5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #40

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Linoleum, by NOFX

This is one of the most energetic pieces of 90's punk that isn't pop-punk I have ever heard. If you want something loud, raging, yet also melodic at the same time to help you start a revolution in the streets then this is the track for you. It encompasses the struggle of the every man who works hard and does what he has to every day just to get by.

2.  Welcome to the Jungle, by Guns N' Roses

What better way to celebrate the reconciliation between Slash and Axl Rose after their nearly 20 year feud than by blaring one of their best known songs at top volume? This song has everything: wailing guitar solos, heavy drums, rumbling bass, howling vocals, etc. I kind of doubt Slash will be rejoining the band, but I suppose those of us who are long time fans can still always dream about such a miracle, right?

3.  Should I Stay or Should I Go, by The Clash

If ever there was a tune to crank, air guitar, and whip your hair around to it's this. It's classic punk rock at its roots and finest. The Clash took what bands like The Ramones did and then put it on steroids. This classic tune is proof enough of that. It's upbeat, catchy, and has a memorable chorus. What more can you really ask for in a song meant for everyone to be able to relate to?

4.  Black Magic Woman, by Santana

Although this tune was originally written by Peter Green during his tenure in Fleetwood Mac, this song did not gain particular notoriety until Santana released their hot Latinized cover of it in 1970. Carlos Santanta's fret work in this song is phenomenal. You would think that his guitar was literally on fire the way he just rips through the song. This cover is definitely on par with the original.

5.  Still Got the Blues, by Gary Moore

Love (or recent loss thereof) got you down? Blues guitarist Gary Moore understood. In 1990 he released a song with so much heart, pain, and soul called Still Got the Blues. It has one of the most memorable guitar melody hooks that I've heard in some time. It cuts like a knife and makes you feel as though your gut is being torn even if you weren't sad before. Nothing like good music to do what words never could...