*creds to Amaloner for the banner* |
130. Marianas Trench - "Here's to the Zeros"
This isn't MT's best work and they know it, judging by their decision to delay the album a full year and create new material. The lyrical theme of "here's to the underdogs/losers/dropouts" is so tired and cliché at this point but at least it's an improvement over the messy Pop 101. When their real comeback finally came it was a pleasant surprise but we'll get to that later. |
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129. John Newman - "Come and Get It"
I used to love this song, at one point I thought it was better than Love Me Again. Now it's kind of lost its charm but I still love the catchy and danceable hook. It's too bad he couldn't smash in the US after his exposure from Blame but there's always next era... |
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128. Young Rising Sons - "****ed Up"
I keep waiting for these guys to release an actual album and they never do it but I suppose these cute EP singles can keep me occupied for a while. This one reminds me of The Summer Set, Boys Like Girls, or one of those pop-punk bands that I used to love. Nothing overly complicated, just a happy song about going out and having some drunken fun. |
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127. MIKA - "Talk About You"
People say this guy is annoying and overly theatrical and I kind of agree, after all the song sounds like something you'd find in a musical but the chorus just gets stuck in your head and soon you have it on repeat. I love the video too, it's perfect for a song about falling in love, so bright and colorful and full of life. |
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126. Ed Sheeran - "Bloodstream"
While I love Ed's album on so many levels this was never one of my favorite tracks, it's too simplistic and cookie-cutter compared to his more beautiful ballads. The remix adds some life but at the same time it's really weird. Thankfully it never saw the light of day in the US cause it would've flopped miserably. |
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125. Kiesza - "No Enemiesz"
Kiesza isn't precisely the most interesting singer or songwriter out there but her music is so captivating in a bizarre sort of way. People always say it sounds like 90s music but unfortunately I don't know much about that era so I can't judge. Either way this one sounds like Hideaway 2.0 and that can only be a good thing considering how I was addicted to Hideaway late last year. |
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124. Vance Joy - "Fire and the Flood"
This guy was such a wonderful discovery last year. I stumbled upon Riptide after so long and fell in love, it was like indie-pop perfection so I ended up hearing his album which is in fact very good. Then he gave us this deluxe edition single which adds an upbeat folky touch to his traditional sound, not as good as Riptide or Mess is Mine but still quite enjoyable. I'll be anticipating his next album in 2016. |
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123. Leona Lewis - "Fire Under My Feet"
Well through some unintentional means the two "fire" songs ended up together. I guess it makes sense cause I enjoyed both of them but they're not particularly memorable. Anyway I'm pretty sure it's already been said but this song reminds me of Rolling in the Deep with the piano and drum based instrumental and the powerful vocals, I'm also hearing a little bit of Emeli Sandé's Next to Me. It's too bad she couldn't replicate their success in the UK. |
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122. Sam Hunt - "House Party"
While this isn't my favorite Sam Hunt song it was his first to chart in my countdown so it gets this placement. It's really not country but then again neither is most of the stuff on country radio nowadays so I don't take it too seriously. It's like the type of generic pop that you'd find on the radio in 2010-2011, where you're addicted for a couple weeks and then it burns out. Thankfully not all of his music is like this which we'll discuss later. |
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121. MisterWives - "Our Own House"
This band is really worth checking out if you don't know them, their upbeat alt-pop style isn't unheard of but the lead singer is trained in opera which means she brings a very unique vocal delivery to every song. This one in particular makes you want to get up and dance around, it's so infectious. The video is creative and funny too, I love the 80s themed outfits lol. |
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120. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness - "High Dive"
I can't explain how much I loved Andrew McMahon's album this year, it's like a breath of fresh air, so beautiful and pure and soothing. Each track has a special meaning from his own experience and as a father and cancer survivor he has some very interesting stories to tell. Plus the imagery is just spectacular, on this song in particular you can close your eyes and accompany him on his flashbacks, driving out on a moonlit night to see the girl of his dreams. |
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119. Andy Grammer - "Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)"
It's so obvious that Andy's trying to recreate the surprise success he found with Honey I'm Good, in fact the lyrics are kind of telling that story but I'm one of the few who loved HIG so it's fine with me. It's his signature feel-good style which reminds us that we should persevere through the hardships life throws at us because there's always a light at the end of the tunnel, cheesy perhaps but it's very effective imo. |
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118. Nate Ruess - "Great Big Storm"
First of all I'm glad Nate is taking this opportunity away from his bandmates to explore his own style, we've always known he had a theatrical side and now he's able to develop it more fully. However I'm not really convinced on this music, the vocals become annoying and other aspects such as lyrics and production aren't particularly strong to make up for it. Bleachers is the better side project imo. |
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117. James Bay - "Let It Go"
I have to say I'm very surprised to see James Bay getting a second chance at US success, none of Passenger and George Ezra and Vance Joy could do it with much bigger hits but then again maybe that's the reason, the GP hasn't had a chance to get sick of him. That being said I really prefer HBTR, this song is very beautiful but almost too melancholy for my taste. His album is better than the singles suggest tbh. |
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116. Kelly Clarkson - "Invincible"
This song features one of Kelly's best vocal performances in years to go along with a great uplifting melody. However I just can't get past the incredibly cheesy lyrics, Sia's really not as good of a songwriter as people say and this is the proof. And yes, I prefer Heartbeat Song. Sue me.  |
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115. Bastille - "Flaws"
I would call this a 2014 leftover but even that feels inaccurate when it was technically released all the way back in 2012. In all honesty they should've released Bad Blood as the Pompeii follow-up instead, at all formats not just alternative. Nonetheless Flaws had to be part of my list this year because it's absolutely brilliant and I'm starting to think I'm the only one who appreciates its beautiful simplicity. It conveys that wonderful feeling to be around someone who knows your faults and still loves you the way you are. |
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114. Penguin Prison - "Never Gets Old"
I first heard of this group when their video was added to VH1 and one week when I didn't have enough songs to debut I decided it was decent enough. The video itself is strange, I don't really understand why they filmed it at a retirement home, maybe because of the title(?) but the song is pretty good and catchy. |
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113. The Griswolds - "If You Wanna Stay"
I don't have much to say about this song, it's just another catchy indie-pop track that I picked up for a couple weeks then dropped. I'll probably never hear of The Griswolds again but it was a nice addition to my playlist. It kind of sounds like something Grouplove or Passion Pit would record with the electronic influenced production. |
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112. Nico & Vinz - "That's How You Know" (feat. Kid Ink & Bebe Rexha)
Ok this song is kind of terrible, it's like a parody version of FourFiveSeconds not to mention the completely random collaboration between these three artists but they made it so funny and tongue-in-cheek that I just couldn't resist. "You were the man in college/Got a degree in awesome" might be one of the most hilariously cringeworthy lyrics I've heard in 2015. |
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111. MS MR - "Painted"
I've heard of this band for a while now but I never bothered listening cause their style of music doesn't usually appeal to me and it didn't really help that they were compared to Florence Welch and Lana Del Rey. However I came across this song through the YTT section and I was intrigued by the unique combination of sounds, so they ended up here. The "what did you think would happen" chant always gets stuck in my head. |
Recap posted in OP 
The chorus is a bit annoying now and Big Sean's part is my favorite 
