R.E.M.'s Best Song?

There's a guy on YouTube named Rick Beato (born 1962), who is identified on Wikipedia as "an American YouTuber, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and educator."  Three years ago, he posted a video called "WHY This is R.E.M.'s Greatest Song."  This video has 705,000 views, and he says he's going to work through nine R.E.M. songs.  Let's follow along!

Casey Counts Down the 1970's (continued)

Sometimes I'm not able to post comments on this blog, so the rest of the countdown goes here:

Number 7:  Don McLean, "American Pie" (1971).  Casey gives us a nice analysis of some of the references in this song.

Number 6:  Rod Stewart, "Tonight's the Night" (1976).  Casey explains that this was Rod Stewart's first hit after a four-year drought.

Number 5:  Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Alone Again (Naturally)" (1972).  This song sounds like it was written for a 1970's version of one of those Huge Grant Rom-Coms, like Notting Hill.

Oscar Combs:  "I haven't given up on this team.  Not by a long shot.  Still 17 SEC games & post season remain.  However, given what's transpired in first 14 games, UK owes its loyal fans, season ticket holders and corporate partners the transparency to confirm if $22 million was paid to players."  Good luck with that.

Number 4:  Roberta Flack, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (1972).  Casey has a long story about how Clint Eastwood discovered this song and used it in Play Misty For Me.  He loves that story.  Wikipedia has an even longer version, which is great.  Eastwood called Flack at her home in Alexandria, Virginia, and told her that he wanted to use this song in the only part of the movie where there's absolute love.  They agreed on a price of $2,000.  Eastwood said, "Anything else?"  And Flack said, "I want to do it over again.  It's too slow."  And Eastwood said, "No, it's not."

Number 3:  Three Dog Night, "Joy to the World" (1971).  Everyone remembers all the angry protest songs of the late 1960's and early 1970's, but they were forever breaking out with joyous songs like this one.  "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands."  "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing."  Many such examples.

Number 2:  Simon and Garfunkel, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970).  Casey says that this song is a sign of what Simon and Garfunkel could both do at their peaks.  Hard to argue with that.

Number 1:  Debbie Boone, "You Light Up My Life" (1977)  I really do like this song, in a non-ironic way.  Donna Tartt used this song to end her masterful essay on being a cheerleader in Mississippi, and she really captured why people loved it so much.  There was a sentimentality about the 1970's that could be absolutely maddening, but it could also be very pretty.

As you all know, I am not a huge fan of the 1970's.  But it was the last time in American history that rich people weren't allowed to do things solely for purposes of making more money, and all that sentimentality played a big role in that restraint.  Once it was gone, cynicism -- and greed -- bred much more quickly.

Casey Counts Down the 1970's

As you know, I listen to Casey Kasem's countdown almost every Saturday at 11 AM Central on Sirius/XM 70's on 7 Channel.  But this week, we have a unique countdown.  On January 5, 1980, Casey counted down the top 50 hits of the 1970's -- and that's the countdown they are playing today.  We are up to Number 20 -- the Emotions, with "Best of My Love" (1977).

Casey Kasem's Christmas Countdown from 1971

In December 1971, Casey Kasem hosted a special AT 40 Christmas Countdown.  This thread will cover the countdown.

The Music of 2025 So Far Featuring Samia

 I Heard That Noise by quickly, quickly

I Am Digital, I Am Divine by Erin LeCount

10 by SAULT

Bloodless by Samia

This is Samia's 3rd album.  I liked her last album ok and ended up with one of the tracks, "Mad at Me," being one of my go-to songs of 2023.  This album has a different feel to me, and I like it a bit better.  Maybe it's just being influenced by how her last album grew on me as the year progressed, but I found myself enjoying this album.

This album feels like something that was made in someone's apartment with friends as it has a very intimate feel to it with interesting lyrics and good hooks throughout.  It's a real blend of sounds but somehow it all seems to fit together.  

If you are looking for some indie sounding pop that has a bit of a downer vibe to it, then give this a listen.  

The Music of 2025 So Far Featuring Japanese Breakfast

Tell Dem It's Sunny by Greentea Peng

Midwest Rock & Roll by Ryan Hurd

The Music of Tori and the Muses by Tori Amos

For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) by Japanese Breakfast

A new band to me this is their fourth album in 9 years.  Japanese Breakfast is the solo project of Michelle Zauner who was in the band Little Big League when she split out to do her own thing.  It is a 10 track album that is very consistent and engaging.  I was immediately drawn into the music and the vibe of the album.  I was reading a bit about their music and they talked about the 80's influences, but this particular album feels very 2000's to me.  I hear the song Mega Circuit and I can't help but think of late 2000's Neko Case for instance.  

I am curious to go back and listen to some of her earlier music.  If you are in the mood for a very indie sounding pop/rock album that has a bit of a downer vibe to it then give this a listen.  If you are in the right frame of mind I think someone could really connect with this album.  

The Music of 2025 So Far Featuring The Weeknd

Inferno Ascendant by Neural Forge Innovations

 

Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd

This is The Weeknd's 6th album since releasing his first in 2013.  Four of those albums made it to number 1 on the US charts, the other two made it to number 2.  He has been extremely successful and when you put this album on you immediately know it's The Weeknd.  He has a sound.  A sound that works very well for him and he sticks with it.  There is variation in the sound, slight changes, enough to make it not get repetitive, but definitely a sound.  

As much as a part of me wants to knock this album for it sounding so The Weeknd, I can't because it's a consistently solid album.  No bad tracks, a few that really are hard to turn off and that gets us to a place where it's featured here on the Heath Post.

The one thing about The Weeknd that I find interesting is his ever dark moods.   He makes electronic, R&B infused music that has a dark edge to it always.  This particular album is 22 tracks and according to The Weeknd closes out a trilogy of albums with his last two:  After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022).  I will admit I was unaware that the first two albums were connected and certainly didn't know this was the finale of a trilogy.  He has also said this may be his last album.  

If you like The Weeknd, definitely give the album a listen.  If you've never heard him before, well maybe should start with After Hours and do the trilogy.  I have to admit now I'm curious to try and connect these albums.  

 

 

American Top 40: June 28, 1980

I'm in the mood for another AT 40, and I wanted one from late June.  So I found the countdown for June 28, 1980 on YouTube, and I'm going to work through it.

By this point, AT 40 was so successful that it ran for four hours (with commercials).  To fill the extra time, Casey Kasem had added various features, such as the Long Distance Dedications.  But he also started the countdown by giving us the top three from last week's countdown.  Here are the top three from last week's countdown:

3.  Ambrosia, "Biggest Part of Me"

2.  Paul McCartney, "Coming Up"

1.  Lipps Inc., "Funkytown"

By the way, this week in 1980 the Gallup poll showed Reagan leading Carter 47 to 41.  When John Anderson was included, Reagan had 37 percent, Carter had 32 percent, and Anderson had 22 percent.  These data marked a shift -- up until June, Carter led Reagan in most of the polls during 1980, as the country had rallied to Carter during the hostage crisis.

At the close of play on June 28, 1980, the Expos led the NL East by 2 1/2 games over the Pirates and 3 games over the Phillies.  The Astros led the NL West by 2 games over the Dodgers.  The Yankees led the AL East by 5 1/2 games over the Brewers.  The Royals led the AL West by 9 games over the White Sox.

WBIG Memorial Day Countdown

WBIG-FM (100.3) is doing a Memorial Day Classic Rock countdown.  I won't make it to the end of the countdown, but I'll use this thread to reference the numbers I hear.  Number 117 is "In the Name of Love," by U2.

The Music of 2025 So Far Featuring Max McNown

 Lower by Benjamin Booker

 

Salt River by Sam Amidon

 

Night Driving by Max McNown

 

 

Max McNown is an Oregon born Nashville based country artist.  I enjoyed this album.  His second and two albums in two years.  It's nice to be reminded that even in Nashville someone can write music about more than God, whiskey, and trucks.  It's also nice to hear someone not overproduce an album, something else I wasn't sure they could do in Nashville anymore.  

OK enough cracking on Nashville.  What makes this album is the fact that McNown is a good vocalist who is writing thoughtful and personal songs.  The album has a consistent vibe and a good feel to it.  It falls more into the pop country genre than anything else, much like Taylor Swift when she was country I would say.  

This would be a good album to play when taking a night drive.  You could either sing along with it or have it in the background while talking with a friend.  All in all a solid album. 

1978

Here's the American Top 40 from today in 1978: Saturday, March 11. Maybe we can squeeze this in before sitting down for some intriguing first-round NCAA-tournament action on Channel 6 this afternoon.

10 Mar 1978, Fri The Paducah Sun (Paducah, Kentucky) Newspapers.com

Hello again, and welcome to American Top 40. I'm Casey Kasem, and this is our weekly countdown of the 40 most popular songs in the country. Well, falling out of the survey this week are Randy Newman, Player, Foreigner, Odyssey and Rod Stewart, and moving into the Top 40 are debut hits by Rod Stewart, Enchantment, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Van Halen (a new group) and ELO. Let's get it started right here ...

Best of 1999 Mix

 

The end of the 90's. We were all so worried about Y2K back in 1999 but the music for the most part that stood out to me is what I think of as fun music. I didn't realize it, but this would be the last Everything But the Girl album for more than 20 years, it dominates 1999 for me.

20. Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind

     There were a lot of these bands in the late 90's.  Not sure why they all went away.  We are getting a lot of music today influenced by the late 90's and early 2000's but I don't really hear this sound coming back at all.  

19. Cowboy Take Me Away by The Chicks

     Maybe the most important Gen X country band, especially in terms of the influence they had.  

18. If You Had My Love by Jennifer Lopez

     I just remember my wife was really into this song, so it sticks with me.  

17. Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega

     The most 1999 thing ever.  

16. The Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang

     I found my way to this song from the movie Loser.

15. All My Little Words by The Magnetic Fields

     This is such a wonderful song.  The word unboyfriendable is genius.  

14. I Try by Macy Gray

     She has a unique voice, but also she's a good vocalist.  

13. No Difference by Everything But the Girl

     The beauty of Everything But the Girl was always their lyrics and this didn't change when they went to doing electronic music.  Being in your 30's can be tough.  

12. The Otherside by Red Hot Chili Peppers

     I just love the sound of this song.  

11. Someday by Sugar Ray

     A fun band.  This song makes me think of driving out to Joshua Tree National Park.  

10. What's My Age Again? by blink-182

     Another one from the Loser soundtrack.  

9. Thank You by Dido

     Maybe this is the most 1999 thing ever.  

8. Stars All Seem to Weep by Beth Orton

     Beth Orton was for me one of those artists I probably would have liked more if I had given her more of a chance.  I'm pretty sure this album was produced by Ben Watt of Everything But the Girl.  

7. Five Fathoms by Everything But the Girl

     I'm happy that Tracey Thorn and Beth Orton are friends, every so often she'll post about them doing something together on BlueSky.  A great song if you are going out on the city.  

6. Every Morning by Sugar Ray

     This makes me think of driving around LA.  

5. Steal My Sunshine by LEN

     Don't know what else they ever did, but this song is fun.  

4. Blame by Everything But the Girl

     Again it's hard being in your 30's especially if you have regrets about a past love affair.  

3. Save Me by Aimee Mann

     We all came to this from the Magnolia soundtrack.  Such a great comeback moment.  

2. Forget About It by Alison Krauss

     When Krauss nails it she nails it.  

1. Temperamental by Everything But the Girl

     I love this song.  Lyrically it's great and I love how they constructed it.  Again they are dealing with issues that I think we all equate more with people in their 30's.  

Best of 1998 Mix

 

So 1998 was a big year in my life. I had met my future wife and we were dating.  I was really getting into web programming, this would later lead to a job I would have, but music wise I wasn't listening to that much new music.  There were two big albums that year for me.  The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Ray of Light from Madonna.  Ray of Light was definitely my album of the year.  It's the best album Madonna ever made and really should get more attention than it does.  

20. What It's Like by Everlast

     I tend to like Everlast when I listen to him, just don't do it that often.  

19. Thank U by Alanis Morissette

     She came and went so fast.

18. One Week by Barenaked Ladies

     These guys came and went so fast as well.  So many do in music. 

17. Wide Open Spaces by The Chicks

     A great country pop song.  

16. Slide by Goo Goo Dolls

     Wow this list is full of people who came and went.  

15.  Celebrity Skin by Hole

     Maybe that's because this music came out almost 30 years ago.  

14. Babylon by David Gray

     My wife was a big David Gray fan.  

13. It's All Been by Barenaked Ladies

     These guys were good.  

12. Kind and Generous by Natalie Merchant

     I just couldn't get on board with Natalie Merchant solo.  

11. Hands by Jewel

     I really liked her first album but that was about it for me.  She would put out these occasional singles that I would like, and then she made a kids album that we played a lot when our second child was young.  

10. Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill

     This is a great album.  Not best album of all time great, but still a great album.  

9. Skin by Madonna

     In 1998 I would get up every morning around 4am.  I'd spend an hour working on my baseball simulation and then go into my work and spend about 2 hours working on a website for my baseball simulation.  I played this album almost every morning of 1998 while programming.  

8. Doo Wop by Lauryn Hill

     These two albums dominated 1998 for me and do on this list as well.  

7. Spark by Tori Amos

     This was the first Tori Amos album that didn't really connect for me.  It was the last one I bought.  

6. Sexy Boy by Air

     I would get into this album about 5 years later.  

5. When It Hurts So Bad by Lauryn Hill

     There really isn't a bad song on this album, but this is my favorite.  

4. Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

     Like everyone else I like this song.  

3. Ray of Light by Madonna

     This album is so well constructed.  It's a dance album, but it feels more mature than a dance album.  

2. Crush by Jennifer Paige

     OK I'm a sucker for light pop like this.  

1. Frozen by Madonna

     Madonna's music played a big part in my life for a long time.  She went through many different phases but this album stands on its own.  It is definitely a one off.  To me this is the best song on the album and in some ways it's the best song she ever did.  She could never recreate this sound and no one has ever really tried to copy it.  I should really do a Madonna retrospective.  

     

The Music of 2025 So Far Featuring FKA twigs

11100011 by Asian Glow 

4URMIND by Splitter

The Human Fear by Franz Ferdinand

Perverts by Ethel Cain

Anchor Chains, Plane Motors & Train Whistles by Skydaddy

EUSEXUA by FKA twigs

          Explicit Language

In many ways I think that currently FKA twigs is one of the most interesting musical acts out there.  She's experimental, she's mixing performance art with her music, she's playing around with pop, there is a lot going on.  I always go into listening to a new album from her with a bit of skepticism.  On a 12 track album there is a chance she'll have 3 really good tracks, but then be so experimental with the rest that I end up cooling on the album as a whole.  She is someone who I would label as an artist first, but it has served her well as she's a good artist and she has grown in popularity.  

EUSXUA is an interesting album.  It combines all those components I discussed having some of the most pop moments I've ever heard from her.  It's 11 tracks and there is consistency in the vibe and the sound of the album.  Twigs can be an abstract lyricist and so if you want to get to the meaning of the album or some songs it does take some time and thought.  She has moments that are not abstract and of course in many ways these are the songs I'm most drawn to, like Perfect Stranger a complete rip off of early 00's Kylie Minogue.  

FKA twigs is now 37 years old and I would say her age really shows in this album.  What she is exploring on the album I find to be things that I could have related to very well in my late 30's.  You are still young enough that you want to have moments where you feel lost in the moment at a club, you are old enough that you have regrets about how you handled yourself when you were younger, there are relationships you've had that weren't so good for you, there is a frustration with still feeling so young when you feel like you should be old enough to be different.  

FKA twigs is never going to make it an easy journey, but I do think it is worth it with this album as I think it's the best work she's done.  There is something to all 11 tracks on the album.  I find that there are times I get frustrated with the experimentation of her music, but I accept that this is part of doing business with FKA twigs.  

If you want to take a deep dive into some modern music that is also playing around with some old influences then give this album a listen.  

Best of 1997 Mix

 

This is when I realize I really started to fall out of listening to new music. I had a hard time coming up with a 20 song mix for 1997. This would be the case now until I started getting access to streaming music in the 2000's. Too expensive to buy music, no cable tv, and accessing music got harder. The radio I was listening to tended to be sports talk radio not music stations and I started listening to different types of music especially jazz.

20. I Do by Lisa Loeb

     When I did listen to the radio for music is when I would be driving around in the car.  I was living in Philadelphia at the time and so I didn't drive really but on the weekends.  Most these songs here represent the ones I remember most from the radio that year.  

19. Bitch by Meredith Brooks

     It's funny but this is such a 1997 song.  At least that's how I think of it.  

18. There She Goes by Sixpence None the Richer

     I always thought this was a fun song.  

17. Torn by Natalie Imbruglia

     This song got so much playtime on the radio.  Listening to this mix from 1997 there are so many songs that sound like this.  

16. Song 2 by Blur

     Such a catchy song.  

15. Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind

     What was is about 1997.  Again this song sounds like so much of what was on the radio at the time.  

14. Adia by Sarah McLachlan

     I'm not sure I like this song, but I can't hear it without thinking of those days in Philly driving around with my girlfriend, now wife.  

13. Folk Song by The Sundays

     One album I did buy was the last album from The Sundays.  Sad that it was their last album.  

12. Walkin' On the Sun by Smash Mouth

     So many fun songs in 1997.  

11. Everything to Everyone by Everclear

     This is a solid album and Everclear at their best.  

10. She by The Sundays

     They made three album each one good.  They really took a step forward with their sound on this album.  

9. Fly-Fly by Sugar Ray

     Again so much fun music in 1997.  

8. Don't Let Go (Love) by En Vogue

     I always liked this song.  

7. So Much for the Afterglow by Everclear

     Like I said a solid album with some really good songs.  

 

6. Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve

     Such a lovely song.

5. Kiss Me by sixpence None the Richer

     OK this song really got played to death on the radio, but I never got tired of it.  

4. 32 Flavors by Alana Davis

     Love the Ani DiFranco original, but this is a great cover.  

3. I Will Buy You a New Life by Everclear

     Love this song.  Great lyrics.  "I hat those people who love to tell you, money is the root of all that kills.  They have never been poor, no, they've never known the joy of a welfare Christmas."

2. Everlong by Foo Fighters

     The best song the Foo Fighters ever made and a fun video.  

1. Summertime by The Sundays

     My wife and I both loved this song back in 1997 and so it holds a special place in my heart.  

 

Best of 1996 Mix

 

1996 was a fun year for music.  It's the first time the internet influenced what I was listening to.  There was an online service, can't recall what it was called, but it was an album ranking service.  After you ranked albums, it would provide you with recommendations on new music.  I discovered a lot of new music this way.  That service would become the backbone of most systems today that do rankings. It was started by some students at MIT as they were developing algorithms for making recommendations, etc.

20. Napolean by Ani DiFranco

     Like many men of a certain age, I was introduced to Ani DiFranco by a female friend.  This was the best album I think DiFranco ever made, and this is a great song.  

19. Slow Like Honey by Fiona Apple

     I really liked this song and got to see Fiona Apple open for Tori Amos in Philadelphia when this album came out. 

18. Forget the Flowers by Wilco

     My friend Eric would introduce me to Wilco and my wife and I played this album to death in 1998.  

17. When I Fall by Barenaked Ladies

     This is one of the albums that was recommended by the online service I was talking about.  It's a really good album.  

16. Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms

     What can you say it's the Gin Blossoms.  

15. You're Making Me High by Toni Braxton

     I don't know why exactly but I really liked this song when it came out.  I hadn't heard it in years until doing this list and I was reminded how much I like it.  

14. Violaine by Cocteau Twins

     This is such a good song.  I have no idea what she's saying as with any Cocteau Twins song, but somehow it works no matter what mood I'm in.  

13. Mirrorball by Everything But the Girl

     This was their first step toward electronic dance music and I loved it.  Great lyrics as usual.  

12. Blood Roses by Tori Amos

     Like I said I saw her on this tour.  It was great.  

11. Lovefool by The Cardigans

     Doesn't everyone love this song?

10.  Killing Me Softly With His Song by Fugees

     What a great way to splash onto the big stage.  This is so 1996.  

9. First Taste by Fiona Apple

     I think this is the best song Fiona Apple ever did.  I know that this is not something shared by many, but I really like this song.  

8. This Is Where It Ends by Barenaked Ladies

     I played this album to death in 1996.  These songs have held up very well.  

7. Walking Wounded by Everything But the Girl

     They really knocked it out of the park with this album and this was my favorite song off of this album when I first heard it.  

6. Plus Profound by Hooverphonic

     It would be another 10 years before I would discover this song.

5. Caught a Lite Sneeze by Tori Amos

     Classic Tori Amos this is.  I've watched many versions of her doing this song live on YouTube and they are all great.  But the one she did on tour back in 1996 is by far the best out there if you can find it.  Her and a guy on electric guitar.  He's just making haunting sounds on the guitar as texture to the song.  So good.  

4. Before Today by Everything But the Girl

     Like I said I really thought they knocked it out of the park with this album.  Such a good song.  

3. Red-Eyed and Blue by Wilco

     I find this song to be something so special.  

2. Untouchable Face by Ani DiFranco

     Just a great song.  I love it when DiFranco is doing personal stuff in her music and this just nails so much of the anger we all feel at times in our 20's around relationships.  

1. Good Cop, Bad Cop by Everything But the Girl

     This was my song of the year back in 1996.  I fell in love with this song the more I listened to this album, and I still play it a lot today.  

Best of 1989 Mix

Best of 1988 Mix

 

Ah 1988. What an interesting year when I look at the music.  I would say for me the album of the year was and is Idlewild by Everything But the Girl.  Some fun albums in 1988 that I still often listen to today.  

20. One by Metallica

     I was never a big Metallica fan, but I love the idea of the song and how they paired it with some old strange movie.  

19. Illegal Business by Boogie Down Productions

     This album was the first rap album I ever bought, and it still holds up extremely well.    

18. Out of Blue Comes Green by a-ha 

     This would be the last a-ha album I would by on its release.  A solid album that had a good month long run where it was with me every day in my Walkman.  

17. These Early Days by Everything But the Girl

     A great song.  Not much else to say about it, but lyrically it has always really hit home with me.  

16. If Not Now by Tracy Chapman

     I got into this album a few years later, but I do love this album and this song.  She is such an incredible vocal performer, I think.  

15. Where Is My Mind? by Pixies

     I wouldn't discover the pixies for another 8 years or so.  

14. Paradise by Sade

     A very underrated album from Sade.  Just a fantastic song and it really does not sound like it is from the 80's.  

13. Everyday Is Like Sunday by Morrissey

     This song and this album were big plays for me in 1988.  

12. Under the Milky Way by The Church

     I saw them live at UK and then the next night at WKU on this tour.  

11. Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys

     Great album.  Highly recommend listening to it now, it's a fun listen.  

10. Chrysalis by The Railway Children

     A band that I really do like and still listen to quite a bit.  

9. My Philosophy by Boogie Down Productions

     The first rap song I ever played for my daughter when she was in 2nd grade, I think.  I mean played in the terms of, listen to this song and the lyrics.    

8. Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman

     I absolutely love the sound of this song.  It's the best thing he ever did, though this is a very good album.  

7. Haunt Me by Sade

     This song has grown and grown on me.  

6. A Pleasure by The Railway Children

     For a long time when I would go onto Spotify and want to hear the Railway Children they didn't have their first album but this one, their second album.  I've listened to these songs a lot more now then I did back in 1988 when I first bought it.  

5. Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

     I loved this song in 1988 still love it today.  

4. Air of December by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

     I had a friend in college who absolutely loved this album, but this song really connected with me around 1992.  

3. Don't You Need by Melissa Etheridge

     So this song and Air of December were on the same mix tape that someone made for me in 1992, that's all I'll say about that.  But they have both stuck with me ever since.  

2. Tears All Over Town by Everything But the Girl

     Over the years different songs from this album have been my favorite, but this song has consistently been right there for me.  

1. Suedehead by Morrissey

     This is 1988 to me.  I think about working in a green house and picking lettuce and listening to this album or talk radio and that is 1988 to me.    

Best Album of 2024

 The following albums made my end of the year top albums list.  

How Do You Sleep At Night by Teezo Touchdown

     This was the first album that I really got into this year.  I was hooked with the opening lines of the first song.   

Someone stopped me and said, "Hey dude, have you seen the new Spider-Man?"
I said, "Not yet, been really, really busy
But I promise I'ma see it when I can"
Life is a movie, bet you can't find bootlegged on someone's Reddit

I found the album to be playful and fun lyrically and experimental and effective musically.  

 

Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande

     I don't know much about Ariana Grande, but I think of her as a pop star and this album is the perfect pop star album.  Lots of good very catchy songs.  You can put this album on and really enjoy it.  Great to run to, walk to, drive to just all around a solid R&B pop album.  

 

Willis, Carper, Leigh by Wonder Women of Country

     It's just six songs, but it's such a fun album.  You know it's going to be a good experience when the opening song has yodeling.  

 

Empathogen by Willow

     This was the first album that really made me sit up and pay attention to it this year.  It's experimental and interesting.  It has so much energy it's hard to turn away from.  I really didn't know much about Willow, but I would highly recommend checking this album.  Especially if you like experimental jazz pop :).  Probably the most interesting album of the year and I'm really curious to see where Willow will go with her music after this album.  

 

12 Notes by Alec Benjamin

     I liked Alec Benjamin's last album and I thought this one was better while my daughter thought it was worse.   I get it, it's way more mainstream and pop than his last album and that fits me but not her.  At times he can be a bit too playful with his approach, but it's a very solid singer songwriter pop album.  

Promised Land by Vintage Culture

     Like I said in my review of this album it's very solid, just a bit long.  It's one of those albums that I hold at this level just because it is so consistent.    

 

Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eillish

      Her third album, this is easily her best album for me.  As much as I liked her first album I just think this album feels so much more confident in what it wants to be.  Lyrically she's never been better than she is here and her vocals and arrangements with her brother are great. One of my favorite lyrical moments in the year are on the song "Wildflower."

I'd never ask who was better
'Cause she couldn't be
More different from me
Happy and free in leather

What Happened to the Heart by Aurora

     Another solid album from Aurora.  For me it was a little to all over the place and inconsistent but still plenty of good moments to pull from.  

 

The Great Impersonator by Halsey

     There is a lot to this album, but in the end it's a solid set of songs by someone who I really enjoy as an artist.  As a fan I found it fit into her body of work very well.  I really found some of the things she was doing with her lyrics and choices to be quite smart, but that's who she is to me.  

 

Evergreen by Soccer Mommy

     I just wrote about this album and how solid it is.  The only problem this album had really was that it didn't have those one or two real standout songs.  Otherwise it's a beautiful album.  I could see coming back to this one in 10 years and saying this has held up very well and is a 4 star album.  

 

And my Album of the Year!!

Me Again by Sasha Alex Sloan

     In a year where there seemed to be a lot of very personal music being made I found this one to be the best of the bunch.  Lyrically it's so solid and consistent.  Vocally, she's never sounded better and musically it really nails the vibe so consistently through the album.  

     I'm so impressed with the range of topics she takes on in this album and all very well.  

Tracks

1. Me Again:  Ever been caught it a really bad situation in your life where everything is so out of whack that you just don't feel like yourself?  You just want life to be normal again?  That's what this song is about.  

2. Cowboys Cry:  A song for those of us who feel so sad when things don't seem to be going our way.  Just a reminder that's it's OK to cry.  

3. Kids:  A song about her mom and the realization that her mom is beginning to rely on her for help just like she's always relied on her mom.  

4. Glad You Did:  A song about someone caught in an abusive relationship and her desire to see that person to get out of it.  It's a sad and haunting song that really nails it.  

5. Oxygen Mask:  A song about someone you love but they don't love themselves and just how hard that can be on a relationship.  

6. Highlights:  A song about a parent who was never there when their child needed them.  

7. Falling Out of Like:  A little song about two people who are together but they are no longer really together because they just don't really like each other any more.  

8. Tiny's Song:  A song to a lost pet.  It's a heart breaker and so good.  

9. Deep:  A song about not letting the little things in life getting you down.  

10. Only You Can:  A song about dealing with someone who has an addiction problem.  

11. Don't Laugh I'll Cry:  A song about a person who has a hard time showing their real emotions about things.  

12. Good Enough:  A song about a woman who is killing herself because she doesn't believe she's thin enough, pretty enough, etc.  

13. Picked First:  I'll just include the lyrics for this one.  

Took the first flight I could get home
Checked into the front desk
Walked up to your floor
Shared a couple bites of cheesecake
Talked about the summers
We spent on your porch

And you were trying not to cry for me
And I was trying not to cry for you
Yeah, you really, really were the best
But you left way too soon

Oh, dear, I miss you all the time
I wish we never said goodbye
Like daisies in the dirt
The most beautiful flowers
Always get picked first

We were sitting in the silence
Listening to voices over the TV
I was staring out the window
Holding onto your hand, didn't wanna leave

You were trying not to cry for me
And I was trying not to cry for you
Yeah, you really, really were the best
But you left way too soon

Oh, dear, I miss you all the time
I wish we never said goodbye
Like daisies in the dirt
The most beautiful flowers
Always get picked first
Oh, dear, you left me way too fast
I wish they saved the best for last
Like daisies in the dirt
The most beautiful flowers
Always get picked first

You were trying not to cry for me, mm
And I was trying not to cry for you

2024 Music At the End: Featuring Soccer Mommy

14 Minutes by Dominic Fike

Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator

Explicit Language

Beyond Shadowland by Six by Six

Sentimental by Carlita

Negative Spaces by Poppy

Bouquet by Gwen Stefani

9 Sad Symphonies by Kate Nash

Only God Was Above Us by Vampire Weekend

Evergreen by Soccer Mommy

I liked Soccer Mommy's last two albums, but this is easily the best album she's made.  It reminds me a lot of the album Blind by The Sundays.  It's very low key but very consistent with these little melodic hooks that draw you into each song.  Lyrically she's always been interesting, but again I think this is her best work.  

If you haven't given Soccer Mommy a chance, give this album a listen.  Like I said it's solid through the entire album.  There wasn't any one song that really grabbed me to listen to over and over, but I never tired of listening to the album from start to finish.  If you're looking for a good low key album to put on while you take a drive around the country looking at the snow with a friend or spouse, this would work.