If you're like me, you often find yourself wondering, "What's an overblown project I could do for no money that will be ignored or hated by the majority of those who encounter it?"

If you're really like me, you usually add, "How can I incorporate a lot of boring math?"

And if you're really, really like me, you end up deciding to enlist your favorite writers to contribute to a list of the best 500 songs ever.

I did just that recently and the results are finally in and just about ready to be shared with the world. Here's a sneak peak of five interesting tunes that made it onto the list:

808 State – Pacific
I'm incredibly unhip, so when this song ended up ranking in the top-fifty, I was all, "8-0-who?" and "Pacifi-wha?" It turns out this is some old techno song. To my ears in 2005 it sounds like shit, but I'm told it was awesome back in the 30s.

Screaming Trees – I Nearly Lost You
Apart from the obvious exceptions, there's a lot of music that sprang from the early-90s grunge scene that is better left forgotten. Then there's the handful of songs like this one, which I still absolutely love, despite not coming from bands that rhyme with "phmirvana." So, I was pleasantly surprised when it landed at #28.

Modest Mouse – Float On
This is the highest ranking song that was released in 2004. Am I surprised? No. Incidentally, "Float On" is only one of eleven songs on the list featuring Tempest Bledsoe on didgeridoo.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Origin of Love
At #79, this was the top song by a band that doesn't exist.

The Clash - White Man in Hammersmith Palais
While The Clash have a number of songs on the list, this is the only one that was a cover of a sitcom theme-song.

Thanks to Matt for taking over the music column this month, and check out his City of Floating Blogs next Monday for the complete list.
~Ed.

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