My Top Ten Singles of 1996

1996 was a decent year for music, but I ended up buying more re-issues than new albums. Still, there was a lot of music from the year I rather liked. I think singles often reflect the mood of a year more than albums, so here are my Top Ten Singles from the past year (in no particular order):

• Smashing Pumpkins - "1979" - An evocative NewOrder-ish tune, and lyrics which roll the aimless wonder of youth into a nice ball of nostalgia -- but with that Pumpkinesque hint of apocalyptic depression.
• Lush - "LadyKillers" - Lush catches Britpop fever and delivers this ripping song about arrogant men (and sleeping with them).
• Superdrag - "Sucked Out" - John Davis tears some throat tendons asking an important question about the music scene -- who sucked out the feeling? I dont know, brother, but kudos for asking.
• John Mellencamp - "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" - Heartland rock meets dance beats, and produces a single as catchy as any of Mellencamp's other car-radio classics.
• The Roots - "Clones" - A hard-hitting representative of what was probably hip-hop's finest long player of the year. A Tribe Called Quest had a great one too, but their choice of singles was not very adventuresome (both the R&B flavored tracks? Come on, now.)
• Oasis - "Wonderwall" - Their offstage antics have kept the Britsh tabloids busy, but that doesn't mean they didn't deliver the goods.
• Everclear - "Heartspark Dollarsign" - "Santa Monica" got more exposure, but I prefer this one with its great riff and interracial dating woes. "A power bigger than the pain".
• Pet Shop Boys - "Se A Vida E" - Its too slow to really dance to, but its pure Pet Shop Pop, entrancing and uplifting.
• Counting Crows - "Angels Of The Silences" - Adam Duritz and Co. rock harder than you would have expected, but still deliver that emotional, passionate sting that is fast becoming their trademark.
• Rancid - "Ruby Soho"
- A poignant character sketch tied to a fiery riff; its destined to become a punk-pop classic.