And now, back to the countdown.

Lots of people have been posting about music lately, whether it's in response to the Spin 100 list or under their own initiative (too tired and lazy to link to examples, but trust me, they're out there). Naturally, it got me to thinking about music on my own terms, so for no other reason than because I wanted to (and I'm a compulsive bandwagon jumper-onner), I've compiled this list of what I consider to be my Top 25 Favorite Songs Ever... Right Now, Anyway.

Standard caveat of "Your Mileage May Vary" applies, 'natch. Here goes:

1. Saturday Morning – The Eels: Everytime I hear this song, it’s like I’m 8 again.
2. Feelin’ Massachusetts – The Juliana Hatfield 3: Perfectly describes what it feels like to grow up in a town you can’t wait to escape.
3. New York City – They Might Be Giants: TMBG drop the rampant cleverness for a minute and sing an excellent, truly sweet love song.*
4. Just Like Heaven – The Cure: This song will always remind me of Erin, so it’s a good one.
5. Alec Eiffel – The Get Up Kids: The rare case of a cover surpassing the original (which is a damn good song, too, and probably my very favorite Pixies song, so consider the original #5a).
6. King of the Road – Piebald: Probably the only love song ever written about a bus. Wonderful stuff.
7. Yellow Submarine – The Beatles: Probably my favorite Beatles song. Certainly the one most likely to make me smile.
8. If I Can’t Change Your Mind (solo mix) – Sugar: A heartbreaking song to begin with, made even more powerful when it’s stripped down to just Bob Mould and an acoustic guitar.
9. El Scorcho – Weezer: So angsty and full of longing. Plenty of occasions in my life that I could relate to this.
10. Dear God - XTC: Just a very powerful (and more than a little controversial) song.
11. Eleanore – The Turtles: Contains my most favorite line in all of pop music, “You’re my pride and joy, et cetera.” Lazy writing or pop genius? I vote for the latter.
12. Out There – Blake Babies: What is it about Juliana Hatfield and songs of suburban ennui.
13. All For Swinging You Around – The New Pornographers: Pure power-pop confection.
14. Pleasant Valley Sunday – The Monkees: Yes, I was a bored, suburban kid. Why do you ask?
15. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys: No real reason. I just think this one is nice.
16. Rubberband Man – The Spinners: I must groove to this song when it comes on the radio, no matter where I am. I have no rhythm to speak of, so it’s quite a sight to behold.
17. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival: Because A.) You need a CCR song somewhere, and B.) this song is just as relevant today as it was when it was writte, unfortunately.
18. Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes: Deep down, every white kid wants to be Shaft.
19. Falling for the First Time – Barenaked Ladies: The only song I know to celebrate how it sometimes feels really good to fail miserably.
20. UHF – Weird Al Yankovic: Al proves he knows how to rock on his own terms.
21. Polyester Bride – Liz Phair: Not her most powerful or important song by a longshot, but probably her catchiest, and I’m a sucker for good hook.
22. Rockin’ the Suburbs – Ben Folds: Nice little musical complaint about all the “angry white boy” music that was popular at the time.
23. Let's Go - The Apples in Stereo: Another piece of power pop confection at its finest.
24. Cannonball - The Breeders: Pretty much the theme song for my senior year of high school.
25. Little Plastic Castle - Ani Difranco: Ani rails against those critics (and fans) who try to pigeonhole her into one particular facet of her identity. I may not enjoy the musical direction she's headed in since this particular album (named for the song), but I respect her right to explore, and this song is a major reason why.

*Tim informed me that this is actually a cover of a song by a band called Cub, not a TMBG original. I haven't heard that version, but I will ignorantly declare this one to be superior, so make that two covers I like better than the originals.