The Best Underappreciated Songs

What should you be listening to that you aren't already? Simply look to your friend's iPods. A fantastic feature to cut through the less appealing music is to refer straight to what they listen to most, their top songs. Being a massive music lover, currently sporting over 2400 songs on my own iPod, I had to modify my top plays to include 75, although I love them all deeply, I won't bore you listing them all off. These are my top 10 songs that should be downloaded, bought and supported...immediately. Trust me, would I steer you wrong with music?

Thirty Three, Smashing Pumpkins- Taken from their infamous double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Thirty Three is a widely overlooked single that showcases Billy Corgan's range and musical writing abilities. "Journey here and there, and back again." Thirty Three peaked at #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks in 1996, over 11 years later, this song can take you back to that first time you heard it, and if you haven't heard it, 11 years from now, you'll be taken back to today. "you can make it last forever."

La Ritournelle, Sebastian Tellier- Possessing ambiance mixed with slight rocking funk, Tellier composes a ballad that leaves you wanting more despite it's length of 7 minutes and 42 seconds. Passionate piano, eloquently funkdified drum beats and haunting strings dominate the first half of the song, which has no vocals until 4 minutes into it. The lack of lyrics in the beginning of this masterpiece is hardly detractors, but rather adds to this songs mystique. Lyrics are unlike any other love song I've heard. "Nothing's gonna change my love for you, I want to spend, my life with you...Drift in your eyes, since I love you...Love is to share, mine is for you." If anyone dedicates this song to you, they're a keeper.

Dakota, Stereophonics- The Welsh band rocks out this fast paced, graveled throat song that provided a breakthrough onto mainstream radio play. Extremely talented, the Stereophonics wrote a brilliantly catchy piece that actually never mentions "Dakota" anywhere on the track. "so take a look at me now," and you really should.

Rebellion (Lies), The Arcade Fire- Quite possibly a song that I've touted to nearly anyone who would listen. An all around amazing band, The Arcade Fire hail from Canada and provide a quirky take on alternative rock. This song is unlike anything you've heard, nor will hear, lightening in a bottle. "Every time you close your eyes - lies lies." Ranging from pounding drums, fast bass and tapping piano, Rebellion tells us that "sleeping is giving in, no matter what the time is." Heralded at the top of many rock song lists, this writer too, can spot a winner. You'll not be disappointed with this anthem for our generation.

Pet Semetary, The Ramones- I'm willing to take criticism from Ramones fans far and wide, to which I'll admit right off the bat, I'm not a true Ramones fan, this is the only song that graces my ears regularly. After being mentioned several times in the classic Stephen King novel of the same name, The Ramones wrote this original song for the film, of which the song received a Razzie nomination for "Worst Original Song." It appears the Razzie's didn't get the admitted cheese factor this song sports with it's predictable rhyming lyrics, but in the end, isn't that what punk was really about f*** the establishment? The Ramones weren't looking to write a #1 radio hit with this song, the catch factor can't be denied here, who does "want to be buried, in a pet semetary." Would you want to live your life again?

You Turn Me On To The Idea Of Growing Old, The Features- A seemingly backhanded compliment, this song is a true tribute to romance and idolization of the one we want. A rock song that can break out the synthesizer without sounding too 80's, but with a modern flare. "We can talk all night, we can talk all day, we can play charades when there is nothing to say." Listing all we can do, the final moral would be that 'I want to be like you.' We should all be so lucky to be that one person that we want the most. You Turn Me On... provides deep layering of sounds, and a voice that borders sexy and whiny with extreme class, not to mention a memorable title that is nothing if not lengthy.

Seasick, Yet Still Docked, Morrissey- Surprisingly my only offering from one of the best artists out there, Seasick is a slow bruting ballad. "So far from where, I'm determined to go." This song has countless quote-worthy lyrics and cements Morrissey's place as King of self loathing, depressed and introspective. He does 'why doesn't anyone love me' better than anyone out there. "Wish I had the charm, to attract the one I love, but you see, I've got no charm." His charm in this song is his belief that he has none. Musically rather simple, with a guitar riff that remains the same, Morrissey uses lyrics as poetry here. "Wish I knew the way, to reach the one I love, there is no way." Admittedly, this song won't make you feel better when you're down, but aren't the best songs the sad ones anyway? All his life, no one has ever given him anything, except for musical adoration.

Run Baby Run, Garbage- A Garbage song that stands up to I'm Only Happy When It Rains and Push It, Run Baby Run unfortunately didn't reach fan or critical acclaim. Starting with musical sounds mixing a bagpipe sound with a melodic animal call, Shirley Manson sings a sexy kitten vocals, though the same voice claiming she can beat you down. "Life can be so cruel, don't it astound you." Garbage chose not to play it certain or safe, and thus, this song doesn't crack, just sadly overlooked. It could be played on any given rock station, in any given year. "Life is so short, there's no time to waste it," go out and find this song, make it a Garbage classic, in spite of the previous listeners missing out.

Black, Pete Yorn- Taken from the critically and commercially popular Musicforthemorningafter, Yorn spins a moody rock song with deep breathy lyrics. "I am just for you, as you are not for me." If only he could stop and see, what he's doing to us. This song was a missed opportunity for a hit single, amongst other hit singles, this song stands out as a gem amongst gems. "Now it's time, just you wait and see." Oozing sex appeal both in voice and guitar, Black has everything a song needs, talented lyrics and music, perfectly placed chorus and high pitched, passion laced, sex driven calls.

Number 1, Goldfrapp- No, it's no joke, and wasn't intentional, just fate. Number 1 is my #1, for oh so many reasons. "You're my number 1, I'm like a dog to get you," if that isn't blind sexual determination, then you're blind, non determined and a-sexual. "I want it up and on." The electronic dance elements of this song are truly original and unique in a field of dance songs that maintain largely the same repeated beats. Midtempo, Goldfrapp realizes not every dance song has to be a trip down 'seizure lane.' A lesson in the benefits of synth bass duos, Alison Goldfrapp's strange and unusual sex appeal is off the charts, unlike their popular, yet underrated music. This may not be your #1, but undoubtedly it will make its way into your favorites. "Walk out into velvet, nothing more to say."