Top 15 Songs Of 2017
I had hoped to keep this down to a Top Ten but just like with the albums I couldn’t contain myself.
All these songs are great and mean a lot to me, some even make me cry, but all of these songs really “move” me. And even if that’s just out of the way of oncoming traffic- well, all the better for me.
I picked a different song as a favorite when I reviewed this demo of Pint Killers last January. But now I choose “Raise A Glass.” This is a rousing, Black Flag like number for all our fallen friends. “We’ll be together in the end. We’ll be together in the end, my friends.” A great mixture of joyous celebration and a heavy hanging fatalistic vibe envelop this great song.
So many great songs on “Disappearing Acts” off of Coffin Salesman’s first release. But “Easy Go” which covers such ground as aspiring artists and DUI’s and plays out as if Dylan was a young, new punk on the scene gets my choice. Favorite line of the year: “But no good decision happens after 3 A.M.”
“Let’s Go To The Moon” by The Only Things is not only my pick of best song of the year but possibly since TNB has existed. “I don’t know if I like this so much for the hope or the hopelessness of this song.” Reminding me of the Pixies at their best- energetic rhythms, minimal stark guitar and emotive vocals- but any song that makes me cry every time I hear it gets high praise from me.
And “Your Walk Home” is by The Only Things but off their great, second release “Hit List.” I picked another song in my review but now I wanna pick this one with its’ “shimmering beauty.” Certainly the least punk song on this list but one I conclude “is a fucking beautiful song.” That makes me weep, too. “‘Cause nobody cares.”
“Scars” was not my pick on Loser’s Circle great album “Took Long Enough.” So hard to pick one, but here’s another song that’s celebratory and regretful at the same time. “Great combination of lively, buoyant music and reflective, depressive words.” And terrific playing and exceptionally, excellent emotive singing.
“Yeah, I Know” by Maine’s Uncle Spudd is off one of my favorite albums last year “Spudd Light.” It’s an energetic punk song taken at almost hardcore, breakneck speed with some great rhythm guitar and it’s about growing up or the lack of- something I can really relate to.
“Right As Rain” by The New Frustrations I called, “a perfectly constructed melodic/punk song,” that “reminds me of The Replacements and does that comparison justice with such a great tune.” Catchy as hell but with substance, as well.
Test Meat is a kind of minimalistic metal band that just missed making the Top 15 album/EP’s releases. Think of The Ramones as if they had been a metal band. And listen to their great song, “He Don’t Know” and then you will know what I mean.
Time Out Timmy is another band that just missed being included and if you listen to “Real World” I think you’ll understand why I say this. A somewhat X sounding song “that is a sad, reflective song that is still positive.” Wonderful tune with the great line, “‘Cause I know there’s a place in you. Where a beam of light shines on through.” Much like this sparkling, gem of a tune.
“Killing me slowly, killing me all the time. With a little bit more or a little bit less of me left inside.” A great line off of one the best albums of the year “Basement Anthems.” When you mention The Dictators, The Clash and The Rolling Stones in the review of a song, that indicates to me- it’s very good. And on a personal note the line, “You gotta find out, find out for yourself. It’s along way back from being someone else,” pertains to me perfectly, right now.
The only reason Kermit’s Finger didn’t make it in the Top 15 was their album was released in 2010! But after turning in my favorite set of the year I felt they needed to be reviewed. And their song “I Need Destruction” needs to be included here. “A super charged punk/hardcore song that reeks of Iggy & The Stooges…I wanna write words, one tenth as good as this song.”
I think most folks would choose “I Don’t Do Notes” off of Damn Broads excellent “Looks Do Kill.” But I’m going with the in your face “Car Bar”- excellent production, fierce intense playing…intoxicating, rejuvenating, exciting, explosive and raw…at the car bar, the fuckin’ car bar.”
“Johnny” by M.A.T.B. with it’s Clash like punk/reggae rhythm tells the tale of an unrepentant junkie- Hey! it could be about Johnny Thunders. It’s a simple, straight forward song that could stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the punk classics back in the day.
Here’s a beautiful, poignant song that makes me cry every time, “Travel The Universe” by The Prozacs. “There’s a feeling in my heart and I don’t know what to do.” The solution- “I’m gonna travel the universe for you, only you.” This song is so open and vulnerable while still being energetic and punk that it became one of my very favorite songs of the year.
“About You” by The Lost Riots goes, “Everyday I sit and think about you. And everyday I sit and drink about you.” And I wrote, “Everyday I sit and drink and think about what a cold, cruel world we’ve been cast into and then, once in a while I hear a song that’s so perfect, real and true that it makes me feel it’s all worthwhile.”
And that’s what I feel about this song and all the songs on my list.
(Slimedog)
