It's been a rough year, but there's been some excellent music. Here's my top 10:
10) 25 ~ The Pretty Reckless
The Pretty Reckless is my greatest discovery of this year, and quickly has become one of my favorite bands ever. While Death by Rock and Roll was a good intro track for their upcoming 2021 album, 25 is the most mature song they've released yet. Its influences are everything, from Joan Jett to Metallica to The Beatles.
9) Movin' Different ~ Wale
Easily the best rap song of the year. Wale (pronounced wall eh) gives a culturally relevant BLM track while also writing brilliant lyrics and setting them to a sick beat.
8) Blinding Lights ~ The Weeknd
The Weeknd has one of the most distinctive voices in music history, and this might be his best song ever. Take the rhythm of Take on Me, add a dark undertone, and lyrics about obsessive love, and it's an incredible pop track. Also, The Weeknd was robbed at the Grammys.
7) All Love Everything ~ Aloe Blacc
Aloe is the greatest soul singer of the 21st Century, and this song is proof.
6) Use My Voice ~ Evanescence
I've loved Evanescence and Amy Lee's vocals ever since I first heard them in a mini mart 17 years ago. There were always questions, since Lee was from Arkansas, and the band's lyrics in their first album, whether they were secret conservative Christian rock. Responding with possibly the best protest song of the year is a pretty good refutation of that.
5) Flowers on a Grave ~ Bush
My brother gave me one of the best birthday presents ever last year when we went to see Bush and Live. Gavin Rossdale is the frontperson I've been closest to physically as he came up into the crowd with no inhibitions. This song rocks and also I can say with experience that Rossdale dances like this all the time and it's awesome.
4) Caution ~ The Killers
The Killers were dormant for a long time, and then released this, a true Killers track, in all its bombastic glory.
3) Bang! ~ AJR
I'm assuming the tyrant with AJR in their username was a fan of this band, and I can see why. This track is in-your-face rock/pop excellence. Oh, and the lead singer always wears that hat. Always.
2) Break My Heart Dua Lipa
An absolute banger. A perfect pop song, and an incredible disco revival. It hits every pop composition button, and the video is perfect as well. Also the unintentional INXS tribute is perfect.
1) Who's Gonna Stop Me Portugal. The Man feat. Weird Al Yankovic
Catchy and relevant, it's the song of 2020. It is about indigenous people and was released on indigenous peoples day. It's nice to find out that Al is on the right side of history.
10) 25 ~ The Pretty Reckless
The Pretty Reckless is my greatest discovery of this year, and quickly has become one of my favorite bands ever. While Death by Rock and Roll was a good intro track for their upcoming 2021 album, 25 is the most mature song they've released yet. Its influences are everything, from Joan Jett to Metallica to The Beatles.
9) Movin' Different ~ Wale
Easily the best rap song of the year. Wale (pronounced wall eh) gives a culturally relevant BLM track while also writing brilliant lyrics and setting them to a sick beat.
8) Blinding Lights ~ The Weeknd
The Weeknd has one of the most distinctive voices in music history, and this might be his best song ever. Take the rhythm of Take on Me, add a dark undertone, and lyrics about obsessive love, and it's an incredible pop track. Also, The Weeknd was robbed at the Grammys.
7) All Love Everything ~ Aloe Blacc
Aloe is the greatest soul singer of the 21st Century, and this song is proof.
6) Use My Voice ~ Evanescence
I've loved Evanescence and Amy Lee's vocals ever since I first heard them in a mini mart 17 years ago. There were always questions, since Lee was from Arkansas, and the band's lyrics in their first album, whether they were secret conservative Christian rock. Responding with possibly the best protest song of the year is a pretty good refutation of that.
5) Flowers on a Grave ~ Bush
My brother gave me one of the best birthday presents ever last year when we went to see Bush and Live. Gavin Rossdale is the frontperson I've been closest to physically as he came up into the crowd with no inhibitions. This song rocks and also I can say with experience that Rossdale dances like this all the time and it's awesome.
4) Caution ~ The Killers
The Killers were dormant for a long time, and then released this, a true Killers track, in all its bombastic glory.
3) Bang! ~ AJR
I'm assuming the tyrant with AJR in their username was a fan of this band, and I can see why. This track is in-your-face rock/pop excellence. Oh, and the lead singer always wears that hat. Always.
2) Break My Heart Dua Lipa
An absolute banger. A perfect pop song, and an incredible disco revival. It hits every pop composition button, and the video is perfect as well. Also the unintentional INXS tribute is perfect.
1) Who's Gonna Stop Me Portugal. The Man feat. Weird Al Yankovic
Catchy and relevant, it's the song of 2020. It is about indigenous people and was released on indigenous peoples day. It's nice to find out that Al is on the right side of history.
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