New Good Song: "Oceans Away," Arizona 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Oceans Away" by Arizona, sometimes stylized as A R I Z O N A, which is dumb. But this song has a pleasant, classic chord progression and instrumental arrangement. Nice job. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Romantic Soul," Jhameel 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Romantic Soul" by Jhameel. I don't love all of Jhameel's music -- there's a lot to choose from, because he's very prolific -- but I do respect the artistry and hope he becomes more successful, because he's clearly talented, hard-working and passionate about what he does. Wish he could get some financial backing, or a generous collaborator, to make his songs sound a little more professional. But at the base of it, "Romantic Soul" is his best song to date, with a very pretty melody and relateable sentiment. Jhameel had another good song in 2014 called "Lion's Den," which was my 85th favorite song of that year. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Sunset Skies," Tw3lv 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Sunset Skies" by Tw3lv. A bit more sunny than what I typically care for, but I think the chord progression and arrangement are wonderful. The voice has a bit too much helium for my taste but I think the joyousness it emotes fits with the song well. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Hung Up," S.J. & Tritonal f/ Emma Gatsby 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Hung Up" by S.J. & Tritonal f/ Emma Gatsby. It has nothing to do with the Madonna song by the same name. It's great. Reminds me quite a bit of "Catching On" by Elephante f/ Nevv, my seventh-favorite new good song of 2016. Great melodic dance-hall pop. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "I Go Where You Go," Bell X1 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "I Go Where You Go" by Bell X1. This act had a new good song back in 2013, a gorgeous ballad called "Careful What You Wish For," which was my 53rd favorite song of that year. This one is similarly light and piano-based but has more of a mild Blues sensibility. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Heart Of Mine," Firefox AK 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Heart Of Mine" by Firefox AK. Really like the instrumental arrangement in the verses. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Slow," The Chain Gang of 1974 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Slow" by The Chain Gang of 1974, the group responsible for my No. 1 favorite song of 2016, "I Still Wonder." That's an insurmountably high bar to surpass, but "Slow" is pretty good as well. It keeps right in that New Wave, '80s sound I do love so. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Love On The Weekend," John Mayer 12.18.16

Here's a new good song: "Love On The Weekend" by John Mayer. Surprised he's still making music? Surprised it's good? Don't be -- although he's an easy target for detractors, Mayer is full of skill and has a portfolio peppered with good songs, including but not limited to: "No Such Thing," "Bigger Than My Body" and ... actually, that's it. The rest is pretty dumb. But this new track is nice; he keeps it simple and straightforward, not preachy, not cheesy, to great effect. Enjoy!

50 Best New Good Songs of 2016

Drumroll ... Here is a countdown video I made of my 50 favorite songs of 2016, from 50 to 1. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Cranes In The Sky," Solange 11.22.16

Here's a new good song: "Cranes In The Sky" by Solange (Knowles). Gets better on repeated listens. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Miss You," Gabrielle Aplin 11.22.16

Here's a new good song: "Miss You" by Gabrielle Aplin. Great instrumental track even without any vocals. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "The Space Between Our Eyes," SayWeCanFly 11.22.16

Here's a new good song: "The Space Between Our Eyes" by SayWeCanFly. Think it would have been better without the screaming background vocal but it's nevertheless a nice moody little rock song. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "No Vacancy," Nightly 11.22.16

Here's a new good song: "No Vacancy" by Nightly. A moody, mid-tempo '80s jam, totally up my alley. Great chord progression in the verses. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Dust My Shoulders Off," Jane Zhang f/ Timbaland

Here's a new good song: "Dust My Shoulders Off" by Jane Zhang f/ Timbaland. Always nice to see Timbaland credited on new songs. He should be doing more now and be more popular. But this is a cute, "nothing can hold me back" type of song. Inconsequential maybe but nicely done. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Thumbs," Sabrina Carpenter 11.22.16

Here's a new good song: "Thumbs" by Sabrina Carpenter. A somewhat odd juxtaposition here, because the lyrics to "Thumbs" are wise and discuss what a pity it is that some people waste their lives on fruitless, routine nonsense. But yet Sabrina is only 17. What does she know? Cute song, though. Fun lyrics. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Loveless," Lo Moon 11.22.16

Here's a new good song: "Loveless" by Lo Moon. It comes in two sizes: Venti (7 minutes 4 seconds) and Grande (4 minutes 18 seconds). Reminds me of "Careful What You Wish For" by Bell X1, the 53rd best new good song of 2013. It's slow and pretty, and builds into a cool climax. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Not Above Love," AlunaGeorge 10.21.16

Here's a new good song: "Not Above Love" by AlunaGeorge. I kinda dig this act. "Attracting Flies" was good, as was "You Know You Like It" with DJ Snake. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Blended Family (What You Do For Love)," Alicia Keys 10.21.16

Here's a new good song: "Blended Family (What You Do For Love)" by Alicia Keys. Keys is someone I acknowledge is talented, and I think I should like her music more than I actually do, because she's a good singer with some nice sensibilities, and I always enjoy the incorporation of piano on a single. But generally her output annoys and underwhelms me. This one's pretty good, though. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "A.I.," OneRepublic f/ Peter Gabriel 10.21.16

Here's a new good song: "A.I." by OneRepublic f/ Peter Gabriel. OneRepublic is now 2 for 2, with some truly superior releases off their new album, Oh My My. Their best stuff yet. And I have a soft spot for Peter Gabriel and was excited to see his name attached to this track. His album So was the first tape I ever owned, and it's still among my favorite albums. "A.I." has a lot going for it, and the segue into Gabriel's slower denouement is welcome throwback to So. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Bad Thing," The Mowgli's 10.21.16

Here's a new good song: "Bad Thing" by The Mowgli's. So catchy and fun. Enjoy!