Darkerlight Top Ten VNV Nation Tracks as of March 2008, boy oh boy was this hard.....

TEN - 'Illusion' from Judgment (2007)

VNV Nation has some sad, mournful songs. Songs that quickly cut through all your materialistic thoughts and push out all the other things in your mind. In this top ten there are two songs like this, this is the second.

 

NINE - 'Electronaut' from Futureperfect (2002)

This was not on my top ten VNV list for 2 years after it came out. For one it is instrumental and well, one of the biggest strengths of VNV Nation is the power contained in the lyrics. However, enter the DVD release of VNV live on the Futureperfect tour, and you will see why Electronaut is on this list. The gusto and improvisation during the performance of this track, really embodies the energy the band has. See it, now!

EIGHT - 'Foreward' from Futureperfect (2002)

"This is your world. These are your people. You can live for yourself today, Or help build tomorrow for everyone." - Nuff said. I am buying what they are selling. The shortest 'track' I love, though it is not really a song.

SEVEN - 'Joy' from Praise the Fallen (1999)

Driving, pounding beat and one of my favorite lines - "Never to be ruled nor held to heel". I think this is one of the early tracks from VNV that helped develop my VNV Nation addiction.

SIX - 'Left Behind' from Genesis.2 (2001)

If Illusion was my second 'saddest' VNV Nation choice on this top ten, this is easily my first. I believe at certain points in my life it brought me to tears. Slow. Powerful. Sweeping.

FIVE - 'Rubicon' from Empire (1999)

Upon the first, second, third .... consecutive listen of this single song. I was a 100% devoted VNV Nation fan. I am not sure if it was where my mind was at during that period of my life or not. But I doubt it. It is just that good. It is only 5th here because I don't listen to it as much as I once did. "Nothing I can do... that I have not done..."

FOUR - 'Epicentre' from Futureperfect (2002)

Odd I never would have acknowledged this as a top ten if asked on the spot. However when sitting down and writing this, I started asking myself what songs really get me passionate and energized. This is one of them by far, "Don't turn your Back...."

THREE - 'Chrome' from Matter + Form (2005)

Lyrics filled with power, music and beats you can dance until dawn to. This track you can listen to endlessly and never get bored. It still has the same power over me when I hear it. In fact, while writing this sentence I just put it on again. Great fan video with this song on Youtube based around clips of The Fifth Element movie.

TWO - 'Lastlight' from Standing/Burning Empires (2000)

The word Epic brings to mind the endless struggle of good vs evil. Lord of the Rings was epic, the dragonlance chronicles were epic. Lastlight is epic in song form. It starts slow, builds and does not relent. Spoken word parts are awesome and it all dovetails into a finish that leaves you wanting more.

ONE - ' Legion' from Standing/Burning Empires (2000) or Empires (1999)

Between the two albums above, and it's three versions, you can't decide on a single remix (or original). The track is just that good in any form. I remember thinking Synthesizers were created for the purpose of this song. If your lucky enough to have a concert bootleg you'll see that in even non-studio form, it does not lose its appeal. Words can't do it justice, so I will end the list here. If you read this far, your ordering it from your favorite online shop now anyway....

Observations

In writing, I almost feel bad, as I had to exclude a lot of songs. There is so much good material put out by VNV Nation, it hurts. The best thing is that they are still making music, Judgment was released early 2007 and while not my favorite, it's still powerful stuff. In fact I listened every VNV Nation album I had, including bootlegs, videos and DVD's.

I also realized that I don't own nor have ever listen to a Rubicon remix. If ever there was a song to be remixed it was that one. Also need to give some honourable mentions before the VNV Nation fans lynch me for so obvious omissions: Honour, Further, Standing, Solitary, Darkangel, Kingdom, Saviour. But then this is the Darkerlight list so I guess it my cross against all you VNV lovers :)