Listen to These Songs Before You Die -

Hello all. This is my spiritual successor to my list of albums to listen to before you die. I felt like making this after a conversation with Xtesy about mind-blowing recordings that hit so hard that you remember them for the rest of your life. This basically a list of songs that convey some sort of strong stir of emotion in me. I can't guarantee the same for each and every one of you, but I can say with confidence that everyone is missing out by not hearing these tunes.

Title: Elephant Gun
Artist: Beirut
Album: Lon Gisland (EP)
YouTube: link
I am convinced that nobody is immune to Beirut's charm. Zach Condon's sensual crooner-style vocals set to a romp of somewhat unorthodox instruments like the ukulele and the accordion are a recipe for something crazy. There's so much going on, and yet it's so articulate in the way that it sounds. Hard not to find something about this song to love.

Title: Lucky
Artist: John Frusciante (originally by Radiohead)
Album: N/A (Radiohead's original recording appears on OK Computer)
YouTube: link
I'm normally not overly fond of live recordings, but this is one of the best things I have ever heard. Frusciante's tortured voice adds a completely different dynamic to the song, and the energy and emotions within it translate perfectly. What makes this song even more appropriately tear-jerking is John's own debilitating heroin addiction in the late 90s. The fact that he's still here today, rehabilitated with skin grafts on his arms is a testament to his own luck.

Title: Punk Rock
Artist: Mogwai
Album: Come On Die Young
YouTube: link
This is the track that got me into Mogwai. What's featured is a clip of Iggy Pop conducting an interview on the CBC in 1977. I really think sampling audio clips like that is such a cool way to do a spoken word piece. Do you understand what I'm saying, Sir?

Title: Sæglópur
Artist: Sigur Rós
Album: Takk...
YouTube: link
Sigur Rós's sound has always been meticulously constructed, and this is a beautiful result.

Title: 1979
Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
YouTube: link
This will always remain the best song in the Pumpkins' discography. It's an infectiously cool-toned song with clear electronic influences and I couldn't imagine anyone other than Billy Corgan singing it.

Title: Grass
Artist: Animal Collective
Album: Feels
YouTube: link
The yelling. The crashing symbols. The feeling you get when this song penetrates your ears and runs its course through your entire body. It's energetic, it's euphoric, it's... It's magic.

Title: Fake Plastic Trees
Artist: Radiohead
Album: The Bends
YouTube: link
I don't have to tell you that a song is powerful after mentioning that the man who sang it broke out into tears immediately after finishing the take, do I? This is arguably the band's most popular song when performed live, and for a good reason.

Title: Hallelujah
Artist: Jeff Buckley (originally by Leonard Cohen)
Album: Grace
YouTube: link
I don't have words for this one. This is the end of the list. Put this on and close your eyes.