The seven hundred fifty-second song: Life Is a Highway - Tom Cochrane
Life Is a Highway is a good rock song, the sounds are all there and the lyrics have enough to it to be interesting. The country influences are there, in a way that really works here.
The seven hundred fifty-third song: Always on the Run - Lenny Kravitz
This is such a strong funk rock song, a good guitar line and solo in there, good lyrics with a hook, and a certain dirtyness that suits the theme of the song. It's not tight, it's not fast, but it continues to have that speedy feeling.
The seven hundred fifty-fourth song: Treaty - Yothu Yindi
Just taking the music here, Treaty is a blend of Australian indigenous music taking the foreground, while a pop beat sits in the background to support it. The treaty is one between white and black Australia, according to what was said, and it comes through in all of this. The combination works and, at least if you're willing to listen, the message comes through.
The seven hundred fifty-fifth song: Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
The eerie opening of Unfinished Sympathy lasts through it, a lamenting sound as it calls out what's going on in the world. It has a darkness to it that becomes haunting and a depression that continues through. With that, it's so well composed that it really keeps being that impactful.
The seven hundred fifty-sixth song: Justified & Ancient - The KLF featuring Tammy Wynette
This is an intentionally bizarre thing, mixing Tammy Wynette's self-referential lyrics with a house track, including some narration from a DJ exactly explaining what's happening. It's an odd mix, but it works somehow and becomes catchy enough, just creating its own experiment.
The seven hundred fifty-seventh song: Enter Sandman - Metallica
Enter Sandman, for the time and groups I grew up with, is a classic, the opening sounds enough to get you set up, following through for that darkness in the track. The lyrics are evocative, but the oppressive music over it overshadows that enough that the threat remains throughout. It turns sleep into a nightmare, tales that make you feel good into something far darker, in a build up that works incredibly well.
The seven hundred fifty-eighth song: Weather with You - Crowded House
There's a certain feel to Australian rock, somewhere near country but with a more dreamy lyrical focus and more hints of the indigenous sound we've heard before. It's relaxed, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have something to say. The chorus is strong, but there's more to it than just chanting "Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you"
The seven hundred fifty-ninth song: You Got the Love - The Source featuring Candi Staton
It's clear why the 1991 remix of this song is on the list. Candi Staton's vocals are strong and clear, but the house beat that has become popular in the years after really elevates and pushes the song to be more. It's a feast for the ears, an impressive performance that's so well supported by the production.
The seven hundred sixtieth song: Blind Willie McTell - Bob Dylan
After the barrage of rock and house tracks, this is a welcome relief. Bob Dylan's sparse accompaniment works as always to support and promote his voice, a folk performance that really shows what he's about. It's nothing complicated, but it hits a spot.
The seven hundred sixty-first song: Move Any Mountain - Progen 91- The Shamen
This is the time of remixes and this is one track that feels like it's natural. The beat works, the rap lyrics really create that sense of urgency and the harmonies and surrounding melody just add a bit of support to the entire thing. The music is what dominates and stands out here, and the remix works well.
The seven hundred sixty-second song: How I Could Just Kill A Man - Cypress Hill
As Latin-inspired gangster rap, I can hear a lot in this song that I believe we're going to get later. The rap vocals stand out as not being the standard tough voice (most of that coming from the chorus instead) and the sounds have some different samples from normal, including an ongoing whistle riff that works to create that atmosphere. Part of it gets into its head a bit too much, and lyrically it's good, but doesn't appeal to me, but I can really hear the skill in this.