These “Best Music” lists are off-putting, whether they’re from Rolling Stone (that still feels like a boomer relic) or Pitchfork (that more closely aligns with my taste), or any other institution. But they’re damn fun to make, so here is mine.

I was born in 1964 in Canada, then moved to New York in 1990. My window of following rock music closely ran from about 1974 to 2005, and I was most intensely connected to it in the eighties. Nevertheless, this list reflects my current taste.

[Above, Nick Cave, 2008. Courtesy Chris Buck]

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1. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Joy Division (1980)
2. “She Said, She Said” – The Beatles (1966)
3. “Sister Ray” – Velvet Underground (1968)
4. “How Soon Is Now?” – The Smiths (1984)
5. “Games Without Frontiers” – Peter Gabriel (1980)
6. “Material Girl” – Madonna (1984)
7. “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen (1976)
8. “Time Jesum Transeuntum Et Non Revertenum” – Nick Cave & The Dirty Three (1996)
9. “Johnny Mathis’s Feet” – American Music Club (1993)
10. “Sing Another Song, Boys” [live] – Leonard Cohen (1971)
11. “The End” – The Doors (1967)
12. “Do You Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys (2013)
13. “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” – Chuck Berry (1956)
14. “Bury A Friend” – Billie Eilish (2019)

15. “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream” – Bob Dylan (1965)
16. “Pale Shelter” – Tears For Fears (1983)
17. “1979” – Smashing Pumpkins (1995)
18. “Theme” – Public Image Ltd. (1978)
19. “The Eternal” – Joy Division (1980)
20. “Losing My Edge” – LCD Soundsystem (2002)
21. “Eight Miles High” – Husker Dü (1984)
22. “Seabird” – Alessi Brothers (1976)

23. “I’m Not In Love” – 10cc (1975)
24. “Army of Me” – Björk (1995)
25. “Cunt Tease” – Pussy Galore (1986)
26. “Let My Baby Ride” – R.L. Burnside (1998)
27. “Tropical Ice-Land” – The Fiery Furnaces (2006)
28. “Zimbo” [live] – Echo And The Bunnymen (1982)
29. “Tunic (Song For Karen)” – Sonic Youth (1990)
30. “I’m Not Your Hero” – Tegan And Sara (2013)
31. “Spoonman” – Soundgarden (1994)
32. “Coyote” – Joni Mitchell (1976)

33. “Powderfinger” [live] – Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1979)
34. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” – Elton John (1975)
35. “Sweet Leaf” – Black Sabbath (1971)
36. “My War” – Black Flag (1984)
37. “Work To Do” – Isley Brothers (1972)
38. “Jim Dandy” – LaVern Baker (1956)
39. “Lovely Rita” – The Beatles (1967)
40. “Bulls On Parade” – Rage Against The Machine (1996)
41. “Slow K” – Believer’s Voice of Victory (1986)
42. “Just What I Needed” – The Cars (1978)
43. “Victoria” – The Fall (1988)
44. “YYZ” – Rush (1981)

45. “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions”– Queen (1977)
46. “Iron Horse/Born To Lose” [live] – Motörhead (1981)
47. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” – Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
48. “Next Girl” – The Black Keys (2010)
49. “Check The Lock” – Clipping (2020)
50. “Rock And Roll” – The Boswell Sisters (1934)

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Chris Buck is a photographer/director. Born and raised in Toronto, he now lives in the greater New York area. His work can be viewed here.