13. SikTh - Pussyfoot
It's complete and utter madness from the first scream, and I love it. In three and half minutes this tech metal song covers enough riffs and runs to make a ten minute song if they weren't a band of crazy people. The music is consistently interesting, especially rhythmically, and the dual vocals give the song a very unique feel. Of particular note is the 'live life live life' run around two minutes in, that features an absolutely awesome guitar line under the repeated screams of the SikTh's two singers.
12. Kayo Dot - The Manifold Curiosity
The best song off of the best album ever recorded. Everything in this song fits into the overall composition perfectly, from the crescendos of the beginning and middle, to the ethereal sections that come between them, to the psychotic hardcore ending. The alto sax solo at six minutes is one of the greatest musical moments ever, and the rest of the song is equally phenomenal. The best example of musical 'composition' I can think of, and number twelve on my list.
11. Thrice – Daedalus
The song that got me into Thrice, and an absolutely incredibly song from start to finish. 7/4 and 6/4 intro is awesome, and to me is an excellent example of using off time signatures for the benefit of the song rather than to be flashy. Dustin's singing is excellent, the guitars are minimalistic but great, and the lyrics convey a vivid picture without much straightforward imagery. The instrumental section is very well done despite being short, with the guitar harmonies of particular note. And all this builds into the end, one of the most emotional parts of any song I can think of. I've always considered Thrice to be a band that had their songwriting craft honed to perfection, and Daedalus is a direct result of that.