Joe Talks About....His Top 10 Favorite Songs of So Far In His Life.

Music. It speaks to us, embraces us, gets us pumped for the day and gets us ready for sleep. Every once in a while, that one song you hear on the radio, or that brand new album, speaks to you. It gets in your head, and you just...vibe. Not to get cheesy, but you really just kinda feel it. Out of thousands of songs I've heard in my life time, it really is hard to pick out just 10, but, from my deep music library, I was able to pick out 10 of my favorite songs I've heard so far in my life.

Disclaimer: Note how nowhere in this have I mentioned the word "best." This is not a "best of all time" list. Music is subjective and everyone hears it different, so keep that in mind while you read.

10.) "Take A Look Around" - Limp Bizkit 

 From the Album "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water"

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"Take A Look Around", you may know it as the Mission: Impossible II theme, is one of those songs that just gets me pumped up. I know, it's Limp Bizkit, and even Fred Durst considers the song somewhat of a joke (playing it at some music festivals as a "prank"), but this song seriously just makes you wanna run into a brick wall. The lyrics actually make sense (Unlike Limp's metal version of the Hokey Pokey, "Rollin'". Seriously. Listen to the words), but when it gets to the heavy Mission: Impossible guitar riff later in the song, it's just straight badass.

9.) "Lateralus" - Tool

From the Album "Lateralus"

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A 9 minute, epic, musical masterpiece, "Lateralus" utilizes the Fibonacci sequence at times in its lyrics, demonstrating the pure music genius of lead singer Maynard James Keenan. Keenan demonstrates his pure, unadulterated, and eclectic voice throughout the song, from moments of almost whispering and gentle singing to grainy, almost screaming and growling, the song builds up to it's epic ending for all 9 minutes. Let's not forget that Danny Carey is an absolutely PHENOMENAL drummer. He's a human metronome, and his skills with abrupt time signature changes and style changes throughout the song are put on display for all to see. Phenomenal song.

8.) "Citizen Erased" - Muse

From the Album "Origin of Symmetry"

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Before most of the watered-down garbage you hear from Muse these days, there was Origin of Symmetry. This album smacked you in the face with crazy screechy guitar riffs, Matthew Bellamy's mix of his angelic/demonic/angelic again voice, and different feels for different songs, Citizen Erased demonstrates a fantastic shift of style and tempo throughout. A truly badass riff, mixed with some confusing and easily understood and easy to relate lyrics, make this a really fantastic song. If you haven't heard any Muse stuff before "The Resistance", then get ready, because this is much heavier, and if you ask me, the true Muse.

7.) "So Far Away" - Staind

From the Album "14 Shades of Grey"

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Another one of those simplistic, straightforward songs. For a while, this was my life anthem. The lyrics just kind of strike a nerve, as the song builds up strong, hits its peak, and softly lets you down on the ending. Awesome song.

6.) "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone" - Silversun Pickups

From the Album "Swoon"

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I haven't known about the Silversun Pickups for that long. I first heard this song off the MLB 2010 Soundtrack, and fell immediately in love with the simplicity of their music. What most people don't seem to realize, is sometimes simplicity is better. After listening to the likes of Tool, Dream Theater, and The Fall of Troy almost every day for 2 years, this song (and band) was a fantastic change of pace. From fast, furious, metal, screaming, wild, crazy guitar rock, to something a lot more simple, a little slower paced, with the lead singer's voice a little more - dare I say - feminine, this song continues to quietly build until it reaches it's full crescendo near the end of the song. The ending verse just gives me chills, and makes the whole song almost ethereal.

 

5.) "Walk of Fame" - The Fall of Troy

From the Album "In The Unlikely Event"

 Listen Here (It Says "Webs" but it's "Walk of Fame")

If there was ever a song, ever made, that had an absolutely clear message to anybody out there, it's this song. Aside from that, lead singer and guitarist Thomas Erak is some kind of God. The guy is absolutely amazing on the guitar, and the complex rhythms and patterns of the song are absolutely mind boggling, but at the same time, you know exactly what's going on. It's not like noise. You hear every subtlety of the song, from the drummer's bass kick to the crazy patterns of the riffs on guitar. Not to mention, the lyrics are straightforward and tell a story of how Hollywood and L.A. are tearing apart society. Song is straight cash.

4.) "Yellow Ledbetter" - Pearl Jam

From the Album "Ten"

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Wow. Where do I even start with this song? Also known as "The Subway Anthem" (for the select few who get this inside joke), it is an absolute masterpiece. Even though no one knows exactly what Eddie Vedder is trying to sing (no, really. No one knows the true lyrics of the song, not even Eddie himself. Many different versions of the lyrics have been sung live by them, so who the hell knows), the guitar riff and just overall feel of the song is otherworldly. From the beginning to the end, it's a non-stop chill ride. Most versions of the lyrics deal with a man whose brother went to war and isn't coming home. Pure emotion, and pure awesome, this song is a staple in the bridge between music then and music now.

 

3.) "Without You" - Breaking Benjamin

From the Album "Dear Agony"

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When I first heard Dear Agony, I decided it was the album of my life. Every single song speaks to me in some way, shape, or form, but the last song off the album spoke to me the most. Every lyric related to me in some way, and the lack of pure anger and hatred (which to me is Breaking Benjamin's true signature) in the song made it a refreshing change of style for this album. I have yet to hear a better song, on any album ever made, to finish off the CD than Without You. The ending strings give me chills just thinking about it.

2.) "Black" - Pearl Jam

From the Album "Ten"

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Two Pearl Jam songs in the top 5?! I think so! Black was written by Eddie Vedder, which helped him describe heartbreak and sadness. I know, it's depressing, but the true beauty of the song lies in it's straightforward lyrics and epic ending. Eddie Vedder shows to us that he actually CAN enunciate when he speaks, which is fantastic, because this is probably one of the best rock songs ever made, and for it to be tainted by weird, Vedder-signature, marble mouthed mumbling, would be detrimental. But this song is truly beautiful. And not to mention, one of the most epic endings I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. If you listen closely during the end, you can still hear Vedder wailing at times. It's pure, unbridled emotion channeled into music. We need more of that now. And not stuff like, "I whip my hair back and forth!" But, I digress.

 

1.) "Blurry" - Puddle of Mudd

From the Album "Come Clean"

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Wow. 10 years later and this song still holds a special place with me. Absolutely phenomenal song. Every one who has turned on the radio in the past decade has definitely heard this song, or see it on TV, or heard it somewhere. Another one of those songs which channeled pure emotion into a song, describing the distance from a loved one, or the loss of a loved one. Yeah, Puddle of Mudd isn't the best band in the world, and nothing will ever top this song (ok, so we don't know what the future holds, but come on). This is the greatest songs I've ever heard, and arguably, ever made. From the guitars, to the emotion in the lead singer's voice, to climactic ending, my favorite song of all time. Absolutely perfect.

Well, there you have it. Again, favorite songs of all time. Not best. Best is subjective. Thanks.