There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 45-41.
45. Joanne Shaw Taylor – Reckless Heart
“Reckless Heart” the title track from her latest release is a clear step up in weight class for a Blues Rock Singer that combines the vocal prowess of Bonnie Raitt and the guitar chops of Susan Tedeschi.
44. Peter Bjorn and John – Reason To Be Reasonable
From the boys that brought you “Young Folks,” one of the top earworms of the last 20 years, they once again burrow their way into your ears with the anti-breakup song of the year. It is refreshing to hear a message that promotes trying to work things out instead of fleeing the scene when the first bit of adversity comes your way.
43. Brent Cowles – High To Low
L.A. Songwriter Brent Cowles decided full-force to write a song that wasn’t sad or negative. For this one, he decided he wanted to pen a tune that would make people dance and smile. With “High and Low” he has succeeded on all fronts in advance of a new record due early in 2020.
42. Trash Cat – Straw Girl
Trash Cat is one of those quirky bands that you will find very hard not to like once you give them a chance. The group features Mary Claxton playing the electric ukelele, Brian, her beardy jazz instructor husband, and, for good measure, you have a mohawked sax player. Hailing from Greely, Co,, this band of gypsies does not take themselves over-seriously but make no mistake, this is one talented trio as demonstrated on “Straw Girl” the lead-off single from their 2019 record, Welcome To Trash City.
41. Rufus Wainwright – Trouble In Paradise
If you are not on the Rufus Wainright bandwagon, jump on in. The water’s fine. As the son of musicians Louden Wainright III (The dead skunk in the road guy) and Kate McGarrigle, his own music is as eclectic as you can get including 7 albums and a note for note record rendition of Judy at Carnegie Hall. Here, Rufus demonstrates his Pop-Centric chops on “Trouble in Paradise” from his new record set to be released very soon.
Whoever said that the only good music comes out of Austin, the left coast, or New York, has obviously never heard of The Reconstructed, the best thing to come out of Southern Maine since the lobster. Their latest record, Great North Wind, is a melodic stunner of an album with delicious hooks, sweet vocals, and enough of a Power Pop sensibility to make Alex Chilton jealous.
The opener, “Cross Talk” is what the stork would have delivered if the parents were the Bands Crazy Horse and The Bodeans, and the title track shares some DNA with Jason Isbell and the 400 unit. “Wrapped” sounds like it could have been a R.E.M. B-side, “50 Minute Records” features next-level songwriting, and “Talking With Your Ghost” rhythmically carries a bit of a John Mellencamp torch. In “Something Came Over Me” your mind’s ear will be able to detect a bit of pre-Phil Genesis on a song that vitally demonstrates the intricate songcraft and Prince level musicianship delivered on this album.
In short, while bits, pieces, and resemblances of other great bands might be salted here and there on this record, don’t be mistaken, this album and this band is a wholly unique unicorn that should be reaching more ears.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 50-46.
50. JJ Wilde – Home
With a whole lot of Nashville Swagger, JJ Wildes’s star is definitely on the rise. With “Home” her follow-up to her E.P. released earlier in the year, she establishes her independence and her inherent badassery. It’s all about finding freedom through good old-fashioned Rock and Roll.
49. Sunflower Bean – Come For Me
Not resting on any laurels after the really excellent Human Ceremony last year, Sunflower Bean released a four-song E.P., King of the Dudes, early this year. “Come For Me” is a female empowerment anthem with women calling the shots with their own sexuality. “Come for me, we don’t have all night.”
48. Karl Blau – Twilight
Karl Blau has not had a proper record out in a while, his last was Out Her Space in 2017, but if “Twilight” is a precursor to new music from this retro-tinged Americana artist, count us in. There is a bit of Harry Nilsson dusting on this one.
47. The Reconstructed – Home Fires
From Southern Maine, The Reconstructed are one of those bands that are very well known on the local scene, but not so much on the national stage. Their latest record Great North Wind does not have a bad song on it. “Home Fires” has a bit of a Stonesy groove to it and is a perfect initiation to a band that should really be reaching more ears.
46. Fat White Family – Feet
Getting their collective act together as a band is proving to be quite a good thing as far as their artistic development goes. Their new record, Serf’s Up!, is a stunner coming from these guys and their past distorted Punk Rock sound, and the single “Feet” shows a sense of purpose that has been lacking in the past.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 60-56.
55. Deacon Blue – City of Love
Taking their name from a Steely Dan song, the Scottish band Deacon Blue hasn’t let up one bit from when they were opening for The Waterboys way back in 1985. In March of 2020, the band will be releasing City of Love, their fourth album in seven years. This band is almost the poster child for under the radar bands you should know about.
54. Soccer Mommy – Yellow is the Color Of Her Eyes
“Yellow is the Color Of Her Eyes” is only the second track of new music from Soccer Mommy that has reached our ears since 2018’s breakout album, Lush and complex, the song inspired by life on the road and the relations that suffer from the distance and time away features harpist Mary Lattimore.
53. Durand Jones & The Indications – Morning in America
Alongside Austin’s Black Pumas, Durand Jones and his mates are front and center on the cresting Soul revivalist movement. Drummer Aaron Frazer adds to the vibe with vocals that perfectly complement Durand Jones. From the record, American Love Call, “Morning in America” harkens back to the protest Soul of the ’60s and ’70s. The lyrics touch on contaminated water, overprescribing of pain-killers, and systematic racism, all touchstones of a protest song for todays times.
52. P.P. Arnold – I Believe
Unbelievably, her 2019 record, The New Adventures of P.P. Arnold, is her first proper solo album in 51 years, and she has not lost anything at all on her vocal fastball. “I believe” is a beautiful, immaculately produced cinematic wonder to behold.
51. Fontaines DC – Boys In A Better Land
With an energy that falls somewhere north of The Clash and South of The Waterboys, “Boys In A Better Land” almost literally sparks with a nervous energy that makes you feel alive. These guys mix Post-Punk riffs with a literate sensibility capable of ripping your ears off. Even the ballads these guys throw out have a lot of street swagger.
25 five years separated from his death at the age of 52 from a heart attack, from the archives comes a new Harry Nilsson record, Losst And Found. This new record with selections culled from master tapes found in the family vault features nine original Harry tunes along with a Jimmy Webb and Yoko Ono cover. There is a later-era Harry vibe to the proceedings taking you back to the Pussycats days when Harry was hanging out with John Lennon and Keith Moon. With all-star friends Webb and Jim Keltner joining in the fun along with the Beach Boys inspiration courtesy of Van Dyke Parks, this is about as good a posthumous release as you will find this side of David Bowie. This is essential listening for a Harry Nilsson fan and a proper introduction to an influential artist for the rest of you.
Upset – Upset
Post-Punk, Garage Rock, Riot Grrrl, thrill-ness in every sense of the respective Genres. There is a Ramones vibe on a couple songs, The GoGo’s on others, and a Harmony driven Bangles on crack je ne sais quois wafting over the whole thing. Think of it as if you were driving a Volkswagen bug with the windows up and Cheech and Chong in the back seat, and you pretty much have the idea.
Jomo and the Possum Posse – Take A Number, Satan
The self-proclaimed greatest band in the world, Austin based Jomo and the Possum Posse, according to their web site, entertain with a unique blend of cynicism, dead-eyed soul, and anti-machismo honky-tonk. Roots Rock and Roll with an Americana bent, there is a touch of Lyle Lovette truthfulness on this record.
Various Artists – Women Sing Waits (Come On Up To The House)
If, like most, you find Tom Waits’ razor blades scratching the back of his tonsils vocal musings a bit hard to take in large or even medium doses, Come On Up To The House, is a great entryway drug. Offering fresh interpretations of mostly deep-cut Waits songs, Patty Griffin, Rosanne Cash, Phoebe Bridgers, Corinne Baily Ray, Courtney Marie Andrews, and others offer beautifully accessible renditions of a songbook that is pretty much close to peerless. The Courtney Marie Andrews rendition of “Downtown Train” and the Allison Moorer and Shelby Lynne sibling sweetness on “‘Ol 55” are only two of the many highlights.
Dead Horse One – The West Is The Best
If you are a fan of French shoegaze, then this record is clearly your jam of the year. Hailing from Valence, this French combo mixes Dream Pop and Psychedelic influences into a hazy atmospheric joy ride that would make My Bloody Valentine envious. Try this one with a good set of headphones.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 60-56.
60. The Limboos – Where Did She Go
The limboos are the very definition of an eclectic band. Doing business out of Barcelona, Spain they combine Funk, 60’s Surf, and Soul into a gumbo of Coolness. The greasy sax on “Where Did She Go” is worth the price of admission alone.
59. The Avett Brothers – High Steppin’
This high Steppin’ anthem courtesy of Scott Avett and the Avett Brothers from their album, Closer Than Together, will literally put a little pep in your step.
58. Frank Turner – Sister Rosetta
Frank Turner pays tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Godmother of Rock and Roll, the Sister of Soul. This one is a history lesson in a song.
57. Sheryl Crow – Tell Me When It’s Over (feat. Chris Stapelton)
An outstanding duet with Chris Stapelton lamenting that point in a melting relationship where neither party knows it’s over when it actually has been over long ago. This one is from her record, Threads, an album that features in addition to Stapelton, guest turns from Joe Walsh, Jason Isbell, Bonnie Raitt, and several others
56. The Who – All The Music Must Fade
The gut pinch of a rhythm section, this time with Zak Starkey beating the skins, is still in fine form and Roger Daltry is back, but not quite better than ever. On this first single from their upcoming release, The Who. With a “You Better You Bet” feel to it, the song and subsequent record feels like it will be a great last waltz for an iconic band.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 70-66.
Petrov is another one of the great bands to come out of North Carolina, this time Charlotte. With the addition of Mary Grace McKusick as the primary songwriter and lead vocalist, an added Post-Punk attitude was developed giving the band a bit of a harder edge. With a passing resemblance to the Police song “Message in a Bottle”, this is the sort of song that might be what Janis Joplin would have been recording.
69. Tiny Ruins – School of Design
It is hard to imagine that a chance wandering into the library of a school of design to kill some time would yield such elegance, but imagine no more. This sparse pastoral beauty finds beauty in simple things like the well-designed clocks all ticking in time.
68. Bryan Adams – Whiskey in A Jar
Listen closely, as you likely will never see this sentence written in this space ever again. This new Bryan Adams song is really cool, and unironically so. Playing things acoustically safe Adams’ gargle with razor blades voice seems to be perfectly suited to this Thin Lizzy rocker. Sure, he goes all Rod Stewart unplugged on the arrangement, but hey, it is sort of good to see the guy relevant again in this new Millenium.
67. The National – Light Years
As you work your way through the highly excellent new National L.P., I Am Easy To Find, and the 16 songs presented to you, there, at the very end, the last track on the record is “Light Years.” It seems like a simple song, starting off with a piano melody morphing into the hushed vocals of Matt Berninger. Simple it may be, but it is a beauty.
66. Anderson . Paak – Make It Better (feat. Smokey Robinson)
This one is clearly the bedroom, between the sheets, jam of the year. Who among us wouldn’t want to rekindle a bit of romance by getting jiggy with it in a motel room just like you used to do? With Smokey Robinson in fine form, this one could have come right from a 1972 hot tub time machine.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 75-71.
75. Ezra Collective (feat. Jorja Smith) – Reason in Disguise
There is more than a little bit of Talking Book era Stevie Wonder vibing going on with this highly groove-able jam that features Jorja Smith providing the vocals fronting the Progressive Jazz ensemble Ezra Collective.
74. Illiterate Light – Carolina Lorelei
The band Illiterate Light is one of our under the radar bands of the year. Blending the ethos from Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, and Fleet Foxes, these guys produce soaring, psychedelic Indie Rock of the highest order. “Carolina Lorelei” is a love song wrapped in a sweater of Rock and Roll.
73. Josh Ritter – Old Black Magic
A touch of Petty, a bit of Dylan, there is a lot of coolness going here that is made even hipper with Jason Isbell’s crackin’ band The 400 Unit backing Josh Ritter on this one. The album, Fever Breaks, is one of the best of the year.
72. Karen O & Danger Mouse – Turn The Light
With a bass line that would make Bootsy Collins blush, this mid-tempo Funk soong is hipper than an episode of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy After Dark. The entire album, Lux Prima, is well worth a serious listen.
71. Mandolin Orange – The Wolves
The band Mandolin Orange is slowly creeping into our list of favorite bands. This North Carolina band has a lot to say and on “The Wolves” they tackle the handling of grief and coming through that tunnel to brighter days. Andrew Marlin has a real Jason Isbell tenor to his voice and can stand quill for quill with him on the songwriting front, and Multi-Instrumentalist Emily Frantz brings to mind Allison Krause and Amanda Shires.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 80-76.
Marcus King and his band are one of several new groups that are gaining popularity with their fan forward live shows, superb musicianship, and stellar songwriting. Recorded at RCA’s Studio A in Nashville and produced by producer du-jour Dave Cobb, the six-minute slow roll sort of a song features the soaring vocals and stinging guitar courtesy of the bandleader and namesake, Marcus King.
79. Bill Callahan – What Comes After Certainty
With a voice so low and slow it would make Leonard Cohen proud, this delicate love song sort of strays around to from professing his love to the woman of his dreams all the way to signing Willie’s guitar without The Red Headed Stranger knowing he was doing it and surfing in Kaui on his honeymoon. True love is not magic, it’s certainty.
78. Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
959,703,699 (make that 959,703,700) plays on Spotify can’t be wrong, can they? The song has an infectious driving down the highway at 120 miles an hour driving beat with a distinct essence of Krautrock wafting in the air. The song is about people that expend a lot of hot air telling you what kind of person they are when, in reality, they are someone totally different. Pretty ambitious for a 17-year-old.
77. Black Keys – Low/High
The Black Keys, Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach, are back and better than ever. Their latest record, Let’s Rock, very much lives up to its billing, and the best song in this barrel of pickles, “Low/High” is a T-Rex by way of Ty Seagall stomper with a little touch of The Sweet thrown in for good measure.
76. Ex Hex – Rainbow Shiner
While Ex Hex may be somewhat of a supergroup featuring members of Wild Flag, Aquarium, and Fire Tapes, what they really are is one hell of a Rock and Roll Band. “Rainbow Shiner” very well could have been the B side of The Runaway’s “Cherry Bomb” from back in the day.
Yes, we are definitely in the dog days of music releases. More Christmas records are starting to pollute our atmosphere, and there is a limited palette for artists to release a record with limited time to crank up the marketing machine to get the word out before the holiday lost in the shuffle scramble kicks in. But don’t panic, we have done the work so you don’t have to and cherry-picked a couple of fine listens for you to enjoy. Editors note, we contractually obligated to let you know that the cue tip on a stick, as Elton calls her, Celine Dion, has a new record out. Unless you are a fan of Cher, stay clear of this one.
Lady Antebellum – Ocean
Not sure why, but Lady Antebellum is somewhat of a guilty pleasure band in the halls of Rock is the New Roll. Every time we listen to them most of us, Bernie Sparrow, is somewhat of an old-school purist, but the rest of us will wonder why we don’t listen to them more. On this record, sure there are some soul-shattering bro-country, cookie-cutter tunes, but, mixed in are some downright semi-rockers like “You Can Do You.” The buttery vocal interplay with all of the band members jumping in is still as cool as when our ears first experienced the band courtesy of their mega-hit “Need You Now.” There is no splitting of the atom going on here but on songs Like “Boots,” there is even a bit of Rock in their Roll. All this being said, they should be forgiven if at times here they sound like a combination of Hall and Oates and The Little River Band.
Joe Henry – The Gospel According To Water
Working through this set of songs as he was battling his treatments for prostate cancer, the tightly woven set of songs was recorded in his home studio over the course of two days. As expected the record has a definite DIY feel to it which is exactly what was intended. Originally approached as a project to gather a series of demos for use in a more fully fleshed out record, Henry rightfully decided to release these close to the bone recordings as a cathartic experience for himself more than anything else.
Milky Chance – Mind The Moon
The duo that brought you “Stolen Dance,” the absolute monster earworm of a song that was pretty much the soundtrack of 2014, is back with their third long-player, and it is pretty strong. The opener “Fado” is a multi-textured affair that carries a bit of a Santana feel with it, and “Eden’s House” with Ladysmith Black Mambazo sounds like it could have been a lost Graceland demo. Overall, this one won’t have you at hello but the diverse soundscapes that are created with varied textures as you stroll through the tracks will reward your ears with frequent visits. “Scarlet Paintings” is pretty much an aural stunner.
Juliana Hatfield – Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police
If Juliana Hatfield likes a band you can be sure that we are going to hear about it. As a quick follow-up to her 2018 record, Juliana Hatfield sings Olivia Newton-John, Hatfield memorializes another influential band from her teens with the appropriately named Juliana Hatfield Sins The Police. Thankfully, she keeps things interesting and offers unique, almost Go-Go’s worthy arrangements for most of the songs. Not sticking to the hits, a couple of deep cuts are covered including the splendid up-tempo tunes “Landlord” and “Murder By Numbers” cranking up the guitars to 11. Throwing everything she’s got into each number, even if you are not a big Police fan the energy that zips from song to song makes this one a real winner. “Canary In A Coal Mine” is worth the price of admission alone and Juliana does the impossible and makes “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” listenable.
Jack Broadbent – Moonshine Blue
Pay close ear-tention here. You will be hearing much more from this dude in 2020 and for years to come. Already hailed as the new master of the slide guitar by the folks that run the Montreaux Jazz Festival Broadbent offers up a unique blend of virtuosic acoustic guitar playing to accompany his from The Crossroads slide work. Having recently opened for Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Robben Ford, Moonshine Blue, his fourth album, should put this guy on the map. The title track “Moonshine Blue” is one of the better songs of 2019, and “If” has Duane Allman rolling over his grave reaching for his guitar to challenge Jack to a slide guitar duel. “Wishing Well” is a jaw-dropper. Editors Note: After five listens the Rock is the New Roll review team as moved this record into the top 10 for 2019.
There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 45-41.
Rock Is The New Roll 