10) Between the Lines by Stone Temple Pilots - Ever the lyrical mastermind, Scott Weiland has returned to bless us with his wisdom yet again. I mean, who else can come up with the lyrics "You always were my favorite drug, even when we use to take drugs." Classic. First of all I highly doubt that Scott Weiland is not "taking drugs" anymore. What would be the point now? After a good solid 30 years of hardcore drugs you might as well just keep it up to finish your remaining years. Whether or not Weiland has finally kicked his quite impressive drug habit, the song is more than deserving of a top ten showing. I only kid when I doubt Weilands sobriety, I watch Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew so I know anything is possible. I do, however, want to take this opportunity to give a special shout-out to "drugs" without which, we may never have had this rockin' song, or any other Stone Temple Pilots song for that matter. Thank you drugs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzS590AkE6c
9) Yeah Yeah Yeah by New Politics - This is the second song from New Politics to make the countdown. As I stated in my write up for "Dignity" (#32) the lead singer in this band is out of his mind. He is seriously going to hurt himself while filming one of these videos. If I ever see this guy walking towards me on a sidewalk I will immediately run to the other side of the road..... and not even look both ways. I would take the risk of being crushed by a car before I would let this wacko stroll by me.
Anyway, about the song; this song reminds me of the summer. I remember one time in particular I was bartending down the beach and this song came on the radio. I had just started loving the song and was so excited to hear it while working. It was a real slow day at the beach and I don't think I had more than 5 customers up to that point in the day. The second this song came on about 6 old ladies came to the bar. They all ordered frozen drinks and the stupid Island Oasis machine drowned out the entire song. In between drinks I could catch a glimpse of "Yeah's" here and there, and honestly it only made things worse. Of course I finished the drinks exactly as the song was ending; as the ladies walked away with their delicious drinks and left me alone at the bar to listen to the next song, "Justify My Love" by Madonna, which I HATE with a passion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II0uqBUewD0 Enjoy them while the lead singer is still alive!
8) Bushwick Blues by Delta Spirit - As I stated in number 13's "Harold T. Wilkins" there were three songs this year that I had never heard until I started to make this countdown. This is one of them. I have heard of the band Delta Spirit here and there by some DJ's but never by a human in real life.
I was about 5 seconds in to the 30 second sample on itunes and I instantly knew that this song would make the list. Then, when I heard the entire song, I knew right away that it would make the top 20. I listened to it about ten more times in a row and still almost feel bad about not placing it higher than 8. But, I know how I get obsessed with songs and then the magic fades. It would not be fair to songs released in Jan, Feb, Mar etc. in which I still am obsessed with. They have stood the test of time (as far as yearly countdowns are considered) and "Bushwick Blues" has not yet done so. Although I am 100% positive it will. If you do one thing for me for 3:52 seconds, listen to this song. The end is incredible, but you have to listen to the entire song to truly appreciate the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADifNNwa1P8 I will accept money, giftcards, or booze as a thank you for introducing you to your future favorite band of all time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0m3LO8pzfs (Here is the acoustic version for all you hard core fans)
How great is his voice?
7) Mountain Man by Crash Kings - I don't know what I can say about this song. I love every second of it. There is not one part of the song that I don't love. I can not think of any other song that I feel that way about. There is no "one minute" that is bone-chillingly amazing, but the entire song is just amazing. I would say each segment of the song is a 9/10 for me. There are no parts that are a 10/10, but there certainly no parts that are an 8/10. It is kind of strange. I will stop rambling on now because I am sure you all get the point.
This is the second Crash Kings song on the countdown, "You Got Me" was at number 28, and was the song that always came on while I was just about to get out of my car at work. Just thought you might need a reference point.
This song was on repeat in my head as I hiked the Grand Canyon for 5 days in April, and also when I hiked to the top of Mt. Washington in October. Maybe I did both sub-consciously because of the song, who knows?
**** This song was released in 2009, but for some reason WBRU included it in their list of possibilities for this year, and I did NOT rank it on my countdown last year, so it is eligible****
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OvqpNP7dTI (WARNING - This song may initiate strong urges to climb to the top of dangerous mountains, or traverse through death-defying canyons.)
6) Out of the Blue by Julian Casablancas - This is it. My number one song that I just heard last week for the first time. Now, unlike Fanfarlo, and Delta Spirit, I was more familiar with Julian Casablancas. I knew that he is the lead singer of The Strokes, but I had NO IDEA how awesome he was as a solo artist. Why didn't anyone tell me?????????? I feel so left out. I have to admit that The Strokes, The Vines and The Hives, three bands that pretty much came out at the same time and sound very similar, are confusing to me. But, I believe I liked The Strokes the best. Now, I KNOW I like them the best and Julian Casablancas may have moved his way into my top 20 favorite people of all time. I heard the 30 second sample of this song, and immediately purchased the entire CD from Itunes. Imagine that. Hearing 30 seconds of one song, and loving it that much as to blindly buy the album. Tell me you are not curious as to how awesome this song is. I dare you to NOT listen to this song.
This song would EASILY be number one if not for the same reason "Bushwick Blues" was not higher than #8. It has not stood the test of time YET. However, if I don't like this song in 6 months, somebody please shoot me because I am clearly on life-support and don't know what I am thinking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=849PNCwCqKA
I was just kidding when I dared everyone to NOT listen to this song. PLEASE listen to it.
5) F You by Cee-Lo - I am as shocked as you are that a guy that looks like Biggie Smalls and sings a song called F**k You is my number 5 favorite song of 2010. It is by far the catchiest song of the year and will probably be between 1-3 on almost all countdowns. It is amazing that this song is edited on the radio and still is so wildly popular. I think the song is hilarious, so fun, and impossible to get out of your head. This song takes the title away from Lenny Kravitz as my all time favorite song by an African American guy. Lenny Kraitz previously held the position with "Always" at number 1,435.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc0mxOXbWIU
Get Ready For a Shocker!!!!! For all of you that thought you 100% knew what my number 1 song of the year was going to be..... well guess again!!!!!!!!
Number 4.......
This is ABSOLUTELY NO reflection on the person he is......
He is still my second favorite person of all time behind Jesus...........
But...............
4) Crossfire by Brandon Flowers - I will give you all time to recover from what is sure to be the most shocking news you have heard all month. (If you know me personally.)
OK, let me explain myself. I do not think there is a bigger Brandon Flowers fan on the planet than me. I almost hope that I never meet him because I think I would be crying like a little girl at an N'Sync concert, which would be extremely embarrassing. (I just got an image in my head that I met Brandon Flowers in like 40 years, and we are both 70 year old men, and I am crying while shaking his hand. I don't know why but I am laughing hysterically at the thought of that.)
For those of you that I hate and do not know who Brandon Flowers is, he is the lead singer of The Killers. Last year the Killers decided to go on a hiatus for a year or so. During this time Brandon Flowers decided to go solo and release the CD Flamigo, which (SPOILER ALERT) might be my third favorite CD of all time (my brother just dropped dead.)
His only release so far from the CD is "Crossfire." There are no words to explain how much I love the song, the video, and everything about Brandon Flowers, but "Crossfire" is probably my 7th or 8th favorite song on the CD. I have to be fair and un bias when making my countdowns and as much as it kills me to not put Brandon Flowers and anything related to him at the top spot of ANY countdown, it is only fair to the other three songs that I guess I, begrudgingly, love more than "Crossfire."
That said, should Brandon release another song or two from Flamingo in 2011 don't even bother reading my 2011 countdown because you know what number 1 is going to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhU12zC8fc
(Does anyone else's youtube have a shirtless Jared Leto staring at Brandon Flowers in amazement? That might be the funniest thing I have ever seen.)
Last comment I will make about placing Brandon Flowers at #4. I feel like I feel when I rooted against the Redskins one time because it meant I was going to win my fantasy football match-up; (I have done this ONE time while bartending and will never forgive myself) - a traitor.
3) This is War by 30 Seconds to Mars - OK. That is REALLY weird. I forgot that #3 was Jared Leto's band when I wrote the last comment about Jared Leto staring at Brandon Flowers on youtube. Now it is even funnier.
I wrote a few days back that the song "Resistance" by Muse was one of two songs of the countdown that I consider to be Epic. This is the other one. This song is perfect.
A Brilliant poster on youtube made a comment about this song saying "This song cant be loud enough." That might be the truest statement I have ever heard about a song. Ever. If I was ever listening to this song and someone said to me "can you turn that down a little, it is too loud" I would punch them in the face, and I am not a violent person. I might even punch them in the face twice.
There is nothing else to say. For some reason I do not think they have a official video for this song, which I am really confused about. But you can certainly hear it here. (haha homophones.) hear/here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMAVLXk9QWA
Before I move on to two (more homophones.) Has anybody ever seen the movie Sophie's Choice starring Meryl Streep. SPOILER ALERT (from a 1982 movie) Basically Streep was sent to Auschwitz with her son and daughter. Upon arriving at Auschwitz an officer told Sophie she had to make a choice; one of her children could live, the other must die. At first she refused to make the choice. The officer then said that if she could not make a decision they would BOTH die. Within a few seconds Sophie had to make the toughest decision known to man, save her son, or save her daughter. I will not ruin the entire movie, but lets just say she made the right choice.
Anyway, I felt EXACTLY like Sophie must have felt when I was forced to make the decision between these final 2 songs as to which would win and which would be the runner up. I was going to have both win at first (much like Sophie) but a voice in my head kept saying I MUST choose one. A decision HAD to be made, maybe it was made hastily, but much like Sophie I will have to live with this decision for the rest of my life. Lets just hope it is the right one. I feel your pain Sophie!
2) Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons - I can not say this song is not as great as the number 1 song, because it is. There is NOTHING wrong with this song. It is a classic. It has opened me up to a whole new style of music. I have never heard anyone say anything but amazing things about this song. It came on about 5-6 times a day at the beach and I never had a customer complain about it, like they do about almost every other song. It is brilliant, it is genius, it is poetic, it is everything that I love about all 48 previous song combined into one perfect song. You know it, you love it. If you do not own this CD. Stop reading this list, go to your local music store and buy it now. You will not be sorry. Or you could just open your itunes and download it and not leave your house/work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLJf9qJHR3E (There are no words in the English language to describe minutes 2:49 - 3:59)
1) Animal by Neon Trees - Like I said when I was ranking their first showing on the list 1983 (#18) Neon Trees are really reminding me of early Killers, which scares me. I am so obsessed with Third Eye Blind and The Killers that I do not have time in my life to be obsessed with another band. I hope they cut it out with all this craziness and just make really really good music, not music that I compare to either of those two bands. When I saw them in concert it solidified my love for them. This was my anthem this summer and even if I was in the middle of a conversation when this song came on, the convo. would end until this song was over. I would even occasionally leave the bar to turn up the music and force some loyal patrons to be sans alcoholic beverage for a few seconds. The horror!
I am sure most of you know it; I am sure most of you love it. If you don't know it, you will love it. If you don't love it, I don't love you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY--Yu4kzz0
BONUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST CHRISTMAS SONGS OF 2010.
#3 - I Wish It Was Christmas Today by Julian Casablancas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wS-k66MKgs
#2 - Wish List by Neon Trees
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJVI5lj_by8
#1 - Boots by The Killers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UymN_kjYeFk (Who said they broke up?) Literally speechless, it is like the guy is in my head. Favorite Movie ever, Favorite Band ever, Favorite Mortal Person Ever!
Download ALL three of those songs right now and enjoy them over the holidays! Each year brings new highs and lows to all of us. At least we will always have at least 50 songs each year to get us through!
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
NEXT LIST COMING SOON!!!!!!!!
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