Top 20 of 2021

 Here it is, everyone! The 20 current songs that I played most during 2021! Here goes:

20. "Close to You" - Dayglow

19. "Not Dead Yet" - Lord Huron

18. "Wrecked" - Imagine Dragons

17. "Survivor" - Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats

16. "Heat Waves" - Glass Animals

15. "Mine Forever" - Lord Huron

14. "Hypotheticals" - Lake Street Dive

13. "All My Favorite Songs" - Weezer

12. "Hush" - The Marias

11. "Break My Baby" - Kaleo

10. "All You Ever Wanted" - Rag 'N' Bone Man 

9. "Elevator Boots" - Counting Crows

8. "Missing Piece" - Vance Joy

7. "The Bandit" - Kings of Leon

6. "Vertigo" - Alice Merton

5. "Fire for You" - Cannons

4. "Colorado" - Milky Chance

3. "We Are Between" - Modest Mouse

2. "Stop Making This Hurt" - Bleachers

annnndd....the number one song of the year is (drum roll please)....

"BE SWEET" BY JAPANESE BREAKFAST!!

Happy Holidays, everyone! See you in the New Year! :) 

New songs for November 24th, 2021

 here they are:



"Dream Never Dies" by Lo Moon: The atmospheric, ethereal electro-pop of Lo Moon first permeated the adult alt radio airwaves in 2017 with the songs "This Is It" and "Real Love." However, they have not had a significant adult alt radio hit since those two songs. Until now, that is. "Dream Never Dies" maintains the billowy, ethereal feel of Lo Moon's first two hits, but perhaps more importantly, the lyrical content of this song is also important. It appears to be about a death that one of the members experienced. As the lead singer mourns the death through song, he holds on to hope, the only thing him driving him forward, that the "dream never dies." In other words, he is hoping that the memory of the person he has lost will continue to remain with him throughout his life. A bittersweet song for an overall bittersweet year!

"Elizabeth Taylor" by Pete Yorn: A bit less folk-y than most of his songs, yet still maintaining the "indie" aesthetic, Pete Yorn's "Elizabeth Taylor" isn't actually about the Hollywood movie actress from days of yore, but rather about a breakup. Her name is used only once in the song as Yorn asks the subject of his song why she went "all Elizabeth Taylor" on him. Interesting metaphor...I guess! But it's the "I don't care" vibe of this song that really makes it worth listening to. Pete's songs don't usually have this much attitude, and even this song has one that's more subdued than outrageous, but it still makes this song easily distinguishable from his other material.

"Rose Pink Cadillac" by Dope Lemon: Both the attitude and sound of this song seems like a too-cool-for-school one. Laconic vocals, electronic beats, and funky guitar riffs coalesce into the epitome of techno-fied indie-pop here. That being said, one might be surprised to learn that "Dope Lemon" is actually the alter-ego of indie-folk singer, Angus Stone, who doesn't seem like he'd project as much confidence as he does here. As for the Cadillac he's singing about? Not an actual Cadillac, but a girl (again with these strange romantic metaphors). 

New songs for November 17th, 2021

 here they are:

"Chapstick" by Coin: Coin are a band worth every penny to listen to! Their style is one that hasn't really been attempted before, mixing fuzzy, blues-y garage rock riffs with more electronic rhythm instruments. The title of the song is probably one of the strangest sexual metaphors I've heard yet in a song so far, with lead singer Chase Lawrence saying to his objection of affections that he "wants to taste (their) chapstick." Both the lyrics and the music to this song are weird and cool at the same time!

"Face Down in the Moment" by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats: Nathaniel is usually more soulful and peppy with The Night Sweats, as opposed to his sweeter and almost country influenced solo material, but there are exceptions to the rule, such as the bittersweet country-rock of The Night Sweats' "Wasting Time." "Face Down in the Moment" is another tune where Nathaniel sings with The Night Sweats that's a bit of a slower song. It is perhaps the most bittersweet song he has come up with yet as a performer in a band. It's a song that seems to want to show comfort and sympathy to its listeners. I do prefer The Night Sweats as a more energetic and soulful act, but this song is still worth listening to if you feel like no one understands what you've been going through.

"Love Dies Young" by Foo Fighters: Foo Fighters manage to combine two unlikely retro rock styles here with their latest song, "Love Dies Young." The beginning of the song clearly borrows from the chugging, charging guitars of Queen's debut single, "Keep Yourself Alive," while the second verse onward was apparently influenced more by the disco-pop of groups like ABBA. Well, if Blondie can manage to combine rock and disco, why not The Foos?! Apparently, the song started out as kind of a joke in terms of the rock/disco combo it ended up with, but it still manages to shine through in earnest as a solid anthem of both rock and dance-pop. 

"Once Twice Melody" by Beach House: Beach House's combination of electro-pop and light, dreamy psychedelia has always been endearing to me, and lead singer Victoria Legrand's soothing vocals only hooked me into their music more. Their latest song, "Once Twice Melody," attempts to dive a bit more into the avant-garde than they have done previously while not completely alienating their core audience. The song is slightly more bouncy than I'm used to with the largely airy, ambient music of Beach House, but it still manages to rank along with "Norway," "Zebra," and "Myth" as one of their best tracks (and the only one out of the four to have a title longer than one word!) The sighing instrumentation and Legrand's breathy vocals against pulsating synthesizers that aren't present on all of their material make "Once Twice Melody" the perfect chill-out song!

"Stand for Myself" by Yola: Yola's unique take on soul music has managed to win over adult alt radio programmers for the past two or so years, and with her latest song, "Stand for Myself," Yola takes herself in yet another new direction! Yola has sounded neither this blues-y nor this country before. Burning, churning acoustic guitars mark the intro of the song before the even more fiery electric guitars take charge from the chorus onward. The cutting lyrics of the song could fit in the context of both a political situation and in that of a relationship, and there's a good chance that Yola probably meant for the lyrics to be taken either way. There's no telling whether she wants to "stick it to the man" or to walk out on someone who did her wrong, but either way, Yola unleashes her fury here like never before and she really lets her victim have it!

"The Only Heartbreaker" by Mitski: This track, which seems to lift heavily from '80s pop tunes like "Take on Me," albeit with a slightly darker twist, is a pretty simple song lyrically. Buried beneath its repetitive lyrics, however, is the story of a woman scorned that seems more rooted in sadness than in fury. Mitski's fear is that she will be "the only heartbreaker" in her relationship. In other words, she will be the only one feeling as passionately about it as she is. That could leave anyone feeling cold, so it's no wonder the song seems so icy!

New songs for November 10th, 2021

 here they are:


"Billy Goodbye" by Franz Ferdinand: There's hardly a Franz Ferdinand song in existence that doesn't sound energetic in some way, but "Billy Goodbye" has a special kind of energy! The kind of energy and sound you would typically find in a David Bowie song from the early 1970's! Franz have taken on the post-punk sound plenty of times, but this time they go more for proto-punk, or more specifically, the glam rock sound. The titular Billy, by the way, is really a hodgepodge of different people in the band's lives that they've had to end friendships with, although not necessarily in a bad way. Most of these people have just come and gone throughout their lives. "Billy Goodbye" is not about resenting past friendships, but rather about celebrating them for what they were. Friendship IS magic, after all!

"Heading West" by Neil Young: Legendary rocker Neil Young (whose birthday is coming up shortly), offers us yet another way to reminisce about the past with his latest song, "Heading West." The song, which evokes a distinctly early 1970's sound that only Young and Crazy Horse could come up with, is about Neil Young's memories of traveling across the countryside with his mom and how that influenced his life growing up. Beneath the crunchy, blazing guitars of this song lie peaceful memories, and the song never gets too out of control, using a quaint piano sound and mellow beat to cushion an otherwise edgy sounding tune.

"Record Player" by Daisy the Great (featuring AJR): This one's an interesting one, for sure! It doesn't sound that different from most post-millennial mainstream pop, yet there's something "quirky" about this one all the same! Though Daisy the Great take the lead vocals on this track, it was actually AJR's idea when they came across an earlier version of the song (then called "The Record Player Song") and decided to duet with DTG on it. The result is the auditory equivalent of eating a sour lollipop: sweet and delicious, yet also something that perks up your taste buds (or ear buds, in this case). And the video for the song is also worth checking out with its surreal, cartoony look! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyuIHyOBFsU)

"Silk Chiffon" by Muna (featuring Phoebe Bridgers): Two of the most interesting and sweet-voiced women of the indie-pop/folk/rock world come together to create a song that sounds more pop-y than most of the material either of them have done before in "Silk Chiffon." The song brightly mixes acoustic guitars with electronic beats with a sound that wouldn't be out of place in your local mall or grocery store. It's possible that the song's topic could be about a woman falling in love with another woman given both the lyrical content and the fact that Phoebe Bridgers is bisexual. You know you're living in more progressive times when a soft, fluffy pop song is willing to explore modes of sexuality that go beyond what people might expect otherwise from such a song.

"Wake Me Up" by Foals: Are you wondering why indie-popsters Foals are sounding more disco-y than ever? Well, the answer is because they figure that ultra-catchy dance-pop is the antidote to the pandemic blues! The song was originally thought up while people were in fuller lockdown mode than they are today. Instead of relying on pessimism, they chose to rely on hope, and as a result, they have made what could just be their catchiest song since "My Number," which came out 8 years ago. So what are you waiting for? Get down on the dance floor and join us!

New songs for November 3rd 2021

 here they are:


"Fisher Island Sound" by Beirut: After about a decade experimenting with more electronic material, Beirut return to the combination of indie-folk Eastern European music that made them popular among their original audience back in the mid-2000's. Named after the Connecticut location where band member Ben Lanz grew up, "Fisher Island Sound" is something of an exercise in nostalgia for Beirut which dates all the way back to when they first formed as a band. The prominent use of accordion in the song is partially due to how fellow bandmate Perrin Cloutier was newly self-taught at playing the instrument at the time the song was first written. However, not all of the song has warmth and fuzziness to it, as it also serves as a reminder for lead singer Zach Condon about how he struggled to put vocals onto the initial recording of "Fisher Island Sound" due to personal bouts with negative emotions he had during that time. 

"Magnificent Hurt" by Elvis Costello: A master of his craft even into his sexagenarian years, Elvis Costello sounds just as righteously ticked off on his latest song, "Magnificent Hurt," as he did on nearly all of his songs from the mid to late 1970's! With its jagged guitars, bright keyboards, and "take that" lyrics, "Magnificent Hurt" wears its heart on its sleeve, but more in a furious way than in a sad one. This song makes it clear he is not going down without a fight. The "you" in the song is more than likely an ex-lover, but it could almost as easily be applied to society as a whole, or perhaps to certain political figures as well. The title of this song pretty much says it all. Whoever (or whatever) has caused Elvis Costello to be in such a bitter state has indeed caused him to feel magnificently hurt, but instead of bearing the cross of pain, he shoots it right back into his victim's face!

"Never Leave You" by The Record Company: "Never Leave You" continues in the blues-rock direction The Record Company usually goes in, but with a decidedly different approach. Much like The Rolling Stones' "Miss You" mixed blues-rock with disco, The Record Company's "Never Leave You" appears to be doing the same thing! I don't remember hearing anything quite so funky from The Record Company before, but they appear to be pretty good at it. The recurring phrase, "California sun," is in there because The Record Company are a Southern Californian band, and the references to things like Cadillacs and riding along with someone make me think this was probably meant to be a road trip song. These guys are too cool for school, I must say!

"The Hardest Cut" by Spoon: Spoon have dabbled in many styles of rock, ranging from post-punk to folk-rock to pop/rock, but they've never taken on blues-rock quite like they have with their latest song, "The Hardest Cut"! With both a beat and a guitar sound reminiscent of groups like The Black Keys, "The Hardest Cut" puts longtime indie-rock faves, Spoon, in a new direction, but one that their fans seem to be open to, thankfully. It's also the rare Spoon song with a prominent guitar solo, which was apparently inspired by groups like ZZ Top. As Spoon typically take their sound from either "lite-rock" faves like Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan or more eccentric rock from roughly the same era like Elvis Costello and Talking Heads, the decision to make a blues-rock song might come as a surprise to Spoon fans, but with "The Hardest Cut," Britt Daniels and the boys prove they can boogie down with the best of 'em!

New songs for October 20th 2021

 here they are:


"Beggin'" by Maneskin: Italian rock group, Maneskin (pronounced MAHN-skin), have now broken through to alt and adult alt radio with their first major hit, "Beggin'." However, "Beggin'" is not actually their song, but one that was originally done by 1960's pop sensations, The Four Seasons! Can you believe it?! A Frankie Valli song, be it one of his own or a cover, hasn't sounded this funky since the Grease theme song! The original "Beggin'" had more of an early 1960's pop sound as people were then accustomed to hearing from The Four Seasons. How Maneskin were able to resurrect a slightly obscure pop nugget, give it a funky sheen, and have it explode to popularity far more than the original did is anyone's guess, but I'm glad they did it!

"Crutch" by Band of Horses: After a five-year hiatus from the music biz, indie-pop/rock sensations Band of Horses are back with a fun, upbeat, catchy song called "Crutch." Lead singer Ben Birdwell claims he has a "crutch" on someone during the chorus of the song. In case you were wondering, yes, that IS meant to be misheard as "crush." Well, sort of. It's really more that whether one hears the title as "crutch" or "crush," it more or less means the same thing, since relationships can leave you feeling dependent on the other person, and thus a "crutch" for your emotions. Not often a love song is this clever or punny, is it?

"Taking Me Back" by Jack White: Doing what he does best, Jack White really amps up his guitars loud on his latest song, "Taking Me Back." Somehow, he makes his guitar sound both "robotic" and blues-y on the track, as only he can! Jack sounds pretty assertive and gutsy on this track, as if he is not merely suggesting, but demanding that the subject of the song take him back! It is not the mere presence of Jack and his guitar that is making this song popular, though. Fans of the unapologetically brash video game, Call of Duty, have probably brought this track (which, fittingly, is unapologetically brash as well) to the forefront since it is one of the songs included on the soundtrack for the latest installment of the game. I really couldn't care less about the game (or most video games, really), but I'm all for seeing Jack flex his electric guitar muscles and putting them to the test!

New songs for October 13th 2021

 here they are:


"The Last Dance" by St. Paul and The Broken Bones: Neo-soul group, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, seem to keep moving further and further forward in time with each album they make! Their debut boasted Al Green-ish vintage soul with an early 1970's sound, they progressed into a more mid-1970's sound with their next two albums, and with a fourth album on the way, St. Paul and The Broken Bones seem to be heading into an early 1980's soul sound, evoking vibes of acts like Prince and Hall & Oates. There is a reason, by the way, that this song is called "The LAST Dance." It is yet another song reflective of a world facing imminent danger, hence it could be the last time that they (or anyone) is able to perform music, or do anything, really. Might as well go out with a bang, right?! That is exactly what St. Paul and The Broken Bones do here!

"The Tipping Point" by Tears for Fears: A fave band of people nostalgic for the 1980's, Tears for Fears are back for the first time in 17 years! Although the song uses familiar elements, like the beat of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," TFF's latest song, "The Tipping Point," mostly sounds like something that would be indistinguishable from current indie-pop-tronica. TFF have never been a band to shy away from dark subject matter either, and they continue to delve into bleak territory with "The Tipping Point," as the title alone might indicate to some. It refers specifically here to singer Roland Orzabal's former wife, Caroline, who passed away a few years ago, and how Orzabal remained uncertain as to when she had officially crossed the "threshold" (or "tipping point") from life to that which lies beyond.

"Working for the Knife" by Mitski: Mitski is not like everyone else, even in a world where it's the thing to not be like "everyone else." Over a bleak synthesizer functioning as the lead instrument and a throbbing guitar riff in the center, Mitski's latest song is one that seems to show her disdain for the music industry, and possibly for industries in general. The "knife" in the song's title serves as a metaphor for anyone and anything, including ourselves, that expects more of us than we intend to give. What can I say? Life is exhausting sometimes! And Mitski makes that clear in both the music and the lyrics of her latest song.

"You've Got a Habit of Leaving" by David Bowie: Did you ever wonder what David Bowie would have sounded like as "David Jones"? Well, now's your chance to find out! "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" was first written and recorded about four years before David Bowie became "David Bowie." Although the instruments themselves sound relatively modern on this track, the structure of the chords, the harmonies, and the "ooh-ah-ooh"s that dominate the chorus sound decidedly more "retro" than what you might otherwise expect of David Bowie. If The Beatles had survived into the new millennium, they'd probably sound a lot like what David Bowie sounds like here! Bowie may be gone, but his music lives on!