Rick Henry's Top 100 Albums of The Decade 2010 - 2019

Each year since 2011, I have published my list of Top 15 albums of the year. Therefore I felt it appropriate that I combine those years (plus 2010) to publish my Top 100 albums of the decade. Hope you enjoy my list.

Top 100 Albums of the Decade

2010-2019

100. "Storytone" by Neil Young (2014)
99. "Vulnicura" by Bjork (2015)
98. "Azul, Mis Dientes" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2017)
97. "Surfing The Void" by Klaxons (2010)
96. "Le Noise" by Neil Young (2010)
95. "Violence" by Editors (2018)
94. "Lurid Glow" by Reptar (2015)
93. "I Learned The Hard Way" by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2010)
92. "Otra Cosa" by Julieta Venegas (2010)
91. "Saudade" by Theivery Corporation (2014)
90. "Fear Inoculum" by TOOL (2019)
89. "A Lovejoy" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)
88. "Ninety Miles" by Stefon Harris with David Sanchez and Christian Scott (2011)
87. "Blunderbuss" by Jack White (2012)
86. "Hippopotamus" by Sparks (2017)
85. "Utopia" by Bjork (2017)
84. "Black & White America - Lenny Kravitz (2011)
83. "Sunken Condos" by Donald Fagen (2012)
82. "Sound and Fury by Sturgill Simpson (2019)
81. "Zoo" by Ceremony (2012)
80. "A World Of Masks" by Heliocentrics (2018)
79. "Gloss Drop" by Battles (2011)
78. "Mountain Moves" by Deerhoof (2017)
77. "My Way" by Willie Nelson (2018)
76. "To The Sea" by Jack Johnson (2010)
75. "Mojo" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2010)
74. "Some Need It Lonely" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)
73. "Little Broken Hearts" by Norah Jones (2012)
72. "Is This The Life We Really Want" by Roger Waters (2017)
71. "In The Spirit World Now" by Ceremony (2019)
70. "Odd Blood" by Yeasayer (2010)
69. "Nontourniquet" by The Mars Volta (2012)
68. "Small Car Big Wheels" by Enjoy (2018)
67. "Another Word For Joy" by Enjoy (2016)
66. "Radio Music Society" by Esperanza Spalding (2012)
65. "Woman Gives Birth To Tomato" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2013)
64. "Concrete Jungle" by Blktop Project (2016)
63. "Memories" by Mind.In.A.Box (2015)
62. "Reveries" by Joe Henry (2011)
61. "Ride Me Back Home" by Willie Nelson (2019)
60. "Oklahoma" by Keb' Mo' (2019)

59. “The Reflection” by Keb’ Mo’ (2011)

58. “More Fast Songs About The Apocalypse” by Moby (2017)

57. “Boarding House Reach” by Jack White (2018)

56. “Thrum” by Joe Henry (2017)

55. “Roman Lips” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

54. “Call It What It Is” by Ben Harper (2016)

53. “All The Light Above It Too” by Jack Johnson (2017)

52. “Western Stars” by Bruce Springsteen” (2019)

51. “Exposure” by Esperanza Spalding (2017)

50. “Standing In The Breach” by Jackson Browne (2014)

49. “Sad Clowns and Hillbillies” by John Mellencamp (2017)

48. “For The Good Times” by The Little Willies (2012)

47. “Tribute To Bobby” by Stephen Hobbs (2018)

46. “From The Deep” by Heliocentrics (2017)

45. “This Land” by Gary Clark Jr (2019)

44. “The Road From Memphis” by Booker T. Jones (2011)

43. “Algo Sucede” by Julieta Venegas (2015)

42. “Mantra Hiroshima” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2010)

41. “Lazeretto” by Jack White (2014)

40. “Africa Speaks” by Santana (2019)

39. “The Genius Of Eddie Jefferson” by Allan Harris (2018)

38. “Raise Vibration” by Lenny Kravitz (2018)

37. “These Systems Are Failing” by Moby (2016)

36. “Soul of A Woman” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2017)

35. “Black Star” by David Bowie (2016)

34. “Hypnotic Eye” by Tom Petty (2014)

33. “Someday World” by Brian Eno & Karl Hyde (2014)

32. “Black Sun” by Gold Fields (2013)

31. “Rammstein” by “Rammstein (2019)

30. “Last Man Standing” by Willie Nelson (2018)

29. “Umbrella Mistress” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

28. “in.ter.a.lia” by At The Drive-In (2017)

27. “The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim” by Gary Clark, Jr. (2015)

26. “Sonic Creed” by Stefon Harris (2018)

25. “Harry Styles” by Harry Styles (2017)

24. “New Devices” by Roller Trio (2018)

23. “The Sea” by Corinne Bailey Rae (2010)

22. “Soldier Of Love” by Sade (2010)

21. “Un Corazon de Nadie” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2012)

20. “Rattle That Lock” by David Gilmour (2015)

19. “Sinatra & Jobim @ 50” by John Pizzarelli and Daniel Jobim (2017)

18. “The Music In My Head” by Michael Franks (2018)

17. “Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John Frusciante” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John

      Frusciante (2010)

16. “Twin Danger” by Twin Danger (2015)

15. “Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Songs of Billie Holiday” by Jose James (2015)

14. “Day Breaks” by Norah Jones (2016)

13. “The Endless River” by Pink Floyd (2014)

12. “Monolith of Phobos” by Claypool Lennon Delirium (2016)

11. “A Sailor’s Guide To Earth” by Sturgill Simpson (2017)

10. “The L-Shaped Man” by Ceremony (2015)

With this album Ceremony is as close to Joy Division as a band can get yet still maintaining their own unique sound and style

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00TL6QU5S/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

9. “Lean On Me” by Jose James (2018)

A fantastic R&B jazz filled tribute to the music of Bill Withers

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07F5CPBMM/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

8. “Corazones” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

This is one of ORL’s most pop oriented efforts of his entire career. His voice is engaging, guitar work flawless and the songs are filled with catchy hooks

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01IQMMAQ0/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

7. “TajMo” by Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal (2017)

R&B and blues from two legends of the genre

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B06XH1Q5K8/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Grammy Winner

6. “The Heart Speaks In Whispers” by Corinne Bailey Rae (2016)

Sweet voiced Corinne Bailey Rae shines on what I call her best effort

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01C7PNOAS/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

5. “Foreverly” by Billie Joe + Norah (2013)

Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong harmonize beautifully on this stirring tribute to the Everly Brothers’ 1958 “Songs Our Dady Taught Us”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00G4EXNNM/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

4. “South Of Reality” by Claypool Lennon Delirium (2019)

Les Claypool (Primus) and Sean Ono Lennon team up to create an album that rivals the best of the best by the Beatles and for that matter Pink Floyd.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07JX4SG54/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

3. “12 Little Spells” by Esperanza Spalding (2018/2019)

Esperanza gets in touch with her inner soul on this album as she beautifully sings her experimental jazz songs and plays bass like no other woman in music

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07PBT5T2Y/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Grammy Winner

2. “Birth Of A Ghost” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2017)

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez steps out of his comfort zone and composes a classical album - and guess what he - succeeded way beyond expectation

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B071VT31MM/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

1. “Emily’s D+Evolution” by Esperanza Spalding (2016)

One word for this one: CLASSIC. Esperanza takes her jazz to a new level and adds some rock to it. Esperanza co-produced this album with David Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B019PL3BYG/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Top 10 Artists
2010 - 2019
10. Gary Clark, Jr.
9. Willie Nelson
8. Ceremony
7. Keb' Mo'
6. Corinne Bailey Rae
5. Jose James
4. Norah Jones
3. Claypool Lennon Delirium
2. Esperanza Spalding
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Top Female Performers
5. Sharon Jones
4. Sade
3. Corinne Bailey Rae
2. Norah Jones
1. Esperanza Spalding

Top Male Performers
5. Gary Clark, Jr.
4. Willie Nelson
3. Keb' Mo'
2. Jose James
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Breaking them down by genres

Top Jazz Performers
5. Michael Franks
4. Twin Danger
3. Stefon Harris
2. Jose James
1. Esperanza Spalding

Top Country Music Performer
5. Tim McGraw
4. The Little Willies
3. Billie + Norah
2. Sturgill Simpson
1. Willie Nelson

Top R&B/Soul Performers
5. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
4. Lenny Kravitz
3. Gary Clark, Jr.
2. Corinne Bailey Rae
1. Jose James

Top Soft Rock Performers
5. Julieta Venegas
4. Jack Johnson
3. Harry Styles
2. David Gilmour
1. Norah Jones

Top Hard Rock Performers
5. Rammstein
4. At The Drive-In
3. Jack White
2. Ceremony
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Top Classic Rock Performers

5. David Bowie

4. David Gilmour

3. Pink Floyd

2. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

1. Claypool Lennon Delirium

Top Alt-Rock Performer
5. Moby
4. Jack White
3. Ceremony
2. Claypool Lennon Delirium
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Top New Wave/Punk/Post-Punk Performers

5. Enjoy

4. Brian Eno / Karl Hyde

3. Gold Fields

2. Moby

1. Ceremony

Top Electronic/Electronica Performers
5. Gold Fields
4. Roller Trio
3. Pink Floyd
2. Moby
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez


Top Americana Performers
5. M. Ward
4. Neil Young
3. John Mellencamp
2. Joe Henry
1. Keb' Mo'

Top Blues Performers
5. Taj Mahal / Ben Harper (tie)
4. Booker T. Jones
3. Jose James
2. Gary Clark, Jr.
1. Keb' Mo'

Top Latin Performers

5. David Sanchez

4. Daniel Jobim

3. Santana

2. Julieta Venegas

1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

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Corazones by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

"Corazones" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

With "Corazones," ORL takes a complete different direction from anything he's ever recorded in his career. The music is straight ahead folk inspired pop. In this album ORL's vocals come to the forefront. On several tracks his voice is high pitched and airy with a dreamlike quality while on others he exhibits a punk rock mentality and yet on others he channels Johnny Cash with his own unique ORL twist.

Amazon link to "Corazones": http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01IQMMAQ0/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Shortly after the passing of his mom, Omar was commissioned to record a few songs for a film project. Several of the songs on "Corazones" originated from those recording sessions for the film that never materialized. The producers asked for the music to be a straight forward as possible. ORL compares some of these songs to "child-like nursery rhymes." ORL commented, "When working with the director and producer, all the themes that were in the film itself were exactly what I was going through: loss, loss of identity because of such an extreme loss." All of ORL's past albums have been highly experimental some calling his music "metal thrash," electronic progressive," "jazz-fusion" and more. Never though has his music been categorized as "pop" or "ballads" until now.  Some of the songs on the album make me think of Bauhaus meets early 70's Pink Floyd meets 70's Brian Eno.

"Corazones" is mournful, subdued and restrained; this gives it the distinction of being the most mellow and musically accessible album of ORL’s career. Gone are the blazing guitars and intricate time signatures, absent is the extreme experimentalism. What we’ve got is something mournful and introspective played largely on acoustic instruments.

Make no mistake, chaos still reigns and ORL is in no way playing it safe. While musically the album is mostly straightforward, "Corazones" is a roller coaster of emotions, with plenty of ups, downs, twists, and turns as ORL purges the grief of his mother’s death. There’s a sort of western feel about the music that recalls a lone, silent hero facing off against the unknown in a vast, unfathomable desert. Here, the lone gunman is ORL, and the desert is his Superego as he comes to grips with both his mother’s passing and her impact on his life.

With this album ORL's vocals are brought to the forefront whereas in the past his vocals were always a part of the background ambience of the song.

"We Feel The Silence" paints a picture of grief, a haunting Spanish guitar ballad with lyrics of loss and an eerie backwards guitar solo drifting in and out like a ghost. ORL's mysterious vocals lend a melancholy to the song that perfectly accents his beautiful swirls of electronic guitar throughout the song.

"Running Away" is a seemingly sunny and upbeat song yet behind the cheerful feel the lyric touches on the yearning to run away from the emotions of pain and anger over losing a loved one. ORL produced a music video for this song in which all the members of his band punch him in the face. I guess it's supposed to be their way of telling him to stop running away from his hurt and pain and face it head on.

"It Was Her" with it's atmospheric sounds reminds me so much of an 1970s Brian Eno composition meets Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd. The experimental guitar chords and ORL's minimal lyrics give the song an expression of emotion that reach right in the center of your heart.

The short 45 second interlude, "Dead Heart" bring us to a Lou Reed style speaking performance by ORL.

"Lola" is simplistic and direct with a 1950s country-pop lean. ORL almost sounds a bit reminiscent of Donovan.

"Sea Is Rising" opens with a Cuban influenced rhythm accented with Marco Giovino's Latin-rock influenced drum patterns. "Sea Is Rising" is ORL's cover of his earlier version of the song. "Sea Is Rising" was originally featured on 2013's "Unicorn Skeleton Mask." The 2013 recording was electronic rapture of dark vocals and bubbling synthesizers. For "Corazones" ORL's vocals are brought to the front as he reimagines the song as a straight ahead rocker with a dramatic blend of electric guitar and syncopated drum rhythms.

"Certainty" is another simple song in which ORL curiously sings in a deep voice.

"Arrest My Father" is the dark-themed song that captures my interest the most. His calling out to have his father arrested is obviously symbolic of pent up emotions. I'm not so sure that he is asking for his father to be arrested but maybe to have his own emotions arrested and contained. In the song he sings "I'm right at the door and I see what you did." He must be talking about the way he reacted to his mother's death when he saw her there lying in her coffin. Stylistically I am also very much attracted to this song which combines Americana guitar styles which reminds me quite a bit of something you'd hear from Johnny Cash along with ORL's mid ranged punk rock vocals.The song is peppered by a locomotive beat and sprightly harmonica.

"Some Sort Of Justice" continues ORLs more than able laid back acoustic guitar sound he has created for this album. Possibly the most personal song on the album ORL sings of loss and pain as he strums the chords of his guitar met by Luke Reynolds' nostalgic keyboards in the middle of the song. Even with a ballad ORL still remains on the edge with his straightforward honest lyrics of the emotions he's felt over the past few years. ORLs brand of ballad reaches beyond the surface of pop confectionary hooks and harmonies and digs deeper into the honesty of pain. ORL never does anything that's just on the surface.

"Five Different Pieces" sports a great organ part lurking behind the drum rhythms with ORL showing off his very deep vocals again. This song deals with the sinister ways hurt and pain can creep up on us. Parts of the uric are playful but reach a point of darkness that bring to light the fact that grief resides right alongside happiness. There’s a superficial happiness to the music that melts away the closer you pay attention.

For anyone who has lost a parent, Corazones strikes a poignant chord. It’s easily the most straightforward and touching effort in his discography, and what he jettisons in musical complexity, he makes up for in emotion. It’s an album of love and shame, pain and joy, truth and lies.

I love this album. It speaks to me in so many different ways and this will be one that remains a favorite for several years to come. This is the album I have been hoping to hear from ORL for quite some time now. The photo of ORL's mother on the cover adds a special touch to the overall finished product.

"Corazones" is the second of twelve new albums ORL will be releasing in 2016. This is an unheard of astonishing feat. I am greatly looking forward to what he has in store for us. I am certain he will take us on an unpredictable ride in terms of volume and range of material.

Amazon link to "Corazones": http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01IQMMAQ0/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Top 100 Songs 2000 - 2015

Top 100 Songs of the Millennium 2000-2015

We are now in the sixteenth year of the millennium. There have been many great new bands and singers to emerge over the past few years such as Coldplay, Norah Jones, Sharon Jones, Adele, Cousteau, Mando Diao, The Editors, White Lies, Maximo Parks, Minus The Bear and others. As well as the new discoveries several longtime super-greats have continued to record and release some great music over these past years including David Gilmour, Tom Petty, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (The Mars Volta), Jack White (White Stripes), Bjork, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Brian Eno, Justin Hayward, Donna Summer and so many more I can’t name them all.

This list displays what I feel are the 100 best songs from the years 2000 – 2015. It spans a multitude of genres and artists. My main musical interests lie with in Modern rock, Alternative rock and jazz (of all types) therefore the majority on my list will fall with in these categories. Oddly, though as much as I love jazz very few jazz songs ended up on this list as most of the jazz albums I enjoy I enjoy as a whole and not as individual songs.

Now I am happy to present to you my Top 100 songs of the last sixteen years. At the end of this list the Top Ten songs will each be reviewed individually as to give more insight to these very special songs.

Enjoy!

100. Far Cry – Rush (2007)

99. Clocks – Coldplay (2002)

98. Pretty Boy – Young Galaxy (2013)

97. Who Killed Tangerine? – Tears For Fears (2004)

96. Electric Rainbow – Minus The Bear (2014)

95. Rumour Has It – Adele (2011)

94. A Tu Lado – Julieta Venegas (2003)

93. We Are All Made Of Stars – Moby (2002)

92. A Man Wakes Up – Brian Eno/Karl Hyde (2014)

91. The Western Sky – Justin Hayward (2013)

90. Sidekick – Walk The Moon (2014)

89. On An Island – David Gilmour (2006)

88. Your Day Will Come – Cousteau (2001)

87. Stop – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (2003)

86. That’s The Way It Is – Donna Summer (2004)

85. Something In The Air – David Bowie (2000)

84. The Grass Is Blue – Dolly Parton (2000)

83. Earth Intruders – Bjork (2007)

82. Ice On The Motorway – Roger Daltrey/Wilko Johnson (2014)

81. The Blackest Lily – Corinne Bailey Rae (2010)

80. Speed Of Sound – Coldplay (2005)

79. If You Call – Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (2010)

78. White Shadows – Coldplay (2005)

77. Don’t Panic – Coldplay (2000)

76. Lonestar – Norah Jones (2002)

75. In This Light – The Editors (2009)

74. Rattle That Lock – David Gilmour (2015)

73. Bottomliners – Brian Eno (2005)

72. In Flight Wave – Beat Spacek (2015)

71. I’m Shakin’ – Jack White (2012)

70. Bells At The Slipstream – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2000)

69. Kentucky – Billie Jo Armstrong + Norah Jones (2013)

68. The Party – Ceremony (2015)

67. Lost Weekend – Tiny Victories (2012)

66. I Want Love – Elton John (2001)

65. December – Norah Jones (2009)

64. Heavy Weather – Cousteau (2002)

63. Long Black Train – Liam McKahey (2014)

62. Wall Street – Battles (2011)

61. Televators – The Mars Volta (2003)

60. Since We’ve Been Gone – The Mars Volta (2009)

59. A Whisper – Coldplay (2002)

58. Meet My Friends – Gold Fields (2013)

57. Swimming In Lava – (((s))) (2012)

56. Porushka Paranya – Bering Strait (2003)

55. Our Velocity – Maximo Park (2007)

54. Stamp Your Feet – Donna Summer (2008)

53. Here – Jackson Browne (2014)

52. A Device Imagined To Turn – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2009)

51. Black – Dangermouse (featuring Norah Jones) (2011)

50. Dream On – Depeche Mode (2001)

49. It’s Not Over Yet – Klaxons (2007)

48. I Love Music – Donna Summer (2008)

47. Romeo – Mando Diao (2014)

46. Stars – t.A.T.u (2008)

45. To Paris With Love – Donna Summer (2011)

44. For The Good Times – The Little Willies (featuring Norah Jones)(2012)

43. American Dream – Tommy Petty (2014)

42. Catch The Sun – The Doves (2000)

41. The Whole Enchilada – Keb ‘Mo (2011)

40. Creepin’ In – Norah Jones and Dolly Parton (2004)

39. Firelight – The Thievery Corporation (2014)

38. Lovely Rain – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2013)

37. Oz Is Ever Floating – Oysterhead (2001)

36. Cold Cold Heart – Norah Jones (2002)

35. Flaws – Bastille (2013)

34. Lovers and Fools – Liam McKahey (2009)

33. Louder Than Words – Pink Floyd (2014)

32. Conflagration – Massivivid (2002)

31. All Sparks – Editors (2006)

30. Into The Galaxy – Midnight Juggernauts (2008)

29. Where Are You Going? – Dave Matthews Band (2002)

28. Extreme Ways – Moby (2002)

27. Salt Lines – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2013)

26. Outer Space – War (2014)

25. Saving Grace – Tom Petty (2006)

24. The Right Effect – Stereo MC’s (2001)

23. Schism – Tool (2001)

22. Bottles – VV Brown (2010)

21. Boomerang – Massivivid (2002)

20. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae (2006)

19. Airstream Driver – Gomez (2009)

18. Eyes Wide Open – King Crimson (2002)

17. It’s Only Love – Donna Summer (2009)

16. Smile – David Gilmour (2006)

15. Sailor – Twin Danger (2015)

14. Ampersand – Adrian Belew (2005)

13. Last Good Day Of The Year – Cousteau (2001)

12. The Things We Lost In The Fire – Bastille (2013)

11. Rapid Fire Tollbooth – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2007)

The Top Ten:

10. My Superman – Santigold (2008)

Featured on the album Santogold

Written by Santi White, J. Hill, W. Penz and Siouxsie and the Banshees

This song lists Siouxsie and the Banshees as one it’s co-writers. Santigold (real name Santi White) has commented she based the music of this song on the Siouxsie and the banshees’ 1980 song “Red Light.” This song has a great 80’s new wave sound with heavy bass and beat backing. Santigold gives us her best vocals in this dark goth influenced song. 

Santogold (Click Here to see album on Amazon)

My Superman by Santogold (aka Santigold)

9. Into The Frying Pan – King Crimson (2000)

Featured on the album The ConstruKCtion of Light

Written by Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn and Paul Mastelotto

Fractured perfection is how I best describe this song. This is one of those songs that keeps my ears perked up. With it’s dark harmonies, understated vocals and soaring guitar chords the song threatens to fall into chaos yet in the end delivers a melodic resonance that makes it irresistible to my ears. It is more than a song but an experience in adventure and experimentalism in a slice of seven minutes. Other bands become mellower and more commercial as they age but it seems that King Crimson has taken a different route with louder guitars and a deeper dive into experimentalism than ever before. What I love most about this song is the odd time shifts throughout the entire song and Adrian Belew’s always-recognizable guitar solo. Probably the most intriguing feature of the song is the opening where Robert Fripp (or maybe it’s Adrian Belew) goes up the guitar scale and the other goes down the scale simultaneously… what a musically mesmerizing effect.

The lyrics of the song examine the condition of life how we grow and experience life but in the end we’re right back where we began.

The ConstruKCtion of Light (Click here to see album on Amazon)

Into The Frying Pan by King Crimson

8. Rockin’ Alone In An Old Rockin’ Chair – Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones (2013)

Featured on the album Foreverly

Written by Bob Miller

Norah Jones and Green Day front man teamed together to record the 2013 album “Foreverly” which was a remake of the Everly Brothers’ 1958 album “Songs Our Dady Taught Us.” Billie Joe and Norah recorded the album true to the genre with great acoustic guitars and wonderful harmonic vocals.

The album is full of gem after gem. Every song is great though “Rockin’ Alone In An Old Rockin’ Chair” stands out amongst the bunch primarily due to it’s emotionally charged lyrics. The song is about an old silver haired mother that is neglected sitting alone in an old rocking chair. Every time I hear this song it touches my heart and brings a mist to my eyes.

Foreverly (Click to see album on amazon)

 Rockin' Alone In An Old Rockin' Chair by Billie Joe Armstrong + Norah Jones

7. Moves – Gold Fields (2013)

Featured on the album: Black Sun

Written by: Vinci Andanar, Rob Clifton, Ryan D'Sylva, Mark Fuller, Luke Peldys

This song starts out with an infectious percussive rhythm and electronic bass line. Every time I hear this song I become energized. It’s simply a great synth-rock tune with a dance beat that never ends. I primarily enjoy the lyrics that talk about a person named Ashley who breaks her arm… and then about a person named Ashley who broke his arm. It’s sort of confusing to figure out what they meant in this lyric by changing the sex of Ashley as they mention this person.

Black Sun (Click here to see album on amazon)

Moves by Gold Fields

6. Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2009)

Featured on the album Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo

Written by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

It’s the mysterious sounds that attract me to this song. The dark sci-fi synth work combined with Omar’s thick, crunchy, distorted guitar work which is accented with heavy treble that brings the song into a fourth dimension of sound. It’s hard to give a description that gives this song its proper justice. This is one of those must listen to songs. It’s a work in guitar and electronic soundscape experimentalism.

Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo (Click here to see album on amazon)

Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

5. Haifisch – Rammstein (2009)

Featured on the album: Liebe Ist Alle Da

Written by Rammstein

Rammstein is an industrial metal band from Germany. Their sound is hard hitting and guttural. The word haifisch translated to English means shark. The song takes a different look at the shark of which many people are afraid. On their website Rammstein says about the song “Haifisch,” "the shark not only has teeth – he's got tears as well. But since it lives in the briny deep, no one sees them. A shame. After all, this cartilaginous fish is one of the oldest of the world's many misunderstood creatures. A bit more sympathy couldn't hurt!"

I have always had this curious interest in this dark and foreboding song.

         
Liebe Ist Alle Da (Click here to see album on Amazon)

Haifisch by Rammstein

4. The Satellites – Brian Eno and Karl Hyde (2014)

Featured on the album: Someday World

Written by Brian Eno and Karl Hyde

When I heard that Brian Eno was releasing a new album (that featured his vocals) I was so ecstatic. I am such a huge fan of his music… predominantly his 70’s solo albums and his early 70’s work with Roxy Music. Brian Eno is one of the most exciting producers, arrangers and musicians ever in the history of music. Everything he does has several layers of depth and experimentalism.

This collaboration with Karl Hyde is no exception the entire album “Someday World” is great from beginning to end. Though I love every track it is “The Satellites” that first caught my interest and remains my favorite song from the album with it’s electronic beats and slick guitar grooves.

Someday World (Click here to see album on amazon)

The Satellites by Brian Eno and Karl Hyde

3. Transmission – Complot Bronswick (2010)

Non-album track

Written by Joy Division

I have long been a fan of Joy Division and was thrilled several years back when I discovered Moby’s intensely excellent cover of “New Dawn Fades,” after that I searched for other covers of Joy Division songs but really did not find anything that interested me. This was back in 1998 and Complot Bronwick had yet to record “Transmission. At that I still hadn’t even discovered Complot. I came to discover Complot Bronswick back in 2007 as I was doing an internet search to discover new wave related bands from the 80’s. Of course I knew all the known bands such as U2, Tears For Fears, The Fixx, etc. I was looking for some lesser-known bands. I did several searches over a span of 2 years and I found Complot Bronwick on youtube.  I downloaded a few of their songs and forgot about them for a few years. In 2010 I began listening to one of their songs from 1985 called “Born In A Cage” and that spurred my interest in them again. I came across a tribute album to Joy Division recorded by French recording artists called  “30 Years With(out) Ian Curtis, which contained their recording of “Transmission” and I was blown away from what I heard. I played this song maybe three or four times in a row and soaked in all the nuance and sounds. I fell in love with the electronic (there’s that word again… you see a pattern here) sounds and the dark vocals. To this day I still play this song from time to time.

Transmission by Complot Bronswick

2. Big TV – White Lies (2013)

Featured on the album Big TV

Written by Charles Cave, Jack Lawrence-Brown and Harry McVeigh

I came across this group in 2014… several months after the release of the album “Big TV.” I found them on Amazon. com and I very much enjoyed the snippets I heard. I ended up buying the album and of course loved it as much as I knew I would. The title track “Big TV” is the song that captured my attention most. Such a great post punk tune with a synth undertone. The song has a drive that moves so fantastically well. This is one of those songs that is equally at home in a dance club or on a sunny day at the beach. I hear elements of David Bowie meets U@ with a huge 80’s influence in this song and all the songs on the album. I am completely stuck on this song and will be for years and decades to come.

Big TV (Click here to see album on amazon)

Big TV by White Lies

1. The Blue – David Gilmour (2006)

Featured on the album: On An Island

Written by David Gilmour and Polly Samson

This is the song that has touched me the most in these past 15+ years. It’s everything from David Gilmour’s vocals to his guitar work to the lyrics and the ever so smooth music. This is one of the most beautiful and dreamy songs that sends me to heaven every time I hear it. The recently deceased Richard Wright lends his backing vocals to this song which gives the song a bit of a Pink Floyd touch. The song is ethereally textured and full of space-age sonics that bring a sort of an ambient feel of restoration, revival and refreshment.

On An Island (Click here to see album on amazon)

The Blue by David Gilmour

LOVE MUSIC!!!