Posted on January 4, 2017 by Ryan Jacobson

Top 100 Songs Of 2016 (Part 10) Songs 10-1

FOR THE FIRST NINE LISTS CLICK BELOW.

#100 – 91 #90-81 #80-71 #70-61 #60-51
#50-41 #40-31 #30-21 #20-11

10. “Ain’t No Man” – The Avett Brothers

The first release off The Avett Brother’s ninth studio album, True Sadness, was the soulful sing along, “Ain’t No Man.”

Bassist Bob Crawford told Consequence of Sound that “Ain’t No Man,”… there is a higher level to it. I’m trying to avoid the word ‘religion’ and ‘spiritual,’ but there is something about finding your place in the universe, or being able to put your finger on where you sit in this life, whatever your religion is or your worldview is.”

Regardless of how you interpret the song there is no denying that it is fun as hell and one of the Avett Brother’s most catchy songs in their extensive, and impressive catalogue.

9. “Pride” – American Authors

American Authors scored a top 10 spot on last year’s “Top 100 Songs of 2015” with their hit “Go Big Or Go Home”, and the boys from Boston have followed that up this year with their ultra fast paced, “Pride.”

I’ve had a few moments of pride in 2016, but learning the tongue twisting chorus to the American Author’s single has to be near the top of the list.

The first time I heard the song, I knew that I would not let myself sleep until I was able to sing along flawlessly. To this day, I still give a little fist pump each time I nail the vocals. It may have taken my entire commute to and from work, but I accomplished my goal, and nobody can never, ever, ever, never, ever, take away my pride.

8. “Roll Up” – Fitz and the Tantrums

Fitz and the Tantrums burst onto the scene in 2010 with their debut studio album, Pickin’ Up the Pieces, and I’m convinced that they have not taken a day off since. Not only have they released two additional incredible albums, but each track they release continues to be better than the previous one.

“Roll Up” is arguably Fitz’s best effort to date, and has enough energy “rolled up” into three minutes and thirty-eight seconds to get even the most miserable buzz kill you know to start tapping his feet and pumping his fists.

7. “Talk Too Much” – COIN

“Talk Too Much,” about one’s inability to leave it unsaid, was the first track that Nashville rock band, COIN wrote for their still unreleased sophomore album. “The song came easier than any other song I’ve ever written,” says lead singer, Chase Lawrence.

If “Talks Too Much,” is any indication of how good the new album will be, 2017 will be the biggest year yet for the Nashville foursome.

6. “Put Your Money On Me” – The Struts

If The Struts next album is a fraction as good as Everybody Wants, their debut studio album, they will solidify themselves as one of the best new bands in the past 20 years. With last year’s “Kiss This” and “Could’ve Been Me,” combined with this years “Only Just A Call Away,” and “Put Your Money On Me,” they have proven they are a massive force to be reckoned with.

“Put Your Money On Me” is 80’s, 90’s and modern alt rock all rolled up into one song that is as addictive as the band themselves. If I were a gambling man, which I am, I will put all of my money on The Struts to be releasing gems like this for a very long time to come.

5. “Cleopatra” – The Lumineers

Recently the Lumineers revealed on Facebook the real story behind their summer hit, “Cleopatra.”

“It’s inspired by a true story about a female taxi driver who, when was younger, was proposed to. But her father had just passed away, so she didn’t give her boyfriend an answer. So he left the village broken-hearted and rejected, and never returned again. He was her great love and she wouldn’t wash the footprints off the floor after he left.”

If that doesn’t make you appreciate the song than you need to check your pulse. Paired with their massive radio and chart topping hit, “Ophelia,” The Lumineers are cruising into 2017 after accomplishing their most successful year yet.

4. “Supermassive Automatic” – Kick the Robot

I can’t exactly recall how, when, or where I heard this song for the first time, but I am forever grateful that I did. “Supermassive Automatic” by the Atlanta trio, “arena garage rock” band, Kick the Robot, is badass.

It is the definition of rock and roll, and far and away the most underrated song of the year. The fact that this song isn’t the most requested song on every major radio rock station in the country, is nothing short of a travesty.

Of the 50+ people I have personally sat down and forced to listen to this song, every single one of them (fans of all types of genres) were thoroughly impressed. I implore you to spend the next four minutes rocking out to this track. The last minute and five seconds is without question the best ending of any rock song this year, or in recent memory.

3. “I Need Never Get Old” – Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats

Nathaniel Rateliff burst into the spotlight last year with his hit “S.O.B.” And this year, not only did he continue to stay in the spotlight, he shone even brighter.

“I Need Never Get Old” is a song that everyone can relate to no matter what age you are. I recently had the pleasure of seeing Rateliff and the band in concert, and their performance of this song was one of the most electric performances I have ever seen in my many years of concert going. Every ounce of all of their bodies are performing, and their energy is as contagious as the black plague.

Additionally, their appearance on Late Night Jimmy Fallon is in the top 5 late night performances I ever recall seeing. I dare you to watch it and not get the chills.

2. “You and Me” – The Hunna

https://youtu.be/pjXX8uyjkRY

If you have not caught onto The Hunna train yet, you better hop on now before you’re left in the dust. The four piece band from London had a breakout year in the States much in part to the wildly addicting “You and Me.” I am not exactly sure that the hell a hunna tree is, but my mission in 2017 is to find one and smoke underneath it.

“You and Me” is meant to be played in an arena, and after this year The Hunna is well on their way to being able to fill that arena with adorning fans. Their other US release, “Bonfire” was amazing, but “You and Me” is easily one of the most memorable songs of 2016.

1. “Spirits” – The Strumbellas

I’m certain that I could just attach the video, and no words would be necessary for why this is the song of the year. If you’ve heard this track already, you know how catchy it is, if you have not heard it yet… what the hell were you doing with your life in 2016?

The Strumbellas, formed in 2008, are from Ontario, Canada, and made up of a six piece band. After 8 years, they have struck radio gold with “Spirits.” The inspiring song that reminds you to live your life to the fullest, will have you in deep thought about whether or not you are enjoying life as much as you should be.

“….And I don’t want a never-ending life
I just want to be alive, while i’m here.

And I, don’t want to see another night
lost inside of our own life, while i’m here

.”

With the success of “We Don’t Know,” “Shovels & Dirt,” and specifically “Spirits,” it is undeniable that 2016 was the year of The Strumbellas.

Top 10 Playlist

Top 100 Songs of 2016 Playlist 100-1

Follow me

Tweet #ryanscountdowns

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Ryan Jacobson

Top 100 Songs Of 2016 (Part 4, #70-#61)

For the first three lists click below.

#100 – 91 #90-81 #80-71

70. “That’s All I Need” – The Dirty Heads

Released exactly at 4:20 pm on 4/20 for obvious reasons, “That’s All I Need” is the first single off The Dirty Heads 2016 self titled album. The reggae band from Huntington Beach, CA are known for their laid back, go-with-the-flow style and “That’s All I Need” is one of their best singles yet. It is fun, (once you realize you are not being pulled over by the cops and the sirens are a part of the song) and begs to be blasted when having a summer party.

Best places to listen to this song on full blast:

Sunbathing by the pool
Summertime Road Trips
Parties or large gatherings

Places you do not want to listen to this song.

Work

69. “Blame” – Bastille

In perhaps their darkest, most violent song to date, Bastille’s “Blame” is a “gangster-style story inspired by The Godfather” says frontman, Dan Smith. Right from the get-go the lyrics take the listener to a dark place and hold you prisoner for the duration.

“You go sleep with the fishes
There’s no room for you here
There’s no room for you here
Wrap your teeth around the pavement
‘Cause your body’s a message
Send my regards to hell”

Smith also goes on to say that the song “…is like a super simple snapshot of two gang members, one of whom is pissing the other one off, and it’s like that moment before pulling the trigger, and it’s the snapshot of that, and it was using imagery from like The Godfather and from American History X to just create this brooding, mean snapshot into these two people’s really extreme emotions in this little fictional narrative.”

“Blame” is angry, dark and dramatic and the perfect song to sing along with to ease whatever tension may be dragging you down.

68. “Take It All Back” – Judah & the Lion

https://youtu.be/UgfiXAXlrmk

“Take It All Back,” the upbeat, catchy track from Judah and the Lion’s latest album, Folk Hop N’ Roll is a passionate confession that he would take everything back just to be with his love. Not only does it include the best use of a banjo in alt rock this year, but it is arguably one of the most fun chorus’ to sing along with.

67. “Overnight” – The Wild Feathers

Nashville natives, The Wild Feathers, sophomore album, Lonely Is A Lifetime, was released in 2016 and their first single, “Overnight,” is about wanting instant gratification and success, but not being willing to put in the time and effort needed.

“Overnight” is confirmation for fans of The Wild Feathers that they are willing to, and more than capable of, putting in enough effort to continue to take their music to the next level.

66. “Rita Mae Young” – The Record Company

One of the reasons I did not pay much attention to “Rita Mae Young” when I heard it on The Spectrum the first few times is because I assumed that it was a song from the 70’s that I wasn’t familiar with. I instantly liked it, but it wasn’t on my radar to make the end of the year countdown.

It wasn’t until the third or fourth time that I heard it that I decided to get more information on this bluesy, classic rock sounding track that I was certain was The Rolling Stones era band. And much to my surprise, I found out that the song was a new release by American rock band, The Record Company.

In “Rita Mae Young” The Record Company is able to perfect a style of music that for the past 40 years, many have tried, but few have succeeded.

65. “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” – Billy Currington

The first country-rock song to make the countdown is Billy Currington’s “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To.” Simply put, it is about getting over a break-up that was devastating at first, but as time goes by, the pain gets more bearable.

Thankfully time heals all wounds, because if it didn’t, we would never have this killer track by Billy Currington.

64. “Red Flag” – The Moth & The Flame

“Red Flag” is yet another nauseatingly beautiful love song that will make single people realize exactly how single they are.

“There’s a warning in the comfort
That you’re too good to be true
They tell me over and over
There’s someone better for you
You’re the warmth I feel beside me
And the fear of growing cold
The continual reminder
Of the risk we take when we get involved…”

If those lyrics aren’t beautiful enough to make you vomit, then maybe these will do the trick.

“At the pace that we’ve been running
When our lungs begin to sting
I’m hearing over and over
“Moderation in all things”
So you’ll hopefully forgive me
If I cannot slow this down
When my body bends to weakness
Your voice will be the sound

That conceals the pain”

We get it, The Moth & The Flame, you’re head over heals in love. Thanks for rubbing it in.

63. “Human” – Rag’n’Bone Man

There are not many songs that have as much of an instant impact as “Human” does. Upon the first hearing, I was yearning to hear it again. It’s the first hit single from Rag’N’Bone Man, a British singer-songwriter that blends blues, soul, hip-hop and rock into one to create some of the most unique music on the radio today.

If Rag’N’Bone Man can muster up enough passion and enthusiasm as he does for “Human” on his future work, expect him to become a household name in the coming years.

62. “Ophelia” – The Lumineers

The Lumineers have mastered the art of creating catchy, sing-along folk rock. “Ophelia,” arguably one of the most well-known rock songs of 2016, was a hit with people of all ages, and musical preferences. Frontman Wesley Schultz told Entertainment Weekly back in February, that the song was a “a vague reference to people falling in love with fame. That spotlight can seem like an endless buffet, but in reality, you’re just shiny, bright, and new to people for a quick moment — and then you have the rest of you life to live.”

“Ophelia” as well as the band’s second single off their sophomore album Cleopatra, the title track “Cleopatra,” solidified The Lumineers as one of the biggest bands in the folk-rock genre, and shows they are well on their way to giving the grandaddies of modern folk rock, Mumford & Sons, a solid run for their money.

61. “Cop Vs. Phone Girl” – Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind has never been shy to hide the fact that they are as democratic as Democrats can get. Their disdain for the Republican party seems to be rapidly intensifying with every passing year. And while many people are uncomfortable with artists shoving politics down our throats, Third Eye Blind does it is such a way that you can not help but respect.

Touching on social issues such as “Black Lives Matter,” police brutality, and racism, “Cop Vs. Phone Girl” is not only a song, but a summary of America in 2016 and what we have become as a nation. There is no other band around today that has the balls to do what Stephan Jenkins and Third Eye Blind does, and no band that can do it better than they can.

For 60-51 click here.