If you were to check out the track listing of the Monkees, or any comparable 60's pop band's Greatest Hits compilation, you would likely notice that rarely does a song break the two-minute mark. Now, an artist used to be able to build a modest career on this formula. But even though our attention span for everything else is shrinking, artists have since been pushing the time limit for songs further and further.
Personally, I love lengthy tunage. It really distinguishes artists who have the ability to craft something profound and developed. So, I decided to compile my favorite songs over five minutes. The criteria for this ranking? Of course, it had to be over five minutes. It also needed at least 15 plays on my iTunes. I thought it would be hard to meet these standards, but I ended up having to choose my favorites. Here is the result.
Star Witness, Neko Case, 5:17, 21 Plays
Lyrics are pure. Harmonies are organic. Haunting riff, sparse production. Strings. And that voice. Oof. That voice.
Know Til Now, Jim James, 6:27, 41 Plays
Hokey synths. Shiny Vocals. Interwoven Rhythms. Hypnotic, head-bob worthy groove. Surprise Ending.
Harmonia, Cass McCombs, 5:26, 27 Plays
Tight Bass. Uplifting pedal steel. Acoustic strumming worthy of slow motion road trip sequence.
Metanoia, MGMT, 13:52, 11 Plays
Ambitious. Huge. Roaming. Righteous.
The Moldau, Bedřich Smétana, 12:59, 18 Plays
Quite literally a river of music. A natural, moving force of precision and determination in melody and form.
Little Johnny Jewel, Television, 7:45, 19 Plays
Deceptively planned. Perfectly improvised. Ugly guitar. Beautiful composition.
Sound of Failure, Flaming Lips, 7:18, 18 Plays
Drozd polka. Outdated pop culture references. Catchy as hell.
Shake it Off, Wilco, 5:43, 16 Plays
A stuttering beat meets a fluttering jam. Some of the best guitar playing Wilco has to offer.
Freddie Freeloader, Miles Davis, 9:49, 23 Plays
If you want to know what bebop Miles Davis is. This is it. Cool, mellow and explosive all at the same time.
Silver Song, Conspiracy of Owls, 6:10, 19 Plays
Classic without sounding old. Poppy without sounding redundant.
Ambulance Blues, Neil Young, 8:56, 25 Plays
The best Neil Young song you probably haven't heard.
Heroin, Velvet Underground, 7:13, 15 Plays
This is the reason I was sad when Lou Reed died.
Eyesore, Women, 6:25, 16 Plays
Haunting melody. Killer bassline. And a tambourine that gives you hope.
Jeremy's Storm, Tame Impala, 5:28, 19 Plays
Doesn't need lyrics. Textured groove that would make the Floyd jealous.
Cursed Sleep, Bonnie "Prince" Billie, 5:36, 20 Plays
Quiet instrumentation and a melody that pulls at your heart strings. Pained love is often the most beautiful.
Mare, Julian Lynch, 5:31, 23 Plays
Loose tom groove, auto-wah guitar, and a glockenspiel-undertoned melody. Need I say more?
Freddie's Dead, Curtis Mayfield, 5:30, 23 Plays
super.Fuckin.fly. Flea stole all of his bass lines from Joseph "Lucky" Scott.
Goin To Alcapulco, The Band, 5:29, 21 Plays
The Band is called the Band because they are THE BAND. This song brings me close to tears.
Now, for all of you who don't have all the time in the world to devote to music like I do, I've picked the best five songs under 2 minutes. Monkees, eat your pre-Head hearts out.
A Pretty Dress, King Tuff, 1:58, 16 Plays
Communist Daughter, Neutral Milk Hotel, 1:57, 12 Plays
Hold On, John Lennon, 1:52, 13 Plays
Magic Trick, M.Ward, 1:45, 16 Plays
'Til the Morning Comes, Neil Young, 1:21, 16 Plays
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