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“Wish” – Nine Inch Nails

From the transitional 1992 EP “Broken,” “Wish” was the first Nine Inch Nails song that made me say “F–K YEAH!” A lot of my friends loved Nine Inch Nails already, but while I liked the attitude of 1989’s “Pretty Hate Machine,” it had too many synths and not enough guitars for my taste. Well, be careful what you wish for, because Trent Reznor added some guitars all right. Gobs of them. Even over 20 years later, the result is still one of the heaviest songs ever recorded. And I’ve since come around on “Pretty Hate Machine” as well.

“Pure Morning” – Placebo

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Placebo’s “Pure Morning” is a nice updating of Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced?,” albeit with a 1970s British glam-rock feel. This was originally supposed to a be a B-side, but was released as an A-side instead. It’s Placebo’s best-known song in the US, but lead singer/songwriter Brian Molko allegedly hates it and rarely performs it these days.

“She’s On It” – The Beastie Boys

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This is a post-hardcore, but pre-“Licensed to Ill” Beastie Boys from 1985. Produced by Rick Rubin, “She’s On It” provides a nice blueprint of what that landmark album released in 1986 would be, with Rubin’s trademark metal-rap fusion that would explode into the mainstream with the Run DMC/Aerosmith collaboration “Walk this Way” the following year. The video is quite the artifact from the mid-1980s.

“In Dreams” – Roy Orbison (as used in “Blue Velvet” (1986) dir. David Lynch)

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Here’s the infamous scene where Dean Stockwell’s whacked-out Ben character lip-syncs to Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams” while Dennis Hopper’s equally insane Frank Booth looks on in David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet.” Stockwell allegedly came up with Ben’s “look” by reading Lynch’s script and imagining what kind of person Frank would consistently praise as being “suave.” I love the way that the otherwise aggro Frank gets very emotional while watching Ben’s performance and then about 1:14 in, abruptly starts having a psychotic break. Two brilliantly weird performances in a masterpiece of a film. I’ll watch this scene 1,000 more times than have to endure one more scene of some movie character singing Motown tunes into a hairbrush. And would someone please send me that smoking jacket that Ben wears?

“A Sheep in the Deep” with Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Coyote

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The classic Warner Brothers cartoon about a sheepdog and a coyote, who are otherwise friends, clocking in and doing their respective “jobs” of hating each other and stopping each other from doing what they’re supposed to do … albeit being very mindful of the clock. Chris Rock once said this cartoon epitomized the concept of “racism” for many people in this country, meaning that a lot of it is people going through the motions of what they feel they’re supposed to be doing, rather than any legitimate hatred on their part. Which … may arguably be worse.

“Sympathy for the Devil” – Rolling Stones (live from the 1969 concert at Altamont from the documentary “Gimme Shelter”)

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Here’s the infamous live version of “Sympathy for the Devil” from the December 1969 concert at Altamont where a Stones fan was stabbed to death (caught on camera for the documentary “Gimme Shelter”). However, contrary to popular belief, the stabbing took place during “Under My Thumb,” not “Devil.” However, one of the scariest scenes in any documentary comes in at about 4:10 into this clip when a certain Hells Angel (who has been hired to provide “security”) starts eyeballing Jagger. I can’t tell if he wants to f–k Mick Jagger or kill him … or both. In any case, that look he gives Jagger is really f–king scary.

“Happy” – Rolling Stones (live from their 1972 American Tour)

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More Keith Richards for you folks tonight. This is a smokin’ live version of Keith’s signature song “Happy,” recorded on the Stones’ 1972 American tour. From the 1975 concert film “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones.” Originally from the 1972 album “Exile on Main Street.”

“You Got the Silver” – Rolling Stones

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From the 1969 album “Let it Bleed,” comes the first Stones track with a lead vocal by Keith Richards. This is also the last recording the Stones released with Brian Jones (who plays autoharp on the track). The song appeared prominently in the notorious Michelangelo Antonioni film “Zabriskie Point.” A very nice slice of blues in the finest Stones tradition from their golden era.

“The Sad Punk” – The Pixies

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From 1991’s “Trompe Le Monde,” comes the Pixies’ take on hardcore punk … at least for the first minute or so, until the song segues into a mellower, but still extremely heavy vibe that sounds more like the Pixies we know and love. One of my favorites from one of my favorites.

“Primary” – The Cure

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From the Cure’s 1981 album “Faith,” “Primary” is a song that always sounded just about right when you’re driving alone after midnight. You don’t hear it as much as their other singles, but “Primary” is a great adrenalized, bass-heavy track. It’s also interesting to see lead singer Robert Smith just starting the makeup and glam … just a few years away from the fright wig and black eye makeup.