Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present

Youtube search to each song. Would be better as a playlist, without a doubt, but here it is anyway.

1. David Bowie – Heroes
2. Iggy Pop – The Passenger
3. Lou Reed – Street Hassle
4. Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
5. Brian Eno – 1/1
6. The Ramones – Rockaway Beach
7. Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
8. Television – Marquee Moon
9. Patti Smith – Rock n Roll Nigger
10. The Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen
11. The Clash – (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
12. Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen in Love?
13. Vic Godard and the Subway Sect – Parallel Lines
14. X-Ray Spex – Oh Bondage! Up Yours!
15. The Adverts – One Chord Wonders
16. Wire – Ex-Lion Tamer
17. Donna Summer – I Feel Love
18. Giorgo Moroder – The Chase
19. Chic – Good Times
20. Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way
21. Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
22. Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
23. Parliament – Flash Light
24. Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up
25. Public Image Ltd. – Public Image
26. Gang of Four – Damaged Goods
27. Magazine – Shot by Both Sides
28. The Cramps – Human Fly
29. The Misfits – Night of the Living Dead
30. Wire – Outdoor Miner
31. Joy Division – Disorder
32. Althea and Donna – Uptown Top Ranking
33. Lee Perry – Roast Fish and Cornbread
34. The Congos – Fisherman
35. Willie Williams – Armagideon Time
36. This Heat – 24 Track Loop
37. The Slits – Typical Girls
38. The Pop Group – She Is Beyond Good and Evil
39. The Clash – The Guns of Brixton
40. James Chance and the Contortions – Contort Yourself
41. Suicide – Dream Baby Dream
42. Cabaret Voltaire – Nag Nag Nag
43. Throbbing Gristle – Hot on the Heels of Love
44. Devo – Mongoloid
45. Candido – Jingo
46. Dinosaur – Kiss Me Again
47. Machine – There but for the Grace of God Go I
48. Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
49. Goblin – Suspiria
50. Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
51. AC/DC – Highway to Hell
52. Van Halen – Runnin’ with the Devil
53. Fleetwood Mac – The Chain
54. Steely Dan – Deacon Blues
55. Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky
56. The Only Ones – Another Girl, Another Planet
57. The Undertones – Teenage Kicks
58. Plastic Bertrand – Ca plane pour moi
59. The Records – Starry Eyes
60. Cheap Trick – Surrender
61. The Cars – Just What I Needed
62. Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Radio Radio
63. The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry
64. XTC – Making Plans for Nigel
65. Blondie – Atomic
66. Talking Heads – Memories Can’t Wait

1980 – 1982

67. Kurtis Blow – The Breaks
68. Spoonie Gee Meets the Sequence – Monster Jam
69. The Sugarhill Gang – 8th Wonder
70. The Treacherous Three – The New Rap Language
71. The Clash – The Magnificent Seven
72. Talking Heads – Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
73. Yoko Ono – Walking on Thin Ice
74. Klein + MBO – Dirty Talk
75. ESG – Moody
76. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel
77. Funky 4+1 – That’s The Joint
78. Kraftwerk – Numbers/Computer World 2
79. Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock
80. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – The Message
81. Glenn Branca – Lesson No. 1 for Electric Guitar
82. Laurie Anderson – O Superman (For Massenet)
83. Joy Division – Atmosphere
84. The Fall – Totally Wired
85. Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Beyond Belief
86. The Pretenders – Back on the Chain Gang
87. The B-52’s – Private Idaho
88. Dexys Midnight Runners – There There My Dear
89. Young Marble Giants – Final Day
90. Altered Images – Happy Birthday
91. The Specials – Ghost Town
92. Robert Wyatt – Shipbuilding
93. Bauhaus – Third Uncle
94. Adam and the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier
95. Scritti Politti – The Sweetest Girl
96. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
97. Soft Cell – Tainted Love
98. The Associates – Party Fears Two
99. ABC – All of My Heart
100. New Order – Temptation
101. The Jam – Town Called Malice
102. Duran Duran – The Chauffeur
103. The English Beat – Save It for Later
104. The Go-Go’s – Our Lips Are Sealed
105. Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love
106. Prince – Dirty Mind
107. Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)
108. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
109. ABBA – The Day Before You Came
110. Roxy Music – More Than This
111. Queen – Under Pressure
112. Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City
113. Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
114. Bad Brains – Pay to Cum
115. Minor Threat – Minor Threat
116. Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia
117. Black Flag – Rise Above
118. Wipers – Youth of America
119. Flipper – Sex Bomb
120. Motorhead – Ace of Spades
121. Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills
122. Orange Juice – Blue Boy
123. The Television Personalities – This Angry Silence
124. The Fall – The Classical
125. The Clean – Tally Ho!
126. The Feelies – The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness
127. R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe
128. Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun
129. Mission of Burma – That’s When I Reach for My Revolver

1983-1986

130. The Smiths – This Charming Man
131. Sonic Youth – Death Valley ’69
132. Husker Du – Pink Turns to Blue
133. Meat Puppets – Plateau
134. The Replacements – I Will Dare
135. Minutemen – History Lesson (Part II)
136. R.E.M. – So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
137. Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
138. The Cure – Close to Me
139. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Cities in Dust
140. Run-D.M.C. – It’s Like That
141. Crash Crew – On the Radio
142. Rammelzee vs. K-Rob – Beat Bob
143. Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx
144. New Order – Blue Monday
145. Prince and the Revolution – When Doves Cry
146. Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)
147. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
148. U2 – New Year’s Day
149. Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
150. The Replacements – Bastards of Young
151. The Mekons – Last Dance
152. Big Black – Kerosene
153. Scratch Acid – The Greatest Gift
154. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
155. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
156. Cocteau Twins – Lorelei
157. New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
158. Billy Bragg – A New England
159. Metallica – Battery
160. Slayer – Angel of Death
161. Saint Vitus – Clear Windowpane
162. Einstürzende Neubauten – Halber Mensch
163. Art of Noise – Beat Box (Diversion One)
164. Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax
165. Liquid Liquid – Optimo
166. Alexander Robotnick – Problemes d’Amour
167. Shannon – Let the Music Play
168. Section 25 – Looking from a Hilltop (Restructure)
169. Madonna – Holiday
170. Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
171. Prince – Kiss
172. Run-D.M.C. – Rock Box
173. LL Cool J – I Can’t Live Without My Radio
174. Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn
175. Mantronix – Needle to the Groove
176. The Go-Betweens – Cattle and Cane
177. The Chills – Pink Frost
178. Felt – Primitive Painters
179. The Smiths – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
180. Tom Waits – Jockey Full of Bourbon
181. Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire
182. Scott Walker – Rawhide
183. U2 – Bad
184. Don Henley – The Boys of Summer
185. Paul Simon – Graceland
186. Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleng Teng
187. Anthony “Red” Rose – Tempo
188. Model 500 – No UFO’s

1987-1990

189. Mr. Fingers – Can You Feel It
190. Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings of Life
191. A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray
192. M/A/R/R/S – Pump Up The Volume
193. My Bloody Valentine – You Made Me Realise
194. Spacemen 3 – Walking With Jesus
195. Ride – Dreams Burn Down
196. Galaxie 500 – Blue Thunder
197. Happy Mondays – Kinky Afro
198. The Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums
199. Sonic Youth – Teen Age Riot
200. Dinosaur Jr. – Freak Scene
201. Butthole Surfers – Human Cannonball
202. Pixies – Where Is My Mind?
203. Fugazi – Waiting Room
204. Audio Two – Top Billin’
205. Eric B & Rakim – I Know You Got Soul
206. Public Enemy – Rebel Without a Pause
207. N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton
208. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Mercy Seat
209. Ministry – Stigmata
210. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Head On
211. The Sugarcubes – Birthday
212. The Cure – Just Like Heaven
213. Morrissey – Everyday Is Like Sunday
214. The Pogues – Fairytale of New York
215. The Wedding Present – My Favourite Dress
216. The Field Mice – Emma’s House
217. Another Sunny Day – You Should All Be Murdered
218. The Dead Milkmen – Punk Rock Girl
219. The Primitives – Crash
220. The La’s – There She Goes
221. They Might Be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul
222. Superchunk – Slack Motherfucker
223. Fugazi – Merchandise
224. The Jesus Lizard – Mouth Breather
225. Slick Rick – Children’s Story
226. Gang Starr – Just to Get a Rep
227. Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – It Takes Two
228. Salt-n-Pepa – Push It
229. Beastie Boys – Hey Ladies
230. De La Soul – Me Myself and I
231. Biz Markie – Just a Friend
232. Public Enemy – Fight The Power
233. Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
234. Swans – Beautiful Child
235. John Zorn – The Sicilian Clan
236. Prince and the Revolution – If I Was Your Girlfriend
237. Madonna – Like a Prayer
238. Deee-Lite – Groove Is in the Heart
239. Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring
240. Sinead O’Conner – Nothing Compares 2 U
241. The Orb – Little Fluffy Clouds
242. The KLF – Wichita Lineman Was a Song I Once Heard
243. 808 State – Pacific State
244. Orbital – Chime
245. Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Sileince
246. My Bloody Valentine – Soon
247. The Vaselines – Son of a Gun
248. Beat Happening – Indian Summer
249. Daniel Johnston – Some Things Last a Long Time
250. Mudhoney – Touch Me I’m Sick
251. Pixies – Wave of Mutilation

1991-1993

252. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
253. Pavement – Summer Babe
254. Archers of Loaf – Web in Front
255. Yo La Tengo – From a Motel
256. Sebadoh – The Freed Pig
257. A Tribe Called Quest – Check the Rhime
258. De La Soul – A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’
259. Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours
260. Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
261. Tricky – Aftermath (Version 1)
262. Primal Scream – Higher Than the Sun
263. Spiritualized – Step into the Breeze
264. Slowdive – Alison
265. Aphex Twin – Xtal
266. Talk Talk – Ascension Day
267. Slint – Good Morning, Captain
268. Disco Inferno – The Last Dance
269. Stereolab – French Disko
270. Acen – Trip II the Moon Pts. 1 and 2
271. The Future Sound of London – Papua New Guinea
272. Human Resource – Dominator (Joey Beltram Mix)
273. Metalheadz – Terminator
274. Omni Trio – Renegade Snares
275. Red House Painters – New Jersey
276. Teenage Fanclub – The Concept
277. Heavenly – C Is the Heavenly Option
278. Tindersticks – City Sickness
279. Unrest – Make Out Club
280. Tenor Saw/Buju Banton – Ring the Alarm Quick
281. Dr. Dre – Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang
282. Ice Cube – It Was a Good Day
283. 2Pac – I Get Around
284. Souls of Mischief – 93 ‘Til Infinity
285. Suede – The Drowners
286. Blur – For Tomorrow
287. Elastica – Stutter
288. Ween – Doctor Rock
289. Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck
290. Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks on Me
291. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
292. Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl
293. Melvins – Hooch
294. Dinosaur Jr. – Start Choppin’
295. Pixies – U-Mass
296. Liz Phair – Divorce Song
297. PJ Harvey – Rid of Me
298. The Afghan Whigs – Debonair
299. Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name
300. The Lemonheads – It’s a Shame About Ray
301. Beck – Loser
302. The Breeders – Cannonball
303. Nirvana – Scentless Apprentice

1994-1996

304. Hole – Violet
305. Smashing Pumpkins – 1979
306. Green Day – Longview
307. Weezer – Say It Ain’t So
308. Blur – Girls & Boys
309. Oasis – Live Forever
310. Pulp – Common People
311. The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
312. Nas – It Ain’t Hard to Tell
313. Mobb Deep – Shook Ones, Pt. 2
314. GZA – 4th Chamber
315. Pavement – Gold Soundz
316. Built to Spill – Car
317. Modest Mouse – Broke
318. Frank Black – Headache
319. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Bellbottoms
320. Guided by Voices – I Am a Scientist
321. Nine Inch Nails – Closer
322. Bjork – Hyper-Ballad
323. Beck – Devil’s Haircut
324. Portishead – Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me)
325. Saint Etienne – Like a Motorway
326. Basic Channel – Octagon
327. Paperclip People – Throw
328. DJ Shadow – Midnight in a Perfect World
329. Dr. Octagon – Blue Flowers
330. Common – I Used to Love H.E.R.
331. Jeff Buckley – Grace
332. Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
333. Arthur Russell – This Is How We Walk on the Moon
334. Low – Words
335. The Auteurs – Unsolved Child Murder
336. Jawbox – Savory
337. Drive Like Jehu – Luau
338. Brainiac – Pussyfootin’
339. Napalm Death – Twist the Knife (Slowly)
340. Darkthrone – En As I Dype Skogen
341. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo
342. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin and Juice
343. Luniz – I Got 5 on It
344. Cutty Ranks – Limb by Limb
345. The Prodigy – No Good (Start the Dance)
346. Underworld – Born Slippy (NUXX)
347. The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun
348. Daft Punk – Da Funk
349. Belle and Sebastian – The State I Am In
350. Elliott Smith – Needle in the Hay
351. The Magnetic Fields – Take Ecstasy with Me
352. Palace Music – New Partner
353. Arab Strap – The First Big Weekend
354. Tortoise – Gamera
355. The Sea and Cake – Parasol
356. Pavement – Rattled by the Rush
357. Guided by Voices – Game of Pricks
358. Weezer – El Scorcho

1997-1999

359. Radiohead – Paranoid Android
360. Bjork – Joga
361. The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
362. Elliott Smith – Between the Bars
363. Cat Power – Cross Bones Style
364. The Clientele – Reflections After Jane
365. Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See a Darkness
366. Smog – Teenage Spaceship
367. Silver Jews – Random Rules
368. Autechre – Arch Carrier
369. Boards of Canada – Happy Cycling
370. Herbert – So Now…
371. Aphex Twin – Windowlicker
372. Uilab – St. Elmo’s Fire
373. Air – Le Soleil est Pres du Moi
374. Massive Attack – Teardrop
375. Black Star – Respiration
376. The Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize
377. Outkast – Spottieottiedopaliscious
378. The Roots – The Next Movement
379. The Flaming Lips – Waitin’ for a Superman
380. The Beta Band – Dry the Rain
381. The Olivia Tremor Control – Hideaway
382. Neutral Milk Hotel – Holland, 1945
383. Super Furry Animals – Ice Hockey Hair
384. Stardust – Music Sounds Better with You
385. Basement Jaxx – Jump n’ Shout
386. Wilco – Via Chicago
387. Pulp – This Is Hardcore
388. Belle and Sebastian – Lazy Line Painter Jane
389. Yo La Tengo – Autumn Sweater
390. Sleater-Kinney – One More Hour
391. Refused – New Noise
392. The Dismemberment Plan – The City
393. Boredoms – Super Shine
394. Mogwai – Like Herod
395. Jim O’Rourke – Halfway to a Threeway
396. Sigur Ros – Svefn-g-Englar

2000-2002

397. Daft Punk – One More Time
398. Radiohead – Idioteque
399. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Storm
400. The Avalanches – Since I Left You
401. Broadcast – Come On Let’s Go
402. Aaliyah – Try Again
403. Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River
404. Luomo – Tessio
405. Vitalic – La Rock 01
406. Kylie Minogue – Love at First Sight
407. Jay-Z – Big Pimpin’
408. Outkast – B.O.B.
409. Eminem – The Real Slim Shady
410. Ghostface Killah – Nutmeg
411. Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On
412. The White Stripes – Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
413. The Strokes – The Modern Age
414. …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Another Morning Stoner
415. Interpol – Obstacle 1
416. Electric Six – Danger! High Voltage
417. Golden Boy with Miss Kittin – Rippin Kittin’
418. Jurgen Paape – So Weit Wie Noch Nie
419. Osymyso – Intro-Inspection
420. The Knife – Heartbeats
421. LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge
422. The Rapture – House of Jealous Lovers
423. The Streets – Weak Become Heroes
424. Aesop Rock – Daylight
425. Rjd2 – Good Times Roll Pt. 2
426. Bright Eyes – The Calendar Hung Itself
427. Wilco – Poor Places
428. Queens of the Stonge Age – No One Knows
429. My Morning Jacket – The Way That He Sings
430. Modest Mouse – 3rd Planet
431. Clinic – Distortions
432. Shellac – Prayer to God
433. Mclusky – To Hell with Good Intentions
434. Lightning Bolt – Ride the Sky
435. The Microphones – The Moon
436. The New Pornographers – Letter from an Occupant
437. The Shins – New Slang
438. The Decemberists – Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect
439. Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse
440. Broken Social Scene – Cause = Time
441. Deerhoof – This Magnificent Bird Will Rise
442. Spoon – The Way We Get By
443. Dizzee Rascal – I Luv U
444. M.O.P. – Ante Up
445. Clipse – Grindin’
446. Talib Kweli – Get By
447. Jay-Z – Takeover

2003-2006

448. Outkast – Hey Ya
449. Kanye West – Through The Wire
450. R. Kelly – Ignition (Remix)
451. Beyonce – Crazy In Love
452. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
453. !!! – Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story)
454. TV on the Radio – Staring at the Sun
455. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
456. The Walkmen – The Rat
457. Devendra Banhart – A Sight to Behold
458. Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear
459. Sufjan Stevens – Casimir Pulaski Day
460. Antony and the Johnsons – Hope There’s Someone
461. Animal Collective – Leaf House
462. The Books – Take Time
463. M83 – Don’t Save Us from the Flames
464. The Postal Service – Such Great Heights
465. Annie – Heartbeat
466. M.I.A. – Galang
467. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
468. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
469. The Fiery Furnaces – Here Comes the Summer
470. The Mountain Goats – No Children
471. The Wrens – She Sends Kisses
472. Les Savy Fav – The Sweat Descends
473. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?
474. The Exploding Hearts – Modern Kicks
475. Art Brut – Formed a Band
476. Boris – Farewell
477. Mastodon – Sleeping Giant
478. Madvillain – America’s Most Blunted
479. T.I. – What You Know
480. Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone
481. Amerie – 1 Thing
482. Ciara – Oh
483. The Go! Team – The Power Is On
484. Feist – Mushaboom
485. Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
486. Wolf Parade – I’ll Believe in Anything
487. Band of Horses – The Funeral
488. The Hold Steady – Stuck Between Stations
489. Beirut – Postcards from Italy
490. Johnny Boy – You Are the Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve
491. Love Is All – Busy Doing Nothing
492. Jens Lekman – Black Cab
493. Christian Falk – Dream On
494. Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks
495. Justice vs. Simian – We Are Your Friends
496. Hot Chip – Boy from School
497. Animal Collective – Grass
498. Black Dice – Cone Toaster
499. Liars – The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack
500. Panda Bear – Bros