"EVER FALLEN IN LOVE" BUZZCOCKS (1978)

The first time I heard this punk anthem was when I came across the Fine Young Cannibals cover. After hearing it, I went back and listened to the original. I’m not well versed or particularly wedded to the punk scene, but I’ve asked myself many times since: how the hell did I miss this band? In “Ever Fallen in Love”, they took a human experience that many can identify with, and translated it with such simplicity and conviction. Two traits of a well-crafted punk song made to withstand the test of time.

“Ever fallen in love, in love with someone, you shouldn't have fallen in love with? I can't see much of a future, unless we find out what's to blame, what a shame. And we won't be together much longer, unless we realize that we are the same.”

"MR. BRIGHTSIDE" THE KILLERS (2004)

In 2004, new wave was resurrected and reninvented—and “Mr. Brightside” was the entrance song. Every song on Hot Fuss did something musically unusual. These songs simultaneously brought us back and ushered us forward. This is a space that The Killers owned for many albums. Recollections of hearing “Mr. Brightside” in my friend’s car are some of my favorite road tune memories. My friend swaying to the music as he drove full throttle up the Palisades Parkway. Me headbanging and playing air keys on his dusty dashboard.

“Jealousy, turning saints into the sea. Swimming through sick lullabies. Choking on your alibis. But it's just the price I pay. Destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes. 'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside.”

"HEAD ON" THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN (1989)

When you boil it down, there are two characteristics that make a song exceptional. There are the songs that feel like they were written for you, that capture your mood or emotion. Then there are songs that lift you out of some preexisting condition and usher you into a new kind of mood or emotion. “Head On” is the latter. When I’ve felt awful, hopeless or uninspired, “Head On” gave me a firm kick in the ass and put me into a totally different mindset. Songs can do that.

“And there's something going on inside. Makes you want to feel, makes you want to try. Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky. I can't stand up, I can't cool down. I can't get my head off the ground.”

"ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER" JIMI HENDRIX (1968)

Throughout my middle and high school years, I lived next door to a Jimi Hendrix fanatic. My brother was fascinated with the sounds that guitars made, and Hendrix was one of the masters that inspired and influenced him and many other players. This Dylan cover has always been one of my favorite songs from a music catalog that was impressively deep given Hendrix’s brief life span. In “All Along the Watchtower”, he found a way to make rock, blues and jazz blend so effortlessly together.

“There must be some kind of way outta here, said the joker to the thief. There's too much confusion. I can't get no relief.”

"NIGHTSWIMMING" R.E.M. (1992)

For the bulk of “Nightswimming”, there are just two musicians: Michael Stipe on vocals and Mike Mills on piano. The fact that this song came out in the height of grunge is telling. It flew in the face of the times. But it’s remembered fondly by many. “Nightswimming” went in circles, but had intrigue through its story. For those of us who have skinny-dipping nights etched into our memory, this song brings us right back to those moments.

“Nightswimming deserves a quiet night. The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago. Turned around backwards so the windshield shows. Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse. Still, it's so much clearer. I forgot my shirt at the water's edge. The moon is low tonight.”

"BOX OF RAIN" GRATEFUL DEAD (1970)

I’m pretty sure it’s universally accepted that non-deadheads will never truly understand deadheads. I’ve known a few, from high school, through college and beyond. I never got it. Then again, I’ve never seen the Dead live. The recordings take on new life in concert I’m sure. But I can still appreciate 1970 as a prolific era for this band, pumping out both Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty in a single year. And I can still appreciate “Box of Rain” for throwing in a few chord progressions that I didn’t see coming.

“What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through? For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago.”

"INTRO" THE XX (2009)

Here we have one of the greatest instrumentals of the 21st century. Written by The XX, who were pretty much just kids at the time. Deliberately simple. Monochromatic in its sound. This was the song that set the tone for a strong debut album. I never heard anything like it before. “Intro” was a powerful introduction to a band that mastered minimalism. This is clean, stripped down musicality with mood.

"IT'S MY LIFE" TALK TALK (1984)

Growing up as an 80’s kid is pretty core to who I am. That’s why I will always have a bias for 80’s music. There are some decent songs and albums from the era, but it’s the nostalgia that resonates with me the most. It’s why Talk Talk’s original version of “It’s My Life” will always be much better than No Doubt’s version, which was no musical slouch itself. “It’s My Life” took a desperate plea and turned it into a feel good song, and raised the bar for dozens of British synth pop bands in the process.

“It's my life. Don't you forget. Caught in the crowd. It never ends.”

"MR. TAMBOURINE MAN" BOB DYLAN (1965)

From now on, this song will always remind me of when my daughter Sophia was just a few weeks old. To help her fall asleep I’d carry her in the bathroom with the fan on and I’d sing her this song. She would just stare at me with her wide eyes, barely blinking. Like the songwriter, she was exhausted, but couldn’t sleep. And it seemed all she was interested in was listening to a song. When I listen to “Mr. Tambourine Man” again today, I’m right back there on that bathroom floor, helping my baby girl get some shuteye while growing her deep, deep love for music.

“Hey! Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me. I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to. Hey! Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me. In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.”

"AUTUMN SWEATER" YO LA TENGO (1997)

Good music doesn’t have to be exceptionally played, remarkably produced or even well-written. It just needs to create a mood. That’s often enough to make a song great. That’s the case of “Autumn Sweater”. It’s so deliberately simple, but in its simplicity it can transport you to another place. This is a song that I picture being played in someone’s basement. In many ways, Yo La Tengo is the quintessential indie band. Not pretentious. Not trying too hard. Just a ton of fun to listen to.

“We could slip away. Wouldn't that be better. Me with nothing to say. And you in your autumn sweater.”

"MORE THAN THIS" ROXY MUSIC (1982)

Many bands have covered this song over the years. But one thing they haven’t been able to do is capture the unique sound of Roxy Music. This is a band that gave the music world an unusual, progressive rock tilt in the 70s, then elevated pop music in the 80s. “More Than This” was a prime example of the latter. You can’t copy Bryan Ferry’s vocals and you wouldn’t even try. And you can’t mimmic the intricate instrumentation because the soul of the song is Roxy Music, not just the melody.

“It was fun for a while. There was no way of knowing, like a dream in the night. Who can say where we're going. No care in the world, maybe I'm learning why the sea on the tide has no way of turning.”

"SAVE THE NIGHT" JOHN LEGEND (2013)

One thing I’ve never been able to do is write a song. It feels like an impossible task to me. But it seems almost effortless for a guy like John Legend. I don’t mean to say he can do it in his sleep, but he’s clearly able to get into a zone. That’s why his albums are loaded. They’re practically the length of a concert and show very few weak spots. Love in the Future is stacked from top to bottom—but “Save the Night” was always a highlight for me. It starts with funk. It keeps going with swagger. It finishes with a simple, yet unforgettable melody.

“I see the night flashing before her eyes. Resuscitating, bring it back to life. And it's on tonight. How about we go and save the night.”

"RUNNING UP THAT HILL (A DEAL WITH GOD)" KATE BUSH (1985)

When I visited my cousin in England during the Live Aid years, she was raving about Kate Bush. But she was barely a known name in the States. I was happy enough with my Duran Duran and Simple Minds. In many ways, the music world just wasn’t ready for Kate Bush when she entered it. But her progressive approach and foresight have made her a powerful influence. We hear aspects of her in everyone from Tori Amos to Fiona Apple to Lorde to Florence. And “Running Up That Hill” is Kate Bush at her best. The never-ending struggle between man and woman. The original, melodic pop elements. And gripping, emotional storytelling.

“And if I only could, I'd make a deal with God. And I'd get him to swap our places. Be running up that road. Be running up that hill.”

"HOTEL CALIFORNIA" GIPSY KINGS (1999)

Even if you hate The Eagles, you have to thank them for giving the Gipsy Kings the chance to record this brilliant cover. And even if you don’t care for the Gipsy Kings, you have to give this cover a chance. That bowling scene with John Turturro in The Big Lebowski would not be the same without this song. “Hotel California” has always been a place. But these guys made it a state of mind. And they made this rock classic unmistakably their very own.

“Bien venido al Hotel California. Such a lovely place. Such a lovely place.”

"NEIGHBORHOOD #3 (POWER OUT)" ARCADE FIRE (2004)

Funeral put to death the traditional rock quartet and birthed the rock ensemble. It was full of amazing, epic musical moments. Funeral gave us glimpses into different people’s stories, lives and neighborhoods. My favorite neighborhood is still #3: Power Out. Because it captured the eerie magic of what it feels like when the lights go out. It’s anything but dormant. While many of Arcade Fire’s hardest songs still take on a slow, prodding pace, “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” has a sense of urgency to it that I’ve always loved.

“I went out into the night. I went out to find some light. Kids are swingin' from the power lines. Nobody's home, so nobody minds.”

"JOLENE" DOLLY PARTON (1974)

You couldn’t grow up in the 80s without hearing the Dolly Parton jokes. What a shame though, because it colored the way I saw her musically. It’s why it took me so damn long to see that she made a masterpiece back in 1974. There are many great songs on this album. Songs that others have made their own. But “Jolene” will always be hers. There’s an attitude here that we don’t often associate with country music. This tense plea to Jolene is held together tightly by a killer guitar riff, a gorgeous string arrangement and an emotionally charged performance from Dolly.

“He talks about you in his sleep. And there's nothing I can do to keep from crying when he calls your name,
Jolene.”

"HALLELUJAH" LEONARD COHEN (1984)

I’m not a huge fan of Leonard Cohen. And I admit that I probably haven’t taken the time to appreciate what fans love most about him. But I loved “Hallelujah” from the very first time I heard it. Cohen reminds us of the power of the word “Hallelujah”, but gives it his own honest interpretation of it, colored and blemished by all the conflicting thoughts and actions that humanity has shared throughout history. Jeff Buckley, Dylan, Bono, K.D. Lang and countless others have all covered this classic, but the original is and always will be my favorite.

“Now, I've heard there was a secret chord that David played, and it pleased the Lord. But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift. The baffled king composing Hallelujah.”

"IS THIS IT" THE STROKES (2001)

The first time I heard this album I was riding up from S.F. to Lake Tahoe with an old high school buddy. We had nonstop tracks blasting in the car and fresh tracks waiting for us on the mountain. The music was cranked up to the point where you almost felt a little nauseous. This is the album I’ll always associate with that trip. And the title track is the thesis statement to the whole masterpiece. It wasn’t the biggest hit by any stretch. But it was the introduction to the raw, minimally produced garage sound that is The Strokes.

“Oh dear, can't you see? It's them it's not me. We're not enemies. We just disagree.”

"ESTOY AQUI" SHAKIRA (1995)

Before crossing over in the States and recording multi-platinum albums, Shakira put together a beautifully innocent album written completely in Portuguese. There are many great songs on Pies Delscazos, but “Estoy Aqui” will always be the banner song. You can hear the authenticity and the simple earnestness in it even if you don’t know a lick of Portuguese. “Estoy Aqui” means “I’m here”, and, in many ways, this was Shakira’s letter to the music world announcing that she has arrived.

"LOST IN THE SUPERMARKET" THE CLASH (1979)

About halfway through London Calling, we come up on a song that doesn’t sound anything like The Clash. What’s going on here? Is that a disco rhythm I hear? This isn’t the anti-establishment, Brit punk outfit we know and love. Instead, “Lost in the Supermarket” showcases a band that’s going beyond its comfort zone, stretching itself musically. It’s a wry commentary on suburban alienation. The lyrics and the way that they are sung are unforgettable.

“I'm all lost in the supermarket. I can no longer shop happily. I came in here for that special offer. A guaranteed personality.”