These are my personal favorites with no claim to objectivity. It's difficult to rank obscure songs on the same list as giant hits, so I purposely did not use numbers, but they're arranged better=higher. I'm not up to 200 yet but I'm over 180, and I continue to move songs up and down and on and off, and to add video links. The year is the recording date when I'm sure of it, otherwise the release date. (And there's an odd gap in 1996 and 1997.)
Scroll to the bottom or click here for my top ten guitar solos list, and also check out my Top 25 Albums plus Hawkwind, and my Condensed Beatles.
Hawkwind, Space Is Deep (1972)
Much more Hawkwind at the bottom of the album page. The vocals are over at 2:15 and the buildup and jam that follow have never been matched. In the
video, wait for the change at 3:26.
Joanna Newsom, En Gallop (2004)
The most beautiful thing I've ever heard. At first I thought it was all from Newsom's unearthly vocal performance, but after listening to covers, I think it's also great songwriting
(video). Coincidentally there's a very different song, "Back in Flesh" by Wall of Voodoo, with the same theme, the same meaning of the word "flesh", and almost the
same riff.
Beat Happening, Secret Picnic Spot (1990)
I don't know how to define "spiritual" except that this is the most spiritual song I've ever heard and I want it played at my funeral.
(video)
Mazzy Star, Fade Into You (1993)
A perfect song, with the best ever opening line, "I want to hold the hand inside you."
(video)
Neutral Milk Hotel, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (1998)
"How strange it is to be anything at all."
(video)
Orphans & Vandals, Argyle Square (2009)
Sometimes I think songwriting peaked in the 1970's, but compare this to Waterloo Sunset by the Kinks for an example of how music is still getting better.
(video)
Have A Nice Life, Earthmover (2008)
This is not the best post-rock song, but it stands alone on another level, as the best integration of vocals into post-rock.
(video)
R.E.M., Wendell Gee (1985)
(video)
The Kinks, Strangers (1970)
My favorite Kinks song is by Dave Davies. Ray is the brains of the Kinks but Dave is the heart.
(video)
Camper Van Beethoven, All Her Favorite Fruit (1989)
Violin (by Don Lax) and electric guitar (by Greg Lisher) have never sounded so good together.
(video)
Neutral Milk Hotel, Little Birds (1998)
Live version, for years available only as a bootleg. I'm not sure whether the 2011 box set contains this or another version.
(video)
Mono, Yearning (2005)
I should probably put instrumentals in a separate section but for now I'm mixing them in. Mono is my favorite post-rock band and they have other songs that are almost this good.
(video)
Blue Oyster Cult, Don't Fear The Reaper (1976)
I've probably heard it a thousand times and it still sounds as good as ever.
(video)
Beat Happening, Indian Summer (1988)
Sometimes a simple song sounds better than a complex song ever could. Beat Happening were masters at stripping it down, and this is their timeless classic.
(video)
Band of Horses, The Funeral (2006)
No other sad song rocks this hard. Following interpretations on songmeanings.com, I think it's about heroin addiction.
(video)
Velvet Underground, What Goes On (1969 live)
The first part with vocals is forgettable, but the jam for the last six minutes is unprecedented and all-important in the history of my favorite music.
(video)
Talking Heads, Once In A Lifetime (1980/1984)
I like the Stop Making Sense live version best.
(video)
Galaxie 500, Blue Thunder (1989)
The lyrics are kind of dumb, but musically it doesn't get any better than this.
(video)
Carissa's Wierd, September Come Take This Heart Away (2002)
All their music is sad and beautiful, but this might be their only song that would sound great played by an amateur.
(video)
Flobots, Handlebars (2007)
My favorite political song for its emotional power and the depth of its message. The end changes the meaning of the beginning.
(video)
Violent Femmes, Never Tell (1984)
More like a collection of scraps than a song, but every scrap is intense and inspired. This is the Violent Femmes' masterpiece.
(video)
Joanna Newsom, Sadie (2004)
"And all that we built, and all that we breathed, and all that we spilt, or pulled up like weeds,
is piled up in back; and it burns irrevocably."
(video)
Gordon Lightfoot, If You Could Read My Mind (1970)
I love Gordon Lightfoot!
(video)
Chris Stamey, Something Came Over Me (1988)
My favorite happy love song. I finally got around to making and uploading a
video of the studio version from Fireworks.
Gerry Rafferty, Baker Street (1978)
I love soft hits of the 70's and very early 80's, and this is my favorite.
(video)
Sigur Rós, Svefn-g-englar (Sleepwalkers) (1999)
Easily my favorite foreign language song.
(video)
R.E.M., Nightswimming (1992)
(video)
R.E.M., Belong (1991)
(video)
Bone Cellar, Dryrot (1994)
Great obscure Seattle band.
(video)
Flaming Lips, Do You Realize? (2002)
The Flaming Lips edge out Neutral Milk Hotel in the category of best band worst name.
(video)
Gordon Lightfoot, Carefree Highway (1974)
Another one that's strangely missing from YouTube, except for this
video with terrible audio.
Big Star, September Gurls (1973)
Consensus best song by the great lost band of the 1970's.
(video)
Corndolly, Come Out (1992?)
Happy lesbian love song by a forgotten Illinois band.
(video)
Tom Waits, Tom Traubert's Blues (1976)
His greatest lyrics, including the best rhyme in English: "I lost my St Christopher now that I've kissed her." I follow Bones Howe's interpretation, that Matilda represents all the women who catalyzed the failures of homeless men.
(video)
Bob Dylan, Boots of Spanish Leather (1964)
It's said that nobody ruins Bob Dylan like Bob Dylan. Not only does he do the worst versions of his own songs, he keeps the originals off YouTube.
Camper Van Beethoven, Good Guys and Bad Guys (1986)
The happiest song I've ever heard.
(video)
Hawkwind, Wind of Change (1974)
Epic multilayered instrumental. I didn't recognize this as Hawkwind's second greatest song until I heard it stoned.
(video)
Beat Happening, Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive (1989)
Best song ever about sex. "Sting me, queen me, queen sting dream me, dream queen sting me, sting queen!"
(video)
The Police, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981)
If you weren't there, you can't imagine how dark and spooky this song sounded when it first came out. Now that I think about it, so did Hotel California.
Peter Gabriel, Solsbury Hill (1977)
It's in 7/4!
(video)
Nirvana, untitled (1993)
The title "Sappy" was later tacked onto it, but I consider it fundamentally untitled because it was untitled in its original release (on the No Alternative compilation) and there was no title consistently attached to it from the beginning.
(video)
Mark Lanegan, Where Did You Sleep Last Night (1989)
Nirvana's famous live version is based on Mark Lanegan's version, with Cobain and Novoselic on guitar and bass. Lanegan is covering a Leadbelly version of an old folk song called In The Pines.
(video)
Velvet Underground, Heroin (1967)
It's shocking how much this song still rocks. The studio version and the 1969 live version are equally good.
(video)
Son Volt, Tear Stained Eye (1995)
If this counts as a country song, it's my favorite.
(video)
Joanna Newsom, Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie (2004)
(video)
Big Star, The Ballad of El Goodo (1972)
(video)
Dave Loggins, Please Come To Boston (1974)
(video)
Glen Campbell, By The Time I Get To Phoenix (1967)
(video)
Bruce Springsteen, Atlantic City (1982)
(video)
R.E.M., Rockville (1984)
(video)
The Beatles, Rain (1966)
My favorite Beatles song and Ringo's best drumming.
(video)
Journey, Don't Stop Believing (1981)
They should sing this at sports events instead of the national anthem, because it's the best song to show off a great voice.
Phil Collins, In The Air Tonight (1980)
Not only the greatest drum break ever, but the lyrics were improvised!
Carissa's Wierd, Phantom Fireworks (2004)
If I started a band, I would try to sound like the second half of this song all the time.
(video)
Red House Painters, Katy Song (1993)
... also the second half of this song.
(video)
Camper Van Beethoven, Surprise Truck (1986)
My favorite CVB song on cannabis. No other song rocks this hard while still being fun.
(video)
Hüsker Dü, Hardly Getting Over It (1986)
(video)
Tom Waits, Kentucky Avenue (1978)
This song is so sad that it took me years to understand it.
(video)
Jack Nitzsche, Old Enough To Know (1981)
This song has never been released or even bootlegged -- you can only hear it by watching the movie
Cutter's Way, and only the first verse plays clearly. I bought the dvd just so I could extract it, and made this
video.
Neil Diamond, Soolaimon (1970)
The catchiest song ever recorded. Whenever I get a bad catchy song stuck in my head, I use "Soolaimon" to get it out.
(video)
Blue Oyster Cult, Goin Through The Motions (1977)
The second catchiest song ever recorded.
(video)
Godspeed You Black Emperor, Gathering Storm (2000)
GYBE took the slow buildup to a whole new level. My other favorites include East Hastings and Moya.
(video)
Neu!, Hallogallo (1972)
The best example of the motorik beat, which is my favorite beat, and this is my favorite background song.
(video)
Ramones, Oh Oh I Love Her So (1977)
From their brilliant second album,
Leave Home.
(video)
Violent Femmes, Country Death Song (1984)
Probably inspired by Bob Dylan's Ballad of Hollis Brown, and much more intense. Here's a great animated fan
video.
Bob Dylan, Idiot Wind (1975)
Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
I like the KEXP live version best.
Hüsker Dü, She Floated Away (1987)
(video)
Dire Straits, Skateaway (1980)
(video)
The Pogues, A Pair of Brown Eyes (1985)
(video)
The Pretenders, Back on the Chain Gang (1982)
The Go-Go's, Our Lips Are Sealed (1981)
One of those songs that you don't appreciate until you've heard it hundreds of times and you notice it keeps sounding better.
Gary Numan, Down In The Park (1979)
(video)
The Sundays, Here's Where The Story Ends (1990)
(video)
Neil Young, Helpless (1970)
(video)
Velvet Underground, Candy Says (1968)
Lou Reed used to say this was the best song he ever wrote, and I agree. Wisely, he let Doug Yule sing it.
(video)
Red Fang, Wires (2011)
Best rock band
video I've ever seen.
Bob Dylan, One More Cup Of Coffee (1976)
A Flock of Seagulls, Space Age Love Song (1982)
The guitar style is way ahead of its time, and also like the simple structure.
Uncle Tupelo, Black Eye (1992)
(video)
Johnny Cash, Sunday Morning Coming Down (1970)
The best version of Kris Kristofferson's best song.
(video)
Gordon Lightfoot, Cobwebs and Dust (1970)
I love the structure of this song: a simple 18 note vocal melody repeated 16 times with changing lyrics.
(video)
Dead Kennedys, Kill The Poor (1980)
The best classic punk song, and my favorite band name.
(video)
Suicidal Tendencies, Institutionalized (1983)
Second best classic punk song.
Flying Burrito Brothers, Sin City (1969)
The original alt-country band.
(video)
Van Morrison, Brown Eyed Girl (1967)
It's on every list!
Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)
Oddly underplayed on the radio. I know it was overplayed when it came out, but it's been more than 20 years. Instead they play "Come As You Are", the least interesting song Nirvana ever recorded.
Loudon Wainwright, New Paint (1972)
(video)
Beat Happening, Teenage Caveman (1992)
(video)
Dire Straits, Tunnel of Love (1980)
(video)
U2, Bad (1985)
The live version from
Wide Awake in America.
(video)
Carissa's Wierd, Drunk With The Only Saints I Know (1998?)
(video)
Blondie, Heart of Glass (1978)
Neil Young, After the Gold Rush (1970)
The Kinks, Waterloo Sunset (1967)
Led Zeppelin, Kashmir (1974)
Bone Cellar, Lost in the Light of Day (1995)
(video)
Hawkwind, High Rise (1978)
(video)
Camper Van Beethoven, Klondike (?)
One of their strangest songs. They should have done a whole album like this!
(video)
Wall Of Voodoo, Lost Weekend (1982)
I was heavily into Wall of Voodoo in the 80's. Later I found out that they took most of their sound from the song "Machines" by Lothar and the Hand People.
(video)
Gordon Lightfoot, Affair on 8th Avenue (1975)
The beautiful Gord's Gold version of this song was cut from the CD and to this day has not been offered for sale in digital form. But it has been ripped from vinyl and shared for free. Here's a
download.
Cracker, I Want Everything (1993)
(video)
The Muffs, Lucky Guy (1993)
I was obsessed with the Muffs in the mid 90's. This is the only song that made me dance the first time I heard it.
(video)
Moon Duo, Love On The Sea (2009)
They have a bunch of songs that are about this good. I picked this one for its perfect beat.
(video)
NASA Voyager Space Sounds, Rings of Uranus (?)
Is this music? And how can I rank it next to pop songs? Anyway, this is my favorite of the radio wave to audio conversions made through the Voyager probe. Jupiter and Song of Earth are also beautiful.
(video)
Ramones, Questioningly (1978)
Willie Nelson, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975)
Gordon Lightfoot, Farewell to Annabel (1972)
The most mature breakup song I've ever heard.
(lyrics)
Neil Young, The Needle and the Damage Done (1972)
A perfect song, and I love the unexpected quick ending.
Beat Happening, Tiger Trap (1992)
Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here (1975)
Led Zeppelin, Going to California (1971)
Melanie, Some Say (1971)
(video)
R.E.M., Shaking Through (1983)
(video)
Cheap Trick, Surrender (1978)
Donovan, Atlantis (1968)
The first half is an embarrassing spoken word bit, and the second half, a fourteen syllable repeating chorus, is the best thing ever.
(video)
The Beatles, I Want You (She's So Heavy) (1969)
The first half is a lame jazz/blues song, and the second half, a thirty note repeating riff, is the best thing ever.
(video)
Galaxie 500, Flowers (1988)
(video)
Violent Femmes, I Know It's True But I'm Sorry To Say (1984)
My favorite song to sing in the car.
(video)
Le Tigre, The The Empty (1999)
(video)
Yes, Würm (1970)
The best jam in prog rock, technically not a song but the last section of Starship Trooper.
(video)
Donna Summer, I Feel Love (1977)
Growing up in the 70's I took disco for granted, but looking back, it was the last interesting thing to happen in pop music. No hit song has ever been this hypnotic.
Neil Diamond, I Am The Lion (1970)
Weird song about the ancient conflict between sedentary and nomadic culture. Neil Diamond was using African music ten years before David Byrne and Peter Gabriel.
(video)
Hawkwind, Motorway City (1980)
The live version on
Zones.
(video)
Big Star, What's Going Ahn (1973)
Beautiful ending.
(video)
Loreena McKennitt, Greensleeves (1991)
Recorded accidentally in one take!
Joanna Newsom, Peach Plum Pear (2004)
(video)
Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop (1976)
I didn't fully appreciate this song until I heard Yo La Tengo's instrumental version.
Blondie, Dreaming (1979)
Featuring an over-the-top drum performance by Clem Burke.
Old 97's, Valentine (1999)
Simon and Garfunkel, The Boxer (1969)
Bob Dylan, Visions of Johanna (1966)
Probably my favorite Dylan lyrics.
Neil Young, Powderfinger (1979)
Tom Waits, Old Shoes and Picture Postcards (1973)
Bruce Springsteen, I'm On Fire (1982)
Beat Happening, Gravedigger Blues (1989)
Pete Yorn, Just Another (2001)
Hawkwind, Infinity (1978)
R.E.M., Everybody Hurts (1992)
Camper Van Beethoven, Flowers (1989)
Hawkwind, Lord of Light (1972)
The
Space Ritual live version.
Wall Of Voodoo, Ring of Fire (1980)
One of the greatest covers ever.
(video)
Carissa's Wierd, Heather Rhodes (1998?)
Best ever closing line if you understand it: "Saw someone today who looked exactly like you, it's funny how the years go by." It's about meeting your ex, and missing what you had with the person they used to be.
(video)
King Crimson, Indiscipline (1981)
(video)
Gordon Lightfoot, Her Love's Return (1970)
Teenage Fanclub, Alcoholiday (1991)
Violent Femmes, I Hear The Rain (1984)
Neil Diamond, Stones (1971)
Antenna, Snakes (1991)
10,000 Maniacs, My Mother The War (1985)
There are hard rock bands that have made great soft and pretty songs, but how often does a soft rock band make a great noisy song? As far as I know, this is the only one.
(video)
Red House Painters, New Jersey (1993)
The Shins, New Slang (2001)
Blue Oyster Cult, In Thee (1979)
R.E.M., So. Central Rain (1984)
Genesis, Supper's Ready (1972)
The peak of 70's prog rock, taking up almost a whole side of the album
Foxtrot.
Pink Floyd, Echoes (1971)
Another whole-album-side song, from Pink Floyd's greatest album,
Meddle.
Rush, Cygnus X-1 (part one) (1977)
I was obsessed with Rush around 1983. Scroll down for more Rush on the guitar solos list.
The Beatles, Let It Be (1969)
The original album version, for the guitar solo.
Queen, Fat Bottomed Girls (1978)
As a songwriter, I like Brian May better than Freddie Mercury.
Blue Oyster Cult, Astronomy (live 1978)
The
Some Enchanted Evening version.
Devo, Gut Feeling (1978)
Outside of post-rock, I can't think of another song that starts with a plain riff, builds up to a crescendo, and rocks this hard.
(video)
Tom Waits, That Feel (1992)
Camper Van Beethoven, June (1989)
(video)
Mat Kearney, All I Need (2006)
(video)
Hawkwind, Jack of Shadows (1978)
Ween, Baby Bitch (1994)
Led Zeppelin, Ten Years Gone (1974)
Culture Club, Karma Chameleon (1983)
Possibly the best vocal melody of the 80's.
Hüsker Dü, Books About UFO's (1985)
(video)
Sonic Youth, Schizophrenia (1987)
Chris Bell, I Am the Cosmos (1975?)
To my knowledge, the only song with this brilliant symmetrical structure: first verse, different verse, chorus, solo, chorus, different verse, first verse.
Corndolly, Sex Kitten (1992?)
Another great song from the obscure Illinois girl band.
(video)
Bob Geldof, I Don't Like Mondays (1981)
The live version from
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball.
Cracker, I'm So Glad She Ain't Never Coming Back (2008)
Sometimes David Lowery comes up with something so strange and timeless that I can't believe it was made by humans.
Joanna Newsom, This Side of the Blue (2004)
Her most structurally simple song, and I love the verse about the birds.
(video)
Beat Happening, Cry For A Shadow (1991)
Eagles, Hotel California (1976)
Scorpions, Still Loving You (1984)
My favorite hair metal song.
Cheap Trick, If You Want My Love (1982)
AC/DC, You Shook Me All Night Long (1980)
Don Henley, Boys of Summer (1984)
I know he's a bad person and the lyrics are dumb, but I love the way it sounds.
Violent Femmes, Jesus Walking on the Water (1984)
If half of all Christian songs were half this good, I would convert.
Ramones, Glad to See You Go (1977)
The Muffs, Ethyl My Love (1995)
Featuring the best power scream ever recorded.
Guns n Roses, Sweet Child O Mine (1987)
The famous riff is pretty much the riff from Rush's "Xanadu", with an extra note added to switch it from 7/8 to 4/4.
Timbuk 3, Just Another Movie (1986)
Forgotten political song about how people are tricked into believing in the system that feeds on them.
Warren Zevon, I Was In The House When The House Burned Down (1999)
The second best song title ever, after Pink Floyd's "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun".
(video)
Top Ten Guitar Solos
1. Alex Lifeson, Rush, No One At The Bridge
The perfect guitar solo: short, carefully composed, and at the
end of the song.
(video)
3. Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, Tunnel of Love
Again at the end of the song, but with a long seductive buildup.
(video)
2. Dave Nothing, Bone Cellar, Dry Rot
Another beautiful long jam at the end of the song.
4. Buck Dharma, Blue Oyster Cult, Don't Fear the Reaper
The best thing about this solo is its entrance, blasting in at full strength from near-silence.
5. Alex Lifeson, Rush, Bacchus Plateau
From the same album side as "No One At The Bridge", just as pretty but not as tight.
6. Huw Lloyd-Langton, Hawkwind, The Island
The entire song is a well-crafted two-part guitar solo, combining the solos in "The 5th Second of Forever" and "Dust of Time".
7. Steve Hackett, Genesis, After The Ordeal
So quiet that you might not notice it's the most beautiful melody in all of art rock.
8. Brian May, Queen, We Will Rock You
One more: short, tight, end of song.
9. Elliott Randall, Steely Dan, Reelin' in the Years
Radical because it anchors the song, filling every gap where there isn't singing.
10. Don Felder and Joe Walsh, The Eagles, Hotel California
It's on every list!
11. Marc Moreland, Wall of Voodoo, Ring of Fire
Starts with a variation on the "Our Man Flint" theme and progresses into epic distortion. Incidentally, the Concrete Blonde song "Joey" was written about Moreland.