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THE TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2022

12/15/2022

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In a year full of so much bullshit, music again wormed its way into life as we all need, which of course makes life easier to navigate. This list of 25 features everything I love about music as a whole. Different genres are included, with everything from sludge metal to pure pop making the list this year. I hope you enjoy it, and please don't forget to Follow us for more content at @thedeathofthemixtape on instagram, facebook and Spotify. Thanks for reading. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS
BLACKPINK: BORN IN PINK
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE: ASPHALT MEADOWS
LAMB OF GOD: OMENS
SPIRIT IN THE ROOM: FLAMINGO
JACK WHITE: FEAR OF THE DAWN

20 SYLVAN ESSO: NO RULES SANDY

On the  North Carolina married duo’s fifth album, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn push the electronic elements of their sound to dangerous new territory that pays off much more than it falters. They’ve become a fun, reliable band, and “No Rules Sandy” is no exception. Meath’s voice is slick yet warm and welcoming., and while the electronic beats are minimal and not in your face, the gradual nature of the music and beats present enough energy and movement to warrant a dance party wherever you are. “Echo Party,” the fourth track in the record, is probably my favorite, but if you were already a fan, there’s very little here that you won’t dig and get into it. 

19 VIAGRA BOYS: CAVE WORLD

Viagra Boys from Stockholm are something else. I originally caught wind of then on the Coachella webcast this year and I couldn't take my eyes off the performance. Full of unbridled enthusiasm,  the five piece band, featuring Sebastian Murphy on vocals, conveys a type of triumphant post punk that we don’t see too often. Murthy’s voice often reminds of a more crazed Nick Cave, which melts my heart in a abstract sort of way. “Cave World,” their third album, reverberates with intensity from the opening moments of “Baby Criminal” all the way to the climax of “Return to Monke,” which ends up being the icing on this crazed cake. 

18 EDDIE VEDDER: EARTHLINGS

One of the most surprising albums for me this year was the first solo album from Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. I’m also somewhat ashamed that I enjoyed this more than the last few PJ records. The album itself is centered around all forms of rock. The break neck intensity of “Good and Evil” perfectly contrasts  with some of the less aggressive songs  like “On My Way,” or the Elton John feature in “Picture.”  It’s also comforting to be enjoying an artist this much after so long in the spotlight. It’s just an easy record to enjoy the world with, even if the world is way more intense and scary than anything Vedder could write. For fans of Pearl Jam and rock in general, don’t sleep on “Earthlings.” 

17 KING GARBAGE: HEAVY METAL GREASY LOVE

I know these guys from my jazz god friend Jason Moore, who collaborated with the two members of this band to bring an album that’s full of swagger, horns, and smokey vocals. As part of the Ipecac label, King Garbage crafted a 9 song whirlwind of sound, featuring all styles  from  jazz to indie rock to everything in between. The drumming by Vic Dimotsis is measured and cautious, only elevating when needed. “Heavy Metal Greasy Love” Is the type of record that fits in very well in the world of New Orleans Jazz Fest and surrounding jazz festivals. It’s takes a little to get used to in terms of atmosphere and approach,  but on this, the bands debut album,  they prove why they were asked to be part of this brilliant avant-garde record label. I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

16 FONTAINES DC: SKINTY FA

In 2022, we continued to get a lot of great post punk records that put a new spin on the indelible word of shoegaze and post punk. The Irish lunatics known as Fontaines DC have so far crafted 3 relatively amazing albums. This solid output has made the band a big name in the up and coming world of alternative rock in a subtle yet distinct way. The record, “Skinty Fa” starts with ominous vocals from Grian Chatten and never lets up. I wouldn’t say the record is a slow burn, but the textures and melody exhibited throughout the 44 minute run time. 

15 KING GIZZARD: OMNIUM GATHERUM

With their 499th album of 2022 the prog gods known as King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard crafted “Omnium Gatherum” as a 80 minute death defying travel through various rhythms, styles, elevations and lows. On this, maybe they’re most well rounded record to date, the band tackles hip hop in the electric “The Grim Reaper,” jams out to the heavens on “Gaia,” while also bridging the gap between jam bands and prog rock with the masterful “Blame It on the Weather.” All in all, another great experience tsk album from the Melbourne adventurists. Seeing a lot of this album a few weeks ago at Red Rocks also laid dividends in understanding the depth of the music in a love setting. Love live the King Gizzard. 

14 KIKAGAKU MAYO: KUMOYO ISLAND

Only in the last year or two have I grown to appreciate the music of Japan's Kikagaku Mayo, who this year released their sixth album “Kumoyo Island,” which is spellbinding in its musicianship. There are individual songs, but the record as a whole feels like one long adventure into a psyche-rock world of beauty.  Tracks like “Effe” are casually cool, almost effortless in the way the listener receives the music. And while the music at times feels like a tidal wave of serenity, you never lose sight of the focus of the musicians making this music. This was announced as the band's last album, which sucks, but at least they gave us ten years and multiple records to remember them by. 

13 CULT OF LUNA: LONG ROAD

Part post rock, part stoner metal, Sweden's Cult of Luna has been perfecting the sonically sludgy sound in a way that has yet to be matched. The tracks are heavy, with the vocals of  Johannes Persson bullying their way to the front of the mix, albeit only when necessary. Clocking in at nearly 70 minutes, “The Long Road '' requires patience through brutal guitar sound and depth, like a cave ready to devour you. It’s easy to get wrapped in the melody and passion, but that comes with listening to a band who’s been perfecting their sound for over two decades. 

12 NILUFER YANYA: PAINLESS

When I heard Yanya’s single from this record, a track called “Stabalise,” I knew this record was going to impact me more than her previous. Which isn’t to say the last albums wasn’t good (it very much was), but I found myself more drawn to the lyrics on this record. For fans of heartbreak driven indie-ish rock,  Nilufer Yayna  elicits a woeful portrait of loneliness, open ended declarations, and a profound sense of self. Seeing her this year during the afternoon at Shaky Knees, underneath gorgeous trees further cemented her as a rising star who so far has only made remarkably impactful music. 

11 COMET IS COMING: HYPER DIMENSIONAL EXPANSION BEAM

One of a few dark horses that released an album that immediately ended up on the year end countdown , the third release from the trio known as Comet is Coming delivers a sound filled with classic jazz interlocked with electronic club beats. It delivers in a manner that is both uplifting and surprising. Surprising for how well it works, the whole record, spanning 11 tracks and about 45 minuets, has a little of everything that hardcore music fans will enjoy. It’s also mixed in a way as to let the music breathe in a less rushed, more organic sort of way. At number 11, the exquisite beauty of “Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam.” 

10 SUDAN ARCHIVES: NATURAL BROWN PROM

A little over a year ago, Sudan Archives was the opening act at a Tame Impala show I took my bride to. At the time we hadn’t heard of Brittany Denise Parks, aka Sudan Archives. Needless to say the Ohio violinist left an impression on us, and this album was excitedly played after I learned it had been released. Part hip hop, funk, and classically African music, Sudan has created a sound full of complex layers, with the mixing process helping to make the sound of the record more fluid. Parks is phenomenal at her mastery of the violin, and with tracks like “OMG BRITT,” and the infectious “NBPQ (Topless) it’s hard to imagine her staying unknown for much longer. 

9 TAYLOR SWIFT: MIDNIGHTS

Recently I spent way too much time trying to get tickets to this woman’s concert, but there’s a reason she’s continually the most popular musician in the world. She makes goddamn great albums, and over the course of ten solo records, her sound has revolved way past where she began. She’s like the Ferris Bueller of music, everyone fucking loves her. “Midnights” is another excellent reason to get into the sentimental, thoughtful quasi pop of Taylor Swift. “Karma” is a stand out track,  while “Anti-Hero” struggles with open ended honesty and the thought that you either are a mess or a villain. On tracks like these Swift is brutally honest about her shortcomings, which is refreshing to hear in a world where no one likes to admit they’re anything less than perfect.” 

8 WET LEG: WET LEG

When I first heard of this little recording duo Wet leg, I was reminded at how good consciously sexual lyrics and double entendres can be utilized in modern rock. The band's debut record, which is self titled, checks all of those boxes. It’s scandalously written, with a brilliant approach by lead guitarists and vocalists Rhian Teasdale that’s everything you want out of a sexually charged band. It’s an easy record to listen to, the musicianship is fun and energetic, yet it fills the listener with modern day approaches that we can all latch onto. Also, “Chaise Lounge,” the second song on the record, is a masterpiece of word play and precision. Keep an eye on this band, they will be known more and more as time goes, if my prediction is correct. 

7 PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS: NIGHT GNOMES

On “Nigh Gnomes,” the band's fifth album, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, current contender for weirdest band name, leader singer Jack McEwen and his band demonstrate why they’re right under Tame Impala and King Gizzard as one of Australia’s leading progressive psychedelic rock bands. The opening track “Terminus, the Creator” is built for an arena caliber light show, while the remaking minutes are spent making genre blurring psyche rock very much in the vein of early prog rock masters. I’ve been into PPC for a few records now, and “Night Gnomes'' is by far my favorite so far. They’re still getting bigger and bigger, and I don’t see that ending with this album, but if other bands mentioned here are your favorites, don’t sleep on this band. Once you get past the unusual name, it should be all glory and enjoyment after. 

6 KENDRICK LAMAR: MR. MORALE & THE STEPPERS 

At this point in Lamar’s career, he’s not only untouchable lyrically and musically, but sadly he’s still one of the only men in hip hop who offers support and understanding to trans and gay people. It’s a violently sexist genre, with no signs that the other head honchos want anything to change, but when you hear Lamar’s words, especially on a track like “Aunties Diaries,” you hear understanding, welcoming hip hop that bridges the gap between the normally sexist genre. In short, Kendrick’s decision to go more A Tribe Called Quest and less Eminem is a good sign that at least some people in hip hop actually believe in being good people. Another classic from Lamar, “Mr. Morale” shows up at number 6. 

5 AUTOMATIC: EXCESS

In May of this year I had never heard of this brilliant Los Angeles trio, but by July it was all I could listen to after seeing them open for Idles. The album, titled “Excess,” it at face value a typical Indie synth pop record, but the maturity and instrumentation make this sophomore album irresistible and captivating. Tracks like “On the Edge” push Ladytron-esque beats with singer- guitarist Glaudini captivating, sexy swirl of a voice. The trio of Izzy Gladudini, the low key off to herself bassist coolness of Halle Saxon and energizing to watch drummer Lola Dompé, who also sings make it easy to absorb the music, as the hallucinatory nature of the instrumental mix reverberates over the loudspeaker. The band has since opened for the massive Tame Impala, so here’s to hoping for many years of casually cool woman led indie rock. 

4 SHARON VAN ETTEN: WE’VE BEEN GOING ABOUT THIS ALL WRONG

In short, Sharon continues to amaze with her thoughtful, passionate and transparent lyrics and storytelling. After her last record, I had a difficult time initially getting into this record, but once I understood its narrative theme of loss and hopelessness, I was in love with it. The musicianship is warm with slow building beats that give room to Van Etten's raspy, sultry voice. Her compassion is also evident, as she takes shots at her shortcomings in the eye opening “Mistakes,” while still maintaining the strong image of a woman who has tons to offer the world. Breathed into life and recorded at Ettens home studio, you get that warm vibe permeating through the record that makes it feel even more personal, as if that was possible.  Like I said at the start, she never fails to inspire me with her art, and I hope many feel the same way I do. 

3 YEAH YEAH YEAHS: COOL IT DOWN

When a band essentially vanishes from recording, at some point you assume two things, if your mind works like mine. One, you assume the band is done. The second thing I assume is that if a new record does surface, the chances it’ll be anything good are minimal. For the NYC trios first album in nearly ten years, both of those notions are way off. “Cool It Down” does exactly that, it delivers a less intense but musically more mature record than we’re used to as fans of the band. “Spitting off the Edge of the Earth” is a brilliant record opener, with guitarist Zinner and drummer Brian Chase creating gorgeous melodies for which Karen O applies simmering, beautifully arranged vocals. At times the listener feels her grasp pulling you into the low key atmosphere of darkness created by the other 2/3 of the band. After a long break, some bands don’t even sound like the same band. This isn’t necessarily true or untrue in the case of the YYY’s, but it feels more akin to being reintroduced to an old friend who has grown and changed slightly in the years since your last encounter. It’s still amazing. Just in a different way. 

2 PUP: UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND

Good god, I just can’t quit Pup, the band. On the heels of their excellent album of the year from 2019, Pup,  with the fourth record has mastered the art of effective quips, tongue in cheek sarcasm, and to top it all off, heartfelt emotionally charged songs about the pains of being stuck between the super young and super old. The album has a general loose concept around the undoing of this great band, but it still excels in a way they never did before. Tracks like “Robot writes a Love Song” are filled with brilliant double meanings as vocalist- guitarist Stefan Babcock imagines trying to pick up a relationship while coming to terms with his own difficulties in life. In short it’s a punk pop filled record hemorrhaging emotions and darkly veiled moments of clarity. The upbeat songs are perfect for dancing and rocking, but even songs like “Cutting  Off the Corners'' showcase just how far the brilliant PUP, compromised  of Babcock, bassist Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula as the drummer, Steve Sladkowski on on guitar  have come in a relatively short amount of time. 

1 THE SMILE: A LIGHT FOR ATTRACTING

Radiohead is maybe the best band of the last 30 years. but it’s still remarkable when you can hear some artists in a way you’ve never gotten to experience before. With The Smile, Thom Yorke, Johnny Greenwood, both of RH for the unaware, as well as drummer Tim Skinner form the foreword thinking Sons Of Kemet, crafted an album hat leans more towards ambient post rock than anything else. The beats are distantly cold, like an alien learning a new world. It’s not an in your face record per se, but the melodies, how the mix is laid out, and the slow methodical nature of the songs help build intensity in a more nuanced. Sonically it’s more reserved at times, but bangers like “You Will Never Work in Television Again” remind you that these old guys can still rock out in glorious manners. More subtle than trippy, The Smile deliver on a debut album something that’s very hard to do- a fully fleshed out sound that makes the listener think they’ve been a band for much longer than the band has actually existed for. The number one album of 2022, The Smile’s “A Light for Attracting Attention.” 

Thanks for reading, see you next year.

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TOP TEN BEST SHOWS OF 2022

12/13/2022

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I don't have a ton to say about the excellent shows i got to check out this year, but it involved many rock bands, and quite honestly, it felt more normal than the last few years. Let's get to it anyway! 

10 SEVENDUST, ORIENTAL THEATER

Album specific tours can be tricky if you’re a band, yet back in March, I got to see one of my nostalgic bands, in the form I’d Sevendust, roll through their breakthrough third album “Animosity,” in truth, I haven’t been a regular fan for probably 15 years, but seeing this near hour long album performed in its entirety was something I couldn’t miss. The band sounded just as good as I did when I loved them, which obviously made it easier to lose myself for the duration of the show. Tracks like “Dead Set” were powerful, while selections like “Praise,” and the beautiful “Angel's Son,” were the most memorable for me. It really was an evening spent waxing nostalgic, and after a long time of waiting, it finally happened, and it was awesome. 

9 DEMI LOVATO, FILLMORE DENVER

For one, I was easily the oldest person at this concert, but in the end, I walked away surprised at how much I enjoyed the show. This tour saw Demi fronting a female backed rock band, full of all the bells and whistles of pure rock n roll. For 90 minutes, LOVATO, who had to cancel the next few dates due to being sick, showed no signs of illness as she strutted and pointed across the stage, making the capacity crowd chant and sing to songs like “Sorry Not Sorry,” “29” and more. 

8 CHVRCHES, SHAKY KNEES

Having seen the Glasgow trio a few times nowadays the sunset performance at this years Shaky Knees was one of the books. Dropped in a beautiful gold dress that was later covered in blood, Lauren and company delivered the perfect mix up upbeat synth pop anthems with sing along moments the whole crowd enjoyed. The band played right before headliners King Gizzard and Nin, which made the night even more perfect. 

7 GLASSJAW, SUMMIT

And another full length album show finds our list. I got these tickets in 2020, and like so many others had to wait years to finally go. The concert itself saw Glassjaw barrel through their first record, “Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know about Silence,” before a brief intermission that led into their breakthrough record, 2002’s “Worship and Tribute.” The band, led by Daryl Palumbo sounded patient but purposely as they plowed through two of metal cores best records. 

6 DEFTONES, BALL ARENA

As far as metal bands go, the Deftones are consistently brutal if you witness them live. The mole does and ambient backings are obviously still there but everything is turned up to 11 when the play. One of the shows that was repeatedly postponed due to 2020, the concert finally happening was a great sign for upcoming events and an even better experience with my lady, who’s absolutely obsessed with Chino. Overall, it was just as remarkable and energetic as the other 13 times I had seen the Sacto art metal legends. 

5 PUP, OGDEN

When you see Toronto natives joyfully rocking out on stage, it’s pretty much impossible not to get swept away in the energy. At the start of the bands fourth album touring cycle, Pup dominated the headlining spot for the duration of their hour-long set, bringing in even more fans than their previous tour. Filling the set with new tracks like “Totally Fine” with classics like “Reservoir,” “Kids,” and “Morbid Stuff” the band ate every moment up as the crowds chants and sing along’s only added to the jubilation of the crowd, the band, and especially myself and my awesome wife, who finally got to experience Pup live. 

4 IDLES, MISSION

It took me a little while to come around to the thoughtfully antagonizing music of Idles, but by the time I saw them for the first time, my body was primed for a raucous show, which it undeniably was. The five price only player for about an hour and fifteen, but everything from the opening of “Colossus,” to more recent songs like “Mr.. Motivator '' were all high energy, with the full band going crazy for the vast majority of the show. I walked away reminded of how cathartic and emotionally researching a high energy show can be, which is a roundabout way of saying this band is worth their weight in gold when it comes to live performances. 

3 CHEMICAL BROTHERS, FIRST BANK CENTER

It took me over 20 years to be able to write this, but I finally crossed off a major bucket list band in the shape of dance music legends the Chemical Brothers. As part of a brief tour, the Bros. rolled though with their full projection, lights and enough subwoofers to make a deaf person have a headache. With openers the Avalanches (another bucket list band) the Chem’s had a lot to live up to, yet the band seemed in great moods during their nearly two hour set. The duo punished the crowd with a shockingly powerful opener in the form of “Block Rockin Beats,” only to build in that energy, ending with their classic “Galvanize,” which is even better live than you’d imagine. 

2 NINE INCH NAILS, RED ROCKS

After so many times seeing Reznor and the boys, part of me wonders if it’s still worth it. At the first night of the band's two night Red Rocks stint, I was reminded why I still make Nin shows happen. For two hours, they executed the type of set that hard core fans eat up. Very few hits, tons of songs not often played, superb energy, and last but actually probably most important, my first time seeing the unicorn known as “Somewhat Damaged.” After 25 times hoping to get the track live, it finally happened. This show was a little more experimental than the Shaky Knees show I saw a few months prior, but whether they’re playing rare tracks or a majority of hits, Nine Inch Nails never misses when performing live. 

1 KING GIZZARD, & THE LIZARD WIZARD RED ROCKS NIGHT THREE

I can't say playing a full three hour concert, on three instances in a very short amount of time (about 2 weeks) is a guarantee to being named sing of the year, but when those concerts are as ridiculously good as they can get, it’s hard to ignore. Having gotten to see them twice this year as well, the final red rocks show was a relegation, spurred by fun crowd activities, indulgences and of course, 180 minutes of trippy prog rock. Stu McKenzie of course leads the show, but the band is so collaborative that it’s hard to pin point where all the ideas come from. This was my fifth time seeing them, and not only was it my show of the year, it’s easily one if the best shows I’ve ever seen. There really is no band like these Australian musical psychos, and I assume we have years and many more wild and unforgettable concerts from the band known as King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

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TOP TEN SONGS OF 2022

12/12/2022

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Welcome to YEAR END COUNTDOWN WEEK! Today we start with my Top ten songs for 2022. This includes some big hits, some obscure stuff, and downright good songs. Many different genres are covered here, and I'm pretty sure there's something here for everyone. Be sure to check out the @thedeathofthemixtape on instagram for the accompanying mixtape so you can listen as you read. Enjoy! 

Follow us for more content at @thedeathofthemixtape on instagram, facebook and Spotify. Thanks for reading. 

10 TOMBERLIN
HAPPY ACCIDENT, I DON'T KNOW WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THIS… 

At number ten, we start the countdown with the slow grueling downturn of emotions. Hailing from Kentucky, Sarah Beth Tomberlin creates a song that’s stuck in a rut metaphorically, as Sarah Beth ruminates about the struggles of compassionate relationships and the feeling of being used only when it’s good for the other. Her second album released this year is full of these types of emotions,  if you feel the hesitancy and sadness permeating throughout, especially on “Happy Accident.” 

9 LIZZO
ABOUT DAMN TIME, SPECIAL

I often am either all in or all out when it comes to LIZZO, and while I think the heights of her fame are inevitably going to dwindle, this calling card for her second full length record is simply hard to resist. The beat is catchy, Lizzo’s wordplay is still top notch. Her rhymes are also excellent in this song, which is only matched by the upbeat dance track mixed into the background. It’s hard to find an artist that has done more for awareness and openness in recent years than Lizzo has, and while the album wasn’t a home run for me, this song is infectious and absolutely deserves to be on this list. 

8 KING PRINCESS
FOR MY FRIENDS, HOLD ON BABY 

As a person who has extreme difficulties with mental health, this song resonated with me on a very personal level. On “For My Friends,” King Princess speaks freely about her own struggles and how patience is required for loving and experiencing herself. Again, the lyrics are very transparent in their difficulty, but with the addition of a great synth pop beat, the song breathes life into the issues we all have as human beings. During this year, this song was there for me during moments of rough living, but with that knowledge of a tricky life, songs like this create a barrier for the listener and a repository for the hurt. 

7 NILUFER YANYA
STABILIZE, PAINLESS

The lyrics are sung in a rushed manner, yet it never hinders the song. Quite the contrary, as it’s a full blown anthem in the shape of renewal. Seeing this song performed live this year at Shaky Knees was the perfect atmosphere for a song that makes You feel strong dancing to this track, like you could “Stabilize” the world with just dancing. Yanya has grown musically in a pretty consistent manner, and if quality songs like this are the new norm for Nilüfer, I’m all about it. Just one of those lose yourself songs that we all need, especially when raw emotions need to be eliminated. 

6 HEALTH w/ NINE INCH NAILS
ISN’T EVERYONE, DISCO 4

Health has been a reliably heavy band since their inception, but with added focus and intensity from Nine Inch Nails, it all seems way easier. Reznor voice fits in with Health's music like a glove, not only adding precision to an already stellar track, but building a bridge between older industrial gods and the new ring bearers of the genre. There’s little here to complain about, only that one song isn’t enough when you hear how rewarding the product was. If it were up to me HEALTH would be the de facto opener for all NIN shows, but I am not a god, 

5 THE SMILE
YOU WILL NEVER WORK IN TELEVISION AGAIN, A LIGHT FOR ATTRACTING ATTENTION

As you’ll learn in the days ahead, I really love this record. And this song only adds to its brilliance. The first thing I notice is the demanding drums and the reverberations of the instrumental elements. Yorke's voice also shimmers savagely as he barks out hurried vocals that match beautifully with the whirlwind of surrounding song. It’s one of the more intense songs on her record,  yet it’s in these rapturous moments where we see the juxtaposition of the bands easier to swallow ambient tracks. 

4 SHARON VAN ETTEN
MISTAKES, WE’VE BEEN GOING ABOUT THIS ALL WRONG

Not quite the best song in her career, but one that gave me the energy to keep going this year. “Mistakes” lands at number four on the Year End Songs list. Etten's vocals and lyrics are nothing if not brutally honest, and listening to “Mistakes” gives the feeling of familiar vulnerability inherent in most of her works as a solo artist. The song itself is pretty straight forward alternative rock, and while I never get used to her unique voice, it’s always cathartic to know you’re not alone in C.K. you all bouncing back from your own “Mistakes.”  

3 PUP
ROBOT WRITES A LOVE SONG, THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND

One of the easiest things to enjoy about Pup, the band, is the way lyricist and guitarist Stefan Babcock can make sense of turbulent times in the lives of mature adults. On “Robot Writes a Love Song” Pup walks the line between serious and humorous, with the lyrics representing a failed relationship, but using computer lingo to bridge the gap between loss and understanding. The chorus and bridges are ideal for a sing along, which again makes it easy to sing and relate to. All in all, it’s an honestly heartfelt breakup song about redemption and understanding. For all of these reasons, Pup’s technological heart break anthem lands at number three. 

2 WET LEG
CHAISE LOUNGE, WET LEG

Other than the number one track , there’s been very few songs this year that had the impact that this track has. The double entendres flow rapidly through the brief three minute song? With vocalist Rhian Teasdale waxing proctor about the sexy dangers of college and the world at large. The rhyming of suggestive lyrics makes the song easy to laugh at as well, yet it’s never a bad song for driving either. This song has brutally not been part of the recent best songs of the year lists I’ve seen, which is a tragedy in my opinion, and this song is a perfect calling card for a new set of female rockers who want to blur the line between Seductive and serious, which they do amazing well at. 

1 DEMI LOVATO
29, HOLY FUCK

When I first heard this song, it was under the guise of  a formally pop star queen venting and turning over all the dirty traumatic stones of Demi’s life and her recovery. To be clear, this song is vulnerable and waking up to the wreaking of what life’s used to be like. The lyrics don’t hold back on Lovato’s frame of mind during her adolescence, but it frames everything in a manner that’s easy to digest and understand, even if the source material is no laughing matter.  Essentially she was a pawn in a game of grooming, but it took her years, until she was near her Saturn return  in years that she wasn’t able to grasp before. “29,” to me is about  remembering your mistakes and naivety and managing to turn them around through real world and life difficulties.  Beyond the material, Demi’s voice can fill stadiums here, with the rock oriented music really hammering down the brilliance of this emotionally cathartic song. I present to you, my song of the year, “29” by Demi Lovato. 



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    Author

    Landon Murray is a music connooisseur who craves sounds of all shapes and textures. He's seen over 2000 bands and looks forward to welcoming you into his world of sound, 

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