You Burn First - Alexisonfire

I said.....

It's Getting Boring by the Sea - Blood Red Shoes

I love the 2 person line up when it works, and for Blood Red Shoes it does. With that White Stripes feel with reversed roles, they have a really full sound for only two people. A lot of this is accomplished by drummer Steven Ansell who is able to take a fairly simple riff and really flesh it out. Fronted by Laura-Mary Carter, I think she keeps the guitar simple and her voice smart which just adds to the effect the song has. A great band from across the pond, certainly worth checking out.

Speaker's Block - Psychic Stunts

Feel good song of the year - Speaker's Block by Psychic Stunts. I can't explain fully just how carefree and amazing this song is, it's got such a happy feel too it. Hailing from Sweeden, this pop duo is still relatively unknown with only one cd to their credit. I especially love the end when they have a bunch of people singing the chorus, which is really just a clever little group of words. This song is just so happy it's intoxicating, and it's a shame it isn't played in more bars.

Birthday - The Beatles

:D

Satan, Lend me a Dollar - Hill of Beans

It is impossible to reason why I love this song so much, but it just makes me laugh so hard. Written by Hill of Beans, an acoustic duo, they feature just an acoustic guitar and accordion. The lyrics are nonsense and their verses seem to be rushed and off timing but for some reason I find it to be extremely enjoyable. It even had an effect on some mainstream artists, inspiring Beck to write Satan gave me a Taco. Just a fun little song by some musicians clearly enjoying writing music.

Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

Even at it's prime, this song never reached the prime it should have. The drumming especially is fantastic, but the song really come together as a whole. Seger lays down a story that is memorable as well as relate able. This song just really gets moving, with the simple guitar and pounding piano, and is a really underrated song in my opinion; one of Segers' best. It was out shined on the album by Still the Same, but as a opener it is far better in my opinion. Definitely worth a listen and still a song that should be heard more often.

Having An Average Weekend - Shadowy Men on A Shadowy Planet

I'm pretty obsessed with watching KITH again, and whenever I do this instrumental gets stuck in my head. Another Canadian band, this Juno award winning grouping is best known fo this song as it was used as the theme song for KITH. It's hard to find instrumental bands now a days ( although there was an amazing one in Guelph called Topple These Towers) and it is a difficult thing to accomplish. The guitar and bass work really well in the song together though and the drums adds just enough to keep it moving. Just another cool little early 90's Canadian tune.

Enough - The Autumn Film

My hearts been ripped wide open with all the things I didn't need
And your hearts been ripped wide open cause I keep chasing other things

Just wow. At first look, I didn't expect much from this band, but what they lack in initial draw they make up for in sheer talent. This song has such a punch to it that is almost completley unexpected after a slow start and tells such an amazing story that it's impossible not to feel it. Hailing from Colorado, this band still isn't too widely known but should be. Just the kind of beautifully sad song that let's you know you aren't alone.

Modern Love - David Bowie

A great little song by Bowie, the back beat is so solid with a fantastic performance by Bowie himself. The addition of the keyboards and horns in the background really makes this song pop in my opinion. Off of his 1983 Let's Dance album, it's a song about the struggle between God and man, as much of the album was. The chorus is very unique to me with the Modern Love being sung repeatedly in the background. One of my favorite Bowie songs and rightly so as it can be enjoyed no matter what you're doing or where you are.

The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields

And I love it when you read to me; and you can read me anything.

Such a touching little song, written in 1999 by The Magnetic Fields and covered by both Peter Gabriel and the Airbourne Toxic Event ( the last being my favorite due to the addition of violins). It is off a three volume album set called 69 love songs, which includes 69 songs written by the band. I haven't heard much of the others but if they are as touching as this one then the album is surely worth having.

For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her - Simon & Garfunkel

Just a beautiful, short little song. Penned by Simon and sung by Garfunkel, it is a wonderful image of an ideal. Although many believe it is written about an imaginary girl, Simon has stated that it is actually about a belief, while their later song "Overs" is about the end of this belief. Amazingly, Simon doesn't really like this song, although I speculate it's because he was never able to fulfill his image he describes in it, but Garfunkel really enjoyed singing it and does so with such passion. A truly romantic piece that is stunningly beautiful in it's simplicity.

Pop Goes the World - Men Without Hats

Another Canadian group from the 80's, Men Without Hats is best known for their song Safety Dance although find this one to be far more catchy. The song is basically telling the story of Johnny and Jenny and their quest for musical fame, implying that Pop goes the World is indeed their hit. It's a cute little song that's fairly easy to listen to, although the video really is something else.

Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel

Although not his most popular song, this is one that always seems to get stuck in my head and has an interesting little rhythm to it, but especially several unique vocal parts to it. The whistling part is an odd feature to this song but fits in so well. This song is a critique of war and how childish it is. The first line in the song which is commonly misheard is actually Jeux sans Frontiers, where the name of the song came from and was the name of a game show that pitted nationalities against each other. There are a lot of clear references to war in this song especially that of Adolf ( referring to Hitler) Britt ( referring to Great Britain), and Enrico Fermi, who's contribution to nuclear weaponry enabled the States to bomb Japan. An interesting little song but certainly one of my favorites that Gabriel has to offer.

Limousine - Brand New

One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands, this is a very powerful and touching song. Written about 7 year old Katie Flynn, she had been a flower girl earlier in the day and while driving home from the wedding in a limousine, it was struck by a drunk driver, killing Katie. The song has several parts to it, from different perspectives. The first is from Katie's mother, discussing the wedding and how she is to lay the petals and then goes into describing how the driver who is to kill her is starting to drink, and ending very sadly with her saying that she has one more night to be her mother. The middle is from the driver and the guilt he feels for killing her and how he feels he can never be forgiven. Finally the last part is supposedly from Katies point of view, and the counting to 7 represents her age at the time. This is a pretty fantastic song, with quite a deep meaning and is still by far the best song I've ever seen performed live.

The Mariners Revenge Song - The Decemberists

One of the few songs I pick up off of my brother, I think this song is just fantastic. I love a song that is able to paint a picture and this song is a story and a half. It even sounds like a shanty so the fact it's about a song at sea is perfect. I wasn't particularly a fan of the singers voice when I first heard it, but I now think it's just what the song needs. It is a song about a boy whose mother falls for a 'rake and rastabout' who eventually leaves her with his gambling debts so that her house is repossessed and then she dies. This causes the son to vow to get revenge which he eventually does in the belly of a whale. The music is just great, and I especially love the simpleness but driving force of the percussion, that of a timpani and tambourine. I have posted a video of them playing the song which I suggest watching a little of first just to get an idea of how they look and play but then watch the full video below. It is a high school group acting out the song, and it will help follow along with what is happening in the tale. Also, pay close attention to the mother's part, it is one of the funniest and most gruesome parts I have ever heard in a song.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaNV7eCU2R0

Old Number 7 - The Devil Makes 3

A song dedicated to whiskey is sure to be a winner with me and this song has a great drinking feel to it. A trio consisting of 3, two guitars and a cello, this song is just so damn cool. I really like the lead singers voice although I can't quite say why, it just seems perfect for this song. The lyrics are pretty smooth and the music perfectly accents them and the guitar picking is simple but sounds awesome. A great song to put on during a night of drinking, I'm surprised this one hasn't become a hit at bars yet. Interesting fact, no one knows why Ol number 7 was coined for the whiskey, and that mystery has died long ago with it's creator, Jack.

Makin' it Work - Doug and the Slugs

Another Canadian gem, I very fondly remember riding in the car as a child and listening to this with my best friend as it is a nice catchy little tune. Written and performed by Doug and the Slugs, the song to me seems to be about a couple who has been through some tough times, especially with the man being a drunk and having little faith in themselves, but with time achieving something together which is quite the positive message. Quite interestingly, the video is about erectile dysfunction, so the band must have been having a little fun with it. It really is surprising to me how many good Vancouver based bands appeared in the 80's, as they seem to make up the bulk of my 80's music preference. Also be sure to check out Too Bad, which is perhaps their biggest hit.

Common People - Pulp

This is an interesting little song, with really great lyrics. I think this song is really hard to place, and although this band formed in the late 70's and this song has a very electronic 80's feel to it, it was actually released in 1995. Named after the film of the same name, this English band is fronted by Jarvis Cocker who takes a weird look at those people that for some reason find glamour in poverty, but as he states will never experience it for they are just to well off and not meant for that lifestyle. A great example of just how hard it can be to walk in someone else's shoes when you have the ability to just give up on and return to your normal life; you will never truly experience the hardships associated with it. Surprisingly, I enjoy the cover version far better, which is in fact done by none other then William Shatner. Produced and composed by Ben Folds, it incorporates Shatners speaking style while also having some actual vocals done by Joe Jackson. I just find this version to much more rocking then Pulps' and much more enjoyable to throw on, but their original is unique in it's own way. Be sure to check out both versions.

I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen

I'd always thought this one was pretty well known, but over the past few weeks I've talked to a few people who had never heard this song before. In my opinion it is one of, if not the greatest Boss songs. Off of his born in the USA album, it was actually the fourth single. It is a very touching song and much less explosive as other songs on the album, but far more expressive in my opinion. A good trait of Springsteen's work is that it lends itself well to covers and this song took on a whole new meaning to me wen I saw it covered by just a female vocalist and piano and it was incredible. The lyrical sustenance of this song is amazing, and Weinbergs drumming really makes this song stand out to me. A true example of why he really is the Boss.

88 Lines About 44 Women - The Nails

This is a neat little song. Written by the Nails, I grew up thinking this song was by They Might Be Giants, due to the fact it was mislabeled on Napster. I think it's a really interesting idea for a song and written well with some both clever and funny lyrics ( My favorite being about Catherine). The music is simple, but the bass is flowing and catchy and really suits the song well. This song also reminds me of the Conchords song Carol Brown, which is basically the same idea. It's a nice light song that is extremely enjoyable to throw on at any time.