Top 10 Fontaines D.C. Songs

 

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and probably the biggest music act to come out of Ireland in the past decade is Dublin post-punk outfit Fontaines D.C. Known for brooding soundscapes and literary lyrics, Fontaines are four albums deep into their careers and haven't had a miss yet. They've adapted their sound by incorporating elements of everything from Britpop to post-industrial without straying to far from their home base. Picking just ten favorites was a tall order, but I've managed to whittle down my list to ten tracks that encompass all of what I think makes Fontaines D.C. so great.

10. Too Real

"Too Real" was the first Fontaines D.C. song that really grabbed my attention in 2019, and for good reason. It starts off with an anxious hi-hat and bass line before different layers of sound swell in, like an engine slowly revving up. Once "Too Real" is going, though, there's no slowing down. Discordant, panning guitars accompany Grian Chatten as he barks out marching orders. The chorus is a simple repetition: "Is it too real for ya?" The middle verse adopts a more conventional Cure-like posture before the walls are kicked back in. As the lead single off of their debut album Dogrel, "Too Real" does a fantastic job of introducing what Fontaines are all about.

9. I Don't Belong

Jumping over to the band's second album, 2020's A Hero's Death, we have album opener "I Don't Belong." A Hero's Death is more dour and world-weary than its predecessor - making its mid-pandemic release fortuitous - and "I Don't Belong" showcases the shift right away. The instrumental plods along like a worker making the long commute home, and Chatten's vocal fits the theme. I know that may not sound appealing, but this one hits a certain frustration and exhaustion that's hard to pin down; when it hits you, it really hits you.

8. Nabokov

Proceeding right along, we now move to the third Fontaines studio album, Skinty Fia! Specifically, "Nabokov," the uproarious closing track. If you liked the swirling guitars on "Too Real," "Nabokov" brings those back tenfold. The entire song is a blurry blitz, equal parts Bauhaus and Swervedriver. "I did you a favor," Chatten cries. "I bled myself dry!" What always stands out to me here is just how thunderous the drums sound; every snare hits like a hand grenade. It's probably Fontaines' most chaotic song, and almost certainly their loudest.

7. Jackie Down the Line

Also off Skinty Fia, "Jackie Down the Line" sees Fontaines D.C. show off their melodic chops. It's a strummy number that recalls the 90's Britpop boom; indeed, there are moments here where Grian sounds like a third Gallagher brother. Given the song's anti-colonist message specifically aimed at Britain, the co-opting of that sound is cheekily clever. "You've got away with murder / maybe one time, maybe two," Chatten sings in the opening verse. The song rides a driving tempo courtesy of bassist Connor Deegan and drumer Tom Coll. It's also got one of the band's catchiest choruses that manages to still hammer home the political message of the song: "I don't think we'd rhyme / I will wear down in time / I will hurt you / I'll desert you / I am Jackie down the line."

6. Favourite

"Favourite" closes the band's grungy 2024 album Romance on its brightest note. A twinkling spring-time jaunt that clearly pulls The Smiths, it's a breezy rush with lyrics sweet as can be. "You've been my favourite for a long time," Chatten and Deegan both sing. The music video, which features home videos from each band member's childhood, is equally delightful. "Favourite" pushes Fontaines the closest they've ever been to pop - no wonder it hit #3 on the US Adult Alternative charts.

5. It's Amazing to Be Young

You know how I just mentioned that "Favourite" hit #3 on the Adult Alternative charts? Well, Romance bonus track "It's Amazing to Be Young" hit #2 last year. Nostalgic and simple, "It's Amazing to Be Young" argues that youth is exhilarating even in a broken society. Written for Deegan's daughter, you can hear how the song evolved from a lullaby into an 80's jangle pop jam. The surreal music video - which brings together the protagonists from the videos for "Here's the Thing" and "In the Modern World" - only adds to the charm with its story of forbidden young love.

4. Boys in the Better Land

Another one that explodes out of the gate, "Boys in the Better Land" is an early Fontaines single that quickly established the band as a force to be reckoned with. Whether you prefer the blistering version off Dogrel or the slightly more subdued Darklands version, "Boys in the Better Land" is a seam-ripping garage track that sprints to the finish. It's a song about hometown pride, with Chatten chastising the song's target for "always talking 'bout the 'boys in the better land.'" The dual guitar work from Conor Curley and Carlos O'Connell really shines here, acting almost as another arm of the rhythm section.

3. Starburster

While Romance-era tracks "Favourite" and "It's Amazing to Be Young" show off Fontaines D.C. at their most commercially viable, lead single "Starburster" is certainly them at their weirdest. For one thing, the verses are rapped - which could have been a disaster in less capable hands, but Chatten handles himself well. The chorus features a recurring gasp after every time he repeats "I'm gon' hit your business if there's momentary blissness." The entire song was apparently inspired by a panic attack, and that sense of unease permeates. The music video pushes things further, complete with a gimp suit, a Final Fantasy buster sword, and a time loop-induced crossover with the music video for JADE's "Angel of My Dreams" (an absolutely phenomenal song in its own right). Nothing about this should work, but somehow it all comes together into a magnificently wild ride. How this song made it on the EA FC 25 soundtrack I'll never know, but I'll also never complain.

2. The Lotts

While "Too Real" piqued my interest, it was "The Lotts" that stood out to me on my first pass through Dogrel and solidified for me that this band was onto something special. Awash with reverb, "The Lotts" laments the economic troubles that have turned parts of Dublin towards poverty and drug abuse. "Death is falling down on your work routine / And it's falling even harder on your churches and your queens," Chatten spits. You can practically see the darkened rainy alleyways of which they sing. The downtrodden instrumental coda rides out for nearly two minutes, delivering true-to-roots post-punk that would make Siouxsie & the Banshees proud.

1. I Love You

Considering the "D.C." in the band's name stands for "Dublin City," it's obvious that their home country of Ireland would be a frequent subject of their music. "I Love You" is their crowning jewel, and attacks many of the bad actors who have sent Ireland into economic and social turmoil, from the "gall of Fine Gael" to the "fail of Fianna Fáil." There is so much rich imagery peppered throughout these lyrics, it really shows that Chatten is a student of poetry. Choice cuts include: "You only open the window / Never open up the door"; "But this island's run by sharks with children's bones stuck in their jaws"; and "I loved you like a penny loves the pocket of a priest." It's an extremely bitter song, but that bitterness is rooted in a love for Ireland, and a hatred for those who waste its potential and hurt its people. Musically, it's a steadily-swelling rocker with a memorable bass line and enveloping guitar textures. I particularly like the sped-up rendition they do live, as it adds just that extra bit of bite. The two bridges serve as the song's ultimate thesis statement and emotional climax, giving Fontaines D.C. their most powerful statement to date.

Top Ten Albums That Defined My College Experience

This weekend, I made my first return to Brown University's campus since graduating for my five-year reunion. Reunions are funny in that they are in a way a reversal of college itself: college is all about looking ahead and building a path to the future you see for yourself, but reunions are for catching up on where adulthood has taken everybody and reminiscing on years gone by. While revisiting old haunts like the Blue Room and Thayer Street and, of course, WBRU, I was flooded with memories not only of friends, but of the music that accompanied my final years in academia. This, combined with the reminder (and shame) provided by my visit that I haven't written in quite a while, has spurred me to whip up a list of the ten albums that most prominently defined my college experience. These aren't necessarily the ten albums I enjoyed most during my time at Brown - though they're all fantastic in my book - but rather the ones that I most associate with that time, ones that connect deeply with where I was at those points in my life. I would also love to see your own lists, so please feel free to share which albums tell your college stories too.

10. Girlpool - Powerplant (2017)

Girlpool were an underrated indie rock mainstay throughout my college years. Their breakout debut record, Before the World Was Big, came out in June 2015, just a few months before I arrived in Providence for first-year orientation. Their third record, the denser What Chaos Is Imaginary, similarly dropped just months before my May 2019 graduation. However, it's actually their second record, 2017's Powerplant, that I've chosen here. A fitting midpoint, Powerplant features the DIY aesthetic and charming harmonies of Girlpool's first record while hinting at the darker, shoegaze-tinged sounds that would become prominent later in their career. The somber, muted "It Gets More Blue" is contrasted by the youthful opener "123" and the punchy, XO-era Elliott Smith-flavored title track. Powerplant simply feels like college record, raw and free and wondering where in the world it'll end up. 

Girlpool released one final record, 2022's largely overlooked and somewhat underwhelming Forgiveness, before breaking up that same year. Girlpool's heyday almost perfectly aligns with when I was at Brown, and that helps make them one of the quintessential bands of that time in my life.

9.  Jamie xx - In Colour (2015)

It seems every college campus has a few universal party anthems that pop up no matter the host or occasion. For me, the first that comes to mind outside of the extremely obvious - talking about you, "Mr. Brightside" - is "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)," from Young Thug, Popcaan, and indie-popper-turned-rave-leader Jamie xx. The fourth single from xx's debut solo album In Colour, "Good Times" is a brightly-lit club romp, combining bouncing percussion and a Persuasions-sampling chorus with Young Thug's remarkably explicit and infinitely addictive verses. It's jubilant atmosphere, along with its reputation as a critic-approved banger, made it a popular choice in crowded dorm rooms across College Hill.

In Colour's impact on my college years isn't limited to its most explosive track, either. If "Good Times" was the middle of the dance-floor, the Romy-assisted "Loud Places" was the quiet corner of the room that let me know it was OK to not feel at home at every party. "Gosh" is a slow-building epic that kicks off the whole record, while "Sleep Sound" and "SeeSaw" are its jittery neighbors; all three were cornerstones of my study playlists. Plus, as someone who mainly listened to capital-R Rock music in high school, In Colour was the first electronic record I truly loved, and opened the door to many other artists I discovered in its wake.

8. Jay Som - Everybody Works (2017)

"Try to make ends meet / Penny pinch til I'm dying / Everybody works." So reads the chorus to the title track of Jay Som's sophomore studio album. Released when she was 23 years old, it makes sense that Jay Som's lyrics on Everybody Works would reflect the concerns of young adults stepping out into the world at that time. Even at a prestigious university like Brown, which (for better or worse) draws added attention when mentioned on a resume or job application, students are anxious about finding a career that can support them financially without completely draining their passions and happiness. Coming from a middle-class family and having a skillset - writing - that didn't provide a clear path to lucrative employment, these worries certainly applied to me, which I think is why Everybody Works resonates still to this day. 

Also, much like Powerplant, Everybody Works is filled with the type of music that just hits best when you're in college. It's full-on coffeeshop-core, with perky indie rock gems like "Baybee" and 'The Bus Song," along with more introspective numbers like the drawn-out closer "For Light." It sounds like leather-bound notebooks and meal credits and university-branded sweatshirts. I played this one pretty much nonstop during my late sophomore and early junior years, and putting it on now brings me right back to those days.

7. Grimes - Art Angels (2015)

Before diving completely off the deep end into her correlating obsessions with AI and Elon Musk, Grimes put out Art Angels, her innovative magnum opus that seemed to foretell a future of weirdo art-pop crossing into the mainstream. It's an electric and eccentric record, marked by highlights covering ground all the way from a friendship falling apart ("Flesh Without Blood") to deforestation ("Butterfly") to Al Pacino as a genderfluid time-traveling vampire ("Kill V. Maim"), drawing from elements of pop-punk, hyperpop, and heavy metal.

Released just two months into my college experience, Art Angels was a staple well beyond my freshman year. It also resulted in what was probably my favorite review I ever wrote for our on-campus music magazine, BSIDE. It's also easy to forget that at the time, Grimes seemed to be perhaps the most exciting and creative force in music, so hearing this record felt like seeing the start of a major shift in the pop culture landscape. While Grimes has undeniably fallen away from that reputation over the past decade, Art Angels remains unassailable.

6. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (2017)

According to my Last.fm statistics, this is my most-played album of all time, and by a wide margin. Over half of those plays came in its initial release year, 2017, which tracks well with my memories of spinning it daily throughout the final few weeks of my sophomore year. DAMN. was perhaps my most highly-anticipated record, coming off the back of 2015's masterpiece To Pimp a Butterfly and 2016's compelling Untitled Unmastered. TPAB was the last "big" album of my high school days, and remains my all-time favorite record. Untitled Unmastered and some of Kendrick's other 2016 appearances - particularly his spot on Danny Brown's "Really Doe," Travis Scott's "Goosebumps," and Beyoncé's "Freedom," along with another I'll mention further down this list - only served to whet my appetite for a proper follow-up to TPAB.

DAMN. did not disappoint - leaner and more commercial than TPAB, but still chock full of incredible moments from somebody who was clearly positioning himself as the greatest rapper alive. The beat switch in "DNA." is still probably the best I've ever heard. "YAH." and "PRIDE." stumble along with an effortless charisma, while "FEAR." rides a beat from living legend and personal favorite producer The Alchemist for nearly eight fantastic minutes. Meanwhile, tracks like "ELEMENT." and especially "HUMBLE." made their way into party playlists across campus.

DAMN. doesn't have a particularly emotional or specific connection to my time at Brown, other than being a really excellent album that I listened to more than anything else in my four years there. Sometimes, that's all you need.

5. DIIV - Is the Is Are (2016)

Another one of my all-timers, DIIV's 2016 record Is the Is Are caught me completely off guard. I had liked a few of DIIV's early songs, but had been a much bigger fan of singer Zachary Cole Smith's then-girlfriend, alt-pop starlet Sky Ferreira. This album came out under a haze of rumors about Smith's drug addiction and trips to rehab, along with rumors that the band was on the verge of breaking up. That haze carried over into Is the Is Are's songs, beachy indie rock jams awash in feedback and reverb. From the first listen, this record grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Upbeat earworms like "Out of Mind" and "Loose Ends" were counterbalanced by harrowing dirges like "Mire (Grant's Song)" and closing track "Waste of Breath." Songs like "Dopamine" featured elements of both, combining sunny layers of chiming guitar riffs with bleak lyrics tackling Smith's addiction head-on; "Got so high I finally felt like myself" and "Would you give your 34th year / for a glimpse of heaven now and here" punched you right in the gut.

Upon repeat listens, the cyclical nature of Is the Is Are revealed itself, and in doing so helped me better understand my own struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which I had been formally diagnosed with shortly before finishing high school. While I couldn't relate to the specific experiences Smith was writing about, the themes of being trapped in your own head and trying mightily to resist intrusive thoughts certainly landed. Being in an academic environment where the topic mental health is at the forefront, I was able to better recognize and adjust to my own negative patterns, much like Smith was attempting to do with Is the Is Are.

Today, DIIV are still together and have released two more excellent albums. Smith by all accounts has remained sober for several years, and I am better equipped than ever to handle my OCD. I'd like to think Is the Is Are played a big role in both of our happy endings.

4. CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye (2015)

So far on this list, I've tried to explain how these albums might have characteristics that appeal to college students at-large, justifying their inclusion. With Every Open Eye, however, it's a more explicitly personal connection. Two weeks after its September 2015 release, I was gifted this album on vinyl for my 19th birthday by new friends I had just met upon starting school. It was a special moment for me, one that let me know that these new friendships were the real deal, and would last beyond our four years on campus together. 

On top of that deeper meaning, Every Open Eye is one of the finest synthpop records this side of 2000. The entire album twinkles around Lauren Mayberry's sugar vocals. "Clearest Blue" is the best recreation of a Depeche Mode smash hit since, well, Depeche Mode, while the choruses to songs like "Empty Threat" and "Bury It" will run through your brain for days. Though many prefer this Scottish trio's debut record Bones of What You Believe, Every Open Eye has an intensity and focus that results in, to me, a more streamlined and consistent listen. It's a deeply sentimental album personally, but a fun and energizing collection of music globally.

3. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016)

Kanye West is obviously an extremely controversial figure who has said and done many horrible things. In fact, I personally have not listened to this Kanye record or any other one in several years - the stink of his rampant misogyny, anti-semitism, and Trumpism lingers too heavily to not be a distraction. 

That being said, I can't accurately reflect on the music that defined my college years without mentioning West's 2016 album The Life of Pablo. Its semi-surprise, Tidal-exclusive release on Valentine's Day came right in the middle of my freshman year, and was by my estimate the ultimate peak of the internet-hype album drop craziness at that point. (Lemonade would quickly claim that title two months later.) I so distinctly remember sitting in my freshman dorm room and watching West's performance on Saturday Night Live, only for him to cry out at the end of "Ultralight Beam" something about "KanyeWest.com" and "album streaming right now." Surrounded by my four white cinderblock walls, I, like many others, scrambled to figure out what the hell was going on and how to sign up for a free Tidal subscription before their whole website crashed. 

Once we got our hands on The Life of Pablo, the excitement only grew. A surprise feature from the reclusive pre-Blonde Frank Ocean ("Frank's Track") and starring cameos from ascendant stars like Kendrick Lamar ("No More Parties in L.A.") and Chance the Rapper ("Ultralight Beam") meant the high highs outweighed the lower lows ("Lowlights," "Freestyle 4"). Then, things got murkier. West constantly tinkered with and updated the streaming release of The Life of Pablo, adding and removing elements on what felt like a daily basis. Some songs were decidedly improved, while other changes felt more pointless.

All of this, however, makes The Life Of Pablo a quintessential album of its time, and of my time in college. The surprise release, the internet discourse around it, its role in the history of Tidal and streaming platforms, the post-release adjustments - all of it was so remarkably 2016. In a year that would end in one of the most shocking elections in American history, The Life of Pablo barely registers a blip on the radar when looking back. But for those first few months, Kanye West was all anybody could talk about.

2. Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp (2016)

Content warning for discussion of grief and death.

Michelle Zauner may be an indie headliner with a successful memoir and corresponding film on the way nowadays, but that wasn't always the case. Before having her full-fledged breakout via her 2020 album Jubilee and 2021 book Crying in H Mart, Zauner had already put out several records under the Japanese Breakfast moniker, one of which was 2016's Psychopomp. I discovered this album one afternoon in one of Brown's various libraries, camped out in a nook procrastinating on an essay that needed to get done. Centered around the passing of her mother two years prior, Psychopomp explores a wide range of emotions through 25 minutes of indie-pop perfection. The mournful lyrics of "In Heaven" are smothered in blissful synthesizers; "Heft" mentions "spending nights by hospital beds" over a cheerily-strummed guitar riff. The album also looks at relationships, with "Everybody Wants to Love You" and "Jane Cum" each use wildly contrasting instrumental moods to pair with lyrics examining sexuality.

When I first heard Psychopomp, the elements of grieving landed with me only in an abstract, outside-looking-in kind of way. I had been very fortunate in that, at that point in my life, I had not had to confront death very often. I had lost a few family members, including my grandmother, but all had lived long, fulfilling, happy lives, so their losses felt like sad but expected goodbyes - I had closure and was able to process everything as it was happening.

Then, over the summer between my sophomore and junior years, a good friend of mine from Brown passed away. I found out through a campus-wide email from a college dean and was devastated, as were many of my friends. As I worked my way through a new kind of grieving process, one where I was isolated from my college community (as we hadn't yet returned for the fall semester) and had more questions than answers, Psychopomp was a sympathetic comfort listen. It's full emotional impact suddenly came into focus, and I felt understood by its multifaceted take on tragedy. When the loss of a loved one is steeped in confusion, it's natural to seek out something that can make sense of it all - for me, that was Psychopomp. 

Of course, even seven years later, Psychopomp still reminds me of the sadness of my friend's passing. However, it also reminds me of my happy memories of them - of why I cared so deeply in the first place. Grief is preambled by love, and that's the statement Psychopomp is making, and for a very specific and impactful moment in my life, it was the message I needed to hear.

1. Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion (2015)

I mean, are you really surprised? It was my damn thesis.

Anyone who knew me in college probably knows how much I care about Carly Rae Jepsen's internet-breaking, enigmatically underrated 2015 record Emotion. I, like so many other others who write about music, have plenty to say about this album - so much so, in fact, that I made it the subject of my senior thesis and thus the longest and most labor-intensive writing project I've ever done. I wrote about its release strategy, its collection of high-quality 80's-influenced pop bops, its status as a cult classic amongst people who would hardly call themselves fans of the genre. I could go on and on (and did) about the majesty of "Run Away From Me," the playfulness of "Boy Problems," and the sultry smoothness of "All That," but I've been there, done that. If you're really interested in going down that route, you can check out a copy of my thesis from the Brown University Library System, where it lives alongside all other English undergraduate theses - provided you have a university login that grants you access, which I ironically do not. (Or, you could just email me, and I'd be happy to send you a link to Google Drive.)

Instead, I want to focus this post on Emotion's personal impact on my college days and the overall trajectory of my life. (Dramatic, I know, but bear with me here.) 

Like I said earlier, in high school I was pretty much a rock-only listener. I was also deeply closeted. Those two facts might seem separate - and at the time I thought they were - but looking back I can now see that my penchant for heavier music and avoidance of anything pop was tied to a fear of being perceived as feminine in any way. I couldn't possibly risk tipping off the other students in my close-knit, all-boys school that I was all that different than everybody else, let alone the (presumably) only gay person in the entire class. So I buried myself. I squashed any personality trait, consciously and subconsciously, that I thought would be perceived as gay. I devoted myself to Foo Fighters and Rise Against and Red Hot Chili Peppers - all bands I still enjoy, it should be said - and guilted myself out of listening to the likes of Lady Gaga, reacting with immediate revulsion to pop sensibilities. If you need proof, look at this very blog's Album of the Year 2013 posts, where the closest I get to full-on poptimistic are the blog-approved HAIM and Lorde albums sitting at #11 and #12 respectively.

College was supposed to be different - and in the end, it was, though it took longer to get there than I realized. I went into Brown planning on being "out" from day one. But, as any number of queer people can attest to, there are stages to coming out. For me, having people know I was gay was the first step, but allowing myself to be gay - in other words, to express myself how I wanted and not how I felt I needed to in order to create a specific external image - was much harder. I even joked to people that I was "the straightest gay guy you'll ever meet." While at Brown I didn't feel the need to instinctively pull away from "gay" music, I also wasn't actively seeking it out; I had been so deep in the closet that I didn't even realize I had shut out an entire world of music, and that door hadn't magically opened the day I stepped onto campus and opened the closet up.

Even when Emotion was getting tons of blog buzz in 2015, I hardly paid it any mind; I listened to a few tracks to see what was causing all the hubbub, but nothing resonated. Then, as I spent more time in Brown's queer-friendly social environment and slowly came more and more out of my shell, Emotion started to click. The wondrous pop melodies and effervescent instrumentals that now rattle around my brain constantly finally stood out. Throughout my sophomore year, I listened again and again, each time feeling more and more in touch with who I was inside and how I no longer had to be afraid of music that was associated with gay culture.

My ever-growing love for Emotion kicked off an avalanche of unabashed pop consumption, a wave of music in my Spotify playlists from new era gay icons like Charli XCX and SOPHIE, or even LGBTQ-flavored indie acts like Perfume Genius or (pre-scandal) PWR BTTM. It changed my taste in music forever, but even more than that, it correlated with finally letting go of who I thought I needed to be and instead embracing who I actually am.

All of this of course culminated in Emotion being the focus of my senior thesis. If you had told me as a precocious first year in September 2015 that I would be advocating for pop music from the "Call Me Maybe" lady to be taken seriously in the academic sphere, I would not have believed you. But if a thesis is supposed to be the exclamation point at the end of your undergraduate experience, the summarization of everything you've learned both in and out of the classroom, then Emotion was the obvious choice.

- - -

Check out a playlist below of all of the albums from this top ten, along with some honorable mentions that almost made the cut.

Top 10 Nirvana Songs

Nirvana are a band that've been extremely present as of late. This week, they're going to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Singer Kurt Cobain's ex-wife Courtney Love recently announced that her band Hole was reuniting. On a personal level, my term paper on grunge's effects on society, much of which is centered on the story of Nirvana and Cobain, is due next week.

Of course, the biggest reason Nirvana's name has been everywhere lately is because this week marks 20 years since the end of Nirvana, as Cobain was discovered deceased at his home on April 8th, 1994, twenty years ago today. The news of the tortured singer's suicide shocked the world much like word of Lennon's murder did over a decade prior, though there warning signs ahead of time, unlike the latter's sudden death. Regardless, the tragic end to the career of grunge's kings cemented their place in history as one of if not the greatest alternative act of all time. As such, whittling down their catalog to a measly ten tracks was no walk in the park. This list might seem In Utero-heavy, but that's largely because it's widely accepted as their best and most time-withstanding work. And to prove my point, here's number ten...

10. "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle" - In Utero

For those who wonder why In Utero is known for its abrasiveness and viscerality, look no further. Dry guitars and Cobain's gravelly vocal each stand out on this track, and the harsh feedback during the verse does its job dutifully. The track follows the quiet-loud-quiet format to a tee. Dave Grohl also pounds heavily behind the drumkit in one of the group's loudest, most violent songs. It's not Nirvana at their most commercially appealing by any means, but it is one of their best nonetheless.

9. "Serve the Servants" - In Utero

To kick off Nirvana's third and final studio album, Kurt Cobain howls possibly the greatest opening lyric in rock history: "Teenage angst has paid off well," he admits, before lamenting "now I'm bored and old." The lyric perfectly encapsulated not only what was going on in terms of pop culture and grunge's increasing role in it, but also Kurt's attitude towards his newfound fame and influence. The song comes off as more tame, more composed compared to "Frances Farmer," which gives it just that extra bit of quality. Cobain's guitar work here is some of his best, whether it's the crunchy opening riff or the more free-flowing solo. The quiet-loud song structure is reversed, as Kurt's screaming in the verses shrinks into a timid moan for the eponymous chorus. "Serve the Servants" kicks off the album in style, via a dirty, unglamourous grunge crawl.

8. "Rape Me" - In Utero

Due to its provocative title, "Rape Me" is far and away Nirvana's most controversial track, which is odd considering the lyrics are extremely anti-rape. But ,of course, some people will always judge a book by its cover or, in this case, a song by its title. Though "Heart-Shaped Box"'s music video was definitely, let's say, "out there," and the subject matter was just as sexual (according to Courtney Love), it's "Rape Me" that had Walmart and KMart aflutter. Ironically, the song is one of In Utero's most commercially viable, following a relatively standard structure with a powerful chorus and pulsating beat. The guitar riff is fantastic, and the entire song has a somewhat straightforward punk sound to it. "Rape Me" is a classic grunge song, and is probably the closest thing to Nevermind-era Nirvana you can find on In Utero.

7. "About a Girl" - Bleach & MTV Unplugged


Nirvana's pop tendencies were evident from the beginning, as this track from their 1989 debut Bleach clearly indicates. I've included both the original recording and the live acoustic version here, as both a thoroughly entertaining in different ways. The catchy chorus, simple instrumentation, and addictive melody all come together wonderfully in the plugged-in version, which still sounds great twenty-five years on. The MTV show that Nirvana played is one of the most famous in history - how many other concert recordings are regularly played on rock radio? The trio lead off on this famous night with an acoustic rendition of "About A Girl," setting the tone perfectly for the rest of the show. The prettier acoustic guitars and soft drums put all the focus on Kurt's voice, changing the emphasis of the song significantly. I'd be hard-pressed to declare one take better than the other, and would rather just enjoy each for what they are, by which I mean two amazing pieces of music.

6. "On a Plain" - Nevermind

Nevermind's penultimate listed track and final 'loud' song (as its followed by the quite closer "Something in the Way") will leave you wanting more after the disc stops spinning. "On a Plain" jumps straight in after a bit of feedback, with the first verse kicking off quite suddenly. Cobain's riff is great, and the chorus is catchy. Grohl's drumming is substantially above average once again, particularly those thumping tom-toms during the refrain of "I'm on a plain." Lyrics such as "love myself better than you" show off Cobain's salty side as well as his unique songwriting ability. It's a wonder this seemingly commercially viable track didn't get more radio play, but that doesn't stop it from being an excellent example of Nirvana in their Nevermind phase.

5. "All Apologies" - In Utero

Here's another track that is perhaps better known by its acoustic version, however, I've elected for the electrified edition of In Utero's final notes. While the MTV Unplugged performance is beautiful in its own right, I think the contrast between the extremely quiet verses and explosive chorus plays a particularly pivotal role here, perhaps more so than in any other Nirvana single, save "Smells Like Teen Spirit." In the verse, Cobain is upset but not necessarily angry, as he ponders his faults ("I wish I was like you") and asks questions like "what else should I be?" While it could be interpreted as passive-aggressive ("I'll take all the blame" and other lines like it could easily be interpreted as sarcastic), there's still no direct conflict involved. The bashful guitar riff and subdued drum beat back up this idea suitably. The chorus then brings an eruption of sound, with distorted guitars and Cobain's classic cry taking over. "All Apologies" manages to fit despair, regret, anger, self-blame, and even some philosophy ("all in all is all we are") into a stunning four-minutes.

4. "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" - MTV Unplugged

The only performance of Nirvana's on MTV Unplugged to surpass the kick-starter, "About A Girl," is the closer, the absolutely breathtaking cover of Lead Belly's arrangement of an old folk song. Cello plays a prominent role in the build up to the song's stunning epicenter, as do two excellently-played verses. For a moment, everything drops but Cobain's whisper and quiet guitar. Then, unexpectedly, the late singer unleashes a desperate, shrieking, emotional plea, asking his love about a possible infidelity. The moment is even more powerful when seen on video, as Kurt's frail frame and sad blue eyes really paint a picture of what's going on behind the scenes with his troubled marriage. No one expected this kind of performance from the loud, wild grunge-punks from Seattle, but everybody was thankful for it once it came.

3. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nevermind

Goodness, where to start. Well, if you don't know the deal with "Smells Like Teen Spirit," you might want to pay a bit more attention. Even for those who weren't alive to see it happen, myself included, it's well established that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is the song that kicked off Nirvana's career, launched the grunge movement into the public eye at blistering speeds, and defined a generation of disaffected youth. "Teen Spirit" is possibly the most commonly analyzed song on Earth, a rare example of a piece of music that was and is hugely successful both commercially and critically. From the iconic drum into to Cobain's riff, to the instantly recognizable chorus, to the final wail of "let it die out," "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is an amazing song through and through. I don't have much else to say that hasn't already been said a thousand times before, except that it's quite remarkable that there could be two Nirvana songs better than this one, even if this list is completely subjective.

2. "Pennyroyal Tea" - In Utero

To be frank, much of Nirvana's discography is musically simple at first glance, and "Pennyroyal Tea" definitely falls under that categorization. A calm verse and loud chorus is nothing new for Nirvana, but on this track they do it particularly well. The chorus is one of their best, and the instrumental breakdown halfway through is outstanding in its sluggishness. The raw vocals are especially poignant during the bridge just after the solo, acting as a quiet before the final chorus's raucous storm. I also love the acoustic version, which is just Cobain on vocals and guitar, but it just missed the cut for me. I'm finding that it's hard to explain why I love this song so much, so hopefully the music can speak for itself.

1. "Heart-Shaped Box" - In Utero

Simply put, "Heart-Shaped Box" is in my humble opinion the greatest thing Nirvana ever did. Every single component of this song just works. The creepy guitar pattern creates a certain, definite mood of anticipation and uneasiness, matching the cryptic lyrics. The classic quiet-loud-quiet format is at work once again, with a volatile two-part chorus standing out among the group's other refrains. Between the crazed "Hey! Wait!" shouts and the sardonic "forever in debt to your priceless advice," the chorus is full of emotion. Cobain's growl was perhaps never better employed than here. Though the guitar solo simply mimics the melody, the distortion gives it that slightly-off feel that the song needs. "Heart-Shaped Box" is infectious, and while Kurt claims he's been locked in for four weeks, music fans have been trapped by the single for twenty years, and happily so.

Honorable mentions: "Pennyroyal Tea" (MTV Unplugged version), "School," "Dumb," "Scentless Apprentice," "Come As You Are," "Lithium," "The Man Who Sold the World"

Top 15 Long Songs

Every now and again, an artist feels restricted by the expectation that a song will last somewhere between three and five minutes. Often, musicians (some more than others) will fight this sense of constriction by crafting works significantly lengthier than average. Such songs must be approached by the listener in a different manner. Depending on the style, exceptionally long tracks can put added emphasis on certain aspects of music. Some marathon-like songs are intended to build up and up to an ultimate cathartic release; some are supposed to drift along, allowed the listener to let his or her mind wander blissfully; still others consist of several different parts, indicating that the performer had plenty of ideas to fit into one piece.

Today, I will be looking at these sort of songs, and listing what I consider to be the best among them. In order for a track to qualify for this countdown, it needed to be at least seven minutes long, a length I chose because it's roughly twice as long as a typical pop song and also because it narrowed down the field substantially. Some songs that just missed the cut due to their sub-seven-minute runtime but would be considered otherwise include My Bloody Valentine's "Soon," "Whirring" by the Joy Formidable, and Radiohead's "Paranoid Android." The song's listed runtime on iTunes was the data used. The selection and ranking processes was based on a combination of my personal taste and general cultural recognition and importance. I limited the choices to one entry per artist as well. Additionally, in keeping with the extra-long theme, I've decided to make this countdown a top fifteen rather than the usual top ten. Enjoy.

15. "Wasted Days" - Cloud Nothings


Back when I reviewed Attack on Memory, I talked about "Wasted Days" as one of the album's standout moments. The fast-paced guitar riff melts away after a few minutes into the wild instrumental midsection, complete with cataclysmic drums and eerie atmospheric noise. Dylan Baldi's primal screams during the finale mark a violent end to a visceral track, one you'll hardly notice lasts nine minutes.

14. "I Am the Resurrection" - The Stone Roses


"I Am the Resurrection" starts as a typical 'Madchester' single, with a march-along drum beat, echoed vocals, and sunny guitars. However, once the vocals disappear and the funky bassline takes over, the song transforms into a part-jazz, part-Britpop instrumental breakdown that lasts over four minutes. Congas join the standard drum kit as John Squire gets a little experimental with his guitar playing, which remains some of the flashiest found on any Stones Roses record. Switching between quiet and loud on several occasions, the outro is a major reason why this track is one of the most famous to come of the Manchester scene.

Top 10 Frontwomen in Rock

Unfortunately, for much of rock music's history, women were under-represented as most bands had had all-male members. Still, the years have given us our fair share of great female band leaders. In celebration of International Women's Day, I'll be counting down my top ten favorite female singers in rock and alternative music history. For this list, I've excluded singers who were/are known primarily as solo artists (sorry Janis Joplin and Sky Ferreira). However, the definition of a "frontwoman" is a loose one, as several of the singers featured on this list often had male companions at the mic, but would at least sporadically have a song to herself. Lastly, in addition to a description of each singer, I've embedding a track of theirs that I feel showcases their vocal prowess most successfully. And remember, as always, this is just my opinion. Let's dive right in.

10. Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill)


This ferocious punk-rocker was at the head of the Riot Grrrl movement, as her band Bikini Kill took a leading role in the counter-culture. Closely tied in with grunge, Riot Grrrl brought significant social change wherever it thrived, advocating for gender and sexual equality, and even facilitated the resurgence of feminism in the United States. Hanna's distinct snarl and tongue-in-cheek lyrics played a significant role in the genre's rise to prominence, and she may be the most politically significant person on this list.

Top 10 The Smiths Songs

Thirty years ago this past Thursday, Manchester-based music icons The Smiths released their self-titled debut. Rather than doing (another) anniversary post, I've decided to take a broader look at the group's discography by ranking their ten best songs. This list is by no means definitive, especially considering the excellent body of work the band put together in just five years.

10. "Death of a Disco Dancer" - Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)

For their last full-length release, The Smiths decided to implement more jam-style songs. "Death of a Disco Dancer" is the prime example of how the usually clean-cut, fine-tuned group break out of their predetermined formula and improvise a little. It's the only Smiths song to feature famed lead singer Morrissey on a instrument, as he plays some jingling piano under Johnny Marr's punchy guitar strumming. It may not be the most put-together track by The Smiths, nor the most typical, but that's what makes it special.

Top 75 Songs of 2013

With very little music expected to be released this December, and as other music blogs beginning their 2013 round-up processes, I figured I'd do the same. To start, I'll be ranking (though not reviewing) my seventy-five favorite songs of this calendar year below & embedding a Spotify playlist containing each song listed descending from #1 down to #75. Feel free to post your top 10's/20's etc. in the comments below, and expect a more in-depth countdown of 2013's best records over the course of December.

75. Vampire Weekend - "Hannah Hunt"

74. Nine Inch Nails - "Various Methods of Escape"

73. Deerhunter - "Back to the Middle"

72. Pearl Jam - "Mind Your Manners"

71. Sky Ferreira - "24 Hours"

70. CHVRCHES - "The Mother We Share"

69. Washed Out - "Weightless"

68. Balance and Composure - "Reflection"

67. HAIM - "Forever"

66. Washed Out - "Entrance"

World Cup 2014 - Top 10 Most Likely Winners

This week, Uruguay's draw with Jordan granted them the last spot in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, the most watched sporting event on Earth. With all 32 teams set to compete, it's time to take an early look at which national squads are most likely to bring the trophy back to their home country next summer.

10. Portugal

Anything's possible for Portugal so long as Cristiano Ronaldo is leading their side. This past week's playoff second-leg against Sweden proved just that, as the dazzling winger slotted home a hat trick on top of his goal in the first leg. Other strong players in the squad include box-to-box midfielder João Moutinho and Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio. If Manchester United winger Nani can recapture the form he displayed a couple of years ago, Portugal will be a real force in the upcoming tournament.

9. Colombia

This South American nation's biggest star is undeniably AS Monaco's Radamel Falcao. Considered by many to be the best pure striker in the world, Falcao will have help up top from the likes of Jackson Martinez, currently at FC Porto, and James Rodriguez, a brilliant young attacking midfielder/winger who also plays for Monaco. The chemistry between James and Falcao should be stellar, as they'll have played a year of club and international ball together by the time June rolls around. Midfielder Fredy Guarin and defenders Christian Zapata and Pablo Armero will bring both strength and quickness to the squad, all three playing in Italy this season. The lineup does drop off a little after that, however, and Colombia might not have enough in them to make it farther than the quarterfinals.

8. Uruguay

Despite needing a playoff victory over Jordan to even qualify, Uruguay will be a force to reckon with in 2014. The clear strong point in the team is the attacking duo of Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani. Both bring great pace to the team as well as incredible on-the-ball skills and finishing ability. Veteran forward Diego Forlan may be 34 but shone in 2010's World Cup, so there's a chance he scores a few in Brazil next year. Team captain Diego Lugano heads the defense with help from Juventus player Martin Caceres and Diego Godin. Like Colombia, Uruguay pretty much rely on their strikers and lack any superstars in midfield or defense, and thus could very well fall short of the last tournament's fourth place finish.

7. Netherlands

The Dutch squad had a very successful qualifying process this cycle after reaching the 2010 final in South Africa, but admittedly had a very weak group in the UEFA qualifiers and have aged since losing out to Spain last tournament. The Netherlands are one of the oldest national teams going to Brazil, which has both benefits and drawbacks. Players like Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie, and Wesley Sneijder bring loads of experience against world-class opposition, but all three are somewhat injury-prone and slower than they used to be. RVP is undoubtedly one of Europe's best scorers, and Robben plays a pivotal role for a Bayern squad that won the Champions League last season, but Sneijder has dropped in form over the last year or so. Roma summer signee Kevin Strootman will look to fill that central midfield role if Sneijder struggles, as youngsters like Maro Van Ginkel, Adam Maher, and Leroy Fer will hope to break into the first team. Defense is, as with the other teams already mentioned, the biggest concern here. Johnny Heitinga has been seeing minimal play time at Everton since 2012, and will be extremely rusty come June. Gregory van der Wiel has talent but is also young and prone to error. To make matters worse, first choice keeper Maarten Stekelenburg has struggled mightly at relegation candidates Fulham this season, and may be dropped for fellow Prem goalies Tim Krul or Michael Vorm. A supremely physical team, the Netherlands definitely have a shot at the world title, but are far from the favorites.

6. Argentina

Lionel Messi is unstoppable for Barcelona (unless his quads have anything to say about it), but has yet to show the same immaculacy for his country. He failed to score for Argentina in South Africa, though he was credited with six assists in five games. Next summer, he'll most likely play as a center forward behind any combination of strikers Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, or the red-hot Sergio Aguero. Aguero's teammate at Manchester City Pablo Zabaleta will anchor the back four. Javier Mascherano is used more effectively as a center back but may play midfield alongside Angel di Maria and Ever Banega. If Messi performs at the same level he does in La Liga, then Argentina could wreak havoc at Brazil 2014.

5. Italy

After unceremoniously bowing out in the group stage in 2010, failing to win a single game (in a remarkably easy group as well), Cesare Prandelli's crew look set to challenge for the World Cup in a few months. Extremely talented but equally unpredicable forward Mario Balotelli did well in the Euro 2012 matches as well as this past summer's Confederations Cup, but his giant ego and tendency to self-destruct could hurt Italy more than his ability on the pitch can help. Antonio Di Natale has retired from international play since the last World Cup, so Balotelli will look to Giuseppe Rossi and fellow AC Milan sparkplug Stephan El Shaarawy for assistance up top. The amazingly skilled and generally beloved Andrea Pirlo will be a force in midfield as well as on set pieces. Fellow Serie A veterans Daniele De Rossi and Ricardo Montolivo round out the central midfield roles. In the back, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon provides leadership as well as skill, while defenders Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, and Giorgio Chiellini sit in front of him. Italy are one of the most well-rounded teams in the world, and should have a great chance to return to the glory of their 2006 victory after 2010's dismal performance.

4. Belgium

Belgium is everyone's favorite dark horse this World Cup, and how could they not be? Young strikers Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke have been nothing short of outstanding in the Premier League this calendar year, and the team in general is a joy to watch. Thibaut Cortois and Simon Mignolet may split time in net, and a star-studded midfield will see rotation between Eden Hazard, Maroune Fellaini, Moussa Dembele, and Axel Witsel, among others. Vincent Kompany is one of the best defenders on the planet when healthy, and Jan Vertonghen is no slouch either. The team could employ several different formations depending on the situation, with 3-5-2, 4-2-3-1, and 4-3-3 all possibilities.If head coach Marc Wilmots uses the flexibility granted to him effectively, Belgium could become the second consecutive first-time World Cup champions after Spain won their first ever trophy in 2010.

3. Spain

Spain dominated international soccer/football from 2008-2012, but in last June's Confederations Cup final, a strong Brazilian team fully dismantled the reigning world champs, exposing them to the rest of the world as vulnerable. Teams have had more time to adjust to their passing style of gameplay as more and more club teams have employed the so-called "tiki-taka" approach. Nevertheless, this is largely the same team that won in South Africa. Striker Alvaro Negredo has taken his game to the next level at Manchester City, and about half of the starting eleven still play together at a little club called FC Barcelona. Xabi Alanso, Juan Mata, and Sergio Ramos join FCB stars Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Jordi Alba. Whether recently-benched Iker Casillas starts over Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina is a question worth pondering, but all three will contribute strong efforts. Spain are still a very strong side, but are not immortal as they appeared to be just four years ago.

2. Germany

The German national squad is one of the deepest in the world; if one player goes down injured, five more talented ones are waiting in the wings. Mario Gomez is a clinical finisher up top, and looks to fill the role Miroslave Klose shone brightly in during the tournament in South Africa. A stacked midfield utilizes Bundesliga stars like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sven Bender, Thomas Muller, Ilkay Gundogan, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, and Marco Reus. Premier Leaguers Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil add playmaking ability to the aformentioned midfielding corps. Philipp Lahm can control a game both offensively and defensively when operating from the right back position, while center backs Per Mertesacker and Mats Hummels can shutdown enemt attacks with ease. Goalie Manuel Neuer is arguably the best in the world. In short, Germany have no weak link, and only one country prevents them from being the favorites for the upcoming world cup.

1. Brazil

After winning the Confederations Cup, all eyes are on the Brazil national team going into 2014. Having homefield advantage is an added bonus to a team already claiming the likes of Barcelona starlet Neymar, acrobatic keeper Julio Cesar, and world-class defender Thiago Silva. All three will play pivotal roles in the tournament if Brazil hope to win the title for a world-record sixth time. Neywar will play on the wing, as will strong-footed and aptly-named Zenit St. Petersburg stud Hulk, with one of Brazilian league strikers Jo and Fred sitting between them. They'll likely set up in a 4-3-3, with Luis Gustavo, Paulinho, and Ramires splitting time at defensive midfielder while Oscar, Hernanes, and Bernard share duties at CAM. Speedy PSG youngster Lucas Moura may take some of Hulk's minutes, and footballing legend Ronaldinho hopes to make a triumphant return to the Brazil squad next summer. The defense looks strong as well, lining up from left to right with Marcelo, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, and Dani Alves. Brazil are a frontrunner in every World Cup, and in 2014 they should be the frontrunner.

Top 10 Radiohead Songs

This week's countdown features a list of my ten favorite songs by my all-time favorite band, Radiohead. With such a large discography and so many varying musical styles, the final shortlist was very eclectic. Let's dive in.

10. "The Bends" - The Bends  (1995)



The title track off Radiohead's second album, which many see as their first truly fantastic output, "The Bends" is a rip-roaring rocker that's just weird enough to let you know this band is special. Thom Yorke's stammered vocals gel nicely with Jonny Greenwood's arena-sized guitar riff.  "Where do we go from here?" asks Yorke earnestly. Little did he know that where Radiohead would "go" would soon be straight up to the top of the indie world. The whole song is big, and remains one of the band's best straightforward rock tracks.

Continue the list by clicking the "read more" button below.

Top 5 Favorite TV Shows

I'll start this post off by offering a disclaimer; I have not watched nearly as many TV shows as I should have. I wish I could put shows like Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, or The Wire, but that wouldn't make sense considering I am yet to watch those series. Thus, I am by no means pretending like this list in any way represents the ten best shows of all time. (That's why the title says "favorite," not "best.") These are merely the shows I actually have managed to follow that I enjoyed the most.

Also, keep in mind that these are pre-taped, scripted programs, which means no reality shows (sorry Big Brother) or Saturday Night Live.

5. Parks and Recreation

Top 10 "Love" Songs

Love is by far the most common subject a song is written about. It's a universal theme that transcends generations and will never come close to going away. So, naturally, lots of musicians make it the focus of their music.

But this list is not going to countdown songs about love; that's a pretty insurmountable task, considering the volume of songs that would qualify. Instead, today I'm listing my top ten songs with the word "love" (or some variation of it) in the title. Yes, it's a pretty open, loosely-related category, but that just allows for a more eclectic bunch of tunes to be featured. It may only be a trivial shared characteristic, but I still think it'll make for an interesting lineup.

Top 10 Arcade Fire Songs

It's hard to summarize the discography of a band like Arcade Fire in just ten songs, even if they've released as few (three, soon to be four) studio albums as these Canadian indie rockers have. Every single song is so compelling, so interesting, so satisfying, that it's nearly impossible to find two fans who would be able to completely agree on a top 10 list. So, needless to say, this is extremely subjective. A combination of several factors, such as popularity, importance, personal opinions, and gut feelings went in to developing this countdown, so it's likely one of your favorite songs will miss out. Disregarding the songs from the new, now-streaming Reflektor, as a measly two days is not nearly eneough time to evaluate such layered songs, here are my top ten songs bv Arcade Fire.

Top 10 Music Videos

Following the rundowns of my Top Five Cover Songs and Top Ten Guitar Solos, I've decided to rank my favorite music videos this week. As was the case with my other countdowns, these picks are my favorites. The videos on this list are the ones I enjoy the most. Had this list been based purely off of legacy and the public's general opinion, it would obviously be populated my more influential artists/videos such as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (or any of his other videos, for that matter.) Instead I've presented the videos I feel complement the song most aptly and are just plain interesting to watch. I'm sure I've forgotten even some of my favorites, and definitely left out some of yours, so if you feel anything missed out that you would've liked to have seen here, let me know in the comments. So without further delay, here are my top ten music videos of all time.

10. Coldplay - "The Scientist"



Before Coldplay took a turn for the worse, ditching their sincere acoustic elements for a more manufactured pop sound, the released 2002's A Rush of Blood to the Head. The album's second single, "The Scientist," is a beautifully chilling piano ballad. While the song may be the band's best, the accompanying music video certainly is. Shot using special camera techniques, the entire clip plays backwards, and follows lead singer Chris Martin as he (literally) backtracks to the video's twist. The whole played-in-reverse idea may seem gimmicky, especially during the shots of a basketball game being played backwards. But the technique is integral to the video's strength, which is driven by the shock reveal near the video's end.

9. Hole - "Doll Parts"



Filmed shortly after the suicide of and Nirvana front-man and singer Courtney Love's husband Kurt Cobain, Hole's "Doll Parts" video is packed with emotion and not-so-subtle symbolism. Shot mostly in black and white, the video features appearances from "Kurt," who is portrayed by a look-alike actor. Considering she wrote the song to describe her love for her late husband, Courtney's performance in the clip is outstanding. Essentially, she's singing a love song to her dead husband whom was taken from her in the cruelest way imaginable. You can hear and see Love's bitterness and pain clearly in "Doll Parts," making it one of the most powerful music videos ever.

8. 30 Seconds to Mars - "From Yesterday"



30 Seconds to Mars are well-known for their elaborate and epic music videos, and "From Yesterday" is a perfect example of why. The band's singer, Jared Leto, gained recognition and respect as an actor in films like Requiem for a Dream before showcasing his versatility and forming the band. It makes sense a musician with acting roots would put as much effort into his music videos as Leto does. Directed by Leto, "From Yesterday" is a grandiose work in which the band members are transported to ancient China and are forced by the young Emperor to fight to the death. It may sound cheesy, and in some ways it is, but Leto is a master of creating stunning visuals. The bizarre yet intriguing storyline gets more and more interesting as the video continues on, and the song itself is no pushover either.

7. Foo Fighters - "Walk"



Paying homage to the cult classic film Falling Down, "Walk" is one of the goofiest and hysterical videos around. Band leader, rock legend, and famously hilarious musician Dave Grohl finds himself in unique and funny situations as he abandons his guitar in a traffic jam and goes on a bizarre walk through Los Angeles. Over the course of his trip, he commandeers a golf cart and stops a mugging, among others. I don't want to give away too much, for that would ruin the fun of it, so instead you can see for yourself above.

6. Radiohead - "Just"



The video that left thousands frustrated, Radiohead's "Just" portrays a man who simply lies down in the middle of a sidewalk for no apparent reason. A crowd gathers, all desperate to find out why the man is lying on the ground. Once the man finally tells them, the subtitles mischievously stop, leaving fans asking "what did he say?!?!" There's probably some symbolism here for how the public is too curious nowadays, or something of the like, but all I really want to know is what on earth he said. It's been almost twenty years and still no answer has come, so it seems likely we'll never know for sure. A quick browse through the comments provides some funny suggestions, though they don't make much sense until the twist is revealed.

5. Hole - "Miss World"



Yes, I'm breaking my usual "one song per artist" rule, but for good reason. Courtney Love is both the queen of '90's music videos and the prom in Hole's "Miss World" clip. Donned with an excessive amount of makeup, Love is crowned homecoming queen at a dance. The statement being made here is that the world values outer beauty more than inner beauty, as signified by the contrast between Love's glamorous dance persona and the grittier band performance. Backed by the adage "cleanliness is next to godliness," Love shows the deeper side to Hole's grunge sound in "Miss World"'s lyrics and video.

4. Marilyn Manson - "The Beautiful People"



Sporting a similar message to Hole's "Miss World" video described just above, shock-rocker Marilyn Manson lashes out at the public's perception of beauty in a more abrasive and disturbing way for his "Beautiful People" video. In the clip's alternate world, people and objects our society would consider ugly and/or scary are seen as beautiful. Awesomely creepy and dark, "The Beautiful People" scathingly tells the audience that good looks are all based on preconceived notions shaped by society and not our nature.

3. Nirvana - "Heart-Shaped Box"




Now that his wife's band Hole has been on the list twice, it's only fair Kurt Cobain and Nirvana crack my top ten. The controversial "Heart-Shaped Box" is, like many others on this list, filled to the brim with symbolism. The bleak visuals complement the song's sound and meaning well, making it one of the most iconic videos of the 1990's.

2. Johnny Cash - "Hurt"



I went into plenty of detail about Cash's video in my Top 5 Cover Songs post in August, which you can view by clicking the hyperlinked blue text at the top of this post, so I'll break it down in a simpler way here. The song is a cover, with the original Nine Inch Nails version portraying suicide in a very dark way. Cash, however, completely changes the mood of the song, making it about someone who doesn't want to say goodbye rather than one who has no other option. The video was released just months before Cash's death, serving as his final goodbye to his fans. Clearly in poor health, the decrepit country singer sits in a dusty old mansion, surrounded by memorabilia from his legendary musical career. It's an amazingly powerful video, even bringing Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor to the brink of tears when he first saw it, making it easy to understand why many consider this one of the greatest music videos of all time.

1. Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"



The #1 video on my list is Arcade Fire's clip for their title track to their 2010 masterpiece The Suburbs. The video depicts the disintegration of a friendship between a group of teenagers as what was an innocent summer develops into a full-scale military invasion. Directed by Spike Jonze, the video is actually a cut-down version of the thirty-minute short film produced in collaboration with the band, called Scenes from the Suburbs. Dark, twisted, realistic, relatable, and beautiful, "The Suburbs" lands at the top spot on this countdown.

As always, thanks for reading. It was tough to narrow the list down to 10, so below I'll list some honorable mentions. Be on the lookout for my FIFA 14 review soon!

Honorable Mentions:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Sacrilege," "Maps"
Local Natives - "You & I"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
OK GO - "This Too Shall Pass," "Here It Goes Again"