Songs 100 – 91 90 – 81 80 – 71 70 – 61 60 – 51 50 – 41 40 – 31 30 – 21 10 – 1

10. I Found Out, The Head and the Heart

“I Found Out” is about allowing yourself to love again, and being open to the possibility that love is always out there. The world ‘found out’ just how great The Head and the Heart were back in 2011 with their hit “Lost in My Mind,” and in return the band repaid us with brilliant music steadily throughout the decade, “I Found Out,” being one of their very best.

9. The Hype, Twenty One Pilots

Due to the commercial popularity of Twenty One Pilots, I tried to not believe the ‘hype’ over their latest track, “The Hype,” but it is just too damn good to ignore.

8. Harmony Hall, Vampire Weekend

The groovy, “rolling country-soul” of Vampire Weekend’s “Harmony Hall” has often been compared to legendary rock band, The Grateful Dead. It was the lead single on their 2019 album The Father of All, which is nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards for Album of the Year.

7. The Party, The Strumbellas

The Strumbellas could release every one of their tracks as singles and I am confident they would be huge hits. However, “The Party” is not only the best “unreleased single” of the year, it also holds a strong case for “best unreleased single of the decade.”

It’s that good. If you give the song a listen and do not think it is spectacular, maybe you’re reading the wrong end of the year countdown.

6. Freaking Out, The Wrecks

When I heard there was a new The Wrecks single released this year, I was all jazzed up. Then I heard the first 30 seconds of “Freaking Out,” and said out loud “what the hell is this?”

… then I heard the remaining 2:50 and was thoroughly impressed and quite relieved.

If you need to get pumped up in a jiffy, I recommend throwing on “Freaking Out” and The Wrecks will get you from 0 to 100 real quick (after the first thirty seconds of course.)

5. The Killers, Land of the Free

The Killers have had some of the most anthemic songs of the past 20 years, but “Land of the Free,” which lead singer, Brandon Flowers began writing the morning after the school shootings at Sandy Hook school, is perhaps the most defining song of the year; not only a ‘killer’ song, but will be an audio time capsule for generations to come.

4. In Love With a Camera, The Struts

People throw around the term “rock music” way too loosely these days, myself included. But The Struts are a prime example of the way modern rock should sound. “In Love With a Camera,” being a prime piece of evidence.

3. 100 Bad Days, AJR

Not only did AJR give us tremendous music this year, but they also helped cut back on many a psychiatrist bill by teaching people how to accept their bad days and turn them into a positive. AJR are Jacks-of-all-trades, and “100 Bad Days” will forever be the first song I put on whenever I am having a not so great day.

2. I Really Wish I Hated You, Blink 182

I don’t care who Blink 182 hates or doesn’t hate, or wishes they hated. All I care about is that they continue to come out with bangers like this to let us all know how they feel about people.

1. I’ll Wait, The Strumbellas

If you have been following along with the countdown closely, you will not be surprised to know that The Strumbellas are my band of the decade. When looking back at the music of the 2010’s the first band that will come to mind is The Strumbellas, and “I’ll Wait,” is just a drop in the bucket in their impressive list of songs that are on repeat in my car, at work, or at home.

‘I’ll wait’ as long as I need to for a new album from them in the 2020’s, but here’s to hoping it won’t be that long.

Thanks for following along with the tenth annual countdown. Hope you all have a happy and healthy new year, and hope the 2020’s are your best decade yet! See you in 2020!

Songs 100 – 91 90 – 81 80 – 71 70 – 61 60 – 51 50 – 41 40 – 31 30 – 21

20. Dear Winter, AJR

AJR’s story about a father writing a letter to his unborn son is perhaps the most heart warming song of the year. Can some girl out there please just have his child so the world can be introduced to the already legendary, Winter?

19. Crash My Car, COIN

I have spent more time wondering how COIN filmed the video for “Crash My Car,” than thinking about any other video combined in 2019.

COIN gets better and better every passing year, and, in my opinion, are one of the top bands to watch in the coming decade.

18. Good Things Fall Apart, ILLENIUM

If good things really do fall apart, then this track by DJ and record producer Nicholas D. Miller should age just fine. Because it is not good, it is great.

17. Am I Doing It Right?, Alex Lahey

The title for “Best Female Rock Song of 2019” goes to Australian rocker, Alex Lahey. Her track “Am I Doing It Right?” is proof that whatever she is doing to create this fun, catchy modern rock, she is most certainly “doing it right?”

16. Stranger, Vampire Weekend

If you didn’t think “Stranger” by Vampire Weekend couldn’t get any better, how about this tidbit… the song is about lead singer, Ezra Koenig’s real life girlfriend, actress Rashida Jones from Park and Rec.

Here is to hoping that things stay very strange for Vampire Weekend in 2020 so they can create more gems like this.

15. Cringe, Matt Maeson

The only thing that makes me cringe about Matt Maeson’s “Cringe,” is when people are not as obsessed with the song as I am.

Those people very much make me cringe.

14. 2all, Catfish and the Bottlemen

“2all” is Catfish and the Bottlemen’s best work to date, which is a considerably strong statement seeing as they have had one hell of a decade since coming on the scene with their 2014 album The Balcony.

13. Choke, I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

The band, I DON”T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME should officially rename themselves THEY FOUND ME BECAUSE OF CHOKE WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF 2019.

12. Memories, Maroon 5

I will be the first to admit that I thought the days of Maroon 5 appearing near of top of any end of the year countdown were behind us, but “Memories” may be their most heart-wrenching, yet surprisingly comforting songs of their impressive career.

11. The End of the Game, Weezer

Everytime Weezer releases a new album I feel as though it may be their last masterpiece, but alas, they have proved to us that their game is very much still strong, and “The End of the Game” is proof they have a lot of game left in them.

Top Songs of 2019 Playlist (Songs 100 – 11)

Top 10 Songs Coming Sunday!

Songs 100 – 91 90 – 81 80 – 71 70 – 61 60 – 51 50 – 41 40 – 31

30. ME!, Taylor Swift (feat. Brendon Urie)

In perhaps Taylor Swift’s most catchy tune to date, she partners with the ever-charming Brendon Urie from Panic! at the Disco. The duo is so sickeningly perfect together that it almost borders on the edge of frustrating, but regardless, “ME!” is an instant classic.

29. Joy, Bastille

Bastille continues to spread their “joy” out into the world and “Joy” is a perfect example of how polished and well-produced their stand-out music can be.

28. Dancing’s Not a Crime, Panic! at the Disco

Panic! at the Disco’s “Dancing’s Not a Crime,” is one of the most fun songs of 2019 and proof that Brendon Urie is a double/triple/quadruple threat to potentially being the most talented man in the business.

27. Just Exist, Eliza and the Delusionals

“Just Exist” starts slow, but the last minute packs such a punch that it will leave you begging to listen to it again. If “Eliza and the Delusionals” have anything else up their sleeves even remotely as good as “Just Exist,” expect them to make a huge name for themselves in 2020.

26. It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You,) The 1975

A strange, but entertaining music video accompanies The 1975’s catchiest song to date for their track “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You) solidifying their place as one of the biggest breakout surprises of the 2010’s.

25. Here With Me, Marshmello (feat. CHVRCHES)

Marshmello is having such an amazing decade that the only thing he could do to top himself is to collaborate with the equally phenomenal CHVRCHES. The result: one of the best songs of 2019, “Here With Me.”

24. Beer Never Broke My Heart, Luke Combs

My vote for Best Country Song of 2019 hands down belongs to Luke Combs’ “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”

If you have never heard it before, just take a ride to your nearest dive bar, I can almost assure you it is playing there right now.

23. Sweet But Psycho, Ava Max

Female Rookie of the Year award belongs to Ava Max, whose mega hit, “Sweet But Psycho” is loved by people of all ages, from kids to adults. Her hauntingly mesmerizing music video for the track doesn’t hurt either, making it one of the most defining songs of the year.

22. Bambina, Vampire Weekend

Just try to not sign along with Vampire Weekend’s “Bambina” once you learn the words. I am quite sure it is physically impossible.

21. Jumpstarted, Jukebox the Ghost

In an alternative universe, Freddie Mercury joins a 2019 alt rock band and somehow develops a quite charming sense of humor, and the result is this fantastically fun song by Jukebox the Ghost, “Jumpstarted.”

Top 100 Spotify Playlist (100 – 21)