#2. The War On Drugs - Pain
One of the most wonderful things about music is that it always has the power to surprise me. Whether it be artist, album, song or performance, you never really know what to expect when something new comes along. Even older artifacts of the musical landscape can hit you in ways you weren't ready for, and bring about new life to themselves. Personally, I am not a fan of The War On Drugs, and A Deeper Understanding is not an album that I am going to rave about. Every other song in the top 10 actually comes from an album that I truly enjoyed. That in and of itself is surprising as there's usually a handful of 1 hit wonders sprinkled in, regardless of the year. But TWAD have always been a hand that made me roll my eyes, and that did not change with this recording. It picked up a heap of critical acclaim, culminating with them beating out Metallica and Mastodon for Best Rock Award at the Grammy Awards. The album is painfully long with droning songs, screaming guitars, and annoyingly whispered vocals from brainchild Adam Granduciel. There's also all sorts of pretense and meaninglessness - basically everything you'd expect from an album by the Philadelphia based rockers.
And then, there is "Pain". I was surprised that our local rock alternative station didn't pick it up as soon as it was released, and I didn't actually hear the song until it was almost winter time. The opening electric guitar riff is dreamy; one of those things that you just want to play over and over again. The vocals seem less whispered and more angst-driven, singing a song about suffering. There are noises dotting the ethereal soundscape - a splashy cymbal here, a guitar twang there, a piano note jumping out to kiss your ears. It's truly a song among songs - a great booming epic that carried me through most of the summer before fizzling away. Lyrically, it's difficult to choose just one line as my favorite - the whole damn thing is incredibly written. It's one of those songs that will probably be on my daily playlist for a long, long time. The song ends the year with a healthy 21.8m streams on Spotify and features a video with 4 million plays of its own. In the video the band is playing on a boat while showing scenes of diversity from around the city.
Who will be #1? I'll give you a hint... they've graced the J1 Top 20 before, twice in fact! Stay tuned tomorrow!!
Favorite line: "I met a man with a broken back, he had a fear in his eyes that I could understand. I can't even shake the hand without breaking it."
Title: Pain
Artist: The War On Drugs
Album: A Deeper Understanding
Previous #2s
2017: Future Islands - Ran
2016: Broods - Free
2015: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness - Cecilia and the Satellite
2014: Morning Parade - Alienation
2013: Aeon Zen - Warning
2012: Meshuggah - Do Not Look Down
2011: Owl City - Galaxies
2010: Periphery - Icarus Lives!
2009: August Burns Red - Rationalist
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