Category Archives: Music

Posted on by

Top 100 Songs of 2019 (100 – 91)

To any music fan, the best part about the end of every year is not holidays, vacations, or time spent with family and loved ones: it is the end of the year music countdowns. This year, to commemorate the 10th year of Ryan’s Countdown’s “Best Songs of the Year”  there will once again be a Top 100 Songs of 2019 Countdown.

Each list of 10 songs will be released every few days throughout the month of December, until the reveal of the #1 Song of 2019.

While the majority of the Top 100 Songs of the Year are all rock based, there is still a wide array of sub-genres represented in this years countdown. The list is littered with alt-rock songs, including indie rock and folk rock. There is, however, also a significant showing of pop-rock, country-rock, and even a dusting of hard rock.

Certainly the lines of what is considered “Rock” may be blurred, but each of these listener friendly songs, were either released in 2019, or released in 2018, but gained notoriety in 2018.

Please feel free to chime in (comments section) and let me know whether or not you agree with my well thought out, carefully selected, and correct choices. Enjoy the countdown, and Happy Holidays!

Top 100 Songs

100. Pin the Grenade, Blink 182

From the band’s eighth studio album, NINE, “Pin the Grenade” is an upbeat, party starter. Despite the main lyrics being “if you don’t love me / lie to my face,” “Pin the Grenade” will get you rocking, and bring a big smile to your face, the way that only Blink 182 knows how to do.

99. Fun Never Ends, Barns Courtney

Ever since Barns Courtney dropped into the alt rock scene in 2015 with his hit “Glitter & Gold,” he has continued to impress. Put “Fun Never Ends” on repeat if you are looking for some never ending rock and roll fun.

98. Saying Goodbye, J.S. Ondara

J.S. Ondara was born in Nairobi, Kenya and has a voice as calm and soothing as an choir of angels. His song “Saying Goodbye” informs us just how good he has become at saying goodbye, but hopefully for us he will not be saying goodbye to his music career anytime soon.

97. Ride With the Devil, Motley Crue

“Ride With the Devil” is classic Motley Crue at their best, and will have you believing you have entered a time warp back to the late 80’s when the band was at the height of their popularity.

96. Peach Fuzz, Caamp

“Peach Fuzz” is a fun little ditty that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Try to not imagine Rod Stewart being the lead vocalist, singing about a new love interest of his, you probably can’t do it.

95. Dear Future Self (Hands Up), Fall Out Boy

Feel like dancing around your room and burning off some steam? Listening to “Dear Future Self” a few times will have you burning more calories than any jazzercise class you can find.

94. Spoonful, Grizfolk

In recent studies* doctors have confirmed that a few spoonfuls of “Spoonful” a day can take the place of any antidepressant drug on the market. Flush that bottle of Xanax down the toilet and walk around with “Spoonful” playing all day… you will be just fine.

*I am unaware of any such studies and was using hyperbole. I am not a doctor. Please consult your doctor before starting any “Spoonful” drug replacement program.

93. Drug, Simple Creatures

Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) and Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low) have united for a new project called Simple Creatures and the result is even better than one could have imagined.

Their first track “Drug” is a pop-punk anthem that could only be the child of two pop-punk legends. It is fun, loud, and will sure to be a highlight of any festival at which it is performed.

92. Don’t Worry, You Will – lovelytheband

The greatest song about modesty ever written, “Don’t Worry, You Will” is a song about being deemed as “perfect” by someone you are in a relationship with. However, instead of accepting the compliment, you respond to the praise of “I can’t find a thing, I don’t like about you,” with the cold, harsh reality of “don’t worry, you will.”

91. When Am I Gonna Lose You, Local Natives

Much like previous song, “When Am I Gonna Lose You” is a song about modesty, and doubt.

Local Natives vocalist and guitarist, Taylor Rice says “I got married last year. I found myself in an incredible relationship that was great on so many levels, but I always felt like it was going to go away, fall apart, and crumble. This song is me diving into murky emotions of anxiety and doubt in the middle of love and joy.”

Regardless of its depressing subject, “When Am I Gonna Lose You” will have you harmonizing with the Local Natives and reaching levels of soprano you didnR

17;t know your voice could reach.

Songs 100-91 on Spotify

Songs 90 – 81 coming Wednesday!

Posted on by

Top 100 Songs of 2017 (10-1)

Click here for songs 100-11

10. “Spill” – Plts

The fact that “Spill” by Byron Bay, AUS band Plts isn’t a massive radio hit here in the States is a tragedy. “Spill” is a pop-rock beast that will continue to linger in your mind until you hear it again.

I am not sure what Australia has been putting in their water over there,  but the Aussies killed it in the alt rock world this year. Plts, get to the States ASAP and “Spill” some of that water over here.

Plts has set the bar real high for themselves, and I can not wait to see what they have in store in 2018.

9. “One Night Only” – The Struts

From the first five words, there is no denying that “One Night Only” is The Struts. Lead singer, Luke Spiller has one of, if not the most distinguishable voice in rock today, and The Struts are in a league of their own in the fact that everything they release is damn near perfection.

“One Night Only,” like all Struts songs is meant to be played loud and is an example of why they are the best modern day glam rock that you will find anywhere in the world.

8. “The Sky is a Neighborhood” – Foo Fighters

Not only is Dave Grohl a living legend in rock and roll, and a lyrical genius, but he also dabbles in astronomy as well. He wrote “The Sky is a Neighborhood” after watching a Neil DeGrasse Tyson video called “The Most Astounding Fact.” (below)

“The Sky is a Neighborhood is loud, angry, and as perfect as just about everything else the Foo Fighters have been doing for the past 24 years.

7. “Run For Cover” – The Killers

“Run For Cover” was originally written by The Killers back in 2008 for consideration to be included on their third studio album, Day & Age. 

I guess the problem with being as talented as Brandon Flowers is that when you are such an amazing lyricist, you can’t include all of your songs on your album.

But, after 9 long years in limbo, The Killers finally debuted the song on June 10th at their show at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Speaking from first hand experience of being in the front row, it was as amazing as you would imagine.

The older and more mature Flowers and the guys in The Killers get, the more they solidify themselves as kings of post 2000 alt rock, and the standard which all others have to live up to.

6. “Hiccups” – WATERS

“All of my mistakes
All my heartbreaks
I got no regrets
This time, ’cause
All of my fuck-ups
All of my hiccups
Only brought me to you”

“Hiccups” was one of the first songs I heard in 2017 and halfway through the first listen, I said out loud, to myself, “well, I know what my favorite song of 2017 is going to be.”

While it didn’t quite make my number one song of the year, it did make the top six, and was easily one of my favorite songs of 2017 from beginning to end.

So next time you have a hiccup or fuck up royally, have no regrets, because it very well may lead you to something better. So go ahead, and fuck up as much as you want in 2018.

5. “I Miss Those Days” – Bleachers

The song of the year to sum up your college experience, “I Miss Those Days,” is about once upon a time being lost, but realizing that maybe it wasn’t such a bad time.

With the best use of horns in a rock song in years, The Bleachers have topped themselves with “I Miss Those Days,” as it is their best, most entertaining track in the bands three year history.

4. “Someone To You” – BANNERS

“Shine a Light” put Liverpool native BANNERS on the map back in 2015, but “Someone To You” has solidified him as a force to be reckoned with in the alt rock world.

“Someone To You” is a perfect blend of laid back, meaningful lyrics, and a big, last minute chorus that will knock your socks off.

BANNERS will hopefully be “somebody to us” for many years to come. Someone that delivers tracks as great as “Someone To You” again and again.

3. “Numbers” – J. Roddy Walston & The Business

“Numbers,” about loving and hating someone at the same time, may be the most relatable of 2017.

We all know that those that you love the most are also the ones that you can’t stand the most. Couple that with the ridiculously fun chorus and the fast, upbeat tempo, “Numbers” is one of the most memorable songs of 2017 that has not received a fraction of the attention and recognition it deserves.

2. “Seattle Rain” – 888

The biggest mystery to me of 2017 is how the hell “Seattle Rain” was not a massive radio hit.

The Denver, CO band’s shamefully underrated hit “Seattle Rain” is their most catchy, radio-friendly track to date, but for some reason, the track failed to make it big on the airwaves.

So listen now to the best song of 2017 that you didn’t have the privilege of hearing.

1. “The Man” – The Killers

The irony isn’t lost on me of the fact that “The Man” from Vegas legends, The Killers, is about a cocky man that believes he is the shit, and is his own biggest fan. The irony comes with the the fact that Brandon Flowers is indeed, the coolest man alive. (I have done countless hours worth of research to confirm this fact.)

“The Man” is rock, pop, funk, soul, new wave, glam rock, disco rock and pure perfection. I would expect nothing else from the greatest Las Vegas band of all time, and the best alt rock band of the 2000’s. What we have known for years is now official, “Mr. Brightside” is now officially, “The Man.”

 

Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone has a happy, healthy 2018.

Rock On!

Posted on by

Top 100 Songs of 2017 (20-11)

Click here for songs 100-21

20. “The Gold” – Manchester Orchestra

Manchester Orchestra deserve a gold medal this year for coming out with what may be their best track in their 13-year history with “The Gold.”

“I believed you were crazy you believed you loved me” are some of the most sing-along-worthy lyrics of the year.

No matter what is going on in your life, “The Gold” will take away your worries, and put you at ease with its laid back tone and gentleness; if only for 4 minutes and 37 seconds. Then its back to your miserable existence.

19. “Young & Wild” – The Strumbellas

Quite unlike “The Gold,” The Strumbellas track “Young & Wild” will have you up out of your seat and ready for a dance-off right from the get-go.

I have said it before, and I’ll say it again, The Strumbellas are the best band to come out of Canada in a very, very long time.

At the moment I can’t think of a band I would want to hang out with more than The Strumbellas, and “Young & Wild” is a perfect example of how they are so fun.

You don’t hear this too often, but good work, Canada! And to The Strumbellas….. more music please.

18. “Can We Hang On?” – Cold War Kids

Besides “Auld Lang Syne” is there a song more appropriate for New Years Eve than “Can We Hang On?” by Cold War Kids?

Vocalist Matt Willett says the song “is a hopeful love song that looks back with nostalgia on the good old days but is uncertain about the future.”

There may not be too much to look back on and love about 2017, but as long as the Cold War Kids are still making music like this, the future is looking bright for alt rock fans.

17. “Speak” – Wild Cub

In the past few months I have single handedly introduced “Speak” by Wild Cub, to no less than twenty friends, and each and every one of them instantly loved the uplifting track from the Nashville indie-pop rock band.

And for the most part, my friends wouldn’t know a good song if it slapped them in the face.

“I still remember the reasons why, I remember, I remember” why I almost drove off the road the first time I hear “Speak.”

Because it was that good.

16. “In Cold Blood” – Alt-J

“In Cold Blood” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is one of the most unique, “out there” songs of the year, and with every listen I began to enjoy it more and more.

The last minute and a half of the song is literally just “la la la’s.” But I have to say, they may be my favorite “la la la’s” of all time. Sorry Ashley Simpson.

15. “Feel Good” – Neon Trees

Tyler Glenn just has a way about making people feel good. That is why “Feel Good” is so believable and infectious.

Most Neon Trees songs are fun, energetic, and catchy, but “Feel Good” encapsulates all three the way that only Neon Trees can.

If Glenn’s only goal is to make us feel good, he passes with flying colors. As usual.

14. “Daisy” – Goodbye June

It will only take you one listen to Goodbye June’s “Daisy” for you to fall in love with the track and started searching the band on wikipedia to see who they are.

Well, let me help, the Nashville trio has been around since 2005, and the band has been described as being “blues-infused rock with hard-driving beats, blistering guitars, and down and dirty vocals.”

“Daisy” is exactly what modern day rock with classic rock influences should sound like. I’ll tell you one thing, my Spotify playlists will not be saying “goodbye” to Goodbye June anytime soon.

13. “Painkiller” – DREAMERS

DREAMERS, the three-piece band from Manhattan, NY has gotten progressivly more impressive since their debut single “Wolves (You Got Me,)” which made the countdown back in 2015 (#37.)

“Painkiller” is loud, fast, and will get you through that part of your run when you feel like you can’t possibly run any longer.

DREAMERS are beginning to make a solid name for themselves in the alt rock world, and seem to be getting more and more confident in their ability to make tracks that all-out rock.

12. “Middle Fingers” – MISSIO

If anybody out there knows of a way to not sing along and actually sticking up your middle fingers in the air while driving down the highway, please let me know. Because no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to not get caught by someone driving next to me as I am sticking my middle fingers in the air and screaming along to the catchy track about not giving an F.

The message MISSIO is trying to deliver, however, may surprise you. In an interview with Billboard the band says “[It’s] definitely based toward an ‘eff this situation’ mode, but the message is about finding the problem you struggle with, and lifting your middle finger with other people.”

So take that, everyone on the road that thinks I am just flipping the bird to you… I am actually on a mission to create solidarity and peace… So F Off and stop giving me dirty looks.

11. “Edge of Town” – Middle Kids

Perhaps the warmest welcome to a foreign band this year goes to Sydney Australia’s Middle Kids. Their track “Edge of Town” has a tempo change that is so gradual that when they explode at the end of the track, I feel as though my head is going to explode right along with them.

This is the first and only track I have heard from Middle Kids, but as the new year begins, I will make it a mission to make up for lost time, and get to know the Australian band that I had no idea I was missing out on until now.

 

Songs 10-1