Songs 100 – 91 90 – 81 80 – 71 70 – 61 60 – 51

50. If She Ever Leaves Me, The Highwoman

Brandi Carlile fronts this incredible track about a woman that boldly informs a cowboy that the girl he is flirting with, her girlfriend, won’t ever be into him.

“It might last forever, or it might fall apart / but if she ever leaves me / it won’t be for you,” says the optimistic, but realistic Carlile in the most brilliant same sex anthem of the decade.

49. Saturday Night, HUNNY (feat. Bleached)

HUNNY teams up with Bleached for the energetic anthem about something we all love; staying in on a Saturday night. Making references to My So Called Life and Echo & the Bunnymen, it sounds like HUNNY and Bleached know exactly how to make the best use of their Saturday nights.

48. See You Through My Eyes, The Head and the Heart

“See You Through My Eyes” is a song about not being so down on yourself and taking a step back to look at yourself from another person’s perspective. Unless you are a real jerk, you probably are not as awful as you think you are.

47. Somebody New, The Struts

The Struts are legends of modern day arena rock, and “Somebody New” is a power ballad that would have kicked ass in the 80’s and kicks even more ass in the 2010’s.

46. Save It For the Weekend, SKEGGS

The past few months every time I get out of work and feel the urge to have an ice cold refreshing beer, the song “Save It For the Weekend” runs through my head and makes my day a little better without ever even cracking open a cold one.

I tend to never heed the advice of SKEGGS and actually save it for the weekend, but I guess it is the thought that counts, right?

45. It Gets Better, Counterfeit

“It Gets Better,” by the English punk rock band, Counterfeit, is the biggest sing-along self-help song of the year. It is basically a song that could be used on a really awesome episode of Barney and Friends or Sesame Street. I could actually imagine Big Bird singing along, and I am totally fine with it; in fact, it makes me love it even more.

44. Tomorrow, MIKA

If I had a routine of gathering my thoughts down into a journal at the end of each night before I went to sleep, it would basically be the lyrics to MIKA’s “Tomorrow.”

“Oh, who gives a shit about tomorrow?
When it comes, we can worry then
Oh, who gives a shit about tomorrow?”

Classic lyrics from one of the most stress free songs of the decade.

43. Adrenaline, Simple Creatures

By far my favorite collaboration of the year is Simple Creatures featuring Alex Gaskarth by All Time Low and Mark Hoppus of Blink 182. Their third single, “Adrenaline” is so good that, just like the video, it could make the dead start tapping their feet.

The fact that a song this fantastic could come from a side collaboration and not a band that has been together for years, is proof to how legendary these two men are.

42. I Dare You, The Regrettes

“I dare you” to listen to this gem by four-piece female fronted punk-rock band from LA, The Regrettes, and not become obsessed with it. Couple that with a killer video, and it is a recipe for one of the best surprises of 2019.

41. One Hand Up, The Strumbellas

The Strumbellas could record audio of them sitting around in a circle and blowing their noses, and I would listen to it on repeat for a week. “One Hand Up,” off their 2019 album, Rattlesnake (which I have said multiple times, is the best album of the year,) is the most positive song in The Strumbellas’ catalog, and possible the most optimistic from any band this decade.

Both of my hands have been WAY up for the Strumbellas for years, and they will not be coming down anytime soon.

Spotify Playlist for Songs 100 – 41

Songs 40 – 31 coming this weekend!

Songs 100 – 91 90 – 81 80 – 71 70 – 61

60. Social Cues

“Social Cues” is basically me at every party I am forced to attend. It is about the double sided sword that is “fame” and the time spent trying to escape it, to no avail. I have Cage the Elephant to thank for my new go-to line this holiday season. ” “Hide me in the back room / tell me when it’s over / Don’t know if I can play this part much longer.

59. I Just Don’t Care That Much, Matt Maeson

Matt Maeson has turned my signature catchphrase into a catchy rock track and I love him for it. I may not care about much, but this song is one of the few things I do care for.

58. 123456, Fitz and the Tantrums

Move over Sesame Street’s The Count, there is a new way for children to learn their numbers with the catchy sing-along “123456”. Fitz and the Tantrums will at least help us learn up to number 6 before we need to go back to using our fingers and handy dandy abacus’.

57. Mother Tongue, Bring Me the Horizon

British rock band, Bring Me the Horizon’s lead singer, Oli Sykes has said their latest track, “Mother Tongue,” is one of the “gushing songs he has ever written.”

I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I am assuming it is a good thing because “Mother Tongue” is an absolute gem of a track.

56. Listen Out Loud, DREAMERS

I have already raved about how impressive DREAMERS have been this year and how criminally underrated they are, but I will again say that their album Launch Fly Land is one of the best albums of the year, and “Listen Out Loud” is a top notch example of how fantastic this band is.

If you need me the next few weeks, I will be working on my DREAMERS Awareness for 2020 campaign.

55. Might Be Right, White Reaper

I am ashamed to admit this is the first song I have ever heard by White Reaper. Seeing as they opened for my favorite band, The Killers, I will be focusing the beginning of 2020 on catching up on all I have been missing in the world of White Reaper.

If “Might Be Right” is any indication, I have a fun road of pure grunge punk rock bliss ahead of me thanks to White Reaper.

And I have a funny feeling I “might be right.”

54. Gloria, The Lumineers

Taken out of context, “Gloria” may be one of the strangest music videos you have ever seen. However, The Lumineers released a 10 part music video collection, and “Gloria” is part three of a smaller, three part story.

It may be confusing, but it you watch the “Gloria” music video, I assure you, you will have to go back and watch the first two parts to see what the hell could possibly have happened to make Gloria such a hot mess.

As always though, The Lumineers hit it out of the part this year, and “Gloria” is a bright spot in the band’s already shining catalogue.

53. Talk About It, The Mowglis

The Mowgli’s, much like the DREAMERS are also a frustratingly underrated band. I can not wrap my head around why, but we, as a country really need to “talk about it.”

52. Boat Accident, Keuning

Following in the footsteps of his Killer’s friend and frontman, Brandon Flowers, the band’s lead guitarist Dave Keuning, has ventured out on his own. His debut single “Boat Accident” proves that he is just as capable of delivering fantastic, catchy, 80’s style pop/synth rock as Flowers.

As long as The Killers keep reuniting for group work projects, I, as their biggest fan, fully support the individual projects these amazingly talented men are doing in their spare time.

51. Blame It On My Youth, Blink 182

Who would have thought back in the 90’s that in the year 2019 I would still be as obsessed with Blink 182 as I am today as a nearly 40-year old man. I am simply blaming this one on my youth.

…And the fact that Blink 182 is still as legendary as they were twenty years ago.

Top Songs of 2019 (60 – 51)

Songs 50 – 41 coming Thursday!

Songs 100 – 91 90 – 81 80 – 71

70. Addicted, Walk Off the Earth

As with most Walk Off the Earth songs “Addicted” is a hell of a good time. Most people do not have the luxury of living in the tropics and enjoying the laid back Caribbean vibe year round, but close your eyes and listen to “Addicted” on repeat and that should help fill the void during the long, cold winter months.

69. Almost (Sweet Music), Hozier

“Almost (Sweet Music)” is Hozier’s ode to jazz music and the jazz era. After exploding on the scene with 2013’s “Take Me to Church” Hozier has stood out from his musical peers producing thought provoking music that oftentimes evokes buzz around positive social messages.

Hozier is one of the biggest names in male rock soloists, and “Almost (Sweet Music)” is a perfect example of why.

68. Heaven, We’re Already Here – The Maine

The Maine has been incredibly underrated for years, and the lack of buzz for “Heaven, We’re Already Here” is another frustration that fans of The Maine will have to get over.

The song is dramatic, full of excitement, and a perfect example of the direction alt rock should be heading. Do yourself a favor and give The Maine some love in 2020.

67. Prom Queen, Beach Bunny

“Prom Queen” by Beach Bunny is retro-emo-rock at its best. With their first full length album, Honeymoon set for a February 2020 release, Beach Bunny may find it is finally time for them to become the Prom Queens of modern rock.

66. I’ll Be Back Someday, Tegan & Sara

Identical Canadian twins, Tegan and Sara Quin are some of the hardest working people in mainstream modern rock. They are both multi-instrumentalists, singer-songwriters that have worked and toured with legends such as Neil Young, The Pretenders, Weezer and The Killers.

As with any fine wine, Tegan and Sara are simply getting better with age and “I’ll Be Back Someday” is one of their most catchy, enjoyable songs to date.

65. My Cheating Heart – Love, Fame, Tragedy

The Wombats frontman, Matthew Murphy decided to try his fate at a solo project and as Lady Luck would have it, it paid off.

“My Cheating Heart”, his first single under the name Love Fame Tragedy, is full of energy, drama, and one of my favorite songs of the year to sing along with.

64. Does To Me, Luke Combs

My choice for country artist of the year is hands down Luke Combs. “Does To Me”, a story about an average Joe that is justifiably proud of being a good brother and lover is so good that it needed to be included in the 2019 Rock Countdown.

Sure it’s technically country, but it is also pop, rock, and just plain damn perfect music. That might not mean much to you, but it sure “does to me.”

63. The Game, Milky Chance

“The Game” by German electronic pop duo Milky Chance, is a perfect blend of reggae, rock, pop and just plain chill. If Bob Marley was still around today, he most certainly would have had some sort of cameo in this laid back song that you could put on repeat and full on zone out.

62. Screamer, Third Eye Blind

Stephan Jenkins and his band are back and better than they have been in over a decade. 22 years after releasing their debut self titled album, Third Eye Blind still is more than capable of not only knowing what their audience wants, but delivering on a level that only they can.

“Screamer” is more angst ridden than Stephan Jenkins himself. And Stephan Jenkins’ angst is one of my favorite things in the world.

61. We All Need Someone, The Strumbellas

My choice for album of the year is Rattlesnake by The Strumbellas. I could realistically include just about every track on this countdown, but decided to limit myself in order to not be bias.

“We All Need Someone” is a song that everyone should know. It should be played in schools every morning. It should be played in hospitals when people are sick. It should be played in bars when people are drinking away their problems.

There is nowhere this song shouldn’t be played. I know I will certainly be needed a few someone’s in 2020; and it’s The Strumbellas giving me more music.

Top Songs of 2019 (100 – 61) Spotify Playlist

Songs 60 – 51 coming Monday!