Top 10 in Modern Rock

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Here's the Billboard list of the current tops in modern rock along with my letter grade and analysis:

1. Jimmy Eat World - Pain A
It took me awhile to come around to these guys. I didn't dig their radio hit, "The Middle" from their album Bleed American, and never paid much attention to them afterwards. However "Pain" has me listening a second time and reconsidering my judgment. The haunting voice of the lead singer is the main emphasis of this mesmerizing song and it's at the top of my rotation.

2. Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams A
One of the best songs off their awesome album American Idiot, this is grunge rock at its finest. Yes, the boys of Green Day have grown up. (Literally, they're all in their mid-30s.) No one can call themselves a Green Day fan if they don't have this CD in their players and this song stuck in their head.

3. U2 - Vertigo B
I don't care who you think you are, even if you came way before Nirvana along with Blondie when music was still on MTV -- you can't go from tres to catorce. Regardless, "Vertigo" is a catchy song with good beats proving that U2 still has the gas to make the charts after all these years.

4. Chevelle - Vitamin R B
The Red was a great album and title song for this rock band who at the time was still searching for an audience. While "Vitamin R" isn't as impressive as their 2002 hit, Chevelle continues to show they have a passion for music and instills it in every song, especially this one.

5. Crossfade - Cold A
Awesome song by a relatively unknown band. The lyrics are simple and straight forward, and I just love the harmonizing by this band. Any girl still mad at her boyfriend after being directed to this apologetic ballad is just a bitch. Plain and simple.

6. Breaking Benjamin - So Cold A-
With a hypnotizing and haunting melody, "So Cold" became a summer favorite of mine and I'm surprised this single is still hanging high on the charts. If there's a tune stuck in your head, you won't be miserable if it's to this song.

7. Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty B-
These guys give the term 'experimental' a whole new meaning. The lyrics, like those found in most of their songs, are quick and upbeat and you may find yourself clapping along whether you like the song or not. I'd be lying if I told you I was taking this song off my rotation.

8. Papa Roach - Getting Away With Murder B
Simple lyrics. Simple rhythm. Simple fun. I've never been a big P. Roach fan but I appreciate how much these guys get into their music. The whispering effect makes quite an impact. You believe it when they say they're addicted to your punishment and craving disaster.

9. The Killers - Mr. Brightside C+
The Killers emulate the 1980s panache of British rockers and they have a good sound, but Mr. Brightside is too fluffy -- so yeah, the title is rather fitting. The Killers will surely find a following in America, but "Mr. Brightside" isn't as fun as their earlier, trippy radio hit, "Somebody Told Me."

10. Velvet Revolver - Fall to Pieces B
These guys sound a lot like Saliva but are not nearly as hard. Velvet Revolver slows it down a bit with "Fall to Pieces," a track that's heavily dependant on repetitive guitar riffs. But when it sounds sweet that fact is not necessarily a negative.