10 Songs That...

...are little known classics performed by great bands. In no particular order, I give you:

"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" by The Smiths

Yes, it is Morrissey being miserable, but this time it is an almost touching (and faintly optimistic) version of his typical complaining. It is a simple song with a beautiful tune - that has been used many a time in movies, including a very unlikely one. Poignant and just a little heartbreaking - and therefore one of the very best songs the Smiths ever created.

"Open" by The Cure

The ultimate song about getting unexpectedly drunk at some sort of social occasion. It even has an odd, swirling tune that merely enhances its near perfect evocation of being suddenly a drunken arse when you never intended to get drunk, but also to avoid attending the party in the first place.

"I Look Alone" by Buzzcocks

I really don't get why the Buzzcocks weren't one of the most popular bands of the punk era. They could write spiky pop songs, but they could do so in a way that had an ear for melody and for quirky and intriguing lyrics. This song - which I found at the very end of Product almost like an afterthought - is a great example. Upbeat, optimistic, but still lyrically playful - and all still backed up by a catchy tune. Seriously, what isn't to like about this tune?

"Too Cold Here" by Manic Street Preachers

The Holy Bible has no shortage of lyrics showing the crippling depression that ultimately killed (?) Richey Edwards - but no lyric shows better his icy alienation from the world than this simple song - just a voice, and a guitar, and some of the most alienated lyrics in the history of rock music. A song that is difficult to like, but compelling nonetheless.

"Smithers-Jones" by The Jam

Poor old Bruce Foxton. He's not a bad songwriter, and in most bands he would have got probably 50% of the attention. However, he happened to join at band that contained the young Paul Weller - who was at his best. Foxton was always going to be overshadowed. Nonetheless, certain songs shine through - this one in particular. Basically, it's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin set to music. And it doesn't matter whether to hear the rock version of the song or the orchestral one - it remains a clear unequivocal peer of Weller's best tracks.

"Lost For Words" by Pink Floyd

A perfect song for anyone who has ever tried to rebuild a friendship only to find that their efforts are not appreciated by the other party: "So I opened the door to my enemy/And I asked "Could we wipe the slate clean?"/But they told me to please go and fuck myself/You know you just can't win." Oh, and keep in listening for the next track on The Division Bell - the wonderful, atmospheric "High Hopes".

"Ant Farm" by the Eels

Make no mistake about it, Electro-Shock Blues is, as the title might suggest, a pretty bleak work. But in among the songs of suicide, cancer and the grudging realisation that, for those left behind, life does have to go on, there's this little slice of slice of hope. It is a love song sung by a misanthrope who has realised that actually he can love someone - and the fact that it is basically performed by a man with his acoustic guitar adds to the fresh feeling (pun intended) offered by this song.

"The Kill" by Joy Division

Most Joy Division songs have been analysed to almost absurd lengths owing to the suicide of the lead singer. However, there are some songs that - owing to not being present on one of the band's two albums - have remained largely under the radar. And while there is nothing extraordinary about this song, it is a striking example of just how good Joy Division were. Immediately urgent, menacing but not cliched, this is quintessential Joy Division - disciplined, ambiguous, but instantly identifiable as the work of one of the best bands there has ever been.

"I Don't Even Know Myself" by the Who

From the Who's Next era, this song is a classic example of a band at the height of its power. The fact that this song - an energetic number performed by a band whose talents have been honed by endless gigging to the extent where they are nearly flawless - didn't make it on to any album shows just how good they were are the time. Nonetheless, this song is definitely worth seeking out - and, if you can, find a live version of it: at this point, the Who were one of the greatest live bands ever.

"Can't Hardly Wait" by the Replacements

The Replacements were an indie rock band from the eighties - like REM, but much better. Unfortunately their inability to stay sober for too long limited their career (indeed, early in their career they had to change their name because no-one would employ them as an early gig was just too drunken). Which is a shame because, as this song shows, they had real talent - both to provide memorable tunes but also lyrics that are both striking (see the line about Jesus) and perfectly encapsulate certain emotions - in this case, impatience, exuberance and hope. The reason why a song like this wasn't one of the indie anthems of the eighties remains a mystery to me.

The Best Songs of 2000-2009

The first of two "best of..." lists that will be published on here today. The second one, in the highly unlikely event that the anticipation is killing you, will be on films.

Of course, all best of lists are inherently idiosyncratic and reflect the personal preferences of the compiler. That seems obvious, but really comes across when you consider that every track in my Top 20 is from an indie band. And several bands get multiple placings even though we are dealing with over ten years worth of music. But seriously, I think - if nothing else - these 20 tracks make an awesome playlist for anyone's MP3 player:

20: Hey Man (Now You're Really Living), Eels.

The Eels are a pretty depressing band. And the lyric here - about how life-affirming both unhappy and happy experiences can be - is pretty typical of the Eels. But the tube is positively upbeat, and this is a great song for those who realise that life cannot be perfect all the time.

19: Smokers Outside the Hospital Door, The Editors

This is what Coldplay would sound like if they had the decency not to be shit.

18: You Have Killed Me, Morrissey

Morrissey doing what he does best - a moping lyric, replete with obscure references and the sort of chorus that will strike a chord with lovelorn teenagers everywhere. Plus, the backing track is rocking.

17: Bride of Theme From Blinking Lights, Eels

Not a song as such, but a poignant, gentle tune that for some reason really makes me happy.

16: There There (The Boney King of Nowhere), Radiohead

Now, I thought that this decade would be the decade for two bands - Manic Street Preachers and Radiohead. In the event, both bands have proved to have had a disappointing ten years. However, they've still managed to produce some good work, and this track captures for me what once made Radiohead such a great band - namely, good songs.

15: Eleanor Put Your Boots On, Franz Ferdinand

A love song to the lead singer of The Fiery Furnaces by the lead singer of Franz Ferdinand. It is poignant, sweet and tender without ever becoming sickly or over-the-top. It's a shame that Franz Ferdinand didn't go in this direction with their third album. It is one hell of a lot better than the lumpen, sub disco direction they eventually headed in.

14: Decent Days And Nights, The Futureheads

Spikey post-punk from a band who are far from essential, yet still manage to produce great songs. The Futureheads are not one of the best or most essential bands in the world, but their music is well worth listening to and there is at least one potential anthem on each of their albums. This is the one from their debut (and best) album.

13: Open The Door, British Sea Power

A great little song by one of the two best bands of the decade. Yep, I seriously believe that British Sea Power are one of the best bands to emerge since 2000, alongside...

12: Intervention, Arcade Fire

...the Arcade Fire, who have produced two of the most striking albums I have ever heard. This is from their second album, which is grander and angrier than their first record - something that is clear in this track. Which also manages to use an organ effectively; a feat few other bands have ever managed.

11: First of the Gang to Die, Morrissey

By rights, Morrissey should have faded away in this decade. Yet, with You Are The Quarry, he managed to produce perhaps his best work since the Smiths and an absolute return to form. Something that is best demonstrated with this song. It has the lyrical word play and the curious juxtaposition of images that is pure Morrissey, backed by a deft and catchy tune that sticks in your head without irritating you for far longer than you ever thought possible.

10: Mykonos, Fleet Foxes

It starts like every other Fleet Foxes song you have ever heard. Which is no bad thing. Yet halfway through it switches, and becomes impassioned, urgent, compelling and vital. It features one of the best voices in modern music giving it his all, and is worth hearing for that reason alone.

9: Fingers in the Factories, The Editors

Many bands have discovered the edgy post-punk made famous by Joy Division; no-one has ever done it as well as the Editors in this track. A breathless race through a song that offers ominous yet obscured warnings, whilst the singer constantly imploring the listener to "keep with me". You need to, as well - a song that moves this fast is in danger of sweeping you away.

8: Running the World, Jarvis Cocker

This lacks the subtle word-play of the best of Jarvis Cocker's work, and the basic sentiment is the sort of relentlessly cliched left-wing bile that went out of fashion with Neil Kinnock. Nonetheless, the tune is catchy and the chorus is simply wonderful. It is true, Jarvis, now as it ever as been. Cunts are still running the world.

7: Carrion, British Sea Power

If you want an encapsulation of what British Sea Power are like - and how brilliant they are - then listen to this track. It has all their trademarks; the breathless vocal delivery, a lyric packed with obscure references and faintly disturbing images and an anthemic feel to the song as a whole.

6: Hey Ma, James

This is perhaps the most potent and vitriolic protest song in a decade where protest has become fashionable again. James have always been a good band, capable of mope rock, romantic songs, and just great tunes. Yet with this track they commit to posterity a track that sums up this decade; a warning about unthinking revenge, about rage, about how deadly consequences can be. When you consider the fate of other "Madchester" bands, it is staggering to realise that James are still capable of writing songs this good after so long in the music business.

5: Grace Kelly Blues, Eels

A gentle song that deals with the pedestrian minutiae of everyone from hot dog vendors to queens, before the lyric becomes simple yet intensely personal and the singer - E - reveals after all the tragedy that informed his previous album, he is going to be OK.

4: Matinee, Franz Ferdinand

Clever wordplay and a great tune from one of the best debut albums in a long time. In fact, the whole of Franz Ferdinand's debut still stands as a classic to this day, whereas other albums of the same vintage sound pretty terrible now. Yes, Keane, I'm talking about you.

3: William's Last Words, Manic Street Preachers

A terribly sad and very poignant tune. Because, for all the world, this is one man singing what sounds and reads like a suicide note of one of his best friends. What is most striking of all is that there is none of the rage or strident anger that informed The Holy Bible here. Instead, there is a sense of restfulness and an understanding of the transient nature of life throughout the song, which is amplified and made deeply moving when you consider that what is about to end here is a man's life. To my ears, this song is heart-breaking without being gut-wrenching.

2: Please Stand Up, British Sea Power

I understand that this track is far from a fan favourite, and I have no idea why. To my mind, it is a wonderful song, and whilst it is more commercial than many other BSP songs, it is the perfect introduction to their music and a great track. Besides, how commercial can it really be given it was banned by some radio stations and video channels for the line "a little excitement makes us wetter, wetter"?

1: Rebellion, Arcade Fire

Simply awesome. A song that hints at some many different things, and zooms in on both the fear of and the love of sleeping. It is backed by a deceptively simple tune that makes the whole track simple yet utterly compulsive. On an album about death, bereavement and mourning, it is this song that seems to engage most with, at the risk of sounding deeply pretentious, the reality of being human - and being mortal. "Time to close your eyes..."

Now You're Really Living

Culturally, we seem to like a story about someone who is doomed. People endlessly bang on about Diana, because she died before her time. The whole myth of Camelot around JFK in the US is partly based on the fact that he died young.

This tendency becomes even more pronounced when the victim in some way paves the way for their own tragedy. Be it through the abuse of drink and drugs, with the likes of Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Dylan Thomas et al, or be it through deliberate, intentional suicide, like Ian Cutris, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath and so on.

I think it leads to the media obsession with the likes of Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty – after all, these people seem to be disintegrating in front of the flash bulbs of the paparazzi. And this morbid tendency is nothing new – after all, one of the most famous love stories in history is famous for the suicide of the two protagonists.

Which is fair enough, I suppose. This sort of tragedy is a part of life, and such tragedies can make beautiful, if distressing, stories. But it is also good to see/read the stories of those who deal with the tragedies that befall them, and who go away and try to make the most of life. And I’ve come across two such stories recently.

Firstly, there is the film of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. For those not in the know, it tells the story of a playboy editor who is, quite suddenly, hit by a massive stroke and becomes a sufferer of “locked in syndrome”. The only way he can communicate is through blinking – and only using one of his eyes, as the other (in a very distressing scene) is sewn shut. The film has all the hallmarks of a depressing and gut wrenching story. But actually it manages to be uplifting and amusing. The protagonist, Jean-Do, manages to maintain his sense of humour through internal monologues despite his terrible illness. He also manages to author a book despite not being able to speak or move anything other than his eye-lid. Sure, the story ends with his death, and at times Jean-Do seems to despair of his situation, but he managed to live on when so many other people would have given up living long before he did.

There is also the autobiography of indie rock star, Mark Oliver Everett, sometimes know as E. Things The Grandchildren Should Know tells the story of his life, and it is a dramatic story. At one stage E sees a photo showing four generations of his family in the same room. However, today, he is the last surviving member of his family. His book recounts how he found his father’s stiff body on the bed one morning, and how he pulled his father to the ground, tried to perform CPR based on instructions from the 911 operator. The operator clearly gave up when they heard the body was stiff – they knew his father had died. Years later, when he was first becoming an international star, his sister – a drug addicted, suicidal drunk – took her own life. And shortly after that, his mother was told she had terminal cancer. She died too, and after her funeral E found that the nurse who cared for – who kissed his dying mother goodnight in her final weeks and months – had run up huge international phone bills and had disappeared into thin air without paying. Other members of his family also died young – his cousin was on American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11th, when that plane crashed into the Pentagon.

You’d be forgiven for, having read the above summary, that this would be one depressing book. And you can’t get away from the fact that some parts of the book are heartbreakingly sad. But the overriding theme (and not just in this book but in a lot of E’s music as well) is that you can get through these tragedies. He feels like a stronger person because of what he has been through, and he has surprised himself with just how much he has been able to deal with. He acknowledges that he still feels desperately sad sometimes, but like Jean-Do, he has not let tragedy destroy his life.

Neither The Diving Bell and the Butterfly or Things The Grandchildren Should Know are perfect, and both stories show their authors to be as human as the rest of us, and therefore open to petty thoughts, selfish actions and self-pity. But it is great to see that, for all the romance of the doomed youth or the life cut short, the stories of those who are afflicted by tragedy or the stories of those left behind can be just as compelling, and even uplifting.

Neon Bible

Today is quite an exciting day, at least in my world - although I did not realise it until I wandered into HMV on my lunch break. For today The Arcade Fire release their new album.

I've not heard any of the tracks as yet, and for all I know it could be utter rubbish. My enthusiasm is based mainly on their previous effort - Funeral.


Whilst it was released in 2005 I only got around to buying a copy of it in summer last year, and pretty much fell in love with it straight away. Don't worry, I am not going to bang on about the whys and the hows but if you like eclectic indie rock (stuff like Eels, for example) then the chances are that you will love Funeral.