30. “Baby, I’m Broken” – The Record Company
“Baby, I’m Broken” is a blend of soul, blues and good ole’ rock and roll. There is nobody like The Record Company on the radio today, which is a tragedy, yes, but also a recognition of how original and unique they are.
The band is from LA, but if you close your eyes while listening to “Baby, I’m Broken” you would swear you were in Nashville or New Orleans (minus the smell of dried vomit on Bourbon Street, of course.)
29. “Let’s Hurt Tonight” – OneRepublic
We can all agree that Ryan Tedder is one of the best songwriters of our time, right? This guy has written hundreds of songs for the biggest names in music, including, but not limited to…
U2, Adele, Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez, Westlife, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Big Time Rush, Camila Cabello, Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis, Zedd, Hailee Steinfeld and MØ. (wikipedia did that research, not me.)
What. The. Hell?
It’s amazing to think that this guy has anything left to write for OneRepublic. But he does, and “Let’s Hurt Tonight” is proof that there is still plenty of material in that magnificent, unbelievably creative brain of his.
28. “Beautiful Trauma” – P!nk
Not only is P!nk the greatest female rocker since Janis Joplin, but she is also one of the most talented musicians, and performers,male or female around today. “Beautiful Trauma” is the second track off her seventh studio album, also titled Beautiful Trauma.
When P!nk was asked about the reasoning behind the title, she responded with just about the most P!nk’ish answer you can imagine… “life is f*cking traumatic. But it’s also incredibly beautiful, too. There’s a lot of beauty still and beautiful souls.”
Whether or not the song is your cup of tea, you should watch the hysterical music video, as it is one of the best videos of the year and features Channing Tatum as P!nk’s 1950’s husband.
27. “Sorry” – Nothing But Thieves
Nothing But Thieves has absolutely nothing to be “Sorry” about in 2017, as they released their best music to date.
“Sorry is about getting older and the difficulties associated with it. It’s about looking inwards and facing your demons. The song hinges around a flawed individual who can’t hold down a relationship, both to the detriment of themselves and their partner” says Thieves guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown.
Just about every living human being has either been “the flawed individual” or the partner of the “flawed individual” at some point in their lives. More than likely the “flawed individual” because let’s face it, everyone is a mess.
26. “Seeing Blind” – Niall Horan (feat. Marren Morris)
https://youtu.be/Cg5SdYNp7bI
The award for best duet of 2017 goes to Niall Horan’s “Seeing Blind,” which features “My Church” singer, Marren Morris.
The duo performed the folk-pop track live at the CMA Awards back in November, and if the two ridiculously good looking, fun loving artists won’t be a couple, the least they can do is start a band together and give us more sensational tracks like “Seeing Blind.”
25. “Lost On You” – LP
Laura Pergolizzi, who goes by the stage name LP, is a singer-songwriter from Long Island, NY that somehow found success overseas before in the States. In fact, thanks much in part to Europe, at one point “Lost on You” was the fourth most Shazamed song in the world.
LP has been successful in her own right for many years, however, as she has penned songs for artists including Cher, Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera. (wikipedia)
“Lost On You” is about the breakdown of her and an ex-girlfriend, and it is one of the most passionate, heartfelt songs of the year.
(Despite it being released back in 2015, it didn’t become a hit in the US until this year.)
24. “Lay It On Me” – Vance Joy
Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy laid it on us hard this year with his hit “Lay It On Me.”
With his gentle voice, and sincere lyrics, Vance Joy is the Australian John Mayer (if John mayer was a sweet and genuine guy that is.) “Lay It On Me” is his best track since 2013’s “Riptide” and a great sign that his upcoming album, Nation of Two (which is slated to be released in February of 2018) will be a ripper (that means “really good” in Australian talk, FYI.)
23. “The Line” – Foo Fighters
Add “The Line” to the list of epic tracks from the Foo Fighters. “The Line” was the third track released from their ninth studio album, Concrete and Gold, and it is filled to the brim with Foo brilliance.
Dave Grohl is arguably the greatest rock star in decades and just seems to be getting better and better, and cooler and cooler with age.
When asked about the meaning behind the sing, Grohl says it is about “a search for hope in this day and age where you feel as if you’re fighting for your life with every passing moment, and everything is on the line.”
I am not sure about having much “hope” for our messed up world these days, but thanks to the Foo Fighters and Grohl I continue to have hope for the future of rock and roll.
22. “Particles” – Nothing But Thieves
“Particles,” though not as big of a radio hit as Nothing But Thieves other 2017 song, “Sorry,” is even more brilliant than its sister track.
The song takes us on a roller-coaster of emotions, and just when you think the it is over, Thieves drop back in with even more energy and gusto than ever. From 4:11 to 4:26 may be the most dramatic part of any song in 2017.
I got nothing but love for Nothing But Thieves in 2017.
21. “Miss You” – Louis Tomlinson
Not to be outdone by his former bandmates, Niall, Liam and Harry, Louis Tomlinson couldn’t let the year end without getting in on the solo action. And it looks like all that extra time and effort paid off, because “Miss You” is one of the hottest tracks of the year.
“Miss You” is about realizing that maybe being single isn’t all that great and maybe you miss that ex of yours way more than you ever thought you would.
If we have learned anything about the One Direction boys this year, it is that Louis is by far the most fun of the bunch and the one everyone should choose to go out for a night of drinking with, if given the choice.
It’s a Tuesday night, Tomlinson has glazed over eyes and is debating one more pint or five before he realizes that “it doesn’t even matter anyway.”
Then he is dancing on tables.
Then he is signing out of tune until last call.
Then, in quite
“When I feel it coming up I just throw that shit away
Get another two shots cause it doesn’t matter anyway (sung of course in the most amazingly brilliant and coolest British accent I think I have ever heard.)
Congrats Louis, you win the OneDirection solo act battle this year. Hopefully you miss a lot more people in 2018 so you can give the world most gems like “Miss You.”
Listen to Songs 100-21 Below