50
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Destiny's Child - Independent Women
Artist link: 22  46
Well, what a way to start the top 50! With a song that I can't even recall. Ah. So I guess if I throw a few superlatives in, no-one will notice. It's got all the makings of a classic song, totally unforgettable, one that will last the test of time. Superb, divine, must have. There. Got away with it.
Jason M
No of votes: 3, Score:
16, Highest vote: 3rd
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49
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Artful Dodger feat. Romina Johnson - Movin' Too Fast
There's something about this simmering dance song that positively reeks of classic status. Could it be the music box style hook? Or Romina Johnson's laid-back vocals? One for a bit of a late night grind methinks.
Jason M
No of votes: 3, Score:
18, Highest vote: 3rd
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48
|
PJ Harvey - Good Fortune
Artist link:42
A stronger comeback from a few years in the wilderness could not have been had if she had cantered through the streets of Coventry naked on the back of a white horse. In fact, I'd already heard this songs 3 or 4 times and liked it before I learned it was Peej. Following on from a more acoustic leaning of late, it is brimming with confidence and also has the melody to boot. To be seen gracing the front cover of music magazines at a shop near you.......
Jason M
No of votes: 3, Score:
19, Highest vote: 1st
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47
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Eels - Mr. E's Beautiful Blues
One of rocks more eccentric performers, you'd have to agree that it could be thought of confusing the record buying public if you release this as a single and then not list it on the album as it's the "surprise" bonus track at the end of the album. Obviously commercial values don't matter too much to E and chums. Still, it is a life-affirming, walk in the park with birds twittering in the background kind of song. "Goddamn right, it's a beautiful day" says it all.
Jason M
No of votes: 3, Score:
21, Highest vote: 2nd
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46
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Moloko - The Time Is Now
Artist link: 38
A right little cracker of a pop song. I've always thought that Moloko were one department short of a faculty (look at the front cover and tell me that it ain't the stuff of nightmares), but they do manage to walk along the fine line of genius and madness quite nicely. Good use of strings, nice hook, attractive vocalist, what more can we ask?
Jason M
No of votes: 3, Score:
21, Highest vote: 1st
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45
|
Marilyn Manson - Disposable Teens
Artist link: 34
My memory tune archive draws a bit of a blank on this one. It would be hard for me to believe this is a touching acoustic ballad about the new ecologically friendly lifestyle that is being championed by the pubescent generation, with Manson persuading us all that we should all wear paper clothing and insist on biodegradable wrappings for foodstuffs. Safer to plump for it being angst-ridden, somewhat shocking, offensive, and likely to tap straight into the cerebral cortex of goths and metalheads the world over. Stress relief has never been so effective.
Jason M
No of votes: 3, Score:
23, Highest vote: 1st
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44
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Doves - The Cedar Room
Artist link:12 13  36
Okay, okay, so I'm still sulking because "Here It Comes" would have been on my top 10 had it not been released late 1999. You all know the story about the band too, so let's wax lyrical about the song. A slow burning masterpiece, the guitars switching between haunting the back of your head and filling your eardrums with a wall of sound. It's strangely anthemic, given the slow tempo, but that whole slow hand clap thing has got a lot to do with it, I reckon. Night-time listening has never been more rewarding.
Jason M
No of votes: 4, Score:
15, Highest vote: 4th
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43
|
Queens Of The Stone Age - The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret
Artist link:24
Another strong indicator that rock was not dead, it was just resting. And what was more, it was with it's feet up in America, waiting for the right moment to come swooping across the Atlantic and assault our ears over here. Somewhat less likely to cause apoplexy with the middle classes than "Feel Good Hit Of The Summer", it nonetheless blasted the cobwebs off that musty old pile of Kerrang! magazines lurking in the corner of the room. Came 4th in the NME chart of top 100 singles - difference of opinion there then.
Jason M
No of votes: 4, Score:
18, Highest vote: 1st
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42
|
REM - The Great Beyond
Artist link: 45
Making a welcome return after a break, albeit just to add a song to a movie soundtrack. The film was "Man On The Moon", which was I'd guess named after the REM song (and so the circle is closed). The song itself sounds like it could easily have fitted on any one of the REM albums of the '90s. It's also got totally nonsensical lyrics "I'm pushing an Elephant up the stairs / I'm tossing out punch-lines that were never there / Over my shoulder a piano falls, crash into the ground". Maybe if I see the film, it will all become clear.
Jason M
No of votes: 4, Score:
19, Highest vote: 3rd
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41
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Moby - Natural Blues
Artist link:5
Lest we forget, "Play" is the album in which everyone's favourite bald-headed techno vegan christian dance meister discovers old tapes of 1920's and 30's musicians and then spins his magic spell around them. The rest as they say is multi-million pound mad advertising scramble history. Natural Blues soulfully meanders its way through some distinctly new age synths without coming a cropper. Not sure how you would dance to it though.
Jason M
No of votes: 4, Score:
21, Highest vote: 2nd
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Ali H, Paul M, Kat B
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Kat B, Isaac H, Milly H