1 (5) JUST A DAY - FEEDER

[-,3,2,2,5] **NEW NUMBER ONE**
(not on any UK album... single: Dec 2001
#1 in my chart: 5 weeks in 2001/02)

"How come it ended up like this?
And who's gonna catch me when I'm coming down to hit the ground again

ALL. BY. MY. SELF.
(Waking up at 12, in my clothes again)
'Cos I don't wanna drag you down, hold you dooown
'Cos you're a friend
I'LL. BLAME. MY. SELF.
(Feel my head explode, from a lot of gin)
I guess you think it's funny now, FUNNY NOW..."

The best first minute of ANY song, let alone a rock song. Quite frankly it's got the best rest-of-song too, hence its lofty placing. Heretofore (is that a word?) always the bridesmaid, now the main attraction, and the only reason why the #2 isn't #1.
Feeder become the first band to have three songs in the top 10. This is the first song to get FIVE years in a row in the top five, and it's one of only three songs (in 8 years of my chart) to get five weeks at #1.
Oh, and it's amazing live.
Once I watched them from the seats at Hammersmith Apollo, and after wanting to stand for most of the set but feeling self-conscious and not wanting to block the view of the people behind me... they played this as the last song of the encore. Grant even gave us a little wave of acknowledgement when we stood up.

"Do do-do do, Do do-do do, Do do-do do, Do do-do dooo......"

2 (1) Newborn - Elbow

[-,-,14,4,1]
(Asleep In The Back, 2001)

"My badly-strung declaration"

This time, many of the lyrics are repeated, but the music behind them has three different sections... the first, radio-friendly (it was going to be a single but was pulled by radio 1 after 9/11 because of the "corpse in the bathtub" opening line) section... the second, laid-back part (with its slow poem - three syllables per line ('cept for the last one), 8 lines, little rhyming... "Nothing's changed / Nothing could be wrong"), slowly, swooningly building to a crescendo in the 7th minute, with its frantic guitar and lyrics delivered much, much quicker... very much a unique song, very much a brilliant song...


....very slightly eclipsed by something entirely different (namely the new #1) that'll get you out of your seat and onto the dancefloor.

3 (16) Switching Off - Elbow

[-,-,-,7,16] **PEAK**
(Cast Of Thousands, 2003)

"You, the only sense the world has ever made"

Very, very simple musically, this love song is the focal point of the (generally upbeat) second Elbow album. Just a slow repeated drum-beat and occasional piano doodlings. Simple but effective.

4 (4) Citizen Erased - Muse

[-,-,9,9,4] **Non-Mover**
(Origin Of Symmetry, 2001)

"For one moment, I wish you'd hold your stage
With no feelings at all
Open minded, I'm sure I used to be
So free"

Finally gaining 'best Muse song' status in its fourth year in the top 10, this is also the only song in the top 10 that wasn't released as a single. Lovely live, when they actually play it (you'll know it because the dum-dum drum beats that feature in the album version's intro are repeated without guitars for a little while - see Hullabaloo's live disc.)

5 (26) Insomnia - Feeder

[-,-,52,43,26] **PEAK**
(Yesterday Went Too Soon, 1999)

"My brain, my poor brain"

Another example of what Feeder do best. This was the 2nd single from YWTS, and the sixth different Feeder song to get into the top 10.

6 (6) Teardrop - Massive Attack

[-,-,-,34,6] **Non-Mover**
(Mezzanine, 1998)

"Love, love is a verb
Love is a do word
Fearless on my breath..."

And now for something completely different: swoonful chillout. Some slightly odd lyrics ("Water is my eye, most faithful mirror"), and a heartbeat-like bassline throughout.

Stumbling a little... just the top 5 to go, tomorrow...

Raiiiiin down, rain down

Come on, rain down on me
From a great height... from a great height... (height...)

That's it, Sir
You're leaving
The crackle
Of pig skin
The dust and
The screaming
The yuppies networking and
The panic
The vomit
The panic
The vomit

God loves his children...
God loves his children...

...Yeah.

7 (3) Paranoid Android - Radiohead

[-,-,81,5,3]
(OK Computer, 1997)

"When I am king, you will be first against the wall"

What a great year 1997 evidently was for music.

8 (HN) Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters

**Highest New Entry**
(The Colour and the Shape, 1997)

"I never wanted any more than I could fit into my head"

Where has this song been all my life? If I'd done last year's chart post-Reading instead of pre-Reading, it'd have been one of the highest new entries.

9 (19) Burn Baby Burn - Ash

[-,4,4,6,19]
(Free All Angels, 2001)

"Vicious bitter words, becoming more and more cruel
But you always take me back, let me lick your wounds"

Rising back into the top 10, this song has an incredible chart run - five successive years in the top 20! I'm actually charting the 'Intergalactic Sonic 7"s' version, because of the last 'tumbling like the leaves' bit, right after the quoted lyric.
On the other hand, I'm charting the 'Free All Angels' version of Shining Light, because of the longer instrumental in the middle.

10 (45) Seven Days In The Sun - Feeder

[34, 87, 83, 83, 45] **EVER-PRESENT** **PEAK**
(Echo Park, 2001)

"You really light me up"

And so the top 10 begins with one of the truly great summer songs. Strange that it should rise into the top 10 the one year I complete my rundown in Winter instead of Summer.

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.