Below the 2-minute mark

[urgencytobleed]

Usually songs that are less than two minutes don't do much for me. They're either over before they really have time to develop or are that short for a reason (because they aren't really worth the time in the first place). So, when I'm truly impressed by one of these songs, it's a pretty big deal. It also speaks well to the artist - that they can leave such a large impact in such a small amount of time. With this in mind, I set out on the task of finding the very best songs under two minutes in my possession. I started out with well over 300 but after weeding out dozens of meaningless thirty-second interludes, concert banter, and instrumentals (since I don't have many, I'm saving them as a theme possibility for the future) I began the pain-staking task of combing through the rest to narrow down my very favorites. The list slowly dwindled down to 50, then to 30, 25, and finally to its final stage where I couldn't possibly lose any more, 20. So, here it is: my top twenty favorite songs that don't quite reach two minutes - short and sweet and completely perfect that way.

• Be Your Own Pet - Damn Damn Leash

Stop dragging me around, around and around, because it's hard enough to be my damn self.

• Elephant Parade - Goodbye

I thought that I would be lost without you but I was wrong - so goodbye.

• The Hush Sound - Tides Change

The wind began to blow and the water got tall and that's when I went home.

• Jenny Owen Youngs - P.S.

I set the VCR to record, rewind and fast forward. I'll cut out all the bad parts. I don't want to watch anything that hurts.

• Joanna Newsom - Yarn and Glue

We will gather 'round to dine and pass the time with wicked rhymes and toast in dandelion wines to hear their mellifluous chimes.

• Kristin Hersh - Pale

I'm as hopped-up with the up and down as you're slow on the uptake.

• Laura Veirs - Salvage a Smile

What of the sailor and her spinning wheel? What was she thinking being swallowed by the water whole?

• Mates of State - Halves and Have-Nots

Half-tired and now I know your sorrow. Half-wiser and now I know you're right.

• Neko Case - At Last

If death should smell my breathing as it pass beneath my window, let it lead me trembling, trembling. I own every bell that tolls me.

• Nina Nastasia - Roadkill

"Let yourself go," I hear them say, "It's beautiful." Well, I'm not afraid - this is happy-ever-after.

• Pretty Balanced - Ode to an Electric Fan

Though you aren't very useful for banishing the heat, you scare away the roaches and blow breezes on my feet.

• Regina Spektor - BYOS

My invitation said, "Bring your own shovel." I brought my own shovel - BYOS. Bring your own shovel and shovel up the mess.

• Rilo Kiley - Bulletproof

How many blows to the belly will this thing take that we refer to as our true love? We both know it's dead and it's been dying for some time, but we refuse to let it go.

• S - 5 Dollers

If I pass out when you walk by, it's probably 'cause you looked at me. God, I've already said too much.

• Shannon Wright - Pay No Mind

Your eyes, they swim like oceans. Every word is a lovely rhyme.

• Tegan and Sara - Soil, Soil

I feel like a fool so I'm going to stop troubling you, buried in my yard a letter to send to you and if I forget or, God forbid, die too soon, hope that you'll hear me, know that I wrote to you.

• Tori Amos - Mr. Zebra

"Too bad the burial was premature," she said and smiled.

• Veda Hille - Small

Bigger tired soonest, middle hugging a doll, hugging a kitten - small.

• Whispertown2000 - Hello Wishin' Well

Damn it all to hell, straight under your spell, I got a habit I'm not willing to break.

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Tick

You take your time - tick, tick, tick, tick! Time, you take it.