Top 100 Songs: #70-#61

The fourth installment of my top 100 songs - and, yes, there's two songs by the same artist off of the same album. (The whole album is just that good - even 40 years later.)

• #70: That's Ex-Doormat to You (This Train - 1995)
• There are some great break-up songs… but none that make me laugh as hard as this one - "Sorry when you want to yell I just can't hear your shouts / Now I live so far away, wish I could help you out / But I realized I'm no punching bag, and I know you hate that / So now you'll have to do without, or get yourself a cat".
• #69: Mess of Me (Switchfoot - 2009)
• A fervent prayer wrapped in distorted guitars.
• #68: You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon - 1986)
• This pop-y highly danceable song about confusion and hope lands not because Chevy Chase is in the video but because of the stunning musicianship on display.
• #67: Outdoor Elvis (Swirling Eddies - 1989)
• This homage to Blue Hawaii is also a thoughtful (and humorous) look at how we obsess about fame and famous people.
• #66: You Will Go Free (Tonio K - 1986)
• Tonio K's Romeo Unchained album is filled with amazing songs - this is the first of four that ended up on my top 100 list.
• #65: Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - 2006)
• Yes, we first heard it in the film "Once" - but the haunting duet continues to worm its way into my brain.
• #64: Hold It Up to the Light (David Wilcox - 1994)
• I first heard David Wilcox on an NPR radio show performing some of his songs in the studio… and promptly drove to a record store and bought his album. Such an amazing storyteller.
• #63: Love Reign O'er Me (The Who - 1973)
• I've never seen "Quadrophenia" (which this song is from)… but the soaring sweep of the song blows me away.
• #62: Hawkmoon 269 (U2 - 1988)
• There's a lot of mystery about the title of this song (which was relegated to the Rattle & Hum album without appearing in the film)… but this declaration of love (to God? to a woman?) grabs me.
• #61: Perfect World (Tonio K - 1986)
• Yes, another song off "Romeo Unchained"… this plaintive song about the loss of a relationship has been covered by a number of folks (Glen Burtick, ALIAS, What If, etc.) but I still think this is the best version.