#223 - The Replacements - Alex Chilton - 1987



'I'm in love! What's that song? I'm in love with that song'

Just in case Big Star doesn't make the list I figured it best to honor 2 of the greats in one fell swoop and choose this track despite its' appearance on Rock Band 2. Paul Westerberg and The Stinson brothers(RIP Bob) mixed punk rock and classic rock as well as anyone, making The Replacements one of the first bands that fans of The Clash and Aerosmith could both connect with. They are often credited as being a gateway for metal fans to appreciate alt-rock.

The Minneapolis legends have been openly named as the inspiration for successful acts such as Green Day and The Hold Steady but still remain underrated to this day.

As Art Brut recently sang, "I can't believe I've only just discovered The Replacements, how have I only just discovered The Replacements?" Don't let this be you.

Ironically, I was late to the Big Star cult party the way many are currently late in appreciating The Replacements. Alex Chilton(died in April) was of course the man behind Big Star, the mythical early 70's power pop act.

Video - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrw...-chilton_music
Live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52PPm1fozqU

#222 - Basement Jaxx - Red Alert - 1999



Not sure how much house music will make this list and these Brixton boys arrived toward the end of my clubbing days, but with 5 strong albums over 11 years they have certainly proven the test of time in their genre.

Taken from their dubut 'Remedy', Red Alert was a massive dance-floor hit when I used to DJ, and would still pack the floor at any club today. Basement Jaxx seem to always choose the perfect vocalists to collaborate on their tracks and they've kept the party going as well as any of their electronic contemporaries.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcW8ogmfRBE
Live on Jools Holland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmNuG...eature=related

MJ: do you like Bjork's music? If yes, can you recommend an album?

'Debut' and 'Post' are defintiely the most accessible for a new listener. Die-hard fans and critics for the most part feel that 'Homogenic' is her best album overall.

Unlike a lot of artists, she has definitely gotten more obscure over time, not more mainstream.

#221 Ozomatli - Dos Cosas Ciertas - 2001



If you spent any time in LA at the turn of the century then you probably had an Ozomatli phase. Ozomatli are the trail mix of pop music. Every song is a completely diferent genre-blending combination of musical styles. Latin, rap, reggae, jazz, salsa, rock and funk mix to create one of the greatest live music experiences you will ever see. Like Gogol Bordello or Bruce Springsteen they are one of those acts that until you see them perform, you just don't get it.

Virtually impossible to pick a single track that represents their overall style, Dos Cosas Ciertas, taken from their 2001 album 'Embrace The Choas' provides a pretty good taste of their versatility.

Still going strong today, Ozomatli just released their 5th studio album this year but it is unquestionably their work onstage that earned them a spot in my Top 250.

Live At The Fillmore - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvZCbQayRM

#220 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - Christine - 1980



Adam's wife will be pleased that the great Siouxsie Sioux made the cut. One of the premiere female rock singers of the 80's, Siouxsie was a true pioneer. Considered by many as one of, if not the first female punk rocker, she appeared with the likes of The Sex Pistols as early as 1976. Whether it was glam, punk, avant-garde or later as a founder of the gothic rock scene, Siouxsie was one of a kind. No one sings like or ever gets compared to Siousxie Sioux.

While Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde were trailblazing female fronted alt-rock in the US during this era, Siouxsie Sioux was doing it in the UK.

'Christine' taken from the 1980 album 'Kaleidoscope' is a song about a woman (Christine Sizemore) with 22 pesonalities, which is fitting since try as they might, there has never been anyone come along quite like Siouxsie Sioux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaKa-5wiyyc
LIve in 81 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwxhQ8doQMs
Live in 09 (looking great at 51 y.o.) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ9LS...eature=related

#219 - Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Grey Cell Green - 1991



Hailing from the small town of Stourbridge, England, Ned's Atomic Dustbin were a terrific, abeit unusual early 90's alt-rock act. Two bass players, ridiculous fashion, teenage band members and only 3 studio albums over a 5 year stretch before packing it in. They didn't really fit in with their British shoegaze or Madchester contemporaries and their live shows had more in common with the moshing and crowd-surfing of the Seattle Grunge scene. Despite being a fish out of water, they still developed a loyal and passionate fanbase with a unique sound of their own. The band have resurrected several times in recent years for one-off shows and mini-tours.

While 'Kill You Television' and 'Happy' were the biggest hits from their debut album 'God Fodder', it was 'Grey Cell Green' that had the most impact in North America.
Their 2nd album 'Are You Normal?' could be even better.

Note: Ned's were apparently partially responsible for the careers of Coldplay, Muse and Blink-182.

video - http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ideoid=2149699
Live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwZ5-7BRNJw
Live Reunion Show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQi3L...eature=related

WTF Mike? Need to start seeing some Anthrax/PJ Harvey/Alice Cooper or some ****

PS I saw Silversun open for Muse and they were awful (Muse predictably good). Also that Starlight is like the 3rd or 4th best song on the record imo. MOTP best and not close

PJ Harvey and Alice Cooper in the same sentence is pretty fantastic.

I was about 3 years old when Alice Cooper was at his peak so he doesn't really fit the criteria. I would go golfing with him though for sure.

There could be a possible PJ sighting down the road.

Scott Ian of Anthrax promotes UB. End of Story.

I saw the some show and Silversun are more suited for a bar venue for sure, Muse are defintiely arena worthy. As for choosing only one track per artist, it's only going to get tougher.

Minor celebrity fact. I went to school with 'Rat' from Ned's, sat next to him in Electronics lessons, and I once went back to his house to play table tennis on his Commodore 64. His name then was Gareth Pring.

Before the band split, they always came back to Wolverhampton to do a Xmas show, and it was always immense.

FYP

#218 - John Vanderslice - Exodus Damage - 2005



Florida singer-songwriter John Vanderslice's fifth solo album Pixel Revolt was one of the most overtly political albums of the past five years. With several songs, including 'Exodus Damage' referencing the 9/11 attacks. Based on his other library of work, Vanderslice is not an activist or protest singer by nature. He claims he was so beaten down from the 2000 US election, 9/11, and the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan that he had to write his way out of a personal fog. It became his best work.

Vanderslice has had other critically acclaimed work, particularly 'Cellar Door' and 'Emerald City', the two albums that bookend 'Pixel Revolt' but nothing he has done before or since is as gripping as this record.

The lyrics of 'Exodus Damage' are chilling and obviously explore the conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11, but are vague enough to let the mind fill in some blanks

'So the second plane hit at 9:02, I saw it live on a hotel T.V.
Talking on my cell with you, You said this would happen
And just like that, it did, Wrong about the feeling
Wrong about the sound, But right to say we would stand down
An hour went by without a fighter in the sky, You said there's a reason why
So tell me now, I must confess, I'm not sick enough to guess'

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_DLPUZsA-0&feature=fvst
LIve - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGr6FcNaNSY
Live at Bunmbershoot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGafe...eature=related

*Vanderslice also founded a studio in San Francisco where likes of Okkervil River, Death Cab, and Spoon have recorded.

more Ben Folds itt imo

FYP

No. Me.

#217 - Big Audio Dynamite - V.Thirteen - 1986(album)/1987(single)



Whoever thought so much good could come from Mick Jones being fired by The Clash.

I honestly think I listened to No. 10 Upping Street eight times front to back in one day when I was a senior in high school. It's no surprise that Big Audio Dynamite's best album was the only one featuring Joe Strummer as Mick's co-writer and co-producer. Considered by some to the be the actual final Clash record. B.A.D. also features legendary DJ, Don Letts, the first to ever play reggae and punk together in the London clubs.

While The Police and The Clash had been mixing punk rock and reggae stylings for a few years, Big Audio Dynamite added dance, hip hop and funk to the mix. They were pioneers in mashing styles, one of the most successful mixed race bands and proved you could still be punk even if you weren't slam dancing.

Contemporary dance-punk acts LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture. !!! and even Yeah Yeah Yeahs owe a huge debt to B.A.D.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/sy-180...l_music_video/

#216 - Mercury Rev - Goddess On A Highway - 1998



While my favorite Mercury Rev moment may be hearing 'In A Funny Way' in the opening scene of the massively underappreciated film 'Laurel Canyon', I really wanted to choose a track off 'Deserter's Songs', arguably their best album. Art-Rockers Mercury Rev are likely the only band from Buffalo, NY that will make this list since I can't think of any other bands from Buffalo, NY. After two promising early albums, Mercury Rev's third record bombed and the band was almost destined for eternal obscurity. Out of nowhere, their 4th release, Deserter's Songs took off in the UK, eventually being named 1998 album of the year by NME among others. They maintain only a smaller following in North America. Mercury Rev have transitioned from their early psychedelic experimental sound to a more polished medolic sound over the years but lead singer Jonathan Donahue's high pitched vocal remain a signature.

**Plus any songs using homonyms are cool by me.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xJbE...eature=related
Live on Jools Holland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqGDH...eature=related
Live At Glastonbury - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMoNM...eature=related

Mike not to be a nit but I assume (hope) that you are intentionally forgetting that Goo Goo Dolls are from Buffalo? Or maybe you don't count them as a band, which I would also understand.

Ah yes, good ol Johnny Reznik. I did know they were from Buffalo. Actually liked them in their prime but don't think they will make the Top 250. I heard their new album(releasted Aug 31st) is pretty decent although more depressing than the usual GGD stuff.

#215 - Kanye West - Through The Wire - 2003(single)2004(album)



Not sure if he's bi-polar or not, and I find it hard to stomach his ego as much as anyone, but I still find most everything Chicago's Kanye West has come out with 'musically' to be pretty damn brilliant overall.

His soul music sample selections, his indie collaborations, his flow, the trademark vocal sampling, his experimental production style, his use of string arrangements. It all just works time and time again.

His production work for artists like Common, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, Nas and others is equally as impressive.

Step back from the ego, the controversial outbursts and the overall bizzareness and you'll find one of the most creative and innovative musical minds of the 21st century at work. Tough to pick a single song so I went with the first song I heard from him, 'Through The Wire' featuring the classic Chaka Khan sample and taken from his debut album 'The College Dropout'

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvb-1...eature=related
Live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwUXgzjd1x4

Deserter's Song's is a fine LP but i have a soft spot for the Lp Yerself Is Steam and mostly because of the Song Chasin a Bee which to my mind is the only song that really gets to the heart of what it's like to chase a bee, put it in a jar, observe the bee, get to know the frame and structure and the ways of the bee and yet simultaneously meditate on the meaning of one's own primitive existence, whilst taking large amounts of LSD...no bad thing.

Keen students of insect lyrics compare:

Then like sheep led to sacrificial slaughter, they don't mind,
but they oughta, all the time (they oughta)
their pretty shells are so inviting, well protected
their eyes are rivers, they give me shivers

to...

When i see your eyes arrive
they explode like two bugs on glass.

I felt when David Baker left Mercury Rev their lyrical treatment of insects and the like changed for the worse.

This is very funny stuff. You should have consulted on the Blind Melon 'No Rain' video.

43 days left in 2010, 214 more artists to go. If my math is right, that's almost 5 more per day. If my math is wrong, that might explain why I suck at poker.

FYI, the band that rightfully should sit at #1 of your list, provided it already has enough "Canadian content," is playing the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver on January 24. Good times.

oh there is a LOT more Canadian content to come. As for Ween, I own 3 albums but don't think they'll make the grade.

I'll try to get the list done by years end but if not, I can use the excuse that it is 1 year from my birthday or one year from when the thread started on March 30th.

Can I make a bet with you?

I'll give you 4:1 on being done by the end of the year and 2.5:1 on being done by March 30th.