Top 100 Songs of 2017 (30-21)

Click here for songs 100-31

30. “Baby, I’m Broken” – The Record Company

“Baby, I’m Broken” is a blend of soul, blues and good ole’ rock and roll. There is nobody like The Record Company on the radio today, which is a tragedy, yes, but also a recognition of how original and unique they are.

The band is from LA, but if you close your eyes while listening to “Baby, I’m Broken” you would swear you were in Nashville or New Orleans (minus the smell of dried vomit on Bourbon Street, of course.)

29. “Let’s Hurt Tonight” – OneRepublic

We can all agree that Ryan Tedder is one of the best songwriters of our time, right? This guy has written hundreds of songs for the biggest names in music, including, but not limited to…

U2, Adele, Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez, Westlife, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Big Time Rush, Camila Cabello, Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis, Zedd, Hailee Steinfeld and MØ. (wikipedia did that research, not me.)

What. The. Hell?

It’s amazing to think that this guy has anything left to write for OneRepublic. But he does, and “Let’s Hurt Tonight” is proof that there is still plenty of material in that magnificent, unbelievably creative brain of his.

28. “Beautiful Trauma” – P!nk

Not only is P!nk the greatest female rocker since Janis Joplin, but she is also one of the most talented musicians, and performers,male or female around today. “Beautiful Trauma” is the second track off her seventh studio album, also titled Beautiful Trauma. 

When P!nk was asked about the reasoning behind the title, she responded with just about the most P!nk’ish answer you can imagine… “life is f*cking traumatic. But it’s also incredibly beautiful, too. There’s a lot of beauty still and beautiful souls.”

Whether or not the song is your cup of tea, you should watch the hysterical music video, as it is one of the best videos of the year and features Channing Tatum as P!nk’s 1950’s husband.

27. “Sorry” – Nothing But Thieves

Nothing But Thieves has absolutely nothing to be “Sorry” about in 2017, as they released their best music to date.

“Sorry is about getting older and the difficulties associated with it. It’s about looking inwards and facing your demons. The song hinges around a flawed individual who can’t hold down a relationship, both to the detriment of themselves and their partner” says Thieves guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown.

Just about every living human being has either been “the flawed individual” or the partner of the “flawed individual” at some point in their lives. More than likely the “flawed individual” because let’s face it, everyone is a mess.

26. “Seeing Blind” – Niall Horan (feat. Marren Morris)

https://youtu.be/Cg5SdYNp7bI

The award for best duet of 2017 goes to Niall Horan’s “Seeing Blind,” which features “My Church” singer, Marren Morris.

The duo performed the folk-pop track live at the CMA Awards back in November, and if the two ridiculously good looking, fun loving artists won’t be a couple, the least they can do is start a band together and give us more sensational tracks like “Seeing Blind.”

25. “Lost On You” – LP

Laura Pergolizzi, who goes by the stage name LP, is a singer-songwriter from Long Island, NY that somehow found success overseas before in the States. In fact, thanks much in part to Europe, at one point “Lost on You” was the fourth most Shazamed song in the world.

LP has been successful in her own right for many years, however, as she has penned songs for artists including Cher, Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera. (wikipedia)

“Lost On You” is about the breakdown of her and an ex-girlfriend, and it is one of the most passionate, heartfelt songs of the year.

(Despite it being released back in 2015, it didn’t become a hit in the US until this year.)

24. “Lay It On Me” – Vance Joy

Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy laid it on us hard this year with his hit “Lay It On Me.”

With his gentle voice, and sincere lyrics, Vance Joy is the Australian John Mayer (if John mayer was a sweet and genuine guy that is.) “Lay It On Me” is his best track since 2013’s “Riptide” and a great sign that his upcoming album, Nation of Two (which is slated to be released in February of 2018) will be a ripper (that means “really good” in Australian talk, FYI.)

23. “The Line” – Foo Fighters

Add “The Line” to the list of epic tracks from the Foo Fighters. “The Line” was the third track released from their ninth studio album, Concrete and Gold, and it is filled to the brim with Foo brilliance.

Dave Grohl is arguably the greatest rock star in decades and just seems to be getting better and better, and cooler and cooler with age.

When asked about the meaning behind the sing, Grohl says it is about “a search for hope in this day and age where you feel as if you’re fighting for your life with every passing moment, and everything is on the line.”

I am not sure about having much “hope” for our messed up world these days, but thanks to the Foo Fighters and Grohl I continue to have hope for the future of rock and roll.

22. “Particles” – Nothing But Thieves

“Particles,” though not as big of a radio hit as Nothing But Thieves other 2017 song, “Sorry,” is even more brilliant than its sister track.

The song takes us on a roller-coaster of emotions, and just when you think the it is over, Thieves drop back in with even more energy and gusto than ever. From 4:11 to 4:26 may be the most dramatic part of any song in 2017.

I got nothing but love for Nothing But Thieves in 2017.

21. “Miss You” – Louis Tomlinson

Not to be outdone by his former bandmates, Niall, Liam and Harry, Louis Tomlinson couldn’t let the year end without getting in on the solo action. And it looks like all that extra time and effort paid off, because “Miss You” is one of the hottest tracks of the year.

“Miss You” is about realizing that maybe being single isn’t all that great and maybe you miss that ex of yours way more than you ever thought you would.

If we have learned anything about the One Direction boys this year, it is that Louis is by far the most fun of the bunch and the one everyone should choose to go out for a night of drinking with, if given the choice.

It’s a Tuesday night, Tomlinson has glazed over eyes and is debating one more pint or five before he realizes that “it doesn’t even matter anyway.”

Then he is dancing on tables.

Then he is signing out of tune until last call.

Then, in quite

possibly my favorite line of the year, Tomlinson decides…

“When I feel it coming up I just throw that shit away
Get another two shots cause it doesn’t matter anyway (sung of course in the most amazingly brilliant and coolest British accent I think I have ever heard.)

Congrats Louis, you win the OneDirection solo act battle this year. Hopefully you miss a lot more people in 2018 so you can give the world most gems like “Miss You.”

20-11 

Listen to Songs 100-21 Below

Top 100 Songs Of 2016 (Part 4, #70-#61)

For the first three lists click below.

#100 – 91       #90-81     #80-71

 

70. “That’s All I Need” – The Dirty Heads

Released exactly at 4:20 pm on 4/20 for obvious reasons, “That’s All I Need” is the first single off The Dirty Heads 2016 self titled album. The reggae band from Huntington Beach, CA are known for their laid back, go-with-the-flow style and “That’s All I Need” is one of their best singles yet. It is fun, (once you realize you are not being pulled over by the cops and the sirens are a part of the song) and begs to be blasted when having a summer party.

Best places to listen to this song on full blast:

  • Sunbathing by the pool
  • Summertime Road Trips
  • Parties or large gatherings

Places you do not want to listen to this song.

  • Work

69. “Blame” – Bastille

In perhaps their darkest, most violent song to date, Bastille’s “Blame” is a “gangster-style story inspired by The Godfather” says frontman, Dan Smith. Right from the get-go the lyrics take the listener to a dark place and hold you prisoner for the duration.

“You go sleep with the fishes
There’s no room for you here
There’s no room for you here
Wrap your teeth around the pavement
‘Cause your body’s a message
Send my regards to hell”

Smith also goes on to say that the song “…is like a super simple snapshot of two gang members, one of whom is pissing the other one off, and it’s like that moment before pulling the trigger, and it’s the snapshot of that, and it was using imagery from like The Godfather and from American History X to just create this brooding, mean snapshot into these two people’s really extreme emotions in this little fictional narrative.”

“Blame” is angry, dark and dramatic and the perfect song to sing along with to ease whatever tension may be dragging you down.

 

 

68. “Take It All Back” – Judah & the Lion

https://youtu.be/UgfiXAXlrmk

“Take It All Back,” the upbeat, catchy track from Judah and the Lion’s latest album, Folk Hop N’ Roll is a passionate confession that he would take everything back just to be with his love. Not only does it include the best use of a banjo in alt rock this year, but it is arguably one of the most fun chorus’ to sing along with.

 

 

67. “Overnight” – The Wild Feathers

Nashville natives, The Wild Feathers, sophomore album, Lonely Is A Lifetime, was released in 2016 and their first single, “Overnight,” is about wanting instant gratification and success, but not being willing to put in the time and effort needed.

“Overnight” is confirmation for fans of The Wild Feathers that they are willing to, and more than capable of, putting in enough effort to continue to take their music to the next level.

 

66. “Rita Mae Young” – The Record Company

One of the reasons I did not pay much attention to “Rita Mae Young” when I heard it on The Spectrum the first few times is because I assumed that it was a song from the 70’s that I wasn’t familiar with. I instantly liked it, but it wasn’t on my radar to make the end of the year countdown.

It wasn’t until the third or fourth time that I heard it that I decided to get more information on this bluesy, classic rock sounding track that I was certain was The Rolling Stones era band. And much to my surprise, I found out that the song was a new release by American rock band, The Record Company.

In “Rita Mae Young” The Record Company is able to perfect a style of music that for the past 40 years, many have tried, but few have succeeded.

 

65. “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” – Billy Currington

The first country-rock song to make the countdown is Billy Currington’s “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To.” Simply put, it is about getting over a break-up that was devastating at first, but as time goes by, the pain gets more bearable.

Thankfully time heals all wounds, because if it didn’t, we would never have this killer track by Billy Currington.

 

64. “Red Flag” – The Moth & The Flame

“Red Flag” is yet another nauseatingly beautiful love song that will make single people realize exactly how single they are.

“There’s a warning in the comfort
That you’re too good to be true
They tell me over and over
There’s someone better for you
You’re the warmth I feel beside me
And the fear of growing cold
The continual reminder
Of the risk we take when we get involved…”

If those lyrics aren’t beautiful enough to make you vomit, then maybe these will do the trick.

“At the pace that we’ve been running
When our lungs begin to sting
I’m hearing over and over
“Moderation in all things”
So you’ll hopefully forgive me
If I cannot slow this down
When my body bends to weakness
Your voice will be the sound

That conceals the pain”

We get it, The Moth & The Flame, you’re head over heals in love. Thanks for rubbing it in.

 

63. “Human” – Rag’n’Bone Man

There are not many songs that have as much of an instant impact as “Human” does. Upon the first hearing, I was yearning to hear it again. It’s the first hit single from Rag’N’Bone Man, a British singer-songwriter that blends blues, soul, hip-hop and rock into one to create some of the most unique music on the radio today.

If Rag’N’Bone Man can muster up enough passion and enthusiasm as he does for “Human” on his future work, expect him to become a household name in the coming years.

 

62. “Ophelia” – The Lumineers

The Lumineers have mastered the art of creating catchy, sing-along folk rock. “Ophelia,” arguably one of the most well-known rock songs of 2016, was a hit with people of all ages, and musical preferences. Frontman Wesley Schultz told Entertainment Weekly back in February, that the song was a “a vague reference to people falling in love with fame. That spotlight can seem like an endless buffet, but in reality, you’re just shiny, bright, and new to people for a quick moment — and then you have the rest of you life to live.”

“Ophelia” as well as the band’s second single off their sophomore album Cleopatra, the title track “Cleopatra,” solidified The Lumineers as one of the biggest bands in the folk-rock genre, and shows they are well on their way to giving the grandaddies of modern folk rock, Mumford & Sons, a solid run for their money.

 

61. “Cop Vs. Phone Girl” – Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind has never been shy to hide the fact that they are as democratic as Democrats can get. Their disdain for the Republican party seems to be rapidly intensifying with every passing year. And while many people are uncomfortable with artists shoving politics down our throats, Third Eye Blind does it is such a way that you can not help but respect.

Touching on social issues such as “Black Lives Matter,” police brutality, and racism, “Cop Vs. Phone Girl” is not only a song, but a summary of America in 2016 and what we have become as a nation. There is no other band around today that has the balls to do what Stephan Jenkins and Third Eye Blind does, and no band that can do it better than they can.

 

For 60-51 click here.