Top 50 Boston Songs from Boston Magazine, Oct. 2005

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Yes, I'm sick of lists too (yes, really), but figured this might be of interest:

1. The Cars, ¡°Just What I Needed¡± (1978)
2. Pixies, ¡°Debaser¡± (1989)
3. Aerosmith, ¡°Dream On¡± (1973)
4. Boston, ¡°More Than a Feeling¡± (1976)
5. The Neighborhoods, ¡°Prettiest Girl¡± (1991)
6. The Modern Lovers, ¡°Roadrunner¡± (1976)
7. ¡¯Til Tuesday, ¡°Voices Carry¡± (1985)
8. Mission of Burma, ¡°That¡¯s When I Reach for My Revolver¡± (1981)
9. The Lemonheads, ¡°It¡¯s a Shame About Ray¡± (1992)
10. Throwing Muses, ¡°Delicate Cutters¡± (1986)
11. Dinosaur Jr., ¡°Freak Scene¡± (1988)
12. The Real Kids, ¡°All Kindsa Girls¡± (1977)
13. Lyres, ¡°Help You Ann¡± (1984)
14. J. Geils Band, ¡°Centerfold¡± (1981)
15. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, ¡°Where¡¯d You Go?¡± (1992)
16. Juliana Hatfield, ¡°My Sister¡± (1993)
17. Donna Summer, ¡°Love to Love You Baby¡± (1975)
18. Carly Simon, ¡°You¡¯re So Vain¡± (1972)
19. James Taylor, ¡°Sweet Baby James¡± (1970)
20. Tracy Chapman, ¡°Fast Car¡± (1988)
21. Bonnie Raitt, ¡°I Can¡¯t Make You Love Me¡± (1991)
22. Pixies, ¡°Where Is My Mind?¡± (1988)
23. Dropkick Murphys, ¡°Barroom Hero¡± (1998)
24. Boston, ¡°Rock and Roll Band¡± (1976)
25. Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, ¡°When Things Go Wrong¡± (1980)
26. Pixies, ¡°Gigantic¡± (1988)
27. Extreme, ¡°More Than Words¡± (1990)
28. Aerosmith, ¡°Mama Kin¡± (1973)
29. James Taylor, ¡°Fire and Rain¡± (1970)
30. Morphine, ¡°Cure for Pain¡± (1993)
31. Buffalo Tom, ¡°Taillights Fade¡± (1992)
32. Pixies, ¡°Dig for Fire¡± (1990)
33. Human Sexual Response, ¡°Land of the Glass Pine Cones¡± (1981)
34. The Atlantics, ¡°Lonelyhearts¡± (bet. 1979-83)
35. Mission of Burma, ¡°Academy Fight Song¡± (1981)
36. The Mighty Mighty Bostones, ¡°The Impression That I Get¡± (1997)
37. Willie ¡°Loco¡± Alexander, ¡°Mass. Ave.¡± (bet. 1975-91)
38. Godsmack, ¡°Keep Away¡± (1998)
39. SS Decontrol, ¡°How Much Art¡± (1982)
40. Gang Green, ¡°Alcohol¡± (1986)
41. Staind, ¡°It¡¯s Been Awhile¡± (2001)
42. The Outlets, ¡°Knock Me Down¡± (1999)
43. The Dresden Dolls, ¡°Coin-Operated Boy¡± (2004)
44. J. Geils Band, ¡°Musta Got Lost¡± (1974)
45. The Sheila Devine, ¡°Hum¡± (1999)
46. Belly, ¡°Feed the Tree¡± (1993)
47. Human Sexual Response, ¡°What Does Sex Mean to Me?¡± (1980)
48. DYS, ¡°Wolfpack¡± (1983)
49. La Peste, ¡°Better Off Dead¡± (1996)
50. Letters to Cleo, ¡°Awake¡± (1995)

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Sunday, 30 October 2005 09:19 (twenty years ago)

Decent list. They could've chosen a Gang Green song from when they were actually good, though, ie one of the ones off "this is Boston not L.A".

51. Jerry's Kids-raise the curtain.

52. Deep Wound-video prick.

53. Dinosaur Jr-little fury things.

54. The F.U'S-my america.

55. Siege-starvation.

56. Pixies-planet of sound.

57. Negative F.X-feel like a man.

58. Last Rights-chunks.

59. Slap Shot-back on the map.

60. Converge-jane doe.

― Ellis Martin (Ellis), Sunday, 30 October 2005 11:05 (twenty years ago)

"don't look back" THE REMAINS
"alpha romeo" DANGEROUS BIRDS

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Sunday, 30 October 2005 12:22 (twenty years ago)

I would add to that list:

Lou Miami and the Kozmetix - "Fascist Lover"
Salem 66 - "Seven Steps Down"
The Flies - "Jesus Christ" or "Put all that Behind Me Now"
Del Fuegos - "Nervous and Shakey"
Scruffy the Cat - "Shadow Boy"
Volcano Suns - "White Elephant"

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Sunday, 30 October 2005 13:07 (twenty years ago)

I guess "Dirty Water" was ruled ineligible because the Standells were from California, but it still seems glaringly absent.

― merritt ranew (merritt), Sunday, 30 October 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

Wish there'd been at least a token nod to Bosstown 1967-1970 (Orpheus, Ultimate Spinach, Beacon Street Union, etc). Also, no NKOTB seems at least moderately surprising.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, 30 October 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

not to overstate the obvious or anything, but boston could really really use some black people.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Sunday, 30 October 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

There's no black people in Boston. Didn't you see Cheers?

― Cunga (Cunga), Sunday, 30 October 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

Probably should've mentioned the caveat at top of list that they are sick sick sick of "Dirty Water."

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Sunday, 30 October 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

What about Bel Biv Devoe? Umm... yeah, you're right, Boston needs more black people.

― casey (t. fiend), Sunday, 30 October 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps you meant to say W.A.S.P.(y) Boston Magazine needs to ask its pasty editorial staff to broaden its horizons. To start: Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Edo G...

― Zimmer026 (Zimmer026), Sunday, 30 October 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

It's a good list -- but m coleman is OTMOMGWTF with "Don't Look Back" -- but kinda lacking in the sort of extramusical sociohistorical context that Los Angeles magazine's L.A. list had.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 31 October 2005 01:23 (twenty years ago)

Why is Carly Simon on the list? I thought she was from New York. Is it just cause she lives on Martha's Vineyard part of the time?

No Magnetic Fields, hmmm.

― Gogi Ormsby-Gore (Arthur), Monday, 31 October 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

nor THE JONZUN CREW

http://www.fluctuat.net/musique/paris99/bacs/hiphop/images/jcrew.jpg

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 31 October 2005 11:16 (twenty years ago)

The Freeze......

Boston was their nearest city, right? They were funny and had tunes

The Proletariat.......

to prove that nothing has changed since they put their stuff down mid 80s. They had tunes too but were low on humour

― hull hole (hull hole), Monday, 31 October 2005 23:40 (twenty years ago)

"One in the Chamba" by Almighty RSO

I had no idea that Staind and Godsmack were from Boston!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 31 October 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

helium - pat's trick

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 01:42 (twenty years ago)

1. Jonathan Richman, ”Roadrunner” (1976)
2. Evan Dando, “Hard Drive” (2003)
3. The Modern Lovers, “Fly Into the Mystery” (unreleased)
4. Throwing Muses, “Dizzy” (1990)
5. Jonathan Richman, “That Summer Feeling” (1982 or ‘92)
6. The Modern Lovers, “Walk Up the Street” (1972)
7. Some Girls, “Feel It” (2003)
8. Pixies, “Gigantic” (1988)
9. The Cars, “Drive” (1984)
10. Tracy Chapman, “Fast Car” (1988)

― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 03:30 (twenty years ago)

Todd Rundgren, Boat on the Charles

― Oh No, It's Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Yes, the Freeze "I Hate Tourists" is a classic Boston song. I do give them huge credit for putting The Neighborhoods "Prettiest Girl" up there near the top. I wouldn't expect Papas Fritas or November Group to make it so I won't pretend I'm disappointed. Surprised about the lack of Sebadoh though. If they're going to tab the Lemonheads why not "Hate Your Friends" instead?

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

The lack of Galaxie 500 seems like a huge oversight. I'm impressed by some of the selections though. I'd also throw Damon & Naomi in there, and Crystalized Movements should place higher than a few things they included.

― TRG (TRG), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

"100,000 Fireflies" (Superchunk OR The Magnetic Fields)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 1 November 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

seventeen years pass...

*revive!*

That OP list looks pretty good. Dropkick Murphys though.

― Holly Godarkbloom (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 June 2023 23:58 (three years ago)

Land of the Glass Pinecones by HSR

Anyone not from the Boston area ever hear that or was it strictly a local phenomenon? Still stuck in my head.

― Terrycoth Baphomet (bendy), Friday, 23 June 2023 00:37 (three years ago)

Land of the Glass Pinecones by HSR

Anyone not from the Boston area ever hear that or was it strictly a local phenomenon? Still stuck in my head.

― Terrycoth Baphomet (bendy), Friday, 23 June 2023 00:37 (three years ago)

I only knew the other HSR song. Will listen to this one with deliberate speed.

― Johnny Bit Rot (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 June 2023 00:39 (three years ago)

Cool song, thanks for the rec! If it was indeed a recommendation.

― Johnny Bit Rot (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 June 2023 00:54 (three years ago)

Still stuck in your head means yes it was I guess.

― Johnny Bit Rot (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 June 2023 01:00 (three years ago)

Stuck in my head already after one listen. A bit of a Jello Biafra vocal delivery if I may.

― Johnny Bit Rot (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 June 2023 01:00 (three years ago)

And it just popped up in the YouTube algorithm as part of some kind of SRS, I guess.

― Looking For Mr. Goodreads (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 30 June 2023 21:42 (three years ago)

It’s about the beer bottles all over the Fenway. Which makes it stick even more.

― Terrycoth Baphomet (bendy), Friday, 30 June 2023 22:08 (three years ago)

Huh, never knew that, thanks for the imagery!

I heard the song ONCE, in the 80s, and it lurked in my subconscious until I got the CD reissue of "In A Roman Mood" in 2017. It still sounds just as arresting.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 1 July 2023 02:35 (three years ago)

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