1. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
2. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
3. “No Rain” by Blind Melon
4. “Better Man” by Pearl Jam
5. “Name” by Goo Goo Dolls

New Order, Everything’s Gone Green: Primal dance music.

The Field Mice, Sensitve: After 437 listens, still gives me goose bumps when the two guitar lines cross over one another.

Low, Hatchet: Sell out? Perhaps, but what a perfect groove!

Kraftwerk, Numbers: What would the last 30 years be without electro? Yes, we would have survived, but it would have been BORING.

brianwilliamson1ATTHEFOLLOWINGDOMAINmac.com

The Demics-New York City: Originally from London but early gigs were in Toronto and they re-located within their first year before they released anything.

Handsome Ned-Put the Blame on me: A rich man’s Blue Rodeo.

Tangiers – Keep the Living Bodies Warm: More of a personal choice. First Toronto Band that I really loved. 19, fresh out of high school, all my friends are off at school while I’m enjoying freedom and driving to the “Big City” three, four nights a week to awkwardly haunt the horsehoe, sneaky dee’s and the palace. The nucleus of the band broke up before the second album and they got progressively shittier through their next two releases until the point that they delivered the most disinterested set I’ve ever seen in London, ON on a cross-canada tour opening for…

The Deadly Snakes- I Want to Die: who saved the night and turned in a barn burner. One of many I was lucky enough to see before their demise. An alternative universe exists, free of BSS and the Arts n Crafts crowd where the Snakes sit atop the Toronto heap with a sneer and a soulful swagger. They refuse to hate on the Constantines for getting uppity. Good lads.

Paul Aucoin – Various tracks: Seriously. How many fucking awesome albums from the past 7 years or so have his incredibly modest fingerprints on them. Then there’s the Hylozoists on top of that. But seriously, read through the liner notes of most of your favourite Canadian bands and you’ll find his name everywhere.

Use It – The New Pornographers

The Trapeze Swinger – Iron and Wine

Closing Time – Semisonic

My Favourite Accident – Motion City Soundtrack

All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands – Sufjan Stevens

It’s ridiculously hard to choose just 5, and looking at them now I feel like I should change a few, but that could go on forever so I’m sticking to these ones.

sachy88 at gmail dot com

4. Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger
This song taught me that I like electronic.

3. The Decemberists – A Cautionary Song
My introduction to the band that has become my livelihood. Reminiscent of pirates, swagger, and olde tymes of yore, I instantly fell in love with the quirky charms of this unique band.

2. Ben Folds Five – One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
Ben Folds Five was the band that caused me to really listen to music. One Angry Dwarf, the opening track on their sophomore album, Whatever and Ever Amen, is the essence of everything great about this band: humor, technical proficiency, pop hooks, lovable lyrics, and amazing energy.

1. The Get Up Kids – Ten Minutes
No other song reminds me so much of my high school experiences. For better or for worse, it’s like a time capsule, taking me back to different times.

Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place
The best song ever written that manages to be both happy and sad simultaneously.

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Changed the way rock was percieved it could be. Raw, primal, pure, and totally visceral!

M.I.A. – Bucky Done Gun
Changed the way pop was percieved it could be. Crazy beats and vocals more importantly.

My Morning Jacket – Golden
The most timeless song written in the dictated time span. If you let it, it will haunt and possess you with it’s simply, direct, and honest lyrics and beautiful melody.

I think it has to do, first, with my undying love for Blur, and secondly with the way it encapsulates all the fakery, sentimentalism and raw neediness that goes with belonging in a scene, any scene, in the form of a 3 minute blast of a song. Also: horns.

The Specials – Ghost Town.

Probably because, in some ways, it feels close to home, with the desolation and lack of fun and dance, and because it’s an spectre made record.

Guided By Voices – Motor Away.

The ultimate get-away song, the one that always makes me wish I had wings (or an extremely powerful engine built into my body).

The Fall – L.A.

Once again cities, decay, and the sensation that you’re driving without any goal, forever and ever, in a city that never ends.

Pavement – Carrot Rope.

I always found it oddly affecting that they had decided to go out like this: all singing together, with nonsensical lyrics that are closer to a nursery rhyme or children’s poem than to ironic lazyness and a sense of fun that makes me smile every time I listen to it.

Coffee and TV – Blur
This song sounds like life should -sweet and carefree (esp. when coupled with the most beautiful dairy music video ever produced) but its sung like a recollection of good times. I just find it to be honest – I think we all wish someone would “take me away from this big bad world and agree to marry me” so that everything would be as great as it was. Everytime I listen I can’t help but feel comforted – like someone else is there wanting to elope with me to paradise.

Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division
One of those songs that inspired me to learn the guitar, summarizes every heartbreak in my life and sounds good no matter who covers it. This song responsible for every band I have ever started.

This Must Be the Place – Talking Heads
Walking down the street listening to this tune makes any miserable trek through Queens Park a pleasure. Who can’t help but bop their head a little when that guitar riff hits? David Byrne’s lyrics make me think of home, family and innocent fun. When I listen, I grin ear-to-ear and feel like the day will be brilliant.

Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God) – Kate Bush
Kate Bush was a pioneer for many great female artists today. A prolific songwriter with one of the most distinctive voices in business any list would be incomplete without her. In particular, Running Up That Hill is a gem in songwrititng. It makes think, “damn I wish I wrote that”. But most importantly, it reminds me of my mom playing Kate Bush records when I was little – oh warm fuzzy feeling.