More Lancelot than Galahad

20. House of Cards- Radiohead

Radiohead tends to take me to another world, plus I’m a sucker for clever metaphors. Using a house of cards to represent a fragile marriage… c’est magnifique! While I can understand that a lot of people hate Radiohead (some secretly, some not), that’s almost even more reason to keep them on the list. Honorable mention to The White Stripes who would’ve taken this spot if I hadn’t killed Icky Thump for myself by making it one of my ringtones.

19. Pork and Beans- Weezer

Weezer is the archetype of cool nerds which is totally awesome. And Pork and Beans is like their new anthem. Both the video and the song embody all that is Weezer. YouTube has disabled embedding for this video so the link is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m25bzrmTvaU

18. Shake It- Metro Station

There’s something about Miley’s brother singing about doing the nasty that really make you want to “shake it.” It’s catchy, it’s fun and if you really pay attention it’s pretty dirty!

17. You’re a Wolf- Sea Wolf

Sometimes simple repetition tells the best story. With it’s folky feel, soothing vocals, and the mesmerizing effect of the cello, Sea Wolf enamors their listeners.

16. Little Motel- Modest Mouse

While “Dashboard” is the critic’s favorite, “Little Motel” is one of those songs that speaks to the soul. In this melancholy little work, Modest Mouse captures the essence of longing through their signature beats and chords.

15. Stripper- Sohodolls

This song is the definition of sexy. It’s a take no prisoners, edge of your seat, burlesque-ish show stopper that will keep you begging for more.

14. Hard to Live in the City- Albert Hammond, Jr.

While The Strokes’ First Impressions of Earth was a year too early to get a song on this list, their guitarist’s solo album came just in time. While his fingers keep that familiar style, his vocals are a little raspier than Julian’s and make this solo debut deep as well as intriguing.

13. Stronger- Kanye West

I think most of us can agree that Kanye kicks ass and even though you may have heard “Stronger” 1,000,000,000 times, you can still get down to it. Honorable mention to “Put On” with Young Jeezy and “American Boy” with Estelle.

12. One Week of Danger- The Virgins

Definitely a bedroom song. The way the guitar strums and the less than delicate words say it all.

11. The Queen and I- Gym Class Heroes

This is like the anthem for a girl’s night out drinking… and it’s got a sick beat.

10. Always Where I Need to Be- The Kooks

There’s much to be said about an upbeat song about things working out with a nice little guitar solo. There’s also something incredibly charming about British musicians whose accents come through when they sing. Verdict: all around top notch stuff.

9. Paper Planes- M.I.A.

Whether or not you like her other songs better, you can’t deny that Paper Planes is just plain fun to listen to. And anyone who makes a powerful statement about our society will always make it onto any list of mine.

8. Piece of Me- Britney Spears

Using all the negative attention she’s gotten and making it a hit is the smartest thing Britney has ever done. It’ like slapping everyone in the face and saying “If you’re gonna talk shit I’ll just make money off that so fuck you!” You go, Brit!

7. Forever- Chris Brown

That Chris Brown is such a cutie and DAMN can he move! With a voice like his and a smooth beat backing him up, it’s no wonder this charmer has won over so many young ladies (including Rihanna)

6. Miley Cyrus- The 7 Things I Hate About You

Miley has graduated from being a Disney kid and is becoming one of the sexiest little things in music. This song is cute, catchy, infectious and easy to relate to. I swear there’s just something about Miley. And if Demi Lovato thinks she has a chance of becoming half as popular as Miley she has another thing coming.

5. I’m Like a Lawyer With the Way I’m Always Trying to Get You Off- Fall Out Boy

I’m not going to deny that I like Fall Out Boy anymore because, hell, they’re pretty fucking great. Not only is this a great song, but they made the music video an advertisement for Invisible Children (an organization that helps children in Uganda that have been forced to fight as soldiers in Uganda). Fall Out Boy is talented and they definitely have their heads (and hearts… awww) in the right place.

4. Make It Wit Chu- Queens of the Stone Age

Definitley a bedroom song, “Make It Wit Chu” is sexy, dirty, and very different from a lot of the Queens other music. Still, even when they slow it down, Queens of the Stone Age rock. (How can they not when they write a song about doing it “anytime, anywhere”?)

3. Disturbia- Rihanna

Whatever the French were talking about when the mentioned that certain je ne sais quoi, Rihanna has got it. A chart topping master at only 20 years old, she has major star potential. Disturbia is amost like the new Thriller with it’s sinister edge.

2. Viva la Vida- Coldplay

Love them or hate them, Coldplay finally broke away from the “it all kind of sounds alike” mold with Viva la Vida. The strings, the words, and the overall sounds of this song make it stand out among the rest.

1. How We Breathe- Pinback

This may be a surprising pick for #1 but it’s really my personal favorite. They do something incredible with the guitar strings that’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. It’s as if the chords are consuming you during the few lines before the chorus. Definitely something to look into.