#15 in the countdown of my personal favorite songs of the last 20 years.

Alice In Chains - Again.

This song just rips out of the gate, and throws you out the back door before raiding your fridge, and stealing your car. One of the best guitar riffs from them, EVER! This is one of those songs that is not only underrated, but will never get old for me. It may not be the best song from AIC, but it's in the top 5. For me, it's number 15 in my countdown. I had it playing in the car when I was going back to the hospital the day my son, Nolan was born.

Released in 1996, the video is the last one that Layne Staley was part of. Every other video after this that had him in it was just stock footage. He wore long sleeves in the video due to the horrendous bruises that covered his arms. (Supposedly from heroin use.....but not confirmed).

Sadly after the death of Layne Staley's ex-fiancée, Demri Lara Parrott, he was never the same. He was seen, and only recorded a few tracks after that. and went into a downward spiral.

April 19, 2002 he was found in his apartment. He had been dead for 2 weeks. He is still greatly missed to this day.

From the 1995 CD, it was also included in 2 box sets and a greatest hits disc.

Alice In Chains - Again

#16 in the countdown of my personal favorite songs of the last 20 years.

Fenix TX - Threesome.

A pretty underrated song released in 2001. I used to BLAST this in my headphones while playing Soldier Of Fortune 2 on my computer. It really got the blood going. Then again, I usually drank about 8 beers at the same time so Kenny G would probably have the same effect.

The CD was always in my first 10 in the rack on my desk, and I always had it on the computer ready to go. This song was actually playing on the now defunct MTV-X when I found out my divorce to my first wife was final via US mail. I proceeded to crank it up even louder.

The band broke up soon after this CD was released. A damn shame too. The band had a lot of promise. I would have loved to have seen more albums from them.

From the 2001 release Lechuza, here is Threesome.

#17 in the countdown of my personal favorite songs of the last 20 years.

Rise Against - Swing Life Away.

Who didn't like this song? It BLEW me away when I first heard it. It could be the story of all our lives. Everyone can relate to it. Even the video is like you getting in the car, putting on a mix tape and hanging out on the corner with your friends.

From Wikipedia: "The lyrics are optimistic and speak of contentment with a less-than-perfect life."

Released in 2004 from the Punk Goes Accoustic, it still remains a staple on my playlist.

Coming in tied is another one from Rise Against. "Hero Of War"

A moving tribute to veterans who saw so much anguish, and the trauma they had to go through fighting in a war. NOBODY knows what they have to deal with. Before you judge anyone in the military, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. They do the job they do so you don't have to, and they don't get the appreciation they deserve.

"He said son, have you seen the world?
Well, what would you say if I said that you could?
Just carry this gun, you'll even get paid.
I said that sounds pretty good."

Nobody knows what to expect. No matter what you THINK you're going to see, you are NEVER ready for what you actually do.

From the 2008 album Appeal To Reason, Rise Against - Hero Of War.

Check back this weekend as the countdown continues.

#18 in the countdown of my personal favorite songs of the last 20 years.

John Mellencamp - Your Life Is Now

This album was the first thing I listened to when I got out of the hospital after having GBS. The whole time I was in there, I only had 3 CDs that would play, so needless to say I needed something else. This track was the first one that came on. From his self-titled album released in 1998. I listened to some of his music, but not a lot. This song however grabbed me, and I instantly fell in love with it.

It was also the first song I ripped from a CD on to my computer. I still have the original rip saved on  a back up disc. Making it the oldest rip in my music collection. It's an uplifting song, and the violin is so well blended into the song that it seems to flow with the vocals.

Please enjoy Your Life Is Now, my #18 song in my countdown.

Come back tomorrow for #17. Once again, it's a tie between two song. (Hey, my countdown my rules!)

#19 in the countdown of my personal favorite songs of the last 20 years.

The White Stripes - Icky Thump/The Hardest Button To Button

Yeah, it's a tie between these two drum beating power songs. You just can't deny that when you hear Icky Thump, you just get energized. It's a damn shame they are not making music anymore.

"You can't be a pimp and a prostitute too!"

Great line. Released in 2007. Here is the video:

Cannot deny the Icky Thump! I suggest this get cranked on 11. Now let's check out The Hardest Button To Button....


Not only is this a total jam, but the video is just plain awesome. I LOVE a chick that holds her drumsticks in her mouth why wailing out a bass drum beat. One of the best bands to come out of Michigan. Filmed in around Manhattan, even though many think it was filmed in Detroit. Look closely and you'll see Beck make an appearance at about 2:25 giving Jack White a box. Released late in 2003 I still listen to this song at least once a week.

Check out the video:

If you're a fan of The Simpsons, you will remember the cameo that The White Stripes had in an episode. I laughed so hard. Bart is jamming this song, when THIS happens....

Classic. Check back again for the next 18 in my countdown of my personal favorite tunes of the last 20 years.

See ya!

#20 in the countdown of my personal favorite songs of the last 20 years.

Coming in at #20 is a hauntingly beautiful song from Mazzy Star. "Fade Into You". If you have not heard this son, and seriously if you haven't you need to, you will be ear massaged by Hope Sandoval's incredible voice.

"So Tonight That I May See" is the name of the album this song is found on, and I highly recommend it. Released in 1994 it reached #44 on the Billboard charts, but it should have charted better in my opinion. I often played this song when I worked at WKPK for the Lovers Lane Slow Jam at midnight.

The song is supposedly about someone who is in love with an addict that doesn't even know he is pushing everything away. She gives her all, and he is too caught up in his problem that he isn't even aware that he is loved.

I always thought more into it. To me the song is about love that goes unnoticed, and by the time you realize what you had, it's too late.

"Strange, you never knew........."

I love this song. It is a song that was written from the heart. They rarely write songs like this anymore. And when someone does, it gets drowned out by assembly line music that is written it 5 minutes, and shoved down your throats as" Today's Hits!" Sad.

Enjoy, Fade Into You by Mazzy Star.

Coming up, my personal Top 20 songs since 1992 and the story behind why I like the song!

Starting on Friday, I will be posting my personal top 20 songs of the last 20 or so years. There is a story behind each one, and I hope you'll enjoy the tale.

I get A LOT of people who asked me over the years if I had to do a "Top 25 songs of all time" list, what would they be? That's a tough one to call. I know that Led Zeppelin's "Ten years Gone" is in my Top 5. Maybe someday I'll cover that list.

Anyone that knows me, KNOWS my love for 90's rock. I have awesome memories of those years, and I'm going to share at least 20 of them over the next dozen or so blogs. (I may post 2 songs a day, we'll see.)

Anyways, stick around. It all starts tomorrow.