11 (42) Pyramid Song - Radiohead

[-,-,-,65,42] **PEAK**
(Amnesiac, 2001)

"There was nothing to fear, nothing to doubt"

From their mysterious experimental era... this song literally took YEARS to grow on me, so give it a chance if you don't warm to it right away.
"Store away from direct sunlight, preferably in a dark drawer with your secrets."

12 (15) Anthems For A Seventeen-Year-Old Girl - Broken Social Scene

[-,-,-,123, 15] **PEAK**
(You Forgot It In People, 2002)

"Now you're all gone, got your make up on and you're not coming back
Can't you come back?"

Lovely song from the Toronto 18-piece... 'park that car, drop that phone...'

13 (11) Showbiz - Muse

[-,-,1,1,11]
(Showbiz, 1999)

"Pushing us into self destruction..."

This song is pure anger balled up, bottled up and released in 5 minutes and 17 seconds. The next song will be something very different indeed...

14 (7) Morning Glory - Oasis

[-,-,-,-7]
((What's The Story) Morning Glory?, 1995)

"Need a little time to wake up"

Euphoric, anthemic rock, and given it's an Oasis song, not overplayed for once...

15 (NE) Sunchyme - Dario G

**Top dance song**
(1997)

"Ma-hey-a ma ma ma-hey-a ma ma
Ma-hey-a, hey-a,
hey-a hey-a hey-a hey-a
Ma-hey-a ma ma ma"

A surprise new entry, as one of my favourite songs when I was about 10 stormes into the top 15 now that I'm 20.
Fascinating fact: this dance trio were named after Dario Gradi.

16 (17) Debaser - Pixies

[-,-,-,-,17] **PEAK**

"Slicing up eyeballs, AH HA HA HO!
Girl, you're so groovy, AH HA HA HO!"

17 (NE) Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) - The Arcade Fire

(Funeral, 2005)

"I went out into the night
I went out to find some light"

Another great song from my favourite Canadian band... I'm really looking forward to their new material!

18 (169) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits

[-,-,-,224,169] **PEAK**
(Making Movies, 1981)

"Finds a convenient streetlight
Steps out of the shade and says something like,
'You and me, babe... how about it?' "

19 (2) The Small Print - Muse

[-,-,-,75,2]
(Absolution, 2003)

"I'll sell your memories for fifteen pounds per year"

Best track of absolution. In fact, all songs from now on are the best on their respective albums.

20 (43) Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

[-,-,-,-,43]
(Blowin' Your Mind, 1967)

"Do you remember when we used to sing?
Shalala lala lala lala, lala, lala"

21 (59) 57 - Biffy Clyro

[-,-,-,160,59] **PEAK**
(Blackened Sky, 2002)

"I held her tight
Close to my heart
I didn't know it would break
I didn't know it would break"

Aye.
New album out in the string, set to include more interestingly-titled works, including "A Sexual Meat Kitchen", "I'm Probably In Your Pocket", and "Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies"

22 (8) Just - Radiohead

[-,-,3,3,8]
(The Bends, 1995)

"You've changed the locks three times
He still comes reeling through the door"

23 (22) Plug In Baby - Muse

[84, 93, 117, 176, 22] **EVER-PRESENT**
(Origin Of Symmetry, 2001)

"...in unbroken virgin realities"

A non-mover in the sense that it's still the fourth-highest Muse song.

24 (36) All The Small Things - Blink 182

[2,2,15,24,36] **EVER-PRESENT**
(Enema of the State, 1999 (single out in 2000))

"She left me roses by the stairs
Surprises let me know she cares"

Reversing its move of last year, another one of the staples, being one of only 3 songs to be spending their sixth year inside the top 40.

25 (48) Sonnet - The Verve

[-,-,100,39,48] **PEAK**
(Urban Hymns, 1997)

"Eyes open wide
Looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye"

Not actually a sonnet.

26 (56) C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies

[-,-,-,-,56] **PEAK**
(Pawn Shoppe Heart, 2004)

"Will I never learn"

And another one that didn't really hit me until I started DJing...

27 (227) Sit Down Stand Up - Radiohead

[-,-,-,147,227] **PEAK** **BIGGEST RISER**
(Hail To The Thief, 2003)

"The raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops, the raindrops... ..."

Best track of the most recent Radiohead album... still some more from them to come.

28 (119) Helicopter - Bloc Party

[-,-,-,-,119] **PEAK**
(Silent Alarm, 2005)

"He's born a liar, he'll die a liar"

The pinnacle of the art-rock revolution, and yet another song that goes well on the dancefloor.

29 (14) Change The World - The Offspring

[-,-,-,-,14]
(Ixnay on the Hombre, 1997ish)

"Those ones you call your friends are failing you again"

30 (34) Lucky - Bif Naked

[-,-,-,84,34] **PEAK**
(Buffy The Vampire Slayer Soundtrack, 1997)

"We are the lucky ones"

My #1 way back in 2002 was from the BTVS soundtrack... that's no longer even in my top 200, though (it was nommed)

31 (143) Feeling A Moment - Feeder

[-,-,-,-,143] **PEAK**
(Pushing The Senses, 2005)

"How will you feel when there's no-one?
Am I just like you?"
Euphoric opener to Feeder's latest album. Surprisingly the only song in this set to peak - we've got six new peaks coming up in the 21-30 set, coming on this blog very soon.

32 (23) Born Slippy .NUXX - Underworld

[-,-,-,56,23]
(single released: 1996)

"Shouting lager lager lager"
Ah, Trainspotting...

33 (NE) Such Great Heights - Postal Service

(Give Up, 2003)

"When you scan the radio, I hope this song will guide you home"

34 (87) Sit Down - James

[175,94,7,30,87] **EVER-PRESENT**
(Gold Mother, 1991 (first re-release))

"If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor"

35 (21) Black Math - The White Stripes

[-,-,-,29,21]
(Elephant, 2003)

"Maybe I'll put my love on ice
Teach myself, maybe that'll be nice"

36 (25) Shining Light - Ash

[15,6,12,8,25] **EVER-PRESENT**
(Free All Angels, 2001)

"You light up my life"
With 'Buck Rogers', 'Burn Baby Burn' and 'Plug In Baby', one of the songs that got me into indie music.

37 (10) Americana - The Offspring

[-,-,-,67,10]
(Americana, 1999)

"My nightmare is coming true"

38 (31) Goodbye - The Coral

[-,-,-,53,31]
(The Coral, 2002)

"Once so very long ago was when I loved you so, If only I had known..."

39 (29) Vanilla Radio - The Wildhearts

[-,-,66,72,29]
(The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed, 2002)

"Where's my Elvis?"
Until I wikied them today, I didn't know the Wildhearts were from Newcastle.

40 (18) Buck Rogers - Feeder

[9,9,17,16,18] **EVER-PRESENT**
(Echo Park, 2001)

"I think we're gonna make it"

First time this song has been outside the top 20 since its creation - a few Feeder songs have overtaken it in the past 18 months.

41 (NE) Insomnia - Faithless

(Reverence, 1995)

"I can't get no sleep..."

FINALLY smashing into my top 100.

42 (NE) Rebellion (Lies) - The Arcade Fire

(Funeral, 2005)

"Sleeping is giving in, so lift those heavy eyes"

Another gem from the best new band of the past year.

43 (60) When I Argue I See Shapes - Idlewild

[-,-,196,60] **PEAK**
(Hope Is Important, 1998)

"I laugh at your conversational skills... or lack of"

The epitome of the wild side of Idlewild, and therefore their highest appearance on this rundown.

44 (39) A Life Less Ordinary - Ash

[-,-,23,31,39]
("1977", 1997)

"Take me in your arms again"

Anyone seen the film this was written for?

45 (13) Red - Elbow

[-,-,-,15,13]
(Asleep In The Back, 2002)

"You're a tragedy starting to happen"

46 (32) You're My Evergreen - Feeder

[-,-,42,26,32]
(Yesterday Went Too Soon, 1999)

"Don't hesitate, 'cause you can free yourself"

Another song that's been in my top 50 ever since I discovered it.

47 (27) Get Over It - OK Go

[-,-,-,32,27]
(OK Go, 2002)

"Oh your wounds are full of salt
Everything's a stress, and what's more
Well it's all somebody's fault"

One of the songs to have 4 weeks at the top spot of my chart, and in the top 50 of this since it was entered.

48 (NE) Forget Myself - Elbow

(Leaders of the Free World, 2005)

"Do you move through the room with a glass in your hand
Thinking too hard about the way you stand?"

The top of seven songs from Elbow's most recent album.

49 (61) Pounding - Doves

[-,-,-,125,61] **PEAK**
(The Last Broadcast, 2002)

"I can't stand by and see you destroyed"

Doves' first (and to date, only) #1 in my weekly chart. I'm very fond of the middle-8.

50 (155) Take The Reins - Tsunami Bomb

[-,-,71,46,155,50]

"How long 'til I'm my own?"

51 (139) Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park

[-,-,-,-,139] **PEAK**
(A Certain Trigger, 2005)

"I must confess I'd like to be caught stealing"

In the top five of my year-end chart last year, but just failing to breach the walls of the top 50 now. Stay tuned during the next week, and all will be revealed.

52 (NE) Apple Trees - Ozma

(2001)

"Deep inside my core, there is part of you
You still look the same, except you're upside-down"

A geekrock band I need to find out more about - hopefully an album coming for Christmas - and the top "Ian song" in this countdown.

53 (84) Girl From Mars - Ash

[-,-,20,23,84]
(1977, 1996 (single: 1995))

"She never told me her name"

Criminally low last year, this classic Ash song (their breakthrough song) creeps back towards the top 50. More from them to come.

54 (38) In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction - Idlewild

[-,-,-,10,38]
(The Remote Part, 2002)

"And even if the breath between us smells of alcohol
We called it confusion in the best way possible"

A song followed by a poem. Here's the poem:
It isn't in the mirror, it isn't on the page
It's a red hearted vibration
Pushing through the walls of dark imagination
Finding no equation
There's a red road rage,
But it's not road rage
It's asylum seekers engulfed by a grudge

Scottish friction, Scottish friction

It isn't in the castle, it isn't in the mist
It's a calling of the waters as they break to show
The new black death with reactors aglow
Do you think your security will keep you in purity
You will not shake us off
Above or below

Scottish friction, Scottish friction

55 (90) Dreaming Of You - The Coral

[-,-,-,143,90] **PEAK**
(The Coral, 2002)

"Up in my lonely room
When I'm dreaming of you
Oh what can I do
I still need you"

The bike song ;)

56 (9) Breathe - The Prodigy

[-,-,39,12,9]
(The Fat Of The Land, 1996)

*instrumental, mostly*

The first of last year's top 10 to appear, and it's made a hefty fall. Now not even in the top 3 of dance songs!

57 (NE) The Coast Is Always Changing - Maximo Park

(A Certain Trigger, 2005)

"Age makes no difference 'til you open your mouth"

Yay for Geordie singers!

58 (20) Coffee & TV - Blur

[96, 128, 46, 38, 20] **EVER-PRESENT**
(13, 1999)

"I've seen so much, I'm going blind"

A top-200 essential, as far as I'm concerned, although it falls this year ofr the first time since 2002. And yet again, I love the video.

59 (54) Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden

[-,55,60,22,54]
(The Number Of The Beast, 1982)

"Tears they flow but why am I crying, after all I am not afraid of dying"

This is in here for the instrumentals... a song about a man's thoughts just before being sent to the gallows. Apparently he daydreams about long guitar solos.

60 (97) Otherside - Red Hot Chili Peppers

[-,-,-,133,97] **PEAK**
(Californication, 1999)

"How long, how long will I slide"

61 (37) Comforting Sounds - Mew

[-,-,-,18,37]
(Frengers, 2003)

"Why don't we share our solitude?"

It's the long instrumental at the end of the 8:44-long version that does it for me. Picking one line from the lovely lyrics was tough too...

62 (127) Spitting Games - Snow Patrol

[-,-,-,118,127] **PEAK**
(Final Straw, 2003)

"A little peace of mind that I know better
Than the plain disgrace of all my letters"

Even if you hate Snow Patrol, you should give this song a try.

63 (81) Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram

[-,-,-,-,81] **PEAK**
(Schmack!, 2004)

"He's fat and he don't run too fast
But he's faster than me"

Steriogram are a New Zealand punk rock band. The video for this one was made entirely of WOOL!

64 (58) Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Radiohead

[-,-,-,78,58]
(The Bends, 1995)

"and faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaade ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut agaaaaaaaaaaain...."

Another song with an amazing video.

65 (12) Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine - The White Stripes

[-,-,-,35,12]
(Elephant, 2003)

"Is there a way to find a cure for this implanted in a pill?"

This album track shows the best qualities of the White Stripes' music.

66 (92) Stockholm Syndrome - Muse

[-,-,-,86,92] **PEAK**
(Absolution, 2003)

"This is the last time I'll forget you
I wish I could"

Remember the cool psychadelic video?

67 (NE) Emily Kane - Art Brut

(Bang Bang Rock and Roll, 2005)

"I've not seen her in 10 years
9 months,
3 weeks,
4 days,
6 hours,
13 minutes,
5 seconds"

A beast of a song that can't be tamed, by the upcoming art rockers.

68 (28) Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes

[-,91,49,55,28]
(White Blood Cells, 2002)

"I must be fine, because my heart still beating"

69 (40) Ask - The Smiths

[-,-,-,-,40]
(The World Won't Listen, 1987 (released as single in 1986))

"Nature is a language, can't you read?"

70 (116) Tiny Little Fractures - Snow Patrol

[-,-,-,71,116] **PEAK**
(Final Straw, 2003)

"If this is really what you think, how come you won't look me in the eye?"

Just overtaking its debut position.

71 (NE) Knights Of Cydonia - Muse

(Black Holes And Revelations, 2006)

"No-one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive"

The newest song on here, in fact it was only released in the UK last week, making an impressive #10. It's been at the top of my personal chart for four weeks already... the last song to make it five weeks has been in the top 5 of this rundown for the last four years running.
This song is still growing on me, and I'm sure it'll storm the top 50 - or even higher - next year. It is perhaps the perfect six-minuter, oddly consisting of an intro, one verse, one chorus, and then a fantastic moshable instrumental with refrain for the last few minutes.
Should be even higher.

72 (144) Hole In My Head - Feeder

[-,-,91,141,144] **PEAK**
(Yesterday Went Too Soon, 1999)

"I feel much better anyhow
Until I see that black cloud"


Another indie rock success from one of my favourite bands. If you don't already own this album, buy it. You'll thank me later.

73 (63) A Modern Way Of Letting Go - Idlewild

[-,-,197,85,63]
(The Remote Part, 2002)

"Losing isn't learning to be lost, it's learning to know when you're lost"

One of the wilder recent Idlewild songs, if you'll excuse the pun. And even if you won't.

74 (198) Damnit, I Changed Again - The Offspring

[46,76,67,62,198] **EVER-PRESENT**
(Conspiracy Of One, 2000)

"Doesn't make any sense to feel so different day to day"

Decent showing from the Offspring - this is their fourth song in the top 100 already, with more to come.

75 (79) The Middle - Jimmy Eat World

[-,-,87,137,79] **PEAK**
(Bleed American/Jimmy Eat World, 2001)

"Everything everything will be just fine"

Sneaking into the top 75 for the first time. The album this comes from was renamed following the 9/11 atrocities.

76 (NE) Munich - Editors

"People are fragile things, you should know by now
Be careful what you put them through"

One of the new entries that featured highly in my chart in 2005/06 - three weeks at #1 during January. Editors performed well at Reading 2005, and this is their best song.

77 (103) Pushing The Senses - Feeder

[-,-,-,-,103]

"Always, I can depend on you"

78 (NE) Going Underground - The Jam

"Some people might say my life is in a rut,
But I'm quite happy with what I got"

79 (62) Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers

[-,-,-,58,62]

"With birds I share this lonely view"

Deposed as the top Chilis song this year...

80 (71) Blue Monday - New Order

[-,-,-,-,71]

"Tell me how do I feel
Tell me how I should feel"

81 (41) Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

[-,-,-,70,41]

"I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you smile

But that was just a dream"

82 (65) Billboard Beauty - Kinesis

[-,-,-,59,65]

"Obsess ourselves with matchstick perfection
My skin will never be so sweet"

It's all about the anger at the fashion image of skinny women.

83 (101) Lights Out - Easyworld

[-,-,56,107,101]

"You sense the best day of your life, well that's so damn true"

Overtaking 'Try Not To Think' for the first time, this is now the top Easyworld song.

84 (74) Have You Ever - The Offspring

[-,-,-,115,74]

"Some days my darkest friend is me again"

The first proper song from Americana, the first rock CD I ever got. Strange it took so long to make it onto this list :S

85 (49) Boys Of Summer - Don Henley

[-,-,-,52,49]

"I can see you, your brown skin shining in the sun"

A song that needs no introduction.

86 (249) Stuck In America - Sugarcult

[-,-,-,48,249]

"Everybody's talkin' 'bout blowing up the neighbourhood"

Ace song, shame it seems to be a one-hit wonder.

87 (157) Living In Chaos - The Offspring

[-,-,-,259,157] **PEAK**

"This world is hard to fight
Hitting you once, hit it again"

This album track from Conspiracy of One just keeps growing on me... download it.

88 (184) There She Goes - The La's

[-,-,-,215,184] **PEAK**

"And I just can't contain this feeling that remains"

Finally breaking into the top 200, a song I've known for ages. Got the album in the summer of 2005 from HMV, for £2.69. Bargain.

89 (NE) Exit Music (For A Film) - Radiohead

"We hope your rules and wisdom choke you"

90 (57) Just The Way I'm Feeling - Feeder

[-,-,145,98,57]

"Torn in two, you close your eyes for someplace new"

91 (122) Violence - Blink 182

[-,-,-,150,122] **PEAK**

"One drink and the pain goes down."

This song is all about the instrumentals.

92 (NE) The Great Escape - We Are Scientists

"I've got a great idea, I'm gonna wait right here"

93 (47) Pay The Man - The Offspring

[113,164,36,25,47] **EVER-PRESENT**

"Simple explaination for the evil in this world - in our souls"

The first of nine (top 200) ever-presents in the top 100.

94 (50) Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits

[-,-,-,44,50]

"Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms"

Gorgeous, gorgeous song.

95 (168) Nowhere Again - Secret Machines

[-,-,-,-,168] **PEAK**

"Our lives... erased..."

Tough to choose a lyric for this one - lyrically it's one of the very best; I went for the one that's repeated at intervals throughout. Nice opening line too, "Cellophane flowers never happened for me."

96 (NE) Station Approach - Elbow

"You know you drive me up the wall
I need to see your face, is all
You little sod, I love your eyes
Be everything to me tonight

I never know what I want but I know when I'm low that I
I need to be in the town where they know what I'm like and don't mind"

Opener to the fantastic album-of-the-year 2005, "Leaders of the Free World". Builds up greatly in the 3rd minute. Full of goths and greeks, the streets are, hmm?

97 (124) The Bartender And The Thief - Stereophonics

[-,-,-,148,124] **PEAK**

"Robbing the graves of bodies dismembered"

This song should be well-known enough not to need a comment.

98 (66) Jacqueline - Franz Ferdinand

[-,-,-,66,66]

"I'm so drunk I don't mind if you kill me"

99 (192) The Christians and the Pagans - Dar Williams

[-,-,-,116,192] **PEAK**

"Now when Christians sit with Pagans, only pumpkin pies are burning"

A nice song, and vaguely Christmassy (in the subject matter).

100 (NE) Bandages - Hot Hot Heat

"Don't worry now, don't worry now, don't worry cause it's all under control"

Our leisurely traipse through the top 100 begins with a new entry and t300 debut for Hot Hot Heat. "Panda juice"!