Late 2012. Post-grunge band Three Days Grace just had a nasty breakup with their now-former lead singer Adam Gontier. There was a lot of drama and shit, but there were two important things this led to.
The first was Three Days Grace gaining their new lead singer Matt Walst, which of course culminated in the album Human earlier this year, and I will stand by my unpopular opinion that that album was fantastic and one of the best of 2015 so far, as well as one of the band's best albums in years.
The other was the forming of the band we'll be talking about today, Saint Asonia, a supergroup formed by Gontier alongside other members of popular post-grunge and modern rock acts, such as Finger Eleven and Staind.
Now, when I first heard of this big collaborative project, I was really excited. Said excitement only grew upon hearing the first two singles from the album, Better Place and Blow Me Wide Open, two of the best songs on the album.
So, when the album dropped earlier this morning, I knew I had to check it out.
And it was absolutely worth it.
I think the first major standout point about this album is Adam Gontier himself. His vocal performance on this album is absolutely on-point, maybe his best performance since Three Days Grace's One-X days. He's rough and angry on the more heavy tracks like Dying Slowly and of course the aforementioned Better Place, but there are quite a few moments on this album where he show some really genuine emotion (we'll get to those later). He's a really talented and passionate rock vocalist and it really shows here on this album.
But a great vocalist needs some good music backing him, and the instrumentation on this album is fantastic.
The guitar work is fantastic. Throughout this album, the guitars are chugging, heavy, and powerful, fitting the mood of most of the songs perfectly. Mike Mushok of Staind really stands out in both his riffs and his solos, especially the latter as the guitar solos make for some of the best moments on the album. From the quick shredding in Fairy Tale to the great conclusion of Happy Tragedy (which is otherwise admittedly one of the weaker tracks on the album. Still good, but a bit generic) to the incredibly powerful one on the closing track Leaving Minnesota, the guitar work on this album is absolutely stellar.
That's to say nothing of the bass work, which is actually really prominent throughout this album and really helps shape the album's heavy sound, unlike a lot of albums where the bass guitar is just kind of in the background. Corey Lowrey of the band Eye Empire shows some real talent on the bass guitar, and really helps sort of shape the album into what it is, especially on tracks like the fantastic King Of Nothing, another one of the best songs on the album.
Let's talk about some of the individual tracks on this record. I already mentioned the two singles Better Place and Blow Me Wide Open, which are two of the most aggressive songs here on this album and two of the best. This is post-grunge at its absolute finest, the vocals and instruments just coming to make something heavy and aggressive. It's pretty awesome.
But just because this album is aggressive most of the time doesn't mean it doesn't have its more stripped-back and slow moments. Let's talk about the track Waste My Time, possibly the best song on the entire album. A slow, acoustic guitar-driven love ballad with some of Gontier's most effective songwriting to date. Another great example is Trying To Catch Up With The World, a very stripped-back song dealing with fear and regret in a really powerful way, especially with Gontier's performance as he sounds almost on the verge of tears in the verses.
The mix of angsty, aggressive rock and slow, emotionally-driven ballads strikes a perfect balance, making this record an emotional experience while still being a fantastically heavy rock record.
If you're like me and actually really like a lot of post-grunge and mainstream rock, I guarantee you are likely to love this album. This is one of the best debut albums of the year so far, as Saint Asonia proves to be a great team and an extremely promising new artist, and I'm highly anticipating even more from them in the future.
BEST SONGS: Waste My Time, Trying To Catch Up With The World, Better Place, Blow Me Wide Open, King Of Nothing, Let Me Live My Life, Fairy Tale, Leaving Minnesota (especially that guitar solo... DAMN.)
I. love. Summer. The heat, the pool-going, the beach, the weather, the lack of school, everything. Three months of freedom and happiness, best time of the year.
Now, as with any time of year, Summer needs a soundtrack. Much like Deck The Halls to Christmas and Thriller to Halloween, there are quite a few songs that I feel are essential to every Summer playlist to keeps the vibes going and the times good.
Because of this, I've decided to compile a list of what I believe to be 10 of the greatest Summer songs of all time. Whether it's explicitly about the season or just has a summer-y feel, it's all about the music that captures the best parts of the Summertime.
So sit back, pull up a beach chair, and grab a fruity drink, 'cuz we're counting them down right here. Let's get it started!
#10. "In Too Deep" by Sum 41
Pop-punk has always been a very Summer-y genre in my eyes. Maybe it's the generally upbeat and shimmering sound the genre tends to have or the themes of teenage rebellion and freedom that I associate with the feeling of freedom the Summer brings to those in school, but the genre and the season have always had close ties in my mind.
Sum 41's In Too Deep is one of the best examples of summery pop-punk there is. The anthemic chorus and upbeat instrumentation give the song a very exciting feel, which helps capture the best of both pop-punk and pool party music extraordinarily well.
It also has one of the most Summer-y videos I've ever seen with diving, Slip'n'Sliding, and general teenage partying.
Pop-punk may be a polarizing genre, but at least this song proves to be an absolute blast.
#9. "Sunshine" by David Guetta and Avicii
A delightful slice of uplifting house music courtesy of two of the biggest DJs currently working, this is the perfect Summer party song. A vocal-less EDM track that's got energy, an upbeat vibe, an explosive crescendo and beat drop that gives off the Summer feeling oh so very well.
David Guetta and Avicii's styles blend phenomenally, making the song as much of a banger as it is an uplifting and sonically beautiful track.
It's a bright, sunny blast of house music greatness that's sure to get any pool party up and going.
#8."Mr. Brightside" by The Killers
As awesome as this song is year-round (because let's be honest here, this song is a god damn classic in every regard), I always find myself putting it on in the late spring and summer months more than anything else.
Maybe it's the soaring synths, semi-washed out vocals, or twinkling guitars, but this song has always screamed "sunny weather, driving with the top down (even though I don't own a car but you get the point) on a hot June day, maybe having a cold drink" to me.
It's a perfect fit for that summertime hype, and whether you're blasting it in June or December, it's still a memorable and delightful 2000's rock classic.
#7. "Summertime" by The Sundays
An excellently-composed piece of 90's pop with guitar, horns, pretty vocals, and a very jazzy vibe, this alternative pop track proves to be an absolute beachside, poolside, etc. essential.
A song longing for that sort of epic Summer romance, Sundays lead singer Harriet Wheeler delivering a smooth and beautiful vocal performance, all backed up with a bouncy and shiny instrumental that just makes want to get up and have a good time, Summertime is an absolute gem of the 90's, and as the name implies, a great fit for the summertime.
#6. "Summer Jam"/"Sun Is Up" by RIO feat. U-Jean
Anyone who wants a good banger for their Summer party playlist, look no further than these two excellent pieces of club music.
Two songs that come packed with pounding production, sunny vibe, lyrics that perfectly capture the Summer party feeling, great vocals courtesy of U-Jean, and an overall excellent energy make Summer Jam truly live up to its name, and also Sun Is Up really good too.
Not too much more to say except these two tracks are just good times all the way through and definite Summer classics.
#5. "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" by Coldplay
One of Coldplay's most infectious tracks, Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall is a sunshiny and energetic blast of color and energy that lines up with some of the band's best work and with some of the most Summer-y songs ever made.
The electronic production and guitar work alongside Chris Martin's soaring vocals match the optimistic lyrics and give the song the energy and power needed to be an ultimate Summer anthem. It's a colorful, joyful song that exudes pure happiness, making it a perfect fit for the season and one of Coldplay's best.
#4. "Beachin' by Jake Owen
I've never cared much for or about country music one way or the other, in fact as much as I follow the pop charts I tend to ignore it completely (hence why the likes of Florida Georgia Line have never incited any rage in me whatsoever and no country songs were on either of my 2014 lists), but Beachin' was a huge exception.
From the second I first heard it in the summer of last year, I was in love with the laid-back video, reggae-inspired instrumentation, Jake Owen's smooth-as-hell vocals, and of course the very Summery music video.
It became a regular in my Summer playlists the second I heard it, and I had it on repeat all of that summer and a good portion of this Summer as well.
Beachin' is the definition of a beach song. It's chill, light, relaxed, yet still sunny and bright enough to be a delightful listen. It's bro-country done right in all the best ways, and it will be a Summer staple, at least for me, for years to come.
#3. "Young Blood" by The Naked And Famous
I love this song.
I honestly, truly, from the bottom of my heart, adore this song. Not only is the production breathtaking, the vocals absolutely beautiful, and the vibe energetic and uplifting as hell, but it is a Summer anthem through and through.
The washed out guitars, synth work, and vocals all weave together flawlessly. The verses and chorus' soaring energy contrast with the more relaxed, atmospheric, washed-out two bridges, making the song a rollercoaster of feelings, feelings of innocence, freedom, happiness, ecstasy, exactly what this season is all about.
In every conceivable way, this song is perfect. An electronic, pop, and rock music masterpiece. If this song is not on your playlist, all I can say is that you are doing yourself a great disservice.
#2. "Summer Paradise" by Simple Plan feat. Sean Paul
Summer Paradise is a Summer song in every sense of the word.
Simple Plan and Sean Paul may seem like a strange combination, but the two fit together surprisingly well, especially in the context of a Summer song, as the song is tinged with the vibes and feelings of Summer in both the smooth, acoustic, beachy instrumentation, and the lyrics.
Said lyrics tell a story of a man longing for those long Summer days spent on the beach having fun and being free, a sense of nostalgia for those happy teenage Summer adventures, and Simple Plan frontman Pierre Bouvier just sells it.
Sean Paul may seem like he would clash, but his verse is actually one of the best parts of the song.
As a whole, this is a song that just works. It's a touching story of nostalgia, a great collaboration between two very different artists, and as a whole, just a perfect Summer song.
#1. "Always Summer" by Yellowcard
I can say, with no doubt whatsoever, that this is the greatest Summer song of all time.
I can barely describe what a beautiful and uplifting experience this song is. Every element, the guitars, the vocals, the lyrics, the violin... it all just weaves together so intricately, so perfectly. The chorus is fantastic, the instrumentation is bright and almost heavenly, and that violin solo... downright orgasmic.
No song makes me feel the very spirit of Summer quite like this one. It's something special, something that I can't quite put into words.
Not only is my favorite Summer song of all time, it's one of my favorite songs of all time period. Absolute musical perfection.
And that's it for my Top 10 Summer songs! Thank you all for reading, I hope you all have the best Summer vacation ever, and I'll see you next time.
Breaking Benjamin is a band I adored from the second I started listening to them.
With their dark, almost gothic songwriting, heavy yet atmospheric sound, Benjamin Burnley's phenomenal vocals, and of course masterpieces like The Diary Of Jane, they proved to be possibly the greatest band to come from the post-grunge movement of the 2000's.
To be honest, because of their much darker feel in terms of sound and songwriting, I never really associated them much with the likes of Nickelback or Creed. They were much closer to bands like Evanescence and We Are The Fallen in my opinion. They were a band that I could see soundtracking a horror movie or game, especially with songs like So Cold.
Their unique blend of dark atmosphere, heavy instrumentation and vocals, and excellent songwriting all quickly launched Breaking Benjamin into being one of my all-time favorite bands.
It had been 5 years since Breaking Benjamin released the song Blow Me Away, the last thing they did before going on a half-decade-long hiatus.
In that time, the band has undergone a massive lineup change, with lead singer and frontman Benjamin Burnley being to only remaining original member.
But despite all that, I was still unbelievably excited to see Breaking Benjamin make a comeback when it was announced earlier this year, especially after hearing the fantastic lead single Failure, which especially pleasantly surprised me by actually making it onto the Billboard Hot 100. A hard rock/alt-metal song on the pop charts? Today, that's unheard of, and I was fucking overjoyed to see it there (even though it left the next week, but hey, what can you do). This album was clearly something big and it was going be amazing.
And was it worth the wait?
Well, yes... for the most part.
While Dark Before Dawn is nothing groundbreaking or massively different from the band's previous work, I still found it to be a fantastic record nonetheless and one absolutely worth checking out, especially for long-time fans.
Let's start with arguably the biggest deviation from previous records and the one that stood out to me the most: the shift in tone. Breaking Benjamin's music has often has a heavy atmosphere to it, more hopeless and dark, but the tone takes on a much larger scope, making the album have a much more epic and grand feel to it, exemplified through the heavy use of religious imagery, something Breaking Benjamin has always incorporated, but not quite to this extent.
And you know what? It really works.
An album with a grand scope and lots of mythological imagery and story-driven songwriting is always something I love, and Dark Before Dawn pulls it off really well, especially with some of the band's heaviest instrumentation to date, the guitars and drums in particular are so hard-hitting and have so much presence that it's hard not to just be totally into it the whole way through.
Another thing of note is the songwriting. Despite being drenched in grandiose religious epic storytelling, if you look through that, you'll find it's actually a very personal album for frontman Benjamin Burnley, speaking of his struggles in life especially after the band had its big falling-out back in 2010, going through struggles with his own emotion and how his legacy that he's left behind with his music could be finished forever, and that helps give the album a layer of real emotion and real power, especially on more somber songs like Hollow and Ashes Of Eden, two of the best songs on the album.
They were really smart when picking singles for this album, as the three they chose, Failure, Angels Fall, and Defeated, are three of the best songs on the album. In fact, Angels Fall just might be my favorite on the album overall, the excellent blend of synthesizers and electric and acoustic guitars and heavy drumming all blend together with what is possibly one of Benjamin Burnley's best vocal performances to date, it's just an absolute standout, fantastic work.
Defeated is another one I absolutely love, the heavy guitars and drums mixed with the brilliant songwriting about overcoming hardships and standing up to your problems, fantastic song and brilliantly misleading title.
If I do have one complaint, it's that some of the songs, especially near the middle of the album, did kind of seem recycled and, to be honest, filler. Breaking The Silence, Close To Heaven and Never Again in particular didn't really stick out to me, they really did nothing for me.
One track that really did do it for me was the aforementioned Ashes Of Eden, a 5-minute ballad that is unlike anything else I've ever heard Breaking Benjamin do. Clean vocals, light synth-driven production, very personal and intimate lyrics, and it's all fantastic. A heartbreaking and powerful song, one of the band's best songs to date period. In fact, I think Ashes Of Eden sums up all the great aspects of this album in general.
If you even remotely like Breaking Benjamin or any of their kin, you're pretty likely to love this album (I know I sure did). While not quite on the level of, say, 2006's Phobia (one of my favorite albums of all time), it's still a great record and, aside from a few filler tracks, and overall great experience musically.
BEST SONGS: Angels Fall, Ashes Of Eden, Hollow, Failure, Defeated, The Great Divide
WORST SONGS: Breaking The Silence, Closer To Heaven
OK, the bad stuff is out of the way, now let's get to the fun part. While the bad stuff in 2014 was some of the worst music we've gotten this decade, I gotta say the good stuff we got that year was not only absolutely fantastic, but there also a LOT of it. Picking apart bad music may be cathartic and entertaining and all that, but it's talking about the good stuff and looking back on the music that was absolutely fantastic that I absolutely prefer doing and that I really feel passionate about. I can't wait to explore all the fantastic music this year had to offer any longer. Let us begin with our honorable mentions.
Honorable Mention #1. "Magic" by Coldplay
Yep, get used to this folks, you're going to be seeing LOTS of Coldplay on here. While I feel Magic is far from Coldplay's best work to date, I can still really appreciate it for what it is: a soft, moody, and beautiful ballad that captures the whirlwind feeling of being in love exceptionally well. The production is excellent, with the general ambient vibe, that sweet bassline, the touches of acoustic guitar and piano, very reminiscent of Radiohead (and that's nothing but a good thing) and easily the strongest aspect of the song. Chris Martin's vocals are majestic and beautiful as always, his falsetto is on point and he sells the feel of the song exceptionally. This is just a nice, soft, and overall beautiful piece of music, and it's a delight to hear whenever it comes on.
Honorable Mention #2. "All Of Me" by John Legend
In the midst of the insanity that is the pop charts, it was a massive breath of fresh air to see the boom of more stripped-back, emotion-driven ballads make their way onto the charts. Arguably the biggest of those was John Legend's All Of Me, which is a fantastic love ballad. It's genuine, it's heartfelt, and it has a real soulful and powerful performance from John Legend himself. This may not be the greatest love song ever, but I truly appreciate it for helping more raw, piano-driven, and heartfelt music make its way onto the charts. For example...
Honorable Mention #3. "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith
All Of Me is a really good song, but Stay With Me was the one that really struck a chord with me. Stay With Me is one of the best portrayals of guilt resulting from a failed relationship I've ever seen in a pop song. Sam Smith just sells it with his utterly passionate and powerful performance, back up by a choir, alongside some fantastic piano and strings work. The songwriting portrays Sam as vulnerable and genuinely heartbroken, as they should, because they add a level of real regret to the character portrayed in the song, and you truly believe he will do anything to get this relationship back and that he truly cares for the other guy, creating a very heartfelt and relatable song. This is the song that solidified Sam Smith as one of the biggest new artists working, and I can't be more thankful, because he is one of the most talented and amazing singers currently working.
Honorable Mention #4. "Team" by Lorde
I'll be the first to admit I wasn't big on Royals. Like, at all. I appreciated what it was trying to do, trying to blast all the mindlessness of lots of pop music and bring in a much darker tone, but it was just executed really poorly in my opinion and got grating fast. Team fixes all those problems. It does everything Royals was trying to do and does it right. Lyrically, it's very similar to Royals, and like Royals, the sentiment is one I highly appreciate it trying to steer it all away from mindless party jams ("I'm pretty tired of getting told to throw my hands up in the air, so there", I love that line"), and it manages to be legitimately captivating and have a great atmosphere to it where Royals just failed at it almost to the point of unlistenability. It's a fantastic piece of chamber-pop genius, and it made me glad to welcome Lorde into our pop music family.
Honorable Mention #5. "i" by Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is a master. Possibly the best hip-hop artist currently working, and the lead single from his phenomenal To Pimp A Butterfly is a great example of his rapping abilities, bringing a legitimately fantastic flow and style to his rapping in a way that matches the energy of the song (it's "straight fire🔥🔥🔥", as the kids are calling it these days), and brings a pretty good set of lyrics and songwriting to the table as well. See, like a lot of Kendrick's material, it works on two levels. One on hand this song is a celebration, a happy song about loving oneself and being proud of yourself as a human being, but on another level, there's a darker, more depressed side, and the song becomes more about denial and even a hint of panic, exemplified by the 3rd verse, where Kendrick just absolutely loses it and goes insane from his inner demons and it becomes really sad. For either a feel-good song or a song to be analyzed, i is a fantastic rap song, and it only led into an even more fantastic album (and yes, we'll be talking about that whole album at some point.)
Honorable Mention #6. "Chandelier" by Sia
One of the most powerful songs that hit the charts this year in terms of both emotion and pure, raw energy, Chandelier is a very heavy track, one of the most heavy to hit the Top 40 this decade, dealing with alcoholism and general substance abuse with one of Sia's best performances to date, as she just sells herself as a woman who's life has been destroyed by dependence, it's really intense and sad and even a little hard to listen to, which in this case is OK, because that was the idea. Speaking of which, to the people who hate this song because it's "messy" and "slurred" and "all over the place"... you do know that's the point, right? This isn't a song to dance to, it's a song that's supposed to hit you emotionally, and it succeeds at that perfectly. It's one of the most raw, powerful, and yes, heartbreaking songs to hit the charts this decade, and it is definitely worth your time.
Honorable Mention #7. "Classic" by MKTO
And for a complete change in tone, we go from one of the most lyrically heavy and emotionally poorest songs to hit the Top 40 this decade to one of the most fun, happy, and awesome. Classic is one of those songs where no matter where I am, no matter what I'm doing, I just have to get up, and I have to start dancing and singing along and the whole thing. The retro-inspired disco production, the uplifting piano riff, just how fucking charming and genuine these two guys are... this is one of the happiest pop songs ever made, and it never fails to put me in a good mood. It's a damn fun song that's just delightful to listen to, and it may clash a lot with the rest of my picks but... who cares, it's awesome.
Honorable Mention #8. "Best Day Of My Life" by the American Authors
Indie pop at it's finest. American Authors may be destined one-hit wonders, this song may be ridiculous and goofy as fuck, but I don't care, it's great. Fun and catchy with a guitar riff and chorus that will get stuck in your head for days on end, this track may be as poppy as it gets for indie rock, but I love it all the same.
This song is unique. I like that. The mix of piano and violin with the shimmering production courtesy of Clean Bandit alongside Jess Glynne's fantastic vocals make Rather Be a musical occurrence worth savoring. This is the perfect summer EDM hit. It's sunny and happy and enjoyable, but still there's something about it that sets it apart from all the other overly-happy pop songs. It's got a much more classy and bright feel to it that sets it apart from the likes of, say, Becky G's Shower (UGH). It's just... god damn perfection is what it is. Highly, highly recommended.
Honorable Mention #10. "Latch" by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith
Have I mentioned that I love Sam Smith? 'cuz I do. His vocals on this song are top-notch. Seductive without being creepy, low-key without being too bland, just the perfect performance from a great performer. But let's be honest, the real star of the show here is the production, courtesy of electronic duo Disclosure, creating a dark, icy, and very atmospheric feel for this song through a very trance and ambient-influenced track with a few record scratches and vocal samples thrown in for good measure. This song really just puts you in a trace and encaptures you, and I love any song that can not only do that, but do it well, which Latch does. While I very much prefer Sam Smith's solo work, I would love to see him on more great electronic songs like this in the future.
Honorable Mention #11. "Come With Me Now" by Kongos
A folk indie metal song with accordions. I repeat. A FOLK INDIE METAL SONG. WITH. ACCORDIONS. This one of the more strange, unique hits this year, and needless to say, it's fucking awesome. It's got that perfect mix if dark songwriting, excellent vocal performance, and as I've made clear, unique instrumentation (especially for a top 40 song) for me to classify it as "fucking awesome". It's not every day the charts give you a good song to headbang to of all things. I love more unique, strange songs like this making it's way to our pop charts, and even if we don't get any more Come With Me Nows in the coming years, I can assure you this one will remain fantastic as ever.
Honorable Mention #12 (I swear this is the last one). "Am I Wrong?" by Nico & Vinz
Am I Wrong is one of those songs where just every solitary thing about it is fantastic.
The summery, upbeat instrumentation, Nico and Vinz's fantastic singing voices, the general vibe that creates a tone of happiness, it's a sweet, groovy and extraordinarily well-done song that was one of the most delightful songs to listen to that came out of this year.
It's hard to articulate just how much this song makes me feel good, it's one of those tracks that will always lift your spirits, no matter when or where you hear it.
Well geez, that sure was a lot. And now that all of it's out of the way, it's time to finally get down to it. These are the Top 11 Best Hit Songs of 2014! Why Top 11? Because I like to go one step beyond. Actually because I like all these songs too much to not include and I was too lazy to make a choice. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #11. Sam Smith is one of the best artists currently working in pop music. He's an amazingly talented singer with great songwriting capabilities and a very beautiful sound to a lot of his music.
Now that's all fine and good, but one of the marks of a true talent is the ability to do the same thing as a song that's terrible but then do it exceptionally well. And he proved he can do that just fine.
#11. "I'm Not The Only One" by Sam Smith
In case you didn't catch my worst list, the song this is a good version of is Lips Are Movin' by Meghan Trainor. Both songs deal with the narrator accusing his/her SO of cheating, but I'm Not The Only One handles it perfectly and creates an emotionally compelling and beautiful song where Lips Are Movin' was just insufferable and, to be honest, kind of disgusting. In I'm Not The Only One, Sam Smith has suspicions of a lover cheating on him, and is shown to be heartbroken and distraught, and the song really takes us through the emotional complexities and hardships that are experienced in a situation like this and looks at it from a realistic and relatable perspective, with the narrator actually talking to the other person and even being on the verge of tears, giving the narrator some sympathisability and allowing the emotion to really shine through, unlike Lips Are Movin' where the narrator is, to be blunt, a complete insufferable ego-centric fucking bitch who never deserved to be in a relationship in the first place. This combines with Sam Smith's beautiful voice and the illustrious piano-and-violin driven instrumentation not only give this song a very nice, smooth feeling, but helps guide the emotion in the story of the song, especially when the violins pick up in the bridge where Sam is confronting his lover and sounds on the verge of tears... god, that's a great moment. This can also be contrasted to Lips Are Movin' which features Meghan Trainor rapping in the most horrid, obnoxious voice imaginable (IT MAKES MY EARS BLEED) with her insufferable "attitude" mixed with the pathetic excuse for 50's inspired "production". So yeah, not only is I'm Not The Only One a god damn fantastic song on it's own, it's also a great example of a terrible song done right. Good work Sam Smith, looking forward to more great things from you. #10. Let's talk about movies for a second.
I don't watch a lot of movies, but I can say with no doubt in my mind the greatest film I've ever seen is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1. An utter masterpiece of storytelling, concept, acting, emotion, action, cinematography, atmosphere, character... flawless movie, across the board. One great aspect of that movie was its soundtrack. Amazing score courtesy of James Newton Howard, a chilling and breathtaking masterpiece of a song performed by Jennifer Lawrence herself (which may or may not have a chokehold on the spot of Best Hit Song of 2015 when that time rolls around), and a small Top 40 hit courtesy of Lorde. Now, I was already growing onto liking Lorde after having heard Team and the sadly not-a-hit Tennis Court, but this song right here made me a fan of hers the very second I heard it
#10. "Yellow Flicker Beat" by Lorde
This is exact kind of song that I would expect to soundtrack the likes of The Hunger Games. Dark, moody, atmospheric, epic, all bundled up into one brilliant piece of chamber-pop glory. Everything about this song not only fits the tone of the movie to a T, but it's a damn great song on its own with the heavily synth-driven production that has a slow, spine-tingling build-up until the explosion of the chorus, Lorde's amazing performance delivered with just the right amount of restraint to fit the darker tone of the song perfectly, the darker tone of the song itself giving the song a very distinct and unique feel, and even the abstract and fascinating imagery created through the lyrics. It's a fascinating listen and one of Lorde's best works to date. Definitely a great pop song and SERIOUSLY IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIES WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE GO WATCH THEM NOW THEY'RE AMAZING THEY'RE MASTERPIECES... *ahem* Sorry. #9. Ryan Tedder is a freaking musical god.
This one actually ended up a lot lower on this list than I was expecting. Nevermind the fact that this is OneRepublic's most unique song to date, it's also their most exciting, and I dare say, their most epic. If I could describe Love Runs Out in one word, it would be "gigantic". The pure scope and scale of this song is impressive, especially for OneRepublic, and especially for a Top 40 hit. The grand, swelling instrumentation, the hard-hitting production, and the mythical and even religious imagery in the lyrics give this song an almost biblical feel. It's the kind of song I could see accompanying a grand mythical epic. One of the key factors to Love Runs Out's amazingness is Ryan Tedder himself. He's always been a fantastic singer, but I have never seen him with as much power and passion in his vocals as we see him here, easily his best performance to date. And that all culminates when we get to the bridge, which... god damn, one of the best moments in music of the entire year. The tension and atmosphere just builds and builds in a breathtaking moment that adds the perfect amount of real epicness to an already epic song. Mix it all with a piano line and epic pounding percussion with just the right amount of real swell and presence to hook you in and never let you go, and you've got a song that is equal parts rocking and fantastically epic. Great work, Ryan Tedder. You have officially outdone yourself. #8. Now, as much as I love and appreciate Chandelier for bringing a song that deals with the heavy subject matter it does and doing it amazingly well, I have to say, there was one song this year that did it better.
Now, when it comes to music, I'm a storytelling kinda guy. I love songs that are driven purely by emotion and atmosphere, but tell a good story or at least create a good character and you're generally more likely to have me hooked. Songwriting is one of the most important aspects of making a song (as the word implies, duh), and in terms of songwriting, and dealing with this subject matter, this was the song that really got me in the emotions.
#8. "Habits (Stay High)" by Tove Lo
Habits (Stay High) is a song that, through its storytelling and storytelling, perfectly captures the feelings of emptiness, depression, and drug-fueled desperation that comes with hitting a massive low point in life, and mixed with the very dark production creates a very intense emotional experience. The way it's written makes the song much more relatable than Chandelier, and Tove Lo's legitimately pained performance and the fact that they tie it back to such a common and relatable catalyst of a massive low point (in this case, a failed relationship) only adds to that. It not only tugged at my heartstrings but actually made me think about life and the low points within and even how I was living it, and any song that can actively make me think deserves a very high level of recognition. It's a raw, dark, and emotional track that really explored sadness and substance abuse better than any other song this year, and it is something truly admirable. #7. I freaking love Ed Sheeran. He's one of the best pop stars currently working, and one of the best "white guy with acoustic guitar" guys in the industry.
He's an amazingly talented singer, songwriter, guitar player, and even rapper, and his unique blend of folk, rap, pop, and soft rock has led to the creation of a lot of damn great pop music, including in 2014, when he dropped one of the best "WGWAG" songs of all time. And no, it's not Sing. And no, it's not Don't either. It's better than both of those songs combined.
#7. "Afire Love" by Ed Sheeran
Yeah, Sing and Don't are fun and groovy or whatever, but fuck that, Afire Love is one of the most intensely beautiful and heartwarming songs Ed has ever written. A song that deals with the death of Sheeran's grandfather with some very potent songwriting in the opening lines, detailing the grief and sadness of the situation supremely well, not just for him but also for the loved ones around him, and is delivered with one of his most raw and gripping performances to date. Honestly, Ed's performance and potent songwriting are what really make this song for me, and really shows Ed's continuing maturation as a songwriter. And Ed's performance is matched by the gripping instrumentation, the beautiful piano line, he strumming guitars, the intense violins, all mixes together to make an overall feeling as somber and emotionally intense as the lyrics and vocals. This is Ed Sheeran's best song to date, no contest. Fantastic piece of work, and an absolutely beautiful one at that.
#6. You know, this next song is a really good example of how much artists can really redeem themselves. This particular artist I once though was one of the most incompetent, insufferable people working in the industry, after two atomic disasters of hit songs that I could not stand. But even I was willing to give this song a chance when I saw this enter the Top 40, ever artist has to have at least one good song, right? And upon listening to it... holy shit. Not only did this song actively defy every single one of my expectations, but it blew me away in the process. Christina Perri... I am so fucking proud of you.
#6. "Human" by Christina Perri
Like... this is just a masterpiece right here. Everything about this song is gripping, intense, and chilling, and is the closest a pop song has ever gotten to making me cry. The lyrics are amazing, speaking of the limitations and mortality of human beings, and the pain that is endured in day-to-day life, and Christina's pained and imperfect performance really sells the pain and emotion of such a heavy subject. She's shown that she can actually convey true emotional pain in a really potent way when she leaves out all the relationship bullshit, and the imagery of "knifes in my heart" and "bleeding when I fall down" only show that pain in the most beautiful of ways. But really, it's the instrumentation and production that's the real star of the show. The dark heavy atmosphere, the violins, clap percussion, and shimmering acoustic guitars all mix into creating a piece of music that is equally sad-sounding as it is sadly-written. It's a masterpiece of emotion, and shows that Christina Perri is capable of doing some truly fantastic things. And I can't wait to see what she does next, let's hope it's somewhere near as good as this. #5. When an artist experiments or goes in a different direction with their sound, they tend to get panned pretty hard by fans and very mixed reactions from critics.
Happened when Linkin Park did it, happened when Mumford And Sons did it, but I for one am very appreciative and respectful when artists switch thing up, it shows they're not afraid to try new things and be more bold and daring and in most cases, including the two I just noted, it leads to the creation of more quality content. Most of the time, this can have a massive effect on their commercial success as well, which is why I was so surprised to see this song chart so high. And it was a god damn pleasant surprise because this song is absolutely wonderful.
#5. "Midnight" by Coldplay
Honestly, I know I've used this word a lot, but I can only describe Midnight as absolutely beautiful. This is Coldplay's most encapturing and fascinating song to date. It's moody and emotional, yet at the same time, calming and soothing, bringing for imagery of starry skies and deep, peaceful sleep. A song as dark and enchanting as the night itself. This is the kind of music you would go stargazing to, looking up at the beautiful shining moon and stars, the same imagery that the tone and atmosphere that this song bring forth. The pitch-shifted vocals may be offputting to some, but in my opinion, they only prove to make the song more unique, and more unique is always a good thing. Quite honestly, I find it difficult to put just how truly amazing and beautiful I find this song into words. Just listen to it yourself, and I promise, you will be taken away by it yourself. #4. OK, so I'm probably about to get a lot of people on my bad side for including this song, especially given how overplayed and inescapable and just plain everywhere it was in 2014.
But you know what? No matter how much I heard this song over the course of 2014, I never lost any love for it in the slightest. And why should I have? This is one of the best songs in animated film history, and as a pop song, was a welcome departure from a lot of the pop cliches of our time. I guess what I'm saying is: fuck it, I loved Frozen, and I love Let It Go.
#4. "Let It Go" by Indina Menzel
Yeah, this song... it's just amazing. Indina Menzel's reputation as a fabulous singer is well-earned, and her talents absolutely shine through here, one of her best performances. She's backed up by a fabulous orchestra of violins and pianos that give the song a very symphonic and grand feel. It's some of the best production in Disney musical history, and given we're talking about Disney, that's saying something. But really, it's the lyrics and theme that really make Let It Go what it is. A song about embracing who you are, being your self, and letting all your insecurities and problems, well, go, accepting and loving yourself and rising above those who look down on you for who you are. It's a pretty uplifting and even mature, important message for a kid's movie, and a pretty unique one for a pop song. It's like if you took Hakuna Matata (a song which *futuristic protective barrier activated* I don't really like that much) and make it all uplifting and grandiose and overall fantastic. Pair all that up with some beautiful and epic animation and you have what may very well be Disney's best song to date. Great work, guys.
#3. The rise of mainstream EDM in 2013 and 2014 was a glorious sight to behold. We got incredible artists like the Swedish House Mafia and Armin Van Buuren and tons of incredible songs that proved that just because it's dance music doesn't mean it can't be legitimately good. Unfortunately, with the rise of artists like DJ Snake causing mainstream EDM to go into a massive downward spiral towards a more gross and embarrassing and just plain awful direction (yeah, I don't like DJ Snake. Like, at all. Sorry.), it seems that era has come to a close. However, there is still one artist who I believe proves this genre can still produce some true gems, and that man's name is Tim Berg, or as he's better known, Avicii. Yeah, I honestly do believe Avicii is one of the best artists currently working, like, period. His production talent and genre-blending abilities are like no other electronic artist in the industry, and his unique mix of folk and house elements really set him apart from most of the others, and he continues to put out fantastic quality music to this day. Wake Me Up was a phenomenal song that proved that unique sound and smart songwriting were still allowed in our current pop charts, and his follow-up single showed that even better. So let's talk about it.
#3. "Hey Brother" by Avicii
Hey Brother is a master-class EDM song. It's grand, sweeping, and uplifting, it's heartfelt and beautiful, and above all, it's fucking awesome. This being an EDM song, the major thing that makes Hey Brother amazing is the production, the mix of acoustic guitar and the beat in the verse blend amazingly, the horn line is triumphant and uplifting whereas the one in Talk Dirty was squawking and insufferable (still hate Talk Dirty), and the crescendo and buildup to the drop are massive, almost bone-chilling, easily the best beat drop of EDM this year. The production is god-tier, but that doesn't detract from the song's other amazing factors either. Bluegrass singer Dan Tyminski handles the vocals with so much presence and passion he matches the production perfectly, that mixed with the fantastically-written lyrics about family and sibling love and friendship that I don't think I've ever seen in a pop song, and this song nails it. Overall, yeah, Hey Brother is a masterpiece. One of Avicii's best works to date, and one that will be remembered for years to come/ #2. You know what we don't get enough of in pop music? We don't get enough epic music.
Music with a large, grandiose feel, thundering percussion, massive instrumentation, morbid themes... we don't see a lot of this in pop music and that's a little disappointing. Obviously we're not gonna get any symphonic power metal like Sirena (by the way, check out the album The Seventh Life Path by Sirena, it's fucking incredible) in the Top 40 probably ever, but I feel like pop music lacks a lot of that really massive sound present in a lot of great music. Luckily, we did get one song this year with all the above listed qualities, and yeah, it was pretty damn great.
#2. "Pompeii" by Bastille
This is the kind of dark and gritty yet uplifting and hard-hitting rock music that the charts need more of. The most prevelent thing about Pompeii and one of the best things about it is the sound. The thundering percussion, the primal chants in the background, the way it switches from grand and sweeping to low-key and somber, Dan Smith's passionate, almost screaming vocals, it all makes the song so massive and gives it an almost apocalyptic feel. But really, like Let It Go, the real shining star of the song is the lyrics, telling the tale of two unfortunate lives caught in the rubble of the historic Pompeii explosion, remniscing on life, death, and the mortality of man. That is not only extremely heavy material for a pop song which makes Pompeii all the more admirable, but also god damn heartbreaking. It's one of those songs that just gets more and more incredible the more you listen to it and the more you think about it. The dark lyrical themes and massive sweeping production mix together that makes Pompeii a song that is absolutely moving. A masterpiece of pop music, rock music, and music and general, and it was *this* close to being my pick for best hit of the year.
But it was narrowly beaten out by one, the one song from this year that could possibly top it. You wanna know what it is? I mean, yeah, you probably do, beacause... that's what you came here for... uuhhhh... let's just get to it. #1. You know, I think was pretty much destined to be my pick for the best hit song of 2014.
I made it's made by my all time favorite band, was produced by my all time favorite producer, it overall beautiful in both lyrics and production, as a very beautiful theme and motif surrounding its design and metaphor... this is like everything I love in music rolled up into one big ball of pure, concentrated good. It's beautiful, uplifting, some other third word I've already use 652 trillion times over the course of this list, just god damn fantastic. And if you know me, you already know what song I'm talking about.
#1. "A Sky Full Of Stars" by Coldplay feat. Avicii
If there was ever a perfect blend of soft rock and electronic music, this was it. Simply put, A Sky Full Of Stars is breathtaking. Everything about it, the fantastic vocal work of Chris Martin, the piano line that leads into the electronic buildup with the crescendo that leads into one of the greatest beat drops in mainstream EDM... every second of this song is so eloquently stitched together into a symphony of electronic dance music glory. The sky full of stars metaphor is a beautiful one indeed, as a starry sky is a damn beautiful piece of imagery (seriously, have you seen the full night sky without any light pollution? It's fucking glorious), and the lush and uplifting production matches that imagery perfectly. Yeah, it's a genuinely heartfelt love song, and a breathtaking EDM song. A glorious piece of music by two of the best artists currently working. Honestly, what more could I ask for? Yes ladies and gentlemen, A Sky Full Of Stars takes the title of best hit song of 2014. A great way to finish off a truly great list.
So, yeah, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed, I'm gonna go do... uh... something else, I guess, I dunno.
