https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w

Cee Lo Green’s side project ‘Gnarls Barkley’ comes thru with an impressive vocal performance and introspective lyrics. While he has similarity sung about somewhat introspective shit on “Git up Get out” by Outkast, this is not something that Cee Lo usually achieves. Danger Mouse is the producer on this and he lays down an amazing bassline that would become iconic for years to come. This song is dark and career defining for Green. It takes you back to legendary soul singers and should be listed when the topic is best soul songs in my opinion.

9.7/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYwCmcB0XMw

Great simple song. Sub Pop is very well represented with this and Jumpers making the page. The folk and jangle pop influences are very strong on this song but I thought that the Shins had kicked it up a notch and created a new modern formula for folk songs that artists such as Sufjan Stevens now use. The song is very impressive and makes you want to come back to it, although I would not really say that it stands out too much to me personally.

9.5/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3YR-RKrL1g

The only reason I purposely didn’t link the music video was because at the beginning the music video audio cuts into the actual song and it ruins the build up to the main melody, which is very important in my eyes. The song has a shit ton of samples which all somehow blend together perfectly. I remember my first time hearing the song and how mesmerized I was by all that was going on yet how beautiful. The chorus is taken from some old forgotten song and turned into a happy summer uplifting one. It’s hard to really explain what makes this song so good. It kinda just grabs your brains and wraps itself around it and u become swarmed with the gentleness and not overwhelmed but you can still recognize it’s greatness. I don’t even know what the fuck I’m saying right now. Just go listen to this if you haven’t already.

10/10. In my personal top songs. Something I would label as perfection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZA_7FtttRY

This song has an infectious guitar melody. The singer’s passionate vocal performance about wanting to commit suicide is almost charming. It’s a twisted song that is masked behind uplifting guitars and great singing. It took me many listens to figure out what the song is about even though it is basically spelled out in the title. This is a modern rock masterpiece. I’m not sure if I want to give it a 10 or not because I might possibly give all 5 songs a 10 but this song is a must hear for anyone. This will get stuck in your head, trust me.

10/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CazApTMOrUA

Fireworks is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands. It has one of the most impressive electronic melodies with many different parts, all equally great. The beginning part with the “woo’s” in the background sets the tone of childhood and the happiness that surrounds it. When the melody changes at the part where Avey Tare says “I’ve been eating with a good friend…” over and over again it invokes excitement to the listener. And then directly after there is a little “drone” part that is just the highest pitch note repeated over and over again. The song is truly beautiful and nostalgic. It will send chills down your spine. I always thought that the background sounded like fireworks being shot.

10/10. One of the best songs of all time.