Top 100 Songs of 2017 (80-71)

Click here for songs 100 – 91
Click here for songs 90-81

Cont…

80. “Weak” – AJR

Well, if this isn’t the story of my life, I don’t know what is. “Weak,” by New York based, Indie-pop band AJR, is about fighting the urge to give in to temptation. For anyone like me, that has the self-control of a four year old with a severe case of ADD, “Weak” will resonate with you and put you at ease knowing that you are not the only adult that needs a full-time babysitter.

 

79. “Call the Police” – LCD Soundsystem

“Call the Police” is LCD Soundsystem’s lead single off their fourth studio album, American Dream. Clocking in at just over seven minutes, it at times feels like LCD has me on an LSD psychedelic trip.

Don’t worry about not being able to sing along, however, as “call the police” is about the only words that I can make out, which directly relates to why I have no clue what the song is about. Nor do I care.It is a relaxing, laid back track that will make your mind wander free as a bird.

*Also, just for the record, mom, I have never been on an LSD psychedelic trip, I am just imagining that this song would be perfect playing in the background if I ever decided to pick up the habit.

78. “The Day I Die” – The National

Only The National’s lead singer, Matt Berninger, can sing about death and dying, yet have such a soothing, calming voice that makes the song almost happy and uplifting.

In “The Day I Die” Berninger mentions his deceased Great Uncle Valentine. A “sweet and happy” bachelor who loved his pizza and beer. However, when he had too many beers he got cranky and didn’t want to hang out with family, so he always pulled an Irish goodbye and snuck out the door when nobody was looking.

You hear that nephews, Andrew and Liam? One day when you start writing and performing music, I expect a song written about being a sweet, happy man that loves pizza and beer, but gets loud, annoying and wildly inappropriate when he drinks to much at family gatherings.

 

77. “Miracle” – Story of the Year

Story of the Year just released their first album in seven years, and they picked up right where they left off. “Miracle” is pop, punk, alt-rock, emo, and hard-rock all rolled into one four minute track.

Story of the Year has matured since their massive hit “Until the Day I Die” back in 2003, but they still have the distinct sound that make them stand out from many of the bands that have come and gone since the early 2000’s. Hopefully “Miracle” is a sign that the band can be the rock comeback “story of the year” in 2018.

76. “Every Day’s the Weekend” – Alex Lahey

Alex Lahey, the twenty-five year old singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia quickly became the international breakout star in the alt-rock world this year.

“Every Day’s the Weekend” is a fun, energetic rock track about the beginning stages of a relationship, and the feeling of only wanting to spend time with your significant other, and do nothing else.

Lahey says the track has a “oh I’m just going to pull a sickie and hang out,” kind of vibe. Who doesn’t love “pulling a sickie” when they are not “sickie?” I am welcoming this Aussie to the States with open arms.

75. “Seven Sticks of Dynamite” – AWOLNATION

“Seven Sticks of Dynamite” is the latest single off AWOLNATION’s upcoming third studio album, Here Come the Runts. And if “Dynamite” is any indication, we are in for yet another killer album from the band.

The track begs to be sung along to, and after watching the video, I am pretty sure I need to recruit six friends, sit at a bar, and put the song on TouchTunes until we nail every last lyric.

Also, if Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses agrees to appear in your video, you know it has to be a pretty damn solid rock track.

74. “Back in Your Head” – Tegan and Sara (feat. Ryan Adams)

Back in October, Canadian indie rock duo, Tegan and Sara released The Con X: Covers, which is a track by track reworking of their 2007 album, The Con. 

Each song is covered by a different artist, and “Back in Your Head” had the honor of being remade by the king of covers himself, Ryan Adams. Like just about everything Adams touches, “Back in Your Head” is pure gold and dare I say, is even better than the original.

 

73. “Bedroom Floor” – Liam Payne

2017 was the year of former One Direction guys, and perhaps the most surprising success story is that of Liam Payne. Payne, often regarded as the least recognizable of the One Direction guys, had three hits including “Strip That Down” and “Get Low.”

But it was “Bedroom Floor,” his third single, that confirmed him as a legit solo artist, and gave reason for Payne to be in the conversation about the best solo act from the former boy band.

“Bedroom Floor” tackles the issue of infidelity in a relationship, and showcases Payne’s ridiculously impressive falsetto. “Bedroom Floor” is solid proof that Payne could easily become the Timberlake of One Direction.

72. “Sit Next To Me” – Foster the People

Foster the People sure know how to get the party started. If “Sit Next To Me” doesn’t get you shaking your shoulders and swaying your hips, you’re either dead, or even worse, a complete dud.

Not since we were asked to “stomp our feet” in 1900’s “If You’re Happy and You Know It” has a song about sitting down gotten our blood flowing like “Sit Next To Me.” In fact, I’d be willing to bet money that this may be the most dance-worthy song about sitting down in the history of music. Brilliant, Foster the People. In summary, to quote your revolutionary predecessors, “Sit Next To Me” makes me very happy, and I know it.

71. “The Death of You & I” – Isaac Gracie

The first time you hear “The Death of You & I” by UK artist, Isaac Gracie, you are going to have to do a double take to make sure that the station didn’t change, or your Spotify didn’t skip to the next song.

In fact, “The Death of You & I” is like three songs all rolled into one thrilling 5-minute track. Based on the hauntingly, almost hy

pnotizing opening minute and twenty seconds, you would never suspect the full-on electrifying rock scream-o, mosh-pitter’s dream song it quickly becomes. Throw in some Eddie Vedder’esque rock/rap/spoken word brilliance towards the end, and you got an epic song that begs to be played to a sold out arena.

 

70 – 61