The Top Songs of 2019 (40-36)

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 40-36

40. Dirty Honey – Rolling 7s

If like most of us, you are sick and tired having just about every music critic this side of Cameron Crowe trying to jam Greta Van Fleet down your throat as the next great Rock and Roll band, we present to you, Dirty Honey. This L.A. band plays what they call “new-fashioned Rock and Roll.” With a sound that is some sort of devil hybrid between Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, their 2019 six-song mini-album will rock your plimsoul.

39. The Stereophonics – Bust This Town

A bit maligned in their own U.K. The Stereophonics have been doing their thing for over 20 years now. The second single to be released from their 2019 Kind L.P., celebrates escapism in all its forms.

38. Garret T. Capps – All Right, All Night

Garret T. Capps is one of those stylistic and artistically hip Americana influenced artists along the lines of Tennessee Jet, Sturgill Simpson and Robert Ellis. “All Right, All Night” is only one of several terrific songs on his 2019 release of the same name.

37. Sir Woman – Highroad

Sir Woman is the newest project for Kelsey Wilson, co-founder of Wild Child. On “Sir Woman” she uses her singing and arranging skills on this string and horns laden stunner. With a snappy beat and a ’60s vibe, this one has a “feel good” feeling that demands to be on your year-end playlist.

36. Lucille Furs – Paint Euphrosyne Blue

Lucille Furs and their 2019 record, Another Land, have, and it’s not even close, released the Psychedelic album of the year. Full of Beatles, Monkees, and even 13th Floor elevators Austin Powers groovability, “Paint Euphrosyne Blue,” just one of stellar songs, could have been on a Monkees record back in the day.

 

 

 

 

 

The Top Songs of 2019 (45-41)

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.

 

 

Live Video of the Day: Dead Writers – She’s All Animals

Based in London, this band was formed by Dynamic front man Paul Shine in 2017. With a sound that hovers somewhere between The Cult and INXS, the band is in slow release mode with this, their third release in the last several months. Look for a proper record in 2020.

Best Albums of 2019: The Reconstructed – Great North Wind

 

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.

The Top Songs of 2019 (50-46)

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.

 

 

Video of the Day: Kendell Marvel – Let It Go

Yet another one of the great eclectic artists from Dan Auerbach and his Easy Eye studio. Stepping out from behind the quill after writing for the likes of Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, and winning a Grammy with Chris Stapelton for “Easy Way,” Kendell Marvel is out and on his own for the first time with Solid Gold Sounds. Here, on let it go, he shows his Outlaw Country versatility with a tender ballad.

 

The Top Songs of 2019 (55-51)

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released Today (November, 22 2019)

Harry Nilsson – Losst And Found

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.