You Know We're Right

Depending on when you grew up, you'll either think these Swedes are mimicking the thunderous American garage rock of the '60s or the sneering British punk of the '70s. But what's this dang song about, anyway? Well, have you ever felt like driving real fast, racing the guitars on the radio because you were pissed or bored or glad all over? Have you ever needed to jump around and scream just because you were sure you'd go absolutely freaking nuts if you didn't? That's what it's about.

California rock's only philosopher king hits his penultimate (the terminally ill Zevon hopes to complete his final album before cancer claims him) grace note with this witty, delicate paean to the cocksure intelligence of Albert Einstein, Mata Hari and Charlie Sheen. Performing it on David Letterman's show in October, Zevon looked frail but at ease. When he turned to conduct the coda for the string quartet behind him, an entire career's irony and archness temporarily vanished in Zevon's careful gestures. Then he staved off poignancy by laying into "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." That's genius.

12 Clipse
"Grindin'," from Lord Willin'
(Arista)

As the Neptunes, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo produced tracks for a plethora of artists this year, but they saved their best work for themselves (their groundbreaking debut disc, In Search Of) and for their homeboys in the Clipse. "Grindin'" revives minimalist hip-hop at its best with a hard-driving beat and a grimy hook. Pushat and Malice make the track thump with their raw lyrics and rugged thugged-out attitude.

13 Princess Superstar
"Bad Babysitter," from Is
(Rapster)

It's Mrs. Weintraub's own fault. By hiring Princess Superstar's alter ego, the fifteen-year-old cheerleader/self-proclaimed "Bad Babysitter," to watch young Josh, she starts a chain of events that leads to stolen valium, a depleted refrigerator and some XXX-rated action. At least she gets the kid in bed on time -- when Josh defies her orders, she effectively threatens him with both Freddy Krueger and sickle-cell anemia. Finally, she tempts hot Jew Mr. Weintraub during the ride home. A cautionary, albeit danceable, hip-hop tale for parents everywhere, it urges mothers to always hire the unattractive, bookish girl instead.

14 Moby
"We Are All Made of Stars," from 18
(V2)

The lyrics don't make sense (why are we all made of stars now, again? And why does this make us unstoppable?), but the chorus lunges for outer space, and it's nice enough to bring listeners along for the ride. Moby's great desire to make music for the whole world explains why this song works so well as the soundtrack for both all-night raves and computer commercials.

15 Truth Hurts featuring Rakim
"Addictive," from Truthfully Speaking
(Interscope)

Newcomer Truth Hurts (Shari Watson) teams with her mentor Dre, underrated beatmaker DJ Quik and rap god Rakim on the year's most distinctive R&B track. Her sultry vocals seduce, but it's the sampled Far Eastern wailing that grabs listeners' attention. Like most "Addictive" pairings, this mix feels both magical and dangerous.

16 Steve Earle
"Amerika V. 6.0," from Jerusalem
(Artemis)

With Stones in his guitar and menace in his breath, Earle delivers his most scathing indictment of American cynicism.

17 Kevin Mahogany
"My World Is Empty Without You," from Pride & Joy
(Telarc)

The Supremes made this declaration first, but because their 1965 Motown hit sounded like a bustling city street (all Supremes hits sound like bustling city streets), we could only take Diana Ross' word for it. KC native Kevin Mahogany, on the other hand, sounds like he's singing alone from the same bedroom to which he's retreated for days. The curtains are drawn, he's lying motionless beneath heavy blankets, and he's staring straight ahead at what he might do if this new prescription doesn't work any better than the last.

18 James McMurtry
"Choctaw Bingo," from Saint Mary of the Woods
(Sugar Hill)

This song's about that guy everyone knows who lives life so hard and carelessly that he's been in the ER twice for swallowing that beer tab he can't quite remember not to toss back in the can. And it's not just him -- it's his whole clan, getting together for a family reunion in honor of meth-and-moonshine-cooking Uncle Slayton. Filling his song with landmarks like Lake Eufala, 2-A Texas football, steel-core ammo and biker bars next to lingerie stores, McMurtry boogies like a pent-up kid on Friday night.

19 Bruce Springsteen
"Empty Sky," from The Rising
(Columbia)

One of the most haunting memories of the days following September 11 remains the temporary silencing of air traffic. It was shocking to look into the blue and see nothing, much as it was devastating to look into the heart of the Manhattan skyline and know there was so much more missing than two tall buildings. Springsteen's "Empty Sky" sentiments are simple, yet remarkably powerful.

20 Missy Elliott
"Work It," from Under Construction
(Elektra)