Showing posts with label Blender. Show all posts

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Blender Magazine's 100 Greatest American Albums

Blender Magazine:

100 Greatest American Albums

In October 2008, Blender Magazine created a list of the 100 Greatest American Albums. I’m sure Canada will be surprised to learn that two of their favorite singers – Neil Young and Joni Mitchell – have been declared American by Blender. The magazine is now defunct, but here’s the original list, flaws and all.

Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.

1. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (1990)
2. Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (1986)
3. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
4. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
5. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
6. Ramones Ramones (1976)
7. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978)
8. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (compilation: 1955-64, released 1982)
9. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
10. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)

11. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
12. Metallica Metallica (1991)
13. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
14. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
15. Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On (1973)
16. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
17. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
18. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
19. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
20. James Brown Sex Machine (live, 1970)

21. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
22. Robert Johnson King of the Delta Blues Singers (archives: 1936-37)
23. R.E.M. Murmur (1983)
24. Parliament Mothership Connection (1976)
25. The Notorious B.I.G. Life after Death (1997)
26. Van Halen Van Halen (1978)
27. Al Green Call Me (1973)
28. Aerosmith Rocks (1976)
29. Beck Odelay (1996)
30. Little Richard Grooviest 17 Original Hits! (compilation: 1955-59)

31. Louis Armstrong The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (box set, recorded 1925-28, released 2000)
32. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 1972)
33. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1947-53, released 1978)
34. Steely Dan Katy Lied (1975)
35. The B-52s The B-52s (1979)
36. Chic Risqué (1979)
37. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989)
38. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
39. Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (archives, recorded 1954-55, released 1976)
40. Hole Live Through This (1994)

41. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968)
42. Patti Smith Horses (1975)
43. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)
44. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992)
45. Pearl Jam Vs. (1993)
46. Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986)
47. Various Artists produced by Phil Spector Back to Mono (box set: 1958-69, released 1991)
48. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
49. Eminem The Slim Shady LP (1999)
50. Kiss Destroyer (1976)

51. Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1974)
52. Randy Newman 12 Songs (1970)
53. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991)
54. Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours (1955)
55. Bob Dylan & The Band The Basement Tapes (recorded 1967)
56. Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire (1996)
57. Mary J. Blige My Life (1994)
58. Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970)
59. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993)
60. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)

61. The Coasters 50 Coastin’ Classics (compilation: 1954-68)
62. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
63. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live, 1968)
64. Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (1974)
65. Billie Holiday Lady in Satin (1958)
66. The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers (recorded 1973, released 1976)
67. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
68. TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994)
69. Lynyrd Skynyrd Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (1973)
70. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)

71. LL Cool J Radio (1985)
72. Carpenters Singles: 1969-1981 (compilation: 1969-81)
73. Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988)
74. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968)
75. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
76. Muddy Waters At Newport (live: 1960)
77. Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking (1988)
78. Elvis Presley From Elvis in Memphis (1969)
79. Woody Guthrie Dust Bowl Ballads (1940)
80. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994)

81. Various Artists Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era (compilation: 1965-68, released 1972)
82. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
83. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984)
84. Buddy Holly 20 Golden Greats (compilation: 1955-59)
85. Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (1975)
86. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970)
87. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
88. DJ Shadow Endtroducing… (1996)
89. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980)
90. Weezer Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”) (1994)

91. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
92. Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams (1988)
93. Tori Amos Under the Pink (1994)
94. Nirvana In Utero (1993)
95. Harry Nilsson Nilsson Schmilsson (1972)
96. Kid Rock Devil Without a Cause (1998)
97. The Doors The Doors (1967)
98. The Replacements Let It Be (1984)
99. Stevie Wonder Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974)
100. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965)

Resources and Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: Best-of Album Lists by Publications/Organizations

First posted 10/18/2008; last updated 2/28/2024.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Blender: The 500 Greatest Songs (1980-2005)

Blender:

The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born (1980-2005)

Blender was an American music magazine published from 1994 to 2009. In 2005, it published its list of “The Top 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.” In a New York Times article, Craig Marks, editor-in-chief of Blender said the article was an answer to Rolling Stone magazine’s 2004 list “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” The Blender list focused exclusively on songs from 1980 on while Rolling Stone’s list was, as Marks said, “a baby boomer notion of how our cultural history should be written.”

Here is the full list with some links to more detailed pages about songs within the DMDB blog.

Click here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.

1. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1983)
2. OutKast “Bombs Over Baghdad” (2000)
3. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988)
4. U2 “One” (1992)
5. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
6. Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989)
7. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980)
8. Run-D.M.C. “Sucker MC” (1983)
9. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1998)
10. 50 Cent “In Da Club” (2002)

11. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” (1982)
12. Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986)
13. Eminem “My Name Is” (1998)
14. Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out” (1980)
15. AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
16. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003)
17. Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way” (1999)
18. Rick James “Super Freak” (1981)
19. The Notorious B.I.G. “Hypnotize” (1997)
20. Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew “The Show” (1985)

21. Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1989)
22. Prince “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” (1987)
23. Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987)
24. Run-D.M.C. “It’s Like That” (1983)
25. Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (1992)
26. The Cure “Just Like Heaven” (1987)
27. Biz Markie “Just a Friend” (1989)
28. Gary Numan “Cars” (1979)
29. Missy Elliott “Get Ur Freak On” (2001)
30. Jay-Z “99 Problems” (2004)

31. Method Man & Mary J. Blige “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need” (1995)
32. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
33. Blackstreet with Dr. Dre & Queen Pen “No Diggity” (1996)
34. B-Rock & the Bizz “My Baby Daddy” (1997)
35. Talking Heads “Cross-Eyed and Painless” (1980)
36. Rob Base “It Takes Two” (1988)
37. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981)
38. Destiny’s Child “Bootylicious” (2001)
39. Geto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” (1991)
40. Salt-N-Pepa “Push It” (1987)

41. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
42. Ol’ Dirty Bastard “Got Your Money” (1999)
43. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
44. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel “White Lines (Don’t Do It)” (1983)
45. Johnny Cash “Hurt” (2002)
46. N.W.A. “Fuck tha Police” (1989)
47. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
48. Pixies “Monkey Gone to Heaven”
49. Eminem “Lose Yourself” (2002)
50. Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” (1982)

51. Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris “Yeah!” (2004)
52. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995)
53. Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1982)
54. The Pretenders “Middle of the Road” (1983)
55. Coldplay “The Scientist” (2002)
56. Bell Biv DeVoe “Poison” (1990)
57. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985)
58. Radiohead “Karma Police” (1997)
59. Digital Underground “The Humpty Dance” (1990)
60. John Waite “Missing You” (1984)

61. R. Kelly “Ignition (remix)” (2002)
62. Depeche Mode “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981)
63. U2 “Beautiful Day” (2000)
64. Destiny’s Child “Say My Name” (1999)
65. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
66. Lauryn Hill “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (1998)
67. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984)
68. Funky 4 + 1 “That’s the Joint” (1980)
69. Shania Twain “You’re Still the One” (1998)
70. Bryan Adams “Summer of ‘69” (1984)

71. Fiona Apple “Criminal” (1997)
72. The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984)
73. LCD Soundsystem “Losing My Edge” (2002)
74. Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out” (2004)
75. Nine Inch Nails “Head Like a Hole” (1990)
76. The Gap Band “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” (1982)
77. Mötley Crüe “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1987)
78. Freelance Hellraiser “A Stroke of Genius” (2001)
79. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991)
80. Nelly “Hot in Herre” (2002)

81. M.I.A. “Galang” (2004)
82. Nirvana “Come As You Are” (1991)
83. Gang of Four “To Hell with Poverty” (1981)
84. Madonna “Borderline” (1984)
85. Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams “Drop It Like It’s Hot” (2004)
86. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott “Work It” (2002)
87. The Jam “That’s Entertainment” (1981)
88. Grace Jones “Pull Up to the Bumper” (1981)
89. Neil Young “Rockin’ in the Free World” (1989)
90. Madonna “Into the Groove” (1985)

91. Queens of the Stone Age “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” (2000)
92. Taana Gardner “Heartbeat” (1981)
93. Pavement “Cut Your Hair” (1994)
94. P.M. Dawn “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” (1991)
95. Replacements “Unsatisfied” (1984)
96. New Order “True Faith” (1987)
97. Kelly Clarkson “Since U Been Gone” (2004)
98. Prince “When You Were Mine” (1980)
99. Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993)
100. Public Enemy “Bring the Noise” (1988)

101. Positive K “I Got a Man” (1992)
102. The Rapture “House of Jealous Lovers” (2002)
103. Beastie Boys “Sabotage” (1994)
104. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
105. Company B “Fascinated” (1986)
106. Prince “Little Red Corvette” (1983)
107. The White Stripes “Fell in Love with a Girl” (2001)
108. Big Punisher with Joe “Still Not a Player” (1998)
109. Radiohead “Creep” (1992)
110. Britney Spears “Toxic” (2004)

111. Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force “Planet Rock” (1982)
112. Ratt “Round and Round” (1984)
113. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
114. Beyoncé with Jay-Z “Crazy in Love” (2003)
115. Snoop Dogg “Gin & Juice” (1994)
116. Hole “Violet” (1994)
117. Eric B. and Rakim “Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness)” (1987)
118. L’Trimm “Cars with the Boom” (1988)
119. Cypress Hill “How I Could Just Kill a Man” (1992)
120. Lil’ Jon & the East Side Boyz with the Ying Yang Twins “Get Low” (2003)

121. Linkin Park “In the End” (2001)
122. Kanye West “Through the Wire” (2003)
123. Art Brut “Formed a Band” (2004)
124. Elton John “Sad Songs Say So Much” (1984)
125. Herbie Hancock “Rock-It” (1983)
126. Ice Cube “It Was a Good Day” (1993)
127. Rage Against the Machine “Bulls on Parade” (1996)
128. Kelis “Milkshake” (2003)
129. A Flock of Seagulls “I Ran (So Far Away)” (1982)
130. LL Cool J “Mama Said Knock You Out” (1991)

131. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps” (2003)
132. Elliott Smith “Waltz #2 (XO)” (1998)
133. Billy Squier “Everybody Wants You” (1982)
134. Cher “Believe” (1998)
135. Pearl Jam “Daughter” (1993)
136. Cameo “Word Up” (1986)
137. Cornershop “Brimful of Asha” (1997)
138. The Libertines “Up the Bracket” (2002)
139. Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (1993)
140. Mobb Deep “Shook Ones (Part 2)” (1995)

141. George Michael “Freedom ‘90” (1990)
142. Kurtis Blow “The Breaks” (1980)
143. Treacherous Three “The Body Rock” (1980)
144. Buckcherry “Lit Up” (1999)
145. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories “Stay (I Missed You)” (1994)
146. Ciara “Goodies” (2004)
147. Leonard Cohen “Everybody Knows” (1988)
148. En Vogue “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” (1992)
149. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995)
150. Ghostface “Run” (2004)

151. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
152. Chaka Khan “I Feel for You” (1984)
153. Duran Duran “Ordinary World” (1992)
154. Christina Aguilera “Beautiful” (2002)
155. Bob Dylan “Not Dark Yet” (1997)
156. Frankie Smith “Double Dutch Bus” (1981)
157. Blur “Girls & Boys” (1994)
158. Jay-Z “Hard Knock Life” (1998)
159. The Godfathers “Birth School Work Death” (1988)
160. New Order “Temptation” (1982)

161. Electric Six “Danger! High Voltage” (2003)
162. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984)
163. OutKast “Ms. Jackson” (2000)
164. ABC “The Look of Love” (1982)
165. N Sync “Bye Bye Bye” (2000)
166. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981)
167. Faith Hill “Breathe” (1999)
168. The Notorious B.I.G. “Juicy” (1994)
169. Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984)
170. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)

171. Craig Mack “Flava in Ya Ear” (1994)
172. Daft Punk “Around the World” (1997)
173. Fugees “Ready or Not” (1996)
174. Liz Phair “Fuck and Run” (1993)
175. Nas “Made You Look” (2002)
176. The Old 97’s “Murder (or a Heart Attack)” (1999)
177. Phantom Planet “California” (2002)
178. Newcleus “Jam on It” (1984)
179. Death Cab for Cutie “The Sound of Settling” (2003)
180. Audio Two “Top Billin’” (1988)

181. The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
182. Aerosmith “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1989)
183. Lucinda Williams “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” (1998)
184. Mazzy Star “Fade Into You” (1993)
185. Grandmaster Flash “Adventures of Grandmaster Flash” (1981)
186. Dawn Penn “You Don’t Love Me” (1982)
187. Clint Black “Killin’ Time” (1989)
188. Beastie Boys “Shake Your Rump” (1989)
189. Jennifer Paige “Crush” (1998)
190. Replacements “Bastards of Young” (1985)

191. Amerie “One Thing” (2005)
192. Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986)
193. Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark “If You Leave” (1986)
194. The Cult “Love Removal Machine” (1987)
195. Roxy Music “More Than This” (1982)
196. M.C. Hammer “U Can’t Touch This” (1990)
197. Avril Lavigne “Complicated” (2002)
198. Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (1995)
199. Pixies “Debaser” (1989)
200. The Roots with Cody Chesnutt “The Seed (2.0)” (2003)

201. Sarah McLachlan “Building A Mystery” (1997)
202. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg “Deep Cover” (1992)
203. Robbie Fulks “Let’s Kill Saturday Night” (1998)
204. Scissor Sisters “Take Your Mama” (2004)
205. PJ Harvey “Rid of Me” (1993)
206. Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places” (1990)
207. Maroon 5 “This Love” (2004)
208. Ministry “Work for Love” (1982)
209. Shaggy with Ricardo “Rik Rok” Ducent “It Wasn’t Me” (2000)
210. Steve Perry “Oh Sherrie” (1984)

211. Beenie Man & Ms. Thing “Dude” (2003)
212. The Strokes “Last Nite” (2001)
213. Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (1981)
214. U2 “I Will Follow” (1980)
215. Tom Cochrane “Life Is a Highway” (1992)
216. A Tribe Called Quest with Busta Rhymes “Scenario” (1992)
217. Junior Senior “Move Your Feet” (2003)
218. The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” (2003)
219. Sean Paul “Get Busy” (2003)
220. Third Eye Blind “Semi-Charmed Life” (1997)

221. Mission of Burma “Academy Fight Song” (1981)
222. Panjabi MC with Jay-Z “Beware of the Girls (Mundian to Bach Ke)” (2003)
223. Stacey Q “Two of Hearts” (1986)
224. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1980)
225. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988)
226. Supergrass “Alright” (1995)
227. Basement Jaxx “Where’s Your Head At” (2001)
228. The Hives “Hate to Say I Told You So” (2001)
229. Stevie Nicks “Edge of Seventeen” (1981)
230. Tone Loc “Wild Thing” (1988)

231. Portishead “Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me)” (1994)
232. Das EFX “They Want EFX” EFX (1992)
233. The dB’s “Black and White” (1981)
234. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)
235. Jermaine Stewart “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” (1986)
236. Pixies “Where Is My Mind” (1988)
237. Strafe “Set It Off” (1984)
238. R.E.M. “Everybody Hurts” (1993)
239. Jocelyn Enriquez “Do You Miss Me” (1994)
240. Blink-182 “All the Small Things” (1999)

241. The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997)
242. LL Cool J “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” (1985)
243. Pet Shop Boys “Being Boring” (1990)
244. Suicidal Tendencies “Institutionalized” (1983)
245. My Chemical Romance “I’m Not OK (I Promise)” (2004)
246. Wreckx N Effect “Rump Shaker” (1992)
247. Tom Waits “Downtown Train” (1985)
248. George Michael “Careless Whisper” (1984)
249. Wolfman with Pete Doherty “For Lovers” (2004)
250. Nina Sky with Jabba “Move Your Body” (2004)

251. Public Enemy “Don’t Believe the Hype” (1988)
252. Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
253. Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick “La Di Da Di” (1985)
254. Jay-Z & UGK “Big Pimpin’” (2000)
255. Magnetic Fields “A Pretty Girl Is Like” (1999)
256. PJ Harvey “Down by the Water” (1995)
257. Quad City DJ’s “C’mon ‘N Ride It (The Train)” (1996)
258. Tom Tom Club “Genius Of Love” (1982)
259. Prince “Kiss” (1986)
260. LL Cool J “Goin’ Back to Cali” (1988)

261. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton “Islands in the Stream” (1983)
262. Motörhead “Ace of Spades” (1980)
263. Eminem with Dido “Stan” (2000)
264. Hole “Malibu” (1998)
265. Blondie “Call Me” (1980)
266. Sinéad O’Connor “I Want Your Hands on Me” (1987)
267. Tom Petty “Free Fallin’” (1989)
268. U2 “With or Without You” (1987)
269. The S.O.S. Band “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (1980)
270. Mad Cobra “Flex” (1992)

271. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
272. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982)
273. Warren Zevon “Keep Me in Your Heart” (2004)
274. Bruce Springsteen “Brilliant Disguise” (1987)
275. Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” (1987)
276. Mary J. Blige & Notorious B.I.G. “Real Love” (1992)
277. .38 Special “Hold on Loosely” (1981)
278. Elvis Costello “I Want You” (1986)
279. Ramones “Rock and Roll High School” (1979)
280. Pink “Just Like a Pill” (2002)

281. Air “Sexy Boy” (1998)
282. Cam’ron with Juelz Santana “Oh Boy” (2002)
283. Echo & The Bunnymen “Lips Like Sugar” (1987)
284. Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force “Looking for the Perfect Beat” (1982)
285. Madonna “Don’t Tell Me” (2000)
286. Matthew Sweet “I’ve Been Waiting” (1991)
287. Tears for Fears “Head Over Heels” (1985)
288. At the Drive-In “One-Armed Scissor” (2000)
289. Dead Or Alive “You Spin Me ’Round Like a Record” (1984)
290. My Bloody Valentine “Only Swallow” (1991)

291. The Jim Carroll Band “People Who Died” (1980)
292. Backstreet Boys “Larger Than Life” (1999)
293. Elastica “Connection” (1994)
294. Pearl Jam “Black” (1992)
295. Yes “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (1983)
296. Aimee Mann “Save Me” (1999)
297. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991)
298. Marc Anthony “I Need to Know” (1999)
299. Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal” (1988)
300. Bush “Everything Zen” (1994)

301. The Cure “In Between Days (Without You)” (1985)
302. Beck “Loser” (1993)
303. The Shins “Kissing the Lipless” (2003)
304. Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” (1984)
305. Psychedelic Furs “Pretty in Pink” (1981)
306. Elliott Smith “Say Yes” (1997)
307. Tupac (2pac) Shakur “I Get Around” (1993)
308. Thompson Twins “Hold Me Now” (1983)
309. Lauryn Hill “Ex-Factor” (1999)
310. The Prodigy “Firestarter” (1996)

311. Ryan Adams “Come Pick Me Up” (2000)
312. Sade “Smooth Operator” (1984)
313. Kid Rock “Bawitdaba” (1999)
314. New Order “Love Vigilantes” (1985)
315. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
316. Björk “Army of Me” (1995)
317. Dido “White Flag” (2003)
318. Juvenile “Ha” (1998)
319. Christina Aguilera “Genie in a Bottle” (1999)
320. Erykah Badu “Tyrone” (1997)

321. Jane’s Addiction “Jane Says” (1988)
322. k.d. lang “Constant Craving” (1992)
323. Tricky “Black Steel” (1995)
324. Superchunk “Slack Motherfucker” (1990)
325. House of Pain “Jump Around” (1992)
326. Metallica “Battery” (1986)
327. Twista with Kanye West & Jamie Foxx “Slow Jamz” (2003)
328. Geto Boys “Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” (1992)
329. De La Soul “Potholes in My Lawn” (1989)
330. Fabolous with Nate Dogg “Can’t Deny It” (2001)

331. The Jayhawks “Waiting for the Sun” (1992)
332. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam “I Wonder If I Take You Home” (1985)
333. The Breeders “Cannonball” (1993)
334. Sonic Youth “Teen Age Riot” (1988)
335. Black Box “Everybody Everybody” (1990)
336. Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1983)
337. Fugees “Killing Me Softly” (1996)
338. Drive-By Truckers “Outfit” (2003)
339. Gwen Guthrie “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on But the Rent” (1986)
340. Blur “Song 2” (1997)

341. Janet Jackson “What Have You Done for Me Lately” (1986)
342. Veruca Salt “Seether” (1994)
343. Lucinda Williams “Passionate Kisses” (1988)
344. Whodini “Freaks Come Out at Night” (1985)
345. Mike Jones “Still Tippin’” (2005)
346. Chemical Brothers “Block Rockin’ Beats” (1997)
347. Beastie Boys “Girls” (1987)
348. Destiny’s Child “Independent Women” (2000)
349. U.T.F.O. “Roxanne Roxanne” (1985)
350. Fountains of Wayne “Stacy’s Mom” (2003)

351. Malcolm McLaren “Buffalo Gals” (1982)
352. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)
353. Peter Gabriel “Games Without Frontiers” (1980)
354. Billy Bragg and Wilco “California Stars” (1998)
355. The English Beat “Save It for Later” (1983)
356. George Clinton “Atomic Dog” (1983)
357. Luther Vandross “Never Too Much” (1981)
358. Richard and Linda Thompson “Wall of Death” (1982)
359. Skee-Lo “I Wish” (1995)
360. The Lyres “Help You Ann” (1983)

361. Robyn “Show Me Love” (1993)
362. Dizzee Rascal “Fix Up Look Sharp” (2003)
363. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
364. Weezer “Buddy Holly” (1994)
365. Run-D.M.C. “Rock Box” (1984)
366. The Divinyls “I Touch Myself” (1990)
367. Radiohead “Paranoid Android” (1997)
368. Roseanne Cash “Seven Year Ache” (1981)
369. Wheatus “Teenage Dirtbag” (2000)
370. ’Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” (1985)

371. The B-52’s “Roam” (1990)
372. DMX “Party Up (Up in Here)” (2000)
373. Kris Kross “Jump” (1992)
374. OutKast “Rosa Parks” (1998)
375. Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984)
376. Rilo Kiley “Portions for Foxes” (2004)
377. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994)
378. Steve Earle “Devil’s Right Hand” (1987)
379. The Bangles “Hero Takes a Fall” (1984)
380. Arcade Fire “Rebellion (Lies)” (2005)

381. Loretta Lynn “Portland Oregon” (2004)
382. Jermaine Jackson “Let’s Get Serious” (1980)
383. Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (1997)
384. N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton” (1989)
385. Pretenders “Message of Love” (1981)
386. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
387. Aaliyah “Are You That Somebody” (1998)
388. Green Day “When I Come Around” (1994)
389. Mystikal “Shake Ya Ass” (2000)
390. Romeo Void “Never Say Never” (1982)

391. Shakira “Underneath Your Clothes” (2002)
392. Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song” (1994)
393. Devo “Whip It” (1980)
394. Hüsker Dü “Celebrated Summer” (1985)
395. LL Cool J “Doin’ It” (1995)
396. Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick” (1988)
397. Pavement “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” (1992)
398. Neil Young “Harvest Moon” (1993)
399. Von Bondies “C’mon C’mon” (2004)
400. Eddie Money “I Wanna Go Back” (1986)

401. Madonna “Ray of Light” (1998)
402. Boogie Down Productions “South Bronx” (1986)
403. AC/DC “Back in Black” (1980)
404. Inner Circle “Bad Boys” (1993)
405. Garbage “Stupid Girl” (1996)
406. InDeep “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life” (1983)
407. Dinosaur Jr. “Freak Scene” (1988)
408. Rush “Tom Sawyer” (1981)
409. Public Enemy “Rebel Without a Pause” (1987)
410. Pete Townshend “Rough Boys” (1980)

411. The Vines “Ride” (2004)
412. Prince “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (1987)
413. Alicia Keys “Fallin’” (2001)
414. Harvey Danger “Flagpole Sitta” (1998)
415. Ludacris “Southern Hospitality” (2000)
416. TLC “Waterfalls” (1994)
417. System of a Down “Chop Suey” (2001)
418. Yazoo “Situation” (1982)
419. Timex Social Club “Rumors” (1986)
420. Bruce Springsteen “I’m on Fire” (1985)

421. Heaven 17 “Let Me Go” (1982)
422. Kool Keith “Sex Style” (1997)
423. Jeff Buckley “Last Goodbye” (1994)
424. X “We’re Desperate” (1981)
425. Jay-Z “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It to Me)” (2000)
426. Beck “Where It’s At” (1996)
427. Janet Jackson “That’s the Way Love Goes” (1993)
428. Freedy Johnston “Bad Reputation” (1994)
429. Justin Timberlake “Cry Me a River” (2002)
430. Semisonic “Closing Time” (1998)

431. The Smiths “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986)
432. The La’s “There She Goes” (1988)
433. Tori Amos “Cornflake Girl” (1994)
434. Yoko Ono “Walking on Thin Ice” (1981)
435. Chaka Demus & Pliers “Murder She Wrote” (1992)
436. Clipse “Grindin’” (2002)
437. Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God” (1985)
438. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” (1992)
439. Mase “Feel So Good” (1997)
440. New Radicals “You Get What You Give” (1998)

441. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985)
442. Teena Marie “Square Biz” (1981)
443. U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (1987)
444. Wynonna Judd “Tell Me Why” (1993)
445. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” (1993)
446. Imagination “Just an Illusion” (1982)
447. Flaming Lips “Do You Realize?” (2002)
448. Junior M.A.F.I.A. “Player’s Anthem”. (1995)
449. LaTour “People Are Still Having Sex” (1991)
450. Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (1999)

451. Nelly “Country Grammar (Hot Shit)” (2000)
452. t.A.T.u. “All the Things She Said” (2003)
453. Whiskeytown “Don’t Wanna Know Why” (2001)
454. D’Angelo “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” (2000)
455. Bright Eyes “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” (2002)
456. Dead Kennedys “Too Drunk to Fuck” (1980)
457. Go-Betweens “Right Here” (1987)
458. The Offspring “Come Out and Play” (1994)
459. Norah Jones “Don’t Know Why” (2002)
460. Schooly D. “P.S.K. What Does It Mean?” (1985)

461. Tupac (2pac) Shakur as Makaveli “Hail Mary” (1997)
462. Belle & Sebastian “Judy and the Dream of Horses” (1996)
463. The Game with 50 Cent “Hate It Or Love It” (2005)
464. R. Kelly “Trapped in the Closet” (2005)
465. Shannon “Let the Music Play” (1983)
466. Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back” (1992)
467. Ben Folds Five “Brick” (1997)
468. Madonna “Papa Don’t Preach” (1986)
469. Fountains of Wayne “Radiation Vibe” (1996)
470. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” (1992)

471. Temple of the Dog “Hunger Strike” (1990)
472. Spoon “Small Stakes” (2002)
473. Yo La Tengo “Autumn Sweater” (1997)
474. Pixies “Gigantic” (1988)
475. Live “I Alone” (1994)
476. E.P.M.D. “Strictly Business” (1988)
477. Wu-Tang Clan “C.R.E.A.M.” (1994)
478. Busta Rhymes “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”
479. Everclear “Santa Monica (Watch the World Die)” (1995)
480. Eminem & Dr. Dre “Guilty Conscience” (1999)

481. Meat Puppets “Lake of Fire” (1984)
482. R.E.M. “Man on the Moon” (1992)
483. The Pharcyde “Passing Me By” (1992)
484. The Stone Roses “I Wanna Be Adored” (1989)
485. Weezer “We Are All on Drugs” (2005)
486. Wilco “Can’t Stand It” (1999)
487. Warren G & Nate Dogg “Regulate” (1994)
488. Buju Banton “Murderer” (1995)
489. E.U. “Da Butt” (1988)
490. The Minutemen “History Lesson Part 2” (1984)

491. Pulp “Common People” (1995)
492. Ini Kamoze “Here Comes the Hotstepper” (1994)
493. Underworld “Born Slippy” (1995)
494. The Replacements “I’ll Be You” (1989)
495. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1995)
496. Smashing Pumpkins “1979” (1995)
497. The Darkness “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” (2002)
498. Jackson Browne “Somebody’s Baby” (1982)
499. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
500. Coldplay “Yellow” (2000) (2000)

Resources/Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: “Lists from other publications and/or organizations”
Blender (9/12/2005). “The Top 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born”
New York Times (9/12/2005). “Want ‘Satisfaction’? You Won’t Get It from This Best Songs List” by Lia Miller

First posted 9/12/2005; last updated 8/5/2023.

Friday, February 28, 2003

Blender – Top 50 Rock Geniuses

image from popcrunch.com

This American music magazine launched in 1994 and stopped printing in 2009, going to an online-only format. Since the original article (published in the January/February 2003 issue) is no longer online, I cannot find details on how this list was generated.

1. Bob Dylan
2. John Lennon
3. Chuck Berry
4. Eminem
5. Bob Marley
6. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
7. Stevie Wonder
8. Kurt Cobain
9. Miles Davis
10. Madonna

11. Elvis Presley
12. James Brown
13. Michael Jackson
14. Jimi Hendrix
15. Paul McCartney
16. Pete Townshend
17. Grandmaster Flash
18. Aretha Franklin
19. Neil Young
20. Little Richard

21. Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider (of Kraftwerk)
22. Burt Bacharach
23. Lou Reed
24. Hank Williams
25. George Clinton
26. Phil Spector
27. Prince
28. Jimmy Page
29. Joni Mitchell
30. Berry Gordy Jr.

31. David Bowie
32. Tupac Shakur
33. Brian Wilson
34. Barry Gibb
35. Earl Young
36. Brian Eno
37. Patti Smith
38. Dr. Dre
39. Freddie Mercury
40. Chuck D

41. Andy Warhol
42. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot
43. Lee “Scratch” Perry
44. Thom Yorke
45. Rick Rubin
46. Eddie Van Halen
47. Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (ABBA)
48. PJ Harvey
49. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
50. Jack White

Resources:

Amiannoying.com: Blender Magazine’s Top 50 Rock Geniuses of All Time

Monday, May 26, 1997

Radiohead “Paranoid Android” released

Paranoid Android

Radiohead

Writer(s):Radiohead (see lyrics here)

Released: May 26, 1997

Peak: 3 UK (Click for codes to singles charts.)

Sales (in millions): --

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 22.8 video, -- streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

“If you had to play somebody one Radiohead song to convince them of the band's brilliance, it should probably be ‘Paranoid Android.’” ^RS’11 This is “their first truly original artistic statement” ^RB and “very possibly the best rock song of the millennium, the last few decades and maybe even ever.” ^PS’16 “They distilled everything that makes them great, the energy, the beauty, the experimentation, the abrasiveness, the gentleness, the fearlessness, the fears, the transcendence of those fears, the songwriting, the musicianship, the uniqueness, the utter, unadulterated brilliance, the whole ball of wax, into one crazy, untamable beast of a song.” ^AS “Nothing about ‘Paranoid Android’… makes sense: The chords don’t go together. The sections feel jumbled. There’s no clear narrative. The melodies are too strange. The choir sounds cut off. The song’s too long! But these are also reasons why it's one of Radiohead's best songs.” ^RB

This is “a towering pop mutation” ^RB “clocking in at a tortured, schizophrenic 6-and-a-half minutes.” ^BZ It is “as tricky and complex as anything found in ‘70s prog,” ^DF “a ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the nineties.” ^AD It also “draws comparisons to The Beatles’ ‘A Day in the Life’” ^RV and its three stitched-together parts from other songs was inspired by the Beatles’ “Happiness Is a Warm Gun.” ^RS’11 “tethered…by a pleading urgency in which Yorke lashes out at his unnamed opposition in between distorted guitar screeches and dead-eyed harmonies.” ^BB Guitarist Ed O’Brien described the song as “Queen meets the Pixes.” ^RG The initial version was “a 14-minute sprawler that included organ” ^CS which producer Nigel Godrich said delved into “Deep Purple territory” ^RG while Yorke jokingly described the song as a “Pink Floyd cover.” ^FT

“The comparisons to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ were inevitable, but whereas Queen’s song suite bursts with melodic joy, the moody “Paranoid Android” is full of anxiety and lacks any obvious hooks.” ^BB “There’s absolutely no interest in coddling listeners or adhering to trends” ^SA and when Radiohead released it as the album’s first single, they refused to cut it down for radio. ^RS’11 It is “a lumbering Frankenstein’s monster of sludgy prog-rock and stuttery electronica” ^SA which “incorporates several different styles into a single bombastic symphony of dread.” ^RV

The epic is packed with “alternating time signatures, wild dynamic shifts, drama and adrenaline to spare.” ^VH1 “This dizzying suite begins as a creepy lullaby” ^EX and then “combusts with speaker-blown alt-rock,” ^EX “morphing and rocketing around like a firework with a broken fuse.” ^CS“Just when you think you’ve had enough, it slows back down” ^SP to “the Gregorian-chant pace working subtle magic on our defenses that have already been battered by the first two parts,” ^AS “before finally being sucked down into hell with a squalling guitar freakout.” ^EX “Greenwood gives you every reason to practice your air guitar, where everything sounds as if it’s burning down.” ^CS

It is long enough that one of its “three sections…even has its own sub-section. There’s a terrific, jazzy 7/8 part with electric piano and deep-grooving bass; there’s a hefty dose of blistering rock (with two guitar solos); and there’s a truly awesome vocal harmony sequence reminiscent of a load of monks chanting a particularly intense extract from David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold the World.’” ^QM

“Yorke delivers some of his best singing here, pleading for redemption from on high only to be rebuffed by another version of himself snapping him back to reality.” ^AS Listening to the song is about spending time “with either a manic-depressive or a brief thunderstorm.” ^SP Yorke wrote it after encountering a woman at a bar who turned violent when someone spilled a drink on her. ^BZ He said it was about “the fall of the Roman Empire, but good luck finding anything in the lyrics that seem related to that topic in any way.” ^RS’11 The title refers to Marvin the Paranoid Android from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, ^CS but that also seems to have nothing to do with the song. “As unhinged as the lyrics…may seem, there is a consistent thread of dread running through them, the feeling that all of these seemingly unreal acts of tyranny and fascism are committed on a smaller scale every single day.” ^AS

The video “interestingly seems to reflect the sound as heard.” ^DG-54 “The adventures of the cartoon protagonists seem to match the music.” ^DG-54

Resources:

DMDB encyclopedia entry for Radiohead
^AS AmericanSongwriter.com (2019). “The 20 Best Radiohead Songs of All Time” by Jim Beviglia.
^BB Billboard (3/28/2019). “Radiohead for Dummies: 15 Songs to Know for the Rock Hall Inductees” by Jason Lipshutz
^BZ Buzzfeed (5/11/2016). “All 164 Radiohead Songs, Ranked in Order from Worst to Best”
^CS Consequence of Sound (6/28/2017). “Ranking Every Radiohead Song from Worst to Best”
^AD Adrian Denning
^DF Diffuser (12/10/2012). “Top 10 Radiohead Songs” by Michael Gallucci
^EX Exclaim (5/13/2022). “Radiohead’s 20 Best Songs Ranked by Kaelen Bell, Alex Hudson, and Calum Slingerland
^FT FactMag.com (5/5/2016). “Radiohead’s 30 Best Songs Before ‘Burn the Witch’ by Miles Bowe, Al Horner, Claire Lobenfeld, Chal Ravens, John Twells, Scott Wilson, and April Clare Welch
^DG Dai Griffiths (2004). 33 1/3: OK Computer Bloomsbury Academic: New York, NY.
^PS’16 Paste Magazine (8/11/2016). “Radiohead – OK Computer – Catherine’s Court – Bath, England (1996)” by Helen M. Jerome
^QM Q magazine review by David Cavanaugh. Was at Q4music.com. Review no longer online.
^RB Red Bull (2/18/2017). “20 Best Radiohead Songs” by Yu-Cheng Lin
^RV The Review “100 Greatest Albums of All Time” by Clarke Speicher (October – November 2001; Vol. 128: numbers 12-23).
^RG The Ringer (10/1/2020). “The Ringer’s Top 100 Radiohead Songs, Ranked” by Matthew Sigur
^RS’11 Rolling Stone (10/12/2011). “Readers’ Poll: The 10 Best Radiohead Songs” by Andy Greene
^SP Spinditty (11/17/2021). “Top 10 Best Radiohead Songs”
^SA Sports Alcohol (6/15/2016). “The Top 25 Best Radiohead Songs” by Jesse et al
^VH1 VH1. (2003). 100 Greatest Albums. Edited by Jacob Hoye. Pocket Books: New York, NY.
^WK Wikipedia

Monday, April 7, 1997

Blur released “Song 2”