Kevin's Watch

We Will Rock You - Queen

No problem. A horrible list, IMO. I liked the Best 500 Albums much better.

Yes, the album list is neat. Some strange inclusions there, too, but what do I know? It's a vast musical universe out there (and we're only talking about rock 'n' roll!) and I've listened to only a small part of it.

Back to greatest rock song...interesting choices in this thread. I haven't listened to any King Crimson or Tool, but the more I hear about them the more I'm intrigued. Thanks, LF and Sheriff Lytton, I'll keep those songs in mind.

Achilles Last Stand is definitely a powerhouse song. I think Stairway To Heaven rocks in the way it builds and builds to its climax. We could end up splitting hairs over this sort of thing.

Celebrated Summer : Husker Du
Burning Bridges : Mike Curb Orchestra
Corona : Minutemen
Good Vibrations : Brian Wilson
Wig In A Box : Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Give Birth To A Smile : Roger Waters
Accident Waiting To Happen : Poster Children
Dusted : Belly
Sould Soldier : Throwing Muses
New # 1 : Bob Mould

Dennis wrote:Dusted : Belly

Great tune. Great Album!

Matrixman wrote: I haven't listened to any King Crimson or Tool, but the more I hear about them the more I'm intrigued. Thanks, LF and Sheriff Lytton, I'll keep those songs in mind.

If you're going to check Tool out, then "The Grudge" might be a bit much to start with. Sonically, they're a pretty unflinching band and it can take a lot of listening to get the hang of some of their songs, what with their love of weird time signatures and dropped tunings.

More accessisble songs by Tool:

"Stinkfist" (don't be fooled by the title, it's a metaphor for how modern western life desensitises one to the finer things in life), "H" (lovely song), "Schism" and "Aenema" (a very funny song all about the horrors of living in LA - but it has some very bad language in it)

And as for King Crimson, they're very interesting but I'd put your weirdness hat on first.

Would also suggest "Lateralus," "Eulogy," "Flood," "Sweat," and "Opiate."

Hell. Just start by listening to Opiate for a week, then take one month each for Undertow, Aenima, and then Lateralus. To do otherwise would rob you of the appreciation of the true progression of their music.

Sheriff Lytton wrote:And as for King Crimson, they're very interesting but I'd put your weirdness hat on first.

I'd suggest headphones with the volume all the way up. By the way, King Crimson was a huge influence on Tool, and they opened for their concerts during one tour.

Matrixman wrote:I haven't listened to any King Crimson or Tool, but the more I hear about them the more I'm intrigued. Thanks, LF and Sheriff Lytton, I'll keep those songs in mind.

Crimson's been making music since the late 60s, but only one member of the band, Robert Fripp, has been a member since the beginning (Adrian Belew has been a member since 81 or so). This isn't a bad thing, though; it makes their music extremely varied. They're one of my favorite bands because they're probably the only commercially important prog rock band to blend dazzling musicianship with real artistic integrity.

Anyway, like I said, their music has a lot of different flavors. I'm crazy about all of them, but, if you like progressive rock, then begin with their 1969 debut, In the Court of the Crimson King. If you like something that sounds more 80s, get their 1981 album, Discipline, which is considered one of the masterpieces of 80s music. If you like something closer to the 90s sound, opt for Thrak or The Power To Believe.

Red is my favorite album by them (it contains my favorite instrumental, "Red", and my favorite song, "Starless"), but it's not a good beginning point.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll follow your suggestions about listening in chronological order. Looking forward to my first encounters with King Crimson and Tool. Not that I'm promising I'll survive the experience, of course.

Some favorite songs I think of as hard-rocking:

"Synchronicity II" -- The Police
"The House Is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems)" -- Cheap Trick
"Rock and Roll" -- Led Zeppelin
"The Kick Inside Of Me" -- Simple Minds
"Tall Ships Go" -- Big Country

greatest rock songs?

Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd: Have a Cigar
Deep Purple: Child in Time
Led Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love
Golden Earring: Radar Love
Cream: White Room

Caer Sylvanus wrote:Would also suggest "Lateralus," "Eulogy," "Flood," "Sweat," and "Opiate."

Hell. Just start by listening to Opiate for a week, then take one month each for Undertow, Aenima, and then Lateralus. To do otherwise would rob you of the appreciation of the true progression of their music.

A very wise suggestion. Unfortunately for me, I did it in reverse, but it was still fun. Mind you, I did that with the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy books too.

I'd suggest eating some magic mushrooms and then listening to "Gaping Lotus Experience" from Opiate repeatedly until you pass out. After that it'll be a breeze.

And Matrixman - you're right. Synchronicity II by The Police definitely rocks. I love that song

Ahh, the Joseph Conrad (i.e., journey to the heart of darkness) approach. Never thought about that.

chasing a bee - mercury rev
black metallic - catherine's wheel
blue monday - new order
love will tear us apart - joy division
the lemon song - led zepplin
low spark of high heeled boys - traffic
paint it black - rolling stones
cross eyed mary - jethro tull
evergreen memorial drive - nova mob
explode and make up - sugar

I'm gonna go for Alive by Pearl Jam. It just feels right that the greatest rock song ever would be an epic, and PJ wrote this one at a time when nobody was writing epic songs.

Nav wrote:I'm gonna go for Alive by Pearl Jam. It just feels right that the greatest rock song ever would be an epic, and PJ wrote this one at a time when nobody was writing epic songs.

Not to nitpick, but G'N'R's "November Rain" came out at about the same time. I'd say that's pretty epic.

Caer Sylvanus wrote:Ahh, the Joseph Conrad (i.e., journey to the heart of darkness) approach. Never thought about that.

The horror...

Cail wrote:Not to nitpick, but G'N'R's "November Rain" came out at about the same time. I'd say that's pretty epic.

Good point. I cast my mind back and couldn't remember any others, becuase I was thinking grunge-centrically.

If you're looking for a great grunge-rock song, may I suggest "Them Bones" by Alice in Chains?

Reading through this thread, I realize just how out of touch I've been with popular music since the advent of Nirvana. I've never heard of > 95% of the songs listed here.

For my part, the greatest rock song ever would have to be "Layla" by Eric Clapton (originally performed by Derek and the Dominoes.)

Victory : PJ Harvey
Would I? : Alice In Chains
Come and Get It : Badfinger
I Nearly Lost You : Screaming Trees
Territorial Pissings : Nirvana
Yellow Ledbedder : Pearl Jam
Bastards of Young : Replacements
London Calling : Clash
Aarchy in the UK : Sex Pistols