Addictive Music

from Kevin's collection

What is an "Addictive" song?

I call a song "addictive" when I can't listen to the rest of the album without clicking back to hear the song again, three - four - five times, one after another.  I like a lot of variety in my music, but an addictive song makes me want to play it over and over again, many times right in a row.  It's "catchy," but catchy on steroids.

Different people will, of course, find different songs "addictive", or not.  (Every person has a different harmonic vibrational frequency.)  But an addictive song should, hopefully, retain its power of addiction long after the music itself goes out of style.  Sure lots of people want to hear the latest bubblegum pop hit over and over again.  But what I'm talking about is, 20 years later many people will still smile and shake to the Romantics "What I Like About You" or "Stray Cat Strut" when it comes on the radio, even though they'd be mortally embarrassed to be caught with a Romantics or Stray Cats album on their shelf.  (Or, say, a Romantics or Stray Cats hairstyle!)  The addictiveness gives these songs some potential to be "timeless classics", but then again, not all "timeless classics" are addictive.

An "addictive" song is not necessarily well-crafted, nor inventive... (the Ramones wrote many addictive songs using only three chords)...  nor of course does it necessarily have much melody or artistry...  it taps into something primal.  A well-crafted song can be addictive, but not necessarily the reverse.  Lyrics alone can make a song addictive (see King Missile's "How To Remember Your Dreams"), but the lyrics don't necessarily have to be deep or meaningful (as for example, the #1 song on my list.  Or R.E.M.'s entire career).  

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This song got a lot of radio play in the late 90s.  The combination of orchestra with rock defines several of the songs on this list, and has a long history going back at least as far as the Beatles.  When done right, I feel like this combination lends the song a sort-of sweeping grandiosity, a sense of importance, which helps the song become "addictive".

INXS -- "This Time" (J.D. Fortune's performance from the TV series Rockstar INXS)
Genre:  Rock

Sorry, I don't have enough bandwidth to put up music samples for all 100 songs.  
The original INXS version of this song is fairly addictive, with a smooth, easy chorus and an uplifting melody.  However, I was moved by J.D. Fortune's performance on the game show, where he used the song to apologize to his fellow contestants for being kind-of a brat.  I think the band (INXS) was impressed to, as J.D. Fortune went on to win the contest...

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The Violent Femmes somehow have a knack for crossing genres and crossing eras; this song still plays on alternative radio whenever the mood strikes the DJ.

b.d. katz -- "Clarita" (unreleased web demo)
Genre:  Avantgarde

Sorry, I don't have enough bandwidth to put up music samples for all the songs.  

Brian's song "Unconditional" is probably more addictive than "Clarita", but I recently highlighted "Unconditional" when I published my previous music commentary, "What I Missed About the USA".  So, to prove Brian isn't a one-hit wonder (like many of the groups on this list!), I'm going to point up a different song of his.

This is a morose, haunting song from a local group in the San Francisco Bay Area during the mid-90s.  I saw them open for Stroke 9 in a high school theatre.

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NOFX songs are always a double-edged sword.  There's always another side to them.  I thought this song was a great motivational song for political activism, for about a year or so, until I realized the whole thing is a satire!

Bridget Joyce -- "Ugly" (from the album Purple)
Genre:  Alternative / Vocal

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Many people who listen to Bridget Joyce's songs find themselves repeating her lyrics softly to themselves, simply in a pale effort to recapture her haunting, crooning voice.  Kudos to my friend Pete for bringing this artist to my collection.

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This song probably needs no introduction;  it was heavily over-played during much of the 90s, and can probably still be heard on alternative rock stations occasionally.

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I always thought this Oakland-based punk trio should have ridden their Green Day-esque style to more fame.

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Action Plus -- "Woo^8 {the Car Alarm Song}" (from the album BAM's Slushee)
Genre:  Avantgarde / Comedy

Trust me, you have to hear this song to believe it.  It contains dozens of bad puns comparing love to cars, and the chorus is the funniest of all.

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If this song is familiar to you, then you're in my age group for sure.  It almost approaches the Beatles in the 'aeolian cadences' of its vocals.  Combine that with a simple, solid song structure and some awesome guitars, and you've got an addictive song.

Fryday Band -- "Shelter" (from live website demos 2004)
Genre:  Acoustic / Alternative

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Another rather addictive song, "Skylines and Smiles", was popular among this band's undeservedly small following.  But the San Diego-based Fryday Band always brought audiences onto the dance floor with this song, particularly because of Bahman's soaring fiddle part here.  The song was also a great showcase for Jamie's intimate style of singing.

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This song was all over the radio when I was living in Hawaii in the early 90s.  Something about its simplicity is just really listenable, in a casual way.  Not grabs-you-by-the-throat addictive, just something you wouldn't mind playing in the background time and time again.

Luce -- "Afterlife" (from the album Live Stuff 'n Junk)
Genre: Alternative Rock

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I heard Luce, a local San Francisco group with a Christian theme, play this song at an open-air festival around 2004.  The guitar riff is simply unbelievably catchy.

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By far the most hilarious song from the whole opus of a group that specializes in punk comedy.  And like many punk songs, it contains a subtle political point: why do women get the blame for so much stupid sh#t that men basically do to themselves?  
        To top it all off, how many songs can boast lyrics like:

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The guitar riff on this song plays a sort-of musical hide-and-seek with the listener, heightening the anticipation until it reappears.

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Here's a song with staying power -- I think it was first released before I was even in high school.  Still remains one of the gold standard songs for metal today.

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The grinding guitar and trippy vocals on this song burn their way into your head and echo long after the song is over.

Pulley -- "Cashed In" (from the album Esteem Driven Engine)
Genre: Punk

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I often wonder how bands feel when they're starting out and basically at the bottom of the food chain.  The venue, the radio stations, the promoters, the label, the distributors -- all seem to get their cut before the actual "talent".  I suspect this song is a glimpse of it.

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Mike Scott of the Waterboys is somehow adept at understanding what made traditional songs last for centuries, and then taking that and putting it in a slightly more modern context.  Traditional songs survived for so long because they were, are, in a sense, addictive.

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I don't know about you, but I feel like an "unforgettable fool" all the time...

3against1 -- "Monster" (from website demos 2003)
Genre:  Metal / Punk

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San Diego-based 3against1 went through several permutations but you could always, always count on them for some good head-banging tunes.  They are putting together a revival right now, so check 'em out on MySpace etc.

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Another classic punk rock anthem -- punks always live on the fringe, where things are changing.

Screaming Trees -- "Too Far Away" (from the album Buzz Factory)
Genre: Alternative

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The Screaming Trees, out of Seattle, wrote several songs that were both haunting and rockin' at the same time.  Particularly when they sung about travel and loneliness, it strikes a chord with me.

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Very few bands catch the sense of modern angst and tension the way that S.F.-based T-Minus-One did, especially when singing about relationships.  See also:  "Box" and "I Have So Much to Offer [If Only You'd Be Cool]".

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The San Diego band Vegitation is like a river of pure solace when you're feeling down.

Clash -- "Clampdown" (from the album Story of the Clash, vol. 1)
Genre:  Punk

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The Clash wrote a lot of good songs, and a lot of addictive songs -- (many people would cite "Should I Stay or Should I Go") -- but this one sticks in my head the most.

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This San Francisco-based reggae ensemble, always a crowd-pleaser, evoked visions of a world at peace with their lyrics.

Sprung Monkey -- "He Aloha Mele" (from the album Mr. Funny Face)
Genre:  Hawaiian

Sorry, I don't have enough bandwidth to put up music samples for all the songs.  The clip from Amazon is only the tail-end note.
San Diego favorites Sprung Monkey put out several very addictive alt-rock albums... (the song "What's That You Say?" from Get A Taste almost displaced this song here)... but the delight of discovering this beautiful song in the traditional Hawaiian style as the "secret song" from one of their early disks, really spoke a lot about their versatility and inventiveness.

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How could any list of addictive songs be complete without this one?  Everybody said they hated this band but everybody loved listening to this song.  All I can say is, Sugar Ray were fun to watch live, because they really looked like they were enjoying themselves on stage.  So just enjoy the song.

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Of course this is a Dylan cover, not a Hendrix original, but it is surely among the most famous cover versions of any song anywhere.  There shouldn't be any doubt why...  I'm rather embarrassed that Bob Dylan didn't personally make it into my top 100 Addictive, but I'm throwing Dylan some props in another venue. 
(For variety, though, be sure to check out the trippy Battlestar Galactica cover version of this song)...

Guided by Voices -- "Sad If I Lost It" (from the album Mag Earwhig!)
Genre:  Avantgarde

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This is a truly weird band, but I mean that in the best sort of way.  They're a bit like R.E.M., in that their lyrics are either dreamy or drug-induced; but I think these guys rock harder than R.E.M.

Sorry, I don't have enough bandwidth to put up music samples for all the songs.

This San Francisco group earned some local fame with their beautiful crooning vocals.  The nonsense chorus lyrics here are really endearing.

Dead Kennedys -- "Kill the Poor" (from the album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables)
Genre:  Punk

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The Dead Kennedys' lyrics are really pure poetry, in a horrific sort of way.  For years, whenever I finished with job interviews, after wearing a suit and tie and pretending to be all bushy-tailed and gung-ho about participating in the Capitalist exploitation machine, I would feel a deep need to put on the "Kill the Poor" at high volume the minute I got out of the building and into my car.
This song is also still very useful to quietly imagine as the background music -- whenever anyone from Fox News is talking about the economy...

Sorry, I don't have enough bandwidth to put up music samples for all the songs.

I never heard anything from this band, after this compilation album, but this was certainly a strong showing right here.  Somehow it packs the impact of a large crowd singing and partying into just a four-piece rock setup.

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Some might say that Sting's post-Police work is rather schmaltzy and saccharine.  Some might say that about this song.  But it was a highlight of a rather dry year, musically, and it still packs some punch today, lyrically and musically.

Stone Temple Pilots -- "Ride the Cliché" (from the album Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop)
Genre:  Alternative

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It was always a bit hard to know what to make of the Stone Temple Pilots -- were they a copycat band, or were they just a little bit out-of-phase with the trend and therefore hip?  Or ironic?  But they certainly knew how to craft a good song now and then.

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This song was overplayed for awhile on the radio, but arguably it deserved it.  From a sheer "listen-ability" standpoint, it's addictive.

Spacehog -- "In the Meantime" (from the album Resident Alien)
Genre:  Alternative

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These guys were basically a one-hit wonder from the early 90s.  They deserved better, however, because a lot of the songs on this album are very well-crafted.

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I'm cheating here -- I vastly prefer the live performance from Burn to Shine #5, rather than the album version.  But I'm showing you the album cover and linking to a sample of the album song.  Still, this is a good song.  A heartfelt tribute to the fans, (well the female ones), who appreciate local bands and local music.

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Perhaps my enjoyment of this movie, and my liking of cats, colors my appreciation of the song.  But I think this is the most addictive song Bowie has done to date.

Lost Pilgrims -- "Chapter 8" (from the album Sandwich from a Gas Station)
Genre: Alternative

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The Lost Pilgrims were a local San Francisco-based group who played a lot in the 90s.  This song was always a crowd-pleaser, and I've written on my blog before, this one particular lyric really hits home for me.  It's like the story of my life:

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This very early offering from the genre-spawning 90s supergroup doesn't get a lot of radio play, but I think it really demonstrated their strengths.  They can take three chords and about two lyrics, and somehow sound like they're communicating straight to your heart.

Smiths -- "Shoplifters of the World Unite" (from the album Louder than Bombs)
Genre: Alternative

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The bright guitar riff and the punishing baseline combine with Morrissey's crooning vocals just right on this song.

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Train got more radio play with their hit "Drops of Jupiter," but they paid their dues as a local SF band with this moodier but beautiful song.

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The first few Police albums had several addictive songs -- most people would probably put "Roxanne" on this list instead of the instrumental I've chosen here.  But on this one you can hear some of the calypso-type influences that contributed to the group's unique sound.  The melody is simply picturesque, very descriptive, it conjures images.

Flys -- "Got You where I Want You" (from the album Holiday Man)
Genre: Alternative

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Another one-hit wonder from the 90s... Something about the grinding rhythm combines well with the falsetto crooning.

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Once again the grinding, inexorable rhythm combines with a brighter guitar riff to wedge this song into your brain.

Fretblanket -- "Into the Ocean" (from the album Music 102B)
Genre: Alternative

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I picked up this song from a free college-campus alt-music sampler and always liked it.  I should investigate this group some more...  the frenzied urgency of the singer's voice drives this song.

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Here's another song that couldn't possibly be avoided in a list of addictive songs.  This was the chart-topping hit that introduced Beck's "goofy white-boy rap" (as one reviewer put it) to the mainstream.

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I couldn't find an audio clip in the public domain for this one, but you can hear the excellent album title track here.  Something about the final wordless wail on this particular song, however, is spellbinding.

Bad Religion -- "Let Them Eat War" (from the album Rock against Bush, vol. 2)
Genre:  Punk

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I wish this catchy tune would lose its political relevance at some point.  But unfortunately, even with a new Administration in office, little has changed:

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Classic first-wave Britpunks the Damned show off their literary roots with this evocative ballad.  Listen to it at soft volume on a foggy night and see if you don't look over your shoulder a bit.

Curtis Peoples -- "Motown Morning" (from the album To the Floor)
Genre:  Rock

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I gave this young singer some flak about writing the lyric "...feeling 1965"  (I wasn't even born in 1965, and I'm ancient) -- but I regret it -- he pulls it off well and the rest of the song is very catchy!

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Right before the Chili Peppers went fully mainstream, their potential was pretty obvious on this album.  The trumpet solo makes it feel like this instrumental throws its arm around your shoulder and takes you down for a tour of the barrio.

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Bay Area favorites Stroke 9 clock in with this anthemic declaration of freedom.  I love the way they use an entire orchestra to basically perform a guitar riff.  I don't think it's possible to listen to this song without tappin' your foot or shakin' just a little.

And it's all because of me -- I'll set you free !
I know how your face looks when you're down !
You won't have me with you, so you just rage
You put your faith in this life, set you free !
I want you to believe in me -- so that I can believe in you...

Slightly Stoopid -- "Zeplike" (from the album Closer to the Sun)
Genre:  Acoustic

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I hope I never forget the first time I heard Slightly Stoopid roll out this instrumental at the House of Blues in L.A. -- my jaw just dropped and tears came to my eyes.  These guys are more musically adventurous than many people give them credit for: if you're a fan of real classical guitar, or just rock, this ought to appeal to you.  As Miles says, "It all comes down to tuning!  It's a beautiful thing."

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This is just a fun song.  Especially -- but not limited to -- if you've spent time in Hawai'i, you've probably met the sort of person who would more easily believe that his girlfriend has a facial disease than the idea that she's fallen out of love with him.  The tune is also legitimately addictive.

Happy Chichester & Howlin' Maggie -- "Love Is All Around (x4)" (from the album HYDE)
Genre:  Alternative

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Another song that I'll never forget the first time I heard it, at the Belly-Up Bar in Solana Beach.  Unfortunately the lyrics hit home to me more than I should probably admit in public.  Also, "Nobody Calls Her Baby" and "If I Could Murder the Right Man" (from the same album) are notably addictive.

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From the Smashing Pumpkins first mainstream album, here's another one that the majority of listeners would put on a list of very addictive songs.  Again the combination of orchestra with rock band lends drama and weight to the song.

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I couldn't find an audio clip in the public domain for this one, but I recommend you sample what I think is their 2nd-most-addictive song, "Settle," from the same album, here.  Back to "Bowie on the Stereo," however, the late-stage Keeners skillfully blended grinding rock with delicate melodies and male and female vocals to achieve some stunningly original rock.

Hoodoo Gurus -- "Axegrinder" (from the album Magnum Cum Louder)
Genre:  Surf Rock

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There are many, many addictive songs in the Hoodoo Gurus' catalogue -- which is why they tend to make a good soundtrack for sports type of activities, like snowboarding (or on the soundtracks of several surf movies).  They do this with merciless guitar hooks that can catch pretty much anybody who enjoys energetic rock.

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This uplifting song was written about transcendental meditation.  Also give a listen to "Livin' Lovin' Lyin' Leavin'" from the same album.

Unwritten Law -- "Seein' Red" (from the album Elva)
Genre:  Punk

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San Diego punk band Unwritten Law, like many punk bands, has a lot more musical flexibility than people give them credit for.  This one captured the airwaves in a big way during 2002.

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This was the song that everybody remembered from LBDAS, following on the heels of Bradley's death and Sublime's dissolution.  They took a traditional Jamaican tune that Sublime had covered and put a unique stamp on it, letting millions of fans know that the spirit of Sublime wasn't dead just yet.

Every day I love her just a little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit more
Every day I love her just a little bit more and she loves me the same! 
'cause my love is her love and her love is my love
Yeah she gives me lovin' at the right time, daytime and night-time
...So baby if you want to get low, baby if you want to get high
It makes no sense at all
I saw red, I saw red, I saw red --
And it's one more sacred lover that I shot dead...

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A lot of people dismissed this band as mediocre corporate alt, but if you did, you missed out on hidden gems like this one.

When we are not denying anything, nothing is an enemy
Delicately balancing perfect moments
Ride these waves of doubt, bitter in your mouth!
You will exhale, cinnamon clouds  [little heaven, little heaven]
Riding waves of doubt, touch me inside out
and I will exhale primal shout  [little heaven, little heaven]
I understand, the fire will come, not for the strength of will, or passion of anyone
[little heaven, little heaven]
I understand the fire will come, not for the end of days
not for the faithless ones ...

Monkees -- "Porpoise Song" (from the album Head [soundtrack])
Genre:  Classic Rock

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I saw the Monkees movie as a teenager and it had the desired effect on me: it tripped me out, pretty much for the rest of my life.

The ego sings of castles and kings and things, that go with a life of style
Wanting to feel, to know what is real, living is a lie
But the porpoise is waiting good-bye, good-bye
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye

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We all know this song has been played to death, entombed and buried in the Hall of Fame.  But if you're anywhere near my age group, the song permeated the air you breathed for the better part of two decades.  Your concept of "rock" wouldn't be anywhere near the same without it.

Ramones -- "I Wanna Be Sedated" (from the album All the Stuff & More, vol. 2)
Genre:  Punk

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It's been said so many times before, but it's still true: these guys achieved more with just three chords than most musicians do in a lifetime.

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Yes, this song is hopelessly mired in 80's glam rock.  Doesn't change the fact that it's hellishly addictive, though.

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Many people say that this Ataris version is kinda limp compared to the original Bad Religion version (written for the first Gulf War in 1991).  I think, although there's nothing wrong with the original, the tone of this cover version well expresses the feeling of helplessness, from 2003, when millions of us tried to prevent the Second Gulf War and were brushed aside.

Beatles -- "I Feel Fine" (from the CD Past Masters, vol. 1)
Genre:  Classic Rock

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The amplifier feedback at the beginning of this song was pure accident.  Leaving it in the album was pure genius.

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It still trips me out that The Who wrote science-fiction.  (What if you could have told The Who in 1971 that they would be playing the Superbowl in 2010?).  And it's good science-fiction; they capture the classic essence back when sci-fi was in its golden age.  The guitar intro sounding like an old Cinemascope mad scientist's computer opens the song beautifully.  As is the case for many of these bands, the Who wrote tons of addictive songs, so other people may disagree with my choice on this list.  But this is the one that sticks with me the most, mainly because of the lyrics.

Jack Nitzsche -- "The Lonely Surfer" (from the album Bustin' Surfboards)
Genre:  Surf

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Like many of the other instrumentals on this list, I find this song conjures up a lot of imagery.  This one evokes lost weekends in Mexico and sunset surfing sessions from back during my college days.  This is another song whose discovery I owe to my friend Frank, who taught me how to surf.

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Yes, there's a Rush song on my list, and yes, it's pretty high up on the list.  I know.  
But Rush was a standout during a rather dry musical period for the English-speaking world back during the 80s.  And this lyric is not exactly original, but it's a nice execution.  Plus, nobody alive back then could get that introductory guitar riff out of their heads until after the first couple hundred times they heard it.

All the world's indeed a stage and we are merely players:
Performers and portrayers,
Each another's audience outside the gilded cage...

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This is one of the last songs George Harrison wrote before he died, and it's quite the gift he left for us.  That last lyric, the title of the song, is pretty much the story of my life.  I copped the audio off an interview he did for VH1, rather than the studio version, but both versions are nice in different ways.

I've been travelling on a boat and a plane, and a car and a bike and a bus and a train,
Travelling there, travelling here, everywhere, in every gear.
But Oh, Lord, you pay the price, with the spin of the wheel, with the roll of the dice,
Oh yeah, you pay your fare -- and if you don't know where you're goin', any road will take you there.

Man... Or Astro-Man? -- "_____/Myopia" (from the album E.E.V.I.A.C.)
Genre:  Surf / Electronica

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Another richly imaginative instrumental, the echo effect, the mysterious background noises and the relentless increase in volume just rockets your brain across the far reaches of the universe.  Which is always Man... Or Astro-Man?'s intent.

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Joe Strummer described himself as a "Punk Rock Warlord" and who am I to argue with that?  But his solo stuff, after the Clash, tended to be gentle, thoughtful, introspective rock.  The nonsense chorus, "Yalla Yalla," is nevertheless very expressive.  He may have been a Punk Rock Warlord but he really knew how to craft good rock.

Rolling Stones -- "Sway" (from the album Sticky Fingers)
Genre:  Classic Rock

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Sticky Fingers and Beggar's Banquet are my two favorite Stones albums, also Goat's Head Soup and stuff from that period, because the music has a really intimate sound.  Not showy and snappy like their early stuff (nothin' wrong with that), not glitzy and jaded like their later stuff... this song is about life.  In my opinion, one for the ages.

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Yet another evocative surf instrumental, perfectly captures the sunset over the ocean, from an adobe roof with a cold beer in your hand.  Just listen to the song and tell me if I'm wrong...

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The San Francisco Bay Area is proud of these native sons, currently sparking a comeback after a few years' hiatus.  The tune is one of the best examples of classic Ska that I know of -- catchy, precise, and peppy -- and the lyrics are effin' hilarious.  Everybody who hears this song performed live winds up muttering a few of the lyrics and chuckling to themselves for days afterwards.

Stray Cats -- "Stray Cat Strut" (from the [single] Stray Cat Strut)
Genre:  Rockabilly

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This song held a death grip on the top 20 for years and introduced a lot of people to the idea that rock could be divided into competing factions, not simply punk versus metal versus doo-wop.  Rockabilly combines elements of all those and goes in a different direction entirely.

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These guys, whom I haven't heard of before or since this compilation album, just about out-do Man... Or Astro-Man? in capturing the spirit of B-grade sci-fi movies here.  It's basically like they're playing with a Theramin.

Pearl Jam -- "Timeless Melody" (from the album 2000 Tour Rarities)
Genre:  Alternative

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This is probably a cover of some old '50s song, Pearl Jam likes to do that sometimes.  Haven't found the original, though.  Even though it's [most likely] a cover, this song showcases the freewheeling spirit of Pearl Jam and is a great vehicle for Eddie's voice.

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The History Channel used a snippet of this instrumental song in one of their ads.  It was so incredibly addictive that I went to great lengths (on the internets) to find out what song it was.  It wasn't easy.  Discovered it was a song from the soundtrack to an obscure indy movie, made by this band.  Found the movie, too, and was amazed at what a wonderful piece of film it was.  Surreal, dreamlike, funny, with several other awesome songs on the soundtrack -- benefit from my research and pick this one up!

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Download ENTIRE AWESOME SONG courtesy petehixson.com

Another hardworking band from the old San Francisco circuit, Flavius (and other bands in its lineage, like Müllet and Wiggum) cranked out head-bangin metallic punk rock for years in undeserved obscurity.  I consider it my personal mission to make sure that songs like this one never die.

Am I your little sunshine?  Am I your little yum-yum?
Am I your itsy-bitsy little lamb?  Are you going to molest me ...??

Church -- "Lost" (from the album Starfish)
Genre:  Alternative

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This late-80s band was the soundtrack to a lot of late nights in the lab at college for me.  This particular song's echoing, moody loneliness manages to be uplifting rather than pained or dull, which is quite an achievement.

Follow her down to worship some God, who never speaks to me [I wonder if that's odd?]
[and then he says, "You're never listening"]
The pursuit of adulation is your butter and your bread.
It's an exquisite corpse and its lips are red... and its teeth are glistening...

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My friend Frank gave me this vinyl single, from an extremely obscure Santa Cruz band, once as a gift.  He said it was a joke and he expected the song to be hokey and silly (based on the cover art).  Instead, the B-side turned out to be one of the most incredibly addictive songs I've ever heard.  This song is like the "Naïve Art" of the American frontier.  Its sincerity and wry humor is absolutely perfect.

Ventures -- "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" (from the album Best of the Ventures)
Genre:  Surf

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Something about this instrumental song just sets off my imagination.  It was originally written for the score of a ballet, but I could imagine it as the soundtrack to any kind of adventure, any of my real-life travels or any fantastical adventure in fiction...

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I 'fessed up to what my friends already know, in an earlier writing: obviously any song with the lyrics "We have no place in reality's realm" appeals to me.  This band, a member of the Sublime family of bands, took the best touches from punk and reggae, and combined them with progressive rock in the classic grandiose style.  The mix was something wonderful, and I was crestfallen when they decided to stop making music after a mere two albums.

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All of Alice in Chains' big hits were viciously addictive -- "I Stay Away", "No Excuses" -- but this slightly lesser-known song to me is the most addictive of all.  The eerie harmonies of their ensemble vocals really hook you, and their rhythms are almost primal in their simplicity.

U2 -- "Treasure [Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop?]" (from the album Rarities)
Genre:  Alternative

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You can stream-listen the entire song for free, but aparently only once per computer, here on this internet radio station.  You can listen more times if you sign up for the radio station.

Today it's hard to believe that U2 used to be legitimate, straight-up punks.  But listen to this song, [the full version], and you'll believe it.  There once was a time when Bono poured his bloody heart out at the top of his lungs, while the Edge ground his guitar and Larry beat those skins as fast as they possibly could.  That's punk.

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I will be sorely disappointed if this late-stage Seattle group has broken up before I even had any chance to see them, as I suspect they have.  Again I'm citing a live performance and linking to the studio version, but the studio version is great in its own right.  However this audio clip doesn't even try to capture the emotion of the 2'-30" guitar solo at the end of this song, which bears down on you like Time itself crushing a mountain and bares your whole life to the snowy wind.  No, I'm not smoking anything, you just gotta hear the solo.

Rancid -- "Time Bomb" (from the album ...And Out Come the Wolves)
Genre:  Punk

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Everybody who owned a radio ten years ago probably recognizes the chorus to this song, at least a little bit, and it still gets play.  Another beautiful example of the textbook Ska song: catchy and precise, measured, yet so much fun.

If you wanna make the move then you better come in
It's just the ability to reason that wears so thin
Livin' and dyin' and the stories that are true
Secret to a good life?  Is knowing when you're through...
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac -- yeah --
The boy's a time bomb !

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Again I feel bad that Bob Marley didn't personally make it onto my top 100 list, even though Bob & the Wailers wrote a lot of seriously addictive songs.

On the other hand, Bradley's solo here on this cover song takes Bob Marley's work into a whole new dimension.  His anguish as he sings this song really gives you an idea of the pain that music saved him from.

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain...
One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain...
So hit me with music, hit me with music now.
Hit me with music, brutalize me with music... !

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You can stream-listen the entire song for free, but aparently only once per computer, here on this internet radio station.  You can listen more times if you sign up for the radio station.

You have to listen to the whole song to really get an inkling of its appeal to me, but there's this huge dissonant note in the chord progression that just stuns me.  Before hearing this song, I had no idea that sonic dissonance could be used to evoke such specific feelings -- this one contributes a disturbing feeling of tension to the song, rather than just grating.

Also note that Remy Zero did the theme song "Save Me" from the popular TV series "Smallville".  Another addictive song in its own right.

Hold my fingers up to the light, yeah,
And the light is strange, but I'm all right --
Strange, but it's all right...
It is a tri-colored field in my dream
And all the people lean into the sun all the time...
I try to find something,
I only found -- nothing !

Mighty Mighty Bosstones -- "Wrong Thing Right Then" (from the [soundtrack] Meet the Deedles)
Genre:  Ska

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Here's another quintessential Ska song from masters of the art.  The poetry of these lyrics is absolutely addicting.  We don't know what he actually said, but we know exactly how he feels about it.

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This song somehow reminds me of the Chinese curse about "May you live in interesting times".   And we certainly do, don't we -- which makes this song really hit me hard.  The 'pop' version on the actual album doesn't compare whatsoever to Dave's agonized delivery on this acoustic version.

Trik-Turner -- "Friends and Family" (from the album Trik-Turner)
Genre:  Hip-Hop

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Several of the songs on this album are quite good, particularly if (like me) you are not actually a connoiseur of hip-hop music.  But this is the song that everybody remembers.  Because its lyrics have a lot of heart and fit the beat so well, without the beat becoming oppressive.  The song is gentle and sublime.

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I got nothing against Cake, and I acknowledge it takes some real talent to rifle out so many songs with fantastical, nonsense lyrics that sound like they mean something.  Cake has got style, absolutely.  They're just not my favorite group, it's not my favorite style.  But this playful, happy rock tune here -- it lodges in your brain like a brick.  It's shockingly addictive, and that's what this list is measuring.  #1 most addictive song right here.