Sunday, December 21, 2014

Conclusion

Well, what a great year for music. I did my best to diversify my listenings this year. But in the end, we found so many good albums from so many good bands. I'm not going to dig through all the specifics, but here's the final 20.


20. I, The Breather - Swine:Cult (ft Ricky Armellino)
19. Destiny Potato - Take A Picture
18. Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better
17. Foster the People - Coming of Age
16. Winds of Plague - Say Hello To The Undertaker
15. Five Iron Frenzy - I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge
14a. Weird Al - Handy
14b. Weird Al - Foil
13. Beartooth - Beaten In Lips

12. Walk The Moon - Shut Up and Dance
11. Meg Myers - Desire
10. Cut Copy - We Are Explorers

9. Aurelio Voltaire - Captains All
8. Sleeper Agent - Waves
7. Impending Doom - Hellhole
6. Lo-Fang - When We're Fire
5. Chvrches - The Mother We Share
4. Eye of the Enemy - The Shift
3. Future Islands - Seasons
2. Morning Parade - Alienation
1. Cadets - A Drop in the Ocean



There are a few albums I'd like to mention, though. Weird Al's "Mandatory Fun" was tremendous in both it's hilarity and in Al's sincere desire to be amazing. Anberlin finished their career strong with "Lowborn", while Lo-Fang and Chvrches soared with "Blue Film" and "The Bones of What You Believe" respectively. Van Canto proved that their odd mix of a cappella hero metal is still a force in the musical community with "Dawn of the Brave". Slipknot ("Vol .5") and Pantokrator ("Incarnate") kept the metal going strong, even after significant breaks. King 810 brought one of the darkest, most hate filled record I've seen in many years with "Memoirs of a Muderer". It's so scary, it's awesome. "Lazaretto" by Jack White surprised me in a good way, while In Flames' "Siren Charms" disappointed me the worst of all. Even Body Count's "Manslaughter" had me nodding my head and feeling Ice-T's vibe.

All in all, a great year, and there are already late 2014 entries that I hope to find in 2015. Thanks again for joining me on this journey.

-Jester

Saturday, December 20, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #1

#1 - Cadets - A Drop in the Ocean


 Number one. Numero uno. The first, the best, the alpha on a list of amazingness. For five long years, the #1 song spot has been owned by upbeat, poppy alt-rock anthems that have generally served to provide joy in times of hopelessness and happiness abundant. That trend has been broken in 2014, not by a thunderous metal tune but by an electronic, space-rock style jam from the duo of Cadets.

Cadets is the brainchild of former Ocean is Theory singer Josh Williams and producer Adam Smith. While the other members of Ocean is Theory went on to form Young Edison, Williams met up with Smith and released an EP in late 2013 before coming up with an absolutely brilliant business model for 2014. Balking at the idea of traditional record releases, the band decided to release a new song every full moon of 2014. While their spacey love songs range from low hundreds to the 8000+ on "A Drop in the Ocean", it's a brilliant concept for a small band in a new age of technology. Each song has an accompanying YouTube video, and both "A Drop in the Ocean" and "Island" have received a decent amount of airplay on Radio U. I also enjoy the tracks "Daylight", "Stay" and "Empire of Stars", as well as their electronic take on The Cranberries hit "Zombie".

But as is with many albums, your first love often lasts the longest. "A Drop in the Ocean" was an unstoppable juggernaut in 2014; starting slow and finishing with an outstanding flourish of awesomeness. While "Alienation" might have been the early favorite to take the crown, "A Drop in the Ocean" simply would not be stopped. The song opens up with massive soaring synths, deep bass notes and Williams' deep crooning voice. A perfect space song about finding a never-ending love. A drop in the ocean that never stops it's motion. The early beeping keys pulse through the entire song and push it to its highest limits while the bass drives the song down into your soul. And to top everything off, Williams finishes (and opens, if you listen closely) the song with perhaps the line of the year: "It's a Friday funeral, it's a Sunday all alone". What an amazing song. I immediately went to their page and downloaded the song when I first heard it, and I haven't looked back. I can honestly say that this might be one of the strongest #1's as far as lasting effort goes, but of course only time will tell on that one.






Title: A Drop in the Ocean
Artist: Cadets
Album: A Drop in the Ocean


Previous #1s
2013: Surfer Blood - Demon Dance
2012: Fun. - Some Nights
2011: Young The Giant - My Body
2010: Hockey - Song Away
2009: Morrissey - I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris

Friday, December 19, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #2

#2 - Morning Parade - Alienation


Talkin' bout number two! In 4 of the 5 years that the countdown has run, the penultimate song on the countdown has been a massive metal anthem whose weight often carries it further than the ultimate alternative number one that follows. 2014 bucks that trend with the English alternative rock quartet Morning Parade, who first graced our countdown in 2012 with the #17 song "Headlights". Unfortunately, it seems that this may be their last time landing on the countdown as just earlier this week they announced that they were breaking up after only two albums. Not a bad way to go for a band, but unfortunately their album "Pure Adulterated Joy" followed most of the same formula as their 2012 self-titled debut did. The music is generally slow and the lyrics are generically dull. I don't not like the band, but on my first try I actually could not get through the album without being bored to sleep. Of the 20 albums that accompany their songs, this one was probably the one I hold in lowest regard.

But today, we are here to talk about "Alienation". I was driving to work in the morning early in the year when I first heard the song. I told myself that I needed to make sure to check CD101's playlist for that day to see if I could find what song that was that I heard. I could sense the potential and the power of the song, and as I was driving home it played again and the deejay announced that it was our old friends in Morning Parade. The song was initially released on an EP of the same name, and later on the album. So what is it about "Alienation" that makes it better than the 18 entries before it an the tens of thousands of songs that debuted in 2014? I honestly, truthfully do not have an answer to that question. The opening keys catch my interest, and Steve Sparrow's accent is worth a listen as well. Perhaps it is the clever lyrical play that the band employs and the simplistic message of the chorus. "Make angels in the snow, love a little more, live with no regrets for everything you do". "Everything you are, everything you were, everything you've been is not everything you'll be". It is definitely a strong lyrical showing from the band, who use a lot of cerebral imagery to get their message across. The video features the band performing with their instruments in an array of colors and artistic backdrops. It's actually a sort of mental trip filled with flashy colors and dark grays mixed with Sparrow's stand-still singing face.

For what it's worth, this song was carrying the #1 banner for the majority of the year. From beginning of the year to the very end, it was a powerful song that carried an explosive amount of airplay in my car and in my head. But... it's #2. Who will be #1? Does alternative rock reign supreme? Does metal finally clinch the title? Or will a different style make it's way to the top spot? Tune in tomorrow at 4pm EST to find out!









Title: Alienation
Artist: Morning Parade
Album: Pure Adulterated Joy


Previous #2s
2013: Aeon Zen - Warning
2012: Meshuggah - Do Not Look Down
2011: Owl City - Galaxies
2010: Periphery - Icarus Lives!
2009: August Burns Red - Rationalist

Thursday, December 18, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #3

#3 - Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting For You)



Well folks, it's been a great year for the countdown. Lots of great music as always, but we do eventually have to come to completion. With that I bring you... wait, what? We're not at #1 yet? Oh crap. My mistake. Then the question I may pose here is how in the hell did this song wind up at #3?! When I look back at 2014 there is only one song that I immediately ran to the computer and listened to a dozen times on repeat after first hearing it. I mean, when I first heard "Seasons", it kind of glazed over me, but the next day I was lying in bed and it just hit me. Like, bang. Go listen to this song. Go listen to this CHORUS. Over and over and over and over again. "Seasons" has a massive soaring chorus where lead singer Samuel T. Herring pours all of his being into crooning over a love that has gone unrequited. You can feel the passion drip from the lyrics, even if you don't know or understand what he's saying. The lyrics seem a little odd, but the point has been conveyed; the singer has been waiting and waiting through the change of seasons for a love that will surely never come. Most of us can relate to this plight, but not all can express it in such a grandiloquent way.

The song is so massive. The keys soar along with Herring's vocals, as the drum and bass carry you along the path. The unfortunate thing about "Singles" (an awfully bold title) is that the album starts with it's best track and only goes downhill from there. How do you follow up a song that big, though? You can't, especially when you're band consists of keys, drums, bass and a singer. If you listen to it enough, "Singles" is a fairly good album with a few good tracks ("A Dream Of Me And You" being the next one to catch your ear, although it's unfortunately the last song), but all in all it ends up being a rather boring album that fails to drive as hard as the first single. And the video contains absolutely nothing of substance to go with the song, but the band did end up making an appearance on Letterman which ended up being one of the most viewed songs on Youtube for the show. In the video, you find Herring dancing around with child-like enthusiasm and a powerful voice that unfortunately loses it's wind half-way through and also at the end. I've seen other live videos of the band, and you can really feel the passion and emotion that flows through the song. But as it took the band 8 years to get signed and have a big single, I feel that they have reached their apex with this song. But what a song it is. I have both the official video (where you can hear the album sound) and the live Letterman debut, which was given quite a deal of praise when it originally aired.


(official)


(live)







Title: Seasons (Waiting On You)
Artist: Future Islands
Album: Singles



Previous #3s
2013: The Airborne Toxic Event - Timeless
2012: Walk the Moon - Anna Sun
2011: Matt and Kim - Good for Great
2010: Fear Factory - Final Exit
2009: Owl City - Fireflies

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #4

#4 - Eye of the Enemy - The Shift


This really has been an exceptional year for music. In a rare twist, the majority of the albums that accompany the songs on the countdown have also been outstanding. With the only exception being the Cut Copy album, almost all of the discs (minus the just released Walk the Moon) had multiple songs rocketing through my MP3 player. Intriguingly, that trend comes to a grinding halt at #4. It's not to say that Eye of the Enemy's disc "The Vengeance Paradox" is bad, but when you say "Melodic Death Metal", you kind of get the picture on what the majority of bands who play that style sound like. In fact, this band actually bears a striking resemblance in musical style to the now defunct This Ending with their album "Dead Harvest", which landed the #7 song in our inaugural countdown, "Machinery". But the Australian quartet did bang out a major hit in our #4 song, "The Shift".

I don't suppose it's hard to tell why this song is ranked so high. 2013's #2 song was a progressive track from the band Aeon Zen called "Warning", which features the greatest 2:43 intro that I have ever heard. Well, "The Shift" starts off with a soft acoustic guitar, which is joined by a second and the play off of each other until the 1 minute mark, when the amps are plugged in and the cymbals crash. The opening plugged riff on this song was easily my favorite riff of the year. But by comparison to "Warning", the actual song content on "The Shift" is far superior. The bass thunders, the guitars soar and the drums pummel through six minutes and ten seconds of power. Sadly, there is no video as the band is actually a very small act who have just barely pushed their way off the Australian continent. The lyrics seem to suggest a troubled father (perhaps a soldier) guiding his son through life. Even if you don't listen to the words, this song is a melodic killer and well worth it's spot in the top 5.









Title: The Shift
Artist: Eye of the Enemy
Album: The Vengeance Paradox


Previous #4s
2013: New Politics - a) Harlem; b) Goodbye Copenhagen
2012: Garbage - Beloved Freak
2011: Matt Nathanson - Kiss Quick
2010: The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
2009: Alice in Chains - Check My Brain

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #5

#5 - Chvrches - The Mother We Share


Perhaps the most amazing of the pleasantly surprising alt-rock bands, Chvrches exploded onto the US scene late in 2013 and haven't looked back. The gorgeous Lauren Mayberry fronts the Scottish synth-poppers and she is flanked by the equally talented Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. All who know me know I have a soft spot for beautiful Scottish female vocalists (Sharleen Spiteri, Annie Lennox, Shirley Manson, etc) and Mayberry is no exception. Her voice hits beautiful highs in every song she graces as she weaves notes together in perfect harmony. The same could be said about the two men manning the synths. Each song is almost perfectly layered and alternates between bouncy, happy synths and serious, sullen pieces that mix into a beautiful symphony. Mayberry's voice also translates wonderfully live, which is often a rarity in female synth voices. My favorite tracks off of "The Bones of What You Believe" are "Gun" (which is musically the top of the line), "Strong Hand", "Under The Tide", "We Sink", and "Recover".

But the best and most impactful song from 2014 is the opening track and lead single, "The Mother We Share". It opens with Mayberry's "oh"s looped as the dual synths kick in with a thumping drum'n'bass section. The verses aren't overly complicated but the choruses soar behind the bouncy keys. The verses tell a lonely tale that could be construed as a brother-sister falling out or a love story gone wrong.  It isn't expressly stately whom "The mother we share" is and whether that is a maternal person or a figurative mother.  Either way, the video shows a lonely girl walking through the city, mixed with the beautiful singing face of Miss Mayberry. This is one of those songs that can amplify both happiness and sadness, but the most powerful verse is the final, "Into the night for once, we're the only ones left. I bet you even know where we could go, oh oh. When it all fucks up, you put your head in my hands. It's a souvenir for when you go, oh oh." It really hit me in the feels earlier this year when I was down on myself, but this is a song for every mood. Well done, Chvrches. You were all over the place in 2014.










Title: The Mother We Share
Artist: Chvrches
Album: The Bones Of What You Believe


Previous #5s
2013: Born of Osiris - M∆chine
2012: The Shins - Simple Song
2011: Cold - The Break
2010: Matt and Kim - Cameras
2009: Michael Bublé - Just Haven't Met You Yet

Monday, December 15, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #6

#6 - Lo-Fang - When We're Fire



Inevitably, we reach a point in every countdown where we start hitting the potential #1s. A song so highly regarded that for a considerable amount of time, it could have possibly held the year-end #1 spot. This one is the first, and with that let's take a few minutes to talk about Matthew Hemerlein, aka Lo-Fang. As I understand it, he started writing this album in Cambodia and wrote the bits and piece over a span of several years while globe-trotting. The album is brilliantly produced, with Hemerlein playing the part of every musician in the ensemble, from violin to banjo to piano, and so forth. It's a captivating album musically, and his voice (which to me resembles a mix between James Blake and a lot of smoke) is equally captivating as well. Some of the lyrics on this album can be confusing, but you can tell that the man is filled with pain and regret, and of course "Animal Urges". Other great tracks include the one-night stand themed "Light Year", "Blue Film", and the cover of "Boris", another sexually charged affair of a song.

But the title of #6 falls to the track "When We're Fire". Usually I can tell you the first time I heard a countdown track, especially one with the power of this. But, I truly have no idea. I don't know when it first hit me that this was the song, either. But somewhere along the way, the line "Even when you won't believe me, try to make it easy" struck me right through the soul, and the pounding bassline in the beginning eruprts the song into your eardrums and keeps you hooked. And I can honestly say that Mr Fang is delivering a message that I haven't truly deciphered either. Is it about the end of a failing relationship? The difficulty of finding love? The video has the handsome Hemerlein singing to a lovely heroine in a pink kimono, with a whole lot of red and blue light. It is as intriguingly artistic as the song and entire album. I'm in no way doubting his abilities as a producer and songwriter, but it will be very interesting to see how his songwriting and singing abilities mature in years to come.







Title: When We're Fire
Artist: Lo-Fang
Album: Blue Film


Previous #6s
2013: Tegan and Sara - Closer
2012: Lamb of God - King Me
2011: Nine Lashes - Anthem of the Lonely
2010: Them Crooked Vultures - Mind Eraser, No Chaser
2009: Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone

Sunday, December 14, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #7

#7 - Impending Doom - Hellhole


What words can I use to describe Impending Doom's release "Death Will Reign"? Thunderous. Crushing. In-freaking-sane. I don't think there was a better metal album released. That makes 3 tremendous albums in a row for Brook Reeves and the boys, and they seem to just keep getting better. "Death Will Reign" marks the return of founding guitarist Manny Contreras, and he crushes deep low riffs throughout the release. "Ravenous Disease",  "My Own Maker", "Endless", and so on. There are a few songs where the riffs become a little repetitive, but throughout the album there are some solid high-points where the band brings both a fierce technicality and a strumming finesse that crushes the eardrums and nods the neck.

The opening riff on "Hellhole", however is one of my favorite riffs of the year. To top it, they bring a crushing verse riff and the unstoppable message "I WOULD BE TERRIFIED IF YOUR SOUL WAS MINE". Reeves has often used his words to call out others with a ferocity unlike many other singers in the deathcore genre. The song isn't overly complex but it does itself well when it jumps around. To top it off, Reeves finishes by the song by screaming "Burn in your hellhole, burn for what you've done" over the lowest tunage of guitars you'll find. It's always good to have some strong metal in the top 10, and this won't be the last of it. Enjoy!







Title: Hellhole
Artist: Impending Doom
Album: Death Will Reign


Previous #7s
2013: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't On The Dancefloor)
2012: One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful
2011: The Airborne Toxic Event - All I Ever Wanted
2010: Iyaz - Replay
2009: This Ending - Machinery

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #8

#8 - Sleeper Agent - Waves



It's officially time to get ridiculously serious. The countdown is often segmented into 3 different parts. Good songs, great songs, and OMG songs.  We've reached the OMG portion. And nowhere else is there more a surprising artist on this countdown then at #8 with Sleeper Agent. In 2011 they released their major debut disc "Celebrasion" and upon hearing Alex Kandel's intriguing voice, I decided that this was a band that I probably would not enjoy going forward. Fast forward to 2014 and the album "About Last Night", which is a similarly built but more mature and potent record. The alt-rocking sextet jump right out with the sexually charged track "Be Brave" and continue to pulse with songs like "Eat You Up" and "Take It Off", but they also show a different side with the song "Waves"

"Waves" is in many ways a painful song. It serves as a reminder that summer is gone and responsibilities need to be tended. It's a song about having fun, and finding love that you never knew existed, only to have to leave it behind. It opens up slowly and builds into a lovely guitar riff surrounded by hand-claps. If you only listen to it once you might miss it, but the song definitely reached inside of you after the second listen and finds all the right heartstrings to pull. "Can you hold me to it, I think I would. Love me? Won't but I know I think I could". The song finishes by saying "At least we made some waves...". It's an interesting look back on times passed, and hopefully a reminder to push forward in love. The only unfortunate thing about the video is that it swirls. But honestly, I feel like it captures the song better by swirling.







Title: Waves
Artist: Sleeper Agent
Album: About Last Night


Previous #8s
2013: Paper Route - Letting You Let Go
2012: Demon Hunter - Dead Flowers
2011: Emmure - Children of Cybertron
2010: 30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens
2009: Jordin Sparks - Battlefield

Friday, December 12, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #9

#9 - Aurelio Voltaire - Captains All

My admiration for Aurelio Voltaire is well documented, from this blog to my personal pages and into my own personal circles. After seeing him live for the first time several years ago, I looked up his catalog and have not been disappointed. And while his 2012 disc "BiTrektual" failed to garner any hits on that countdown, he has truly outdid himself with 2014's "Raised By Bats". From the opening title track to the very final effort, it's chock full of what makes Voltaire great. Humor, spooky sounds, creepy lyrics, and above all a true respect for all creatures. In this album, he put together another great conglomerate of stellar musicians, including Brian Viglione, Ray Toro, Julia Marcell, and more. Standout tracks (all 10, please) include "Oh My Goth!", "Raised By Bats", "The Devil and Mr Jones", "Sacrifice"... okay, I need to stop.

Number 9 this year is one of my favorite sing-a-long songs about being yourself and not letting the world get you down, no matter how different you are. Voltaire has always preached in favor of the outcasts, freaks, and the general goth crowd in his life, and he has been found on major news outlets as well as the smaller circuits. When we saw him live, he announced that this song with his "Ode to Adam Ant" and the song "Prince Charming", where Ant reminds others to "Respect yourself and all of those around you". It's a great fun track that bounces around and is tailored to the crowd of strange. It resonates well with me, and could possible be a hit even if it weren't recorded by one of the all-time greatest recording artists. Yo ho oh oh! Enjoy!











Title: Captains All
Artist: Aurelio Voltaire
Album: Raised By Bats


Previous #9s
2013: Deadlock - The Arsonist
2012: Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks
2011: The Limousines - Internet Killed The Video Star
2010: Dan Black - Symphonies
2009: The Killer and the Star - Living With Musicians

Thursday, December 11, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #10

#10 - Cut Copy - We Are Explorers



Cut Copy hail from Australia and already have landed a #1 record in their home country, despite never cracking the top 45 in America. "Free Your Mind" made it as high as #98 on the Billboard charts (#19 in AUS) but except for minor airplay on CD102.5, they were not to be seen around these parts. It's a shame, because the album is exceptionally produced and could easily be held as a standard for what dance-pop should sound like. The band toured heavily through Australia, the US and Europe in support of this "Free Your Mind", and despite the lack of major catchy singles, the album is very strong and well worth a listen.

"We Are Explorers" is actually a very fun song that starts with flashy synths before dropping into a bouncy bass mix. The verses may sound similar but a closer listen shows complex patterns that will kick around your head all night if you're not careful. The coolest thing (by far) about this song is the video, which features glowing inch-high figures printed from a 3D printer in stop motion animation making their way through New York City. It's definitely a unique video and a very fun song to boot. And I think FUN is necessary once you've reached the top 10!






Title: We Are Explorers
Artist: Cut Copy
Album: Free Your Mind



Previous #10s
2013: The 1975 - The City
2012: Animal Kingdom - Strange Attractor
2011: FM Static - F.M.S.T.A.T.I.C
2010: Muse - Resistance
2009: Five Finger Death Punch - Bad Company

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #11

#11 - Meg Myers - Desire

There are many things I could write about this song. But it goes without saying that this is the sultriest, sexiest song to ever reach the countdown. But Meg Myers doesn't have to be writhing around on her bed singing about all the great and terrible things she wants to do with me to achieve that. It's the voice. The voice, the eyes, the everything. The entire EP (all 4 amazing songs) showcase Myers' unique sultry voice and clever perspective on life and love. But it is "Desire" that the entire world is focusing on, so here we are.

Honestly, I've had half a year to compose some great paragraph about what to say about "Desire", and I've got next to nothing. But here are the facts: Meg Myers wants to feel me in her bones. She wants to kill me; specifically to skin me with her tongue. She wants to break me, tear into my soul and throw me to the hounds. So why am I (along with millions of others) so turned on? Seriously. This is the hottest song I've ever listened to, and all that sex is oozing over a bass guitar that threatens to set the entire affair on fire. If that wasn't enough, Meg is screaming "How do you want me?" over and over again. And just to make sure you're blown away, there's a screaming guitar solo at the end. That's all I've got. I can't handle it any more. Whew.







Title: Desire
Artist: Meg Myers
Album: Make A Shadow


Previous #11s
2013: Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
2012: Swimming With Dolphins - Sleep To Dream
2011: Power Quest - Glorious
2010: Taio Cruz - Dynamite
2009: Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #12

#12 - Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance

Keeping with the Ohio trend, Walk The Moon (Cincinnati) are back for their second showing on the countdown. They surfaced in 2012 with the #3 song "Anna Sun" and have once again released a massive earworm that will surely garner insane amounts of airplay in 2015.  In fact, the only reason that this song is at #12 and not higher is because it was only just released two months ago! The only time in countdown history that a song has risen so quickly so late was in 2010 when "Cameras" by Matt and Kim launched up to #5 in only 1 month of airplay.

I'm here to tell you folks - "Shut Up And Dance" is the real deal for Walk The Moon. The song blasts off with an obsessive riff and kicks right in to the sing-a-long chorus. The soaring guitars are matched with a pulsing bassline and an airy layer of synths that immediately lift the listener up. The song tells of love at first sight, found on the dance floor. The video has singer Nicholas Petricca finding his true love and being knocked out by her amazingness. Both the song and video are filled with so much fun and positive energy, it's almost impossible to ignore them. I cannot wait for this album to be released so I can get some more of this!






Title: Shut Up And Dance
Artist: Walk The Moon
Album: Talking is Hard


Previous 12s
2013: Shining - I Won't Forget
2012: (tie) Florence and the Machine - What the Water Gave Me; Shake It Out
2011: Fitz and the Tantrums - Don't Gotta Work it Out
2010: Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
2009: Breathe Carolina - Show Me Yours

Monday, December 8, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #13

#13 - Beartooth - Beaten in Lips



Doing Columbus Ohio proud, Beartooth rose from the ashes of famed electro-hardcore band Attack Attack!. Caleb Shomo and company exploded onto the scene in 2013 with their EP "Sick" and then blasted off summer 2014 with their full length LP "Disgusting". The album is a full-on punk/metal assault on your eardrums with painfully honest lyrics and ear-ripping screams. Standout tracks include "In Between", "The Lines" and "Sick and Disgusting", which might be the most painful track of all.

But the album shines brightest on it's hit single, "Beaten In Lips". The moment the guitars kick in, Shomo screams "Every thing that I say won't mean anything less when I'm down in a grave and you put me to rest", which signifies just how powerful and personal this song is about to get. The song is a brutal point-of-view account of child abuse, where Shomo urges the listener to "keep living loud and proud". The line that struck me hardest was in the crushing breakdown, where he screams "Listen to the sound of the lives you're ruining!". It hits me personally, not on a physical abuse level but on an emotional and psychological one. Either way, it's an incredibly strong song; 3:33 of fast-paced adrenaline and madness.  The video, in typical hardcore fashion, has the band playing in a tiny room filled with headbanging fans, and is intermixed with shots of abused teenagers. Big time stuff from a band that will surely explode with their next release.







Title: Beaten In Lips
Artist: Beartooth
Album: Disgusting


Previous 13s
2013: The Mowgli's - San Francisco 
2012: Veil of Maya - Punisher
2011: Red - Feed the Machine
2010: Haste the Day - White as Snow
2009: Gorilla Zoe - Echo

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #14

#14 Weird Al Yankovic - (a) Handy + (b) Foil


As has become tradition over the past two years, there have been albums with multiple songs that I felt absolutely necessary to include in the countdown. The 2014 double feature comes from arguably the best album of the year, Weird Al's "Mandatory Fun".  After 20+ years of relative obscurity and only claiming fame in the most nerdy of circuits, Weird Al scored a fairly big hit in 2006 with "White & Nerdy". But it wasn't until 2014's "Mandatory Fun" that he truly struck gold. Unless you were living under a rock, you knew that Weird Al was releasing a big album this year. The reason behind this with a brilliant marketing strategy that featured a daily music video for 8 days leading up to the album's release date. Each video premiered on a different platform (YouTube, Yahoo, Funny or Die, etc) and each were met with humongous support and adoration. "Mandatory Fun" immediately shot up to #1 and Yankovic was given his long overdue day in the sun. As far as the best tracks off this album, where should I begin? I can't think of an album that I don't love, so let's skip to my two favorites.

First and foremost, my favorite video was Al's spoof of Iggy Azalea's "Fancy", entitled "Handy". The song is basically a 3 minute advertisement for a jack-of-all-traders, of which Al plays in the video, dancing with two other middle aged plumbers in the video. The song was actually cobbled together after Yankovic had already put together a solid album. In interviews he said that the most unfortunate thing about making his albums was that he had to wait to release them and allow the songs to date themselves, so he took a fairly popular song from 2014 and made a solid track from it.




Secondly, we have a parody of Lorde's mega 2013 hit "Royals". In the first verse, Yankovic starts by singing about how he uses aluminum foil to keep all of his leftovers fresh, before jumping into a second verse laced with conspiracy and finishing with the silly singer stating that he covers his head with aluminum foil to keep his brain from being probed. It features Patton Oswalt as the director of a cooking show in which Al takes center stage. It's great. It's amazing. It's pure Weird Al. I've written enough. Enjoy!





Title: Foil, Handy
Artist: Weird Al Yankovic
Album: Mandatory Fun


Previous 14s
2013: Atlas Genius - If So
2012: Metric - Clone
2011: Crystal Castles - Not In Love (ft Robert Smith)
2010: Nevermore - Moonrise (Through Mirrors of Death)
2009: Red - Out From Under

Saturday, December 6, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #15

#15 - Five Iron Frenzy - I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge


How often is it that a band from your childhood, who has been broken up for (officially) 10 years, comes back out of nowhere with a tour and brand new album? Not too often, I'd guess. And it's even more rare for the band to be just as good (if not better) as they were before they disbanded. Enter Five Iron Frenzy, a massively popular ska band in the late 90s/early 2000s who called it quits after one final tour in 2003. The members performed in various side projects (most notably Brave Saint Saturn) but in 2011 they suddenly announced that they were back and released the song "It Was A Dark Stormy Night" to tide the fanbase over until the release of the album, which finally dropped November of last year. I was fortunate enough to see them on their reunion tour in 2013 and also this spring on their tour promoting the album "Engine of a Million Plots". The album is outstanding, and in fact far better than I could have imagined it would be. Along with "Dark Stormy Night", standout releases include "Into Your Veins", "We Own The Skies", and the purely FIF track "Battle Dancing Unicorns With Glitter".

But it was the pummeling horns and drums of "I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge" that immediately caught my ears upon first listen. The title alludes to a quote from "Fight Club", uttered by Ed Norton right before punching himself in the face. The song itself actually hints towards scriptural passages in where Christ is asking for his followers trust, and also telling them not to be driven by material possessions. Musically, the song is driven by the 3 headed horn section of Jeff, Brad and Dennis, just as any great Five Iron song should be. It's a phenomenal song with an incredibly powerful and humbling message, and it goes to show that FIF are the same band that all have come to know and love over the years. I don't know what their future plans are, but if they keep putting out great music, then the fanbase will surely continue to support and follow.







Title: I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge
Artist: Five Iron Frenzy
Album: Engine Of A Million Plots


Previous 15s
2013: The Features - This Disorder
2012: A Plea for Purging - Heart of a Child
2011: Texas in July - Magnolia
2010: Day of Fire - Lately
2009: Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone

Friday, December 5, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #16

#16 - Winds of Plague - Say Hello To The Undertaker

A late 2013 release, "Resistance" by Winds of Plague served as an early head-banger to get me through the ice cold winter months in early 2014. As a bad that I hadn't really listened to before, I was pleasantly surprised with WoP's mix of deathcore metal and symphonic elements. There are also some solid guest vocalists including Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain. Other standout tracks include "One Foot In The Grave", "Time to Reap", and "No Man is My Master". It is definitely one of my top 5 metal discs of the year.

As far as "Say Hello..." goes, it kicks off with a great opening solo and has pounding drums that lead it to it's crescendo chorus "Say hello to the undertaker; your debts are now paid". But what sets this song apart from the rest on this album (and any other song this year, for that matter) is the crushing gang vocal of "I AM RELENTLESS!" The entire song keeps a frantic pace going and continues to pummel until the last cymbal has been smashed. The video features the band rocking out and (of course) demonic lead singer Johnny Plague playing the role as undertaker, leading a female heroin to the devil. It's a great workout track and a great track to fly down the highway with. Ha...








Title: Say Hello To The Undertaker
Artist: Winds of Plague
Album: Resistance




Previous 16s
2013: Colossus - Beacons
2012: Imagine Dragons - It's Time
2011: Amaranthe - Hunger
2010: Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish
2009: Chris Isaak - We Let Her Down

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #17

#17 - Foster the People - Coming of Age

Foster the People found themselves on the outside looking in with their 2011 hit "Helena Beat", but at the time I was less than impressed with their CD "Torches". Fast forward to 2014, and Mark Foster and the boys have put together a great follow-up pop disc. "Supermodel" is just as weird as it's predecessor and almost has a Vampire Weekend feel in it's weirdness, but Foster the People have carved out a unique sound of their own which mixes dancy synths, poppy choruses and pulsing drums. Other standout tracks include "Are You What You Want To Be?", "Ask Yourself", "A Beginner's Guide To Destroying The Moon", and the '80s themed "Coming of Age".

From the opening keys, you know that you're going to be in for a fun song with "Coming of Age".  The guitars are airy, the snare is loud, and the message is potent. The video has a crazy '80s flair to it as well, with throwback clothes and graphics and lots of bright colors to boot. It follows a bunch of teenagers around as they struggle to deal with their "coming of age", and the song brings an interesting retrospect into Mark Foster's life and recent years. It's a very personal song, and despite it's fun and fancy sound, it definitely hits home with anyone who has looked back on their life and realized that everything around them is changing and they have to move to keep up with those changes. The message also works well with the band as their sound and lyrical work matures. I look forward to whatever Mr Foster and the boys have coming next.







Title: Coming of Age
Artist: Foster the People
Album: Supermodel


Previous #17s
2013: Sevendust - Decay
2012: Morning Parade - Headlights
2011: Lonely Island - Jack Sparrow (Ft Michael Bolton)
2010: Slash - Baby Can't Drive (ft Alice Cooper + Nicole Scherzinger)
2009: DevilDriver - Another Night In London

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #18

#18 - Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better



Bleachers is the brainchild of former Steel Train frontman and current Fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff. Apparently it all came together while Fun. was on tour, which goes to show just how much time people apparently have while touring? Just kidding. But Antonoff had plenty of great stuff going for him in Steel Train and has done a fairly good job with Nate Reuss and co in Fun, who landed the #1 hit in 2012 with "Some Nights". The album "Strange Desire" was entirely recorded by Antonoff, and after seeing Fun. live, I am sure he has plenty of other great ideas for a (hopeful) follow up album. As far as "Strange Desire" goes, other highlight tracks are "Wake Me", "Rollercoaster", and "Who I Want You To Love". It's an album that might take a few listens to really appreciate, but it's wonderfully done in the end.

As far as "I Wanna Get Better" goes, it was one of those songs that I knew was going to be a big hit the first time I heard it. The "race home and immediately find it on YouTube/download it" type of song. The opening piano bounces around and pushes it's way into a brilliant sing-a-long chorus. The video features Antonoff as a therapist who has just come from a broken relationship and is trying to fix others. It's an amusing little piece of work and further supports the awesomeness of the song. In the end, it was the heavily distorted solo and the line "so I put a bullet where I should've put a helmet, and I crashed my car cuz I wanna get carried away" that really hit me. The future is bright for Antonoff, regardless of whether he is doing Bleachers, Fun., or anything else he should decide is worth his time.






Title: I Wanna Get Better
Artist: Bleachers
Album: Strange Desire



Previous #18s
2013: Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier 
2012: Santigold - Disparate Youth
2011: House of Heroes - Galveston
2010: Rammstein - Fruhling in Paris
2009: Sick Puppies - I Hate You

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #19

#19 - Destiny Potato - Take A Picture

 I have often found that there are two major flaws to most djent bands. The first is that all the riffs seem to be copying off of each other, and the second is that most of the vocalists are just terrible screamers. When I heard there was a djent band with a female vocalist, I figured it would just be another bad screamer. Enter Aleksandra Djelmas. She can sing your face off. And throughout this album, you'll find interesting riffs and odd little bits of instrumentation, including accordions (?). I suppose we should expect the unexpected from the first ever Serbian band to make the list.  I mean, come on; the band is called Destiny Potato.

There are some solid songs on "LUN" ("Indifferent", "Lunatic", "Love Song"), but the opening riff on "Take a Picture" is what really takes the cake. The song verses make it very accessible and the chorus launches it into another realm. It's a good blueprint for the album. Some may argue that it's too poppy and not metal enough, but I feel like it blends different sounds well. Also, the limited amount of screams is a welcomed addition to a tired genre. I look forward to seeing this band following this independent release with bigger and better things.








Title: Take A Picture
Artist: Destiny Potato
Album: LUN



Previous #19s
2013: Relient K - PTL
2012: Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)
2011: The Knux - Razorblade
2010: Demon Hunter - Collapsing (ft Bjorn Strid)
2009: Parachute - She Is Love

Monday, December 1, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #20

#20 - I, The Breather - Swine:Cult (ft Ricky Armellino)

Starting with a metal tingle, #20 this year comes from Sumerian Record slammers I, The Breather. The band underwent a few lineup changes leading up to the recording of "Life Reaper" (In fact, vocalist Shawn Spann is the only remaining original member), but it didn't show in their songwriting abilities. From top to bottom, each song is equal parts slamming and melodic, with chugging riffs, powerful vocals and choruses that will stick in your head for days. Best tracks include "Life: Reaper", "Demon: Dreams", "Chain: Breaker", and of course our opening song on the countdown "Swine: Cult".

The song opens up with pulsing drums and roaring feedback before Spann begins his vocal assault on your eardrums. Once the guitars start chugging, your neck will definitely need to be replaced. This song is fast, heavy and powerful. If you re-attach your neck and listen to the lyrics, you'll hear a tale of a person who is showing the face of an innocent and perfect individual, despite having a disgusting soul underneath ("you're just a pig dressed like a sheep, the role you're playing doesn't end with forgiveness"). Ricky Armellino of Century and This Or The Apocalypse provides the vocals on the 2nd verse and did most of the production work on the album as well.

All in all, it was a perfectly crushing track for summer and a great song to kick into the 2014 Top 20 Countdown. Metal will play a large role this year, but will it take #1? Stay tuned!






Title: Swine: Cult (ft Ricky Armellino)
Artist: I, The Breather
Album: Life Reaper


 

Previous #20s
2013 - Grouplove - Ways To Go
2012 - Reptar - Stuck in My Id
2011 - Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
2010 - Dark Tranquility - The Fatalist
2009 - Collective Soul - Staring Down

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - Intro and Songs That Didn't Make It

It's finally time. We made it to November and there have been many a good songs. But first, let's look at what happened in 2014, shall we? A lot of my favorite bands (and previous charting bands) dropped discs this year, including Slipknot, Amaranthe, Colossus, and Demon Hunter. But (spoiler alert) none of those bands will be charting this year! Emmure and Evergrey have fallen off their games IMO, and the new Fuel and In Flames albums were almost intolerable. There were also some really good albums from bands like van Canto and Anberlin that failed to have any tracking songs. Some times it just happens like that. I suppose that most of those are metal bands, and metal is such a jumpy genre that you never know what you're going to get from album to next. In that respect, there will also be no songs from the 2011 #1, Young The Giant, although I really enjoyed their newest disc. Also, as a final spoiler, "The City" did not make a return for 2014.

But let's move on to the songs that just barely missed the cut.

Tedashii - Dark Days, Darker Nights (ft Britt Nicole)

It's been a minute since a good hip-hop track made the cut.  In fact, it was 2011 when The Knux dropped "Razorblade" onto the countdown. There have been a few hits in the years since then, but none good enough to make the cut. Tedashii is a solid rapper and the female chorus really launches the song, but outside the first verse it really falls apart. Still, it's a solid song to get you through your darker times.





Theory of a Deadman - Drown

Theory of a Deadman is one of those bands that will occasionally release a really good song, but will fill the airwaves with garbage otherwise. This is the first really good song from them in a while, but it just wasn't good enough to make it into the 20.







Arcade Fire - Afterlife
 
I have never been much of a fan of Arcade Fire, and I was not at all impressed with their first single "Reflektor". But then came "Afterlife", and I thought for sure that this song would be a shoo-in for a top 10 spot. As the year waned, my depression cooled and I felt less and less of a connection to the song. I still think it's great and am pleased to have it along for the ride.







Jack White - Lazaretto


Maybe the most surprising inclusion on this list, Jack White released an insanely good disc in 2014 with "Lazaretto". As an artist that I generally despite, I was incredibly surprised by how good this disc was. While I respect his musical ability, I cannot stand his voice; but he did a really great job carving out a beautiful sound on this disc. The title track is the most fun of them, so here you go!







Panama Wedding - All Of The People

A late entry from a mostly unknown artist, Panama Wedding dropped their "Parallel Play" EP and showed some groovy synthpop styles that give me hope for their debut disc next year.









Honorable Mention List:

van Canto - Steel Breaker; Close Your Eyes - Frame and Glass; Whitechapel - The Saw Is The Law; Boston - If You Were In Love; Alestorm - Drink; Calvin Harris - Summer; Of Burning Empires - Iridian; Chevelle - Take Out The Gunman; Switchfoot - When We Come Alive; Bear Hands - Agora.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Stuck In My Head: November

After seeing Anberlin live for one last time, I found that they had one more song in their arsenal for me to fall in love with. Even though I had listened to this song many times before, I had never really heard it quite like I did two weeks ago Monday. Here is The Haunting.


Monday, November 10, 2014

October-November Playlist

This will be the last playlist of the year, unless I decide to do a Christmas list. I haven't decided how to tackle the "holiday" music time just yet. But starting in December, I will post playlists on the first of each month. It used to be middle of the month, but it now makes more sense to do it at the beginning, so that will begin in January. 

Here's this.

The Deadlines - Go-Go to the Graveyard
Weird Al - Foil
Number One Gun - Disappear
Static-X - Dead World
Bear Hands - Agora
Weird Al - Handy
Murderdolls - My Dark Place Alone
blink-182 - Down
Static-X - Dirthouse
Colossus - Slow Burn

Five Iron Frenzy - I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge
Sick Puppies - You're Going Down
The Frozen Ocean - Ghosts
Murderdolls - Bored 'Til Death
I The Breather - Swine:Cult (ft Ricky Armellino)
Chvrches - The Mother We Share
Purity Ring - Crawlersout
Sleeper Agent - Be Brave
Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn

Static-X - Down
Walk the Moon - Shut Up And Dance
Van Morrison - Days Like This
Slipknot - (sic)
Alestorm - Drink
The Blow - True Affection
Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better
Static-X - Cuts You Up
Purity Ring - Fineshrine
The Eagles - Take It Easy

Elvis Costello - Peace, Love and Understanding
Beartooth - Beaten In Lips
Five Finger Death Punch - Burn It Down
Beartooth - In Between
Bastille - Pompeii
Deftones - My Own Summer
Panama Wedding - All Of The People
Sleeper Agent - Waves
Killswitch Engage - Rose of Sharyn
Switchfoot - When We Come Alive

Tedashii - Dark Days, Darker Nights
Voltaire - Day of the Dead
Lamb of God - Hit The Wall
Jack White - Lazaretto
Breathe Carolina - Dressed Up To Undress
Korn - When Will This End?
Staind - King of all Excuses
Cold - The Park
Theory of a Deadman - Drown
Further Seems Forever - The Sound

Default - It Only Hurts
Will Hoge - Even If It Breaks Your Heart
Calvin Harris - Summer
Winds of Plague - Say Hello To The Undertaker
Red - Mystery of You
Crystal Castles - Not In Love (ft Robert Smith)
Sevendust - Failure
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
New Found Glory - Selfless
Breathe Carolina - Show Me Yours

Cold - Ocean
Lo-Fang - When We're Fire
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Lamb of God - Laid To Rest
A Plea For Purging - Heart of a Child
Rammstein - Mann Gegen Mann
Chvrches - Gun
Amy Grant - Baby Baby
Impending Doom - Hellhole
Close Your Eyes - Frame and Glass

Demon Hunter - Follow the Wolves
Relient K - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Eric Clapton - Change The World
Born of Osiris - Divergency
Cali Swag District - Teach Me How To Dougie
Rammstein - Morgenstern
Born of Osiris - Illusionist
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
Anberlin - Impossible

Dave Matthews Band - The Space Between
Take That - Back for Good
Haim - The Wire
Static-X - Invincible
Demon Hunter - Thorns
Pink - Try
Miike Snow - Song for No One
Young the Giant - Cough Syrup
blink-182 - Always
Sevendust - See and Believe

Vampire Weekend - Step
Circle of Dust - Waste of Time
Cold - Send in the Clowns
Slipknot - Custer
Boston - I Had A Good Time
Evergrey - Fear
The Ataris - Boys of Summer
Korn - Justin
Mike Doughty - Unsingable Name
Cut Copy - We Are Explorers

Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis
Stone Sour - 30/30-150
Finger Eleven - Obvious Heart
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Destiny Potato - Take a Picture
Morning Parade - Alienation
Born of Osiris - Machine
Kathy Troccoli - Everything Changes
Periphery - Icarus Lives!
Mr. Mister - Kyrie

Kevin Max - You
Whitechapel - The Saw is the Law
The Irish Rovers - The Dublin Pub Crawl
Staind - Crawl
World Party - Ship of Fools
Lamb of God - Ghostwalking
Voltaire - Captains All
Foster the People - Coming of Age
Haste the Day - White as Snow
Silversun Pickups - Substitution

Coldplay - Charlie Brown
Meg Myers - Desire
Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
Xerath - Death Defiant
Slipknot - Skeptic
Solution .45 - For Aeons Past
Santigold - Disparate Youth
VNV Nation - Illusion
Korn - All in the Family (ft Fred Durst)
Demon Hunter - Blood in the Tears

Korn - Earache My Eye (ft Cheech Marin)
Norma Jean - Wrongdoers
The Eagles - I Can't Tell You Why
Jackson Browne - Running on Empty
Coldplay - Fix You
Power Quest - Glorious
Scar Symmetry - Illuminoid Dream Sequence
Woods of Ypres - Traveling Alone
Maps & Atlases - Fever
Matchbox Twenty - Mad Season

Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)
Cadets - A Drop In The Ocean
Voltaire - Brains!
Slipknot - Vermillion
Staind - The Corner
Demon Hunter - I Play Dead
Slipknot - The Blister Exists
Zeta - Bind
Slipknot - The Virus of Life
Zeta - Slip

Rammstein - Zerstoren
Meshuggah - Stengah
Rackets & Drapes - Scary-Go-Round
Slipknot - The Devil in I
Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
Deadsy - Seagulls
Arcade Fire - Afterlife
Assemblage 23 - Damaged
Eye of the Enemy - The Shift
Lamb of God - King Me
Aeon Zen - Warning
Nevermore - Sentient 6
Anberlin - Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen
Meshuggah - Bleed
Anberlin - (*Fin)

Thursday, November 6, 2014

#tbt - The 2013 Jester One Top 20 Music Countdown

I know it's been just under a year, but lets look back at the 2013 Countdown.

Starting with the songs that didn't make it, of course...

Amaranthe - The Nexus
Not to recapture their glory of 2011, where they placed #16, Amaranthe just slipped out with a similarly good track.
The Neighbourhood - Afraid
Still a garbage album, but it turns out that Sweater Weather was the song that stuck with me longer.
Youngblood Hawke - We Come Running
This is the kind of song that's really really good, but you can't listen to it too often. What a shame.
Soilwork - This Momentary Bliss
This song not being in the Top 20 should tell you something. Soilwork rule.
Shreddy Krueger - Hazel the Apparition
Still the most bad-ass band name in J1 history. This song still crushes. Dat breakdown.

Alright, let's do it! 


20. Grouplove - Ways To Go 

Grouplove are so bad! But they keep cranking out really good singles! What gives, guys? This song is catchy, and Hannah's voice is still the real deal. But man, I cannot stand the male lead. This song stands alone as it did at the time; something really great and terrible, all at the same time.



19. Relient K - PTL
Intriguingly, I was just asked yesterday if Relient K was still making music. The relevance of PTL is that it tells a tale about a girl I can't be in love with, that can't be in love with me. Surprisingly, I'll be hanging out with her in just over a month. Anyways, the more I listen to "Collapsible Lung", the more I appreciate the album that preceded it, "Forget and Not Slow Down". Also, I've spent a lot of time jamming to their "K is for karaoke" disc this year. The guys still have it, and are still kicking it live.


18. Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier
I read an article last week about the best rock bands in Scotland. I can't remember where I saw it (I wish I could give the credit), but they ended up listing Biffy Clyro as their top rock band, ahead of Garbage and Primal Scream and a few others. I haven't looked back to this song much this year, but any time I do play it, I remember how much I loved it and how solid the album still sounds. It's hard to pinpoint other standout songs, because as a whole it just all comes together and works well.


17. Sevendust - Decay
Sevendust's 2010 album "Cold Day Memory" failed to produce any major splashes (despite being fairly solid) but 2013's "Black Out The Sun" was a thunderous comeback from years of decent-ness. Top tracks include "Murder Bar", "Faithless", and of course "Decay". I don't know when these guys are going to hang it up, but collectively they still know how to crush. I would put "Decay" at their best song released since 2007.  They put out a lovely collection of acoustic songs including 5 new tracks this spring, but as good as it sounds, I still prefer them with their amps plugged in and cranked up to 11.




16. Colossus - Beacons
Arguably the most powerful lyric of 2013 came from "Beacons". "All I am is a broken promise; don't let me disappoint you again. Every sin is another nail in the cross - why do I do this to you? Why do I do this to myself?" Just wow. Even if it wasn't a throttling metal gem, it would make waves just for that line. Colossus got signed and released an album through FaceDown Records this fall, which I just recently picked up and hope to feature in either the 2014 or '15 countdown. Other crushing tracks from the 2013 release include "Transgressor" and "Approaching the Throne".


15. The Features - This Disorder
It took me a long time to get tired of this song. It's bouncy, it's fun, and it sings about a disorder. What's not to like about all that? Sadly, the rest of the album failed to live up to this song's strength, but I'm sure in a year or two they'll drop another disc with another big time since, and you'll be seeing them on this countdown again. Until then, I'll have the skippy bass-line of this little ditty.


14. Atlas Genius - If So
Where Maps & Atlases fell short, Atlas Genius nailed it with the song "If So". I remember listening to this album while walking a lovely nature trail on vacation in Michigan over the summer. I really only listened to it once, and got tired of their sound after 6 or 7 tracks. The first 3 tracks ("Electric", "If So", "Back Seat") show a lot of promise, but the album kind of falters after that. The voice doesn't really work, and it loses a lot of steam as it goes forward. But "If So" is a great track to pump your spirits up and get you moving.


13. The Mowgli's - San Francisco
Yikes. Talk about a sugar overload. This is another one of those 2013 catastrophes. File it under great song: terrible album. There seem to be too many of those in this countdown so far. I was actually watching a Star Trek movie with my parents last month and we were talking about songs from San Francisco, so this song came up. I really hadn't listened to it since 2013, and while it's still a really fun song, holy cow it's too much happy.


12 - Shining - I Won't Forget
Blackjazz. I don't know if I need to say anything else about Jørgen Munkeby and Shining. But I will, just the same. It's a beautiful genre fusion that includes fast-paced metal sounds with electronic elements and... a saxaphone. The sax solo on this song absolutely owns. I cannot wait to hear what this band sounds like on their next release. Other standout tracks include "Off the Hook" and "How Your Story Ends", which opens with a blistering sax solo as well.


11 - Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
Vampire Weekend's "Contra" was actually one of my favorite discs of 2010, despite not tracking a big hit. For one reason or another, I actually did not pick it up until well after it was released, after hearing the song "Horchata" on Pandora at work. It's a tremendous disc, and I was worried that "Modern Vampires of The City" wouldn't live up to it. I remember not being overly impressed at first, but it's a really good disc. "Young Lion", "Hanna Hunt", "Step", and of course the anthem to James Dean and living fast, "Diane Young". I brushed the dust off of the album after hearing the song "Step" be released as a single, and found that it truly was another gem from Ezra and the boys.


10 - The 1975 - The City
The most important thing I can say about this song is that it's probably going to be on the 2014 countdown.  While I loved the Vampire Weekend CD the more I listened to it, I actually liked The 1975 disc less. But "The City" is a tremendous standout track and if the band can ever release anything near that caliber, then they should be fairly well set for the future. "If you wanna find love, you know where the city is" is almost an anthem for this year for me.


9 - Deadlock - The Arsonist
Boy, was I glad I picked up this disc after initially hesitating. Deadlock's previous effort, "Bizarro World" was a glorified pile of trash, and they recycled singers before releasing "The Arsonist". Right off the bat you're hit with the track "The Great Pretender", which let's you know that the band is officially back where they need to be. But it is the title track that truly kicks it to another dimension, if for no reason other than the chanting of "The Arsonist" in the background. But really, it crushes. The band released "The Re-Arrival" in August with 3 new tracks and 12 re-recorded songs, but I'm still living off of "The Arsonist" for now.


8 - Paper Route - Letting You Let Go
This is one of those "remember where you first heard it songs". I just happened to download the Radio U app for my phone and flip on the streaming to see if it worked on my phone as I was cleaning my apartment. This song was the first to come on, and it stopped me in my tracks. It's a great and wonderful track on an album that is plagued by lack of creativity. A lot of people in CCM circles were lauding Paper Route for their production values, but they vastly overshadow the lack of strong songwriting and, well, the singer's voice. He is quite whiny, and sings exactly the same on every song. Eventually I grew tired of his whine, and I really haven't picked this track up since. At the time, it was a massive hit, but over time it's not worth much to me.


7 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't On The Dance Floor)
Bouncy, poppy, catchy, exciting. Maybe the best video of the year. This song is a lot of fun, and I'm surprised it took me a dozen listens to really catch on to it. In hindsight, there was no escaping this one, and it's popped up from time to time in my life; whenever I wanted a fun dance-and-sing-in-the-car track. I remember tossing this album not because it was bad, but because nothing else on it was quite like this song. I know they're still touring and they're actually coming to Columbus here soon. I feel like they'd be a better band to see live rather than over the radio. Either way, what a long title. Haha


6 - Tegan and Sara - Closer
This song is still tits, man. I haven't stopped listening to it since the first time I heard it in late 2012. It bounces around and makes every hot thing in your mind come true. Never have synths been so sultry. Never have such immature voices sounded so mature. I don't think I could ever consider myself a fan of T+S, but this song is the real deal. At the time I felt like this was a pretty good album, but I was looking at it objectively as an album as a whole, as opposed to a collection of songs I actually like. The voices are a bit much for me a times, but the music really is great.


5 - Born of Osiris - M∆chine
This. Album. Listening to it again reminds me that there is not a bad track off of it. Last year, I was slamming out "Exhil∆r∆te", "Im∆gin∆ry Condition", and "Mindful". This year it's "Divergency" and "Illusionist". Oh, and of course "M∆chine". I still haven't heard a deathcore song that sounds close to it, and it is by far my favorite metal album since Meshuggah's "Koloss". This song kills, smashes, and weaves solid keys between crushing guitars. This is one of the few 2013 albums still getting tons of play in 2014. I feel like those words are strong enough, and I will leave it at that.


4 - New Politics - Harlem/Goodbye Copenhagen
I don't think any one band was as big as New Politics for me in 2013. I listened to this album until I could no longer listen to it. If not for mp3 players, I would have worn this CD out twice. You get what I'm saying. Obviously, "Harlem" was the big single, and "Tonight You're Perfect" was another minor hit, but it's songs like "Goodbye Copenhagen", "Fall Into These Arms", and "Berlin" that kick this album to another sphere of sonic enjoyment. It truly is a great fun album, and I am very much looking forward to their next effort. Sadly, I was snowed in when they came to Columbus over the winter and am hoping to make it to their show this coming November. FWIW, it's actually "Fall Into These Arms" that I listened to the most this year. But this album is still great.


3 - The Airborne Toxic Event - Timeless
Two albums since the countdown started, and two top ten hits. Not a bad run for a band I never even liked before hearing 2011's "All At Once". Timeless is a woeful ballad that evokes all sorts of emotion and reaches the darkest and saddest parts of my soul. It's perfect, I know. The most gripping and hallowed line of 2013 had to be "I see how they run through the tall grass, such thoughtless minds; I wish I was thoughtless too...". Oof. This song will forever paint a wonderfully dark picture in my soul, if only for that. As far as the album "Such Hot Blood" goes, every time I've listened to is (since spin 1) has been better than the one before. "Elizabeth" is probably my next favorite track, with "The Secret" and "The Fifth Day" bringing up the rear. I feel like TATE take more than one listen to truly appreciate the complexity of their music. I am apprehensive yet excited for anything they bring in the future. They know how to rock through great alternative tracks and know how to slap you with emotion with the best of them.


2 - Aeon Zen - Warning
Where do I begin? I could consider this one of the greatest opening riffs I've ever heard. Usually I scoff at a 6:55 song, but how am I supposed to overlook the blistering two and a half minutes of pure atmosphere and guitar bliss? I enjoyed the first 4 songs on this album as I remember listening to it, but I had to stop and go back after hearing the opening on this track. Most listened to 2+ minutes of the year? Absolutely. Still something that I will drop everything and rock out with? 100%. I should probably give this album another spin, because it seems like every time I do, I find something else to love from it. Well done, Rich Hinks. Other standouts for me are "Downfall" and "Artificial Soul". Truly a diamond in the rough, this one. I think I only downloaded it because I figured with a name like Aeon Zen, how could it not rock?

Well, that's another metal runner up. But 2013 was a one horse race from the moment I heard #1 on. Numbers 6 through 2 are about as good as it gets for a top 5, but there was no denying the top track this year.


1 - Surfer Blood - Demon Dance
Amen to that, brother. Where their previous album left off with a strange amount of sound and pizazz, "Pythons" was a bonafide smash, with fun hits like "Gravity", "Say Yes To Me", and "Prom Song". You were missing absolutely out if you didn't get this one. "Demon Dance" opens with a big happy hook, a pounding snare and morphs into a clean soaring hook and anthemic chorus. It's as fun today as the first time I heard it, though I haven't given it a spin in a few months due to the fact that I absolutely played it to death in 2013. But really, who doesn't love a song that ends with "la di da di da"s? Make it 5 straight for alt-rock. Who knew?

Boom-ba-boom. November 30th will bring the songs that didn't quite make it for 2014. Hope to see you there!












Friday, October 31, 2014

Ode to Voltaire

Being that it's Halloween, I figured I would post some songs by one of my all time favorite performers, Aurelio Voltaire. Voltaire is a major figurehead for the gothic lifestyle. He's been pumping out albums since 1998, covering spooky topics, trekkie nature, and gothic literature. He even has a country album, which is still good despite the musical style. He is also known to put on one of the best live shows you'll ever see, even in a solo capacity. I am terribly sad that I had never listened to him until I met my fiancee (of whom I actually met AT a Voltaire show). But, that is the past, and I am truly enthralled by this man these days. So let's step into some of his best Halloweenie songs!

Voltaire's first album contains the song "When You're Evil", which he still performs life at all of his shows. A classic. 1998 didn't know what it was getting into when this album came out.



His second album, Almost Human, continues down the dark path with songs like "Feathery Wings", "The Headless Waltz", and of course the title track. The dark cabaret styles perfectly meshed together, and the true legend of Voltaire was born.


Voltaire's third album was titled "Boo Hoo" and it featured such spooky hits as "The Vampire Club", "Graveyard Picnic", and of course the song "BRAINS", featured in the Cartoon Network show "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy". Voltaire is known for his wit and it was ever present here.



We'll jump ahead to 2007, where Voltaire had risen to fame with the song "Land of the Dead", the theme song of the aforementioned "Billy and Mandy" show. This album also featured his hit "Zombie Prostitute" and one of his most popular live songs "Day of the Dead", which I had the pleasure of seeing him perform bilingually this year. So here's a wonderful live version of the song, showcasing his on-stage bravado.





My favorite Voltaire album is the first one I heard from him, titled "To The Bottom of the Sea". It's a story that takes you through the life of a hero who escapes the tyranny of his old country and eventually perishes on a ship.  It's a tremendous album, and will probably always be my favorite by him. There are many highlights on this album, notably "The Beast of Pirate's Bay", "To The Bottom of the Sea", and of course the song "Death Death, (Devil, Devil, Devil, Devil, Evil, Evil, Evil, Evil, Song)". This song is the first song I ever heard my fiancee sing out loud (she hates singing when people are around) so it holds an extra special place in my heart. Hahaha...



After his intriguing country album (Hate Lives In A Small Town), Voltaire came back with another strong effort, amusingly titled "Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children". Typing this out was exhausting, but it's another solid album from the Goth-king. Voltaire says he took the title from an online comment a listener made describing his music. The album features the live staple "The Dirtiest Song That Ain't", as well as "The Straight Razor Cabaret" and of course the title track. No, I'm not going to type it out again. You just listen and enjoy.



Voltaire's next disc was featured several re-recorded hits and a few new gems about Star Trek, Star Wars, and even a Dr Who song. It's mostly filled with humor, so we'll skip to the 2014 release, entitled "Raised By Bats". It's as good as anything he has ever put out, and shows that even into his fourties he is still able to make tremendous music. It leans more on gothic influences rather than the cabaret stylings featured in his previous efforts. The title track is solid, and it has creepy songs such as "The Devil and Mr Jones", "The Conqueror Worm", and the most fun of the spooky songs, "Oh My Goth!".
 Oh My Goth!






The first time I saw Voltaire live, it was a spur of the moment thing off the invitation of my fiancee. My sister knew of him and so I figured I might as well go down and have a fun Halloween evening. I threw on my Jester costume and the legacy was born. We saw him again a few years later and he came out and danced with Kelly during the opening set, and asked if he could eat her candy corn necklace. We saw him again in May and finally got to meet and chat with him for a few minutes. See below, the man among men, and the biggest smile in the world. Good times, Aurelio. Thank you, sir.


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Halloweens!

Here's a few J1 Halloween essentials..

Obviously, we have to start with Boris Pickett and the Crypt Kickers. What Halloween list would be complete without it?




The Death of Rock and Roll is about as Halloween horror-punk as it gets. Love it. It's a shame the Deadlines flamed out after this album.



Of course, it wouldn't be a good list without some Bauhaus. This song is the definitive gothic hit.





I could probably put any Rackets song on this list. I couldn't find a good video of "Scary Go Round" so I settled for "Trick or Treat".



And, speaking of horror music. Here's some Murderdolls. A little heavier but just as horrific.




Ahooooo!!! It's a damn shame that Kid Rock sampled this song, because it's a classic.





No introduction needed here.



Thanks for listening :)

Thursday, October 16, 2014

#tbt - The 2012 Jester One Top 20 Music Countdown

Upward and onward we go! One of the thrills of writing for me is getting a good thing going (such as these throwback look-backs) and wanting to write every day. Having ideas storm around my head. I love it. Without delay, let's jump into 2012.

First - the songs that didn't make it-

Woods of Ypres - Lightning and Snow
Over time, this has become one of my favorite albums from 2012
Maps and Atlases - Fever
A staple on my MP3 playlists since it's release.
The Darkness - Everybody Have A Good Time
The Darkness... you silly gooses. A good time, indeed. Haha
Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid
A song and band that I currently cannot stand. Ouch. 
PSY - Gangnam Style
Yup. Unavoidable. Lol


And, we begin....



20. Reptar - Stuck in my Id
I remember when writing the countdown that this song was almost a throw-away #20. I didn't care for their CD or EP and haven't really given them a second thought since including them. The fact that I passed on Maps and Atlases or Woods of Ypres to put this ditty at 20 is a shame. But, after giving it a spin today, I believe that the song is indeed about masturbation. So that's something, right? Enough negativity - this is a catchy song with a super catchy chorus, but the song honestly doesn't mean anything to me right now. 


19. Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)
On the flip side, ye gods, this bassline. After "Carnavas" and "Swoon", you had to know that "Neck of the Woods" was going to be great. Immediate standout tracks include "Skin Graph", "Make Believe", "Gun-Shy Sunshine", and of course our number 19, "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)". If there's anything Silversun Pickups do better than any other band, it's build a tremendous crescendo in a song and absolutely blow your mind. Well, they do it twice in this song. TWICE! My main focus is leading into the chorus, and THE BASS. BASS BASS BASS. *air bass*. This song kills it. This band kills it. Nikki Monninger, you are the one for me. Annnyways... this was the second spot for SSP after 2009's "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone" landed at #15


18. Santigold - Disparate Youth
This is one of those songs that I initially resisted (because I really am not fond of Santigold's voice), but after hearing those opening keys and this throttling bass-line (a pattern, you sense?), I was unable to resist. I got about 4 songs into her disc before turning it off, and really haven't given her a second look outside of this song. But this song weaves a great tale about the perseverance of young people who are different. The bass on this one made it a great workout track, as well.



17. Morning Parade - Headlights
Morning Parade, you sly devil you. I see your catchy tunes. I just don't understand why you put so many bland songs on your records as opposed to more hits like this one? I remember this song's chorus being stuck in my head many times, especially in the morning.  It's a good track that represents both happiness and sadness in one melodic tune. But the rest of this album (as well was their live performance that I saw) was mostly bland, copy-paste alternative. They did release an album in 2014 which I can almost guarantee you will find in our upcoming countdown, so stay tuned for that. I have a feeling it'll be a ranked a bit higher than this one.



16. Imagine Dragons - It's Time
I hate to sound hipster, but these things must be said. When Imagine Dragons released their first "Continued Silence" EP, it immediately took off and was picked up by alternative and subsequently top 40 stations across the globe. "It's Time" was the initial hit single, and the band seemed cool until I heard "Demons" and "Radioactive" (A god-awful song) over and over and over again on every single radio station I frequented. By the time they released the album "Night Visions" that fall, I was done with the band. I don't even listen to "It's Time" much anymore, despite it's soaring, anthemic chorus and uplifting lyrics. But whatever it is that they're doing with the lead singers voice, it's horrible. I ask myself over and over again - "How does anyone like that?" or "does he REALLY sound that bad live?" Anyways, this song was big in 2012 but it was a one and done for me.


15. A Plea for Purging - Heart of a Child
A Plea for Purging was a band that I loosely followed since their inception. All of their albums are fairly good, and their music videos are generally hilarious. This follows true with the album "The Life & Death Of A Plea For Purging" and the single "Heart of a Child". Singer Andy Atkins hands off the mic to guest vocalist Chad Ruhlig for the iconic bridge verse "We are not a product of society, we are not a sick, dying breed. For the meek will inherit the earth as the weak watches riches burn." It's a great song with a thundering intro and a crushing final breakdown. Hearing a badass metalcore singer scream "Hallelujah!" is also pretty gripping. Unfortunately, after a final tour, the band broke up in 2012. They are still slightly active on Twitter, and sent out an amusing tweet a few weeks back reading "We are launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for us to not ever come back to life and never put out another record. $50k" Cool dudes, they were. I miss them. I still play this song often.



14. Metric - Clone
Metric are amazing. Emily Haines is phenomenal. If I had to choose a band whose sound I loved to hear and wanted other bands to emulate, it might be them. "Youth Without Youth" was the lead single off this album, followed by the song that is currently my favorite off the disc, "Breathing Underwater". But it was "Clone" that stole the show in 2012. It's a gorgeous and tragic tale that slowly works it's way through your heart. It's a tossup for me whether "Fantasies" or "Synthetica" is the better album from these guys, but I hope that their next album (of which they announced recently that they are currently writing for) will be better than both of them. I know that's a high pedestal, but I'm sure Emily and the guys will deliver.



13. Veil of Maya - Punisher
Marc Okubo is a bananas good guitarist. He wrote every single riff on the album "Eclipse" and performed them perfectly and without relent. You give me a good djent song with a chugging opening and the lyrics "DO you remember?!", then you have a perfect module for success. Unquestionably, the thing that led me to love this song the most was right before the big breakdown, there is a soundbyte from a YouTube clip in which a young man is criticizing the palm mute technique and the sound it makes. Okubo wrote the freaking breakdown riff around the sound that the man articulated in the clip! You what?! An interesting development though - as I'm writing this blurb I just read that the lead singer of VoM left the band without warning, leaving their 5th album in doubt. Hopefully that gets straightened out soon, as I'd like to hear more of this again.



12a. Florence and the Machine- Shake It Out
12b. Florence and the Machine - What the Water Gave Me

Florence Welch is one of those women who holds a rare key piece to my heart. She writes amazing lyrics, has one of the greatest voices in the industry, and is a gorgeous redhead to boot. "Ceremonials" was a tremendous sophomore disc, and it was only right to feature the first two singles released on the countdown. Initially, it was "What the Water Gave Me" but as 2012 progressed I found myself equally impressed with "Shake It Out". Both are great songs, and there's no possible way I could place one ahead of the other. Both hit incredible apex points and drive stakes right into your heart. Other great songs off this album are "Only If For A Night" and "Spectrum".  It's a beautiful thing when the band makes music, and for my money they can do no wrong. The only thing is, both of their albums are about Florence breaking up with her old boyfriend. What will she write about next? Haha...


11. Swimming with Dolphins - Sleep to Dream
Here we again find our old friend Adam Young (of Owl City) being in a wonderful synth-pop band. Actually, further research shows that Austin Tofte did all of the work on this album, but it was he and Young who started the band. On this track, we have a bubbly love song featuring the lovely voice of Sarah Beintker. The album is the same mold of Owl City - filled with sugar, bubbles, and ridiculousness. Unfortunately, Adam is way better at doing it and it shows as this album is much of the same with very little else to build on. Supposedly, Tofte was writing for a new album, and released a few songs this year but hasn't done much else. Occasionally this song pops back up on my MP3 list, whenever I'm feeling silly lovey and don't care for the fact that it's utterly ridiculous on the sugar scale. I'd love to here a more mature effort from him, though.


10. Animal Kingdom - Strange Attractor
The first dozen or so times I heard this song on CD101, I thought it was a woman singing. I really did. I came home one day and knew I had to download the song, but upon hearing it on my crystal clear sound system, I realized that it was most definitely a man. Oops! And these days, the only thing I can think about when hearing this song is a YouTube comment I saw when watching the video. Stranger Tractor. Ahahahaha.... what has been read cannot be unseen. Also, it's hard to forget a video that featured a beautiful woman barfing up jewels and glitter in slow motion. Well, it must be chemical. Hah. Anyways, the album was pretty droll and in fact, the lead singer sounds so much more manly on the rest of the songs. But the lyrical structure of this one - falling in love in the most crazy of ways - works out perfectly. It works out well but it screams "One hit wonder". I actually hadn't listened to this song in a long time before writing this down.


9. Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks
I had the pleasure of seeing Of Monster and Men live without their debut album dropped, and they were a lot of fun. At the time they only had a 4 song EP out, but I was hooked. And with good reason. It's rare that I can find a really good folksy group that sticks with me, but oMaM is just that group. Both of the vocalists do a great job on the album, with standout tracks being "Mountain Sound", "From Finner", and "King and Lionheart". While they performed on stage, they danced around in wonderfully goofy Icelandish garb and put on a pretty great show. The back-and-forth story telling style written in this song works well, but it's the vocal harmonies that truly makes the band stand out. These days, it's "Mountain Sound" that I love to rock out to, but I know once they finish their second album, it will be paramount in my collection.





8. Demon Hunter - Dead Flowers
Oh, there's ol Demon Hunter again. I wrote enough about the band in the 2010 countdown, so let's focus on this song and album. They posted this song on their Facebook page several weeks before the album was released, and I knew it was going to be one of those songs for 2012. Demon Hunter basically writes two different types of songs. Fast-paced, pulsing metal tracks, or slow, draining ballads. Every album has at least one, and they're usually fantastic ("My Throat Is An Open Grave", "My Heartstrings Come Undone", "Deteriorate", etc). Well, "Dead Flowers" is without question one of their best, and easily the best song off of "True Defiance". Other solid tracks include "I Am A Stone", "Crucifix", and "Wake". Stay tuned to see if they make it to the 2014.


7. One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful
Crap. I uh... Yeah. Here's #7. I'm not going to write about 1D. I think it's fine that there's a decent boy band for all the young girls to fall in love with. I fell in love with Kelly, and my need to sing songs like this at karaoke spawned a #7 spot on this countdown. Leave me alone.


6. Lamb of God - King Me
Seriously? One Direction? Get the hell out of here. Cleanse your ears with a little LAMB OF GOD! While I was mostly disappointed with their 2009 release "Wrath", they put out a massive non-album single titled "Hit The Wall" in '11 and exploded with 2012's "Resolution". I listened to the entire disc and was impressed. The final track? Wow. Wowwwwwwwww. Hot damn. I remember immediately posting to Facebook that this was going to be the song of the year (way back in February, I believe?). And then I posted it again the next two days. Haha. Wow. Once the guitars kick in, wow. The song just crushes. The entire album crushes. "Invictus", "Ghost Walking", "The Undertow", "Insurrection" - the second best metal album of 2012 was a phenomenal one. It's time for another disc, Randy. Make it happen baby! (note - take your time, guys. i can wait).


5. The Shins - Simple Song
The Shins. James Mercer. I don't like them, and I don't like him. But here's the thing. Once per album he puts out a song that just shatters your mind. The 2007 Shins album had "Phantom Limb". The first Broken Bells album had "The High Road". This Shins disc has "Simple Song", a gorgeous and amazing love song with a hilarious video about a dying father and a hidden deed bringing a family together. "Love's such a delicate thing that we do, with nothing to prove... which I never knew" is such a powerful line. The entire song is filled with great lines like that, but this song takes the cake. I still listen to it often and although I cannot stand 30 seconds of any song off the rest of the disc (or any other disc of theirs), I still have this. And that soaring guitar on the verses. Woo-whee. Should they release another album (it took 5 years between their last two) any time soon, I'm sure I'll hear it's singles on CD101 and I'll find another song to fall in love with.


4. Garbage - Beloved Freak
Shirley Manson, Shirley Manson. You gorgeous Scottish songstress. You amazing musicial, you. I was PUMPED when I heard Garbage had gotten back together and this album was not at all a let-down. "Blood for Poppies", "Control", and the song that shattered everything in my life, "Beloved Freak". I can never stop listening to this song. It's 2012's "Bloodbuzz Ohio"; that one song that will stick with you for the rest of your life. It absolutely has so far, and I don't see it relenting. No words. I can't describe what this song means to me. And it's only #4.


3. Walk the Moon - Anna Sun
Hello, Ohio! Walk the Moon bounced right out of Cincinnati and into my eardrums and heart in 2012 with the unstoppably fun track "Anna Sun". "This house is falling apart!" Was the theme of my packing my things and moving in 2013, and the song continues to bounce through into the future. Their second single "Tightrope" showed that they have future promise, and they just recently released their first single off of their next album, due in 2015. My fondest memory of this song was singing along with my fiancee in the car and coming across the line "your shoulder in my mouth" and stopping to lock eyes with her. What a ridiculous line. She laughed at me and apparently I did the same thing a few weeks later. Goodness, me. Anyways, let's get that new album out, boys, so we can all dance again!



2. Meshuggah - Do Not Look Down
There are no bad Meshuggah albums. There are few bad Meshuggah songs. These guys are titans. This album is a juggernaut. This song is a tank, strapped to a fighter jet, made out of biceps. Chuck Norris' biceps. It will crush you. They will destroy you. "Do Not Look Down" is not only the strongest track musically off of "Koloss", but lyrically as well. It's dirty and grimy and it's here to kick your mother-loving ass. Oh, and at 1:50 there's a trademark Fredrik solo in which he reaches inside of your head, rips your brain out and stomps on it. Yes. DO NOT LOOK DOWN. When I saw them live, they killed me. I am now a zombie.  Need I say more?



1. Fun - Some Nights
Yep. Yup. The most listened to, most enjoyed album of 2014. "We Are Young", "All Alone", "It Gets Better", "All Alright", "One Foot", and finally "Some Nights". I sang along so loud to this album. I was so excited when they got regular airplay. But in recent times, they've started to scare me. They've joined the great pop machine after being relatively indie on their first disc. The more I've listened to this album over the past two years, the more I realize that the auto-tune is a bit much. Also, I realize that there is a lot of room for improvement and bigger sound. But do I think they will go down that line? No, I fear they will join the sellout ranks and sell millions of records while sacrificing the foundation they build on "Aim and Ignite" and improved upon with "Some Nights".  But, the title track was a great song for this year, and is still a pretty great song to sing along with. And it really did define the life I was living that year. A fitting number one, once again eeking out a victory over a colossal metal track. It wasn't really much of a duel this year, though. It was more a decision of where the rest of the tracks fell.




I'm going to wait a few weeks before recapping the 2013 Countdown. It's only been a year and I don't think I've fully had time to live with it.  But we're less than two months away from the 2014 edition, and I hope the excitement continues to build until then. Until we meet again!