Songs 100 – 91 Songs 90-81 Songs 80-71 Songs 70-61 Songs 60-51 Songs 50-41 Songs 40-31 Songs 30-21 Songs 20-16
15. Shots, Imagine Dragons
Like the apology tour that needs to be taken after a night of heavy drinking, Shots is about saying you’re sorry for everything you’ve done.
Imagine Dragons frontman, Dan Reynolds may need to apologize for the things he has done when he was younger, but since Imagine Dragons bursted onto the music scene a few years back, he has absolutely nothing to feel remorseful about; especially this catchy track that only gets more and more enjoyable after each and every listen.
14. Everything Is Easy, Third Eye Blind
It was a long, grueling six years for die hard Third Eye Blind fans, but Dopamine was worth the wait. Their first single, “Everything Is Easy” is 1997 Third Eye Blind blasted 18 years into the future at warp speed. It is fun, upbeat, and as catchy as anything they have released since the 90’s. In a press release for their latest album, the band says the following…
“Employing signature guitar riffs and rock arrangements, Dopamine is vintage Third Eye Blind – a body of work whose songwriting details the personal relationships that have come and gone and the rapidly changing world we live in. A lot can change in six years, and while the sound has progressed, the recordings retain the endearing sentiment Third Eye Blind fans new and old have come to love.”
Despite “Non-Dairy Creamer” being a mild radio success, it has been 12 years since the band has had a bonafide radio hit. “Blinded” reached #35 on the Alternative Rock chart back in 2003, and you would have to go all the way back to 2000 to see Third Eye Blind’s name on the Billboard Top 100, with their hit “Deep Inside of You.”
Rumors have been swirling that this may be the last album by the band, but if I know Stephen Jenkins, he will get the itch to be back in the spotlight soon, and the long wait for the next album will begin. Hopefully the wait will be worth it, the way it was for “Everything Is Easy,” and the entire Dopamine album.
13. Still Want You, Brandon Flowers
Brandon Flowers’ sophomore album, The Desired Effect, was widely regarded as one of the most anticipated albums of 2015, and he did not disappoint. Flowers, the mastermind behind the rock band The Killers, has garnered more positive reviews than just about any other album in 2015.
“The best straight-up pop album made by a rock star in recent memory.” – Rolling Stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/brandon-flowers-the-desired-effect-20150519
“The other predicted effect of the album? A desire to play it repeatedly.”
“It’s Flowers’ unique presence–equal parts Wild West underdog and glitzy glam messiah–that really transforms Effect’s Reagan-era throwbacks into forward-thinking Instagram-age rock.”
Every track on the album could be considered a “must listen to song,” but the song, “Still Want You” is so much fun that it was released as a single with an accompanying music video. “Still Want You” uses the most negative societal issues as a contrast to how much he still loves his subject. Despite all of these awful, terrible things that the world is going through, I still want you, says Flowers.
“Time is passing by
I still want you
Crime is on the rise
I still want you
Climate change is dead
I still want you
Nuclear distress
I still want you
The Earth is heating up
I still want you
Hurricanes and floods
I still want you
Even more than I did before”
As critics and fans agree, Brandon is still very much wanted, even more than he ever was before.
12. SOB, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
One of Alt-Rocks breakout acts of the year is Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. SOB is rock, country, soul, gospel, r&b, and folk all rolled into one energetic song about drinking.
Pushing the limits of what is considered “radio friendly,” SOB grabs listeners attention on the lyrics alone, but holds the listeners attention throughout due to Nate & the Night Sweats energy, enthusiasm, and uniqueness.
11. Mercy, Muse
Muse, easily one of the most epic bands of the past 30 years, has released yet another song that is an adventure to just listen to it. “Mercy” is like a 4 minute broadway musical with enough highs and lows to make Andrew Lloyd Webber quiver.
“Mercy” is dramatic, it is scary, it is emotional, and it is one of the best songs that Muse has ever released in their wildly successful career.