the 90s and one of his seven ARIA top 100 entries (#85).
Speaking of Suedehead, it is his most streamed on Spotify.
54. Bug Powder Dust - Bomb The Bass
“I got more flavor than the packet of macaroni”
That same trip to Chine where I karaoked to Frente, we had two Chinese guides accompanying us (for the whole 6 weeks). They were from Sichuan, which is famous for its spicy food. After being in China for a couple of weeks, us soft foreigners were happy to have something a little less spicy and we came across a packet of Kraft macaroni and cheese. Our guides had never had mac and cheese before and bravely had a bowl. I vividly remember Henry (one of them) had a bite, went to the stores and got out the chili powder and put a HUGE spoonful in, took another bite and said “tasty”.
Now I’m not calling Bomb The Bass liars but just saying that having more flavour than a packet of macaroni is not a very high bar to clear.
53. Feel The Pain - Dinosaur Jr Past entries:
2007
Almost Ready
46
J Mascis is one of the great rock guitar players, put to good effect in this song.
Another great Spike Jonze video clip as well. I love the scene where J and Mike Johnson are zooming through New York on a golf buggy and take a corner too quickly and Mike flies out of the buggy. Must have hurt!
This is their most streamed song on Spotify, which does surprise me because I though Freak Scene (4th) or Just Like Heaven (3rd) would be.
52. Low - Cracker
For many years I thought this was Stone Temple Pilots! I first heard it in the early 2000s as I ripped a CD from a friend of various 90s music. It didn’t import the song titles and bands etc and I just manually filled out Stone Temple Pilots because that is who I thought it was. It was literally just a couple years ago I found out it was by another band called Cracker.
I also, just a couple of weeks ago, found out that the lead singer used to be in Camper Van Beethoven of “Take The Skinheads Bowling” fame by reading Nugs excellent Beyond #100 chart blog.
51. Vasoline - Stone Temple Pilots
Past entries:
2000
Sour Girl
13
1996
Big Bang Baby
57
“Flies in the vasoline we are Sometimes it blows my mind Keep getting stuck here all the time”
Purple is a great album and I’m pretty sure this song is actually Stone Temple Pilots.
Vasoline is a song written about Scott Weiland’s struggle to kick his (eventually fatal) heroin habit. The film clip contains a homage to Slint’s Spiderland album cover!
50. Lover, You Should Have Come Over - Jeff Buckley
Past entries:
2004
Forget Her
54
1998
Everybody Here Wants You
39
1995
Grace
6
1995
Last Goodbye
13
1994
Hallelujah
61
1994
Corpus Christi Carol (For Roy)
79
“It's never over My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder It's never over All my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her It's never over All my blood for the sweetness of her laughter It's never over She's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever”
Kicking off the second half is the first non-cover Jeff Buckley song for 1994 and a beautiful ode to lost love. I never saw him live but have seen live footage and this song really stands out in the set.
Surprisingly this is his second most streamed song on Spotify, good choice people (although Grace is way too low)!
49. Transona Five - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
You ready….. Mars Audio Quintet was a great album, a really great one actually. I always thought that Emporer Tomato Ketchup was my favourite but listening to this again recently, I’m not so sure.
48. Cigarettes and Alcohol - Oasis 47. Supersonic - Oasis
Past entries:
1996
Don't Look Back In Anger
3
1996
Champagne Supernova
38
1995
Morning Glory
30
1995
Wonderwall
35
1995
The Masterplan
78
“I’m feeling supersonic Give me gin and tonic”
Definitely Maybe is a great album. Was hard to leave out Live Forever but there was just too many other great songs to fit in.
Let’s deal with two together with a story…
So in 1994 Oasis were getting some traction and I heard Supersonic somewhere (radio, friend can’t remember) and that particular line stuck with me but I never knew the song title (even though its right there). Anyway, a friend was talking about liking the song Cigarettes and Alcohol by Oasis and (remembering the gin and tonic) said that I’d heard it and liked it as well. So they are joined at the hip to me (but Supersonic is better)!
Let’s do these two together as well, as they form the beautiful sprawling heart of Dream It Down. Superstar is just a beautiful dreamy, shimmering pop song and Supernova is it’s continuation but just performed with strings. Must be listened to in the right order to achieve full effect (Superstar and then Supernova).
That’s three Super songs in a row, what could be next!
44. Supernova - Liz Phair
“Your kisses are as wicked as an F-16 And you fuck like a volcano And you're everything to me”
Making it four Super songs in a row is Liz Phair. If you thought that Supernova was a fairly explicit song, she had actually toned it down somewhat from her debut (Exile in Guyville). She has just released a new song in 2021 as well.
Her most streamed song on Spotify is something called Why Can’t I? from her 2003 album. I gave it a listen and its terrible.
And if you think that having 4 Super songs in a row is too much there is actually one more to come (just not straight away)!
43. Violet - Hole
I’m not privy to the voting list (IIRC, it was an actual sheet you could pick up from your local record store, just like the ARIA charts) but it seems odd that this didn’t make the actual Hottest 100 while two other Hole songs did.
42. Car - Built To Spill
Past entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
1999
You Were Right
21
1999
Carry The Zero
36
1999
The Plan
66
1999
Bad Light
71
1999
Else
81
1997
I Would Hurt A Fly
30
1997
Made Up Dreams
81
“I need a car, you need a guide, who needs a map?”
There’s Nothing Wrong With Love is a great album! It is hard to pick individual songs out but this has a great slacker feel to it.
Carry The Zero is their most streamed song but as a band that prides itself on albums rather than songs it fairly evenly spread.
41. Connection - Elastica
Past entries:
1995
Waking Up
56
A very distinctively sounding song, even if you don’t think you know it, you probably do. They were primed to be the next big thing back in 1994 but it just never really happened.
Unsurprisingly their most streamed song by a distance.
If i had to choose between two liz phair songs to listen to on heavy rotation i would never choose 'Why Can't I'. I loved 'Supernova' when i heard it back in 1995 and still love it. It probably wasn't mainstream enough for the top 40
Speaking of classic songs, here is another one. Another iconic Spike Jonze video as well. A great song to absolutely scream out the lyrics to (or make them up as well as I’m never too sure what they are).
39. I Want You - Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets were probably the most miserable of the Manchester bands (and that is indeed saying something) but they throw away the handkerchiefs here and absolutely rock out. There is an alternate version with Mark E Smith growling away in the background but the original is the better version.
And no surprises, This Is How It Feels is their most streamed.
38. Cut Your Hair - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain is a fantastic album. One of the greatest indie rock albums ever.
Cut Your Hair was the first song of theirs to ever get any sort of tractions (charted in the UK, was in the hottest 100) and probably is the only Pavement song a lot of people know. Very catchy, quite silly, poking fun as they were known to do but basically just a well crafted song.
Bizarelly, not their most streamed song on Spotify, the honour goes to Harness Your Hopes, a Brighten The Corners B-side. There are entire articles and reddit threads devoted to why this is the case (spotify algorithms apparently). Cut Your hair just squeaks into second place.
37. The Trickster - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
Black Star
2
1995
Sulk
3
1995
Fake Plastic Trees
4
1995
High And Dry
11
1995
The Bends
18
1995
Just
61
There’s always room for more Radiohead! The Trickster was one of the B-sides on the My Iron Lung EP and is much better than the lead song (which itself is pretty good). It’s a fast, uptempo, slightly jittery number that has some fantastic thrashy guitar licks.
36. A Certain Slant Of Light - Tea Party, The
Past entries:
2001
Lullaby
61
1995
Fire In The Head
23
“Celebrate the one you love”
If LL Cool J was so called because “Ladies Love Cool James”, The Tea Party should have been called LL Sexy J, because just about every female I knew in 1994 was madly in love with Jeff Martin. Not that I was jealous or anything.
35. 7 Seconds - Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry
Past entries (Neneh Cherry):
2020
Wherever You Go (with Avalanches, The and Jamie xx/CLYPSO)
5
1996
Woman
55
“And when a child is born into this world It has no concept Of the tone the skin is living in”
Neneh Cherry is the second act to appear in 1994 and 2020!
This was a massive hit worldwide, much to the surprise of both the artists involved. It was #1 in France for 16 weeks and hit #3 here.
34. Fell On Black Days - Soundgarden
Past entries:
1994
My Wave
67
“Whatsoever I feared has come to light And whatsoever I've fought off became my life Just when every day seemed to greet me with a smile Sunspots have faded, now I'm doin' time, now I'm doin' time”
And I quote Chris Cornell “‘Fell On Black Days’ is the feeling of waking up one day and realizing you’re not happy with your life. Nothing happened, there was no emergency, no accident, you don’t know what happened. You were happy, and one day you just aren’t, and you have to try to figure that out.”
33. Girls and Boys {Pet Shop Boys Remix} - Blur
Past entries (Blur):
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
1994
Jubilee
88
Past entries (Pet Shop Boys):
1996
Hallo Spaceboy {Pet Shop Boys Remix} (with David Bowie)
100
Otherwise known as the section where OBone gets picky about the versions of a particular song/remix. This was the version that just eeked into the Hottest 100 (at 96), not the original and it is the superior version in my opinion.
The Pet Shop Boys were amazing at doing remixes (most famously of their own songs, I urge you to listen to Disco and Introspective, their first two remixes albums). In remixing Boys and Girls, they take all the best bits of the song, swap the order of them around and layer it with a fantastic Pet Shop Boys disco beat. Just brilliant.
From the Blur side, Boys and Girls already was a bit of an Ibiza styled banger, very different to Jubilee we heard before.
32. Light From A Dead Star - Lush
Past entries:
1996
Ladykillers
31
“He lives his life in a world Full of women and he takes What he wants from their love And he throws the rest away”
Split is a great album and one the really documents a transformation of a band. Songs like Hypocrite mark their move away from the “4AD sound” to a more indie rock sound they would go on to (see Ladykillers) but others still have their previous distinctive sound, like this for example.
Light From A Dead Star is quite a beautiful, heart-felt song, written about Miki Berenyi’s parent and her feeling of abandonment from both of them (she lived with her grandmother for parts of her childhood).
31. Love Spreads - Stone Roses, The
Past entries:
1995
Begging You
66
I’d like to say that Second Coming was a great album but it’s just not.
That isn’t to say it’s a bad album, just not great. This was the first single (and last song on the album excluding the hidden outro) and first hint at what might be and it is certainly the best song on the album. A much heavier sound than the debut it just keeps rocking all the way to the end!
I would have put the house on Fool’s Gold being their most streamed song but it is I Wanna Be Adored (which is a much better song). Waterfall (really) and She Bangs The Drums (YES!!!) also beat Fools Gold.
“I dream of you and all the things you say I wonder where you are now”
Ever since I first got this album in 1994, this has been my favourite song from it. Liam’s singing is really heartfelt, the band is just rocking for the whole six and a half minutes. It was written by Noel (on a guitar Johnny Marr lent him) about his then girlfriend.
29. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Past entries:
1994
Fell On Black Days
34
1994
My Wave
67
Another classic song.
I reckon Soundgarden were the first grunge band I ever heard (Loud Love from 1989).
Their most streamed song!
28. Cornflake Girl - Tori Amos
Past entries:
2001
Strange Little Girl
79
1996
Professional Widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) (Radio Edit)
52
“Just peel out the watchword”
You know, I never knew what Tori was singing until looking it up just now! Another classic. I don’t know what it all means but at least I know what she’s singing.
27. We Are The Pigs - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
“And as the smack cracks at your window You wake up with a gun in your mouth Oh, let the nuclear wind blow away my sins And I'll stay at home in my house”
Dog Man Star is a fantastic album. A real change in direction after the breezy glam pop of their debut. It is darker, menacing and filled with moments of beauty. It also culminated in Bernard Butler leaving the band during the recording process.
We Are The Pigs is recognisable as Suede but those darker elements raise the song to another level, especially the kids chanting “we all watch them burn” at the end.
26. Lullaby - Low
After having a song called Low, we now have a band called Low! A band I really should have checked out more over their history but I’ve never gotten around to it!
Lullaby is from their first album and is a slow burning, beautiful 9 minute long slowcore/math rock ballad. Quite different to anything else going around in 1994 (although maybe not that different to Spiderland from 1991).
25. Range Life - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
“Out on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins Nature kids, like they don't have no function I don't understand what they mean and I could really give a fuck The Stone Temple Pilots, they're elegant bachelors They're foxy to me, are they foxy to you?”
Apparently, the above lyrics were enough to get Pavement kicked of the 1994 Lollapalooza tour at the behest of Billy Corgan! Steven Malkmus insists that no offence was meant! Yeah, right.
24. Amoxycillin - Magic Dirt
Past entries:
2003
Plastic Loveless Letter
30
2003
All My Crushes
54
2003
Watch Out Boys
72
2001
City Trash
9
2001
Supagloo
40
2000
Dirty Jeans
26
2000
Pace It
92
1996
Shovel
44
1994
Ice
73
This song absolutely shreds and then fades into glorious feedback. The last go through the verse/chorus is the best as things speed up even more and Adalita just seems to be losing her shit and ends up just screaming the lyrics is the best!
Interesting that Magic Dirt and Pavement are back to back as the first time I saw either band was together as Magic Dirt supported them on their first Australian tour (with Screamfeeder and Crow). Great show, don’t remember much about Screamfeeder and Crow but Magic Dirt (who were first) were awesome and Pavement even better. I found a website that lists playlists from the venue (Max’s at Petersham) and discovered that it was May 22 1993!! Good times.
23. Buddy Holly - Weezer
Past entries:
2020
Beginning Of The End (Wyld Stallyns Edit)
91
2009
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
6
2008
Pork & Beans
53
2002
Keep Fishin'
62
2001
Hash Pipe
42
1995
Say It Aint So
72
1994
Undone (Sweater Song)
65
Another song I’m surprised wasn’t in the Hottest 100 (or wasn’t on the voting list) as it was pretty much everywhere at the time, mainly due to the wonderful Happy Days inspired film clip by Spike Jonze. Islands In The Sun is their most streamed song (not a fan) with Say It Aint So and Buddy Holly close behind.
22. Parklife - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
1994
Girls and Boys {Pet Shop Boys Remix}
33
1994
Jubilee
88
“It's got nothing to do with your Vorsprung durch Technik, you know”
Just noticed that all three of Blur’s entries are divisible by 11. Nice.
A truly silly song in the most magnificent way. I reckon they were just trying to make the most ridiculous Britpop song imaginable as a joke and it just ended up being great!
There was this big argument about whether Blur or Oasis were better and, as much as I like Oasis, it wasn’t even close. Blur were just in another creative stratosphere to them.
I have no idea what Vorsprung durch Technik means and I have no desire to ever find out, some things are much better as a mystery.
21. Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Past entries:
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Into My Arms
14
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
1996
Stagger Lee
6
1996
Henry Lee {Ft. PJ Harvey}
15
1995
Where The Wild Roses Grow {Ft. Kylie Minogue}
99
1994
Thirsty Dog
82
“You're one microscopic cog In his catastrophic plan Designed and directed By his red right hand”
The third song on my list to appear in a Hottest 100 of all time that wasn’t in the Hottest 100 of 1994 (after Hallelujah and Lover, You Should Have Come Over).
A wonderfully menacing song that was used as the opening credits to the fantastic TV show Peaky Blinders (as well as PJ Harvey, IDLES and other fantastic music used throughtout) and is linked in my mind to that show.
“I want to take you through A wasteland I like to call my home”
This is particularly good live and is probably my favourite Green Day song.
19. Birdman - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
Ride next appear on my lists 24 years into the future!
I’d like to say that Carnival of Light is a great album but it isn’t. There are moments but overall it is a bit ordinary.
This was the first single released prior to the album and I bought it the day it was released as Ride were (still are) one of my favourite bands. I loved it, loved the big swirly guitars, loved the more psychedelic sound and was very excited for the album.
As a side note, this was the last thing I ever bought on vinyl. Even though I don’t own a record player anymore I still have all my vinyl. I chucked all my tapes years ago and might do the same to my CDs some day but will always keep my vinyl.
18. Sometimes Always {Ft. Hope Sandoval} - Jesus and Mary Chain, The
Past entries (Hope Sandoval):
2009
Blanchard (with The Warm Inventions)
66
Past entries (Jesus and Mary Chain, The):
1994
Dirty Water
72
Wonderful back and forth lyrics from Hope Sandoval and Jim Reid and a great pop song! Hope Sandoval and the other Reid brother (William) were actually an item at this time, which explains the slightly odd musical hook up.
Just Like Honey is their most streamed song to the surprise of precisely no-one.
17. Dead Souls - Nine Inch Nails
Past entries:
1999
The Day The World Went Away
72
1997
The Perfect Drug
17
1994
Hurt
62
“Someone take these dreams away That point me to another day A dual personality A strange but true reality”
The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a great album! There have been quite a few songs in my 90s list that were taken from really terrible movies. This isn’t one. The Crow was an amazing movie. I went to see it with a friend reluctantly and wasn’t very enthusiastic, but I loved it. It is dark and mystical and really sad.
The music is intertwined in the movie really well. The scene when this song appear is great, the main character has just come back to life and is (understandably) quite confused by everything and is manically running across the rooftops while this song plays.
It is a cover of a Joy Division song. There was a great sense of desperation in the original, while Trent Reznor turned that into anger in this cover.
16. Superstar - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
1998
Sunday
24
1998
Wildflower Soul
65
1995
The Diamond Sea
32
1994
Bull In The Heather
70
“Loneliness is a such a sad affair And I can hardly wait to be with you again What to say to make you come again Come back to me again And play your sad guitar”
If I Was A Carpenter is a great album. The Shonen Knife and Babes In Toyland songs are also pretty ace.
This is actually a cover of a cover as The Carpenters’ version is not the original (they recorded it after seeing Bette Midler sing it). It was originally by a group called Delaney & Bonnie and has many acts cover it over the years.
Sonic Youth were big fans of The Carpenters and had recorded a song about them before (Tunic (A Song For Karen)) and there is a real reverence (and sadness) to it. It doesn’t sound a million miles away from The Carpenters version but also sounds exactly like Sonic Youth, if that is at all possible.
I never listened to the Hottest 100 of 1994 but I do remember seeing the voting list at some stage and thinking if I ever voted I would vote for this!
15. A Loon - Kristin Hersch
Past entries:
1994
Your Ghost {Ft. Michael Stipe}
93
“Never thought I'd see that silly grin Never thought I'd see that fool again Never thought I'd love that lunatic”
Another beautiful stripped back acoustic guitar and voice only song.
14. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
Past entries:
1999
The Day The World Went Away
72
1997
The Perfect Drug
17
1994
Dead Souls
17
1994
Hurt
62
I have done a bit of DJ work over the years (at clubs and on Community Radio) and have done the music for quite a few friends weddings/birthdays etc. A particular friend asked me to DJ his wedding to which I agreed. The bridal waltz was going to be some schmaltzy affair and he asked as a joke could I play “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” by Shania Twain to start and then move to the correct song. I asked if I could use a different song for the joke to which he agreed. Anyway on the big night the MC invited the bride and groom to come up and dance, at which point I put on Closer. (The younger) half of the audience gasped and looked alarmed (as did my mate). After a few seconds (and no lyrics) the schmaltz was put on. Good fun.
Most streamed song of course.
13. To The End - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
1994
Parklife {Ft. Phil Daniels}
22
1994
Girls and Boys {Pet Shop Boys Remix}
33
1994
Jubilee
88
“Well, you and I collapsed in love And it looks like we might have made it Yes, it looks like we've made it to the end”
The glorious To The End, with help from Laetitia Sadier from Stereolab (providing the sultry French backing vocals). It does sound like a French torch song really. Sexy and sad in equal measure.
12. Stay Together - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
“Come to my arms I'm lost Just you and me together in the year of the horse Single file in the nuclear night And we can feel a little closer as we tumble through the sky”
This was the last song released while Bernard Butler was a member of Suede as it was a stand alone single released before Dog Man Star and is their equal highest charting entry in the UK (tied with Trash at #3). It is quite an epic song (over 7 minutes) but is filled with drama (musically and lyrically) and just keeps you captivated the entire time.
11. Gold Soundz - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
“So drunk in the August sun And you're the kind of girl I like Because you're empty and I'm empty And you can never quarantine the past”
The first words in this song are “go back” and the whole song reeks of nostalgia, of looking back. Not looking back at better (or worse) times, just looking back at a moment in time (where you were so drunk in the Autumn sun for instance). The music is really bright and breezy and the whole song is a really enjoyable experience. If it comes on, I always stop what I’m doing and tap along while staring out a window and “go back”.
“'Cause nobody loves me, it's true Not like you do.”
Dummy is a great album.
Sometimes the order of things is important. Sour Times was the first song I ever heard by Portishead and I was immediately struck by how different it sounded. That feeling still sticks today. The shuddering of the music and the divine Beth Gibbon’s vocals get me every time.
Where's that fourth album??
9. Ping Pong - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
1994
Transona Five
49
"There's only millions that lose their jobs And homes and sometimes accents There's only millions that die In their bloody wars, it's alright”
By far, the poppiest anti-capitalist song ever recorded. I dare you to not tap your toes to this one. The lyrics aren’t necessarily obvious when you first listen but you can tell that Laetitia is singing about slums, war, dying etc. Let’s all sing along “Bigger slums and bigger wars and a slow recovery…”
As the inventors of Marxist pop (a term the band do not like), it is only fitting that their Spotify streams are evenly shared out. I’m surprised this isn’t in the top few songs and also surprised that Brakhage from 1997’s Dots and Loops is their most streamed (not that it’s a bad song or anything).
8. Burn - Cure, The
Past entries:
2004
The End Of The World
90
2001
Cut Here
96
2000
Where The Birds Always Sing
57
2000
The Last Day Of Summer
76
1997
Wrong Number
86
“'Don't look, don't look,' the shadows breathe Whispering me away from you 'Don't wake at night to watch her sleep You know that you will always lose This trembling, adored Tousled birdmad girl'”
The last great Cure song (of which there are so, so many). Originally the creator wanted to use an old Cure song (The Hanging Garden) in the movie but Robert Smith, being a fan of the graphic novel, wanted to record a new song.
It is well suited to the movie. Dark, sad, frenetic.
It was just Robert Smith and Boris Williams (the drummer) recording it and apparently it was done in just two days. Boris left soon afterwards so this was the last Cure song he worked on.
7. Las Vegas - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
1994
Superstar
45
1994
Supernova
46
1994
Losin' It
58
“Lots of feathers Fluffy and pink And cigarattes”
Sometimes songs just evoke a time and place. For this song it is seeing it live at the 1994 Big Day Out. Underground Lovers were playing in the afternoon in the Hordern Pavillion and there weren’t too many other people there just the die hards (of which I was one).
After the above lyrics the song bursts to life and in this particular gig at this precise moment a <insert correct collective noun here> of drag queens burst from the sides of the stage in full regalia to dance along. Most unexpected, very fitting and completely unforgettable.
6. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
Past entries:
2000
Sour Girl
13
1996
Big Bang Baby
57
1994
Vasoline
51
“Leaving on a Southern train Only yesterday you lied Promises of what I seemed to be Only watched the time go by All of these things you said to me”
Where Stone Temple Pilots gets their inner cowboy on just a little bit (love the slide guitar in the intro and the cowboy hat in the film clip). There’s no individual thing that stands out in this song, just that all the bits are done so well and fit so well together. A really easy listen and a great sing along song.
Their most streamed song on Spotify but Plush isn’t too far behind.
5. Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
1996
Tonight, Tonight
1
1996
1979
49
1996
Zero
68
1995
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
9
1994
Today
76
“I used to be a little boy”
Written on the same day as Today is Disarm, a song about the abuse Billy Corgan received at the hands of his parents. For all its disarming (😉) lyrics, it is a really beautiful song. There is no anger, just sadness and regret. The strings really add to the experience.
This is another odd omission from the Hottest 100, especially as the B-side (Dancing In The Moonlight) got in at #90!
4. The Wild Ones - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
“And oh, if you stay I'll chase the rain-blown fields away We'll shine like the morning and sin in the sun”
Indescribably beautiful and indescribably sad because the overriding question repeated over and over in the song is “if you stay”. I sorta assume they don’t!
This is Brett Anderson’s favourite Suede song and I completely agree. The general public don’t as Beautiful Ones is their most streamed (this is 4th).
3. This Is A Low - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
1994
To The End
13
1994
Parklife {Ft. Phil Daniels}
22
1994
Girls and Boys {Pet Shop Boys Remix}
33
1994
Jubilee
88
“This is a low But it won't hurt you When you're alone It will be there with you Finding ways to stay solo”
Four times a day on BBC Radio 4, the Shipping Forecast is read, which gives the weather conditions in the 31 sea areas of the British Isles. It is a strangely calming and fascinating thing to listen to. They used to interrupt the cricket coverage on Radio 4 to play it and at first I was a bit peeved but ended up looking forward to it.
Experiencing writer’s block, Damon Albarn turned to a map of the Shipping Forecast and used these areas (Dogger Bank, Tyne, Cromarty etc) for inspiration to help write the lyrics to a beguiling, calming, beautiful, melancholic song. Best Blur song for sure.
2. Laid - James
Past entries:
2001
Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)
13
1999
I Know What I'm Here For
85
1998
Destiny Calling
50
1997
She's A Star
27
“This bed is on fire with passionate love The neighbours complain about the noises above But she only cums when she's on top”
The wonderful James and their wonderful song “Laid”, about well getting laid I guess. Famously, the video clip substitutes the word sings for cums but Tim Booth clearly and very obviously still sings cums.
I’d like to say the album (also called Laid) is great but I’ve never listened to it (or any James album for that matter). It was their first (of a few) Brian Eno produced album as well, for what that is worth. Have only ever listened to their singles.
One of their only two Australian top 40 entries (at #40) but just their 14th highest UK Top 40 entry (at #25). Their most streamed song on Spotify (must admit I thought Sit Down would be).
1. Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
Past entries:
2013
California
65
2011
Common Burn
73
1996
All Your Sisters
66
1996
Flowers In December
73
1994
Into Dust
63
“I think it's strange you never knew”
And there’s just one song left and, my god, what a beautiful song it is. The acoustic guitar, the slide guitar, the heavenly breathless vocals all evoke such longing, sadness to start and as the tempo (barely) increases there is a progression of emotions towards hope.
This was the only time Mazzy Star ever hit the charts anywhere in the world (with the exception of Flowers in December in the UK) and is their most streamed song by the length of an airport runway! Last edited:
Another great year for music was 1993. Probably not so many great albums as 1994 but there are some absolute classic deep albums with many, many great tracks. I’ll also be letting you all know what my favourite Australian album of the 90s was (hint, it was released in 1993) as well as the most Australian songs in the Top 10 so far in the 90s journey.
My main sources of new music in 1993 were watching Rage and reading the English music press (NME and Melody Maker). I didn’t really listen to Triple J that much as I thought they were too commercial :p. I was listening to mainly English music (and mainly Shoegaze) but the start of the Britpop movement did get a lot of attention and the English press suddenly decided that Shoegaze was rubbish and Britpop was THE THING, which meant a whole lot of excellent albums got ignored! 1993 was probably the peak year for the Riot Grrrl movement as well.
For the first time, I’m going to be a bit strict on the release year as previously, I’d just gone by whatever year songs were in the Hottest 100 or were released as a single. The 1993 Hottest 100 is a bit of a mess for release years as many of the songs had previously been released in 1992 and even as far back as 1991 (Soul To Squeeze) and even 1990 (Jesus Was Way Cool). All songs in the 1993 Hottest 100 first released in 1992 have had their eligibility pushed back to 1992. This means a couple of artists had their songs split. For Dinosaur Jr, this meant Get Me was pushed back but Start Choppin’ is still eligible. Similarly, for Suede The Drowners will be 1992 and Animal Nitrate 1993. I probably have stuffed a few up but don’t hold it against me!!
Because of the above two facts, there is a record low number of actual Hottest 100 entries in 1993 (only 13).
Got it! Good, let’s get going with the unlucky thirty to miss out! Countdown proper to start tomorrow.
I reckon if you made a list of the greatest Shoegaze albums and a list of the greatest Britpop albums, Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys would appear on both. It really does straddle both worlds! It is a very aptly named album as creatively the band was indeed making Giant Steps. The lead in single Lazarus (released in 1992) hinted at a new direction and the album delivered.
At times sounding like The Beatles, at other times like Primal Scream or My Bloody Valentine but always sounding very British, The White Noise Revisited is a great way to kick things off for 1993.
99. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle - Nirvana
Past entries:
1996
Aneurysm
82
1994
About A Girl {MTV Unplugged}
60
“I miss the comfort in being sad”
Kurt Cobain’s tribute to fellow Seattle native Frances Farmer (whom his daughter is named after). I’m not sure why In Utero got such a bad rap as it is every bit as good an album as Nevermind. It just doesn’t have a stand out like Smells Like Teen Spirit but otherwise it is great.
98. Call It What You Want - Credit To The Nation
Did someone mention Smells Like Teen Spirit? Call It What You Want begins with a sample of the iconic opening to said song (it also samples Welcome To The Terrordome).
Credit To The Nation are an English hip-hop group known for their anarchist leanings and this is probably their best known song.
97. Run - Spiderbait
Past entries:
2004
F***kin Awesome
68
2002
Arse Huggin Pants
56
2001
Four On The Floor
71
1999
Shazam!
17
1999
Glockenpop
84
1997
Calypso
80
1996
Buy Me A Pony
8
1995
Monty
83
I first saw this on Rage! It is a cover of a Goodies song (does anyone remember them?) and even the filmclip is a cover of famous Goodies episodes (including some Eecky Thump)! The music is quite a bit thrashier than the Goodies though!
The Goodies two most streamed songs on Spotify are two different versions of The Funky Gibbon, which is very nice indeed (can’t find Run though on Spotify). And Black Betty for Spiderbait [shakes head…]
96. You Find It Everywhere - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
Last Day On Earth
20
1995
Bring Me The Head Of The Fortune Teller
44
1995
How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy
53
1995
I Am Superman
84
Mezcal Head is an amazing album that, at the time, received no buzz whatsoever. Swervedriver had moved on from the sonic swirl of their first album and focused more on writing actual songs, with actual stories to tell. It’s a heady mix of Shoegaze and Americana and highly recommended.
Mescal Head is unavailable on Spotify (neither is Raise their first album) for unknown reasons. All their subsequent albums are there.
95. La Tristessa Durera (Scream To A Sigh) - Manic Street Preachers
Past entries:
1998
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
10
1996
A Design For Life
4
1996
Australia
30
1996
Everything Must Go
79
“I retreat into self-pity, it's so easy Where they patronise my misery”
The first Richie Edwards-era Manis song to appear on my lists. The song title comes from (allegedly) Van Gogh’s last words “La tristesse durera toujours”, which translates to “The sadness will go on forever”. The song is about the neglect of elderly war veterans.
94. Truganini - Midnight Oil
Past entries:
1998
Redneck Wonderland
100
1997
White Skin Black Heart
82
It seems odd to me that such an Australian song, about Australian issues, should have its filmclip in front of Brooklyn Bridge! Truganini was The Oils last (of their 6) top 10 song in Australia.
93. Escher - Teenage Fanclub
Past entries:
2016
I'm In Love
99
2000
I Need Direction
87
1997
Ain't That Enough
65
1995
Sparky's Dream
7
1995
Verisimilitude
54
1995
Neil Jung
70
Thirteen was somewhat of a bridge album for Teenage Fanclub. They had abandoned the rockier elements of Bandwagonesque, while not yet achieving the pop perfection of Grand Prix. It is not a bad album just not as good as these two albums but there are still some gems to be found.
92. 40 Days - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
1995
Blue Skied an' Clear
28
1995
Crazy For You
31
1995
Rutti
63
“Forty days and I miss you I'm so high that I've lost my mind”
While Mezcal Head was just ignored, Souvlaki, the second Slowdive album, was actively panned in the music press. 27 years later, it is considered one of the great Shoegaze albums and rightly so.
40 Days is a really beautiful song, written by Neil Halstead about the breakup of his relationship with Rachel Goswell (also in the band). Its just a great pop song, hidden amongst the swirling washed out guitars.
91. Enough Is Enough {Ft. Credit To The Nation} - Chumbawamba
Past entries (Chumbawamba):
1997
Tubthumping
24
Past entries (Credit To The Nation):
1993
Call It What You Want
98
“Destruction confusion and blaming it on the colour I wonder in horror 'cause the people start to follow All the leaders and the rulers who are putting up the fence”
Where anarchist hip hop group team up with anarchist rock band to release an anti-fascist song. Simple really.
I’ve actually seen The Hoodoo Gurus play their last ever gig twice now!
89. Protect Ya Neck - Wu Tang Clan
Not being the biggest hip hop fan, Protect Ya Neck really appeals to me because of its grittiness and the low-fi beats. Its not fun like Outkast but it does grab your attention.
88. Butterfly - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
1995
This Is Music
25
1995
History
29
“You could flap you wings a thousand miles away I'd still feel the pain”
The Verve were known as Verve in 1993 (they had to change their name in 1994) and released their debut album A Storm In Heaven. It is my favourite of their albums, with a heady mix of shoegaze and psychedelia.
Butterfly falls more on the psychedelia side of the album, the middle section with saxophone wailing over the guitars is great.
87. Revox - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
1994
Ping Pong
9
1994
Transona Five
49
Well Stereolab had themselves a very busy year in 1993. They released an album, a mini album and a bunch of stand-alone singles! So much so, that they released a compilation (Refried Ectoplasm) to collect it all!
Revox was from a split double 7” single with Huggy Bear and is a drony, rocky, woozy listen.
86. Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill
Past entries:
1996
Jet Ski
86
How about that, 86 again for Bikini Kill. Another banging punk number. There were actually three different versions released of this song in 1993 and I’m going with the single version with Joan Jett on guitar and backing vocals!
And speaking of splitting stuff with Huggy Bear, Bikini Kill did a split album with Bikini Kill in 1993 and another version of the song appeared on that!
85. All Apologies - Nirvana
Past entries:
1996
Aneurysm
82
1994
About A Girl {MTV Unplugged}
60
1993
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
99
“All in all is all we are”
The closing track off In Utero and their last ever single before Kurt’s death. It is quite a quiet song for Nirvana, sad and haunting.
84. Herjazz - Huggy Bear
“This is the sound of a revolution Post-tension realization This is happening without your permission The arrival of a new renegade Girl/boy hyper nation!”
Along with releasing split records with Stereolab and Bikini Kill, Huggy Bear also had time to release their own stuff! They didn’t like the Riot Grrl label, as they thought it was more related to American bands. They preferred the term girl/boy revolutionaries.
It is quite interesting (and also sad) with the news out of Canberra in the last few weeks, hearing bands like Bikini Kill and Huggy Bear calling for gender equality and respect. Not much, it seems, has changed in 27 years.
83. Feed The Tree - Belly
Fresh of leaving both The Breeders and Throwing Muses, Tanya Donnelly struck out for herself with Belly. It is certainly a poppier sound than her previous bands.
82. Courage - Bats, The
Past entries:
1995
Afternoon In Bed
80
1994
Under The Law
80
Should have made this 2 places higher, so The Bats could get #80 three years running.
Back in the day I owned this album (Silverbeet) on cassette but it long since gone. This was really the song on the album that stood out for me then (and now)!
When I was a youngster, a very common phrase in the playground was “I hate your guts”. No-one seems to say it anymore. Mind you, I never heard anyone but Ripe say “I love your guts”!
79. Glorious - Adorable
Adorable were an Icelandic/English Shoegaze band who for a couple of years (1992-3) were quite the thing. This is the opening song to their debut album and it is, well, glorious!
78. Take The Time Around - Boo Radleys, The
Past entries:
1995
Wake Up Boo!
14
1993
The White Noise Revisited
100
No Britpop to be found here, just glorious, glorious Shoegaze.
77. Evangeline - Cocteau Twins
Past entries:
1996
Alice
25
Less nonsensical than previous, but still indecipherable lyrics. But you’re just listening to the heavenly voice of Liz Fraser and the glorious (on a roll with that word) guitar riffs of Robin Guthrie really.
Hit #4 in Portugal, which is weird.
76. Judas Cradle - Sugar
Past entries:
1995
Gee Angel
50
“Throw me back into the fire Peel the skin away from bones As the smoke keeps rising higher As the Judas Cradle moans”
I always get a bit suspicious when a band releases an “out-takes” LP/EP a year after a successful album saying “The songs just didn’t fit in but they’re really good, honest!”. Often it is just an excuse to cash in!
A year after their very successful first album Copper Blue, Sugar released the Beaster EP of outtakes saying “The songs just didn’t fit in but they’re really good, honest!”. And they’re right!
Copper Blue was a power pop album, with lots of bright, breezy numbers. The songs on Beaster (with a couple exceptions) are something different indeed. Darker, angrier, rockier, bleek and not a million miles from Husker Du.
I don’t know what a Judas Cradle is and I really don’t want to.
75. Nowhere Nothin' Fuckup - Built To Spill
Past entries:
2006
Going Against Your Mind
39
2006
Conventional Wisdom
61
2001
Strange
72
1999
You Were Right
21
1999
Carry The Zero
36
1999
The Plan
66
1999
Bad Light
71
1999
Else
81
1997
I Would Hurt A Fly
30
1997
Made Up Dreams
81
1994
Car
42
From Built To Spill’s debut album, the song title comes from a fictional song referenced in Philip K. Dick's book “Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said”, which details the aftermath of the collapse of the USA in a second civil war that collapses the democratic institutions. Hmmm!
74. Gentlemen - Afghan Whigs, The
“I stayed in too long But she was the perfect fit And we dragged it out so long this time Started to make each other sick”
Written in response to a (I’m guessing bad) breakup, this is a raw, dirty, sleazy rock song, with real venom in the lyrics. Steve Earle was a member of Afghan Whigs at this stage but not that Steve Earle 😉
73. Web In Front - Archers Of Loaf
“And there's a chance that things will get weird”
Bringing to end a quartet of quality American Indy-rock is Archers Of Loaf. Web In Front is a high energy singlalong sorta song. No idea what any of it all means but that doesn’t matter, just makes me sing louder.
72. Good Times - Spiritualized
Past entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Broken Heart
3
1997
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love)
5
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
1995
Let It Flow
33
This was on the Electric Mainline EP, with a different version appearing on 1995’s Pure Phase. Another sprawling psychedelic rock song with a hint of their 1992 song “If I Were With Her Now” included as well.
71. Jenny Ondioline - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
1994
Ping Pong
9
1994
Transona Five
49
1993
Revox
87
Another song that had more than one version released in 1993. It was released as a 4-minute single but I’m going with the 18 minute album version. The last 10 minutes or so are just thrashy drony guitars with occasional singing. Top shelf.
“Playthings stand dusty Books lie open on the page where I met her And that other life Is just a memory to me now”
The first Tindersticks album (a double album at that) is a wondrous affair. A violent, sordid, claustrophobic and indulgent affair full of love, elegance and debauchery. It is quite different to anything else.
Whiskey and Water is one of their more rocky numbers but it is still pretty languid.
69. Distant Sun - Crowded House
Past entries:
1996
Everything Is Good For You
97
Bona fide classic pop song.
Don’t Dream It’s Over is their most streamed song on Spotify. Like duh!
68. Sister - Sebadoh
Past entries:
1999
Flame
24
1996
Beauty Of The Ride
46
1994
Skull
86
Bubble and Scrape, Sebadoh’s fourth album marked the change of direction from low-fi to more polished indy rock.
Having said that Sister is a pretty fun, low fi, shambling affair.
67. Daughter - Pearl Jam
Past entries:
2000
Nothing As It Seems
24
1995
Better Man
64
Following up Sister with Daughter makes sense. A song that strangely wasn’t on the TripleJ Hottest 100 voting list??
66. Pantomime Horse - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
“"I would die for the stars," she said”
The debut Suede album (imaginatively called Suede) was one of the first real Britpop albums, where the focus was on making songs that sounded British. If you’ve ever heard them (and there were two Suede songs in the Hottest 100 in 1993 so maybe you have 😉) their big singles all had a very 70s Bowie-esque glam rock feel about them (very British indeed).
Pantomime Horse is a different beast though. Slower, sadder and more reflective. The guitars at the end when they really rock out are just magnificent.
65. Fripp - Catherine Wheel
Past entries:
1995
Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck
88
1995
Judy Staring At The Sun {Ft. Tanya Donelly}
65
Chrome was another classic album that got zero attention in 1993! Named after Robert Fripp, Fripp is a long (7 minutes +) sprawling song that just builds up slowly. There is no great explosion at the end and it never really rocks out like Catherine Wheel definitely could, just a gradual build up to the end of the song.
64. Supermodel, Superficial - Voodoo Queens
I first encountered this while watching Rage in 1993 and it has stuck with me. Voodoo Queens are an English all girl punk/riot grrl band.
Given it is the only song by them I’ve ever heard I’m not that surprised it is their most streamed.
63. Radio - Teenage Fanclub
Past entries:
2016
I'm In Love
99
2000
I Need Direction
87
1997
Ain't That Enough
65
1995
Sparky's Dream
7
1995
Verisimilitude
54
1995
Neil Jung
70
1993
Escher
93
“And when I try to trip you up I'm the one who falls”
Some nice guitar work, some nice harmonies. Just all round niceness from Teenage Fanclub. They’re just a nice band really.
62. Your Eyes (Remix) - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
1994
Las Vegas
7
1994
Superstar
45
1994
Supernova
46
1994
Losin' It
58
I struggled with this one quite a bit. On the one hand, I much prefer the original (from their 1992 album) and was going to just have that in 1992. On the other hand the remix made the 1993 Hottest 100 (and was released as a single in 1993). In the end I went with the remix but I reserve the right to include the original in 1992 :p
Interestingly, this doesn’t appear to be on the voting list!
61. City Sickness - Tindersticks
Past entries:
1999
Can We Start Again
90
1997
Rented Rooms
97
1995
My Sister
8
1995
No More Affairs
90
1993
Whiskey and Water
70
“I have these hands beating with love for you And you're not here to touch”
City Sickness was released as a single and it is as much of a straightforward song that there is on the album. Contains some great lyrics and a very smooth strings driven backing track.
They have just released a new album, which I’m looking forward to checking out soon. Last edited:
“Alison, I'll drink your wine I'll wear your clothes when we're both high "Alison," I said, "We're sinking" But she laughs and tells me it's just fine I guess she's out there somewhere”
Alison is a song about a drug-fuelled dream of a girl called Alison. It sounds exactly like that as well. Dreamy, hazy, blurry and just beautiful. The way the guitars lift in the last few seconds gives me a rush every time.
59. Sleeping Pills - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
“You're a water sign I'm an air sign”
Another slower number from Suede. I’ve always liked the above line for unknown reasons.
58. Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
Past entries:
2001
Untitled
45
2000
Stand Inside Your Love
27
1998
For Martha
64
1998
Ava Adore
68
1996
Tonight, Tonight
1
1996
1979
49
1996
Zero
68
1995
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
9
1994
Disarm
5
1994
Today
76
An odd choice for the lead single from Siamese Dreams. Not that it is a bad song, far from it. It’s just not really a “single” type song. Apparently the record company wanted Today but our Billy wanted this. And of course, they are both wrong because the right answer would have been Disarm!!
57. Black Stick - Cruel Sea, The
Past entries:
2001
Cocaine
81
1994
Better Get A Lawyer
92
A sexy, sexy song from a sexy, sexy man. I’ve seen Tex Perkins live both with The Cruel Sea and with The Beasts Of Bourbon and he is a completely captivating lead singer. Your eyes are just fixed on him and him alone. Paul Dempsey and PJ Harvey are another couple that have the same effect.
56. Alive & Brilliant - Deborah Conway
“It's been a long time since anyone meant what they said”
Deborah Conway’s first two albums were both great. This was the stand out from the second. She always had a great turn of phrase, going back to the Do Re Mi days and this is no different.
55. I Hang Suspended - Boo Radleys, The
Past entries:
1995
Wake Up Boo!
14
1993
Take The Time Around
78
1993
The White Noise Revisited
100
“But then that's Just like you to leave me”
This is the first song on the album and it has a great intro of murky synths and muffled voices. I’ve listened to this so many times that I know the song proper will kick in when a clearer voice says “700 Hertz”.
It’s a great rock/britpop/shoegaze number with some very nice guitar work. Until I looked up the lyrics for this I had never heard the “leave me” in the above quote. I thought it said “But then that's just like you too.” Listening again I can hear it, which goes to show that even after listening to a song for 27 years, you can hear something new!!
54. Parry The Wind, High Low - Frank Black
Past entries:
1994
Headache
64
“I'm checking out inventions At the UFO convention tonight”
Rock song about space, UFOs and generally weird stuff. Could only come from the mind of Frank Black. Wouldn’t seem out of place on a Pixies album.
53. Screamager - Therapy?
“I've got nothing to do 'cept Hang around and get screwed up on you”
Therapy? Are a still active Northern Irish punk band, whose lead singer bears a passing resemblance to Feargal Sharkey, once of another Northern Irish punk band!
Screamager was their biggest hit (#9 in the UK) and a fast, furious, short power punk song.
It is their most streamed song on Spotify but only just!
52. So Young - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
Sleeping Pills
59
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
“We're so young and so gone Let's chase the dragon”
Another opening track and the 4th single released. A lot more uptempo than the previous two Suede songs in the list but not quite as high tempo as others, a good mid ground. It was the last song written for the album. It is partly about the drug overdose death of Ed Buller the album’s producer (and producer of albums by Pulp, Eskimo Joe, Superjesus, Ben Lee, Slowdive and The Boo Radleys among others).
51. Man Size Sextet - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Down By The Water
1
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
1994
Yuri G
81
Another one I struggled with as there are two versions on the album. I thought about including both but instead limited it to just one, the one backed by a sextet of strings. I prefer this version as I love the way the strings sound urgent throughout the song and then increase the tempo over the last quarter of the song and just start screeching. Lovely sound.
My girlfriend at the time thought that Lenny was singing “Icing On My Wings” instead of “Are You Gonna Go My Way”. Seems way way off until you actually try it and it sorta fits!
49. You're In A Bad Way - Saint Etienne
Past entries:
1995
He's On The Phone
97
Another heavenly pop song from Saint Etienne. I absolutely love Sarah Cracknell’s voice!
48. Cannonball - Breeders, The
Full disclosure, my favourite lineup of the Breeders was the 1992 one with Tanya Donnelly and Britt Walford (ex of Slint) still on board and Kelley Deal having joined.
Having said that, Cannonball is an absolute classic and quite an unexpected hit for The Breeders. There was a period of time in late 93 and early 94 where it was on very high rotation on pretty much every radio station. The bass line from Josephine Wiggs is ace!
47. Regret - New Order
Past entries:
2015
Academic
90
2001
Crystal
2
2001
60 mph
41
Another song recorded using a borrowed Johnny Marr guitar produced New Order’s biggest hit in the US and their last UK Top 5. It is all very New Ordery, 80s synths, that low bass sound, crisp drum sounds.
46. Katy Song - Red House Painters
“Without you, what does my life amount to?”
While Red House Painters have never appeared in my lists before, Mark Kozelek has appeared with Sun Kil Moon and Holly Throsby in the 2010s.
Katy Song is a really sparse, slow, bleak and sad song (Mark Kozelek’s calling card). I bought the album in 1993 but it is all a bit unrelenting and I never really warmed to the whole thing but I still love Katy Song.
45. Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
Past entries:
1997
Joga
74
1996
Hyperballad
53
On of the great things about The Sugarcubes (Bjork’s previous band) was that there was a great sense of fun in their songs. Most of Bjork’s solo output lost that sense of fun but it is front and centre in Big Time Sensuality. The house inspired beats, cheeky lyrics are just fun. Don’t like the remix though!
44. The Plastic Hassle - Ripe
Past entries:
1993
Love Your Guts
80
“So now I see right through you It’s all right, I know what to do I’ll just stay wasted until you get home.”
Ripe were a Melbourne band who were around for a few years in the early 90s. There is not much information existing on the old interwebs about them. They were criminally underrated in my opinion. You might have heard of the drummer though, Darren Seltmann who went on to found The Avalanches. He was a great drummer BTW.
The Plastic Hassle is the title track of their second and last album, contains a great musical intro, wigs out a bit and then seamlessly drops into a killer rock song. It reminds me a bit of Sonic Youth but also Ride (whom I saw Ripe support in 1992).
43. Fuzzy - Grant Lee Buffalo
Another weird omission from the Triple J Hottest 100 voting list. A far superior song to the Grant Lee Buffalo song that did make the 100.
It is a well named song because it all sounds a bit Fuzzy.
42. Los Angeles - Frank Black
Past entries:
1994
Headache
64
1993
Parry The Wind, High Low - Frank Black
54
“I want to live in Los Angeles Not the one in Los Angeles No, not the one in South California They got one in South Patagonia”
I love how hard this songs rocks out in the first half of the song and how much it mellows out in the second half. I also love how incredibly silly it all is, up to and including the film clip of Frank Black driving a hovercraft down a highway!
41. Two Princes - Spin Doctors
So I broke the rule of only 1993 releases with this one but it is just so entwined in my mind with 1993 as that was when it became a big hit and was also all over the radio waves.
There were a few bands at the time mining the “a little bit soul, a little bit reggae, a little bit rock” genre (Jellyfish is another that comes to mind) but this song does it best for me.
A delightfully named song that was another non-album single! I’ll have a pack of John Cage Bubblegum anytime. Some of the singles did indeed come with a stick of bubblegum.
I’m a sucker for French singing (the translation is “It’s the most beautiful and it’s the most sad”). Musically, Stereolab were quite trashy in some of their releases in 1993 (not so much in later years) and this one really rocks it out.
39. Jism - Tindersticks
Past entries:
1999
Can We Start Again
90
1997
Rented Rooms
97
1995
My Sister
8
1995
No More Affairs
90
1993
City Sickness
61
1993
Whiskey and Water
70
“Oh the deeper I go The further I fall The more I know The tighter your grip around me”
Jism is an ugly song, in that the story it paints is of a very unhealthy obsession/relationship. The music behind it, is a beautiful backdrop of keyboards, drums and strings which highlight the story. When the music is released by itself at the end of the song, it picks up into a waltz time signature and a folky tune. I can just imagine the two people in the song dancing away their pain!
38. Slow Emotion Replay - The The
“Everybody knows what's going wrong with the world But I don't even know what's going on in myself”
Starts with some kicking harmonica by Johnny Marr (who presumably used his own guitars as well). I love Matt Johnson’s deep deep voice. Very sexy!
This is the first The The song in my lists but only because I stuffed up the release date for NakedSelf. My iTunes library put it at 1999 and Voidy Numbness was in my 1999 list only for me to discover that it was actually released in 2000 so I pulled it! If I ever reassess 2000 it will make it!
I once played in a heat of the Sydney Uni band comp against a band called The The The (The “The The” cover band) 😊
This Is The Day is The The’s most streamed song which is a little surprising (this is 3rd) as I thought Uncertain Smile (2nd) or Infected (5th) would be.
37. Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana
Past entries:
1996
Aneurysm
82
1994
About A Girl {MTV Unplugged}
60
1993
All Apologies
85
1993
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
99
This came #20 in the 1993 Hottest 100, which is bewildering. It is a fantastic song. It’s gritty and carries more emotional heft than anything on Nevermind. But apparently Asshole is a better song ☹
Great film clip by Anton Corbijn (who took some awesome photographs of Joy Division back in the day and directed Control – the movie about Ian Curtis).
36. When The Sun Hits - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
1995
Blue Skied an' Clear
28
1995
Crazy For You
31
1995
Rutti
63
1993
Alison
60
1993
40 Days
92
“As the sun hits, she'll be waiting With her cool things and her heaven Hey hey, lover, you still burn me”
More beautiful, fragile shoegaze from Slowdive. At the end of each verse, the burst of guitars gives me a rush every time I hear it.
35. Crank - Catherine Wheel
Past entries:
1995
Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck
88
1995
Judy Staring At The Sun {Ft. Tanya Donelly}
65
1994
Fripp
65
Crank properly rocks out. Massive aggressive guitar riffs from beginning to end and Rob Dickenson’s unique voice.
This is their most streamed song on Spotify. If their debut album was on Spotify (it isn’t) I’m thinking Black Metallic might take that crown.
34. She Don't Use Jelly - Flaming Lips
Past entries:
2003
The Golden Path (with The Chemical Brothers)
71
2002
Do You Realise?
24
2002
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
60
1999
Waitin' For A Superman
7
1999
Race For The Prize
20
This is another song with very silly lyrics but, oh my god, the music. I remember first hearing it on the radio and being blown away by the massive wall of guitar noise. They certainly turned down the amplifiers after this and became a very different sounding band.
Weirdly, this song was a minor hit in Australia (#25 on the ARIA charts).
33. For Seeking Heat - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
Last Day On Earth
20
1995
Bring Me The Head Of The Fortune Teller
44
1995
How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy
53
1995
I Am Superman
84
1993
You Find It Everywhere
96
“Without this safety net you're freed To find serene pleasure of speed”
I was doing a radio show on community radio between 1992 and 1994 and at the final episode each year I presented my 10 favourite songs of the year. This was my #1 song of 1993 (in December 1993 anyway). I can’t really remember what the rest of the top 10 were (except for a couple still to come). How the might have fallen!!
For Seeking Heat is the opening track on Mezcal Head and is a massive Shoegaze inspired rocky searing blast, more reminiscent of their first album than most of the rest of the album.
32. Sober - Tool
Past entries:
2006
Vicarious
54
2006
The Pot
82
2001
Schism
87
1996
Stinkfist
17
“I am just a worthless liar I am just an imbecile”
This was the first song by Tool I ever heard. I first saw it on Rage (and probably had nightmares from the very disturbing film clip). It didn’t really sound like anything I’d ever heard (certainly borrows from things like Janes Addiction or Ministry but still different). It sounds important, serious and urgent.
The band themselves cite the previously mentioned Robert Fripp as a big influence.
31. Snakedriver - Jesus and Mary Chain
Past entries:
1994
Dirty Water
72
1994
Sometimes Always {Ft. Hope Sandoval}
18
“Everything just passes by I thought it always would but then I kissed her”
Snakedriver was recorded for The Crow soundtrack (which wasn’t released until 1994) but was included in The Sound Of Speed EP in 1993. It matches the feel of the movie, a dark dystopian vision of the future.
It starts off a little similar to 1992’s Reverence but as the song goes on it just adds layers and layers of feedback and distortion and by the end Jim Reid is just howling. Certainly one of the last JAMC songs of this ilk.
Another stand alone single with a charming name! It is a song in two halves. The first half (covering the first 4 minutes) is a cute pop song (sung in French) and the second half (covering the last two and a half minutes) is a synthy drone. Great song.
Stereolab still remains my last live gig (over a year ago now) and this was the last song they played before the encore! Should have gone to the Melbourne show as they played John Cage Bubblegum as well.
29. Sistine Chapel Ceiling - Adorable
Past entries:
1993
Glorious
79
“I took a breath onto a canvas I could not have cared less About the words spilling out of my mouth in blue and green It was the nicest sound I'd ever seen To come stumbling out of my frozen mouth”
Sistine Chapel Ceiling starts with a shuddering wavering guitar riff and the above lyrics. And then the skyscraper riffs kick in. Good one to singalong with as well.
There was a cockiness to Adorable. You knew they thought they were the best band going around and you should too. For a little moment in time I probably did.
28. Moondriven - Ripe
Past entries:
1993
The Plastic Hassle
44
1993
Love Your Guts
80
“I am known as white trash”
I first heard Ripe on the Youngblood 3 compilation but I first got into them when this was released as a single in 1992. I heard it on Triple J and bought it (Richard Kingsmill loved it IIRC). I’m including it in 1993 as the version on The Plastic Hassle is different and better.
It is a really driven song, big riffs, muffled vocals, banging drums. A little bit more psychedelic than their other songs.
It is their most streamed song on Spotify. They only have 4 songs with more than 1000 streams however!
27. Marbles - Tindersticks
Past entries:
1999
Can We Start Again
90
1997
Rented Rooms
97
1995
My Sister
8
1995
No More Affairs
90
1993
Jism
39
1993
City Sickness
61
1993
Whiskey and Water
70
“She was now with me inside of you And I could only stare wide-eyed As everything closed in around the three of us”
Another beautiful, dark, sordid love story by Tindersticks. I once saw them described as “the sound of downtrodden poets in dead men's suits”, which is a very good description.
The guitars are woozy, the organ sound is woozy. Marbles is a song without obvious structure. It doesn't have a beginning, middle and end. It just starts telling a story and then stops.
26. Blue - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
1995
This Is Music
25
1995
History
29
1993
Butterfly
88
Blue was my introduction to Verve (on Rage of course). It is a ragged and sort of sounds like the music was recorded and then played backwards. Great bit of psychedelic shoegaze.
25. Souvlaki Space Station - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
1995
Blue Skied an' Clear
28
1995
Crazy For You
31
1995
Rutti
63
1993
When The Sun Hits
36
1993
Alison
60
1993
40 Days
92
Sometimes labels are easy. This song is this genre and it then conveys to anyone reading a general idea what it sounds like if they've never heard it. Sometimes labels are hard. I could say that Souvlaki Space Station is Shoegaze but that doesn’t really convey what it sounds like because it doesn’t sound like anything. It is just an amazingly majestic sonic landscape.
24. Animal Nitrate - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
So Young
52
1993
Sleeping Pills
59
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
“Well, he said he'd show you his bed And the delights of the chemical smile So in your broken home, he broke all of your bones And now you're taking it time after time”
A banging glam rock number. Not much else to say really.
23. Crash Sight - Adorable
Past entries:
1993
Glorious
79
1993
Sistine Chapel Ceiling
29
“Shiver at the sight of you Shiver when you shine to view Shiver when you come crashing through”
From the first time I heard the album, this song has really struck me and stuck with me. It is just a heady rush of power pop, really heartfelt lyrics.
22. Slide Away - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
1995
This Is Music
25
1995
History
29
1993
Blue
26
1993
Butterfly
88
“Don't you feel alive? These are your times and our highs.”
This is a smoother, silkier sound to Blue or Butterfly. It glides along beautifully.
Weird filmclip though!
21. 50 Ft Queenie - PJ Harvey Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Down By The Water
1
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
1993
Man Size Sextet
51
1993
Yuri G
81
“Hey I'm one big queen”
This isn’t smooth or silky, it is shambolic and searing and completely over the top. Rid Of Me is an extraordinary album in its exploration of the darker side of human emotions (jealousy, anger) but it is done somewhat tongue in cheek. 50 Ft Queenie is an odd song for a lead single but it is such an unusual album that it makes perfect sense.
“A million stars out tonight Could spark neon from candlelight”
If you know one Swervedriver song this is probably it! A massive slab of meaty Shoegaze.
Swervedriver had changed their rhythm section between Raise and Mezcal Head and you can really tell, in particularly the drumming is great (especially on Duel). The guitars are always front and centre though (and Adam Franklin is the best guitarist I’ve ever seen live).
Duel is the only song from Mezcal Head on Spotify (as it is on a Creation Records compilation) and is their most streamed song (followed by the only song from Raise on Spotify).
19. JC Auto - Sugar
Past entries:
1995
Gee Angel
50
1993
Judas Cradle
76
“I'm your jesus christ I know Bleeding to death again (my bleeding heart) Stuck in the heart again (goes out to you) Somebody nail my hands (I needed pain) Somebody take my hand (I bleed again)”
This is without a doubt the most furious song I know. Every line is just spat out without anything but anger, fury and spite in them. The music matches this in its intensity, just howling in the background. Really disturbing imagery in the lyrics as well. Take a chill pill Bob!
The 12+ minutes of the 1-2 punch of this and Judas Cradle in the middle of Beaster (play on Easter get it!) is as good a hit of angry rock as you’ll ever hear.
18. Harry & Maggie - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
Last Day On Earth
20
1995
Bring Me The Head Of The Fortune Teller
44
1995
How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy
53
1995
I Am Superman
84
1993
Duel
20
1993
For Seeking Heat
33
1993
You Find It Everywhere
96
“I kicked around with Harry Who lived near Salisbury Plain He worked on the cathedral there every now and again He worked with stone, carved with stone Odd jobs on the telephone One sunny day he was sent to the Houses of Parliament Chipping' away at the gargoyles Under the blistering sun He carved out "Maggie Sucks" on the backs of every one And so in five-hundred years There's gonna be some history here After it all subsides in the sun”
All the way back at #96 I mentioned that Swervedriver had found the art of storytelling in their songs and this is a great example, the (allegedly true) story of Harry and Maggie. Every time I hear it, it makes me smile.
Swervedriver already had an obsession with cars and Americana (their first release was called “Son of Mustang Ford”) but these songs on Mezcal Head seem like they were written with long car trips through the vast spaces of America in mind. I could absolutely listen to this on such a trip.
17. Cursed Female - Porno For Pyros
“Cursed to be born Beautiful, poor and female There's none that suffer more”
I guess in a reality where Asshole is deemed a better song than Killing In The Name Of or Heart Shaped Box, it makes sense that Pets got in the Hottest 100 when this didn’t. BUT IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE!
Porno For Pyros was founded on the breakup of Janes Addiction and this song sounds like it could have come from that band. Gritty, rocky, sad. It is not an easy song to listen to but it is rewarding.
16. Animal Lover - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
Animal Nitrate
24
1993
So Young
52
1993
Sleeping Pills
59
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
“'Cos around my neck and around her neck Hangs everything you are I know you've been inside But what were you in for?”
There are albums from 1993 (such as Suede) that I literally have listened to hundreds and hundreds of times over the last 28 years. When I first listened to Suede in 1993 I’m pretty sure the singles (The Drowners, Metal Mickey and Animal Nitrate) would have grabbed my attention but over the years, the deeper cuts on the album worm their way into your brain and you fall in love with them.
Like this song for example. The last few seconds of the song are completely thrilling.
15. Daylight Wants To Kill - Ripe
Past entries:
1993
Moondriven
28
1993
The Plastic Hassle
44
1993
Love Your Guts
80
“Forget those visions that hinder your sight Daylight brings down every night.”
This is another one of those songs.
Daylight Wants To Kill is the 11 minute closer from The Plastic Hassle. It is the only song on the album where Katie Dixon shares vocal duties with Mark Murphy. They trade verses as the tension rises and the music and singing ramps up in intensity and urgency and then half way through the song (and I mean to the exact second halfway) the tension is released, the music becomes darker and sludgier and the vocals tired and resigned. The last few minutes of the song are just waves of feedback but unlike others songs that do this (say Amoxycillin by Magic Dirt or Mote by Sonic Youth) the rhythm section keep up the beat and is as prominent as the guitars, which really elevates the feedback. An extraordinarily well constructed song with less than 1000 streams on Spotify, which is criminal.
14. Rodney King (Song For Lenny Bruce) - Boo Radleys, The 13. Butterfly McQueen - Boo Radleys, The
Past entries:
1995
Wake Up Boo!
14
1993
I Hang Suspended
55
1993
Take The Time Around
78
1993
The White Noise Revisited
100
“What am I supposed to do now that Love's gone away, take my life, take My air, release me from this Body, I'll go anywhere!”
Here’s another couple as well.
They have to be taken together as well as they appear next to each other on the album and even blur together. The order is important. Butterfly McQueen first and then Rodney King (Song For Lenny Bruce).
Like Souvlaki Space Station, labels are useless as I couldn’t give you one that describes these two songs. They move through different soundscapes and tempos effortlessly. Meriel Barham from Pale Saints lends her voice to Rodney King as well.
12. The Sun, The Sea - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
1995
This Is Music
25
1995
History
29
1993
Slide Away
22
1993
Blue
26
1993
Butterfly
88
And yet another.
This song starts suddenly and loudly and just keeps going. I love the saxophone as well, so the addition of that later in the song (although you can hear it in the background throughout) just elevates it and the music just before it kicks in, is just a wonderful maelstrom of noise.
11. Dry - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Down By The Water
1
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
1993
50 Ft Queenie
21
1993
Man Size Sextet
51
1993
Yuri G
81
“You leave me dry.”
Yet another “deep” track!
Over time, this has really become a go to song for me when I listen to the album. I think it is the best guitar playing on the album and the most tuneful (if that makes sense). It was originally written for the album of the same name (Dry, her first) but never finished. I love the way the music quietens when she sings the ultimate kiss off line quoted above and then the music just kicks back in afterwards.
With this entry, PJ Harvey pushes past Mogwai into third place with 30 overall songs on these lists. Just Interpol (35) and Radiohead (44) ahead! Last edited:
“And when the dawn begins to creep Sunlight finds you in a heap And how you wish that you could sleep”
And would you know, one more deep album cut!
It is fitting that the last few songs have been in a row as the albums they represent (Suede, The Plastic Hassle, Giant Steps, A Storm In Heaven, Rid Of Me, Mezcal Head) are some of my most treasured possessions. They’ve been a part of my life for 28 years and every single one of those years I’d have listened to all of them multiple times. They’ve been through the highs with me and also the lows. Thanks for the memories guys!
Anyway, Duress isn’t so much of a story as 8 minutes of a druggy, fuzzy stream of musical and lyrical consciousness.
9. We're Not Adult Orientated - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
1994
Ping Pong
9
1994
Transona Five
49
1993
Lo Boob Oscillator
30
1993
John Cage Bubblegum
40
1993
Jenny Ondioline
71
1993
Revox
87
Stereolab pick up the #9 for the second year in a row. If they collated all the best of their 1993 output into one album it would probably join the above treasured albums.
I mentioned in 1997 that there had been just four times in my life where I had been just blown away by a particular song instantly (it was in reference to Paranoid Android). Well this was one of those times. I sat down to watch Rage with a mate at my share house and this was the first song to come on. As I said, it completely blew me away instantly as I had never heard anything like it ever before. We both for a (thankfully) short period of time after that would refer to anything great as being “Of Stereolabian proportions”.
We're Not Adult Orientated is from the “The Groop Played "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music"” mini album. It is a synthy, drony, thrashy affair and doesn’t really sound like anything else. It was in the top 10 of 1993 on my 1993 radio show.
8. Something Fierce - Ripe
Past entries:
1993
Daylight Wants To Kill
15
1993
Moondriven
28
1993
The Plastic Hassle
44
1993
Love Your Guts
80
“’Cause I know that you leave me soon”
The Plastic Hassle by Ripe is my absolute favourite Australian album of the 90s! I loved it in 1993 and I still love it in 2021. I’ve seen it appear from time to time on lists of great Australian albums you’ve never heard of.
Something Fierce is the first song on the album and sets the tone really well in its big guitars and drums coupled with earnest and heartfelt lyrics. The refrain of "I need you something fierce" at the end always makes me a little bit teary. It was my #2 of 1993 on my 1993 radio show!
7. French Disko - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
1994
Ping Pong
9
1994
Transona Five
49
1993
We're Not Adult Orientated
9
1993
Lo Boob Oscillator
30
1993
John Cage Bubblegum
40
1993
Jenny Ondioline
71
1993
Revox
87
“Though this world's essentially an absurd place to be living in It doesn't call for bubble withdrawal I've been told it's a fact of life, men have to kill one another Well I say there are still things worth fighting for La resistance!”
French Disko was the B-side of the Jenny Ondioline single but has gone on to be one of their most popular songs (2nd most streamed on Spotify and most played live song). It really highlights the work of Australia’s own Mary Hansen, whose backing vocals and guitar playing are really prominent. Sadly she was killed in a bike accident in 2002. If this is what a French Disko sounds like, I’d go and thrash around all night!!
I always thought the “La resistance” line above was “eye of the storm”
6. Last Train To Satansville - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
Last Day On Earth
20
1995
Bring Me The Head Of The Fortune Teller
44
1995
How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy
53
1995
I Am Superman
84
1993
Duress
10
1993
Harry & Maggie
18
1993
Duel
20
1993
For Seeking Heat
33
1993
You Find It Everywhere
96
“You look like you've been losin' sleep Said a stranger on a train I fixed him with an ice cold stare and said I've been havin' those dreams again In one dream there's this girl I love And we dance every wakin' breath And in the other they've thrown me in a cell And they're tryin' me for her death”
The two best things about this song are the lyrics and the fact that the music sounds like a train! There’s a great chugging guitar sound underneath it all.
Another great story, another great driving song from an amazing album.
5. Live GI - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
1994
Las Vegas
7
1994
Superstar
45
1994
Supernova
46
1994
Losin' It
58
1993
Your Eyes (Remix)
62
“I’ve got a big apartment baby And I painted it all blue”
Underground Lovers released the Promenade EP in 1993 and while the lead single will be considered for selection in 1992, it also included a couple of live favourites (recorded live on Triple J) Get It On and Live GI. These two songs were always (well in the early 90s always) played as the encore at Undies gig and hearing it always takes me back to those amazing shows (usually at The Annandale Hotel). The guitars are rocking, the keyboards swirling. Just ace!
I reckon Custard stole the lyrics for their Apartment song.
4. Redhead - Magic Dirt
Past entries:
2003
Plastic Loveless Letter
30
2003
All My Crushes
54
2003
Watch Out Boys
72
2001
City Trash
9
2001
Supagloo
40
2000
Dirty Jeans
26
2000
Pace It
92
1996
Shovel
44
1994
Amoxycillin
24
1994
Ice
73
“I knew that it would come to this That demons would possess your kiss”
I had seen Magic Dirt early in 1993 and enjoyed them but I saw Redhead played on Rage later in the year and I was very much taken. I loved the sound, I loved the way Adalita sang, I loved the filmclip. I bought Songs Of Satanic Youth but none of the other songs had the same effect on me. Sometimes the first is always the best!
I’ve spent 28 years thinking that Adalita was singing “Don't you know that redhead kills” only to just find out she was singing “Don't you know that redhead cat”. I think I’ll be all right.
3. She's Not Dead - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
Animal Lover
16
1993
Animal Nitrate
24
1993
So Young
52
1993
Sleeping Pills
59
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
“She'll come to her end Locked in a car somewhere With exhaust in her hair”
She's Not Dead is based on the true story of the joint suicide of Brett Anderson's aunt and her black lover in his car. As you might guess it is a very sad song and ever since I found out the story behind the song, it just makes it seem even sadder. It is beautifully arranged and very subdued in its delivery.
2. For Tomorrow (Visit To Primrose Hill Extended Version) - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
1994
This Is A Low
3
1994
To The End
13
1994
Parklife {Ft. Phil Daniels}
22
1994
Girls and Boys {Pet Shop Boys Remix}
33
1994
Jubilee
88
“And so we hold each other tightly And we can wait until tomorrow”
Blur were a very middle of the road Madchester sounding band early in the 90s. After grunge took over the world in 1991, they decided that they needed to make a record that sounded quintessentially British. That record was Modern Life Is Rubbish and it really spawned Britpop. It’s not the greatest album but it is an interesting step and a big creative leap forward by a band about to make an even bigger leap in 1994.
I remember the first time I heard this on the radio I actually thought it was a Bowie track from the 70s! It is a fantastic song, lots of vivid mentions of London, really busy with the story it is telling and the music just keeps chugging along in the background. I prefer the extended 6 minute version to the one on the album but they’re both fantastic.
1. Rid Of Me - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Down By The Water
1
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
1993
Dry
11
1993
50 Ft Queenie
21
1993
Man Size Sextet
51
1993
Yuri G
81
“'Til you say don't you wish you never never met her”
PJ Harvey joins Interpol, The Middle East and Angel Olsen as the only artists to have two #1s on my list!
Rid Of Me is such a harsh, ugly song. The lyrics display a really unhealthy obsession. The music sometimes is so low you have to strain to hear it and then all of a sudden it just bursts out into ragged noise jolting you physically. PJ Harvey’s voice is strained with fury at times resignation at others. It’s all bloody great really. Last edited:
As we move back to the early 90s, we move back to the era of my life when I was most engaged with music. I listened to music constantly, was seeing bands all the time, watched Rage religiously and was reading all about it constantly as well. Before I compile these lists (not just the 90s but all the way to 2020) I collate all of my own music library from a year, add songs I remember but might not own and also look at various lists others have done (both on this site and music press) and add a whole lot of songs I have never heard but think I should know or think I might like. 1992 was the first year ever that the whole list was from songs I already knew. Nothing else I listened to came close to getting in (#111 was the highest). However, this was only the second year in the 90s (after 1996) where I didn’t know what would end up being #1 (I already know what will be #1 in 1991 and 1990). In the end, there were two songs left standing and it was a tough choice between them.
The end of 1991 saw the release of a couple of big albums. Nevermind by Nirvana and Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. Both were (and still are) massively critically acclaimed as landmark albums. Nevermind was commercially successful as well, meaning major label record companies were signing up and flogging all sorts of similar sounding bands, meaning some legacy acts (like Sonic Youth) had their most commercially successful albums. Loveless was a commercial failure, meaning major label record companies were avoiding similar sounding bands like the plague!
As mentioned in 1993, I have considered all the songs from the 1993 Hottest 100 that were first released in 1992 here and 13 of them appear (same as 1993)!
After a record number of Australian acts in the top 10 in 1993, it the yanks turn, with a record number of US acts in the top 10 (and over half of the top 25 in fact).
1992 was probably the last year I was a regular at the clubs so a few club faves appear as well.
I teased a stat in 1997 about the most songs in a single year countdown (9) but Radiohead just missed out then (with only 8). I’ll post it again, with the knowledge that another artists will at least match this feat in 1992.
2002 - Interpol - 9 entries 2011 - The Middle East - 9 entries
And I can report a record number of songs just missing out, such was the competition for places.
101
Sunshine Smile - Adorable
102
Avenue - Saint Etienne
103
You Know Its True - Spiritualized
104
Mouse Trap - Ride
105
Lazy Day - Boo Radleys, The
106
The Model - Ride
107
If I Can't Change Your Mind - Sugar
108
Get The Girl! Kill The Baddies! - Pop Will Eat Itself
109
Midlife Crisis - Faith No More
110
I Want To Touch You - Catherine Wheel
111
Always Something - Yo La Tengo
112
High - Cure, The
113
Orgiastic - Stereolab
114
All That She Wants - Ace of Base
115
Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now) - Cracker
116
Victory - PJ Harvey
117
I'll Be Your Saint - Adorable
118
Disappointed - Electronic
119
Karmadrome - Pop Will Eat Itself
120
3AM Eternal - KLF & Extreme Noise Terror
121
Blue Eyes - Wedding Present, The
122
The Legend Of Xanadu - Fall, The
123
Go Go Dancer - Wedding Present, The
124
Join Our Club - Saint Etienne
125
Cumberland Gap - Wedding Present
126
Catchfire - Jesus and Mary Chain
127
Michael Jackson's Conveyer Belt - TISM
128
Jackals, False Grails: The Lonesome Era - Pavement
129
Done - Straightjacket Fits
130
Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat) - Digable Planets
And we start on the dancefloor with Swindon’s second favourite band (after XTC of course).
It is interesting revisiting some of these film clips from the early 90s as they are not very good at all!
99. Elizabeth Colour Wheel - Lilys
It is interesting that, generally speaking, no other shoegaze band ever tried to copy the sound of Loveless (while plenty of grunge bands did copy Nevermind). However, American band Lilys did indeed give it a go. Their 1992 album, In The Presence Of Nothing, was probably the closest thing the world had to a new MBV album until 2013 (when MBV released their own). Elizabeth Colour Wheel could easily have come from the Glider EP by MBV. Has that sound.
98. The Male Monster From The Id - Chills, The
“Got to stay on guard always, want to keep my caveman hidden Everyone has some off days when we make bad decisions”
Proper NZ royalty here! They had been around for seemingly ages in 1992 but this came from just their third album (their seventh is due later this year). I always subconsciously divided the Flying Nun bands into two camps, the poppy bands that sounded like The Chills and the noisy bands that sounded like Straightjacket Fits.
The Chills had a great jingly, jangly pop sound and The Male Monster From The Id was their third (and last) top 10 hit in New Zealand.
97. Shaddap You Face - EMF
Yes really!
1992 was the 40th anniversary of English music mag NME and also The Spastic Centre, so NME organised a triple album of all the big names from the English indy music scene (and Danni Minogue) to do covers of a UK #1 song of their choice with all proceeds to The Spastic Centre. It was only available on import in Australia and cost an absolute fortune but I saved up my pennies and got it and its really good! Not much of it can be found on Spotify sadly (and not this song).
In any case, EMF decided to cover Australia’s own Joe Dolce and his worldwide hit Shaddap Your Face and it is insane! Full on electro thrash and a lot more mother-f***ers than I remember the original having (there was a thought that EMF actually stood for Ecstasy Mother F***ers).
96. Love Your Money - Daisy Chainsaw
Five new artists to start off! Daisy Chainsaw were an English rock band and Courtney Love described the lead singer KatieJane Garside as one of the original Riot Grrls (alongside herself of course).
I probably saw Love Your Money on Rage, loved it and went out and bought the associated album Eleventeen, which was absolute rubbish (other than Love Your Money) and I sold it straight away, oh for Spotify then!
95. Cut - Cure, The
Past entries:
2004
The End Of The World
90
2001
Cut Here
96
2000
Where The Birds Always Sing
57
2000
The Last Day Of Summer
76
1997
Wrong Number
86
1994
Burn
8
“It's like listening to A breaking heart, falling sky Fire go out and friendship die”
The Cure entered the 90s as one of the biggest rock bands in the world and the anticipation surrounding their ninth album, Wish, was massive. It’s all right I guess. Bit too much filler and the god-awful Friday I’m In Love ruin it somewhat but there are some good songs to be found. It was their only #1 in the UK and Australia as well.
I saw them live on this tour (supported by The Underground Lovers) and they were fantastic (I’ve seen them three times subsequently and they were equally fantastic each time).
An underestimated of their greatness was that they could absolutely rock out when they chose to and Cut is a great example of that.
The aforementioned god-awful Friday I’m In Love is their most streamed song on Spotify as I suspected but the wonderful quartet of (in order) Boys Don’t Cry, Just Like Heaven, Close To Me and Lovesong are close behind. I though Lovecats would be up high but it sits in 10th place!
94. 200 Bars - Spiritualized
Past entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Broken Heart
3
1997
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love)
5
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
1995
Let It Flow
33
1993
Good Times
72
“I get confused, y'know I'm used to it I'm gonna lose my thoughts in 200 bars”
I’m not actually convinced that this song has 200 bars. You can hear a delightful young lady (band memeber Kate Radley I think) count out the first 100 but then her voice is muffled as the song overwhelms her voice. This happens at 3:41 in, which would mean the song would be 7:22 long if it did have 200 bars but it is only 6:16. Maybe that’s why Jase is confused!
93. In The Mouth A Desert - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
“I've been crowned the King of Id And Id is all we have, so wait To hear my words and they're diamond-sharp today”
Second song so far to mention Id! Odd. Must admit that until I looked this up, I though they were singing it not Id.
92. Holiday - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
1994
Las Vegas
7
1994
Superstar
45
1994
Supernova
46
1994
Losin' It
58
1993
Live GI
5
1993
Your Eyes (Remix)
62
“Is this your idea of a holiday”
For the first time, a Phillipa Nihill sung Undies song. Such a sad song as well.
91. It's A Shame About Ray - Lemonheads, The
I broke my ankle at a Lemonheads gig in 1992 (before they actually came on as well) and ended up in casualty overnight. Never tried to see them again just in case.
I was hopeful that this might be their most streamed song on Spotify but Mrs Robinson is!! Last edited:
I think this was the first Pulp song I ever heard, my introduction to the very deliberately witty and eloquent Jarvis Cocker. It is that deliberateness that grates on me sometimes (read Common People).
89. Gravity Grave - Verve, The
Past entries:
1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
35
1997
Weeping Willow
39
1997
The Drugs Don't Work
53
1995
This Is Music
25
1995
History
29
1993
The Sun, The Sea
12
1993
Slide Away
22
1993
Blue
26
1993
Butterfly
88
“To me you're like a setting sun You rise, then you're gone”
Back to where it all began for The Verve, as their first 3 singles came out in 1992 (this was the third). You can certainly hear the sound they would go on to master in 1993’s Storm In Heaven but it wasn’t quite there yet. The original single was an 8 minute affair (later reduced to a 4 minute edit) and , of course, that is the version I have selected. The psychedelic haze of the back few minutes is great.
88. Firepile - Throwing Muses
Past entries:
1995
Bright Yellow Gun
16
Even though they are an American band, Throwing Muses have only ever charted in one place, the UK. Firepile is their biggest “hit” there, getting to #46.
87. Two States - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
“Forty million daggers”
I used to sing “Forty million Daddos” back in the day. If you were around in 1992, you know what I mean. I think the Daddos are extinct now, hasn’t been a sighting of one for a while.
Two States is probably the most immediately accessible song on Slanted and Enchanted, a 2 minute power pop singalong.
86. Batyar - Ukrainians, The
Another cover and if you speak Ukrainian and have followed these lists (I’m assuming that’s no-one) you’ll know that it is the second time this classic 80s song has been covered in my 90s lists but the first time by a Ukrainian folk music band. Not to quibble but it really should have been called “Batyar z Maloyi Dytyny”.
The Ukrainians came about when The Wedding Present were doing a Peel Session in the late 80s and their Ukrainian born guitarist Peter Solowka started playing traditional Ukrainian folk music in rehearsal. John Peel convinced them to record a Ukrainian folk song on the sessions and by the early 90s, Solowka had left and formed the Ukrainians.
In 1992 they recorded an EP called Pisni iz The Smiths (Songs from The Smiths) covering Smiths songs in Ukrainian folk style, doing The Queen Is Dead, What Difference Does It Make, Meat Is Murder and (have you guessed yet) Bigmouth Strikes Again.
85. Glamorous Glue - Morrissey
Past entries:
2004
First Of The Gang To Die
42
1995
The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Students
36
1995
Southpaw
71
1994
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
55
How good are The Snuffs!
84. Nearly Lost You - Screaming Trees
Not the first time Mark Lanegan has appeared in these lists as his Queens Of The Stone Age era work has featured heavily.
Nearly Lost You is one of those songs that 10 or more years ago would have been higher but has slipped in my reckoning but its still a cracker Grunge song. Another very dated film clip as well.
83. Circa 1762 - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
Two States
87
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
Speaking of The Peel Sessions, this was recorded by Pavement for theirs in 1992, was never separately released and I only ever heard it on the deluxe version of Slanted and Enchanted released in 2002.
82. Pretend We're Dead - L7
“Turn the tables with our unity They're neither moral nor majority Wake up and smell the coffee Or just say no to individuality”
An anthem against the apathy shown by the masses against right wing/capitalist political pressures (in L7’s case the Reagan/Bush era politics). Its an absolute stonking pop-rock song as well!
Their most streamed song on Spotify by a massive margin.
81. Confection - Crow
Past entries:
1995
Kilkeel
74
This maybe came out in 1991 but also maybe came out in 1992, different sources say different things and I can’t remember which is right. I don’t own it, was a flatmate’s copy I listened to back in the day so can’t check the CD. I completely forgot about their debut album My Kind Of Pain when doing 1993, so will give Railhead a belated jersey as it would surely have made it.
A noisy, swirling blast of rock from one of Sydney’s best live bands at the time. I saw them support My Bloody Valentine with Straightjacket Fits in early 1992 and it was easily the loudest show I’ve ever heard in my life (MBV’s 15 minute noise fest version of You Made Me Realise was the loudest but truly awesome as well). Last edited:
“Slip right to me And slide right through me Oh honey you threw me Away from you”
Here is another very noisy band, The Jesus and Mary Chain. Honey’s Dead, their 4th album was an interesting beast. The title is a dig at their most popular song, Just Like Honey from their 1985 masterpiece Psychocandy. Except, honey isn’t dead at all as it is the album that is most sonically similar to Just Like Honey, with the insane noise explosions overlaying very poppy sounds. It is faster tempo than Psychocandy but still similar. It doesn’t always work but it is a pretty fine album.
Tumbledown is a good example, very poppy in sound and tempo but just some insane noise explosions along the way.
79. Jump Around - House Of Pain
Awesome song to dance like an uncoordinated giraffe to, a style I specialise in.
78. Stomach Worm - Stereolab
Past entries:
1999
The Free Design
93
1997
Miss Modular
93
1996
Metronomic Underground
10
1995
Pop Quiz
91
1994
Ping Pong
9
1994
Transona Five
49
1993
French Disko
7
1993
We're Not Adult Orientated
9
1993
Lo Boob Oscillator
30
1993
John Cage Bubblegum
40
1993
Jenny Ondioline
71
1993
Revox
87
Stereolab’s first album Peng! Was released in 1992. I didn’t hear them until 1993 but did check this out when it was re-issued in the 2000s.
You can hear the trademark sounds of their early work, thrashy guitars, poppy keyboard, sexy French vocals. Very good!!!
77. Whats Up? - 4 Non Blondes
My kids don’t recognise most of the music I listened to in the 90s but when this came on in the car they all said “It’s the He-Man song”. I had no idea what they were talking about so they showed me a YouTube video that has 182 million views. Go away and search What’s Up He-Man on YouTube and have a listen.
You’re welcome.
76. We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful - Morrissey
Past entries:
2004
First Of The Gang To Die
42
1995
The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Students
36
1995
Southpaw
71
1994
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
55
1992
Glamorous Glue
85
“Well, it's really laughable”
Not wrong there Moz
75. Creep - Radiohead
Past entries:
2019
Ill Wind
86
2017
I Promise
78
2016
Burn The Witch
26
2016
Daydreaming
81
2016
True Love Waits
82
2011
Lotus Flower
21
2011
Codex
75
2011
Morning Mr Magpie
95
2009
These Are My Twisted Words
74
2007
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
9
2007
Reckoner
34
2007
All I Need
48
2007
Bodysnatchers
75
2005
I Want None Of This
75
2003
2 + 2 = 5
5
2003
There There
38
2003
Go To Sleep
45
2003
Myxomatosis
65
2001
Pyramid Song
22
2001
Knives Out
27
2001
I Might Be Wrong
57
2001
Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
74
2000
Idioteque
6
2000
Everything In Its Right Place
46
2000
The National Anthem
56
2000
How To Disappear Completely
95
1998
No Surprises
7
1997
Paranoid Android
1
1997
Airbag
9
1997
Karma Police
11
1997
Climbing Up The Walls
12
1997
Let Down
18
1997
Lucky
23
1997
Subterranean Homesick Alien
31
1997
Exit Music (For A Film)
76
1996
Talk Show Host
5
1996
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16
1995
Black Star
2
1995
Sulk
3
1995
Fake Plastic Trees
4
1995
High And Dry
11
1995
The Bends
18
1995
Just
61
1994
The Trickster
37
Radiohead appear for the 46th time! To be honest, if this song wasn’t Radiohead I doubt I would be on this list. When I first heard it, I thought it was OK but it was just played continually on every single radio station and by the end of 1993 I would have been happy to never hear it again. I started properly getting into Radiohead in 1995 and have been able to revisit this song and appreciate the little signs within it that they would become something special.
74. Creep - Stone Temple Pilots
Past entries:
2000
Sour Girl
13
1996
Big Bang Baby
57
1994
Interstate Love Song
6
1994
Vasoline
51
“I'm half the man I used to be”
If you told 2000s OBOne that Stone Temple Pilots would have the better song called Creep I’d have laughed as Radiohead rulez! Stone Temple Pilots are sort of the anti-Screaming Trees. I dismissed them in the 90s as grunge wannabes but over time I’ve actually come to appreciate them a lot more. I’m sure that without Nevermind being the success it was, they would have struggled to get any traction but it doesn’t take away from the fact that they write really well constructed songs.
Both the Creep songs are very self-deprecating, Radiohead in an angsty way and Stone Temple Pilots in a more reflective way, so they get the nod.
73. Texas Never Whispers - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
Circa 1762
83
1992
Two States
87
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
The 1992 Pavement juggernaut rolls on, can they be stopped. This was on the Watery Domestic EP released at the end of 1992 and is a darker rockier number than anything on Slanted and Enchanted. Another one I only heard on the extended edition.
Did you know that Placebo sampled the intro on “Slave To The Wage” and so Steve Malkmus and Scott Kanneberg get writing credits. You do now!
72. Grasshopper - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
This was the B-Side to Leave Them All Behind and has a few things going for it that’s means I’m destined to think it is great
•
It’s by Ride
•
It’s Shoegaze
•
It’s an 11 minute instrumental
71. Oh My Lover - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Down By The Water
1
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
1993
Rid Of Me
1
1993
Dry
11
1993
50 Ft Queenie
21
1993
Man Size Sextet
51
1993
Yuri G
81
I always think that the first song on a debut album is a very important song. It is possibly the first thing people will hear from you so you need to make a good first impression. This is first song from PJ Harvey’s debut album and leads you into her world. As you can see from the above list of songs, it is a world I love.
“I wanna love somebody I hear you need somebody to love”
Matthew Sweet just released his 15th album! I must admit I haven’t heard anything from him since 1995. Girlfriend, from the album of the same name is a sweet power pop number. It was a minor hit here reaching #71 on the ARIA charts.
69. Twisterella - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
Grasshopper
72
“Feel the weight letting go Feel more lightness than you've ever known You can't see when light's so strong You can't see when light is gone”
Ride released their second album in 1992. After a critically acclaimed first one (Nowhere), there was much interest (especially from me). The first single (released before the album) was called Leave Them All Behind but it didn’t really leave anything behind, it occupied the same sonic space as Nowhere. The Second album was called Going Blank Again, indicating that it would be more of the same. Except that it isn’t. Confused? Yep, me too.
Twisterella was the second single and is just a great upbeat pop song that got the occasional turn on the dance floor. It owes more to The Beatles or The Beach Boys than My Bloody Valentine due to the amazing harmonies. Still some damn fine guitar playing though.
68. A Letter To Elise - Cure, The
Past entries:
2004
The End Of The World
90
2001
Cut Here
96
2000
Where The Birds Always Sing
57
2000
The Last Day Of Summer
76
1997
Wrong Number
86
1994
Burn
8
1992
Cut
95
“I stood and stared Wide-eyed in front of you And the face I saw looked back the way I wanted to But I just can't hold my tears away the way you do”
Such a sad song, hidden in upbeat tempo and glistening guitars. The Cure have made a name for themselves with breakup songs (Boys Don’t Cry and In Between Days come to mind) but this finds Robert Smith, for once, doing the breaking off himself. Puts a different slant on it.
67. Ordeal - Pale Saints
Past entries:
1994
Fine Friend
87
“Feel the light is landing On the surface of your being Like you're dragging an old dress along a floor”
Shoegaze was a pretty introspective genre but Pale Saints took it to 11. There was always a layer of inwards looking melancholy to their songs. They were a 4AD band so there was an dream pop element to their work as well. Ordeal has some fine drumming on it, that breaks up the ethereal nature somewhat.
66. Fast Piss Blues - Come
Past entries:
1994
In/Out
97
A great bluesy rock song from Boston’s Come. I remember buying this album (11:11) after reading a review of it in the music press, never having heard anything from it. Was a much better investment than Daisy Chainsaw’s Eleventeen.
65. Changes - Sugar
Past entries:
1995
Gee Angel
50
1993
JC Auto
19
1993
Judas Cradle
76
Bob Mould was very taken by Nevermind and, while it they sound nothing like it, credits it for Sugar being successful as people were now listening to alternative rock music. Copper Blue, their first album, was released in 1992 and it is a great rock album. Very accessible, great pop sensibility but it is good and proper rock music. Changes is one of the rockier numbers on it and is a particular fave of mine.
All of their top 6 most streamed songs are from Copper Blue, with I Can’t Change Your Mind (which was just outside my 100 at #107) leading the way.
64. Boing! - Wedding Present, The
“I don't know what to believe Last night you held me Today you tell me you're going to leave Oh, you've got so much to learn Go if you must go Oh, but I know you'll return”
At the end of 1992, do you know who held the record for most songs in the Top 30 of the UK charts in a calendar year? If you said The Wedding Present you’re getting good at these rhetorical questions. They released 12 singles in 1992, one each month and they all hit the Top 30.
Boing! was August’s release. If you’re not familiar with their work they are a fantastic indy rock band from Leeds (and had a Ukrainian guitar player of course). The were big in the late 80s and the run of singles in 1992 was the last time I listened to them. I’ve put some of their later stuff on my playlists as I’ve gone through the 90s but nothing really grabbed me.
63. Indigo Is Blue - Catherine Wheel
Past entries:
1995
Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck
88
1995
Judy Staring At The Sun {Ft. Tanya Donelly}
65
1993
Crank
35
1993
Fripp
65
If I planned this better this should have been two places lower, so Catherine Wheel could have the #65 spot for their first three albums.
This starts with an awesome wall of distorted guitars for 40 seconds and then the song proper kicks in. There is a section late in the song that particularly grabs me. There is a squall of guitars and the refrain “Indigo Is Blue” repeated. Beautiful.
Strangely, this album isn’t on Spotify (the others are).
62. Straight To You - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
2019
Waiting For You
54
2016
Distant Sky
5
2013
Jubilee Street
5
2013
Push The Sky Away
51
2013
Higgs Boson Blues
66
2012
We Know Who U R
24
2008
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
40
2001
Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow
34
1997
Into My Arms
14
1997
Are You The One I've Been Waiting For
96
1996
Stagger Lee
6
1996
Henry Lee {Ft. PJ Harvey}
15
1995
Where The Wild Roses Grow {Ft. Kylie Minogue}
99
1994
Red Right Hand
21
1994
Thirsty Dog
82
“Now heaven has denied us its kingdom And the saints they're all drunk howling at the moon And the chariots of angels are colliding Well, I'll run, babe, but I'll come running Straight to you, for I am captured”
A beautiful song and the first of 12 Bad Seeds song to hit the Aria charts (at #96).
61. Remedy - Black Crowes, The
In the very important music question that you will be asked at some stage, who is better “The Beatles or The Stones”, the only correct answer is The Stones and this reminds me very much of The Stones.
“Every day there is some kind of darkness That just won't go away no matter how hard I try It crawls into your system while your guard is down Becomes the ball that you drag around to”
The two members of Curve, Toni Halliday and Dean Garcia were introduced by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics! She had been signed to his record label for some solo work and he had played with The Eurythmics on tour in the 80s. They are an interesting mix of electro and rock. I’ve always though Garbage were influenced by them.
59. Free Range - Fall, The
Past entries:
1996
Cheetham Hill
51
1995
Life Just Bounces
57
John Peel’s favourite band, very consistent always in the 50s, The Fall. The early 90s were a time when The Fall were experimenting with a slight electronic sound to meld with their punk origins. Doesn’t always work but does here.
58. Blue Room - Orb
Not so much a dance floor song but a come down song is the 17 minute ambient trance of Blue Room.
57. Lillee Caught Dilley Bowled Milli Vanilli - TISM
Past entries:
1998
Whatareya?
78
1998
I Might Be A Cunt But I'm Not A Fucking Cunt
90
1997
The Last Australian Guitar Hero
19
1997
Yob
46
1995
Greg! The Stop Sign!!
12
1995
(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River
55
1995
All Homeboys Are Dickheads
69
“Don't want push boulder up no hilly I want Milli Vanilli”
In typical TISM fashion, this song is an exercise in coming up with words that rhyme with Milli Vanilli (rockabilly, chilli, Kirrabilli et al) ending in “I don’t want to write no lyrics silly”.
56. Cool Your Boots - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
Twisterella
69
1992
Grasshopper
72
“But how can I see the stars if my feet are on the ground?”
Otherwise known as the Withnail and I song, as there are a couple of samples from said movie in the song. The quote is interesting as quite a few Ride songs have lyrics playing with the metaphysical separation between the earth and the sky and the state of minds they represent.
55. 100% - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
1998
Sunday
24
1998
Wildflower Soul
65
1995
The Diamond Sea
32
1994
Superstar
16
1994
Bull In The Heather
70
“Can you forgive the boy who Shot you in the head Or should you get a gun and Go and get revenge?”
100% is dedicated to a friend of the band Joe Cole who was murdered in an armed robbery in 1991. Henry Rollins was there as well but escaped.
Dirty was Sonic Youth’s eight album but was their most successful at the time due to the knock on effects of Nevermind. It was their first ever top 10 album (in UK and NZ) and hit #22 in Aus as well.
The film clip was the first big film clip by Spike Jonze! It’s not that good but he would go on to win an Oscar so must have been good practise.
54. Step It Up - Stereo MC’s
Back to the dancefloor for this one. I’ve always wondered about the MC’s in the name, as it is in the possessive. What are they possessing??? The Stereo MC's what???
53. Got Off On It - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
1994
Las Vegas
7
1994
Superstar
45
1994
Supernova
46
1994
Losin' It
58
1993
Live GI
5
1993
Your Eyes (Remix)
62
1992
Holiday
92
This was a live favourite, usually performed very seductively by Vincent Giarrusso, the lead singer.
52. OX4 - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
Cool Your Boots
56
1992
Twisterella
69
1992
Grasshopper
72
“Never been so far away Just lost the last thought in my head, what happens now? Some fantasy you've been Pick up the pieces in my mind, I'm going home”
And the Pavement juggernaut has been stopped (or at least equalled).
OX4 is a beautifully reflective song about home. It starts innocently enough, descends into a squall of noise and then at about 2 minutes the song proper emerges in all its glory.
In the UK, your postcode is determined by the nearest postal centre. The band being from Oxford, had the postcode OX4 in the area they lived in. When I lived in the UK, I had the postcode OX10 for a while and it made me think of this song.
It made a surprise appearance when I saw them live in 2019!
51. Connected - Stereo MC's
Past entries:
1992
Step It Up
54
A quick double from Stereo MC’s. This one is pretty well known and has been used on a multitude of ads. Hopefully they made a few bucks out of it.
Slanted and Enchanted is a fantastic album, one of the best from the 90s. It all sounds pretty normal now but at the time there was nothing else that really sounded like it. It drew elements from other sources (Pixies, The Fall, mainstream rock) and melded them together in a unique way and pretty much founded the low-fi movement.
Trigger Cut is as close to a straightforward “single” as there was on the album (and was released as such), so they decided to add the 17 seconds wig out at the end (which wasn’t on the single) which has to get a guernsey!
49. Conduit For Sale! - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17
50
1992
Texas Never Whispers
73
1992
Circa 1762
83
1992
Two States
87
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
“Between here and there is better than either here or there!”
A rambling, stream of consciousness song about the House of Savoy in Turin and free land I think. Great interplay between the two singers and drum beat to carry it all off.
48. Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) - Manic Street Preachers
Past entries:
1998
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
10
1996
A Design For Life
4
1996
Australia
30
1996
Everything Must Go
79
1993
La Tristessa Durera (Scream To A Sigh)
95
“The sword of time will pierce our skin It doesn't hurt when it begins But as it works its way on in The pain grows stronger, watch it grin”
From the same NME compilation as the EMF song earlier. The original was written by Robert Altman’s 15 year old son with the two stipulations that it had to be called Suicide Is Painless and it had to be “the stupidest song ever written”. Robert Altman earned $70,000 for directing MASH and his son over 1 million for writing the song.
47. Something Good - Utah Saints
I’m sure that younger OBOne could be seen waving his hands like an idiot to this on the dancefloor. Great club song still.
46. Don't Call Home - Breeders, The
Past entries:
1993
Cannonball
48
“Don’t even write”
In 1992, I was living in a 6 bedroom share household near Sydney Uni. There was plenty of music always being played and also plenty of guitars lying about. One of the guys in the house taught everyone how to play this song on guitar (don’t know why this song). We’d sit around the couches in the living room, put it on and just play it. Great song and even greater memories although I cannot remember how to play it anymore.
45. Helpless - Sugar
Past entries:
1995
Gee Angel
50
1993
JC Auto
19
1993
Judas Cradle
76
1992
Changes
65
“You're left alone with something And I hope for you it's one thing That something you and yours can Hold and hold as something special”
A classic pop-rock anthem without a chorus! Mixes a little bit of grunge and a little bit of shoegaze and some Bob Mouldiness very nicely indeed.
44. Man On The Moon – R.E.M.
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
1996
E-Bow The Letter
71
1995
Crush With Eyeliner
89
1994
Bang and Blame
89
“Let’s play Twister Let’s play Risk”
Scraped in at #93 in the 1993 Hottest 100!
R.E.M. were one of my favourite bands of the 80s but Green and Out Of Time left me cold, so wasn’t expecting much from Automatic For The People but I was very pleasantly surprised. It is an amazing album. Much removed from their “collage radio” sound of the 80s to a very mature confident sound. A band that had figured themselves out.
43. Stampede - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
OX4
52
1992
Cool Your Boots
56
1992
Twisterella
69
1992
Grasshopper
72
Stampede was the B-side to Twisterella (#69). Ride were a band that took care when releasing B-sides, as they were always as good as the album tracks. Their singles/Eps always had great covers as well. It was a shame that they went downhill pretty quickly after 1992, until their surprise re-appearance in 2017.
42. Acid Rain - Tumbleweed
Past entries:
1996
Silver Lizard
62
“The garden here has grown to weed These things I crave are slave to me”
The weed! I had seen Tumbleweed live a few times before 1992 but Acid Rain was the first time I heard a recorded song (think it was on Rage) and I was struck mainly how different to their live sound it was. Slower, subdued, melodic and quite beautiful. Very different to the wild trashy live performances (which were always ace BTW). None of their pre-1995 material is available to stream on Spotify sadly.
41. Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers
Past entries:
1998
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
10
1996
A Design For Life
4
1996
Australia
30
1996
Everything Must Go
79
1993
La Tristessa Durera (Scream To A Sigh)
95
1992
Theme From M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)
48
“Your joys are counterfeit This happiness corrupt political shit”
By the time Manic Street Preachers released their debut album in 1992, they were somewhat of a known quantity as the music press enjoyed covering their exploits. From afar, they seemed to be a gimmick band of image rather than substance. This was the song that changed my opinion! It is heartfelt and earnest and sounds great.
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love)
5
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
1995
Let It Flow
33
1993
Good Times
72
1992
200 Bars
94
“When I'm tired and all alone, Lord, shine a light on me”
After the demise of England’s favourite noise rock band, Spaceman 3, in 1991, Jason Pierce released his first album as Spiritualised, Laser Guided Melodies, in 1992. After the success of Nirvana in 1991 it made sense he looked to the USA for inspiration but it came in the form of southern gospel music and blues not grunge and it is a quiet album, not loud!
Shine A Light is a serene, blissed-out, psychedelic take on gospel for its first half and a Stooge’s inspired musical freak out in its second.
39. Kick The Tragedy - Drop Nineteens
I mentioned in my blurb that every one of the 100 were songs that I knew before starting to compile the list. This is the last song that I have discovered. I was mucking around with Spotify when I first got it at the end of last year and put on a shoegaze mix at some stage and heard this song. I checked it out and saw that it was from 1992 and put it on the shortlist!
Drop Nineteens were a short lived shoegaze band from Boston. Kick The Tragedy is a sweet instrumental with a bit of rambling spoken word towards the end.
38. The Queen Of Outer Space - Wedding Present, The
Past entries:
1992
Boing!
64
November’s entry for The Wedding Present. They were always very earnest in their lyrics and this is no different. Another terrible film clip.
37. Throwing Back The Apple - Pale Saints
Past entries:
1994
Fine Friend
87
1992
Ordeal
67
“It's coming through Taking over you”
I know I say it a lot but this is a really beautiful song! Beautiful music, beautiful singing, beautiful harmonies.
36. Time Of Her Time - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
Stampede
43
1992
OX4
52
1992
Cool Your Boots
56
1992
Twisterella
69
1992
Grasshopper
72
“Your face I've seen in visions In silver rippling sky No feelings, reactions As I pass you by”
Tied up again 😉
There is a wonderful urgency to Time Of Her Time. It’s in a hurry to tell its story with busy guitar work in the background. Great drumming as well.
I played this on my radio show as a song from my favourite album of 1992.
35. Sundown - Jesus and Mary Chain, The
Past entries:
1994
Dirty Water
72
1994
Sometimes Always {Ft. Hope Sandoval}
18
1993
Snakedriver
31
1992
Tumbledown
80
“The planet's more fucked up Than I'll ever be”
First two and a half minutes – This is a pretty song!
Last minute – Oh my god, what on earth is that noise, I love it 😊
34. Loretta's Scars - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
Conduit For Sale
49
1992
Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17
50
1992
Texas Never Whispers
73
1992
Circa 1762
83
1992
Two States
87
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
“From now on, I can see the sun Makes me nervous, makes me run”
The saddest song (for me) on Slanted and Enchanted even though (like all the songs) I don’t really know what it is about. I think it is about seeing beyond a person’s scars to see their “sun”. The way Steve Malkmus sings this is just really heartfelt, seems personal.
33. Out Of Space - Prodigy, The
Past entries:
1997
Funky Shit
52
1996
Firestarter
14
1996
Breathe
37
1994
Voodoo People
81
“I’ll take your brain to another dimension”
Some intense techno from The Prodigy, with some light relief at times. Another song I wildly waved my arms around to back in the day and another terrible film clip.
32. Drive - R.E.M.
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
1996
E-Bow The Letter
71
1995
Crush With Eyeliner
89
1994
Bang and Blame
89
1992
Man On The Moon
44
“Hey kids, where are you? Nobody tells you what to do,”
This, however, has a great film clip. In the age of grunge, R.E.M. were about as far from it as possible, yet the film clip of Michael Stipe crowd surfing is a great image that only R.E.M. could pull off without seeming a bit wanky.
Automatic For The People is a reflective album, reflective of the past and the future. Drive is a great album opener is setting that scene in tempo and atmosphere. Great song.
31. Reverence - Jesus and Mary Chain, The
Past entries:
1994
Dirty Water
72
1994
Sometimes Always {Ft. Hope Sandoval}
18
1993
Snakedriver
31
1992
Sundown
35
1992
Tumbledown
80
“I wanna die just like Jesus Christ I wanna die on a bed of spikes I wanna die come see paradise”
I think the word you’re actually looking for is Irreverence.
“She's got the radioactive And it makes me feel ok”
Over the years many of the fantastic songs on Slanted and Enchanted have been my “fave”. Two States was probably the first, Loretta’s Scars was for a time and passed the baton to Perfume-V. Really calming song, great harmonies, no idea what it is about!
29. Far Gone And Out - Jesus and Mary Chain, The
Past entries:
1994
Dirty Water
72
1994
Sometimes Always {Ft. Hope Sandoval}
18
1993
Snakedriver
31
1992
Reverence
31
1992
Sundown
35
1992
Tumbledown
80
“I can't explain exactly what I'm doing standing in the rain”
The best example of Honey’s Dead of mixing the noise and the pop together. They had done with using drummers at this stage and used drum machines and it gives a nice crisp beat in this one, great to sing loud.
28. Run - Spiritualized
Past entries:
2001
Stop Your Crying
36
2001
Do It All Over Again
90
1997
Broken Heart
3
1997
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (I Can't Help Falling in Love)
5
1997
I Think I'm In Love
40
1997
Come Together
42
1997
Cop Shoot Cop
73
1997
Electricity
85
1995
Let It Flow
33
1993
Good Times
72
1992
Shine A Light
40
1992
200 Bars
94
A sort of cover of an old J.J. Cale blues number. It’s the most uptempo song on the album but still pretty laid back and chilled. The song that got me into Spiritualized.
27. Metal Mickey - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
She's Not Dead
3
1993
Animal Lover
16
1993
Animal Nitrate
24
1993
So Young
52
1993
Sleeping Pills
59
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
A stompingly upbeat glam rock number, apparently (musically) inspired by The Shoop Shoop Song by Cher and apparently (lyrically) by KatieJane Garside of Daisy Chainsaw (found at #96). I always thought it was about a stripper.
This got their highest ever chart position in Australia (#39).
26. Lazarus - Boo Radleys, The
Past entries:
1995
Wake Up Boo!
14
1993
Butterfly McQueen - Boo Radleys, The
13
1993
Rodney King (Song For Lenny Bruce) - Boo Radleys, The
14
1993
I Hang Suspended
55
1993
Take The Time Around
78
1993
The White Noise Revisited
100
“I, and when I start to look back I feel like I've spent my whole life just kicking round And not getting in the way And now, and maybe now I should change”
The Boo Radleys released their second album early in 1992 and it was allright, generic shoegaze stuff (see Lazy Day at #105). Later in the year they released a new single Lazarus and it is a different beast all together. A sort of psychedelic pulsing intro and then a massive blast of horns. It is the sound of a band being reborn with a new sound.
25. Summerside - Adorable
Past entries:
1993
Crash Sight
23
1993
Sistine Chapel Ceiling
29
1993
Glorious
79
“She said, "I've touched the stars" And she had the scars to prove it”
Summerside is the B-side to the I’ll Be Your Saint (#117) single and is a much better song. It is a heartbreakingly sad song, with just a guitar for a backing track and the sad lyrics of a bad relationship. Not to be found on Spotify sadly.
24. Plush - Stone Temple Pilots
Past entries:
2000
Sour Girl
13
1996
Big Bang Baby
57
1994
Interstate Love Song
6
1994
Vasoline
51
1992
Creep
74
We now enter what I’d like to call the “American songs that were in the 1993 Hottest 100 but were actually released in 1992” section of the countdown and Stone Temple Pilots kick it off with their Grammy Award winning song Plush. I have absolutely no idea what it’s all about but it sounds great, syncopated guitars, distinctive voice. Top notch rock song.
23. Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
1996
E-Bow The Letter
71
1995
Crush With Eyeliner
89
1994
Bang and Blame
89
1992
Drive
32
1992
Man On The Moon
44
“When you're sure you've had enough Of this life, well, hang on”
I’ve just got something in my eye. I’m not crying really! It’s actually a call out to say that it’s not that bad, people are there who care etc but it just sounds so god damn sad.
22. Get Me - Dinosaur Jr
Past entries:
2007
Almost Ready
46
1994
Feel The Pain
53
“You're not gonna get me through this are you”
J. Mascis, rock god definitely shows his guitar playing expertise on Get Me, just some otherworldly licks in the back half. For being pretty deadpan in his delivery, there is a surprising amount of emotion in the lyric quoted above, desperation, sadness.
Dinosaur Jr just released a new album (with Lou Barlow back in the fold) and I listened to it the other day and it is pretty fine actually, might make my 2021 list.
21. Nightswimming - R.E.M.
Past entries:
1998
Daysleeper
93
1996
E-Bow The Letter
71
1995
Crush With Eyeliner
89
1994
Bang and Blame
89
1992
Everybody Hurts
23
1992
Drive
32
1992
Man On The Moon
44
“The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago Turned around backwards so the windshield shows Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse”
A beautifully nostalgic look at the simpler times of youth. I love how Michael Stipe’s voice seems to break in the first line, I love the strings arrangement (by John Paul Jones from Led Zepellin), I love the piano accompaniment by Mike Mills, I love the oboe (reminds me of Bye Bye Pride). I just love it all really. From the first listen, this has always been my favourite song from Automatic.
20. Killing In The Name Of - Rage Against The Machine
Past entries:
2000
Sleep Now In The Fire
3
2000
Renegades of Funk
21
2000
Maria
80
1999
Guerilla Radio
40
1999
Testify
49
1998
No Shelter
72
1996
Bulls On Parade
21
“Some of those that work forces Are the same that burn crosses”
A bit of a classic really. Doesn’t have all the power that it did in 1992, when it shocked you into listening. Sounds a bit dated and is a bit repetitive but, my god, what a song. Thumping music, stinging lyrics, the palpable anger and a complete wig out at the end. Just awesome.
Interesting that a song about racism in police forces in America from 1992 is just as relevant in 2021, not much has changed.
19. Sundial - Tumbleweed
Past entries:
1996
Silver Lizard
62
1992
Acid Rain
42
“You sit upon the dial and wait awhile for age to take you home”
More Weed!! I’ve seen this song referred to as Sundial (Mary Jane) but the album (Tumbleweed) and single both refer to it as Sundial Just a great slab of psychedelic rock. I always thought the above line said “for rage to take you home”. Maybe because I probably was watching Rage when I first heard it!
Their biggest hit in Australia, hitting #35 on the ARIA singles charts but sadly not available on Spotify.
18. Tailight Fades - Buffalo Tom
Past entries:
1995
Summer
42
“Lost my life in cheap wine Now it's quiet time”
That thing is stuck in my eyes again. So goddamn sad this song. Love it. Great to sing along with friends after having a few at the end of a party (certainly sends everyone home at least). More misheard lyrics in the above, I would sing “Now it’s choir time”, ie singing at his funeral. Like mine better.
This is, of course, their most streamed song on Spotify but while confirming this, I saw that Sodajerk was third, a song I forgot to include on my 1993 shortlist. D’oh!
17. Bill And Ben - Catherine Wheel
Past entries:
1995
Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck
88
1995
Judy Staring At The Sun {Ft. Tanya Donelly}
65
1993
Crank
35
1993
Fripp
65
1992
Indigo Is Blue
63
“You are young and full of heart You are light and you are dark You are real but torn apart You are losing”
How can you not love a song about Bill and Ben. What it’s got to do with Bill and Ben I don’t know, maybe a lament to the lost TV show.
The burst of guitar that comes after the line “You are losing” and continues on afterwards just lifts my heart every time I hear it, it is that thrilling.
16. Come Play With Me - Wedding Present, The
Past entries:
1992
The Queen Of Outer Space
38
1992
Boing!
64
“But you should've seen the smile When she said "Should I go? Should I walk out?" Oh, we sat for a while I didn't say yes or no But we'd just run out of time”
May’s single and the highest charting of the 12 (#10 in the UK, their highest ever), Come Play With Me is a very playful song 😉, I love the line “It’s over, now come play with me”. It has a great build up, both lyrically and sonically that leads to a release in the “come play with me” line. Well constructed song.
15. Sugar Kane - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
1998
Sunday
24
1998
Wildflower Soul
65
1995
The Diamond Sea
32
1994
Superstar
16
1994
Bull In The Heather
70
1992
100%
55
“I love you, Sugar Kane”
The song that first struck me after listening to Dirty was Sugar Kane, another really well constructed song. There are so many facets to the music, different movements and sounds, it is loud and then quiet but it all is very easy on the ear. Thurston Moore’s deadpan delivery works really well, especially on the repeated line above.
14. Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn - Swervedriver
Past entries:
2015
Deep Wound
91
1995
Last Day On Earth
20
1995
Bring Me The Head Of The Fortune Teller
44
1995
How Does It Feel To Look Like Candy
53
1995
I Am Superman
84
1993
Last Train To Satansville
6
1993
Duress
10
1993
Harry & Maggie
18
1993
Duel
20
1993
For Seeking Heat
33
1993
You Find It Everywhere
96
“You can see for miles you say”
For 5 minutes (Never Lose That Feeling) it is a rock blast, buzzing guitars, syncopated drums and then (Never Learn) it just phases out and becomes a woozy, drunken, sprawling instrumental, some howling sax.
Sadly not on Spotify.
13. The Drowners - Suede
Past entries:
1999
Electricity
33
1997
Lazy
66
1997
Saturday Night
90
1996
Trash
7
1996
Beautiful Ones
23
1995
New Generation
48
1994
The Wild Ones
4
1994
Stay Together
12
1994
We Are The Pigs
27
1993
She's Not Dead
3
1993
Animal Lover
16
1993
Animal Nitrate
24
1993
So Young
52
1993
Sleeping Pills
59
1993
Pantomime Horse
66
1992
Metal Mickey
27
“Well, he writes the line Wrote right down my spine It says, "Oh, do you believe in love there?"”
Suede were, like The Manic Street Preachers, a band that could have been style over substance. They famously appeared on the cover of NME before having released any music. They had a definite look, an androgynous stylish one. Luckily they had a great sound to back it up as demonstrated on The Drowners, their first single. 70s inspired glam rock anthems with a very British feel.
12. Would? - Alice In Chains
Past entries:
1995
Grind
45
“Have I run too far to get home?”
I’ve always liked this song, in particular the vocal interplay between Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell in particular and the changes of tempo in the music. It is actually a song about Andrew Wood (Would get it), lead singer of Mother Love Bone (one of the first grunge bands) who died in 1990. It was originally released as part of the Singles soundtrack, a movie about Seattle and Grunge.
11. A Small Victory - Faith No More
Past entries:
1997
Ashes To Ashes
25
I must admit that I have no idea what any of the lyrics are and I actually don’t want to go and find out. I prefer not knowing what Mike Patton is growling, I just sing along random stuff and it works for me. It is a pretty chaotic song, plenty going on at every point.
The first song from Leaves Me Blind and a wonderful introduction to the album. It has a smooth keyboard and bass introduction and then the drums and guitars burst into life and propel the song forward. The lyrics are a mix of different songs from West Side Story. The vocal delivery is quite emotive and sad, it’s all quite a beautiful 7 minute experience.
Their first album was pretty madchestery but they had moved to a more shoegaze sound at this stage. They probably have both the best Australian Madchester (their first album) and Shoegaze albums (this one).
9. Rooster - Alice In Chains
Past entries:
1995
Grind
45
1992
Would?
12
“Here they come to snuff the Rooster”
A really poignant song, written by Jerry Cantrell about his father (whose nickname was Rooster) and his experiences of the Vietnam War. Not so much a protest song but an attempt to relate to his father’s experiences and how they have shaped him. Not really any other grunge songs like it.
8. Safari - Breeders, The
Past entries:
1993
Cannonball
48
1992
Don't Call Home
46
“Always hugging the ground But crying out for me”
The Breeders started in 1989 when Pixies and Throwing Muses were touring together and Kim Deal and Tanya Donnelly got together and started writing music. They gathered Josephine Wiggs of The Perfect Disaster and Britt Walford of Slint to record their debut album in 1990. By 1992, Pixies, Slint and The Perfect Disaster had broken up and Tanya Donnelly had left Throwing Muses and the band got back together with Kim Deal’s twin sister Kelley to record the Safari EP. This was the end of this version of the band as Tanya and Britt left after this.
The song Safari, is an example of a band on top form together. Musically, every instrument stands out at times (especially the drums, killer beats).
7. Youth Against Fascism - Sonic Youth
Past entries:
2004
Unmade Bed
59
1998
Sunday
24
1998
Wildflower Soul
65
1995
The Diamond Sea
32
1994
Superstar
16
1994
Bull In The Heather
70
1992
Sugar Kane
15
1992
100%
55
“Yeah, a cross on fire by a christian liar A black attack at fire, it's the song I hate”
Again, the sound of a band in fine form. I love the bass playing in particular, Kim Gordan is ace. 1992 marked the end of 12 years of Republican presidency, so there is a theme to some of the songs here (L7 and RATM as well) and what they are protesting.
6. Sheela Na Gig - PJ Harvey
Past entries:
2016
The Wheel
23
2016
The Community Of Hope
60
2011
The Words That Maketh Murder
7
2011
The Colour Of The Earth
10
2011
Let England Shake
30
2011
The Glorious Land
43
2010
Written On The Forehead
15
2009
Black Hearted Love (with John Parish)
20
2007
When Under Ether
83
2004
You Came Through
16
2004
Shame
31
2004
The Letter
74
2002
Hitting The Ground (with Gordon Gano)
54
2001
This Mess We're In {Ft.Thom Yorke}
3
2001
Big Exit
46
2000
Horses In My Dreams
16
2000
You Said Something
33
2000
Good Fortune
66
2000
This Is Love
75
1998
A Perfect Day Elise
25
1996
Henry Lee (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
15
1996
That Was My Veil (with John Parish)
65
1996
Taut (with John Parish)
95
1995
Down By The Water
1
1995
Long Snake Moan
24
1995
To Bring You My Love
60
1993
Rid Of Me
1
1993
Dry
11
1993
50 Ft Queenie
21
1993
Man Size Sextet
51
1993
Yuri G
81
1992
Oh My Lover
71
“Gonna take my hips to a man who cares”
This was the first song I heard from the wonderful PJ Harvey (saw it on Rage) and I immediately fell in love with her lyrics. There are so many great lines in this song, hard to pick just one. After The Undies used West Side Story for inspiration with the lyrics, PJ picks another musical, South Pacific with the “Gonna wash that man right out of my hair” line.
Sheela Na Gigs are early medieval statues of women with particularly exaggerated private parts, copying pagan prehistoric statues.
5. From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea - Cure, The
Past entries:
2004
The End Of The World
90
2001
Cut Here
96
2000
Where The Birds Always Sing
57
2000
The Last Day Of Summer
76
1997
Wrong Number
86
1994
Burn
8
1992
A Letter To Elise
68
1992
Cut
95
“And so we watch the sun come up From the edge of the deep green sea And she listens like her head's on fire Like she wants to believe in me”
Another song with awesome lyrics and another breakup (of sorts) song from The Cure and the standout song of their post-Disintegration era.
The lyrics are very clever as well as they detail the protagonist trying to break away from the relationship but “just as I'm breaking free, she hangs herself in front of me Slips her dress like a flag to the floor and hands in the sky, surrenders it all”. So close! And then you remember the first line of the song, “Every time we do this, I fall for her”, which seems to suggest this is a circle, get to the end and start it all over again!
4. Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
Perfume-V
30
1992
Loretta's Scars
34
1992
Conduit For Sale
49
1992
Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17
50
1992
Texas Never Whispers
73
1992
Circa 1762
83
1992
Two States
87
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
“I will wait there I'll be waiting forever I'm waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin', waitin'”
And there we have it, equalling the record for 9 songs in a countdown is Pavement.
Summer Babe was originally released as a single in 1991 but I prefer the re-recorded album version (winter Version), some really languid drumming. When I saw them live they had two drummers and it worked really well on this song. The singing is great, typical weird Pavement lyrics but really heartfelt singing, you can feel the longing, the waiting. Classic.
3. Leave Them All Behind - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
Time Of Her Time
36
1992
Stampede
43
1992
OX4
52
1992
Cool Your Boots
56
1992
Twisterella
69
1992
Grasshopper
72
“Colours shining clear fading into night Our grasp is broken, there's nothing we can do”
My anticipation of the new Ride album was sky high, as they were my favourite band in 1992. This was released as the lead in single and I had it in my hands first day of release. Went home and put it on, pressed play and immediately thought “what the hell are all these synths”, then the drums and bass kick in at 20 seconds in and it sounds better and then the guitars at 40 seconds and all was well with the world for the next seven and a half minutes.
2. Promenade - Underground Lovers
Past entries:
2013
Au Pair
56
1998
Cold Feeling
76
1997
From "Jumbled In The Common Box"
87
1996
Takes You Back
93
1994
Las Vegas
7
1994
Superstar
45
1994
Supernova
46
1994
Losin' It
58
1993
Live GI
5
1993
Your Eyes (Remix)
62
1992
Eastside Stories
10
1992
Got Off On It
53
1992
Holiday
92
"You know I hold you dear"
It was very close between #1 and #2 with The Underground Lovers just missing out.
I still remember first hearing this song. It was at the Manning Bar at Sydney Uni. I was at the bar getting a drink (lemonade I'm sure) and heard some glorious music on the PA. I turned to the bartender and asked what it was (they chose the music) and was quite surprised to hear it was The Undies. They were a band I really liked but they didn't sound like this!!!
It all starts innocently enough with "Take me on a walk" and then just a relentless wall of guitars takes over and just gets louder and louder. There is a great middle section (where the word Promenade is memorably rhymed with Lemonade) with some soothing picked guitar notes and then it dials it up again, with some synth over the top for good measure.
1. Homeboy - Adorable
Past entries:
1993
Crash Sight
23
1993
Sistine Chapel Ceiling
29
1993
Glorious
79
1992
Summerside
25
“I'm tripping into the back of my mind”
I also still remember where I heard this for the first time as well. I was in Melbourne in December '92 and I was in a car with a mate listening to 3RRR and this came on, about half way through I was transfixed. At the end of the song, the DJ announced the band but not the song. I went to an independent record store in Melbourne CBD and looked for Adorable. They had 3 EPs! Being wary of buying all three, I asked if I could listen to them in-store first. I could and I found what I was looking for.
The reason the song didn't grab me on first listen straight away is that it starts slowly, just the drums and bass over the first verse, with some guitars faintly in the background. And then the chorus hits and everything gets ramped up to 11 quite unexpectedly, your heart starts racing and then it all dies back down again but you're ready for the insanity to hit second time around. Killer track from a band that burnt brightly for a couple of years and then faded away. Last edited:
1991 was a transformative year! For me that is! In chronological order I moved out of home, saw the best live concert I’ve ever seen (revealed at #2), fell madly in love for the first time and turned 21! I went to a lot of gigs this year, including many by artists on the list (first night I moved out was spent at a Pop Will Eat Itself gig).
It was a transformative year in music as well. There were a mountain of albums that really pushed the musical boundaries released in 1991, some immediately apparent and some that weren’t picked up on for years afterwards. Peak Grunge, peak Shoegaze, peak Acid House all at once.
Interestingly, Billboard started using scanned record sales data to tabulate their charts in 1991, rather than ringing up record stores and, what do you know, a whole lot of bands got a #1 album that probably wouldn’t have otherwise (Nirvana, Metallica, NWA, Skid Row etc) and the way we viewed what was commercially successful changed.
In looking at this list, I’m struck by how many bands appear for the first time (and quite a few with precisely one song previously as well) and, without running the numbers (as this is now the 30th one of these I’ve done), I think the most different artists appearing.
I highlighted some really bad film clips in 1992, 1991 has some really bad album covers! There were some really silly songs as well (in a good way mind).
The current record for artists between appearances is 25 years (held by HUM 1995-2020) and the current record from first to last song is 27 years (held by Radiohead 1992-2019). Both of these records will fall in 1991!
Here are the 50 unlucky songs to miss out.
101
Hypnotized - Spacemen 3
102
Be Thankful For What You've Got - Massive Attack
103
Dream So Hard - Mandlebrot Set
104
America: What Time Is Love - KLF, The
105
Rumours Of War - Billy Bragg
106
Planet Of Sound - Pixes
107
Nosferatu Man - Slint
108
You Could Be Mine - Guns 'N' Roses
109
Caught In My Shadow - Wonderstuff, The
110
Four Seasons In One Day - Crowded House
111
Spanish Air - Slowdive
112
Baby Baby - Ratcat
113
Dalliance - Wedding Present
114
Rusty Cage - Soundgarden
115
Siva - Smashing Pumpkins
116
Country Feedback - R.E.M.
117
The Unforgiven - Metallica
118
Mesmerise - Chapterhouse
119
Feel So Real - Swervedriver
120
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss - PM Dawn
121
Grey Cell Green - Ned's Atomic Dustbin
122
In Bloom - Nirvana
123
Teenage Whore - Hole
124
Soul To Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers
125
Swallow - My Bloody Valentine
126
Dizzy - Vic Reeves and The Wonderstuff
127
Touched - My Bloody Valentine
128
Body Of Water - Billy Bragg
129
Mysterious Ways - U2
130
Pearl - Chapterhouse
131
After The Watershed - Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine
132
If You Need Someone - Field Mice, The
133
Superelectric - Sterolab
134
Sexuality - Billy Bragg
135
What You Want - My Bloody Valentine
136
Higher Than The Sun - Primal Scream
137
U-Mass - Pixes
138
Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers
139
Diamonds and Pearls - Prince & The New Power Generation
1991 was the longest my hair has ever been (it wasn’t that long, more a Stone Roses shaggy fringe look that still gives me nightmares when I recall it). This song is a good summary of how it looked every morning waking up.
99. Slip Inside This House - Primal Scream
“Trip inside this house as you pass by”
1990 saw the release of “Loaded”, which signified Primal Sream's change from Jesus and Mary Chain wannabes (Bobby Gillespie was their original drummer) to dance hall favourites, complete with Andy Wetherall remixes and all.
Screamadelica, their 1991 album is an Acid House classic. Where The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays and the Madchester movement attempted to merge rock and dance music through high tempo/beats (the music of ecstasy), Primal Scream approached it from a different source, psychedelic rock music and lower tempo chilled music (the music of LSD if you like). So drop a tab and chill out to Slip Inside This House, a cover of a 13th Floor Elevators song from 1967.
Screamadelica was the first ever Mercury Music Prize winner and a bad album cover to boot.
98. Tighten Up - Electronic
The Smiths broke up late in 1987 and here is a (probably incomplete) list of acts that Johnny Marr recorded with up to 1991.
Brian Ferry, Talking Heads, The Pretenders, The The, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, Sandie Shaw and Electronic! Busy boy!!
97. Chase The Dragon - Beasts of Bourbon
The greatest song ever about smuggling heroin out of Kampuchea up your arse.
I must admit I thought this song was from the 80s (it is from a compilation on my iTunes library so not dated right). Also surprisingly not their most streamed song, which would be I Don’t Care About Nothing Anymore.
96. November Rain - Guns 'N' Roses
“Everybody needs somebody”
Pimp your hair, get out your cigarette lighters and Kleenex and “rock out”.
1991 me hated this song but time heals all wounds and, even though it still doesn’t rock out like Welcome To The Jungle, there’s actually a great song hidden in there. Probably as far as they ever went from the Gunners formula and it works.
95. Rise - American Music Club
Emo before there was ever such a thing. Rise is one of those songs that over the years you would have heard somewhere. I have no idea where I first heard it (wasn’t in 1991) but it is just imprinted somewhere.
94. Cruise Control - Headless Chickens
After being #102 in 1994 with George The Headless Chickens finally get a guernsey and are the sixth in a row to have their first appearance. I vaguely remember there being a Gary Clail remix of this song floating around in 1992 but can’t find any evidence.
93. Little Fluffy Clouds, Orb, The
Past entries:
1992
Blue Room
58
I discovered this when looking at Spotify plays for Blue Room as part of my 1992 list (which was the only song by The Orb I knew). I saw this was the 1st and 2nd most streamed song by them on Spotify (different edits) and it was from 1991, so it was added to the shortlist. It is very different to the trancy ambience of Blue Room, more of a dancefloor banger.
92. Movin' On Up - Primal Scream
Past entries:
1991
Slip Inside This House
99
A very different sounding song to Slip Inside This House. Would not feel out of place on a Rolling Stones album from the 60s (looking at you Let It Bleed).
91. Breaking The Girl - Red Hot Chili Peppers
2002
Can't Stop
58
2002
The Zephyr Song
77
1999
Scar Tissue
44
1999
Otherside
56
I love me a bit of flute. The Chili Peppers had been a bit of a silly band previously but showed a maturity to some of the songs on this album, while also holding on to that silliness (in a good way of course).
There a quite a few “big” albums from 1991 that I have a massive dislike for one of the “big” songs from it. For Blood Sugar Sex Magik, that song in Under The Bridge, can’t stand it :p. It is, of course, their most streamed song on Spotify but Californication is pretty close.
90. Bloodsport For All - Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine
Another 90s English band (along with The Verve) who were sued by The Rolling Stones. They used the words Ruby Tuesday in their song After The Watershed. The Stones probably made more money from suing other bands than from their own 90s music!
89. Rollercoaster - Jesus and Mary Chain
Past entries:
1994
Dirty Water
72
1994
Sometimes Always {Ft. Hope Sandoval}
18
1993
Snakedriver
31
1992
Far Gone And Out
29
1992
Reverence
31
1992
Sundown
35
1992
Tumbledown
80
“Don’t put me down”
Lead in single for 1992’s Honey’s Dead Album. I always got the feeling that the putting down referenced above was in the veterinarian sense rather than insult!
88. The Wagon - Dinosaur Jr
Past entries:
2007
Almost Ready
46
1994
Feel The Pain
53
1992
Get Me
22
Green Mind was a bridge album for Dinosaur Jr, between their fuzzy early albums and the more “polished” sound of their later albums, also being their first album after Lou Barlow left. It suffers a bit from not really being one or the other but The Wagon rocks out in any case.
87. Motorway To Roswell - Pixies
“He ended up in army crates And photographs in files”
First ever entry for the wonderful Pixies. They broke up after the release of this album (before getting back together in the 2000s) and it was a good way to go out. It is a song about an alien having a holiday on earth and ending up at Roswell, UFOs and the such being a favourite Black Francis theme. I hear The Beach Boys in this song.
86. Fields Of Joy - Lenny Kravitz
Past entries:
1993
Are You Gonna Go My Way
50
Awesome guitar solo by Slash in the first song (and third of seven singles ) from Lenny’s second album. It is a cover of a song from the 70s by the wonderfully named New York Rock & Roll Ensemble.
85. Counting Backwards - Throwing Muses
Past entries:
1995
Bright Yellow Gun
16
1992
Firepile
88
“Don't let your heartbeat keep you safe No telling what keeps me awake”
1991 was Tanya Donnelly’s swan song to Throwing Muses, before she left to record with The Breeders in 1992, Belly in 1993 and Catherine Wheel in 1995!
84. Walking Down Madison - Kirsty MacColl
“From an uptown apartment To a knife on the A train It's not that far”
Sadly departed Kirst MacColl is maybe better known for providing backing vocals for The Smiths, Billy Bragg or most famously The Pogues but she had some great songs herself. I owned Walking Down Madison on cassingle of all things. It was an attempt to merge her indy pop sound with a more rap/dance sound and does it pretty well.
A New England is her most streamed song on Spotify (this is 6th) but in 5th place is the perfectly wonderful song “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”
83. Welcome To The Cheap Seats - Wonderstuff, The
“Imagine his suprise When he opened his eyes, And I'd run the lawnmower Over his thighs”
Look, its Kirsty MacColl providing back up vocals to this very silly song.
I was a big fan of The Stuffies back in the day. Never Loved Elvis wasn’t as good as 1989’s Hup but it is a fine album. Imagine my surprise 30 years later that this is the song that has stuck with me. I would have said Caught In My Shadow or Mission Drive would have been (never Size Of A Cow). The folky violins, great harmonies and silly lyrics have stood the test of time for me.
82. Two Weeks With A Good Man In Niagara Falls - Hummingbirds, The
Here’s another song I’m surprised still sticks with me. I thought it was a bit lightweight in 1991 and “not as good as Blush” but the exquisite harmonies are just great.
81. Pregnant For The Last Time - Morrissey
Past entries:
2004
First Of The Gang To Die
42
1995
The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Students
36
1995
Southpaw
71
1994
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
55
1992
We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
76
1992
Glamorous Glue
85
Morrissey released Kill Uncle, his second solo album, in 1991 and it was an absolute stinker. He made up for it with this bouncy little number later in the year.
In 1991 or 1992 Triple J did a listener voted countdown of the best songs to bonk to (their words) and this was #1, which is odd but nice.
79. Check The Rhime - A Tribe Called Quest
Past entries:
2016
We The People…
87
“Okay, if knowledge is the key then just show me the lock”
Boom, equals the record of longest time between songs as it will be 25 years before A Tribe Called Quest will have another entry. Sadly, as Phife Dog has since passed away, there will be no more releases from them in the future but the two albums released in 1990 and 1991 are absolute classics of early hip hop. The interplay between Phife and Q-Tip is top notch.
78. The Fly - U2
Past entries:
1998
Sweetest Thing
99
1997
Staring At The Sun
49
1995
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
46
“They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by the moon”
Wasn’t the lunar eclipse recently ace (although that was the moon being eclipsed by the Earth)!
Another song that 1991 me would be surprised by (I was very opinionated way back then). It stands up really well actually. As with many U2 songs, the contributions of The Edge lift it, sterling guitar work.
Another big album with a song I have a massive dislike for, hello One.
I was actually intrigued by what would be U2’s most streamed song on Spotify as there is no real standout from their massive back catalogue. It is With Or Without You.
77. Soul Eater - Clouds
The lucky 13th new act to appear in these lists. I saw Clouds a few years ago live and they still sound fantastic. Wasn’t as much of a fan of their subsequent releases but the first few EPs and album were great. Killer harmonies will do it for me every day of the week.
76. Something In The Way - Nirvana
Past entries:
1996
Aneurysm
82
1994
About A Girl {MTV Unplugged}
60
1993
Heart Shaped Box
37
1993
All Apologies
85
1993
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
99
“It’s OK to eat fish ‘cause they don’t have any feelings”
Nirvana didn’t invent grunge but they did invent pescetarianism. Maybe.
75. Box Elder - Pavement
Past entries:
1999
Carrot Rope
25
1999
Major Leagues
79
1999
Billie
83
1999
Spit On A Stranger
92
1997
Stereo
55
1997
Shady Lane
72
1995
Father To A Sister Of Thought
75
1994
Gold Soundz
11
1994
Range Life
25
1994
Cut Your Hair
38
1992
Summer Babe (Winter Version)
4
1992
Perfume-V
30
1992
Loretta's Scars
34
1992
Conduit For Sale
49
1992
Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17
50
1992
Texas Never Whispers
73
1992
Circa 1762
83
1992
Two States
87
1992
In The Mouth A Desert
93
From the Perfect Sound Forever EP, which was later incorporated in the charmingly named compilation album, Westing (By Musket and Sextant). Probably the first sign that there was something special brewing with Pavement.
74. Coco Pops - Snow Leopards
“So dream of me when you’re alone in the crowd The universe couldn’t separate us now.”
Heard of them? Thought not. The only way you would have is if you have the RooArt compilation Young Blood 3, as this is the only place it can be found. Featuring members of defunct Sydney bands The Honeys and The Rosemarys, it is an achingly beautiful song and the vocals of Lisa Partington are just divine.
Not on Spotify.
73. American Music - Violent Femmes
A band that is very much defined by their debut album but they also released a few good songs after as well. A very fun live band to see, especially if you love a good singalong as I do. Were the headliners of the first Big Day Out above Nirvana in early 1992!
72. There's No Other Way - Blur
Past entries:
2015
Go Out
86
2012
Under The Westway
86
2010
Fool's Day
97
2003
Out Of Time
26
2000
Music Is My Radar
88
1999
Coffee and TV
3
1999
Tender
23
1997
Song 2
10
1997
Beetlebum
36
1996
Charmless Man
24
1996
Stereotypes
85
1995
The Universal
41
1995
Country House
59
1995
Entertain Me
86
1994
This Is A Low
3
1994
To The End
13
1994
Parklife {Ft. Phil Daniels}
22
1994
Girls and Boys {Pet Shop Boys Remix}
33
1994
Jubilee
88
1993
For Tomorrow (Visit To Primrose Hill Extended Version)
2
Another song I owned on cassingle. A very different sound to all the other Blur songs above, a Madchester inspired bop.
The ridiculous hairstyle that Damon Alban has in the film clip matches mine closely. Sigh.
71. Surfers Of The Mind - Def FX
I saw pretty much every show Def FX put on in 1990 and 1991 and very much anticipated their debut EP (Water). It didn’t quite capture the raw energy and thrashiness of the live shows but Surfers Of The Mind is still pretty ace. Their post-1991 output really toned down this aspect of their music, made it more “mainstream” and, in my mind, it really suffered and took away their uniqueness.
Weirdly, this album (1992’s Light Speed Collision) is their only release on Spotify (out of the four albums they did release) and Surfers Of The Mind their most streamed song.
Before Loveless there was the Tremelo EP, containing To Here Knows When, a song I really dislike! The rest of the EP was ace, particularly Honey Power, which mixes the old and new sound of MBV really well and rocks out in a way nothing really did on Loveless (but did on Isn’t Anything) but also combines the more atmospheric and ambient touches that would permeate Loveless.
69. Don't Go Now - Ratcat
“And then when I'm alone, I dream of you Til the day is done Don't you know I will be dying to be by your side”
As much as I had seen Def FX, the band I would have seen more than any other by the time 1991 came along was Ratcat (Falling Joys close second). I absolutely loved them and caught all their shows, of which there were many in all sorts of tiny venues. I’m still not sure why but they just took off in 1991, having Tingles (EP), Blind Love (album) and Don’t Go Now (single) all go #1 on the ARIA charts. The price point of Tingles of $5 certainly helped (much cheaper than an EP usually cost) but it was most unexpected. Funny thing was, to my mind, none of their 1990/91 output came close to their late 80s output. Strange old world sometimes isn’t it. Co-written with Robyn St Clair from The Hummingbirds, who also provides backing vocals.
68. The Black and the Blue - Bats, The
Past entries:
1995
Afternoon In Bed
80
1994
Under The Law
80
1993
Courage
82
“And they are determined to keep me locked away My end isn’t certain, it could be many days Until they find me, it could be many days”
The Bats break out of the 80s with their trademark jangly sound. Great harmonies as well. It’s actually a pretty dark song about depression but doesn’t sound it at all.
67. Miss Freelove '69 - Hoodoo Gurus
Past entries:
1993
The Right Time
90
Nearly matching its title is the trippy and very groovy Miss Freelove ’69. I’ve got my tickets for their show with The Dandy Warhols in December and very much looking forward to it.
66. Morningrise - Slowdive
Past entries:
2017
Star Roving
37
1995
Blue Skied an' Clear
28
1995
Crazy For You
31
1995
Rutti
63
1993
Souvlaki Space Station
25
1993
When The Sun Hits
36
1993
Alison
60
1993
40 Days
92
I, OBOne, offer Slowdive a sincere apology! I was an avid reader of the music press back in 1991 (until the mid 90s) and the early Slowdive EPs got pretty good reviews, so I bought this one, which is pretty damn good, matching the review. Their debut album, released later in 1991 had pretty average review so I never listened and their second album, Souvalki, was massively panned so I never listened. When they made a comeback in 2017 I was bemused as to what the fuss was about because weren’t they terrible. I listened to their stuff then and all I can say is I’m sorry. Souvlaki is an absolute classic shoegaze album. Easily one of the best (with Loveless and Nowhere). The lesson is, unless you’ve actually heard it, don’t form an opinion.
65. 4pm - Clouds, The
Past entries:
1991
Soul Eater
77
“Love on my right hand Hate on my right hand God at my command”
The sweetest song about a serial killer ever. Its from the Loot EP, which is sadly not on Spotify.
64. Lithium - Nirvana
Past entries:
1996
Aneurysm
82
1994
About A Girl {MTV Unplugged}
60
1993
Heart Shaped Box
37
1993
All Apologies
85
1993
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
99
1991
Something In The Way
76
“I'm so horny, that's okay My will is good”
I still remember Roy and HG arguing in the 1992 Hottest 100 of all Time about whether it was Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Bicarbonate when this song was played (at #3) and Roy ending the argument with the call “of course, right hand corner of the periodic table”. Good times.
Great misheard lyrics, I had a mate who thought the above lyric was “My willies good”.
I was lucky enough to see Nirvana twice when they came out in 1992, at the Big Day Out and at Selinas at Coogee. I managed to get to the front at the second show and it was incredibly intense. At the end of the show, the stuff on the inside of my wallet was soaked in sweat.
And the song I really dislike, Come As You Are!
63. Money Don't Matter 2 Night - Prince & The New Power Generation
“So what if we're controllin' all the oil Is it worth a child dying for? (is it worth it?)”
Diamonds and Pearls was the last great Prince album (Musicology was good but not great). The best songs (like this one) are really soulful.
Cream came in at #100 in the 1992 Hottest 100 of all Time and Roy called him a dud 😊
Purple Rain just edges out Kiss for his most streamed song on Spotify. Both absolute cracking songs. Don’t know if he was late to Spotify but the totals seem lower than I would have thought (200m).
62. Hunted - Pale Saints
Past entries:
1994
Fine Friend
87
1992
Throwing Back The Apple
37
1992
Ordeal
67
From the Flesh Balloon EP (lots of good EPs this year). At turns, fragile and brutal, a great example of shoegaze.
Another song from the EP, a cover of Kinky Love by Nancy Sinatra, is their most streamed on Spotify by absolute miles.
61. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
Past entries:
2003
St Anger
92
2000
No Leaf Clover
93
“So close, no matter how far It couldn't be much more from the heart Forever trusting who we are And nothing else matters”
A different side to Metallica, which didn’t go down well with the metalheads! It’s a love song about being away from the one you love. Michael Kamen conducted the orchestral parts on the song and in 1999 he conducted the San Francisco Symphony on S&M.
And the song from this album I dislike, Enter Sandman.
60. A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays" - De La Soul
Past entries:
2017
Momentz (with Gorillaz)
98
And boom again, a new record between appearances, 26 years! De La Soul’s second album wasn’t as well received as their first but it was still a pretty funky affair. Q-Tip guests on this as well. Samples Grease, Good Times and Saturday In The Park by Chicago among many others.
Another strange omission from Spotify.
59. Star Sign - Teenage Fanclub
Past entries:
2016
I'm In Love
99
2000
I Need Direction
87
1997
Ain't That Enough
65
1995
Sparky's Dream
7
1995
Verisimilitude
54
1995
Neil Jung
70
1993
Radio
63
1993
Escher
93
“Given time, these things will change”
Bandwagonesque is a wonderful album with a terrible album cover. Generally speaking, it is a shambling somewhat chaotic affair. Star Sign is easily the most polished pop song on the album and was an easy choice for lead single. Wonderful harmonies and very easy on the ear and a hint of what was to come.
58. Breather - Chapterhouse
“Soft and liquid in the light Secret otherworldly sight Passing time in black and white If only I could dream tonight”
Reading’s second best shoegaze band (after Slowdive) are the short lived (1990-1993) Chapterhouse. One of the things I like about Shoegaze is that most of the bands do have distinct differences (as opposed which is a bit more generic sounding to my ear). Chapterhouse took a bit more psychedelic rock influence with crisper guitar sounds (rather than walls of feedback).
57. Sennen - Ride
Past entries:
2019
Kill Switch
8
2019
Jump Jet
16
2019
Future Love
22
2019
R.I.D.E.
48
2018
Pulsar
53
1994
Birdman
19
1992
Leave Them All Behind
3
1992
Time Of Her Time
36
1992
Stampede
43
1992
OX4
52
1992
Cool Your Boots
56
1992
Twisterella
69
1992
Grasshopper
72
“Need some space to be alone Need a place to call my own”
Slowdive might be the best shoegaze band to come out of Reading but not out of the Thames Valley, as that would be the mighty Ride from Oxford! I actually lived in a village on the Thames between Reading and Oxford for a few years in the late 90s, very nice part of the world.
It might seem strange to say (given Ride will have 7 songs in my 1992 list) but it was all downhill after the release of 1991’s Today Forever EP. That marked their 4th EP, plus a debut album in which there was not a false step or an average song. It was all amazing stuff. Going Blank Again had a couple of average songs and it all fell apart quickly after that. Their 2017 and 2019 albums are pretty good but not scaling the heights of 1990-91.
56. After The Flood - Talk Talk
Our 20th new act to appear in 1991 is the wonderful Talk Talk. Their last album, Laughing Stock, is one of those transformative albums I talked about above. It really put a marker done on breaking the traditional linear nature of pop music (verse-chorus-verse etc) and using a less rather than more approach to sound (there is a section with just one note for a minute). With another album from 1991 (yet to appear) that used a similar approach but coming from a different background, the Post Rock genre would emerge years later, citing these two albums as the basis. It is a wonderful album, best listened to as a whole.
After The Flood is a really calm, sedate 9 minute affair. Never in a rush, weary and melancholic with no real end point or destination in mind. Just beautiful from start to finish.
55. Don't Fight It, Feel It - Primal Scream
Past entries:
1991
Movin' On Up
92
1991
Slip Inside This House
99
“Gonna dance to the music all night long Gettin' high, gettin' happy, gettin' gone”
The real dancefloor banger of the album. There is something slightly off-key in the sound that draws me in.
54. Hieronymous - Clouds, The
Past entries:
1991
4pm
65
1991
Soul Eater
77
“Hieronymous I'll walk with you When I'm sleeping When I wake up in your world I'm not dreaming”
My mum had a thing for Hieronymous Bosch paintings and I would seek them out, when I lived in the UK, all over Europe and send her photos. Being in his world would not be a good thing, he was a very disturbed bloke.
53. From Little Things Big Things Grow - Paul Kelly and The Messengers
Past entries:
1996
How To Make Gravy
77
A song that has only grown in importance since 1991. It wasn’t even considered as a single in 1991 but would be one of his most well known songs now. Co-written with Kev Carmody.
50 latest reviews
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I don't think it was released as a single until mid-2000 which may not have helped. It was very relevant at the time and still is now.
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