Anberlin - (fin)
Woods of Ypres - Traveling Alone
Assemblage 23 - Damaged
Arcade Fire - Afterlife
Bear Hands - Agora
Morning Parade - Alienation
Korn - All in the Family
blink-182 - Always
Sup the Chemist - As the Sun Rises
Amy Grant - Baby Baby
Take That - Back for Good
Sleeper Agent - Be Brave
Beartooth - Beaten In Lips
Zeta - Bind
Meshuggah - Bleed
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Demon Hunter - Blood in the Tears
The Ataris - Boys of Summer
Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)
Five Finger Death Punch - Burn it Down
Voltaire - Captains All
Natalie Merchant - Carnival
Eric Clapton - Change the World
Coldplay - Charlie Brown
Tegan and Sara - Closer
Foster the People - Coming of Age
Young the Giant - Cough Syrup
Purity Ring - Crawlersout
Young the Giant - Crystallized
Tedashii - Dark Days, Darker Nights
Van Morrison - Days like This
Meg Myers - Desire
Santigold - Disparate Youth
Born of Osiris - Divergency
blink-182 - Down
Breathe Carolina - Dressed up to Undress
Alestorm - Drink
Cadets - A Drop in the Ocean
Theory of a Deadman - Drown
Korn - Earache My Eye
Will Hoge - Even if it Breaks Your Heart
Relient K - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Kathy Troccoli - Everything Changes
FM Static - F.m.s.t.a.t.i.c
Sevendust - Failure
Evergrey - Fear
Maps & Atlases - Fever
Purity Ring - Fineshrine
Coldplay - Fix You
Weird Al - Foil
Demon Hunter - Follow the Wolves
Solution .45 - For Aeons Past
Close Your Eyes - Frame and Glass
Owl City - Galaxies
Weird Al - Handy
Lamb of God - Ghost Walking
The Frozen Ocean - Ghosts
Power Quest - Glorious
Starflyer 59 - Good Sons
Allegaeon - Gravimetric Time Dilation
Chvrches - Gun
Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care
A Plea For Purging - Heart of a Child
Don Henley - Heart of the Matter
Impending Doom - Hellhole
Fuel - Hemorrhage (In My Hands)
Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy
Lamb of God - Hit The Wall
Demon Hunter - I Am A Stone
Five Iron Frenzy - I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge
The Eagles - I Can't Tell You Why
Boston - I Had A Good Time
Xerath - I Hold Dominion
Demon Hunter - I Play Dead
Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better
Periphery - Icarus Lives!
Scar Symmetry - Illuminoid Dream Sequence
VNV Nation - Illusion
Born of Osiris - Illusionist
Evanescence - Imaginary
Anberlin - Impossible
Beartooth - In Between
Lamb of God - Insurrection
Default - It Only Hurts
Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
Korn - Justin
REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You
Lamb of God - King Me
30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens
Mr. Mister - Kyrie
Lamb of God - Laid to Rest
Jack White - Lazaretto
Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
Korn - Lies
Lo-Fang - Light Year
The LoveCrave - Little Suicide
Arctic Monkeys - Love is a Laserquest
Born of Osiris - Machine
Matchbox Twenty - Mad Season
Rammstein - Mann gegen Mann
Joy Electric - Monosynth
Rammstein - Morgenstern
Chvrches - The Mother We Share
Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All
Red - Mystery of You
Crystal Castles - Not In Love (ft Robert Smith)
Finger Eleven - Obvious Heart
Cold - Ocean
Voltaire - Oh My Goth!
Blindside - Our Love Saves Us
Finger Eleven - Panic Attack
Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn
Cold - The Park
Elvis Costello - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Bastille - Pompeii
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Redemption Song
Killswitch Engage - Rose of Sharyn
Jackson Browne - Running on Empty
Whitechapel - The Saw is the Law
Winds of Plague - Say Hello to the Undertaker
Deadsy - Seagulls
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting on You)
Sevendust - See and Believe
Cold - Send in the Clowns
Eye of the Enemy - The Shift
Slipknot - (sic)
Zeta - Slip
Miike Snow - Song for No One
Further Seems Forever - The Sound
Dave Matthews Band - The Space Between
Meshuggah - Stengah
Vampire Weekend - Step
OneRepublic - Stop and Stare
Silversun Pickups - Substitution
Calvin Harris - Summer
I The Breather - Swine:Cult (feat Ricky Armellino)
Destiny Potato - Take a Picture
The Eagles - Take it East
Demon Hunter - Thorns
Jack White - Three Women
The Blow - True Affection
P!nk - Try
Story of the Year - Until the Day I Die
The Classic Crime - Vagabonds
Slipknot - Vermillion
Bleachers - Wake Me
Slipknot - The Virus of Life
Goo Goo Dolls - Sympathy
Epidemic - Walk Away
Sevendust -Walk Away
Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis
Aeon Zen - Warning
Sleeper Agent - Waves
Cut Copy - We Are Explorers
Switchfoot - When We Come Alive
Lo-Fang - When We're Fire
Korn - When Will This End?
Haste the Day - White as Snow
Jennifer Knapp - Whole Again
Haim - The Wire
Slim Thug - Wood Wheel (feat PJ and Sir Dally)
Kevin Max - You
Norma Jean - Wrongdoers
Blindside - You Can Hide It
Sick Puppies - You're Going Down
Rammstein - Zerstoren
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
#tbt - The 2009 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown
For the next few throwback episodes, I will be featuring a look back on previous countdowns. We start with the original, barely document countdown, which was brought on by a similar style done by my dear friend Pete. It has evolved over the past 5 years from a small list to a year-round adventure, filled with memories, blurbs, and other excitement. Let us delve into the year 2009...
20. Collective Soul - Staring Down
Collective Soul had a stack of platinum albums from 1993-2000 before slowing down and succumbing to the end of the post-grunge movement. It's a good song that is well-deserving of their catalog. I remember forgetting about the band before seeing the video for this on VH1 and immediately being hooked to thing song. I found the album slightly dull, but I didn't expect a lot from a band that was far since washed out.
19. Parachute - She is Love
In truth, my enjoyment of this song exploded after 2009 and this song was stuck on my MP3 playlist for several years, outlasting other more enjoyable, more potent songs. But love was an interesting theme this year, as I struggled with life alone and after my crazy ex. It's a pretty little love song, and the stripped down version is much better than the more amped up single version. I don't really know anything about this band other than this song. Hah.
18. Sick Puppies - I Hate You
Sick Puppies were on top of the world after the release of this album. Is "I Hate You" my favorite track? That depends on what the day is. I actually didn't like the major single "You're Going Down" until much later. "Riptide", "Maybe", "Should've Known Better"... you can go on with this album. It's as solid as their debut major label release, but sadly they've fallen on softer times these days. No J1 hits were received from their most recent disc, but "I Hate You" was a big one at the time.
17. DevilDriver - Another Night In London
One of my favorite albums from 2009, DevilDriver's "Pray for Villains" resonated as one of the top metal discs for the year. "Another Night In London" was my favorite song off of the disc, and it still is to this day. Honestly, I enjoy all of the tracks off the album, but sadly I wasn't too big on their last two discs. Musically, their most recent effort "Winter Kills" is a good disc but the vocals are clouded into the music, and it sounds a bit goofy IMO. DD's first four albums are still big time with me.
16. Chris Isaak - We Let Her Down
Chris Isaak had a major hit in 1990 with "Wicked Game", and has still had solid record sales in Australia, of all places. "We Let Her Down" is a sad tale living up to it's namesake. I occasionally listen to it when I'm filled with self-loathing, but honestly, Isaak's particular blend of whine is not my style. But, I heard this song a LOT on the work muzak after it was released, and so it stuck.
15. Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
The major issue with this album was picking out a song that I loved the most. "Panic Switch" was the major single that propelled them up the charts, but "Substitution" and "The Royal We" still get decent play on alternative stations. As with any SSP song, the bassline drives this song up and down the scale and inevitably sticks in your head for days. The moment I heard this song, it was apparent that this was going to be a big charter. SSP also charted in 2012, and I fully expect any new release of theirs to chart as well. I love them and they have a solid formula for beautiful music.
14. Red - Out from Under
Red, Red, Red. "Innocence and Instinct" is a gigantic album, possibly even better than their first disc "End of Silence". Radio U had "Mystery of You", "Death of You", and "Ordinary World" in heavy rotation, but it was the sonic explosion of drums and guitars in "Out from Under" that pushed it up to the #14 spot. I will occasionally play their first two albums these days, and the song "Feed the Machine" charted at #13 in 2011. Their most recent album is unfortunate trash and wholly garbage, and I'm hoping they'll rebound when they decide to record again. Their principle songwriter, Jasen Rauch is now a part of Breaking Benjamin, so we'll see how that translates for both bands.
13. Gorilla Zoe - Echo
I can't even remember where I first heard Gorilla Zoe. I think I actually heard his song "Lost" from a friend before checking out this tune. I don't really care for rappers singing with heavy auto-tune (or anyone really), but this song worked perfectly for me as I fell out of bad relationships in this time period. I rarely listen to this tune any more and I didn't even bother checking out his 2011 release, but this song will always be there for me if I find myself getting over a bad relationship. Thank you for that, Mr Zoe.
12. Breathe Carolina - Show Me Yours
I'm told that Breathe Carolina is considered "Electronicore", which is a mesh of electronica and hardcore music. I'd say the "core" element has been more present in later releases, but this is a beautiful dance track. I suppose I did just say I didn't like heavy auto-tuning, but it works better in electronic music... I guess. Anyways, this song pulses hard and features beautiful synths, and although I don't care for the album at all, it's a great track. If I had picked up their 2009 album before 2011, "Dressed Up To Undress" would have been a big hit, too. Something about their music just works for me. It's scary how similar to Family Force 5 they are, but they do what they do so much better. They have a 2014 release that might be featured in the countdown. Keep for eyes and ears peeled!
11. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Fortunately and unfortunately, my fascination with KoL began and ended with this song. "Sex on Fire" is a good track, but the band is awful. I make no bones about my dislike for them, but "Use Somebody" is an absolute anthem. Remember, 2009 = broken relationships. So many times, I could've used somebody. Someone like... me? Well perhaps, but just the same. I immediately switch off the radio any time any of their newer material comes on, because the singer is just a major chump who sounds atrocious in his chumpiness. It's a shame, really.
10. Five Finger Death Punch - Bad Company
Hahahahaa.... speaking of chumps. FFDP is the butt of jokes for most rock/metal fans, but they still sell records and sell out arenas. And for my money, their first two albums were pretty solid, before they got all soft sappy poppish. Like a harder version of Nickleback. Yikes. And looking back on it, I kind of hate this cover now. At the time it was a sweet rendition of a phenomenal song, but as I've gotten older I've found that Bad Company is one of my favorite classic rock bands, and I find this version a sort of butchering. They haven't charted with any of their 3 albums since, and I don't see that trend changing.
9. The Killer and the Star - Living With Musicians
I went a long time between Cold releases. In reality it was only six years but felt 100 times longer due to the band breaking up in 2006. In the interim, Scooter Ward decided to form a solo project, which ended up changing it's name twice and releasing several demos before TKATS album dropped. Interestingly, it was the demo of "Symphony of a Mad World" that was my favorite song before being released on the album. The demo was a bit slower and sadder sounding, while the album track was more polished and bouncy. "Living With Musicians" was originally titled "My Heart", a terribly sad tale the initially turned into this song. Both are great, and "Living With Musicians" is the best song off of a great album. I don't anticipate a follow-up, but I got a Cold album in 2011 and I'm sure there'll be a few more to keep me going.
8. Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
Ahahahaa.... haha... heh... okay. Ridiculous, I know, but I LOVED this song when it came out. I vividly remember cranking the car's volume up as high it would go and yelling along with the pre- and chorus. In hindsight, "Get your armor" is a super lame line. I'm laughing out loud as I write this. Now, Jordin Sparks is beautiful and has a wonderful voice, and was a well-deserving victor on American Idol, but that is not Jester One, folks. Let me say it one more time - 2009 = broken relationships = perfect anthem.
7. This Ending - Machinery
It's a shame that This Ending hasn't dropped a disc since 2009's "Dead Harvest". This song, along with several others ("Tools of Demise", "Trace of Sin", "Army of the Dying Sun") were major players in my work-out playlist for the year. The driving guitars and smashing drums pushed me to the limit many times while running. This album, as well as The Famine's "The Raven and the Reaping" and August Burns Red's "Constellations" were humongous this year, showing that heartbreak wasn't the only theme of the season. As I said before, it's just a damn shame that they haven't done much since. I keep looking them up from time to time, and except for a 3 song internet release in 2012, they've been mostly silent.
6. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
Well, yeah. I guess I can laugh about Jordin Sparks, but I've always loved Kelly Clarkson. Two American Idol winners in the same group? Yikes. Anyways, holy wow, this song is about as depressing as it gets. Generally (in Kelly's case) I gravitate towards her happier, poppier songs. This song was composed by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame, which is very much apparently with the heavy bass-drum and string section. It's a great track about losing a loved one. Kelly is gold, folks.
5. Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet
I think it might have been my mother who turned me on to Michael. Dude has an amazing voice and does fantastic covers of older and newer songs alike. But in 2009 he absolutely exploded with this track. And deservedly so! If heartbreak was the theme of the year, getting over it made 2009 work. My dear old friend Bethany Lucas and I used to sing thing song; she had a similar love for the man. I think the songs he writes are outstanding (see "Everything", "Home", "Hold On") and this one is no exception. It's just the right amount of happy and bouncy, and all parts beautiful voice. The fact that it was only #5... look out.
4. Alice in Chains - Check My Brain
Let's talk about that first time you ever heard a song. I can remember precisely what I was doing and where I was the first time I heard this song. I almost pulled my car over before reaching a red light, just to listen to how good this song was. That opening guitar riff was chugged into my head for weeks, and the song never stopped pushing through my veins. I don't even think I heard the lyrics at all the first few times I listened. Just that guitar. It didn't matter that AIC hadn't recorded an album since 1995. It didn't matter that Layne Staley died in 2002. William DuVall was a tremendous replacement, and Jerry Cantrell is STILL the boss. This album dropped the same day as Default's most recent offering, and they were playing it at the studio where Default performed their live release concert. AIC's most recent disc was a bit out there, but I'm hoping they'll bounce back soon.
3. Owl City - Fireflies
Owl City. Here you have it, folks. The start of the most prolific band in J1 history. #3 in 2009, #2 in 2011, and surpisingly not ranked in 2012. I guess it took me a while to latch on to that album, and also ignorance prevented me from picking it up 'til fall. Moving on - I was in the car with my sister when I first heard this song. I asked her when Ben Gibbard started making such bubbly music, and whether it was The Postal Service or a new project. She defiantly replied that the track was by "some band called Owl City", although it sounded similar to Gibbard. Well, five years later Adam Young's electro-pop effort is one of my favorite bands, and continues to rock my world. In hindsight, I didn't really start loving "Ocean Eyes" (except for this song) until "All Things Bright and Beautiful" dropped in 2011. All of a sudden, I was all things Owl City. I still have to scratch my head and listen a few times for most of the songs, but I love this ridiculously sugary junk.
2. August Burns Red - Rationalist
Let there be metal! The best workout song in the history of amazing workout songs, "Rationalist" is just another gigantic track off of an extra-ordinary album. Top to bottom, this album is unbelievable. I remember not caring for their 2007 disc "Messengers", and being skeptical of any band associated with The Devil Wears Prada. But "Constellations" slams and crushes everything in it's path. ABR at their best, and for my money "Rationalist" is the clear apex. Interestingly, their 2011 album did not chart, with the majority of it's plays for me coming in 2012. While I still haven't really found the groove of their 2013 disc, they still rock harder than most out there.
1. Morrissey - Throwing My Arms Around Paris
And, here we are. Number one, from the singer of one of my favorite 80's bands (The Smith's). Morrissey has an amazing voice and will sing about whatever and wherever he pleases. The man is truly a legend, even if that legend is build strongest in his own mind. But, further to the point, "Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is a beautifully composed song about the lack of love in a man's heart. "Nobody wants my love, nobody needs my love" was the resonating lyric for the year, and sometimes it feels as though that is still the case. Regardless of all that - 2009 was championed by an alternative rock "CD101" track and saw the runner up being a metal track. This is significant because in the 4 countdowns that followed, this has happened 3 more times. The only time it didn't happen was 2011, where "My Body" by Young the Giant and "Galaxies" by Own City took the top 2 spots, respectively. While there were 7 hard rock/metal songs that year, the last one was "The Break" by Cold, at #5. Interestingly, two of the songs that got the most airplay at the beginning of the year were metal tracks.... but I don't delve into that until we talk about the 2011 countdown in detail in a few weeks.
So, a look back. We have a very different and eclectic scene going, with the top 5 being CD101, Radio U metal, Radio U pop, 99.7 rock/metal, and WNCI pop. I should note that it was "Throwing My Arms Around Paris" that got me truly hooked on CD101, which brought the eventual decline of the pop genre. Thank youuu, Morrissey!
Until next week, when we check in with 2010.
20. Collective Soul - Staring Down
Collective Soul had a stack of platinum albums from 1993-2000 before slowing down and succumbing to the end of the post-grunge movement. It's a good song that is well-deserving of their catalog. I remember forgetting about the band before seeing the video for this on VH1 and immediately being hooked to thing song. I found the album slightly dull, but I didn't expect a lot from a band that was far since washed out.
19. Parachute - She is Love
In truth, my enjoyment of this song exploded after 2009 and this song was stuck on my MP3 playlist for several years, outlasting other more enjoyable, more potent songs. But love was an interesting theme this year, as I struggled with life alone and after my crazy ex. It's a pretty little love song, and the stripped down version is much better than the more amped up single version. I don't really know anything about this band other than this song. Hah.
18. Sick Puppies - I Hate You
Sick Puppies were on top of the world after the release of this album. Is "I Hate You" my favorite track? That depends on what the day is. I actually didn't like the major single "You're Going Down" until much later. "Riptide", "Maybe", "Should've Known Better"... you can go on with this album. It's as solid as their debut major label release, but sadly they've fallen on softer times these days. No J1 hits were received from their most recent disc, but "I Hate You" was a big one at the time.
17. DevilDriver - Another Night In London
One of my favorite albums from 2009, DevilDriver's "Pray for Villains" resonated as one of the top metal discs for the year. "Another Night In London" was my favorite song off of the disc, and it still is to this day. Honestly, I enjoy all of the tracks off the album, but sadly I wasn't too big on their last two discs. Musically, their most recent effort "Winter Kills" is a good disc but the vocals are clouded into the music, and it sounds a bit goofy IMO. DD's first four albums are still big time with me.
16. Chris Isaak - We Let Her Down
Chris Isaak had a major hit in 1990 with "Wicked Game", and has still had solid record sales in Australia, of all places. "We Let Her Down" is a sad tale living up to it's namesake. I occasionally listen to it when I'm filled with self-loathing, but honestly, Isaak's particular blend of whine is not my style. But, I heard this song a LOT on the work muzak after it was released, and so it stuck.
15. Silversun Pickups - It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
The major issue with this album was picking out a song that I loved the most. "Panic Switch" was the major single that propelled them up the charts, but "Substitution" and "The Royal We" still get decent play on alternative stations. As with any SSP song, the bassline drives this song up and down the scale and inevitably sticks in your head for days. The moment I heard this song, it was apparent that this was going to be a big charter. SSP also charted in 2012, and I fully expect any new release of theirs to chart as well. I love them and they have a solid formula for beautiful music.
14. Red - Out from Under
Red, Red, Red. "Innocence and Instinct" is a gigantic album, possibly even better than their first disc "End of Silence". Radio U had "Mystery of You", "Death of You", and "Ordinary World" in heavy rotation, but it was the sonic explosion of drums and guitars in "Out from Under" that pushed it up to the #14 spot. I will occasionally play their first two albums these days, and the song "Feed the Machine" charted at #13 in 2011. Their most recent album is unfortunate trash and wholly garbage, and I'm hoping they'll rebound when they decide to record again. Their principle songwriter, Jasen Rauch is now a part of Breaking Benjamin, so we'll see how that translates for both bands.
13. Gorilla Zoe - Echo
I can't even remember where I first heard Gorilla Zoe. I think I actually heard his song "Lost" from a friend before checking out this tune. I don't really care for rappers singing with heavy auto-tune (or anyone really), but this song worked perfectly for me as I fell out of bad relationships in this time period. I rarely listen to this tune any more and I didn't even bother checking out his 2011 release, but this song will always be there for me if I find myself getting over a bad relationship. Thank you for that, Mr Zoe.
12. Breathe Carolina - Show Me Yours
I'm told that Breathe Carolina is considered "Electronicore", which is a mesh of electronica and hardcore music. I'd say the "core" element has been more present in later releases, but this is a beautiful dance track. I suppose I did just say I didn't like heavy auto-tuning, but it works better in electronic music... I guess. Anyways, this song pulses hard and features beautiful synths, and although I don't care for the album at all, it's a great track. If I had picked up their 2009 album before 2011, "Dressed Up To Undress" would have been a big hit, too. Something about their music just works for me. It's scary how similar to Family Force 5 they are, but they do what they do so much better. They have a 2014 release that might be featured in the countdown. Keep for eyes and ears peeled!
11. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Fortunately and unfortunately, my fascination with KoL began and ended with this song. "Sex on Fire" is a good track, but the band is awful. I make no bones about my dislike for them, but "Use Somebody" is an absolute anthem. Remember, 2009 = broken relationships. So many times, I could've used somebody. Someone like... me? Well perhaps, but just the same. I immediately switch off the radio any time any of their newer material comes on, because the singer is just a major chump who sounds atrocious in his chumpiness. It's a shame, really.
10. Five Finger Death Punch - Bad Company
Hahahahaa.... speaking of chumps. FFDP is the butt of jokes for most rock/metal fans, but they still sell records and sell out arenas. And for my money, their first two albums were pretty solid, before they got all soft sappy poppish. Like a harder version of Nickleback. Yikes. And looking back on it, I kind of hate this cover now. At the time it was a sweet rendition of a phenomenal song, but as I've gotten older I've found that Bad Company is one of my favorite classic rock bands, and I find this version a sort of butchering. They haven't charted with any of their 3 albums since, and I don't see that trend changing.
9. The Killer and the Star - Living With Musicians
I went a long time between Cold releases. In reality it was only six years but felt 100 times longer due to the band breaking up in 2006. In the interim, Scooter Ward decided to form a solo project, which ended up changing it's name twice and releasing several demos before TKATS album dropped. Interestingly, it was the demo of "Symphony of a Mad World" that was my favorite song before being released on the album. The demo was a bit slower and sadder sounding, while the album track was more polished and bouncy. "Living With Musicians" was originally titled "My Heart", a terribly sad tale the initially turned into this song. Both are great, and "Living With Musicians" is the best song off of a great album. I don't anticipate a follow-up, but I got a Cold album in 2011 and I'm sure there'll be a few more to keep me going.
8. Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
Ahahahaa.... haha... heh... okay. Ridiculous, I know, but I LOVED this song when it came out. I vividly remember cranking the car's volume up as high it would go and yelling along with the pre- and chorus. In hindsight, "Get your armor" is a super lame line. I'm laughing out loud as I write this. Now, Jordin Sparks is beautiful and has a wonderful voice, and was a well-deserving victor on American Idol, but that is not Jester One, folks. Let me say it one more time - 2009 = broken relationships = perfect anthem.
7. This Ending - Machinery
It's a shame that This Ending hasn't dropped a disc since 2009's "Dead Harvest". This song, along with several others ("Tools of Demise", "Trace of Sin", "Army of the Dying Sun") were major players in my work-out playlist for the year. The driving guitars and smashing drums pushed me to the limit many times while running. This album, as well as The Famine's "The Raven and the Reaping" and August Burns Red's "Constellations" were humongous this year, showing that heartbreak wasn't the only theme of the season. As I said before, it's just a damn shame that they haven't done much since. I keep looking them up from time to time, and except for a 3 song internet release in 2012, they've been mostly silent.
6. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
Well, yeah. I guess I can laugh about Jordin Sparks, but I've always loved Kelly Clarkson. Two American Idol winners in the same group? Yikes. Anyways, holy wow, this song is about as depressing as it gets. Generally (in Kelly's case) I gravitate towards her happier, poppier songs. This song was composed by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame, which is very much apparently with the heavy bass-drum and string section. It's a great track about losing a loved one. Kelly is gold, folks.
5. Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet
I think it might have been my mother who turned me on to Michael. Dude has an amazing voice and does fantastic covers of older and newer songs alike. But in 2009 he absolutely exploded with this track. And deservedly so! If heartbreak was the theme of the year, getting over it made 2009 work. My dear old friend Bethany Lucas and I used to sing thing song; she had a similar love for the man. I think the songs he writes are outstanding (see "Everything", "Home", "Hold On") and this one is no exception. It's just the right amount of happy and bouncy, and all parts beautiful voice. The fact that it was only #5... look out.
4. Alice in Chains - Check My Brain
Let's talk about that first time you ever heard a song. I can remember precisely what I was doing and where I was the first time I heard this song. I almost pulled my car over before reaching a red light, just to listen to how good this song was. That opening guitar riff was chugged into my head for weeks, and the song never stopped pushing through my veins. I don't even think I heard the lyrics at all the first few times I listened. Just that guitar. It didn't matter that AIC hadn't recorded an album since 1995. It didn't matter that Layne Staley died in 2002. William DuVall was a tremendous replacement, and Jerry Cantrell is STILL the boss. This album dropped the same day as Default's most recent offering, and they were playing it at the studio where Default performed their live release concert. AIC's most recent disc was a bit out there, but I'm hoping they'll bounce back soon.
3. Owl City - Fireflies
Owl City. Here you have it, folks. The start of the most prolific band in J1 history. #3 in 2009, #2 in 2011, and surpisingly not ranked in 2012. I guess it took me a while to latch on to that album, and also ignorance prevented me from picking it up 'til fall. Moving on - I was in the car with my sister when I first heard this song. I asked her when Ben Gibbard started making such bubbly music, and whether it was The Postal Service or a new project. She defiantly replied that the track was by "some band called Owl City", although it sounded similar to Gibbard. Well, five years later Adam Young's electro-pop effort is one of my favorite bands, and continues to rock my world. In hindsight, I didn't really start loving "Ocean Eyes" (except for this song) until "All Things Bright and Beautiful" dropped in 2011. All of a sudden, I was all things Owl City. I still have to scratch my head and listen a few times for most of the songs, but I love this ridiculously sugary junk.
2. August Burns Red - Rationalist
Let there be metal! The best workout song in the history of amazing workout songs, "Rationalist" is just another gigantic track off of an extra-ordinary album. Top to bottom, this album is unbelievable. I remember not caring for their 2007 disc "Messengers", and being skeptical of any band associated with The Devil Wears Prada. But "Constellations" slams and crushes everything in it's path. ABR at their best, and for my money "Rationalist" is the clear apex. Interestingly, their 2011 album did not chart, with the majority of it's plays for me coming in 2012. While I still haven't really found the groove of their 2013 disc, they still rock harder than most out there.
1. Morrissey - Throwing My Arms Around Paris
And, here we are. Number one, from the singer of one of my favorite 80's bands (The Smith's). Morrissey has an amazing voice and will sing about whatever and wherever he pleases. The man is truly a legend, even if that legend is build strongest in his own mind. But, further to the point, "Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is a beautifully composed song about the lack of love in a man's heart. "Nobody wants my love, nobody needs my love" was the resonating lyric for the year, and sometimes it feels as though that is still the case. Regardless of all that - 2009 was championed by an alternative rock "CD101" track and saw the runner up being a metal track. This is significant because in the 4 countdowns that followed, this has happened 3 more times. The only time it didn't happen was 2011, where "My Body" by Young the Giant and "Galaxies" by Own City took the top 2 spots, respectively. While there were 7 hard rock/metal songs that year, the last one was "The Break" by Cold, at #5. Interestingly, two of the songs that got the most airplay at the beginning of the year were metal tracks.... but I don't delve into that until we talk about the 2011 countdown in detail in a few weeks.
So, a look back. We have a very different and eclectic scene going, with the top 5 being CD101, Radio U metal, Radio U pop, 99.7 rock/metal, and WNCI pop. I should note that it was "Throwing My Arms Around Paris" that got me truly hooked on CD101, which brought the eventual decline of the pop genre. Thank youuu, Morrissey!
Until next week, when we check in with 2010.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Stuck In My Head: September
My love-hate relationship with this album pushes on. There is so much that I like, yet equal parts that I strongly dislike. For now, this song is winning.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
It's almost time
As we push through September, I have started the process of cobbling together the major facts for the countdown. For the past 9 months, I've scoured the musical world trying to find the right songs to get me through another year. I've listened to hundreds of albums and thousands of songs, and I am now tasked with the responsibility (hah) of putting together a list of 20 that shaped 2014 for me. I've been going over my list on a weekly (sometimes more frequently) basis, adding and moving around songs to find the perfect order of 20. The best 20, at least as I perceive them.
I have 30+ songs vying for 20 spots (plus honorable mentions). It's important to me, not only as a guide of reference, but as an explanation of my love for music. I've found the songs I need, now I must put them in order.
Here's to the journey.
I have 30+ songs vying for 20 spots (plus honorable mentions). It's important to me, not only as a guide of reference, but as an explanation of my love for music. I've found the songs I need, now I must put them in order.
Here's to the journey.
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