Pop Will Eat Its Children, Pt. 2

45. "Crush On You (remix)," Li'l Kim & Li'l Cease

1996
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: #84

Originally intended as a Cease solo track, until Kim expressed interest. Thanks to pregnancy complications, though, she was unable to add a timely verse, but left the song on her album anyway.

Fuck this song.

Keep it? NO

"Back That Azz Up," Juvenile

1999
U. S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: #19

Kids these days just don't know about the first reign of Cash Money Records. Just as fellow New Orleans hip hop label No Limit began its downturn, Williams Bros. & Co. reached its commercial peak. Mannie Fresh's (mostly) sample-free beats, Li'l Wayne before the yes-men and lean, and flagship artist Juvenile, who provided CMR with its first big chart hits: the idiosyncratic "Ha," and this booty-bounce classic, which while vibrating with nastiness, is still kind enough to provide an extended orchestral intro to prepare listeners for the maelstrom of ass which is about to materialize.

44. "Cybele's Reverie," Stereolab

1996
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: Did not chart

A world run by the French. Lounge sounds for moonrakers. Levitation instructions for and by people who speak no more than fifty words a day.

Keep it? YES (took long enough)

43. "Alright," Supergrass

1995
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: Did not chart

Never had much time for Britpop. Still don't. Why am I supposed to love "Alright," 'cause a 19-year-old wrote it?

Keep it? NO

"Jack Names the Planets," Ash

1994
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: Did not chart

Ash are a Northern Irish pop-punk trio who are still recording and touring. They're pretty good. Nothing life-altering, but there are other options for that. "Jack" is a great example of peaking early, a cinnamon roll baked by a 15-year-old…now that is impressive.

42. "The Sign," Ace of Base

1993
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: #1

The number one song of 1994. People of the world, take solace in vague analogue joy. It's as if the world decided every generation needs its own ABBA, and this generation got the talentless, sexless version.

Keep it? NO

"Naked Eye," Luscious Jackson

1996
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: #36

White girl rap? No, she's talking. Oh how she's talking. Top 50 Songs I Want To Bang, fer sure.

41. "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover," Sophie B Hawkins

1992
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: #5

The lack of comma makes me think she really wants to break off a piece of someone named "Damn."

"Tonight I'll be your mother." No no no. Infinity no's. This sounds like an Enya song remixed by Lenny Kravitz.

Keep it? NO

"Sunday," The Spinanes

1993
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position: Did not chart

Heartful indie couch-pop courtesy of the second-most overlooked band from the Pacific Northwest on this list. The "oomph" lies not in the sentences formed, but the distance measured. "You could never turn me off/Just flip me upside down."