Category: Pop Music

Top Songs of 2017

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It is time for the Top 20 Songs of 2017.  My previous post, if you missed it, was the Top 20 Rock Songs of 2017.  Go check it out by clicking on the link.  These 20 songs are all genres other than rock.  Some were popular and chart toppers and others were not.  They are my favorites, that touched me in some way so don’t expect any indie bands or anything trendy.  If you want that go to one of the cool sites out there, this ain’t it.

If you missed the Top Rock Albums of 2017 or the Top Albums of 2017 (that were not Rock), just click on the link and go check them out.

Let’s get started…

#20 – “Something Just Like This” by the Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay off the album ‘Memories…Do Not Open’:  This song was a family favorite during the year.  The one song the wife liked as well as all the kids and as a result, I heard it a lot and it grew on me to where I stopped and listened to it when it came on the radio.  A catchy little song with a great beat.

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The Top Albums of 2017

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The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year.  I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2017 (click to read).   This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, Country, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums.  Rock is my favorite genre and that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.

Note:  These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers.  There aren’t the trendy indie bands on everyone else’s top albums list.  These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way.  So, we might as well get started…

The #1 Album of 2017

A1gOoT2DCZL._SL1500_  Colton Dixon – ‘Identity’:  What??? Not Taylor or Harry or Ed??  Nope!!!  Colton Dixon’s album ‘Identity’ was the album that did it for me this year.  Colton’s very pop album, but a Christian based album, is what I found to be best this past year.  The album was a loosely based concept album which was broken down into 3 parts – The Mind, The Body & The Soul.  He was able to rock out, dance, and slow it down all with precision.  You couldn’t help getting caught up in the messages of the songs and I am still listening to it even though it came out real early in the year.  That says something right there.

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Happy Birthday Jesus! – “Birthday” by the Beatles

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Merry Christmas Everyone!!  It will be a busy day with opening presents, spending time with family and hopefully listening to new albums I might get for Christmas.  I wanted to take a second and wish all my loyal followers and fellow bloggers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays.

The biggest thing to do today is to celebrate someone’s birthday.  Actually, two someones. Today we celebrate two very special Birthdays.  One is the Big Guy, Jesus!  We have to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday as He is the reason for the season.  He is what Christmas is all about.  He puts the “Christ” in Christmas.  BUT!!!…He isn’t the only one that has birthday on Christmas.  Nope.  I do as well.  I won’t tell you my age, but it is less than 50 and greater than 48.

And to celebrate our Birthdays, I am going to leave you with a great Birthday song by the Beatles simply called “Birthday”.  I like this one because when I sing it for Jesus, I tell him its his birthday, but it is my birthday too, yeah.  So enjoy and Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!

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My Sunday Song – “G Train” by Thirdstory

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For My Sunday Song #70, I am going with a lesser known band called Thirdstory.  The song is called “G Train”.  It is off their debut E.P called ‘Searching’ which I did a review back in 2016.  The band consists of only three singer/songwriters – Elliott Skinner, Ben Lusher, and Richard Saunder.  And let me tell you, these guys can sing.

I first came across them when they opened for Tori Kelly back in 2016 on her tour.  The guys were so incredible and their harmonizing was second to none.  Their performance made me go out and download their E.P. because there was one song in the show that stood out to me and is now one of my favorite songs.

“G Train” was written due to the band’s schedule in rehearsing.  One of the members was was always taking the NY Subway back and forth.  On the video, theFader.com states…

…the three members of the group trade stories about lovesickness as they ride the subway through New York City’s boroughs. The song is a perfect soundtrack for the type of deep contemplation that only happens on the train, when you have altogether too much time with your own thoughts.

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Friday New Releases – December 15th

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This is the last Friday New Releases for the rest of this year.  I don’t have anything for the next two weeks. If you haven’t released by this date, you will miss the Christmas rush so you might as well wait until January or be lost the hubbub.  Not much out this week.  The only one I am interested in is the live Linkin Park album and it is highlighted in Blue.  Let me know if there is anything for you.

  • 814YHlOdhFL._SX522_  Linkin Park – One More Light Live – (Warner Bros):  This was recorded off their most recent tour and just months prior to Chester Bennington’s death.  This for me is a must have for any Linkin Park fan to get one of Chester’s final performances.  I have heard the song “Crawling” from this show and it is outstanding. I am sure the rest will be as well.

  • 51ERsLlYB-L  Asking Alexandria – Asking Alexandria – (Sumerian Records)
  • 51Ya6AzwKsL._AC_US218_   John Williams – Star Wars: The Last Jedi – (Walt Disney Records)
  • 71GhXjjrIML._SX522_  G-Eazy – The Beautiful & The Damned – (RCA)
  • 61CoYwpB0GL._SX120_SY120_  N.E.R.D. – No One Ever Really Dies – (Columbia/Sony)

My Sunday Song – “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall

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My Sunday Song #69 is “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall.  The song was released as a single in 2005 from her 2004 debut album ‘Eyes to the Telescope’.  It was a sensational debut song and reached as high as #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made it to #1 Adult Pop Songs chart.

The acoustic guitar and drum beat had you tapping your feet and bobbing your head instantly.  When you add in that gritty voice, you had an instant classic. KT’s song was a little blues, a little soul and a little rock, but a had a lot of character.  I never knew what the song meant and it didn’t really matter.  It was catchy and had a certain charm to it. I would catch myself singing it all the time when it was released and it was one of the best songs of 2005 for sure.

KT Tunstall discussed the meaning of the song at Contactmusic.com.  She said the following:

“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” is inspired by old blues, Nashville psycho hillbillies & hazy memories. It tells the story of finding yourself lost on your path, and a choice has to be made. It’s about gambling, fate, listening to your heart, and having the strength to fight the darkness that’s always willing to carry you off.

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Friday New Releases – December 8th

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The closer we get to Christmas, the fewer good new releases coming out.  That doesn’t mean that aren’t any, just fewer to choose from.  For me this week, there are only two Live albums I am interested in hearing and they are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know if there is anything you see that you like.  Have a great day!!

  • images  Collective Soul – Live – (Suretone Records):  One of my favorite bands from the 90’s and from Georgia.  I have followed them since their first single “Shine” way back in 1993 and they haven’t disappointed me ever!!  I am looking forward to a live album as I don’t have one of those in my collection for them.

  • 61KX5d0LirL._SY300_QL70_  Deep Purple – The Infinite Live Recordings, Vol. 1 – (earMusic):  Deep Purple has been killing it this past year with a new album and so many treats associated with that new album. Now we have a live album as well.  That is all I need to hear.  Thanks and turn it up!!

  • 91G9cZ63fOL._SX522_  Circus of Power – Four – (Noize in the Attic)

  • download-1  Story of the Year – Wolves – (Story of the Year)

  • 61gxmQsSKGL._AC_US320_QL65_  Culture Club – Live at Wembley World Tour 2016 – (Cleopatra Music)

  • 619Oq4V4E1L._AC_US436_QL65_  Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country – (Capitol Records)

  • 91DPED-TXzL._AC_UL115_  Walker Hayes – boom. – (Monument Records)

  • 51qiaHny6mL._AC_US436_QL65_  Belle and Sebastian – How to Solve Our Human Problems Part 1 E.P. – (Matador)

Maroon 5 – Red Pill Blues – Album Review

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Maroon 5 started off their career as a Pop/Rock/Funk band back in the very early 2000s and brought us the masterpiece debut album ‘Songs About Jane’.  15 year later the band is still going strong with the newest album called ‘Red Pill Blues’.  The resemblance between these two albums is relatively zero.  The Rock/Funk part of the band is non-existent and all you have is glorified POP!

Don’t get me wrong, there is some pop music I like.  However, there is something about pop music that irritates me and that is most songs on pop radio seem to think the actually have to be “featuring” a hip-hop artist or at least another artist.  Singers and bands today don’t seem to be able to do a song that is strictly their own.

Maroon 5 now believes in that theory whole-heartedly.  As a result, they have six songs, that is right 6!!!, on their new album that feature another artist.  They are as follows:

  1. “What Lovers Do (Feat. SZA)
  2. “Help Me Out (duet with Julia Michaels)”
  3. “Who I Am (Feat. Lunchmoney Lewis)”
  4. “Whiskey (Feat. A$AP Rocky)”
  5. ‘Don’t Wanna Know (Feat. Kendrick Lamar – yeah for like 10 seconds)”
  6. “Cold (Feat. Future)”

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My Sunday Song – “Hold Back the River” by James Bay

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My Sunday Song #68 is “Hold Back the River” by James Bay.  You could say I have become a huge fan of this young man.  I have his album “Chaos & the Calm” (on vinyl and a picture disc at that) and my daughter and I have seen him in concert (Great show – read the review HERE).  He has been posting pictures on Facebook of him in the studio and a new album coming in 2018 which got me listening to him again.

When I hit this song in the playlist, I remembered how much I love this song.  The quiet opening with just some slow picking on the guitar and his voice.  The slow build up and a little faster pace and faster and faster.  It actually has the feel that as you try to hold back the river, it get harder and harder and more intense.

In an interview with The Sun, James said the following about the song:

“I wrote it after my first really busy period as an artist, when music had taken me around the world for the first time, and at the end of the year, I’ve become really eager to see friends and my family properly. ‘Hold Back The River’ is a metaphor for that feeling.”

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Friday New Releases – December 1st

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We are now in December and only 24 more days until Christmas.  Here are some great gifts to give…new album releases!!!  There is a wide variety of music this week so there might be something for everyone today.  My picks are highlighted in Blue.  What do you see that you like and want to get from Santa???  Let me know. Also, if you want to purchase an album, you can easily click on the link below the album and it will take you straight to iTunes.

  • 91wwrHTyssL._AC_UL115_  Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 2 – (Mercury Nashville):  I am so glad there is a Volume 2 because ‘From A Room: Volume 1’ was sensational.  I am looking forward to what he taps into for this one because if it is anything like the outlaw country / southern rock vibe of the first one, you will be in for a treat.

  • 616S2tyrKrL._SS500  Down ‘N Outz – The Further Live Adventures of… – (Frontier Records):  Joe Elliott from Def Leppard returns with his side project that celebrates the music of Mott the Hoople, British Lions & Ian Hunter.  This time it is a live concert and another reminder of how great their music was.  It deserves to be celebrated.  As a Joe fan, no brainer for me.

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