Friday, August 1, 2014

New Good Song: "Ghosts," Big Wreck 8.1.14

Here's a new good song: "Ghosts" by Big Wreck.

This is a melodious rock song with a bit of '90s grit in its production. The album version is too long (6 minutes 10 seconds), but the edited mix in the clip below is only 4 minutes 35 seconds. This shorter take is not available on iTunes as of this writing.

New Good Song: "Don't Kill The Magic," Magic! 8.1.14

Here's a new good song: "Don't Kill The Magic" by Magic! (also stylized as MAGIC!). This group currently has the No. 1 song in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Rude." I discovered "Rude" in December 2013 when it was lingering on the lower part of the U.K. singles chart, and think it is one of 2014's best songs. "Don't Kill The Magic" is a follow-up, which at first I found pleasant and nicely written but not particularly special. But it has grown on me very much over the past two months.

As I have mentioned several times, I believe that the beginnings and endings of songs are essential to their goodness or badness, and in modern music the introductions and conclusions are often given short shrift. Especially endings, which are often disappointingly abrupt (example, "The Only Ones" by Deluka, featured in the previous post -- an absolutely excellent song with a very poorly thought-out, sudden ending). Great endings offer some element of surprise and closure, perhaps an interpolation of what came before, a twist on the lyrics, an un-foreshadowed major-to-minor key change, etc.

My favorite aspect of "Don't Kill The Magic" is the ending -- the final 22 seconds or so (from 3:09 to 3:31 in the clip below) where the song breaks down to its percussion and piano foundation and background-vocal hook and tenderly fades away. A great ending like this leaves you feeling more moved by a song, sorry to hear it end. I wish more acts

 

New Good Song: "The Only Ones," Deluka 8.1.14

Here's a new good song: "The Only Ones," by Deluka. It harkens to attitude-driven female-vocalized pop/rock music from the '80s and '90s, or more recently, great songs by The Naked and Famous such as "Hearts Like Ours." If you have difficulty with the Spotify embed below, you can listen to "The Only Ones" on their website and purchase on iTunes. The song is not, as of this writing, on YouTube or Soundcloud.
 

New Good Song: "Don't Look Back," Matrix & Futurebound f/ Tanya Lacey 8.1.14

Here's a new good song: "Don't Look Back" by Matrix & Futurebound f/ Tanya Lacey. It's a shiny, upbeat dance/running tune, similar in many ways to one of the best songs of 2014 so far, "All Of You" by Peter Thomas f/ Betty Who.


Friday, July 11, 2014

New Good Song: "Afterglow," Air Dubai f/ Dia Frampton 7.11.14

Here's a new good song: "Afterglow" by Air Dubai. Reminds me of MIKA.

 

New Good Song: "My Sweet Summer," Dirty Heads 7.11.14

Here's a new good song: "My Sweet Summer" by Dirty Heads. Reminds me of Gym Class Heroes.


New Good Song: "ILYSB," LANY 7.11.14

Here's a good new song: "ILYSB" by LANY. As it turns out, they have a few other good songs as well. Check out their Soundcloud. But this one is my favorite. Crisp, catchy, emotional, ethereal.

Monday, June 23, 2014

12 best songs of 2014 so far

Here are some of the best new good songs of 2014 thus far:

1. "Magic," Coldplay. No idea why this song seems to be divisive -- it's beautifully simple, very touching, fantastically produced, well-performed. When Coldplay emerged about 10 years ago, I found all their releases very annoying, not because they weren't pretty, but because they were so freaking repetitive. Then when "Viva La Vida" came out in 2008, I had to admit that I thought that was good, even though it too was repetitive. Then I was a huge fan of "Paradise" a couple years ago, as well as "Up In Flames." And "Magic" may be my favorite song by them yet. So in my eyes, they just get better. I think it takes confidence to be melodic and simple, and Coldplay has a knack for both. Good songs can be repetitive if they lift the listener beyond the repetition and into its emotions and themes, and they seem to do that better the more experience they get.

2. "All Of You," Peter Thomas f/ Betty Who. Not sure when I've heard a more engaging lead-in line: "It's a perfect day for a fight." This is rich, lush dance music at its best. Mysteriously, months after buying it on iTunes, I can no longer find it on iTunes. But I'm certain this would be a very big mainstream success in the U.S. if it managed to get any exposure. Betty Who has subsequently released several tracks I find appealing, but this remains my favorite so far. I suggest Peter Thomas adopt a stage name, or a unique spelling of his given name, because his real name is so common that it makes him un-Googleable.

3. "Ride The Thrill," Scenic. Here's one I'm still not tired of, no matter how many times I play it. Fans of '90s alternative will appreciate this very much. It's trippy, but not too trippy. I admit that for most of this song's run on my personal playlist I thought the vocalist was female, and I've only recently begun to piece together that I may have been mistaken. This has been difficult to ascertain because there is no music video, and I can't find any live performance of the song, or by the band. But Scenic has an all-male lineup, and this song is not credited to any featured vocalist, so maybe the singer is a man. Who knows. I wrote to them on Facebook a few months ago to express my love of the song and asking who the vocalist is (not explaining why I was asking), and they didn't reply.

4. "Dangerous," Big Data f/ Joywave. Great song and great video to boot. Groovy bass line, catchy hand claps, fabulous lyrics. Creepy and fun all at once, kind of like "Pumped Up Kicks," but better.



5. "Fancy," Iggy Azaleo f/ Charli XCX. Sometimes the mainstream gets it right. This song proves that simple can be effective, and it's a rare rapped/sung collaboration whose rap is as catchy as its hook. I'm admittedly mildly uncomfortable with Iggy's borrowing of Eve's delivery style, especially in a time when black musicians are watching their white counterparts outsell them (Macklemore, Eminem, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, even Justin Bieber). But maybe that's an old-fashioned thought, and we've evolved to the point where music is music. Either way, this is a great ditty.

6. "Chinatown," Starcadian. This is amazing, as is Starcadian's "HE^RT." The vocal manipulation is a little off-putting at first listen, but repeated listens prove out this song's songwriting value. If you like what you hear, look up the lyrics, and when you come to know it well enough you can sing along in the car, you'll find this to be a very addictive song indeed. Cool video too.

7. "(We Started A) Fire," Katie Cole. I'm a sucker for a good bass line, so this song had me by 0:08. It's very catchy. Not sure there's anything overly groundbreaking here, but it's a cute, tightly written, breezy piece of pop-rock music, with sophisticated production. Should have more than a couple thousand views.

8. "Thirsty For My Tears," Joan Osborne. "One Of Us" was a radio staple in 1995, but Osborne never had another mainstream hit, and "Thirsty" will not change that because it's not in line with current trends, and it appears that no one is interested in promoting it. But the lyrics and melody here are very nice, and it's a song that never gets old. I'm also pleased to see her still on the road and putting herself out there.

9. "Rude," Magic! This was on my list last December -- not because I'm ever-so-more evolved than the general American public, but because I pay attention to the UK and Australian Top 40 charts,and was on one or the other or both last year, even though this band is Canadian. Now everyone's jumping on the band wagon, and "Rude" is No.1 on iTunes. Surprised this has become such a mainstream success, but I welcome it wholly. They have another new good song called "Don't Kill The Magic."

10. "Selkie," Tori Amos. Artists who have been around a while, like Amos and Joan Osborne (above), can get themselves into a tough spot when they release new material. We expect artists to change and evolve, but not too much. "Selkie" would sound at home on "Little Earthquakes," now 22 years old, but that's OK because "Earthquakes" itself was both ahead of its time and timeless. So this is very welcome.

11. "First Love," Ayiesha Woods. About once a year, I'll take a liking to a Christian ballad whose lyrics are vague enough that the meaning can be applied broadly. Here's one of those. This song could be about Christ, or any kind of first love -- a romance, a career, a hobby, a parent, a pet. But it's lovely. Reminds me of one of 2012's best songs, "A Little While" by Heather Headley -- also a piano-driven "Christian" song.

12. "Ten Feet Tall," Wrabel. Later remixed by Afrojack, but here's the original.

New Good Song: "Youth," Ben Khan 6.23.14

Here's a new good song: "Youth" by Ben Khan. The video is not good, though. I am particularly impressed by the use of the "Yeah! Woo!" loop, used in a zillion songs, most famously "It Takes Two" by Rob Base.

New Good Song: "All Of The People," Panama Wedding 6.23.14

Here's a new good song: "All Of The People" by Panama Wedding. Reminds me of LEN

New Good Song: "Selkie," Tori Amos 6.23.14

Here's a new good song: "Selkie" by Tori Amos. Here's what a selkie is. The particular version of the song below seems live. The album version has better vocals and richer instrumentals, but for some reason it doesn't seem to be on YouTube. Reminds me of "Little Earthquakes"-era Tori.

New Good Song: "Lemonade," Danity Kane 6.23.14

Here's a good new song: "Lemonade" by Danity Kane. It's fun and has one of the best first 24 seconds of the year. Dawn Richard, who delivers the vocals on those 24 seconds, had the No. 1 best song of 2013 in my opinion: "86," also below for your enjoyment. Very different songs by a real talent.

New Good Song: "Dangerous," Big Data f/ Joywave 6.23.14

Here's a good new song -- "Dangerous" by Big Data f/ Joywave. Good video, too.

New Good Song: "HE^RT," Starcadian 6.23.14

Here's a new good song: "HE^RT," by Starcadian. They had another good song, "Chinatown," also below. Reminds me of Daniel Bedingfield and Pet Shop Boys.

New Good Song: "Jealous (I Ain't With It)," Chromeo 6.23.2014

Here's a new good song -- "Jealous (I Ain't With It," by Chromeo. Reminds me of Jamiroquai, How to Dress Well and SoulDecision.

New Good Song: "Embrace," Goldroom 6.23.14

Here's a new good song: "Embrace" by Goldroom. There are hints of La Roux and Everything But The Girl

New Good Song: "The Great Unknown," Jukebox the Ghost 6.23.14

Here's a new good song -- "The Great Unknown" by Jukebox the Ghost. Has echoes of Marc Cohn, Ben Folds and Fun.

New Good Song: "Nobody But You," Kimbra 6.23.14

Here's a new good song by perhaps the best new artist of the decade thus far, Kimbra: "Nobody But You." It has her trademark swing/horn influence, with a classic pop structure, fantastic vocals, and production that's warm, groovy, retro and romantic. A real head-bopper, singalong ditty. For some curious reason, this is not the "official" first single released to promote her upcoming album "The Golden Echo." That track is this one, "90s Music," which is OK but I don't happen to care for the melody in the chorus.


 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

The 100 Best New Good Songs of 2013!

Here are my 100 favorite songs of 2013. Click below for a YouTube playlist with the Top 50, in order. (Update: In 2016 I made a countdown video of the Top 50. It's below as well.) Enjoy!

Countdown video:



Playlist:




Rank Title Artist
        1 "86" Dawn Richard
        2 "Who You Are" Paradise Fears
        3 "Everywhere I Go" Caitlin Rose
        4 "Lady Black" Sons of the Sea
        5 "The Other Side" Jason Derulo
        6 "Roar" Katy Perry
        7 "Habits" Tove Lo
        8 "I'll Keep You Safe" Sleeping At Last
        9 "Break Out" Young Kato
     10 "Dream The Dare" Pure Bathing Culture
     11 "Wildest Moments" Jessie Ware
     12 "V.S.O.P." K. Michelle
     13 "Radioactive" Imagine Dragons
     14 "Berzerk" Eminem
     15 "Holla At The DJ" Coco Jones
     16 "Almost Home" Mariah Carey
     17 "Heart Attack" Demi Lovato
     18 "Desperate Measures" Marianas Trench
     19 "Torpedo" Jillette Johnson
     20 "A Thousand Years, Pt. 2" Christina Perri f/ Steve Kazee
     21 "American Girl" Bonnie McKee
     22 "The Girl With The Sunshine In Her Eyes" The Vicar
     23 "Sweater Weather" The Neighbourhood
     24 "End Of The Road" Ywada
     25 "Lies" Chvrches
     26 "Seven" Ed Kowalczyk
     27 "Higher Than The Sun" Keane
     28 "Briar Rose" Aoife O'Donovan
     29 "Love Me Or Leave Me" Kerli
     30 "Blurred Lines" Robin Thicke f/ T.I. & Pharrell
     31 "Honest Affection" Kye Kye
     32 "Hearts Like Ours" The Naked and Famous
     33 "Beta Love" Ra Ra Riot
     34 "Brave" Sara Bareilles
     35 "Come Into My Head" Kimbra
     36 "I Want Crazy" Hunter Hayes
     37 "Drink The Water" Eisley
     38 "Incredibly Still" Sombear
     39 "Up In Flames" Coldplay
     40 "Beating Hearts" Savoir Adore
     41 "#Beautiful" Mariah Carey f/ Miguel
     42 "A Wall" Bat For Lashes
     43 "Walking In Your Footsteps" Shout Out Louds
     44 "The One" Tamar Braxton
     45 "All I Know" Washed Out
     46 "Sinners" Lauren Aquilina
     47 "Dreaming Trees" Emma Stevens
     48 "Don't You Worry Child" Swedish House Mafia f/ John Martin
     49 "Your Head And Your Heart" The Saint Johns
     50 "You Know Where To Find Me" Imogen Heap
     51 "Frozen" Orianthi
     52 "Home Again" Elton John
     53 "Careful What You Wish For" Bell X1
     54 "One" Dearest
     55 "If I Were Free" Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
     56 "Mirrors" Emma Louise
     57 "Odds Are" Barenaked Ladies
     58 "Troublemaker" Olly Murs f/ Flo Rida
     59 "White Noise" Black Books
     60 "What About Love" Austin Mahone
     61 "Waiting For Superman" Daughtry
     62 "Get Your Shit Together" Pillowfight
     63 "Royals" Lorde
     64 "Latch" Disclosure f/ Sam Smith
     65 "Old Wine In A New Bottle" One Arm Train
     66 "Falling In Love Again" Rachael Yamagata
     67 "Heavyweight" Rachael Yamagata
     68 "Hold On, We're Going Home" Drake f/ Majid Jordan
     69 "Rewind The Track" Kay
     70 "Angel & Me" Late Night Revival
     71 "Human" Christina Perri
     72 "Clarity" Zedd f/ Foxes
     73 "Forever Mine" The Greencards f/ Sons of Fathers
     74 "Rock N Roll" Avril Lavigne
     75 "Let's Move Somewhere Else" Rubberbear
     76 "Get Lucky" Daft Punk f/ Pharrell
     77 "Breaking" KING
     78 "Lose To Win" Fantasia
     79 "Figure 8" Ellie Goulding
     80 "Counting Stars" OneRepublic
     81 "Applause" Lady Gaga
     82 "Head On" Man Man
     83 "The Bait" Electric Guest
     84 "Afraid" Amel Larrieux
     85 "Scream & Shout" will.i.am & Britney Spears
     86 "Do What U Want" Lady Gaga f/ R. Kelly
     87 "Metropolis" Owl City
     88 "Tranquilize" Finish Ticket
     89 "Attracting Flies" AlunaGeorge
     90 "#88" Lo-Fang
     91 "Both Sides Now" Mary Fahl
     92 "Burn" VersaEmerge
     93 "True North" Jillette Johnson
     94 "Cocoa Butter" India.Arie
     95 "Back It Up" Caro Emerald
     96 "Get Like Me" Nelly f/ Nicki Minaj & Pharrell
     97 "Her Favorite Song" Mayer Hawthorne
     98 "Nuclear" Destiny's Child
     99 "Practical Arrangement" Sting
   100 "Lessons In Love (All Day, All Night)" Neon Trees f/ Kaskade

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The 100 best new good songs of 2012!

Here are my 100 favorite songs of 2012. See the video below for a playlist of the Top 50. (Update: In 2016 I made a countdown video version of my Top 40. It's below as well.) Lots of ways to enjoy theh year's best new good songs!

Countdown video:



Playlist:



1. "Somebody That I Used To Know" Gotye f/ Kimbra
2. "Blue" First Aid Kit
3. "Everybody's Heart's Breaking Now" Lavender Diamond
4. "Ready Or Not" Bridgit Mendler
5. "The Woman You Love" Ashanti
6. "Always Summer" Yellowcard
7. "Reunion" M83
8. "Warrior" Kimbra f/ Mark Foster and A-Trak
9. "Overjoyed" Matchbox Twenty
10. "Satellites" Catcall
11. "Call Me Maybe" Carly Rae Jepsen
12. "Here I Am Alive" Yellowcard
13. "Yoyo" Pop Etc
14. "Midnight City" M83
15. "Distance" Christina Perri f/ Jason Mraz
16. "Titanium" David Guetta f/ Sia
17. "Catch My Breath" Kelly Clarkson
18. "Give Your Heart A Break" Demi Lovato
19. "Co-Sign" SWV
20. "Silenced By The Night" Keane
21. "Called Out In The Dark" Snow Patrol
22. "Hold On When You Get Love ..." Stars
23. "Save Me" Gotye
24. "Love On Top" Beyoncé
25. "Big Machine" Ryan Miller
26. "Paradise" Coldplay
27. "Ships In The Night" Mat Kearney
28. "A Little While" Heather Headley
29. "Game Of Cards" Mason Brothers
30. "Stereo Hearts" Gym Class Heroes f/ Adam Levine
31. "Cough Syrup" Young the Giant
32. "Tonight Is The Night" Outasight
33. "1997" Saint Motel
34. "Wide Awake" Katy Perry
35. "Video Games" Lana Del Rey
36. "Scream" Usher
37. "Wildest Dreams" Brandy
38. "Blood Brothers" Ingrid Michaelson
39. "Set Fire To The Rain" Adele
40. "Laura" Bat For Lashes
41. "I Like It Like That" Hot Chelle Rae f/ New Boyz
42. "Circles Around The Sun" Dispatch
43. "Put It Down" Brandy f/ Chris Brown
44. "Good Time" Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
45. "All The Rowboats" Regina Spektor
46. "Enough Of No Love" Keyshia Cole f/ Lil Wayne
47. "Move In The Right Direction" Gossip
48. "Lights" Ellie Goulding
49. "Faded Heart" School Of Seven Bells
50. "Guardian" Alanis Morissette
51. "Give Me All Your Luvin'" Madonna f/ Nicki Minaj & M.I.A.
52. "Receive" Alanis Morissette
53. "Two Way Street" Kimbra
54. "I Won't Give Up" Jason Mraz
55. "Magpie" Beth Orton
56. "Para" Calexico
57. "What To Keep And What To Throw Away" Mary Chapin Carpenter
58. "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" John Legend f/ Ludacris
59. "Adorn" Miguel
60. "Climax" Usher
61. "To Who Knows Where" James Iha
62. "Thrift Shop" Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Wanz
63. "Everything Is Embarrassing" Sky Ferreira
64. "Mama Told Me" Big Boi f/ Kelly Rowland
65. "Beth/Rest" Bon Iver
66. "Pretty Lil' Heart" Robin Thicke f/ Lil Wayne
67. "Girl Gone Wild" Madonna
68. "Skyfall" Adele
69. "Hard To Love" Lee Brice
70. "Easy Way Out" Gotye
71. "Sovereign Light Café" Keane
72. "Glass" Thompson Square
73. "Red Balloon" Azure Ray
74. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" Taylor Swift
75. "It All Belongs To Me" Monica & Brandy
76. "Settle Down" No Doubt
77. "This Kiss" Carly Rae Jepsen
78. "Run" Matt Nathanson f/ Sugarland
79. "Kiss And Run" Jenna Andrews
80. "Your Body" Christina Aguilera
81. "Is This Love" Aiden Grimshaw
82. "Girl On Fire" Alicia Keys f/ Nicki Minaj
83. "Break Ya Back" Timbaland f/ Dev
84. "Never Go Back" Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
85. "The Motto" Drake f/ Lil Wayne
86. "Sunshine" Mike Doughty
87. "Honestly"  Hot Chelle Rae
88. "Popular Song" Mika
89. "50 Ways To Say Goodbye" Train
90. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" P!nk
91. "Timebomb" Kylie Minogue
92. "Crystallize" Lindsey Stirling
93. "Between The Raindrops" Lifehouse f/ Natasha Bedingfield
94. "Without You" Monica
95. "Dark Side" Kelly Clarkson
96. "Beautiful Surprise"  Tamia
97. "Happy Pills" Norah Jones
98. "Where The Kids Are" Blondfire
99. "Moonshine" Bruno Mars
100. "Thorns" Jessie Baylin