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macbetha · 3 years

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So very excited to share this! It’s a playlist for my upcoming Free! fic, This Heart of Mine, the rewritten sequel to Eyes Wide Open All the Time. You can listen to the playlist on YouTube; this list simply helps define who or what a song represents to me. This list also includes some lyrics that you may want to pay special attention to. I recommend reading the lyrics by themselves before listening to the playlist. Mind you - some of these lyrics only act as symbolism. Some mean more. Some songs have connections. Some don’t. ;) *go girl give us nothing* List below!

THIS HEART OF MINE: PLAYLIST GUIDE

Theme: Bring Me The Horizon feat. Halsey - In The Dark (MTLT / amo version) Oh so tall, it broke the fourth wall Guess our fairytale had a few plot holes Don’t you know you’ve lost control ↳ Honorable Mentions: ✧ grandson - Bury Me Facedown When I go into the ground I won’t go quietly I’m bringing my crown I won’t get tired Set the town on fire Thinking that they’ve won It’s only just begun ✧ Lorde - Everybody Wants to Rule the World ✧ Ry X - YaYaYa ✧ Rihanna - Goodnight Gotham

CHARACTERS

✦ Haruka ✧ WDL - Monster vs Angel Got my own monster Nobody but me Got my own angel I would never call him enemy He’s the good god I need But both of the sides Fight for me ✧ Mumford and Sons - Broken Crown I’ll never be your chosen one In this twilight How dare you speak of grace But in this twilight Our choices seal our fate I’ll crawl on my belly till the sun goes down I’ll never wear your broken crown ✧ Lia Marie Johnson - DNA Dark as midnight 6 Pack Coors Light You don’t look the same Past my bedtime Blue and red lights come take you away I won’t be like you Fighting back, I’m fighting back the truth Eyes like yours Can’t look away But you can’t stop DNA

✧ Cat Power - Sea of Love Come with me, my love To the sea, the sea of love ✧ Al Green - Love and Happiness (side note: this if my favorite song of all time) Love and happiness Something that can make you do wrong And make you do right

✦ Makoto ✧ The Oh Hellos - Soldier, Poet, King There will come a soldier Who carries a mighty sword He will tear your city down Oh ley, oh lei, oh lord ✧ Labrynth - Still Don’t Know My Name I took your heart I did things to you only lovers would only do in the dark I made you a god Priests, popes and preachers would tell me I did wrong ✧ The Civil Wars - Devil’s Backbone Don’t care if he’s guilty Don’t care if he’s not He’s good and he’s bad and he’s all that I got Oh lord, I’m begging you, please Don’t take that sinner from me ✧ Sleeping At Last - Make You Feel My Love (Cover) I could make you happy Make your dreams come true There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do Go to ends of the earth for you To make you feel my love ✦ Sousuke ✧ Angel Haze - Detox You dance in a cage with some rats in it I’m about chemistry, you just react to me God might turn us to ash, baby I might just taste your last stars tonight We were gods in a world that did nothing but doubt us But fuck it, I got us, from the dirt with the flowers Put in work in the shower ✧ Kaleo - No Good You better start runnin’ When you hear the man coming It won’t do you no good Kiss your baby goodbye Come on love, it’s all right Heaven knows they wanna break you apart ✧ The Oh Hellos - The Lament of Eustice Scrubb Brother, forgive me We both know I’m the one to blame When I touched the water They told me I could be set free ✦ Rin ✧ Halsey - Young God (Lullaby / Music Box Intro, Live from Webster Hall) Running, running, running And we’ll be running, running, running again ✧ SZA - Good Days Tell me I’m not my fears, my limitations I’ll disappear I gotta keep from losing the rest of me Chasing a fountain of youth that’s in the present I’ll await my armored fate with a smile Still wanna try, I still believe in good days ✧ Lola Blanc - Angry Too Does it get your blood boiling? Does it make you see red? Cause it gets my blood boiling It would eat you like poison if you knew what I knew I don’t wanna drink the venom they made me I don’t wanna be controlled by the past But boy, if you were me Could you really blame me? ✧ Kendrick Lamar - u And if this bottle could talk: I cry myself to sleep, everything is your fault Because you shook as you knew confinement was needed I know your secrets Don’t let me tell them to world About the shit you thinking And the time that you - I’m ‘bout to hurl I’m fucked up But I ain’t as fucked up as you ✧ Halsey - More Wooden floors, little feet Flower bud, concrete A little screen, a photograph Mine to take I still believe it won’t be like before I’ve loved you for all of my life ✦ Nao ✧ Johnny Hollow - Worse Things Anger grew like ecstasy And Leda threw the swan on me There are worse things, perverse things You should answer when the phone rings There are worse things I could do ✧ Young Heretics - Bones of a Rabbit You play with wolves But you sleep with the bones of the rabbit You have conquered cities And torched the mighty sea You may keep yourself afloat But you cannot outswim me ✧ Phantogram - Black Out Days (Future Islands Remix) Hide the sun I will keep your face out of my mind I’m hearing voices all the time And they’re not mine Haunting my mind ✦ Natsuya ✧ Gang of Youths - Achilles, Come Down Remember your virtue Redemption lies plainly in the truth Where you go, I’m going When you jump, I’m jumping There is no me without you Today of all days See how the most dangerous thing is love ✧ Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love The stars, the moon They have all been blown out You left me in the dark ✦ Ikuya ✧ Penelope Scott - Cigarette Ahegao So like, I guess I call it the sophomore slump Always crying and always drunk A few dead, more gone, the rest well on their way Thanks! I hate it Everyone that I love is stuck Because this, that, the other, and the state fucked up We covered it in a class that I’m about to fail ✧ 100 gecs, Laura Les, Dylan Brady - Money Machine Tell me what's the deal, I've been trying to go to bed I've been up for days, I've been trying to get ahead Said it all before, and I'll say it once again I'm better off alone ✧ Halsey - Clementine Through a breakdown or a blackout Would you make out with me Cause I don’t need anyone I just need everyone and then some ✦ Hiyori ✧ Florence + The Machine - Seven Devils Holy water cannot help you now A thousand armies couldn’t keep me out I don’t want your money I don’t want your crown See I’ve come to burn your kingdom down ✧ Michael Buble - Feeling Good (Cover) It’s a new life for me This old world is a new world And a bold world for me Freedom is mine And I know how I feel I’m feeling good ✦ Asahi ✧ Sam Henshaw - Broke If I wasn’t broke Would you spend more time with me Like you said you’d do Tell me what I’m supposed to do Cause the only thing I need Is to be loved by you ✧ Mikky Ekko - Smile Smile, the worst is yet to come We’ll be lucky if we ever see the sun ✦ Aki ✧ Aly & AJ - Church I did bad things, can’t you see it on my face? I get caught in every lie I need redemption for sins I can’t mention For all the things I can’t reverse For all the places where it hurts ✧ ZZ Ward - Ghost Here the devil call out my name I’ve broken promises, burning flame God knows, darling God knows I gave Now the truth cuts like a knife ✦ Nii ✧ Of Mice and Men - My Understandings Keep in mind that I’m a sore eye With blurry vision ✧ Neoni - Outlaw They say that I’m wanted Hear the whispers in the street You better start running Cause nothing scares me Faster, faster You’re the one I’m after You built a fortress But I’ll never kiss the ring I’m my own king

✦ Gou ✧ Melanie Martinez - Lunchbox Friends We can be friends if you wanna be But only till the clock hits three I don’t want no lunchbox friends, no I want someone that binds the ends, no Come to my house, let’s die together Friendship that will last forever ✧ Maroon 5 - Come to the Water Come away little light Come away to the darkness Away from the life that you always knew Come away little lamb Come away to the water To the arms that are waiting only for you ✦ Isuzu ✧ Jessie Reyez - NO ONE’S IN THE ROOM Spent my whole life being graded, being told I’m not enough Being told go find the one and sit and wait for death to come I don’t want to I need to talk to God There’s things I just don’t understand Like who am I when no one’s in the room EMI - Bad Friends Yeah, I got some bad friends No you cannot have them If you wanna talk to them You talk to me, yeah We don’t fuck around with just anybody, yeah

✦ Takuya ✧ Imagine Dragons - Ready, Aim, Fire Off in the distance, there is resistance Bubbling up and festering Here in the casing Shaking and pacing This is the tunnel’s light Blood in the writing, stuck in the fighting Look through the rifle’s sight ✧ Billie Eilish - you should see me in a crown (acapella) Bite my tongue Bide my time Wait till the world is mine, ocean eyes Count my cards Watch them fall Blood on a marble wall You should see me in a crown I’m gonna run this nothing town Watch me make ‘em bow One by one ✦ Kinjou ✧ Urban Country - Knife and Stone Tell me, have you ever seen a mirror Mirror in the middle of the forest Just waiting for the rain or the crown I’ve been up for thirty days Someone point to lost and found Ain’t no blood in the temple Just a knife and stone

✦ Mikhail ✧ Elsie Lovelock - Friends on the Other Side (Cover) The cards, the cards The cards will tell The past, the present, and the future as well I got voodoo, I got hoodoo I got things I ain’t even tried And I got friends on the other side I hope you’re satisfied, but if you ain’t Don’t blame me You can blame my friends on the other side ✦ Ryuuji ✧ elbow - Grounds for Divorce I’ve been working on a cocktail Called Grounds for Divorce Down comes him on sticks but then he kicks like a horse There's a hole in my neighborhood Down which of late I cannot help but fall ✧ Mumford and Sons - The Enemy I am not the enemy It isn’t me, the enemy I came and I was nothing So why did you choose to lean on A man you knew was falling? ✦ Nadia ✧ Halsey - Castle (Orchestral Version) They wanna make me their queen There’s an old man Sitting on the throne Saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut I’m headed straight for the castle

THEMES: GROUPS

✦ FREEBIRD ✧ Kaleo - Way Down We Go Oh father, tell me Do we get what we deserve They will run you down Down till you fall They will run you down Down till you crawl Till you can’t crawl no more And way down we go ✦ ROUGH RABBIT ✧ Imagine Dragons - Who We Are Up on the mountain Down in the king's den It's who we are Doesn't matter if we've gone too far Doesn't matter if it's not okay Doesn't matter if it's not our day ✦ DIAMONDBACK ✧ Florence + The Machine - Bedroom Hymns This is good a place to fall as any We’ll build our alter here In the wine, the women, the bedroom hymns Such selfish prayers, I can’t get enough I’m not here looking for absolution Because I’ve found myself an old solution

✦ HONEYBLADE ✧ Megan Thee Stallion and Normani - Diamonds I love me this much My pear-shape all dripped up He want me to be a little more lady-like? Come through with my girls and beat your ass on ladies night ✦ BLOODHOUNDS ✧ Angel Haze - The Wolves Nothing left out there for me I left my fucking heart out at the sea This shit sounds like the danger zone I’m the big bad wolf Gonna take the throne

THEMES: PAIRINGS

✦ Makoto + Haruka ✧ Phoebe Bridgers - Smoke Signals One of your eyes is always half shut Something happened when you were a kid I didn’t know you then and I’ll never understand why It feels like I did ✧ Radical Face - Welcome Home Peel the scars from off my back I don’t need them anymore I’ve come home ✧ The Track Team - Heart Chakra ✧ Blackmill - Redemption ✦ Sousuke + Rin ✧ Kaleo - Bang Bang (Cover) Seasons came and changed the times I grew up, I called him mine He would always laugh and say: “Remember how we used to play? Bang, bang.” ✧ Zayn - Good Guy I’m not a good guy But I know you’re mine (bang) I know you’re mine (bang, bang) ✧ L'Orchestra Cinématique - Crazy In Love (Instrumental Cover)

✦ Natsuya + Nao ✧ Cosmo Sheldrake - The Moss But have you heard the story Of the rabbit in the moon? Halsey - Colors Your little brother never tells you But he loves you so I hope you make it to the day you’re 28 years old

✦ Hiyori + Ikuya ✧ Elvis Drew - Where Are You I been trying to figure out where you from Is it the moon? Is it earth? Is it this place, where nothing is worse? Nothing can compare to the life we had My dear just grab my hand and let me take you To my wonderland ✧ Swae Lee - Sunflower Some things you just can’t refuse I’m not tryna lose

✦ Isuzu + Gou ✧ Snow Patrol - The Golden Floor I’m a peasant in your princess arms Penniless with only charm

#thomfic #free! fic #thomplaylist #thom

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readablenoise · 4 years

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Neon Waves and the Unexpected Sound: Readable Noise reviews Riptide Music Festival- Day 1

South Florida’s premiere alternative music festival continues to hit it’s mark in combining the old and new

Fort Lauderdale- FTL has always been a city within a city.

Bordering the Miami gateway and its Northern areas of suburbia, it’s an odd metropolitan escape that has never quite received the note of recognition it deserves. Except for of course, in the arms of its beaches.

Stretching for miles, the solar mirrored sand along the Atlantic is serene as it is comforting, with a State Park nestled almost oddly alongside it. And it’s in this multi leveled plateau that 104.3 The Shark makes it’s home for Riptide Music Festival; South Florida’s only alternative based music festival, following the departure of it’s predecessor, 103.1 The Buzz’s annual Buzz Bake Sale.

The station, started by the former operator of the aforementioned FM local staple, John O’ Connell, is done in good hands and with good intentions; the festival occupying a good stretch and interspersed with two stages in one hand, and a cavalcade of acts in the other including modern staples in the form of The Killers, Silversun Pick-Ups and newcomers, the 1975.

What is so vastly important however, is the reception and welcoming of new acts to the fold; such as White Reaper, who opened the festivities on the Sharkwrecked Main Stage, Friday afternoon.

The quartet from Kentucky are an interesting and refreshing mix of The Cars sensibilities, alongside 90’s pop-punk. With tight melodies, and that special thrill that comes from seeing an act fresh not only in their element, but their ambition. It’s something that instantly makes you smile, and happily sway in their sound, with songs rooted in proper composition but with an unexpected, exciting edge to the performance.

It’s an introduction that is not only needed, but necessary in the genre, allowing new blood in as, no pun intended, chumming the water as proof of existence that the genre is still alive and well.

Whether through the open and unique performance of Morgxn, whose infectious smile and honesty in their performance that touched on Southern gospel rock with an Elton John showmanship, or the female version of Rhye’s silky smooth vocals, in the form of DC’s own Shaed; it’s an infusion that leaves you breathless. This is the new class in it’s prime, and just a taste of some of the forms that are to come.

One of those interests being K. Flay. There is an undeniable, enjoyable bite to her tracks, like a flavor you can’t quite describe but enjoy all the same. It’s a feeling that carries into whose live performance, and makes itself more clear. A gritter version of Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel, Flay’s stage presence is electric, opening “Not In California” to an already palpable crowd, she carriers herself in her words, and using that presence as an instrument itself. It’s something wonderful, and a wonderful addition to the start of the festival.

And with the new, so comes due respect to the those that helped pave way to the current path, in the form of Silversun Pick-Ups.

It’s also here, that we unfortunately ran into the sole issue of the ambitious festival and its current venue.

While the experience is rightfully and Thankfully fan friendly, geared with the right intentions (a day out on the Florida sands, with music and good memories in both the sun and moonlit hours), it made behind the scenes work at times, tenuous. Due to the venue itself, and the corporate strings that do follow with more major festivals operated by outside hands, we were unable to watch more than three songs of most of the bands featured in this review, including that of SSPU, Matt Maeson, and all acts throughout Saturday’s festivities as well.

This is not at all to say the fault fell with the behind the scenes crew, who were more than gracious to all reporting on the festival.

However, with tied hands, the opportunity of accurately capturing the tempo, surprises and the elation of both bands and fans present were a bit chaotic at times, given the strict time restraint allowed by higher powers to capture photographic moments. It was truly the only downside of this otherwise truly special music festival.

After all, where else would you find Silversun Pick-Ups, whose glistening opening song “Neon Wound” was met with incredible, and deserved reception from the audience and perfectly cascading into latest “It Doesn’t Matter”, proudly showing the incredible power and chemistry the quartet still have; or The Revivalists, whose Southern honey tinged rock feels as at home on the picture perfect shore as it does in the glades, dancing to their sway of smooth ballads and jam oriented blues?

In that same vein of great surprises featured in this festival, were Judah & The Lion; a Cage The Elephant style of bombast meets Johnny Rotten explosion. With a flurry of strobe lights greeting their arrival, it was an unexpected and special treat to witness, opening with “Pep Talk” and seamlessly crescending into “Quarter Life Crisis”, frontman Brian Macdonald is a powerhouse to watch, and is reminiscent of those legendary live shows.

Their performance was a truly wonderful treat, with tracks that while undeniably smooth, formed like a punk show and leaving the crowd alight with excitement. Nowhere else will you get audio fireworks other than with this sound, and it’s one we were grateful to see for the time we were given to.

And as the sun set, and the muggy Florida cool of the night set in, the Main Stage crowd began to grow closer in quarters, as the 1975 set the beginning machinations for the final songs of the first night to a frenzied crowd.

It isn’t a stretch to say the fervor attached with the Manchester based group is that of almost reminiscent of The Beatles in the frenetic frenzy that follows them with their audience, which while perhaps surprising at some moments, is not out of the ordinary.

Their digital aesthetic intertwined with modern age love songs are relatable on an odd wavelength, and never left feeling out of place. In addition, their stage performance is electric, with frontman Matthew Healy coming out in full form wearing a Fugazi longsleeve and swinging his mic around as the act performed “Give It A Try”. And while most bands reach for their own brand of identity, as all acts should, it’s extremely rare that a band can actually make their own aesthetic, with a following that actively and appropriately combines photographs of love, heartache and neon with the act’s lyrics; something that the band also do in graphics of vaporwave stylings throughout their performance. Say what you may about the band, who are definitely riding and enjoying their wave, it’s always something special when an act can connect on such a level that sound becomes material.

And it’s on that note that we get to the main headliner for the night, alternative and rock legends, The Killers.

The Las Vegas act first arrived on the scene in 2004 with a then uncarried bombast, catering to a curve no one had quite yet acknowledged, much less heard of. Following in the footsteps of New Order, The Cars and Depeche Mode, it was still a ground less followed as it was sacred.

As it should be, with the new wave acts paving the way for the future, which following the Madchester and deep house tiering, coupled with the arrival of grunge rock and nu-metal, remained a path that seemed to have stopped dead. Enter in the quartet, who not only took back up the mantle, but aimed to become it, releasing “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” with a glamour and decadence not quite Las Vegas, but not quite English either. They were the perfect hybrid of UK arena interspersed with American ambition, and it’s a formula that is still followed today by the band, albeit with a pinch more Springsteen.

As the band open with signature “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine” if you have followed the band since their debut, it’s a consistent and almost parental wonder to see how far they have come.

As with any band you may have grown up with, there is always that glimmer of wonder; something uncontainable that rises like static electricity after it’s first viewing, or listen. It’s a hard feeling to ensure, time after time and after nearly two decades, their formula is still potent.

With frontman Brandon Flowers coming more into his own, drummer Ronnie Vannucci still being the electrifying mixture of John Bonham meets Keith Moon and even adapting with evolution; allowing guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer optional time away from touring while still being part of the experience, something that no band never truly been done before.

It’s a testament to the strength of the act themselves, still able to carry a crowd like absolute ease, performing “The Way It Was” with earnest bombast, and proof of the faith in their tracks. Whereas some acts might choose to leave their hits for the latter part of the set and lure potential new ears into the fold by keeping those immediately recognizable songs to the end, they proudly display it on their sleeve; Flowers leading into “Smile Like You Mean It” with a serene build-up of synths, or even the instant crowd pleaser of “Somebody Told Me”, all with neon graphics accompanying, alongside a glittering assembly of lights, complimenting the show as it’s own type of instrument.

Their regard of the experience to be a apart of the music, giving support to each respective feel is the showmanship of Vegas coming off their sleeves, and it works well.

Including, and most importantly, for the audience themselves, with a recent concert rite of passage that The Killers have started doing at their shows: inviting any potential audience members who dare hold up signs asking to play a track with the band, and honoring that request. Tonight’s aptly named “Victim” was Jayson, a native of Gainesville who accompanied the act on “For Reasons Unknown” and absolutely nail it; mirroring Vannucci’s signature energic frenzy throughout the hills and valleys of the tracks composition, had the crowd chanting following his performance, and deservedly so.

And as the night continued with a spectacular cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl”, and the act’s own “Run For Cover” you see the Las Vegas act still elicit that same special blend of magic the band have created; raising crowds to an electric level, and bringing the best out of tired feet and glittering eyes. It’s a recipe that’s hard to nail, and even harder to consistently deliver. And as The Killers arrived at their closing track, “Mr. Brightside” (cooly and beautifully split up into half Jacques Lu Cont remix and half original banger), with Flowers remarking earlier in the night the incredible spirit of the tightly packed crowd, promising to return next year, is where you see it.

Underneath the moonlight, and river of lasers and lights the desert act combine into their shows, the heartbeat of a crowd coming together for one more song. Right as the last note plays, and the sand settles once more, that smile starts creeping up without any necessary thought. It’s the strength of music delivered right, in a climate that’s created in the best components. And

Thankfully, bands like those featured today, alongside Riptide itself, are helping to truly keep that feeling alive.

See our exclusive live captures of White Reaper here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReS-lFOhMAM

And Shaed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5aNNCRAvec

(Words and Photos: Jenelle DeGuzman)

#Riptide Music Festival #riptide #the killers #shaed #the revivalists #white reaper #silversun pick-ups #matt maeson #k. flay #judah and the lion #judah & the lion #review #alternative #fort lauderdale #readable noise #fort lauderdale beach #live music

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leofrith · 7 years

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i was tagged by @sassywonderwoman to do this thing!! even though chris keeps shaming me for my (temporary!!!!) url change, she also always compliments me on my music taste. so i’ll do this to be nice and also because people complimenting my music taste is my weakness.

rules: put your music on shuffle, list the first 9 songs and your favourite lyrics from each. then tag 9 other people to participate!

twilight galaxy by metric

thinking sorrow was perfection i would wallow till you told me there's no glitter in the gutter there's no twilight galaxy

cruel by ms mr

and i know that i can't hide behind words are you just being cruel to be cruel? blue was the color i thought i knew but every kiss hits like a bullet, it pierces through sorrow like the lines on your palm, i stood by as it grew

love lost by the temper trap

your walls are up too cold to touch it your walls are up too high to climb

stealing fire by bob moses

all that i can do for you is done back and forth, we meet in the middle pull me through the eye of a needle losing in a war already won while you're stealing all the fire from the sun

follow you by chvrches

changing mind, like you always do waiting for the blow i will take for you blinding lights washing over you you can hold your own and i will hold it too

half life by imogen heap

my self-worth measured in text back tempo it's been 2 days and 8 minutes too slow there may well be others but i still like to pretend that i'm the one you really want to grow old with

interlude by london grammar

would you really want me in the light of day, that very same man shot flaws right through my face

the gospel of john hurt by alt-j

you're headed on the strings for the e-x-t-i-n-c-t

(oh, who the fuck am i kidding none of their lyrics make sense i just like this song)

running from the cops by phantogram

i want to implode i want it to end and all those old feelings are coming back again

i had to skip through......SO MUCH.............to get down to a list that even remotely resembled my current music taste. i have too much music. also instrumentals. but anyway i at least came across a bunch of good stuff i didn’t know i had so there u go :’)

i tag @cassianluke @hheimdall @hhermes @rangerous @realpisces @neiptune @buckycap @ronamov and whoever else feels like doing this because i’m too tired to think of one more person. goodnight!

#stealing fire is a quality song that i didn #didn't know existed until now #lmao why did i miss bob moses when they were in toronto in the fall why don't i love myself #ky posts text #sassywonderwoman

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romanmacharoni · 7 years

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The Best Songs of 2016

I know some critics say that 2016 was a bad year for music (and yes, it was, let’s be honest). We also lost quite a few great musicians too. The world won’t be the same without titans like Prince, Bowie, and George Michael.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot of awesome music out there. Quite a few songs set fire to the charts in more ways than one and really showed us that there are diamonds in the rough. There were 15 in particular, similar to my film list for the year, so here we go. These were the best songs of 2016.

First, some honorable mentions...

“Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande https://open.spotify.com/track/7l94dyN2hX9c6wWcZQuOGJ

The only reason it’s not on the list itself is because of its poor sense of pace. The build is way too monotonous and slow. The chorus kills it, though, as Ariana feels right at home hitting this sweet spot on the album of the same name.

“Chunky” by Bruno Mars https://open.spotify.com/track/0mBKv9DkYfQHjdMcw2jdyI

Bruno Mars’ newest album, 24K Magic (which title track is on the actual list, spoilers), has quite a few winners on there, but this sticks out as the second best of the album. Though it’s weird to refer to normal sized, curvy woman as ‘chunky’, it’s still a pleasant jam with a tight production as it plays to Mars’ strengths. The back-up vocals complement him well, and the keyboard adds some welcome spice to the composition.

“Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay https://open.spotify.com/track/69uxyAqqPIsUyTO8txoP2M

I feel like this has become a commercial song (not that’s always a bad thing), but this is still a solid track. Delightful to listen to when you’re in a good mood. Coldplay isn’t what they used to be, but they are far from bad with this new direction. That guitar ‘drop’ if you will is trance-like and peppy. With all the slow stuff we got this year, it’s nice to have something like this on the radio.

“The Good News” by Bloc Party https://open.spotify.com/track/3FI3nRETDMfK3z9SQwfVZr

While bright and loaded with the religion-inspired direction of Bloc Party, this song has some needed grit. Those guitar on the chorus give this track warmth and something to chew on while you’re listening. Kele’s soft vocals pair well with the strings to create something wonderful.

“Play That Song” by Train https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZMFrvkNgwwMfPdX3aThYs

This is what “Soul Sister” should have been. Happy, short and sweet. Not great, but still an enjoyable song. That’s probably because Pat Monahan isn’t inserting his odd lyrcial nuggets in there (See in previous songs: “I’m so gangster, I’m so thug”, “Hefty bag to hold my love”).

“The Plain Moon” by The Besnard Lakes https://open.spotify.com/track/0p6DGv92OOuXu927xxlkmH

Call it bias (I did an article on them for coming to the Beachland Ballroom), or my apology for my editor messing up the headline for a story I did on the band (sorry again, if you’re reading this). Regardless, this song is the strongest track on “A Coliseum Complex Museum”, meshing a psychedelic flow with heavy guitars to create a haunting atmosphere. The vocals have the feel of ghosts, slowly moving in and out of the lush acoustics laid on thicker than honey. It’s a powerful jam in terms of sonics and a brilliant piece of music that honestly should have charted. Also, you can put “Towers Sent Her to Sheets of Sound”, reminiscent to a Beach Boys jam mixed with the usual psychedelic sound, on here as well. They’d be tied if this wasn’t an honorable mention.

You can read my piece on the Besnard Lakes here.

“East Coast Girl” by Butch Walker https://open.spotify.com/track/2PMRCXna6KCB5D5EVU3hzD

Consider this the unofficial #16 of this list. A modern fusion of personalities such as Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp collide in this cool little flashback track. Butch really projects himself in the chorus, opposed to his laid-back delivery in the verses. The storytelling feel to the verse as well places you into that throwback mood this song gives off.

Now, onto the list...

#15 - “Love Like That” by Mayer Hawthorne https://open.spotify.com/track/2pk8466VZtaO1QiiqaSJ8e

I’ve been a fan of Hawthorne for a while. His use of old and new conventions to create fantastic pieces of music has been on my radar for equally as long. His appeal mimics how Chromeo came on the scene in 2014. Of his three singles released this year, “Love Like That” feels the most fitting for the radio and this list. Its crisp production is paired with a bombastic chorus and tight percussion. Mayer clearly knows what he’s doing here. A strong song to start off this list.

#14 - “The Love Within” by Bloc Party https://open.spotify.com/track/35Qc5U57RCROGY3h2l0d51

Bloc Party’s “Hymns”, another re-invention for the decade-and-counting post grunge Brit-punk band, begins with a looping, weaving synth. It’s met with a thudding bass drum and Kele’s voice welcoming you to their new musical direction. And then the drop hits, and you know that this will be a fun ride. Very few albums this year start out this strong. I still haven’t heard anything like this so far. It’s just fantastic, and at the same time fascinating.

#13 - “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” by Adele https://open.spotify.com/track/3LGxef3inmn5jMLGDz9lqw

While I did enjoy “When We Were Young” off her album “25″ a lot, “Send My Love” layers her voice beautifully and gives her a unique platform to provide her heavenly vocal work and deliver a great performance. The minimalist nature of her music is a little less evident here, but it’s not overpowering. It feels more free than her usual mega-smash hits, which is why I decided to place this track on here rather than the aforementioned “Young”. The lone guitar providing the majority of the back beat is solid and quite atmospheric. And as always, Adele knocks it out of the park.

#12 - “Reaper” by Sia https://open.spotify.com/track/1usLCyaUZ2y0uoPmKj1uYo

So Kanye West helped out Sia for this song off her album “This Is Acting”. You can tell. The delivery is very close to West’s part in the previous year’s “FourFiveSeconds”, and Sia has the conviction to make it feel genuine. I guess her ‘acting’ is just fine for this. I enjoy the sing-a-long feel to this track and the flow of the lyrics in the chorus most of all. Sia can really let herself lay it all out on this one, and it’s probably why this was chosen to be a single off the record.

You can read my review of “This Is Acting” as an album right here.

#11 - “Same Old Blues” by Phantogram https://open.spotify.com/track/28iw1FqJf6Vnfl2Fcu9rBh

I made sure to not include non-charting songs (as in not on the Hot 100) out of my Top 10, as I try to focus on hits, but I had to include this one. Plus, their third album — appropriately entitled “Three” — placed 9th on the Billboard Hot 200 in late October, and this song feels like the star of the album, burning so bright that’s blinding. It’s an elegant orchestration with gorgeous vocal work, and a killer guitar break towards its conclusion. Phantogram have always been known to brilliantly deconstruct and build their tracks to create sweeping pieces of music, and this is no exception. A fantastic piece I can recommend to everyone.

#10 - “Cheap Thrills” by Sia https://open.spotify.com/track/27SdWb2rFzO6GWiYDBTD9j

From those of you who may have read my review for “This Is Acting” (link above), you might have seen that I said that the album was only slightly above average, a mixture of hits and misses. However, when Sia hits... it’s masterful. This one isn’t the most well written or put together, but it captures a feeling better than anything else on the album. I guess she’s been writing for Rihanna for so long that I can’t tell if this is her attempt to sound like her or Sia’s elements that she adds to Rihanna’s repertoire, but it works. This pseudo-island feel suits Sia as perfectly the odd face-concealing wigs she wears.

#9 - “Into You” by Ariana Grande https://open.spotify.com/track/2meEiZKWkiN28gITzFwQo5

The first four tracks of her third studio album “Dangerous Woman” are pretty stellar, a mixture of the elements that make Ariana shine among the other pop divas (Daya, you could learn a thing or two). This string of songs is capped off by this slice of polished and refined pop excellence. The structure and production screamed for this to be a hit, and the populous answered accordingly. Grande’s grand on this track (see what I did there?), belting it out and oozing with sensuality.

#8 - “Drive It Like You Stole It” by Sing Street ensemble https://open.spotify.com/track/2ZBiHAwdeCnrKvXap6Yzef

I don’t mean the other version with Hudson Thames. His vocals alone are… not as good as the original released with the trailer for “Sing Street”. The added filters to his voice as well as the back-up performers fit the mood of the bouncy instrumental a lot better. Simply put, a welcome homage to 80′s pop ballads. The beat almost has a doo-wop feel to it, fitting for a film that somewhat resembles an alternative “Footloose”. The final chorus breakdown is also what I consider hair-standing-up-on-neck pop perfection.

#7 - “Starboy” by The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk https://open.spotify.com/track/7MXVkk9YMctZqd1Srtv4MB

The Weeknd made my top spot last year (in a tie, too!) but this year there was quite a few acts who really stepped up their game, so here he sits. That doesn’t mean that this song isn’t kick-ass, though. Daft Punk found a great partner in ol’ Saturday/Sunday here, as they meld a tight and methodical instrumental to pair with Weeknd’s always fine-tuned vocals. Elements of Daft Punk blend with Weeknd’s usual darker tones to create a melody that manages to be glittery and haunting simultaneously. It’s an ear worm in the best way. The stars are far from the limit for this pairing; I really hope they try another collaboration.

#6 - “This Girl” by Kungs and Cookin’ on 3 Burners https://open.spotify.com/track/5D1swG82nVVngZLHOLbe0V

I’m placing the extended version on here because I believe it builds the instrumental easier without just throwing it all out there first thing. However, either version is solid. The original by Cookin’ on 3 Burners is nostalgic kick-back to blues classics, but this sped-up and pumped-up remix by Kungs gives this song some needed pep. And those trumpets, my God. They’re loud, they’re large and in control; they make this song an instant summer classic in my opinion. Best drop of the year, bar none. I can’t say enough good things about this song.

#5 - “Let Me Love You” by DJ Snake, Justin Bieber https://open.spotify.com/track/0lYBSQXN6rCTvUZvg9S0lU

DJ Snake has really stepped up his game. This song feels minimal but is structured perfectly for a satisfying experience. Bieber’s vocals are great here, it feels like he’s really found his rhythm in this song. The drop is pure bliss and quintessential DJ Snake. It almost feels sad, as it complements the nearly pleading nature of the lyrics. The build works around the vocals to spotlight them and let them complement the composition.

#4 - “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars https://open.spotify.com/track/6b8Be6ljOzmkOmFslEb23P

Mars’ “Unorthodox Jukebox II: Electric Boogaloo” “24K Magic” opens with a bodacious nod to Zapp and Roger before breaking down into the grooviest track of the year. It’s also prove that lightning can be caught in a bottle, as it models itself and improves on “Uptown Funk” from the prior year. Normally I dislike the use of his ‘posse’ back-up vocalists, but they a lot to this track and make it feel like a true ‘playa’s’ anthem. Mars feels so loose on here, just shooting the breeze, juxtaposing the tight, restrained composition. A perfect party-starter with endless re-playability.

#3 - “Redbone” by Childish Gambino https://open.spotify.com/track/3kxfsdsCpFgN412fpnW85Y

This is one of the funkiest tracks to come out this year, a mix of a tribute to Bootsy Collins and R&B slow jams with a modern flair. Glover has a tremendous sense of pace here, taking its time to build. His voice throughout is strange yet inviting. I find myself always going back to this song by any mood, it’s just a beautiful piece of music.

#2 - “I Took A Pill in Ibiza— Seeb Remix” by Mike Posner https://open.spotify.com/track/1MtUq6Wp1eQ8PC6BbPCj8P

Depression and optimism mix to create such a solid song. Mike Posner’s meaningful lyrics are better highlighted here with this punchy bass rather than the original slow acoustic delivery. This personifies a state of lull with sparks of excitement. Even the small things like the tambourine in the bridge (you’ll never not notice it once you do) and the voice manipulation add so many layers to the track. It’s just so satisfying to listen to.

#1 - “Lazarus” by David Bowie https://open.spotify.com/track/3Vn9oCZbdI1EMO7jxdz2Rc

This is the closest thing to a perfect song we got last year, and it came so early in the year as well. It stuck with me all this time. From the moment the drums kick in, it’s like a musical euphoria. This is where the dark scratches the surface of the light for me in terms of tone, a proverbial sweet spot if you will. The somber, beautiful saxophone pairs with a light funky bass and David’s brutally honest delivery. This is simply a masterpiece, a perfect final note for a career as varied and brilliant as Bowie’s. RIP Ziggy Stardust, even in death you showed us all what you’re capable of.

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