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It's been four years since Rob Thomas released his last solo effort, 'Something to Be,' and today his new album, 'Cradlesong,' hit stores. Reviews of the album have been positive, and you can listen for yourself on AOL Music's free full CD listening party. (Please note - the listening party expires Monday, July 6) You can also hear Thomas' new single, 'Her Diamonds,' on AOL Radio's Adult Alternative station.

Rolling Stone (4/5): "Thomas' second solo album shows ... that he may well be Phil Collins' heir: a talented, big-time pro with a fine voice and a finer way with hooks ... he's made a more straightforward modern-rock album [than his 2005 release], with a bit of country twang thrown in. But there is plenty of unexpected texture to keep your ears engaged."

The Tune Music (A): "Thomas, lead singer of hugely popular adult contemporary band Matchbox Twenty, has been leaving his footprint on the road of rock music for nearly a decade and a half, is approaching 40, and is happily married ... and all of those aspects play into the songwriting on 'Cradlesong.' ... Between the perfect tracking and the naked aplomb of each song, there is little room for mistakes."

All Music (3.5/5): "With its urgent hooks and surging sincerity, 'cradlesong' is recognizably Thomas's work, right down to its lower-case typography. ... If it seems somewhat out of step with its year, that almost makes Thomas' somber, determined craft admirable -- he's doing this not because it'll give him a hit but because he believes in it."

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Now that the year is halfway through, we're taking a look at the best songs of 2009 thus far. Here are this year's top pop singles as rated by our AOL Radio listeners. If your favorite song from 2009 isn't on this list, let us know about it in the comments.

10) T.I.: 'Dead and Gone'

What's it about? T.I.'s friend Philant Johnson was killed in May 2006 when T.I., Philant and friends were leaving a show in Cincinnati. The friends were caught up in a shooting in which all were harmed and Philant died from the injuries he sustained. T.I. uses this song as a tribute to his late friend.

Did you know? The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 before its official release. The song features Justin Timberlake, making this the pair's second collaboration together.

Download 'Dead And Gone' | Read Lyrics

9) Linkin Park: 'New Divide'

What's it about? The song was written for the movie 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.' The lyrics suggest an inner struggle with knowledge, correlating directly to Shia LeBoeuf's character in the movie.

Did you know? This is the band's highest-ranking debut ever, coming in at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Download 'New Divide' | Read Lyrics

8) Daughtry: 'No Surprise'

What's it about? 'No Surprise' is about a relationship worn down by time and how the end should be graceful instead of painful because the couple still cares for each other.

Did you know? Chris Daughtry had some help writing this song from Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, former Click Five lead singer Eric Dill and Danish singer Rune Westberg.

Download 'No Surprise' | Read Lyrics

7) Black Eyed Peas: 'Boom Boom Pow'

What's it about? The song is lyrically futuristic, giving a digital rebirth to the Black Eyed Peas in their sound as well as their image.

Did you know? This is the band's best-selling song to date, moving 465,000 digital song downloads in its first week of release. The Ying Yang Twins have already sampled the song for their own 'Naked.'

Download 'Boom Boom Pow' | Read Lyrics

6) Kelly Clarkson: 'My Life Would Suck Without You'

What's it about? Though the title seems self-explantory, there is a little more to this fast-paced pop song than you may think. Clarkson sings that she and her boyfriend are dysfunctional and fight often, but for some reason he makes her life better and she cannot let him go.

Did you know? The song now holds the record for largest leap to the No. 1 position.

Download 'My Life Would Suck Without You' | Read Lyrics

5) Akon: 'Beautiful'

What's it about? Akon wrote 'Beautiful' from the perspective of a man at a club who sees a girl he really wants to talk to. Akon repeatedly calls the girl beautiful, giving the song its name.

Did you know? Akon recorded two Latin versions of the song, one with singer Dulce Maria.

Download 'Beautiful' | Read Lyrics

4) Flo Rida: 'Right Round'

What's it about? Based around Dead or Alive's 1984 hit 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),' the song is about his night at strip club.

Did you know? The song was produced as a studio experiment, where audio mixer Dr. Luke provided the sample and Flo Rida recorded his lyrics over the song.

Download 'Right Round' | Read Lyrics

3) Lady Gaga: 'LoveGame'

What's it about? Lady Gaga wrote the song after a night when she was at a club and said to a man she was interested in, "I want to ride your disco stick." This incident inspired the lusty lyrics.

Did you know? According to Lady Gaga, she wrote the song in four minutes. In concert, to emphasize the hook of the song, she often has an actual stick onstage with her.

Download 'LoveGame' | Read Lyrics

2) Beyoncé: 'Halo'

What's it about? The song is about finding the perfect person and the great effect that person can have in your life.

Did you know? The song was originally offered to Leona Lewis to sing, but Lewis was unable to record the song in time for when writer Ryan Tedder wanted it released.

Download 'Halo' | Read Lyrics

1) Taylor Swift: 'You Belong With Me'

What's it about? Swift is in love with a friend and tries to convince him that his girlfriend does not understand him the way that she does.

Did you know? The first lines of the song were inspired by Swift overhearing a male friend of hers on the phone with his girlfriend. She was berating him for hanging up on her.

Download 'You Belong With Me' | Read Lyrics

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10) Alabama: '40 Hour Week (for a Livin')'

Released: 1985

Album: '40-Hour Week'

Did you know? The song is the band's 17th No. 1 hit, and broke country music star Sonny James' streak of most uninterrupted chart-toppers in a row.

Inspiration: Alabama wrote the song to give credit to the hard workers of America and the tough jobs they do.

Download '40 Hour Week'

9) Aaron Tippin: 'Where the Stars and the Stripes and the Eagles Fly'

Released: 2001

Album: 'Stars & Stripes'

Did you know? This song was a major crossover hit from country to mainstream and was Tippin's first song to reach the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Inspiration: The attacks of Sept. 11 propelled Tippin to write this song.

Download 'Where the Stars and the Stripes and the Eagles Fly'

8) John Michael Montgomery: 'Letters From Home'

Released: 2004

Album: 'Letters From Home'

Did you know? The music video for 'Letters From Home' was filmed at the Army Aviation Support Facility and features actual National Guard soldiers, with Fred Mullins portraying a G.I. who is receiving these letters from home.

Inspiration: The daily life of a soldier and the obstacles faced each day away from home was Montgomery'sinspiration.

Download 'Letters From Home'

7) Daryl Worley: 'Have You Forgotten?'

Released: 2003

Album: 'Have You Forgotten?'

Did you know? Worley wrote the song after he attended a USO tour in Afghanistan.

Inspiration: Worley's motivation for the song was to honor those who died on Sept. 11 and to do his best to give them something. "I didn't really care if I made a bunch of money from it," he said.

Download 'Have You Forgotten?'

6) Toby Keith: 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)'

Released: 2002

Album: 'Unleashed'

Did you know? Keith originally did not want to record the song and instead only performed it in concert and for the military. It wasn't until he was approached by Gen. James L. Jones, Commandant of the Marine Corps, who told him, "It's your job as an entertainer to lift the morale of the troops" that he recorded the song.

Inspiration: The death of his father, who was a devoted patriot, as well as the events of September 11th, inspired Toby Keith.

Download 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)'

5) Big & Rich: '8th of November'

Released: 2006

Album: 'Comin' to Your City'

Did you know? The song is about the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which was ambushed by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The survivor of the song is Niles Harris, a hero of Big & Rich's Big Kenny. Big Kenny received a top hat from Harris years after his Vietnam days and now wears it onstage during live performances.

Inspiration: The story of Harris' time in Vietnam prompted Big & Rich to write '8th of November.'

Download '8th of November'

4) Alan Jackson: 'Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)'

Released: 2001

Album: 'Drive'

Did you know? Jackson immediately wanted to write a song about September 11, but he didn't want it to be jingoistic or vengeful. It took him more than a month to think of the lyrics, which came into his head when he woke up one morning in October. He was afraid to record the song, because he did not want to capitalize on tragedy, but after showing the song to his wife she knew he had something.

Inspiration: Jackson drew his inspiration from the Sept. 11 attacks.

Download 'Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)'

3) Johnny Cash: 'Ragged Old Flag'

Released: 1974

Album: 'Ragged Old Flag'

Did you know? This was the first Cash album that was solely written by him, the title track obviously included. 'Ragged Old Flag' is actually a spoken-word tribute to America, with patriotic chords playing in the background.

Inspiration: Cash's own patriotism during the Watergate scandal inspired him, making it clear that no matter what his country goes through he will be proud of it.

Download 'Ragged Old Flag'

2) Toby Keith: 'American Soldier'

Released: 2003

Album: 'Shock'n Y'all'

Did you know? 'American Soldier' was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard country singles chart for four weeks. Keith grew up in a patriotic family and has put on seven USO shows for the troops since the War in Iraq began in 2003. Toby commented on the song saying, "I would have never been able to complete 'American Soldier' if it weren't for the experiences I had."

Inspiration: The song was written in response to Keith's first visit to Iraq, where he was overcome with gratitude for the men and women in service.

Download 'American Soldier'

1) Lee Greenwood: 'God Bless the USA'

Released: 1984

Album: 'You've Got a Good Love Comin''

Did you know? The song itself was not written for any war or political event in particular, but it has been massively popularized during wartime. First, during the Gulf War and again after the Sept. 11th attacks and Iraq War. After its original release the song reached No. 7 on the country chart, and after being rereleased in 2001 it reached No. 16.

Inspiration: 'God Bless the USA' was influenced by the recession in the early '80s and released during the 1984 presidential race between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale.

Download 'God Bless the USA'

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AOL Radio has an exclusive premiere of the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince[TM] soundtrack. The movie hits theaters July 15th, but if you can't wait make sure to tune in to the Movie Scores station on AOL Radio. You'll hear a track from the album every hour at the top of the hour!

The Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince[TM] soundtrack will be released July 14th.

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To pay tribute to the King of Pop, we're counting down the top 10 Michael Jackson songs of all time, as rated by AOL Radio listeners. We also want to hear what your favorite MJ song is in the comments! Read the list, then listen to AOL Radio's All Michael Jackson station.

10) 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough'

Released: 1979

Album: 'Off the Wall'

Did you know? The song was MJ's debut single from 'Off The Wall' and the first solo recording that he had creative control on.

Download 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' | Read Lyrics

9) 'Rock With You'

Released: 1979

Album: 'Off The Wall'

Did you know? This was one of the last big songs from the disco era, hitting No. 1 on both the Pop and R&B charts.

Download 'Rock With You' | Read Lyrics

8) 'Bad'

Released: 1987

Album: 'Bad'

Did you know? The song was originally set to be a duet between Jackson and Prince, but Prince declined and told Jackson and record producer Quincy Jones that "it would be a hit without [him]." The full music video of the song is an 18-minute short film with Jackson portraying a young man named Daryl who once was "bad" and tries to prove to his old friends that he still has an edge after spending time in prep school.

Download 'Bad' | Read Lyrics

7) 'Man in the Mirror'

Released: 1987

Album: 'Bad'

Did you know? When Jackson played 'Man in the Mirror' on his Dangerous World Tour in 1992, stuntman Kinnie Gibson dressed like him and flew out of the arena wearing a jet pack.

Download 'Man in the Mirror' | Read Lyrics

6) 'Smooth Criminal'

Released: 1987

Album: 'Bad'

Did you know? Michael does one of his most memorable dance moves in the music video for 'Smooth Criminal,' where he seemingly defies gravity and leans forward without bending his knees and keeps his heels firmly in place. While he used wires for the video, his team patented a special type of shoes in 1993 that he wore for his stage performances. Before Michael leaned forward, the shoes would become attached to the stage through special pegs, thus leaving concert fans wondering, "How did he do that?"

Download 'Smooth Criminal' | Read Lyrics

5) 'The Way You Make Me Feel'

Released: 1987

Album: 'Bad'

Did you know? Michael wrote this song in response to his mother, Katherine Esther, who wanted him to write a song with a "shuffling kind of rhythm." For his 30th anniversary concert in 2001, he performed the song alongside Britney Spears. However, CBS cut her from the footage and her performance did not air.

Download 'The Way You Make Me Feel' | Read Lyrics

4) 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin''

Released: 1983

Album: 'Thriller'

Did you know? The phrase at the end of the chorus -- "Mama-se, mama-sa, mama-ma-coo-sa" -- are taken from a 1973 song 'Soul Makossa,' by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango. "Makossa" means "dance" in Duala, a Cameroonian language. Jackson has never lip-synched this song on any of his tours since 1984.

Download 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' | Read Lyrics

3) 'Beat It'

Released: 1983

Album: 'Thriller'

Did you know? For the 25th anniversary re-release of 'Thriller,' a remix was included titled 'Beat It 2008,' which featured additional vocals by Fergie, although a parody song released in 1984 by "Weird Al" Yankovic was much more popular. That spoof, 'Eat It,' was recorded with Michael's permission and won a Grammy for Best Comedy Recording.

Download 'Beat It' | Read Lyrics

2) 'Billie Jean'

Released: 1983

Album: 'Thriller'

Did you know? The song was almost removed from 'Thriller' after a disagreement occurred between producer Quincy Jones and Jackson. The video brought MTV into the mainstream, and it was reportedly the first video the channel aired by a black artist.

Download 'Billie Jean' | Read Lyrics

1) 'Thriller'

Released: 1983

Album: 'Thriller'

Did you know? MTV named the 14-minute-long video as the greatest music video of all-time. 'Thriller' was the seventh and final single released from the album of the same name. The original name for the song was 'Starlight Love.'

Download 'Thriller' | Read Lyrics

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Michael Jackson

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AOL Radio is playing a brand new Five Finger Death Punch song, 'Burn It Down.' The song will be on the band's sophomore album, 'War is the Answer.' Hear the song on AOL Radio's Metal Mosh Pit and Xtreme Alt Rock stations.

Listen to Metal Most Pit on AOL Radio

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Throughout the history of film, there have been songs that leave a lasting impact on pop culture. This unique facet of the music industry has led to some of the most original music being produced. As determined by AOL listeners, AOL Radio has compiled a list of the Top 10 Best Movie Songs. Whether it was the movie's theme song or used to drive the plot forward, these tunes caught the attention of moviegoers everywhere. So enjoy the list, and if your favorite movie song didn't make the cut, let us know about it in the comments!

10) Survivor: 'Eye of the Tiger'

Year: 1982

Movie: 'Rocky III'

Memorable Scene: During a montage focusing on the training of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and his opponent, Clubber Lang (Mr. T), Rocky is spending time with his family and gaining a commercial image while Lang is doing everything he physically can to ensure he will defeat Rocky.

Did you know? Before Survivor were commissioned to write 'Eye of the Tiger,' Stallone wanted to use Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust.' Now, 'Eye' is listed as No. 21 on Billboard's All Time Top 100 and we have Rocky Balboa to thank for it.

Download 'Eye of the Tiger' | Read Lyrics

9) Simple Minds: 'Don't You Forget About Me'

Year: 1985

Movie: 'The Breakfast Club'

Memorable Scene: Featured in the closing credits of the movie, the song scrolls over a still image of Bender (Judd Nelson) pumping his fist before the credits fade out. The song leaves us with the lasting feeling that these five teens, once strangers, won't still be strangers by Monday morning.

Did you know? Though 'Forget About Me' is Simple Minds' most popular song, the band refused to put it on any of its own albums until its 1992 'Best Of' album.

Download 'Don't You Forget About Me' | Read Lyrics

8) Ray Parker Jr.: 'Ghostbusters'

Year: 1984

Movie: 'Ghostbusters'

Memorable Scene: It plays in the opening credits as well as during a montage showing what the Ghostbusters do best -- busting ghosts. During its release, the music video for the song was just as recognizable as the song itself. It featured footage from the actual film and also guest-starred celebrities such as Chevy Chase and Danny DeVito acting as ghostbusters themselves.

Download 'Ghostbusters' | Read Lyrics

7) Peter Gabriel: 'In Your Eyes'

Year: 1989

Movie: 'Say Anything...'

Memorable Scene: To win back the affection of his ex-girlfriend, a heartbroken Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) goes to Diane's (Ione Skye) house in the middle of the night and holds up his boom box, playing 'In Your Eyes.'

Did you know? The song was written about Peter Gabriel's ex-girlfriend, actress Rosanna Arquette, who is also a film director and producer as well as older sister of David Arquette.

Download 'In Your Eyes' | Read Lyrics

6) Bill Medley: '(I've Had) The Time of My Life'

Year: 1987

Movie: 'Dirty Dancing'

Memorable Scene: The song is used in the film's finale, in which Baby (Jennifer Grey) overcomes her fear and allows Johnny (Patrick Swayze) to lift her high up in the air.

Did you know? The song was parodied in an episodes of 'The Simpsons' where Springfield University wins a football game and the lyrics of the song are changed to "I had the halftime of my life/And I owe it all to S.U."

Download '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' | Read Lyrics

5) Celine Dion: 'My Heart Will Go On'

Year: 1997

Movie: 'Titanic'

Memorable Scene: Director James Cameron did not originally want a song playing over the end credits. However, after hearing 'Heart,' he changed his mind immediately.

Did you know? The music for 'My Heart Will Go On' was originally written as the score of the movie, but the author of the song, James Horner, wanted it to be the theme song instead and recruited Celine Dion for the role. The song's success propelled other movie executives to mimic what 'Titanic' had done and use love ballads for tragedies.

Download 'My Heart Will Go On' | Read Lyrics

4) Queen: 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Year: 1992

Movie: 'Wayne's World'

Memorable Scene: In the opening scene, Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) play 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' famously headbanging to it as they cruise around their hometown of Aurora, Ill.

Did you know? While most of Queen's music was produced in the studio, Freddie Mercury composed this at his home, and according to guitarist Brian May it was "all in Freddie's mind" even before they started recording. It took the band three weeks to record.

Download 'Bohemian Rhapsody' | Read Lyrics

3) Goo Goo Dolls: 'Iris'

Year: 1998

Movie: 'City of Angels'

Memorable Scene: The music video for the song depicts scenes from the movie alongside the band, in classic music video fashion. In the film, Nicolas Cage watches the city through a telescope, strikingly similar to his duties as an angel.

Did you know? After being approached to write the song for 'City of Angels,' John Rzeznik, Goo Goo Dolls guitarist and author of the song, chose its name while flipping through the magazine and noticing country-folk singer Iris DeMent. He named the song after her, thinking it a nice name.

Download 'Iris' | Read Lyrics

2) Aerosmith: 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing'

Year: 1998

Movie: 'Armageddon'

Memorable Scene: The song begins playing at the end of the famous "animal cracker" scene in which Grace (Liv Tyler) and A.J. (Ben Affleck) spend a sunset together, lying on a field underneath a tree.

Did you know? This was the band's first song in 28 years to debut at Number One. Check out our Top 10 Power Ballads post, where 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' makes the list again!

Download 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' | Read Lyrics

1) Evanescence: 'My Immortal'

Year: 2003

Movie: 'Daredevil'

Memorable Scene: At the funeral for Elektra's (Jennifer Garner) father, she believes that Matt Murdock (Ben Affleck) is her dad's murderer and she ignores him. Matt, who is actually the title superhero, wants to reach out and comfort Elektra but cannot. 'My Immortal' plays in the background as the two fail to understand each other.

Did you know? The song is written by Evanescence's Ben Moody, and is based on a short story of his. Several versions of the song developed between 1997 and 2003, but the very first didn't include the song's bridge.

Download 'My Immortal' | Read Lyrics

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We have the first track off of the release of Adam Lambert's "On with the Show," which is scheduled to hit iTunes tomorrow. "On with the Show" is an album that Lambert recorded before his American Idol days and has admitted that the music off the album is much different from his sound today.

In any case, to listen to the track, listen to our Pop Idols station to hear it in rotation.

Listen to Pop Idols

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The AOL Radio store is open for business, so grab your official AOL Radio gear! Now you can buy products with the logos from your favorite AOL Radio stations. Hoodies, bags and even sweaters for your dog can all be found at the AOL Radio store. Choose your color, your style and express your favorite station!

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We've added a new feature on the AOL Radio widget that you can embed on your MySpace, Facebook, Bebo pages - or even for your own personal blog or website.

You can now tweet on Twitter what station you are listening to on the module. Simply click on the 'Tweet This' button on the module and you will be prompted for your Twitter username and password. Once you've entered this in, your Twitter feed will be automatically updated to alert your followers what AOL Radio station you're listening to, like so:

So Twitter fans, check it out!

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Did you get an iPhone 3GS this morning and are you looking for cool applications to fill it up with?

Well if you're searching for a FREE streaming music radio app with 250+ Internet radio stations and 150+ CBS Radio stations, make sure you grab the AOL Radio for iPhone in the App Store!

The AOL Radio application features all the stations you're familiar with from our web player as well as the ability to save your favorite stations, make a list of your favorites songs, instant "Buy from iTunes" and a "Find Your Local" station button which instantly determines which CBS Radio stations are closest to you.

Click on the link below to download the AOL Radio application from the iTunes store for free. Oh, and the application also works for iPod Touch users over Wifi!

AOL Radio for iPhone App (iTunes)

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For the past three decades, Metallica have been filling our speakers with some of the greatest music in the history of metal and hard rock. The question is: What songs in Metallica's vast discography are the very best? The staff at AOL Radio are able to easily answer this question by looking at years of listener feedback. Each time you, the listener, hear a Metallica song on AOL Radio, you can express how much you like or dislike it via our five-star rating system. Using this feedback, we bring you the 10 best Metallica songs. Enjoy, and let us know what your favorite Metallica song is in the comments.

10) 'Creeping Death'

Released: 1984

Album: 'Ride the Lightning'

Did you know? The song's inspiration comes from the scene in the movie 'The Ten Commandments' in which plagues in the Bible were bestowed on the ancient Egyptians. While watching the movie, bassist Cliff Burton mentioned, "It's like a creeping death," giving the song its name.

In the media: On Slipknot's DVD 'Voliminal: Inside the Nine,' Slipknot's Joey Jordison plays the drums on 'Creeping Death' for Metallica because Lars Ulrich was too sick to play.

Download 'Creeping Death' | Read Lyrics

9) 'Wherever I May Roam'

Realesed: 1991

Album: 'Metallica'

Did you know? The opening of the song uses an electric sitar, which is a guitar that mimics the sound of the traditional Indian instrument.

In the media: In the game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, a unit quotes the song by saying, "Roamer, wanderer, nomad, vagabond, call me what you will" with a response by the Beastmaster of "Where I lay my head is home."

Download 'Wherever I May Roam' | Read Lyrics

8) 'Enter Sandman'

Released: 1991

Album: 'Metallica'

Did you know? This was the first song written for the 'Metallica' album but the last one to have lyrics. In fact, the words we know and love aren't the originals. The first set of lyrics, written by James Hetfield, were about destroying the perfect family, in order to counter the commercial appeal of the song. However, Lars Ulrich and producer Bob Rock told him that he could write something better.

In the media: In 2003, 'Enter Sandman' was in the news because of its use by American interrogators during the Iraq War. Interrogators exposed prisoners to the song for hours at a time, the hope being that under the pressure of listening to music that was "culturally offensive," the prisoners would break their resistance.

Download 'Enter Sandman' | Read Lyrics

7) 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'

Released: 1984

Album: 'Ride the Lightning'

Did you know? The intro, written by Cliff Burton before joining Metallica, is often mistaken for an electric guitar but is actually a bass guitar affected by distortion and "wah-wah" sound.

In the media: The song is sampled by the Bloodhound Gang for their song 'Mope.' The opening riff appears in the chorus.

Download 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' | Read Lyrics

6) 'Fade to Black'

Released: 1984

Album: 'Ride the Lightning'

Did you know? The lyrics depict a man contemplating life who eventually commits suicide. In 2003, Lars Ulrich said that he and James Hetfield were obsessed with death at the time of the recording, and it obviously came out in their lyrics.

In the media: Guitar World magazine ranked the song as having the No. 24 best guitar solo ever.

Download 'Fade to Black' | Read Lyrics

5) 'Battery'

Released: 1986

Album: 'Master of Puppets'

Did you know? The song is a tribute to the Old Waldorf Club in San Francisco. However, the lyrics directly address assault and the control that anger can have over a person's actions.

In the media: In the documentary 'Some Kind Of Monster,' Robert Trujillo's audition to be Metallica's new bass player started with a request to play 'Battery.'

Download 'Battery' | Read Lyrics

4) 'Seek and Destroy'

Released: 1983

Album: 'Kill 'Em All'

Did you know? Since its debut in 1982, 'Seek and Destroy' has been the song that Metallica closes most shows with. It also appears in 'Some Kind of Monster' over images depicting the progression of the band.

In the media: The wrestler Sting uses a 1999 concert recording of 'Seek and Destroy' as his theme song.

Download 'Seek and Destroy' | Read Lyrics

3) 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)'

Released: 1986

Album: 'Master of Puppets'

Did you know? On tour in the late '90s, Metallica began combining 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)' and 'Master of Puppets,' renaming the medley 'Mastertarium.' The song also borrows from the Rush song 'Tom Sawyer,' who are thanked in the liner notes of the album.

In the media: Limp Bizkit covered the song in 2003 for a Metallica tribute concert.

Download 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)' | Read Lyrics

2) 'One'

Released: 1988

Album: '...And Justice For All'

Did you know? This song draws its inspiration from the 1939 novel 'Johnny Got His Gun,' by Dalton Trumbo, in which a World War I soldier is injured by German artillery and is left deaf, blind, mute and limbless; the man becomes a prisoner of his own body.

In the media: The movie clips from the 'One' video are taken from the film version of 'Johnny Got His Gun.' You can view the trailer of the film here and buy the DVD here.

Download 'One' | Read Lyrics

1) 'Master of Puppets'

Released: 1986

Album: 'Master of Puppets'

Did you know? The song is about cocaine and how powerless drugs can make a person feel. Powerlessness is a theme throughout Metallica's music but most noticeably on the album 'Master of Puppets.' The title song is considered the band's signature tune, known for its lengthy instrumental sections and downpicking.

In the media: Triumph the Insult Comic Dog did a sketch for 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' where he trashed John Mayer's hotel room to 'Master of Puppets.'

Download 'Master of Puppets' | Read Lyrics

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"The 1st single from my new album MEMOIRS OF AN IMPERFECT ANGEL is called 'Obsessed' . I'm a lil' exc ... Seriously, this is one of my favorite songs ever. I love the whole album. I'm completely immersed in it. I can't wait for you to hear it. LY" - Mariah Carey on Twitter

AOL Radio has Mariah Carey's new single, 'Obsessed,' her first single from 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.' The album will be out in stores on August 25th. 'Obsessed' was written and produced by Mariah, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, who are responsible for the majority of tracks on the new album.

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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cult film This is Spinal Tap, the band has returned with a new album aptly titled 'Back From the Dead.'

The album features new studio recordings of classics as well as six new songs. Many of these tracks can now be heard on AOL Radio's WTF station.

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10) Run-DMC: 'King of Rock'

Released: 1985

Album: 'King of Rock'

Did you know? On April 4, 2009, Run-DMC became the second hip-hop group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with 'King of Rock' playing in the background. The music video featured the three rappers breaking into a rock 'n' roll museum, which, prophetically, is where they would end up being honored more than 25 years later.

Influence on other artists: With many big industry names crediting them with developing hip-hop's roots, Run-DMC have influenced many of the artists on this list and those still rapping and rocking today. They also paved the way for rap-rock groups such as Limp Bizkit to become big in the '90s.

Download 'King of Rock'

9) Wu-Tang Clan: 'C.R.E.A.M.'

Released: 1994

Album: 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'

Did you know? 'C.R.E.A.M.' stands for "Cash Rules Everything Around Me" and has become a slang term for money. On January 29th, 2009, the song was certified gold -- 15 years after its release.

Influence on other artists: Several performers have mentioned 'C.R.E.A.M.' in their own songs. These artists include Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent, 2Pac, the Game and more.

Download 'C.R.E.A.M.'

8) Ice Cube: 'It Was a Good Day'

Released: 1993

Album: 'The Predator'

Did you know? Ice Cube's concept behind this song was to show the good side of his life, which he had never really done before. After sitting in a hotel room and realizing how different his life had become, he decided he wanted to let everyone know how much he appreciated the things he had. It has become one of his most recognizable songs.

Influence on other artists: The Staple Singers did a remix of 'It Was a Good Day,' which Ice Cube included on his 'Bootlegs and B-Sides' album.

Download 'It Was a Good Day'

7) 2Pac: 'I Get Around'

Released: 1993

Album: 'Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.'

Did you know? This song is what sparked the feud between 2Pac and fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G. 2Pac claimed that Notorious B.I.G. ripped off his 'I Got Money' style, which was prominently featured in the music video of this song.

Influence on other artists: Brian McKnight samples 'I Get Around' for his song 'Hold Me.'

Download 'I Get Around'

6) Snoop Dogg: 'Gin and Juice'

Released: 1994

Album: 'Doggystyle'

Did you know? The famous hook of the song was written by Dr. Dre and David Ruffin Jr.

Influence on other artists: Rare in the hip-hop community, this song has been heavily covered by country and alternative musicians, specifically Panic at the Disco, who once actually performed the song alongside Snoop.

Download 'Gin and Juice'

5) Geto Boys: 'My Mind Playin' Tricks on Me'

Released: 1991

Album: 'We Can't Be Stopped'

Did you know? This song samples Isaac Hayes' 'Hung Up on My Baby.'

Influence on other artists: Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind cites 'My Mind Playin' Tricks on Me' as a song that inspired his '90s hit 'Semi-Charmed Life.'

Download 'My Mind Playin' Tricks on Me'

4) Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five: 'The Message'

Released: 1982

Album: 'The Message'

Did you know? Though credited on the song, Grandmaster Flash was not interested in recording 'The Message' and does not appear on the recording. In 2002 it was the first hip-hop recording to be chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry, which is a list of songs that is considered historically and culturally important.

Influence on other artists: The catchy synthesizer riff in the beginning of the song has been sampled by various artists, including Ice Cube and Diddy.

Download 'The Message'

3) The Sugarhill Gang: 'Rapper's Delight'

Released: 1979

Album: 'Sugarhill Gang'

Did you know? This was the first hip-hop single to be certified gold. While not the first rap song, it is the one credited to have popularized the genre.

Influence on other artists: 'Rapper's Delight' inspired not only Blondie's 1980 song 'Rapture,' it inspired John Deacon, of Queen fame, to write 'Another One Bites the Dust.'

Download 'Rapper's Delight'

2) Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force: 'Planet Rock'

Released: 1982

Album: 'Planet Rock'

Did you know? The background vocals "Rock it, don't stop it" are sung by a band named the Washington Squares. The Washington Squares had studio time after Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force. Told to hurry it up, it was then that band member Arthur Baker turned to the band waiting behind them, telling them that if they helped it would go quicker.

Influence on other artists: This song not only influenced the rapper Common's 2008 album but the entire genre of G-Funk, which has 'Planet Rock' to thank for some of its electric sounds.

Download 'Planet Rock'

1) Dr. Dre: 'Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang

Released: 1993

Album: 'The Chronic'

Did you know? This was one of the first rap successes in the U.K., reaching No. 3 on the British charts. During the recording of this song, Snoop Dogg was arrested in connection to a rival gang member who was shot and killed. Because of this, Snoop recorded his part of the song through a jail telephone into a recorder Dr. Dre had.

Influence on other artists: Dr. Dre's influence is huge, in part to once co-owning Death Row Records, which propelled several of the artists on this list to stardom. Dre has been a mentor to rappers including Snoop Dogg and Eminem. As for the song, 'Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang' was sampled by Jay-Z for his song 'Livin' it Up' and was nominated for a Grammy.

Download 'Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang'

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Y Not My Dream

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