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!














Monday, October 13, 2014

Stuck in My Head: October




This is one of those songs that always makes me jump up and want to dance and sing. It's just so good. I'm not a huge Elvis Costello fan, but this song is phenomenal.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

#tbt - The 2011 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown

...and we're back! 2011 was one of my most favorite countdown years. Music was really fun for me that year, and it featured the craziest ending to a countdown to date. In a little bit you'll also see the song that I have dubbed the worst song to ever grace my countdown. Enjoy!

First up, 5 songs that didn't make it!

The Joy Formidable - Whirring
Chick rock never sounded so good.
CSS - Hits Me Like A Rock
Hahaha... what? This song is way too fun.
Cake - Long Time
A classic return album from a phenomenal band.
August Burns Red - Poor Millionaire
Still a classic track. In hindsight, I wish this song had made it over a few others.
Deathcab for Cutie - You Are A Tourist
I still have a hard time accepting liking Deathcab. But I'll let it slide this time.

Now, we start for real.

20. Avril Lavigne - What The Hell
In 2002, Avril Lavigne was the hottest thing in the world for me. I listened to her debut album constantly. Her following two albums went from great to good, and then in 2011 she dropped "Goodbye Lullaby". The sellout process was complete. She went from punk princess to Mrs Chad Kroeger. Yikes. Deep down I know we're still meant for each other, but our roads have taken different paths. Anyways, "What The Hell" is an incredibly fun song, filled with spunk and "la-la's", but the rest of the album falls pretty short. It's not terrible per se, but it's definitely not up to snuff with her first three efforts. I can't say much more than that. Her most recent album is garbage, and I don't see her rebounding any time soon. 'Tis the state of popular music.

19. The Knux - Razorblade
The Knux! Alternative hip-hop still works! Krispy and Joey are smooth as butter in this song, telling a tale of "Razorblade". One of my favorite lines of the year - "They found you on a milk carton, performing disappearing acts". The flow is there, the bass-line is unavoidable, and the instruments just dance through in perfect harmony. It's a great track that only gets better with age. I wish I could think of my positive adjectives to describe the song itself, but you'll just have to give it a listen yourself. As far as the record goes, "Eraser" is a big time statement for the band, and I'm disappointed they haven't had another release since. They brought true confidence to a genre dripping with fakeness. "Run" and "Beautiful Liar" are my other favorite hits.


18. House of Heroes - Galveston
House of Heroes is such an interesting band. I knew of them as No Tagbacks and when they changed to House of Heroes they actually played shows at the church I was going to at the time. Fast-forward to 2005, when they were signed to Goatee Records, and 2010-11 for the release of "Suburba". The album itself was released in the summer of 2010, with a re-release featuring bonus tracks in 2011. That is where we find "Galveston". My dear friend (and popular DJ of Radio U fame) Obadiah played it during the morning show one day and I immediately fell in love. If you're not dancing or rocking out in your car, then you're just not listening to the same song as I am. As far as "Suburba" goes, it's nothing but great fun. "Elevator", "Relentless", "So Far Away", "God Save Us The Foolish Kings"... I could go on the suffice it to say it's a fantastic album and I still enjoy it to this day. Their follow up disc "Cold Hard Want" is equally jam packed with goodness. Also, Reese Roper (of Five Iron Frenzy) has stated that HoH is the best band playing these days. A MASSIVE endorsement!


17. Lonely Island - Jack Sparrow (Ft Michael Bolton)
Nope, no joke here. The Lonely Island make some ridiculously silly songs, but they are absolutely solid musically. Andy Samberg is a good writer, solid actor and all around funny guy and deserves his place on Saturday Night Live. It was "Dick in a Box" that brought them fame, but on their second album, Michael Bolton provided a brilliant boost. While the boys from Lonely Island are trying to make a serious rap song, Bolton professes his love for the Pirates of the Caribbean! It's crazy, too crazy in fact; but it works to perfection in this track. This album is also highlighted by the tracks "I Just Had Sex" with Akon, and "Shy Ronnie 2: Ronnie and Clyde" with Rihanna. I'm sure that as long as they continue to make music, they'll be interesting.


16. Amaranthe - Hunger
I'm digging through my brain to try and find where I first heard Amaranthe. It might have been just an album I picked up because the name and tracklist sounded good. Regardless, it was a great choice. "Hunger" is the obvious lead track, featuring driving keys, crushing guitars and beautiful singing from both the female and male leads. 3 singers, you say? I can dig it. Now, Amaranthe is about a "melodic pop metal" as it gets, but they pull it together well, and I feel like Elize Ryd has one of the better female metal voices. The band also knows how to put together a freakin' video! I often pull thing song up when I need to get pumped, but there are other standout tracks on here as well. "1,000,000" almost delves into a dance track, and "Automatic" has great vocal harmonies. Their second album had a few good songs but was much of the same formula from the 1st album. Their next disc drops in two weeks, and I'm looking forward to giving it a spin.


15. Texas in July - Magnolia
As I'm compiling this list of nostalgia, I've been revisiting each year and listening to each song to recapture the feeling of where I was when I made these lists. I've also been reading my previous blurbs to see what I had to say at the time. Apparently, in 2011 I thought this was a pretty freaking sweet song. Well, in listening to it the other day, I found my interest fall off after the first verse. And I remember disliking the album pretty hard as well. But apparently, I heard it on my way home from work one day and knew I had to get it. I don't remember this, and I don't know how this song ends up at 15 for being a song I barely remember listening through. Also, their newest disc is about the worst August Burns Red rip off I have ever heard. I'm disappointed in you, TiJ. I expected better. I think?


14. Crystal Castles - Not In Love (ft Robert Smith)
The ultimate irony of this song is that it was introduced to me by my then-girlfriend (now fiancee). It's actually a cover from new wave acts Platinum Blonde, but the duo of Crystal Castles put an incredible twist on it by featuring (the legendary) Robert Smith from The Cure on vocals. Crystal Castles are a decent synth-pop band who put out decent synth-pop albums, with this track being their only charting hit. In fact, the actual album release of "Not in Love" only had CC on it, and failed to make any waves. It was the 2011 re-release of the disc that featured the more popular version. Either way, Robert Smith is outstanding on this song, and it represented all the sadness I had to give that year. I feel as though just about anything Smith lends his voice to will be outstanding. And let me say - the fact that this song is only #14 means that there are HUGE songs coming up.


13. Red - Feed the Machine
And, let the hugeness begin! "Feed the Machine" is the first track off of Red's third release, "Until We Have Faces" I was bouncing off the walls in anticipation for this disc, and caught a leak of the first 4 songs a month before it dropped in February. I listened to those 4 songs while babysitting my favorite little buddy Justin mere months after his birth. That means that he gets his good taste in music from me! Hah. Anyways, "Feed the Machine" is a heavy driving smash in the face that let's you know that even though Red lost a member, they're still here to smash! It follows their 2009 #14 hit "Out from Under" but has been the last Red song to track. I wrote about them in the 2009 Countdown so I won't say more on those topics. Other great songs off this disc are "Denial (Lie to Me)", "Watch You Crawl", and "Faceless". I really thought "Feed the Machine" would be a top 5 hit until fall, when better songs surfaced and this one faded on me.


12. Fitz and the Tantrums - Don't Gotta Work it Out
Fitz and the Tantrums exploded on the alternative scene with their fun and soulful debut release "Pickin' up the Pieces" in 2010. The two singles "MoneyGrabber" and "Don't Gotta Work It Out" propelled them to mainstream fame and their second release last year was even better than this disc (although only featuring an honorable mention for "Spark" from J1), but let's stick with this spot. I have fond memories of screaming along with the two songs while driving out to Marysville to visit a few friends. Despite my enamoring feelings, I didn't love this disc so much when I first heard it.  However, "Don't Gotta Work It Out" is a wonderful tale to spit in the faces of all your bad exes when they try to call on you to mend things. The piano opening works it's way into your head, with the bass and sax parts building it up to it's eventual chorus apex. The vocal dynamics of Fitz and Noelle Scaggs work wonderfully throughout all of their work, and are found beautifully synced on chorus here. My only worry about the future of this band is that they'll sell out to a more poppy sound rather than the soulful fun sound they built up in this disc.


11. Power Quest - Glorious
Let there be POWER METAL! At the time, I was much bigger on the genre, with bands like Rhapsody of Fire, Evergrey and Kamelot resonating in my head. So, I went on a quest (see what I did there?) to find the best power metal discs I could. Sadly, "Blood Alliance" was not one of them, but "Glorious" is a standout track by itself. The guitars soar, and the lead singer belts out a love song for the ages. Unfortunately, after a few lineup changes, the band dissolved after this release and the members have gone on to do their own thing, but I'll always have this one song to remember them by. "Over rainbows and stars, you can be sure I'll be there. When you're feeling alone, these are the words that will life up your heart". I often sing this song to my fiancee, as she has an affinity for rainbows. Hah!


10. FM Static - F.M.S.T.A.T.I.C
 FM Static came together in 2003 as a side project for Thousand Foot Krutch singer Trevor McNevan and drummer Steve Augustine. Trevor can do essentially what ever he wants in the Christian Music community, as referenced in the sappy pop-rock he brings to FM Static (a stark contrast to the nu-metal sounds of TFK). Anyways, I was pretty big on their first disc, but hadn't really given them a second listen after their flop of a sophomore release. I'm still not terribly fond of them, but golly did I ever sing along to this sing-along of a song. Cheerleaders chanting the letters of the bands name? "Throw up your hands like ohh"? Sure, why not? I'm still embarrassed by this one, but it's a lot of fun. So we'll let it slide, right guys? #10, yikesies.


9. The Limousines - Internet Killed The Video Star
And, we've arrived. #9, the unjustly named Limousines with their tale of the death of music (videos apparently). The song may allude to The Buggles new wave hit "Video Killed the Radio Star", but it seems to be self-defeating in both the lyrics and musical content. But, as I have referenced before, this is quite possibly the worst song ever to find it's way to the countdown. The lead synths are annoying, the singer is an incredibly annoying tool, and the song (assumedly made to be a statement) ends up flopping as a flaming pile of glaring trash. The album is actually the "Worst Album of 2011", with the singer painting a pompous tale of drug use, bad sex and bad music. and I'm wondering who it was at Dangerbird Records (home of Silversun Pickups, Fitz and the Tantrums, Hot Hot Heat, and more) thought it was a good idea to bring about these jokers. Their badness is magnified by a story I heard from my sister in which the lead singer, Eric Victorino, got into a war of words on Twitter with a friend of hers who had tweeted that he was going to see "Neon Trees, but not The Limousines". Victorino sent several abrasive and obscenity-laden tweets in response to the friend, who found it quite amusing. What a chode.  But.... damn, this song is unbelievably catchy. Kill it with fire! #9 guys!!


8. Emmure - Children of Cybertron
Well, we didn't escape the chode brigade in finding our #8 track (at least for singer Frankie Palmeri), but at least Emmure can make some solid deathcore music. Children of Cybertron shows Emmure's love for Transformers in the title reference, and many of their song titles and lyrical content are based around fantasy characters as such ("Demons with Ryu", "I Am Thanos", "Last Words to Rose" from this album). The album punches hard, with "Children" leading the way. The main theme? "You can't fuck with us!". It was a great theme for the Blue Jackets that season, and it's also a great motto for life. Right? Well, their next two discs have been a bit lacking and seem to border on ridiculous (for instance, their first song of their 2014 release is titled "Bring A Gun To School"), but they still rock out pretty hard. From this album, check out "Solar Flare Homicide", "A Voice From Below", and "Last Words To Rose".


7. The Airborne Toxic Event - All I Ever Wanted
I remember despising The Airborne Toxic event when I first heard them. And when the initial single "Changing" dropped, I remember hating it as well. But, as most pesky earworms do, it worked it's way into my life and then I got the album. And everything changed from there. Top to bottom, "All At Once" is a disc for the ages. Standout tracks include "Welcome To Your Wedding Day", "The Kids Are Ready To Die", "All At Once", and of course, #7 "All I Ever Wanted". How do I describe this song? It's a love song laced with trepidation and fear. Falling in love never felt so... scary. But that's the way love is. And this song perfectly embodies it.  Anna Bulbrook's viola work drives the song up and down, and the song stays solid until the very final verse, when singer Mikel Jollett utters the words "Love is defying". It will go down in life as one of my favorite love songs, especially with it's story telling and lyrical work. TATE's next album "Such Hot Blood" spawned last year's #3, "Timeless". So the future looks bright for the band. This album was definitely my favorite for the year.


6. Nine Lashes - Anthem of the Lonely
Holy lashes. This track dropped on Radio U in July and immediately skyrocketed through 2011. The unfortunate thing is that the band (at the time) had no website, no record, and not much was known about them. So, here's one of the best songs of the year and a promise for more? COME ON MAN. The album was well received by I didn't find it as powerful as this song or the follow up single "Get Back". It's a decent album that shows promise, but I think they're going to be one of those bands that makes great singles but lackluster albums. Either way, Anthem of the Lonely is a phenomenal song about the crisis of faith that many Christians face in a secular world. The opening drums ready for you the sonic assault, and the guitars and keys take it from there. They have a 2014 record that may or may not chart on the J1 countdown for this year. Stay tuned for that in December!


5. Cold - The Break
What can I write about Cold that I haven't already written? They're my all-time favorite band, but from 2006-2009 they were on indefinite hiatus. Then, suddenly a tour and promise of a new record. Then a second tour in support of the new record, And finally in 2011, SUPERFICTION. It took me a handful of listens to get used to the newer, cleaner sounding Cold, but man Scooter Ward still brings it. "The Break" is a track that reminds you that there is still sadness in Scooter's world, and that he is still one of the best at delivering that message. "On my way home - the saddest thing she said on the night that she went away from me". You can go top to bottom on this disc to find stand-out songs with Cold's signature sound. "The Park", "Wicked World", "Welcome2MyWorld", "The Crossroads"... just make sure to give it a few listens before passing judgment. It's grown on me a lot since 2011. This is also the last rock/metal song on the countdown, marking the highest position that the genre has bowed out.


4. Matt Nathanson - Kiss Quick
 Although I've never seen him live, Matt Nathanson is one of my all-time favorite performers. I've seen his live videos and I absolutely love him. Interestingly, "Modern Love" is his seventh disc, although he was unknown to me before 2009 when his hit single "Come On Get Higher" blew up big time. Anyways, "Faster" was the lead single from this disc, and while it's a good song, it was "Kiss Quick" that got my attention. It's a soft and pretty song with an amazing message hidden in the chorus. "Kiss quick, I've got a line out the door who all think they can save me. One by one, they lay their world at my feet, one by one they drive me crazy". This is another song that captured the emotion of 2011 so well that it's been difficult for me to listen to it ever since. Matt has a beautiful voice and composes really beautiful songs, and this is a testament to his greatness. But, if I was doing a do-over in 2014, I'd probably have this song in the teens.


3. Matt and Kim - Good for Great
As I wrote last week, Matt and Kim burst out in November 2010with "Sidewalks" and the hit single "Cameras". Once the glitz and glamour of that song and album wore off, I put it aside and focused more on 2011 releases. It wasn't until this song randomly skipped through on auto-play that I realized how good it was. The opening synths beep in and drive you down a street of discovery into a beautiful world. I can't say much more about the disc that I didn't already say on Cameras, but it's worth noting that while "Good for Great" was not released as a single, it still garnered significant airplay from alternative stations.

Since that was such a short blurb, I will fill you in on what was happening here. As I wrote the countdown and shifted the songs around, I find myself with a huge conundrum. I had two songs that I knew were going to be 1 and 2, I just didn't know what order they would fall. It was worth noting that it was two alternative songs vying for the #1 spot and the last rock/metal song fell at #5. Regardless, in December I was posting a daily song and from week to week, I'd look at my little notepad file (with the songs coded out and in order) and decide that #2 was #1, and then a few days later I'd change it back. I couldn't decide. Both had incredible merit on their side, with hundreds of plays to their credit as well. Here's how they eventually fell in the middle of December..........


2. Owl City - Galaxies
When  I say that I didn't know which would be #1 until the last two days of the countdown, I wasn't lying. For the better part of December, I actually thought it would be "Galaxies" that would take the #1 spot. The Owl City juggernaut rolled through 2011, with hits like "Deer in the Headlights", "Dreams Don't Turn to Dust", "Honey and the Bee", "The Real World" and "The Yacht Club" bouncing and blasting me through the year. But it was "Galaxies" that carried the torch with it's message about being lost and found by the love of God. The final bridge blew my mind when I first heard it, and still blows my mind to this day. "Oh telescope, keep an eye on my only hope. Let's a blink and get swept off the narrow road. Hercules, you've got nothing to say to me. Cuz you're not the blinding light that I need. For HE is the saving grace of the galaxies". Boom! This is still a great and powerful song that is still often found on my MP3 playlist. My fiancee was quick to point out to me that I initially disliked this song and the direction the Adam seemed to be going with Owl City. Hindsight! Haha.


1. Young the Giant - My Body
...but, it was newcomers Young the Giant who battled long and hard with Owl City and inevitably took the #1 spot. On December 23rd, I sat at my computer, trying to decide whether it would be "Galaxies" or "My Body" that would be #1. The inevitable conclusion was that "My Body", much like the previous #1 ("Song Away" by Hockey), "My Body" was simply the song that made me the happiest in 2011. And when happiness is the paramount emotion that you strive for, that becomes the #1 derivative for a countdown like this. All of that technical jargon aside, it's a great fun song from a great up-and-coming alternative rock band. "My body tells me no, but I won't quite cuz I want more" is a simple philosophy that lends itself perfectly to the life of young adults and teenagers. The album has a few more high notes, most notably "Cough Syrup", which ended up being a more lasting track for me than the eventual #1. Like many of the 2011 songs, YtG recently released a disc and they will probably be featured on the 2014 countdown. As I stated before, stay tuned!




What a fun year. Next Thursday we'll do it again with the year 2012! The end of times, nooo! Lol

Thursday, October 2, 2014

#tbt - The 2010 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown

Moving forward with the countdown, I found myself in 2010 spending more time listening to the radio and using Google to my advantage. With this countdown, I truly established a method to my madness. I was coding my blog posts and writing small blurbs to go with each song. I had a better documented list of the songs and I was ready to rock. Without further ado...


20. Dark Tranquility - The Fatalist
I remember thinking that Dark Tranquility was a cool name, and I've never been one to turn a blind ear to Swedish melodic death metal. Unfortunately, I found myself falling asleep to this album until the keys launched "The Fatalist". In listening to the song today, outside of the chorus I find it to be quite dull, and I remember disliking everything after this track from the band as well. Occasionally, a really good metal riff or chorus will stick with me, and that's where this came from.


19. Demon Hunter - Collapsing (ft Bjorn Strid)
I remember writing about the "new" Demon Hunter that was born in the album "The World Is A Thorn". Founding member Don Clark had departed from the band, bringing a dynamically different sound to the string section. In fact, lead guitarist Ethan Luck (of the previous two albums) had jumped ship as well, leaving the band to find yet another new musical direction ( a seemingly album-by-album process). TWIAT is not a bad album at all, but it took me several listens to get used to the re-invented awesomeness that was the post-Don Clark era Demon Hunter. Bjorn Strid, of course is the frontman of another solid Swedish outfit, Soilwork. The album is good, the song is good, but the sound has gradually declined (IMO) over the past two releases. We'll see if they chart in 2014.


18. Rammstein - Frühling in Paris
Ahh, Rammstein. You can do no wrong by me. "Liebe ist für alle da" is just another solid album from the German industrialists. "Frühling in Paris" is a wonderfully composed love song about past love which includes both German and French singing. Till Lindemann shows that he can master any language and make it sound incredible, and Flake's keyboards make the songs post-chorus soar. It may be slower and less explosive than most of the bigger Rammstein songs, but it does it's job well. The only complaint I had about "Liebe" is that it sort of fell off after this song, but it's still a great album. I read a recent article from guitarist Richard Z Kruspe stating that Rammstein was on hold, and unfortunately had no time-table to record new music.


17. Slash - Baby Can't Drive (ft Alice Cooper, Nicole Scherzinger)
Any guitar lover can appreciate Slash's talents, although it's tainted by the fact that most of his recordings have featured the voice of Axl Rose. Slash's Snakepit and Velvet Revolver had their time, but his eponymous solo debut featured guest vocalists on each track, ranging from the likes of Lemmy and Ozzy, to Fergie, Kid Rock, and Adam Levine. The album is done well and the guest vocalists did their part to launch Slash onto a platform of his own. Now, I can't stand the Pussycat Dolls singer, but Alice Cooper is the man. It's a fun song to blare on the highway, but outside of that it's a bit hollow. Slash is currently collaborating exclusively with Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy. I have yet to listen to his newest disc which dropped a few weeks ago, but I'm sure it'll be another solid effort. I kind of like the different dynamics that having guests vocalists brought to this album, though.



16. Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish
If you had told me that Blur frontman Damon Albarn would launch one of the most genre-bending and influential acts of the 2000s with a virtual band of cartoons with deep back stories, I would have sent you back to the asylum. Guess what? It works. It works well. A little too well, I fear, as the Gorillaz have done next to nothing since the release of 2010's "Plastic Beach". "Superfast Jellyfish" is the goofiest song off the disc, but it pumps hard and it's a lot of fun to sing along with. The album featured minor hits with "Melancholy Hill" "Rhinestone Eyes" and "Stylo", but it's the cast of musicians that makes it so special. From Snoop Dogg to Mick Jones to De La Soul, Gorillaz brings it all together in a fun little electro-pop piece. Unfortunately, Albarn has been touring extensively with Blur in recent times, and even made his own solo disc that dropped earlier this year. Hopefully, the Gorillaz will "record" again soon.


15. Day of Fire - Lately
I first heard Day of Fire in 2004 with their CCM hit "Detainer", but had all but forgotten about them before seeing them tour in support of Cold and Nonpoint in the spring of 2010. I picked up this album and immediately gravitated towards this track. Lead singer Josh Brown is a really cool dude and this album has a couple of good punching tracks with "Light em Up" and "Hey You", but the sound sadly translated much better live than it did over the album. They have been inactive since that tour, and most of the members have moved on to other projects. I feel as though they had a good hard rock potential, and it's sad to see them discontinue their efforts.


14. Nevermore - Moonrise (Through Mirrors of Death)
Nevermore's seventh album, "The Obsidian Conspiracy" took 5 years to complete and was well worth the wait. It built off of the success of their previous albums and featured Jeff Loomis' phenomenal guitar work and Warrel Dane's incredible power metal voice. The album featured a slightly different sound, more focusing on bigger riffs rather than more technical work. Anyways, with this song I particularly loved the line "Is this soliloquy or psychosis? Or self-hyponosis?". The album kicks hard. "Without Morals" and "The Termination Proclamation" are my other favorite tracks, but the band decided to dissolve after touring to support it. Loomis and Dane have put out solid solo efforts since, and I don't see them getting back together any time soon. But, if "Moonrise" is the last of their great metal tracks, then it is nothing to shun.


13. Haste the Day - White as Snow
...and while we're on the topic of broken up metal bands, here we have Haste the Day. The Christian Metal legends ran a farewell tour after releasing "Attack of the Wolf King" and had been unheard of until earlier this year, when they announced they were re-uniting and called upon fans to help fund. Their recording goal was almost immediately met, showing that in 3 years, the fans had not stopped headbanging to their awesomeness. Now, on an album chock-full of hard-pounding metalcore, "White as Snow" stands alone with it's slower tempo, but it features one of the most crushing breakdowns in all of HTD's catalog. I would consider my neck broken many times since the release of this disc, with standout tracks being "Waking up the Sun", "Crush Resistance", and "The Quiet, Deadly Ticking". I am super excited to hear their next disc.


12. Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
Where was I when I first heard this song? I believe I was at Skully's with my sister, and I remarked that Blue October had definitely changed their sound. Upon hearing the song on the radio later that week, I realized that it was most definitely not Blue October, but in fact Marcus Mumford and his traveling band of Englishmen. This folksy track about lost love catapulted the band into super-stardom, but their most recent effort "Babel" fails to live up to the hype brought from this disc. The band is folk first, pop second in all of their songs, and it works to their detriment in a pop-driven world. The almost obsessive need to incorporate a huge banjo piece into every (stinking) track almost kills the slower, softer pace that many of the tracks begin with. But, the band has sold over 5 million records in the US alone and their next disc will surely sell well. What is it about this song that is so great? It's a story we can all relate to, and yell "FUCK" along with. It works! Hahaha...


11. Taio Cruz - Dynamite
I remember when I was piecing together the 2010 countdown, I found myself in very precarious situation when it came to checking each song for video and release date. I wasn't as methodical on this countdown and found that one of my top 10 songs, The Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition" was released back in 2008, despite it finding better success late 2009-early 2010. I was left to scour the songs I had overlooked to try and find a song that I could insert. I scrambled through the "2010" and "2009" years on my media player and flipped over to the singles chart to see if there was something I had overlooked. And, here it was. In hindsight, I'm not sure why I chose it to be #11, as I have a hard time believing that it was bigger #s 14-12, but it is what it is. That was several years ago, and it stands where it is. A terrible song that finishes a somewhat lacking first 10. Make with it what you will, as things get so much better from here on out.


10. Muse - Resistance
I don't really like Muse. I'd say I'm 50/50 on them, but outside of this song and "Undisclosed Desires", I couldn't stand anything off of this disc. "Black Holes and Revelations" is a good enough album, except that "Knights of Cydonia" is one of the worst songs ever recorded. Fast forward 3 years to "The Resistance", led by the anti-societal anthem "Uprising". The album is trash, and their 2012 disc "The 2nd Law" is even trashier. It's all a bunch of pretty, dressed new "new prog" with a whiny douchebag singer and a legion of hipster fans that don't even know why they like the music (hint, it's because they're ripping off great 80s musicians like Prince). BUT, Resistance, is a wonderful love song to scream along to, so I will leave you with that. It was super big for me in the early mornings of opening the restaurant I was working at at the time.


9. Dan Black - Symphonies
Here we find Dan Black, former lead singer of the English rock group The Servant, reaching out on an album that I learned was dubbed "Wonky Pop"; quirky, catchy and credible. In reality, it means that they can't find a positive name for it, so the Brits gave it something that sounds meaningful. The album is definitely wonky, but "Symphonies" shows that Black has a skill at rhyming words that do not seem to go together, and launching orchestral synths over a simplistic drum machine. It's good for what it is, and it was a song that I loved to sing along with that year.


8. 30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens
Speaking of bad bands with douchy singers and legions of hipster fans that occasionally put out phenomenal songs, here is Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars. There's no denying the explosive power of this song and the forceful video that accompanies it. This one goes perfectly with "Resistance" as 5am songs that I just could not stop singing to get me pumped up for the drone of the upcoming day. The album doesn't have much more to lean on, but this song is a fitting apex to the year it was released. Leto enjoys playing around with musical concepts but isn't very good at executing them. But, who doesn't love to sing along to "Whoa-oh's"? In the end, most of their music is annoyingly over-produced and over-whined. However, this sing-a-long chorus has stuck with me in the years to follow, making it one of the few to stick with me from this year.


7. Iyaz - Replay
As critical as I was to Taio Cruz's track falling at #11, some might find it surprising that Iyaz's "Replay" fell in at #7. I have no good response to that. The grammatical failings of this song and the corniness of the lyrics is overwhelming, in hindsight at least. The beat is incredibly catchy, and at the time I really enjoyed Iyaz's islander accent. Throw in a few "na-na-na's" and some bouncy synths, and you can overlook the awful lyrics. It's a plain and simple love song where Iyaz "sings" about his lady, and most of us can relate to that in some way or another. It's a time-honored formula for crossover hip-hop, and it does it's part for 2010. And for all the flack I give these artists, their music is so much better than the gizzards'n'grits that is served to us on a shovel from these "urban" stations anymore. I'd take Iyaz over Rihanna and Lil Wayne any day of the week.


6. Them Crooked Vultures - Mind Eraser, No Chaser
There's no denying that anything Josh Homme puts his mind to turns to gold. Dave Grohl has a similar effect. Oh, and I guess to round out this trio we could add the bassist from Led freakin' Zeppelin. The result? Them Crooked Vultures. I cannot complain about the complexity and all-around fun nature of this album, which reaches it's crescendo with "Mind Eraser, No Chaser". Other standout tracks are the hit single "New Fang", "Dead End Friends", and "Reptiles". Of course, these days Grohl is doing any and everything he wants with the Foo Fighters, and Homme just put out another tremendous Queens of the Stone Age disc. The trio have stated that they'd love to do a future collaboration, and I for one am definitely hoping it comes to fruition. Until then, I can enjoy everything that the members do independently and wait.


5. Matt and Kim - Cameras
The craziest thing about "Cameras" is that the album dropped in November of 2010, with the single being released a few weeks previous. THAT'S how big it was. And to this date, "Sidewalks" is the only album to chart two different hits, with "Good to Great" reaching #3 in 2011. "Block after Block" and "Wires" are also great hits from the disc, which features goofy synth-pop from the duo who are exclusively a drummer and keyboardist. They make a lot out of a little, and a lot of it is so intriguingly cobbled together that you have to listen to it twice. Anyways, the bass on Cameras hits hard, the synths bounce around perfectly, and the beat works you through a fun little ditty. The concept of "No time for cameras, we'll use our eyes instead" is outstanding, and the video features the two members in an all-out war.


4. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
I'm not sure what more I can say about The National that I haven't said before. Just because their 2013 release "Trouble Will Find Me" did not chart on that countdown doesn't make it a great disc, it was just simply impossible to follow up the amazing piece of craftsmanship that is "High Violet", and it's lead single "Bloodbuzz Ohio". Again, driving to work at 5am, I heard this song and just sat in awe. Bryan Devendorf's percussion and Matt Berninger's baritone. What else can be said? The piano seamlessly works through the song, and the guitar and keyboard work fill in when needed. The song drives on, with Berninger's unbelievable voice peaking and falling and piercing every ounce of your soul. I would go ahead and say that this song is one of the greatest songs I have ever heard, and I say that without hesitation. It would almost be considered a tragic shame that it finished at #4, except that the next 3 songs were even bigger in 2010.  As far as the album goes, you can take your pick. "Lemonworld", "Terrible Love", "Anyone's Ghost", "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks", "England", etc. You cannot go wrong, and I set myself up for failure thinking that their 2013 release would reach these heights. The future looks good for these boys from Cincinnati, however, and I nervously anticipate another release in the next two years.


3. Fear Factory - Final Exit
This song is #1. I don't care that it finished at #3, there was no song that received more airplay in 2010 than "Final Exit". With Burton C Bell and Dino Cazares coming together for the first time since 2001, and the addition of the human drum machine Gene Hoglan behind the kit, Fear Factory pounded out a tremendous comeback album. Feature tracks also include "Controlled Demolition", "Fear Campaign", and "Designing The Enemy", but it was the incredible euthanasia-themed track "Final Exit" that blistered through 2010 and beyond. The opening quotes haunt you. Dino's thrashy chorus and chiming verses. Hoglan's precision and power. And the impossible-to-resist third verse, which reminds you that this is FEAR FACTORY. I listened to this song over and over and over again, and as far as lasting effort goes, only "Bloodbuzz Ohio" has had a bigger one. The song's meat and potatoes cut down around the 4:40 mark, but the final 3+ minutes feature the industrial sounds that distinguish the band from all others.


2. Periphery - Icarus Lives!
Let metal reign, let metal reign. The world "djent" is tossed around in the metal society these days. The palm-mute technique, made popular by Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah, has spread almost like a cancer through the metal scene. Very few bands do it well, or do anything to distinguish themselves from their metal forefathers. Periphery is a band that is unbelievably experiment and does a lot to flash and dash and explode in your face. They've spent millions of making their live shows as explosive and bombastic as possible, but after seeing them live I was highly disappointed. What works as an exciting progression through this eponymous debut, it at times cluttered and clunky live. It's a great album, with songs like "The Walk", "Light", and "Zyglrox" leading the way, but in the end it's just Misha Mansoor's amazing vision mixed with other musicians. To make up for the fact that Mansoor is doing such intriguing things with his strings, the band actually has two other guitarists, a totally unnecessary number. But it made for a fun and interesting album, and the lead single tells the forever familiar tale of Icarus, who perished after flying too close to the sun, simply to prove that he could fly.  It's an absolutely explosive song with screaming vocals that blast you through every workout and 100mph drive down the highway you could ever imagine. As much as I dislike he "djent" genre these days (also, #tangent and /soapbox), Periphery does a good thing well on this album, and it's worth a listen if you like prog-experimental metal.


1. Hockey - Song Away
Remember what I said about alt-rock's dominance and metal's secondary nature? Here it is again. We find the alt-rockers Hockey and their debut disc "Mind Chaos". As much as the previous 3 songs deserve to be #1, there wasn't a song that influenced my life more than "Song Away" in 2010. No song brought me happiness when I was lower. It didn't matter how depressed I was - the moment i heard this song, it immediately became my happiness anthem. The guitars lead you through an interesting tale of the fallacies of the lead singers life as a musician and lover, and is a constant reminder that no matter what happens, "tomorrow's just a song away". It's a perfect anthem, but in the years since I've found that this song is so 2010-centered that it's hard to listen to it a lot any more. It doesn't help that, just like the previous #1, the album doesn't offer much more than this track. "Too Fake" is a fun little ditty that was featured on NHL 2K10, but for all it's fun poppy ideas, the album just dies off after the first couple tracks. "Song Away" may be Hockey's only saving grace, but I will never forget what it meant to the year 2010 - the year I persevered through to find my fiancee and eventual path in life.


The ultimate relevance of the 2010 countdown is that it was the last (so far) to have a solid line of pop music, leaning more heavily upon alt-rock and metal. I listened to more CD101 and sought out more heavier albums as time progressed on, and found myself less intrigued and more apathetic towards rap and hip-hop.
These days, I don't even bother scanning through the "urban" stations any more, and rarely dabble through the pop junk.

SO, next Thursday, 2011! An infamous and unforgettable countdown year, which featured (quite possibly) the worst song ever featured in a top 20 countdown, and was topped off by the fact that the order of #2 and #1 were not decided until the day of announcing. Stay tuned and as always, enjoy the music!