2017 Year End Countdown!!!!

The Killers

This is the EIGHTH freaking Year End Countdown I've done on here and it's exciting and fun every single year. I love looking back at the songs that were huge in a given year and I also love seeing what songs statistically make the Top Ten, but had sort of faded from memory. Both of those kinds of songs are in this episode. So enjoy and Happy New Year!



2017 Year End Countdown

***Featuring***
Cold War Kids
Green Day
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
Portugal. The Man
Queens of the Stone Age
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Thirty Seconds to Mars

New Countdown: Last Call!

Alice Merton

Here we are at the end of the year again. The years really fly by don't they? But I'm excited about the Year End Countdown and the Artists of the Year Countdown and the Festive Fifty which is coming together super nicely.

Enjoy!



Countdown #363

***Featuring***
AJR featuring Rives Cuomo
Alice Merton
The Beatles
Beck
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
Portugal. The Man
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy
Walk the Moon

Throwback Thursday: 1969

We're into the 60's! That means it's time for some wild, out there, crazy....lovely instrumental themes. :)

This song really is very beautiful.

Henry Mancini - Love Theme from "Romeo and Juliet" (6/28/69-7/5/69)

Top Ten Tuesday: Migos, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B "MotorSport"

This video feels weirdly old school AND very new. It feels like what a "hot new video" would have looked like in 2002, but the style is very "current state of pop-rap, for the most part"

New Countdown: Actions That We All Do

The Revivalists

I can't believe how close to the end of the year we are! Before you know it, we'll be doing the Year-End Countdown, the Artists of the Year Countdown, and then we'll be back on the countdown grind! It's amazing how time flies when you're going 10 to 1.


Countdown #362

***Featuring***
Alice Merton
The Beatles
Beck
Dessa
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy
Walk the Moon

Throwback Thursday: 1974 & 1973

I totally whiffed on remembering to post this last week, so we're just going to wrap two weeks' worth of content into one week! We're also going to finish up the 70's! So let's get into it!

MFSB and The Three Degrees - TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) (4/20/74-4/27/74)

Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love's Theme (2/9/74)

The Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein (5/26/73)

Top Ten Tuesday: Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas is You"

It's a historic day on the charts! For the first time, Mariah Carey's classic Christmas song has finally made it into the Top Ten. It was released on 11/1/1994. Insane. More than 23 years after its release, it finally makes it! And we're here to see it.

New Countdown: The Delicate Sound of Delayed Gratification

Alice Merton

I hope that you are ready for a BIG episode. We've got big names, big news, and big....me singers, the Foo Fighters? Because....that song "Big Me"? Yeah, I think that will be an excellent third item in that list.

Enjoy!


Countdown #361

***Featuring***
Alice Merton
The Beatles
Beck
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy
Walk the Moon

Top Ten Tuesday: Halsey "Bad at Love"

I enjoyed this song. And I enjoyed this video. Really happy it made it into the Top Ten!

Flashback Countdown #7 (1995)

Pearl Jam (1995)

I'm at Podcon as this is being published and I thought it would be fun to take a look back 22 years to this week in 1995. It was definitely a great week on the chart. Future Grammy Nominees and Hot 100 Top Ten songs abound!

Big thanks to my friend Amity for getting me a copy of the Folk Implosion song!

Enjoy!


Flashback Countdown #7 (1995)

***Featuring***
Bush
The Folk Implosion
Goo Goo Dolls
Joan Osborne
Pearl Jam
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Rentals
Seven Mary Three
Smashing Pumpkins
The Toadies

New Countdown: Full Circle

Beck

It's all coming back around this episode. ....And other circular puns. I thought it would be easier to come up with fun circle puns, but I guess I'm a little below the curve (is that a circle pun?).

Anyways, enjoy this mega-long episode!


Countdown #360

***Featuring***
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
A Perfect Circle
Portugal. The Man
R.E.M.
Radiohead
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy
Walk the Moon

Throwback Thursday: 1975

THREE instrumental songs went to #1 in 1975. Enjoy!


Silver Convention - Fly, Robin, Fly (11/29/75-12/13/75)

Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony - The Hustle (7/26/75)

Average White Band - Pick Up the Pieces (2/22/75)

Top Ten Tuesday: G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B "No Limit"

I listened to a program on the SiriusXM station 60's on 6 where, in honor of Thanksgiving, they counted down all of the "turkeys" of the 60's, where "Turkey" was defined as a song that peaked at #11. So of course I went through all of the songs from this year that had peaked at #11. I wrote this song down, but I erased it as the song went from 11->8 this week. I really love charts.

This is a fairly straightforward rap song. I like that Cardi B's star is still rising!

New Countdown: Gettin' Weird

30 Seconds to Mars

I think that this episode might start off with the weirdest song I've ever played. I hope you enjoy the craziness as much as I do. The show benefits from it, I think. A good shot in the arm that makes the more straightforward songs all the sweeter!


Countdown #359

***Featuring***
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
The Lumineers
Portugal. The Man
Radiohead
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy

New Countdown: The Swingin' Hits of the Alternative Songs

Radiohead

Sit back and enjoy this new countdown of all your favorite Alternative Songs, plus a couple of songs by the up-and-coming band pictured above!


Countdown #358

***Featuring***
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Imagine Dragons
Judah & the Lion
The Killers
Portugal. The Man
Radiohead
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy

Throwback Thursday: 1976

Another week with two instrumental #1 songs in one year! Pretty crazy. Enjoy!

Walter Murphy - A Fifth of Beethoven (10/9/76)

Rhythm Heritage - Theme from 'S.W.A.T.' (2/28/76)

Top Ten Tuesday: Maroon 5 featuring SZA "What Lovers Do"

This is a weird music video but it turns out that that is due, in part, to it being directed by Joseph Kahn, who also directed a movie called Detention that we watched and talked about on my other podcast. It had some of the same weirdness.

New Countdown: (Nice Podcast)

The Killers

This one came together so quickly! I guess that's what happens when you start talking about a new month and there's some movement on the chart! Enjoy this one and I'll have another one out to you very soon!


Countdown #357

***Featuring***
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Imagine Dragons
Judah & the Lion
The Killers
The Lumineers
Portugal. The Man
Radiohead
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy

New Countdown: Infantilization

Cage the Elephant

Hey Everyone! We wrap up the month of October in this episode. It's a great one, even if i stumble over some of the words. We're none of us perfect, so GET OFF MY BACK. :-D



Countdown #356

***Featuring***
Bad Veins
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Imagine Dragons
Judah and the Lion
The Killers
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy

Throwback Thursday: 1977

It's a movie soundtrack edition for your Thanksgiving Day!

Also, the first time in this run where you get TWO instrumentals in one post! 1977 was the last time that that happened, but certainly not the first!


Meco - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (10/1-10/8/77)

Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) (7/2/77)

New Countdown: Don't Get Fooled!

Imagine Dragons

It's easy to start thinking that you know things based on what I play and when I play it, but don't be so easily fooled! Maybe me saying that will make it so you aren't fooled, but maybe not! Enjoy the show in either case!


Countdown #355

***Featuring***
Bad Veins
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Dessa
Green Day
Imagine Dragons
Judah & the Lion
The Killers
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Vance Joy
Thirty Seconds to Mars

Throwback Thursday: 1979

This song rose (heh) to popularity when it was used as the background music when a woman was raped on General Hospital. And then it was played in future weeks on the show to evoke the memory of that rape. Ah, the 70's.

It was also sampled in future #1 "Hypnotize" by the Notorious B.I.G. (1997)

New Countdown: All Those W's

Vance Joy

We have another EXCELLENT show this week. Some old and even some new! I hope you enjoy it!


Countdown #354

***Featuring***
Bad Veins
Cage the Elephant
Imagine Dragons
Judah & the Lion
The Killers
The Lumineers
Marcy Playground
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy

Top Ten Tuesday: Ed Sheeran "Perfect"

Well this song is just lovely! And I know that girl from somewhere. Let me see if I can track her down...

Ah it's Zoey Deutch, the daughter of Lea Thompson and star of Before I Fall, the movie based on the book. Both of which we covered on my other podcast. Here's the episode about the book. Here's the episode about the movie

And here's the video!

New Countdown: Less Guitars, More Guitar Feelings

Imagine Dragons

It's another great episode of the Countdown. We move into a new month (though not the month you might expect!) and talk about the lack of guitar riffage on the chart these days.

Enjoy!


Countdown #353

***Featuring***
Bad Veins
Cage the Elephant
Imagine Dragons
Judah and the Lion
The Killers
Portugal. The Man
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy
Weezer

Throwback Thursday: 1982

Here's the second of the two instrumental songs that hit #1 in the 80's. An absolute classic for times when you need to dramatically run very slowly!

Vangelis - Chariots of Fire (5/8/82)

Top Ten Tuesday: Lil Pump "Gucci Gang"

Pretty simple song, pretty short. Not my favorite, but not the worst thing I've ever heard, either. It's catchier than I thought it would be when it started.

2017 Festive Fifty Shortlist Vote!

As is the yearly tradition, here are the contents of an email the went out this morning. Please feel free to participate and get your friends, loved ones, and bitter enemies to participate as well :)

OK! We officially have a Longlist for the 2017 Festive Fifty. It seems like a pretty diverse list. Some old favorites, some new favorites.

So here's what you need to do next. Send me a list (to contrastians@gmail.com) of your 10 favorite songs from this list. In order from "Most Favorite (1)" to "10th Most Favorite (10)" by the end of Sunday, 11/19.

If you would like, you may cast a Negative Vote for one song that you really don't want to see on the Final Festive Fifty.

Here's the list. The links to the Spotify playlist and 75% of the songs that aren't on Spotify is below that. Happy Voting!

Airiel - Keep You

Alt-J - 3WW

Alt-J - Pleader

Amy Lee - Love Exists

Angelica Garcia - Orange Flower

Archaique Smile - Faraway Salvation

Audiolepsia - Rachel

Besnard Lakes - Laura Lee

Big Thief - Shark Smile

Bleachers - Don't Take the Money

Blink 182 - Parking Lot

Cat Palace - Cat Palace

Cat Pierce - Hard to Be A Woman

Church - Undersea

Depeche Mode - Where's the Revolution?

Dessa - Good Grief

Diet cig - Sixteen

Diet Cig - Tummy Ache

Drive-By Truckers - What It Means

Dutch Uncles - Big Balloon

ENTRANCE - Not Gonna Say Your Name

Everything Everything - Desire

Feist - Baby Be Simple

Fleet Foxes - Third of May

Flo Morrissey and Matthew E. White - Look at What the Light Did Now

Flyte - Faithless

Flyte - Victoria Falls

Generationals - Turning the Screw

Girl Ray - Stupid Things

Gnod - Paper Error

Grandaddy - Way We Won't

Greta Van Fleet - Highway Tune

Grizzly Bear - Neighbors

Haim - Little of Your Love

HAIM - Want You Back

Halsey - 100 Letters

Halsey - Alone

Hamish Hawk - Goldenacre

Horrors - Something to Remember Me By

Humdrum Express - ePetition

Jarvis Cocker & Chilly Gonzales - Trick Of The Light

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - If We Were Vampires

Jens Lekman - How We Met, The Long Version

Jens Lekman - To Know Your Mission

Jeremy Messersmith - Everybody Gets a Kitten

Jessie Ware - Alone

Jessie Ware - Midnight

Josh Ritter (feat. Bob Weir) - When Will I Be Changed

Juana Molina - Sin Dones

Julia Michaels - Issues

K.Flay - Blood In the Cut

Kamasi Washington - Knowledge

Kendrick Lamar - DNA

Kesha - Bastards

Kesha - Praying

Lana Del Ray, The Weeknd - Lust for Life

Land of Talk - This Time

LCD Soundsystem - Call the Police

Lorde - Liability

Lorde - Perfect Places

Luke Haines - Building For Britain in the Seventies

Luxembourg Signal - Blue Field

Mark Lanaghan Band - Beehive

Meursault - Klopfgeist

MGMT - Little Dark Age

Morrissey - Spent the Day in Bed

Mountain Goats - Andrew Eldritch is Moving Back to Leeds

National - Dark Side of the Gym

Neil Finn - More Than One of You

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree

Pains of Being Pure At Heart - My Only

POS - Faded

Public Service Broadcasting - They Gave Me a Lamp

Queens of the Stone Age - The Way You Used To Do

Real Estate - Darling

Regrettes - Seashore

Residente - Una Leyenda China

Robert Plant - Bluebirds Over the Mountain

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - French Press

Secret Meadow - Vexation

Silver Torches - If I Reach

Sleaford Mods - BHS

Slowdive - Star Roving

Smiths - The Queen is Dead (Full Version)

SPC ECO - Pearls

St. Vincent - New York

Strobes - Winder

Superorganism - Something For Your M.I.N.D.

Sweet Baboo - Pink Rainbow

Tash Sultana - Jungle

Tashaki Miyaki - Get It Right

Temples - I Wanna Be Your Mirror

This Is The Kit - Hotter Colder

This Makes Us Human - Apology For a Revolution

Tourist - Sleepwalking

Tourist - We Stayed Up All Night

War on Drugs - Strangest Thing

War on Drugs - Thinking of a Place

Warm Digits ft. Field Music - End Times

Wolf Alice - Don't Delete the Kisses

XX - Replica

Zara Larsson - Lush Life

ZZ Ward - Cannonball

THE 2017 FESTIVE FIFTY LONGLIST SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Archaique Smile - Faraway Salvation

Hamish Hawk - Goldenacre

The Humdrum Express - e-Petition

Luke Haines - Building For Britain in the 70s is not available anywhere that I can find it. If you can find it definitely let me know!

Throwback Thursday: 1985

So after 2013, we go back almost 30 years before the next instrumental #1! Throwback indeed! We're jumping back to almost exactly this week in 1985.

This is one of two TV themes that would make #1, although we have a #1 coming up in a couple of weeks that was #1 because of its inclusion on a TV show! Stay Tuned for that. But for now, it's Hammer time.

Jan Hammer - Miami Vice Theme (11/9/1985)

Top Ten Tuesday: Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug "Havana"

This is a very entertaining video for a very catchy song that isn't what we normally hear from the Top Ten. Very cool. I wasn't a huge fan of Young Thug's part, but that's just a personal preference.

New Countdown: Take THAT, Twenty One Pilots

The Revivalists

This episode came out VERY easily. I love when episodes come out easily. I hope you enjoy it!


Countdown #352

***Featuring***
Cage the Elephant
Foo Fighters
Frightened Rabbit
Imagine Dragons
Judah & the Lion
The Killers
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Vance Joy
Weezer

Throwback Thursday: 2013

Welcome to the new season (?) of Throwback Thursday! We're going to be looking back at all of the instrumental songs that have hit #1 on the charts! There are no instrumental songs from the 90's that hit #1, so it'll be refreshing to not do any 90's songs for a while.

And before anyone says anything, these are instrumental songs, but they might have some vocal parts in them. it's just that they're instrumental enough to be called instrumental by Billboard.

Here's the only instrumental song to hit #1 since I have been able to read! It jetted up to #1 after a meme started going around YouTube and Facebook. You can probably search YouTube for "Harlem Shake Videos" and see TONS. Billboard made changes to how they tallied the Hot 100 right around the time that the Harlem Shake meme was really hot. The change was that they would allow YouTube videos that featured songs to push those songs up the chart. So it was only natural that this one blasted up to the top and stayed there for 5 weeks!

Enjoy! And dance!

Baauer - Harlem Shake (2/2-2/23)

And here's a Top Ten Countdown of the Best Harlem Shake videos because apparently there was never an official music video for it

Top Ten Tuesday: Imagine Dragons "Thunder"

Hey hey the second Imagine Dragons song to make the Top 5 and also the third song from the countdown show to make the Top 5! It's all coming up Alternative Songs lately!

New Countdown: Ride the Earth

Judah & the Lion

It was another great show as we work our way through the end of the September shows, hopefully on a path to catch up to present by the end of the year!

Enjoy!


Countdown #351

***Featuring***
Cage the Elephant
Frightened Rabbit
Imagine Dragons
Judah & the Lion
The Killers
Linkin Park
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Vance Joy
Weezer

Throwback Thursday: 1995 (16 Weeks at #1)

Well here it is. The crown jewel of the Hot 100. The song with the most weeks at #1. Recently tied, but not defeated. Enjoy! And check back in next Thursday for a new series of Throwback Thursday posts. Thanks for joining me as we made our way back through the 90's!

Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day (12/2/95-3/16/96)

Top Ten Tuesday: Sam Smith "Too Good at Goodbyes"

Sam Smith is back in the Top Ten for the first time in maybe like 2 years? This is a very catchy, very Sam Smith-y song. I like it quite a bit, even if it is VERY sad

New Countdown: Play it Where it Lays

Frightened Rabbit

Happy 350th episode! It's hard to believe that I've been doing this countdown for roughly 7.5 years!

Bit of a theme this week, but mostly just a lot of really great songs! So, enjoy!


Countdown #350

***Featuring***
The Dirty Heads featuring Rome Ramirez from Sublime With Rome
Frightened Rabbit
Imagine Dragons
Judah and the Lion
The Killers
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Shinedown
Sir Sly
Vance Joy
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: J Balvin & Willy William featuring Beyonce "Mi Gente"

This is one of those songs that, when I hit play, I was like "OHHH *THIS* song!!!" This is a very catchy song and I really like the video. It's just people dancing and then you follow the bouncing heads of the singers for all of the lyrics (as well as knowing who is singing.) It's very cool. Enjoy!

New Countdown: Butterfly vs Man

Foo Fighters

We have got some EXCELLENT tunes for you today and some interesting tidbits in the intros. Can you guess which songwriter cites a Chinese proverb as the guiding force behind their new album?

Enjoy!


Countdown #349

***Featuring***
Foo Fighters
Frightened Rabbit
Imagine Dragons
Judah and the Lion
The Killers
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Vance Joy
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: Demi Lovato "Sorry Not Sorry"

I wouldn't say that I'm a HUGE fan of Demi Lovato's music. It's not for me, and that is totally ok. This song is fairly catchy and the video is pretty enjoyable to watch. Make sure you watch until the end. I feel like she has a cool personality and this video went a long way to reinforce that

New Countdown: Feels Like (the end of) Summer

Frightened Rabbit

I'm playing a little bit of catch up, so this episode includes a run-down of how songs did on my Songs of the Summer chart, but that's ok because the weather still feels like the first week of September anyway!

Enjoy the tunes!!


Countdown #348

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Frightened Rabbit
Imagine Dragons
Judah and the Lion
The Killers
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Smashing Pumpkins
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: Portugal. The Man "Feel It Still"

Hey this song should sound familiar to people that listen to my podcast! After weeks and weeks of being at #1 on the Alternative Songs chart, PTM have finally made it to the Hot 100 Top Ten, going 14->10 this week. Congratulations!

Throwback Thursday: 1992 (14 Weeks at #1)

This is the penultimate edition of Throwback Thursday: Backwards Through the 90's! Next week will be the song with the most weeks at #1 in the 90's (and, until it was recently tied, of all time). And then we'll start something new.

Enjoy another classic!

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (11/28/92-2/27/93)

Top Ten Tuesday: Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid "1-800-273-8255"

Wow. This video is intense. But VERY good. I read yesterday that 1-800-273-8255 (which is the number for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline) is now the highest charting telephone number of all time, edging out Tommy Tutone's "867-5309 (Jenny)", which I think is probably a good thing.

The song is good, too. Which is nice :)

New Countdown: Unprecedented

Foo Fighters

It's a pretty fun episode this week but I want to keep the details of that a secret until you're listening! So buckle up and have fun :)


Countdown #347

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Streetlight Manifesto
Weezer

Throwback Thursday: 1994 (14 Weeks at #1)

Another absolute classic. Enjoy :)

Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love to You (8/27-11/26)

Top Ten Tuesday: Taylor Swift "...Ready For It?"

With this song entering the Top 5 at the same time that "Look What You Made Me Do" is at #1, Taylor Swift becomes the first woman to have two songs in the Top 5 at the same time since she acheived the same feat in 2015.

This album is going to be bananas, I think. In a good way...probably :)

New Countdown: Hello Thom? We've Got You Covered

Imagine Dragons

We're nearing the end of August in the charts as the weather in non-chart Land gets chilly. But no matter how cold you feel, it still feels like summer on the charts ;-)


Countdown #346

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Killers 
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Streetlight Manifesto
Vampire Weekend
Weezer

Throwback Thursday: 1996 (14 Weeks at #1)

We're officially in the SMASH HITS OF THE 90'S area of Throwback Thursday. Remember this classic? Haha of course you do :)

Enjoy!

Los Del Rio - Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix) (8/3-11/2

Top Ten Tuesday: Taylor Swift "Look What You Made Me Do"

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Taylor Swift's new song blasts up to #1. It robs "Despacito" of breaking the record for most weeks at #1 (though it could very well take that honor next week or the week after. Basically, any other time "Despacito" is at #1, it's a record breaker.) and the video is pretty entertaining, in my opinion (especially the part at the end :) )

New Countdown: Ten Chart Songs, Two Bonus Songs, Suits Me Very Fine

Bleachers (with Lil Bleachers (which is from something on Conan, I gather.))

Another great episode this week! This month's Artist of the Month is pretty fantastic and I've been enjoying playing them on the show :)

Enjoy listening to them and the other songs, as well!



Countdown #345

***Featuring***
Bleachers
The Cardigans
Foo Fighters
The Killers
Imagine Dragons
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Streetlight Manifesto
Weezer

Throwback Thursday: 1997 (14 Weeks at #1)

Well I scheduled this to go up almost 5 months ago, but here it is! We're getting near the end of this journey through the 90's and I have recently figured out what's next for Throwback Thursday. It's going to be good. Enjoy!

Ok, whoa. I totally didn't realize that TODAY is the 20th anniversary of Diana's death. That is so weird. I just had this feeling like "I think I'll post that Throwback Thursday video that I've been sitting on". Life is strange.

Elton John - Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight (10/11-1/10/98)

Top Ten Tuesday: Shawn Mendes "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back"

Ok I really liked this video and I think this song is really good. I may need to check out the Shawn Mendes album because I have really enjoyed the songs I've heard from it.

New Countdown: Turning a Hawk into a Little White Dove

Foo Fighters

I get a little long-winded on this one, but that's ok because the rock is in full effect!

Enjoy!


Countdown #344

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Foo Fighters
Huey Lewis & the News
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
Muse
New Politics
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Streetlight Manifesto
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: Cardi B "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)"

This is the song with the biggest gain in airplay for the week as it moves 8->3. I heard it a number of times this past weekend on several Spotify chart playlists. It's pretty catchy.

Reading Quest Update: Day 7 (August 19)

Name: Rob
Class: Rogue
Level: 1
EXP: 30
HP: 72
Currently Reading: The Short Drop (33 pages read)

Rob blasted through the Magic: The Gathering book and then sailed recklessly through Candide (one word title).

Candide was kind of an odd one. I felt some of the political and religious satire flying right over my head, but I enjoyed it quite a bit more than I expected to! There were some incredibly violent parts and some really funny parts, too.

Moving on from there, I started reading The Short Drop (partially obscured face on the cover) and, after going through Candide, this is going to be a breeze. I'm still in the exposition part, but it's quite enjoyable.

This Quest is really fun and I feel like it's going quite well!

New Countdown: Summer Songs in the Fall

Bleachers

This episode feels like I've been working on it forever, but I think it has turned out really great, so I hope you enjoy it!


Countdown #343

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
Kings of Leon
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Spoon
The Vaccines
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: Charlie Puth "Attention"

This is a pretty catchy song. And the video is fairly straightforward. I would have loved to have seen a little more acting on his part when she starts throwing stuff, but he's a musician, not an actor, so it's fine!

Reading Quest Update: Day 1 (August 13)

Name: Rob
Class: Rogue
Level: 1
EXP: 10
HP: 27
Currently Reading: Prologue to Battle For Zendikar: Collected Stories (172 pages read)

Rob came out of the gate strong as I read about half of the Prologue to Battle For Zendikar: Collected Stories (Which is what I'm reading for the "Books with < 500 Ratings on GoodReads" quest).

I feel a little weird because this book says that it is 380 pages, but the "pages" are probably about 1/4-1/2 the size of an actual book page. So I'm not sure how that should count towards HP (I get +1 HP per 10 pages I read, which helps towards the final score)

I'm quite enjoying this book so far. I like getting the story behind these Magic: The Gathering sets that I've played with. Occasionally, they'll have a piece of art featured in the story and it's fun to look up what card that art is from.

After this, I think I'm going to dive into Candide.

This has been fun so far!!!

New Countdown: Shhh It's a Secret!

Sir Sly

Hello there! It's time once again for your favorite under the radar countdown show! Did you know that if you listen to this, you are participating in some back alley, speakeasy-style podcast consumption? Well you are! So pat yourself on your sneaky back!

Here's an episode with some music in it!

Enjoy!


Countdown #342

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
The Killers
Kings of Leon
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Shredders
Sir Sly
Weezer

A Reading Quest!

I normally post about music, but I'm going to be doing this Reading Quest event and there's supposed to be kind of a home page for my activities with it.

You can find details here but the deal is that I'm going to be a Rogue (I chose from these options):



I need to figure out what kind of Rogue I'm going to be and maybe like, what my name is, etc. Maybe my Rogue's name is "Rob" (like Robin Hood, but, you know, casual.)

And so Rob will follow the bottom path on this sheet:

 

 And then I can earn points and all sorts of stuff explained in the post linked above, but really, it's a way to switch up how I'm selecting my books to read.

So, from 8/13-9/10, I will be reading from the following list:

A Banned Book - The Autobiography of Malcom X
A Book Cover with a Partially Obscured Face - The Short Drop (which has this cover):


A Book with <500 -="" are="" ebooks="" from.="" gathering-related="" going="" google="" i="" m="" magic:the="" on="" p="" pick="" ratings="" several="" that="" there="" to="">
A Book Published by a Small Press: A Monster Calls (published by Candlewick Press), which appears to be fairly small

A Book With a One Word Title - Candide (it has a one word title and it's super short!)


So that's what I'm going to be doing for the next month or so. You can sign up too!

I want to give credit to CW from Read, Think, Ponder for the artwork on the two things I pasted above!

Rob, out!

New Countdown: Title Track Bonus Hour!

Sir Sly

This week's episode features not one but TWO bonus songs that are title tracks! I know you're excited to listen, so I hope you enjoy it :)


Countdown #341

***Featuring***
Bleachers
Cold War Kids
Florist
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
Kings of Leon
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: French Montana featuring Swae Lee "Unforgettable"

A lovely video of a very catchy song that takes a HUGE TURN at the end. I do tend to like when all the videos from an album tell one story. That can be a fun way to do things!

This doesn't have anything to do with this song, but we might be in the middle of some history-making right now. "Despacito" is getting very close to breaking Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men's record for 16 weeks at #1. So watch out for if that happens!

New Countdown: Not on Bastille Day, Not on My Birthday, But Finally This Sees the Light of Day!

Daddy Issues (the NC one)

Sometimes life just gets in the way of recording. Nevertheless, this is a fantastic episode full of great tunes and semi-ok conversations with myself :)

Enjoy!


Countdown #340

***Featuring***
Bastille
Bleachers
Cold War Kids
Daddy Issues
Imagine Dragons
Kings of Leon
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Portugal. The Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly
Weezer

Top Ten Tuesday: Sam Hunt "Body Like a Back Road"

This is a pretty straightforward song, I suppose. It's a little right over the plate. Blue jeans, driving metaphors, etc. But it's pretty catchy. I didn't hate it but I did wish it was a little better, you know?

New Countdown: Full Coverage

Sir Sly

Spoiler Alert: There's no movement in the charts this week, so we tried something a little different with the format and I think it was pretty fun! And it's repeatable, so hopefully I remember to do it the next time this happens! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it!


Countdown #339

***Featuring***
Bastille
Bleachers
Cold War Kids
Imagine Dragons
Kings of Leon
Mumford & Sons (and Friends)
Muse
Portugal the Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly

Top Ten Wednesday: Imagine Dragons "Believer"

Hey here's a song that listeners of my podcast might be familiar with! It moves 11->6 this week! Way to go! And their album Evolve debuts at #2 this week!

Also, this video has Dolph Lundgren!

New Countdown: Caught Up

Kings of Leon

And with this, I am officially as caught up as I can be on countdowns! It's because of my own rules that I have to wait until Saturday before I record (Artist of the Month!) but it still feels great. I hope you've been enjoying the avalanche of countdowns! Is this what a smorgasbord looks like?

Enjoy!


Countdown #338

***Featuring***
Bastille
Bleachers
Cold War Kids
Imagine Dragons
John Legend
Kings of Leon
Linkin Park
Muse
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly

Top Ten Tuesday: DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller "Wild Thoughts"

This is quite a steamy video, but fairly straightforward. I wonder if we'll look back in 20 years and shake our heads in wonder at the phenomenon of DJ Khaled.

Also, this song uses the guitar part from "Maria, Maria" by Santana (featuring Wyclef Jean and The Product G&B) which was #1 back in April of 2000. I will include the video for that below as well!

New Countdown: Front Loaded

Muse

This episode starts with a long song (but a GREAT song) followed almost immediately by a rather long intro. So it's a little front loaded, but I think it's a great episode and the songs are really fun!


Countdown #337

***Featuring***
Bastille
Bleachers
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Imagine Dragons
John Legend
Muse
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revialists
The Roots
Sir Sly
Weezer

New Countdown: Peak Cold

Rag'n'Bone Man

Hey it's Father's Day! Happy Father's Day to all Fathers out there. And Father Figures. And anyone who feels like this day is a day that's special to them! It is! And you're doing a great job. Being a parent isn't always easy, and I know I'm always wishing I could be a better Dad, but I know that, as long as I keep striving to improve, I'll be ok.

So....how about a new countdown? Sounds good. Enjoy!


Countdown #336

***Featuring***
Arctic Monkeys
Bastille
Bleachers
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Imagine Dragons
John Legend
Kings of Leon
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
The Roots
Sir Sly

New Countdown: Tay Kyerye Guys

Rag'n'Bone Man

This week's title comes from the very last...well, I can't call them words, but sounds that I say on this episode. That's what I hear. What do you hear?

Oh and enjoy the episode :)



Countdown #335

***Featuring***
Bastille
Bleachers
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
DREAMERS
Imagine Dragons
John Legend
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
The Roots
Sir Sly

Top Ten Tuesday: Zedd & Alessia Cara "Stay"

Wow. This video was really engaging. I like the song very much, but the video was an engaging and entertaining thing to watch. I really loved it. Glad this is in the Top Ten!

New Countdown: The Way The Whole Thing Ends

The Revivalists

Don't panic! The title is a reference to something and also to the end of the month of May (yeah, chart dates are weird. Believe me, I know :) ). I wouldn't put such a clickbaity title if it actually reflected me hanging up my hat. Which I guess is kind of weird. Like, "If you see something like that, know that it's probably me not being serious about it."

Enjoy!


Countdown #334

***Featuring***
Bastille
Bleachers
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Conor Oberst
DREAMERS
Gillian Welch
Imagine Dragons
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
Sir Sly

Top Ten Tuesday: Post Malone featuring Quavo "Congratulations"

This is a very catchy and listenable song! I love TTT because it exposes me to music I wouldn't otherwise give a shot. This one was fun and the video is somehow very sweet

New Countdown: Three Three's and an 11!

Cage the Elephant

It gets super mathy this week, but what would expect from me when dealing with episode #333? :)

Enjoy!



Countdown #333

***Featuring***
Bastille
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Conor Oberst
DREAMERS
Gillian Welch
Imagine Dragons
Lorde
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists
Semisonic
Sir Sly

Top Ten Tuesday: Kygo x Selena Gomez "It Ain't Me"

This is a very good song with a very compelling video. It's videos like this that I think of when people talk about the music video being a dead art.

New Countdown: Trivia

Cold War Kids

This episode came together very quickly and it has some excellent bits of trivia. So I think you'll definitely enjoy it. I hope I'm right :)



Countdown #332

***Featuring***
Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch (and Emmylou Harris)
Bastille
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Dreamers
Imagine Dragons
Lorde
Missio
Portugal. The Man
Rag'n'Bone Man
The Revivalists