The 2023 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #18

 #18. VNV Nation - Before the Rain

 

Title: Before the Rain
Artist: VNV Nation
Album: Electric Sun

VNV Nation is one of my all-time favorite bands, and landed at #1 in 2019 with "Only Satellites". I try to keep my expectations tempered when a favorite band releases a new record, but VNV did another solid job with their new record, and I had the pleasure of seeing them live a few months after the release. The synths on "Electric Sun" definitely bite harder, more like the earlier VNV records, but the modern sound fits in with the progression that Ronan Harris has built upon his craft. This is a great uplifting song.

Favorite Line: "We built a universe so we could hold the cosmos in our hands."

 

 

Last five #18s:

2022: The Foxies - Overrated
2021: Daymare - Control
2020: Little Hurt - Alaska
2019: James Truslow - Overwhelmed
2018: The Raquels - Just a Txt

The 2023 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #19

 #19. Switchfoot - On Fire (Ingrid Andress Version)

 Title: On Fire (Ingrid Andress)
Artist: Switchfoot
Album: The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version)(Deluxe Edition)

Now this is an interesting one. Switchfoot decided to re-release their massive 2003 album, The Beautiful Letdown, for its 20th anniversary. The album featured re-recorded versions of all of the songs, calling it "Our Version". A few months later they one-upped themselves by released a collaborative version with re-imaginations of each song by different unique artists. It was definitely a brilliant undertaking, and although I didn't necessarily love the other band's versions of songs I had spent 20 years loving, one stood out about the rest.

The most ironic part for me is that On Fire was probably my least favorite, or perhaps least listened to song on the original album over the years. Something about the softness and sincerity of Ingrid Andress' voice really brings a new life into the song. I actually consider this version better than the original, and it had enough momentum to roll into the Countdown at #19.

Favorite Line: "When everything inside me looks like everything I hate, You are the hope I have for change, You are the only chance I'm gonna take"

 

 

Last five #19s:

2022: Bad Omens - Like A Villain
2021: Royal Blood - Typhoons
2020: The Broken Relics - Goodbye Tennessee
2019: Sigrid - Sucker Punch
2018: Rick Springfield - In The Land of the Blind

The 2023 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #20

  #20. Dreamers - Wallow In It

Title: Wallow In It
Artist: Dreamers
Album: Wallow In It

 

Twice before, Dreamers found themselves just missing making the Countdown before finally cracking in this year. Wallow In It talks about not wanting to feel better just quite yet - a feeling that a lot of sad and lonely people (like myself) can understand. Like most of their music, it's catchy enough to get stuck in your ear, and clever enough to stay there.

Favorite Line: So low, been flying solo - for so long, I've been so alone

Last five #20s:

2022: Halestorm - The Steeple
2021: Grabbitz - Pigs in the Sky
2020: Seether - Dangerous
2019: Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall
2018: Ghost - Dance Macabre