Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails
All you Nine Inch Nails fans please forgive me when I tell you that I found the band through a cover version of this song. That cover version was done by AFI, my favourite band. If I thought I was enamoured with the song before I had heard the original, it was nothing after hearing Trent Reznor's awesome vocals. Amazing.
The Shower Scene - Brand New
From a technical standpoint, I don't think you can get any better than Brand New. Daisy had some of the best instrumentation I've ever encountered and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me and Deja Entendu have some of the best lyrics I've ever seen penned. Unfortunately, Brand New's debut release Your Favourite Weapon didn't have either extreme; it was just an above average pop punk record. I've forced myself to like it over time, but truth be told, it just doesn't
feel like Brand New. The vocoder on this song sucks, which is a shame, it could've been the best on the album (I share a similar hate for vocoders on the song Darling, I Want to Destroy You off AFI's Crash Love, it just ruins the whole experience for me.)
Alpha Centauri - At the Drive-In
First ATDI song I'd ever heard, so I guess it makes sense that it's one of my favourites. I'm still torn between the inner argument of which is superior In/Casino/Out or Relationship of Command. I don't think it'll ever be settled haha. Regardless, some of the best post-hardcore ever written. If those reunion rumours prove to be more than fictitious I'll be on seeing these guys live faster than a swooping crow lusting over Edward Cullen's sparkly skin. Intense stuff.
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda - AFI
I know these guys get a lot of bad-mouthing but I just can't see why (with the minor exception of the overall disappointment that was decemberunderground). From 1998-2003 and now 2009-present day, AFI has been untouchable. Their live shows are intense, Jade's guitar work is immaculate, Hunter's bass work is perhaps even more immaculate, Adam shows amazing versatility from his punk beats to slow poignant drumming and then Davey has a really unique, beautiful set of pipes on him, he can do cleans very well and back in his punkier days you could mistake him for a higher pitched Danzig.
This song is from the first record of AFI's immaculate album trilogy (BSITS, AOD and STS) and is a hardcore punk track that sounds great and powerful on record, but even better in a live setting as displayed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoEjYF2-C8Y
Cemetry Gates - The Smiths
The Smiths' finest moment is Cemetry Gates. Marr's never sounded better and Moz is at his absolute best when it comes to the lyrics. This is my favourite Smiths song and probably my third overall favourite song of all time. I won't waffle because I want you to go listen to it. Now.
