My 100 Favorite Tracks of All Time (50-41)

Alright! We're into the second half. This is like marathon blogging for me. Deep breath. OK.

Recap:
100. Stuck in America - Sugarcult
099. History Lesson - Part II - Minutemen
098. To Clean (Acoustic) - Woods
097. Furr - Blitzen Trapper
096. At the Chime of a City Clock - Nick Drake
095. Search and Destroy - The Stooges
094. Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin - Less Than Jake
093. Ruby Soho - Rancid
092. B.O.B. - Outkast
091. Monk Time - The Monks
090. Waiting Room - Fugazi
089. Ain't That Peculiar - Marvin Gaye
088. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone - Minor Threat
087. Daylight - Aesop Rock
086. In the New Year - The Walkmen
085. Judy is a Punk - Ramones
084. I'm the Man Who Loves You - Wilco
083. My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg) - Ramones
082. White Riot - The Clash
081. Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff
080. Lived In Bars - Cat Power
079. Venus - Television
078. In The Neighborhood - Tom Waits
077. Losing My Edge - LCD Soundsystem
076. Vitamin C - Can
075. International Player's Anthem - UGK (feat. Outkast)
074. Someday - The Strokes
073. These Days - Nico
072. All Falls Down - Kanye West
071. Debaser - Pixies
070. Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
069. Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp
068. For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
067. Leaves That Are Green - Simon & Garfunkel
066. Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
065. Four Winds - Bright Eyes
064. Forks and Knives (La Fete) - Beirut
063. If Looks Could Kill - Camera Obscura
062. People Got A Lotta Nerve - Neko Case
061. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb - Spoon
060. Newsflash - Windmill
059. Rose Parade - Elliott Smith
058. Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
057. You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
056. Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
055. Losing Out - Black Milk (feat. Royce Da 5'9")
054. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side - The Smiths
053. Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)? - Buzzcocks
052. All I Need - The Temptations
051. God Only Knows - Beach Boys

050. Elephant Gun - Beirut (http://is.gd/9MHDq)
This track further proves my theory on "cultivating an aesthetic." This song is about big game hunting; yet still manages to remain un-corny. I also love the instrumental outro, it reminds me of "Layla," or "Video Killed the Radio Star."

049. Skating Away - Jethro Tull (http://is.gd/9MHQf)
If I understand this song correctly, it's basically a second-person letter to Jesus, which is pretty goddamn awesome. And it's about how if Jesus comes back, how removed he'll feel from us. Cool right? Throw in a great melody and you've got an excellent song. I also love how the song builds, gradually adding pieces until the finish.

048. Man Out Of Time - Elvis Costello (http://is.gd/9MJnX)
If you know me, you know I'm a huge Elvis Costello fan. And I celebrate the man's entire catalog. But I still think Imperial Bedroom may be his most accomplished album. And "Man Out of Time" might be the best song on the album. Amazing lyrics ("Love is always scarpering or cowering or fawning /You drink yourself insensitive and hate yourself in the morning"). I also love the melodic bassline; which is one of the most underappreciated aspects of Costello's songs. But the highlight here is the hook; just fantastic.

047. Brother Run Them Down - Constantines (http://is.gd/9MJER)
This is another track that I am not sure has the same gravitas as a lot of the rest of the tracks and artists. But I contend it's one of the best post-punk songs I've ever heard. "You are not your generation" is just an awesome line. This was the 2nd track on my "Best of 2008" CD, so I listened to it pretty constantly for a couple months and never grew tired of it. Now going back I really just savor it.

046. M79 - Vampire Weekend (http://is.gd/9MJWY)
This song has pretty much everything I like about Vampire Weekend: awesome orchestration, clever/creative lyrics, up-beat, and, mostly, Ezra's voice just wailing. I guess I don't see what people's beef is with them. It's just music, man. Either you like it or you don't.

045. The Wind - Cat Stevens (http://is.gd/9MKa3)
Mr. Cat Stevens-Islam. This is a flawless folk song. Such a gorgeous, soulful voice sing gorgeous, soulful words. Follow your heart, everyone.

044. Constructive Summer - The Hold Steady (http://is.gd/9MKwB)
This song, and just the Hold Steady in general, rock. So hard. "Our psalms are singalong songs." This track has pretty much been go-to summer music since I first heard it. I automatically connect it with my best friends, so it'd hard not to have a special meaning for me.

043. Reinventing the Wheel to Run Myself Over - Fall Out Boy (http://is.gd/9MKOw)
Say what you will about Fall Out Boy you'd probably be right; on pretty much all accounts. Yes they are kind of douchey. And their followers are pretty much all morons as a general rule. But I am a fan of pop punk. I don't see why you have to sacrifice melody for speed, or edge or attitude. And call Pete Wentz a cock; lord knows I do. But dude writes some clever, heartfelt lyrics.

042. I'll Be Your Man - The Black Keys (http://is.gd/9ML83)
I'll be honest. I first this song as the theme song for the HBO series Hung. And I was never impressed enough by the Black Keys enough to go back into their catalog and listen to everything they put out. But this song is just perfect. Do you ever listen to music and strut? I do. And this song is amazing for that. It's just so soulful and warm (and simultaneously cool).

041. A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke (http://is.gd/9MLkF)
I feel like I've thrown the word "soul" around a lot in this round, but it is no more pertinent than this song. Just a gloriously gorgeous song born out of so much oppression and heartbreak. I think this might be the most important song on this list, even if it isn't my personal favorite. Man, Sam Cooke's voice is larger than life on this song.

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Rounding third!
-Erik