500 Greatest Songs

 Preconceptions: I was only eight when this came out, but it was still a staple on classic rock / album oriented radio when I was a teenager.  Of course when I hear it now,  I think of the SNL skit. --- Not sure if this is a remaster or what, but it sounds much better than I remember. Probably because I always heard it on the radio.  I'm really enjoying it more than I expected.  Nice guitar work. Really dug that fill at about 1:30, just before the "Romeo and Juliet" part. Thumbs up!

 Neil Young and Crazy Horse.  Not sure I recall this particular song.  I was only 11 when it came out so I wouldn't remember it new.  Good think I'm listening on Amazon Music, Young's music was taken off Spotify yesterday at his request. ------------ I can't say I've heard this.  Really digging the interplay between the guitars and the tone.    I should listen to more Neil Young.  

  I don't think I know this one. I notice it has six writers. Seems like a lot. It's only five years old. I really think RS should do what they do with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and set some sort of cooling off period.  A song should be 15 years or so before they even consider it for this list.   I just don't think you can call a song among the best of all time until it's sat awhile and shown it can hold up well. Anyway, that's all just general comments, I'll listen to the song now... Eh, I can't relate. Full disclosure: I didn't even finish it. But I'm not the target audience for this.  The recording sounds great.

 Took a pause over the holidays, I need to pick up the pace.  The goal is to get through all 500 by July. I was an 80s kid, so of course I know this one. I've probably heard it a zillion times.  Pretty sure I've even heard it recently in bars or ads or whatever.  I liked it fine, but it wasn't what I would typically listen to back then. I recall that's it's a good song, well performed and recorded. ------- What the heck is this song about?  All these years I thought he said "I miss the rains", but I think it's "bless the rains".  Who is this narrator that he can bless things?  Like some sort of cult leader or something? Anyway, good song.  Even though I was a teenage in the 80s, I don't really love the texture of a lot of the music from the period.  The drum sounds, a lot of synths and heavy chorus on the guitar.  But it's still a good song.  I have a lot of respect for amazing guitarists (or other instrumentalists) who put the song...