My Favorite Songs of 2012

As any of the two or three of you who pay any attention to me on social media know, music is important to me. And recently I've learned that I appear to mark time and it's passage in music. That being the case, I deiced to mark the end of 2012 by writing out my Top Ten Favorite Songs of 2012.

One disclaimer for my own internal transparency. First, this is a list of songs I enjoyed listening to this year. I'm not claiming these are the best songs of the year at all (even though some of these songs would be on that list if I created it). Also, a lot of these songs were officially released in 2011, but we listened to them in 2012...so yeah...let's not split hairs, okay?

Are you excited? Me too! Let's do this.

#10 - "Whistle" by: Flo Rida, from the album Wild Ones.

Look, say what you what about Flo Rida as a "musician" (like, he's not one) and the cumbersome metaphor of this song ("yeah...whistle...right..."), but this is a fun tune. It was an excellent summer song, good for cruising with the windows down and definitely got stuck in your head. I'm sure this song will definitely be in the wedding playlist...ha...

#9 "Look Around" by: Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the album I'm With You.
I was certainly anxious to hear a new Red Hot Chili Peppers album without the guitars of John Frusciante but this classic band has continued on well without him. While I'm With You is full of good songs "Look Around" has always been the stand out track, with the way it kicks into the beat immediately with a mix of really everything that is good about the Chili Peppers. You can hear a thick bass line, poppy guitars and creative pseudo-rap lyrics. It's all good, tight and another great, windows down type tune.
Other Songs to hear on this Album: "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," "Annie Wants a Baby," "Factory of Faith," "Dance, Dance, Dance".

#8 "Tightrope" by: Walk the Moon, from the album Walk the Moon

Little did my good friend Matt Wood and I realize that when we went to see Young the Giant perform in February that we were about to have our musical lives enriched by being introduced to Cincinnati's own Walk the Moon. Their self-titled album is another one that is loaded with great songs but "Tightrope" was the song that got me hooked on this fantastic album. If you don't know this band or this song you need to!
Other Songs to hear on this Album: "Fixin'," "I Can Lift a Car," "Jenny," "Lisa Baby" (listen to the entire thing!)

#7 "Somebody That I Used to Know" by: Gotye, from the album Making Mirrors

Back on 25 June I wrote a Facebook status of which I am still proud"Listen here 'Gotye', if that is your real name, just because I listened to your crazy song once on the way home doesn't mean I want it echoing through my brain all night. Thanks for nothing you Icelandic Hipster." Then, as these things usually go, I actually listened to "Somebody that I Used to Know" and realized that this was nothing but a hyper-creative and really unique song. The slow tempo of the song mixed with the powerful vocals creates an insane mix. This is the type of song I've listened to three or four times in one sitting, I like it that much. I got this album in the Amazon MP3 store for $.99, hoping it would be good and was pleasantly surprised, most of the songs are very good and just as creative, worth your money at full price!

Other Songs to hear on this Album: "Eyes Wide Open," "Easy Way Out," "Smoke and Mirrors," "I Feel Better," "State of the Art".

#6 "Everybody Talks" by: Neon Trees, from the album Picture Show

This song has provided me with so much fun this year since the Marching Rockets started playing their version (my idea, by the way ;) ). The fun came from getting to introduce this song by stating an undeniable truth about it; you first heard it in a commercial during the Final Four, but you don't even remember what the commercial was for. Either way, it turns out Neon Trees can continue to write fun songs that we (at least I) want to hear. Plus, I think if you looked up the definition of "catchy" in the dictionary, you would find the lyrics to this song. (Now come on, be honest, right now, wherever you are, in your head your saying, "IT STARTED WITH A WHISPER...!")

Here's that commercial for you, by the way 

Who had car commercial!?

#5 "Some Nights" by: Fun., from the album Some Nights

Working with the Marching Rockets has turned me on to a lot of music to which I would not have normally listened (um, see above...). Of course I heard, "We Are Young," like everybody else and kind of didn't know what to think about this band "Fun." Well, needless to say, any doubt about the quality of this band was totally erased with "Some Nights." This powerful lyrics at the beginning of this song are great and the song is so triumphant. By the way, have you seen the music video for this thing!? I did not see that coming! Civil War concert? Fantastic! Watch it now, if you have not.

#4 "Gold on the Ceiling" by: The Black Keys, from the album El Camino

The opening guitar riff of "Gold on the Ceiling" is a five second thesis on what exactly makes The Black Keys one of the best bands going today. It's gritty, unique and powerful. This song is incredibly catch and the kind of thing that makes you feel like you can do anything. If "Some Nights" inspires you to take over the world then "Gold on the Ceiling" is the song playing while you do it.

Other Songs to hear on this Album: "Lonely Boy," "Money Maker," "Mind Eraser"

#3 "Someone Anyone" by: Anberlin, from the album Vital

"Someone Anyone" is a truly rare song in today's music milieu. True rock songs are not the popular thing nowadays and so to produce one that is pure rock and as catchy as "Someone Anyone" is almost impossible. But then again, nothing is impossible for a band as perfect as Anberlin. Listen to this song once, you'll headbang all the way through it and then be singing it to yourself for at least an hour afterward.

Other Songs to hear on this Album: "Desires," "Little Tyrants," "Intentions," "Modern Age"

#2 "Run Right Back" by: The Black Keys, from the album El Camino

I wanted to keep this list to one song per band, but I could decided between "Gold on the Ceiling" and "Run Right Back," both of these songs are absolutely fantastic. I find this song interesting because the first time I heard it was as bumper music coming back from commercials on The Heard with Colin Cowherd. I recognized it because I think it is safe to say the main guitar riff of this song is one of the most creative riffs ever written. 

Other Songs to hear on this Album: "Little Black Submarines," "Stop, Stop," "Dead and Gone" (yes, each song from the same album got it's own other songs list, this album is great).

#1 "Live and Die" by: The Avett Brothers, from the album The Carpenter

I got this song as a free download at Starbucks and its easily the best free song they've ever given away. I say that because this song might be the blueprint for writing a perfect song. It has balanced music, terrific harmonies, creative lyrics sung in a unique rhythm, and too, is rather catchy. Yes, The Avett Brother proved you can write a catchy song with a banjo and without a synthesizer or computer. This song lead me to buy this album within two days of getting the free download and I think I've listened to it every day since. It's different from most of my other music but different in a way that's refreshing and fun.

Other Songs to hear on this Album: "Down with the Shine," "I Never Knew You," "Pretty Girl from Michigan," "Winter in my  Heart," "Geraldine"

There you go! 2012 in music! I even included iTunes links so you can jam along right into the new year with me.

Thanks for pretending you care.
More to come,
XoXo
-Joshua