I wasn't very familiar with this band before this year, I recently discovered their old single "Panic Switch" and I really liked it so I decided to give this one a shot. It's a bit hard to get into at first, it's not the typical alt rock track it's actually sort of strange, but once you get used to it you can't get enough. The best part is the chorus, it was stuck in my head for weeks.
Fall Out Boy "Uma Thurman"
While I don't particularly adore this song as a single I think it did its job quite well, plus it has one of the catchiest hooks of the album, that's always good. However, I do think I've had enough of Fall Out Boy for a while, their singles are getting more and more generic and they evolved little to nothing with this new album. Take a break guys.
Alesso feat. Tove Lo "Heroes (we could be)"
This is one of those rare examples of a super generic song that I can actually tolerate. The song itself is as basic as it gets, it features a very formulaic EDM beat with a lazy empowerment phrase repeated over and over again, but I just can't explain why I like it so much. Oh well, let's call it a guilty pleasure.
James Morrison "Demons"
James Morrison is the perfect example of the stereotypical british WGWG (as much as I hate this term it actually applies to him). He's not a particularly talented vocalist or songwriter but he does his job the best that he can and sometimes he manages to surprise me. This song might sound silly at first but it actually has a deep message. Give it a chance if you can.
Zedd feat. Jon Bellion "Beautiful Now"
Judging by that weird music video it's pretty clear Zedd can't act for his life but at least he tries to make his otherwise generic music a bit more personal and organic compared to his peers. Moreover, compared to Clarity and Find You this one is a bit weak in the lyrics department but it's waaaay better than the awful lead single he tried to push.
U2 "Every Breaking Wave"
It was about time U2 would release a great single this decade. It's nowhere near the level of epicness of City or Blinding Lights or Stuck In a Moment... but it shows Bono still has it. This song is a shimmering power ballad with every element of a standard U2 song (adjusted for decline). It never got old for me, I still listen to it on the regular.
Sia "Alive "
There's nothing wrong with this song, it's a decent (but rather eccentric) empowerment belter. What's wrong is the fact that, like the rest of the album, Sia wrote it for somebody else so it ends up sounding like an uninspired cover rather than an original Sia track. Besides, the obvious attempt to recreate Chandelier didn't help much.
Jamie Lawson "Wasn't Expecting That"
Jamie Lawson was handpicked by Ed Sheeran to be the first artist signed to his label. At first I had my doubts considering Ed doesn't have much experience as a manager but it turns out Jamie has his own style and Ed let him go his own way. This song is a cute not-so-typical love song with a twist at the end, just like the music video. Highly recommended.
Marina Kaye "Homeless"
I'm not usually a big fan of reality show contestants but this is one of those rare cases when talent speaks for itself. Marina is the winner of France's Got Talent and her debut EP/album is mind blowing for such a young aged artist, those pathetic karaoke "singers" from The Voice should take notes. I wish her label was smart enough to push for an international release next year.
X Ambassadors "Renegades"
I honestly feel this song is a bit late to the party, it would have done way better if it had been released in 2013 now it will only be compared to Imagine Dragons (and rightfully so). Even so I think it has its charm, not the anthemic alternative smash it was aiming for but it's a good enough contender.
Thanks for your comments.
RECAP
51 X Ambassadors - Renegades
52 Marina Kaye - Homeless
53 Jamie Lawson - Wasn't Expecting That
54 Sia - Alive
55 U2 - Every Breaking Wave
56 Zedd - Beautiful Now
57 James Morrison - Demons
58 Alesso - Heroes (feat. Tove Lo)
59 Fall Out Boy - Uma Thurman
60 Silversun Pickups - Nightlight
61 Years & Years - Eyes Shut
62 Foxes - Feet Don't Fail Me Now
63 Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life
64 Giorgio Moroder - Deja Vu (feat. Sia)
65 Ed Sheeran - Bloodstream
66 Madonna - Ghosttown
67 Carrie Underwood - Something In The Water
68 Rudimental - Lay It All On Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)
69 Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
70 Little Big Town - Girl Crush
71 Nico & Vinz - In Your Arms
72 Kelly Clarkson - Invincible
73 Saint Motel - My Type
74 Brandon Flowers - Still Want You
75 Nothing But Thieves - Wake Up Call
76 Sam Hunt - Take Your Time
77 Kodaline - Love Will Set You Free
78 Fall Out Boy - American Beauty / American Psycho
79 Louane - Jeune (J'ai envie)
80 LIGHTS - Running With Boys
81 Jess Glynne - Take Me Home
82 CHVRCHES - Leave a Trace
83 The Script - Man On A Wire
84 Sam Smith - Lay Me Down (feat. John Legend)
85 Coeur de Pirate - Oublie-Moi (Carry On)
86 PVRIS - My House
87 Maldita Nerea - Perdona Si Te Llamo Amor
88 Taylor Swift - Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
89 Enya - Echoes In Rain
90 Sia - Fire Meet Gasoline
91 Kodaline - The One
92 Fall Out Boy - Immortals
93 The All-American Rejects - There's a Place
94 Years & Years - Desire
95 Imagine Dragons - Roots
96 Kelly Clarkson - Hearbeat Song
97 Young Rising Suns - High
98 Wiz Khalifa - See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth)
99 Family of the Year - Hero
100 Omi - Cheerleader
101 Thomas Rhett - Die A Happy Man
102 Missy Eliott - WTF (feat. Pharrell Williams)
103 Vance Joy - The Fire and the Flood
104 Sam Smith - Writing's on the Wall
105 Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better
106 The Veronicas - If You Love Someone
107 Jarryd James - Do You Remember
108 Walk Off Earth - Rule the World
109 George Ezra - Barcelona
110 twenty one pilots - Ride
111 Ingrid Michaelson - Afterlife
112 Lost Frequencies - Reality (feat. Janieck Devy)
113 Tori Kelly - Nobody Love
114 U2 - Song for Someone
115 Kygo - Firestone
116 Carrie Underwood - Smoke Break
117 Nate Ruess - Great Big Storm
118 James Bay - Let It Go
119 The Vaccines - Minimal Affection
120 Coleman Hell - 2 Heads
121 Louane - Je Vole
122 The Script - No Good in Goodbye
123 Last Dinosaurs - Apollo
124 Muse - Mercy
125 Drake - Hotline Bling
126 Kelly Clarkson - Piece by Piece [Radio Edit]
127 Mr. Probz - Waves
128 Fall Out Boy - Irresistible
129 Bleachers - Rollercoaster
130 George Ezra - Listen to the Man
131 Sam Smith - I'm Not The Only One
132 Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good
133 Jessie Wire - You & I (Forever)
134 James Newton Howard - The Hanging Tree
135 Ingrid Michaelson - Time Machine
136 Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard On Yourself
137 Rob Thomas - Trust You
138 Bastille - Torn Apart
139 Christina Perri - The Words
140 AWOLNATION - I Am
141 Hozier - Someone New
142 Natalie La Rose - Somebody (feat. Jeremih)
143 AURORA - Runaway
144 Weezer - Thank God for Girls
145 LIGHTS - Same Sea
146 Mr. Probz - Nothing Really Matters
147 Sheppard - Let Me Down Easy
148 Jojo - When Love Hurts
149 Foxes - Better Love
150 Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie
151 Janet Jackson - No Sleep
152 Maître Gims - Est-ce que tu m'aimes ?
153 Hilary Duff - All About You
154 Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness - Cecilia & The Satellite
155 Walk the Moon - Different Colors
156 Paramore - Hate to See Your Heart Break
157 Troye Sivan - Talk Me Down
158 Imagine Dragons - Gold
159 The Neighbourhood - RIP to My Youth
160 American Authors - Go Big Or Go Home
161 Hozier - Take Me To Church
162 A Great Big World - Hold Each Other
163 Owl City - My Everything
164 Lost Frequencies - Are You With Me
165 The Weeknd - In the Night
166 Jaymes Young - I'll Be Good
167 Marina Kaye - Sounds Like Heaven (feat. Lindsey Stirling)
168 Gwen Stefani - Spark the Fire
169 Lana del Rey - High by the Beach
170 Daya - Hide Away
171 Cold War Kids - Hot Coals
172 The Band Perry - Live Forever
173 Jamie xx - I Know There's Gonna Be Good Times
174 Clean Bandit - Stronger
175 Naughty Boy - Runnin' (Lose It All) (feat. Beyoncé & Arrow Benjamin)
I agree that Uma Thurman's hook is really catchy. Despite that, I never really got into the song. I don't think it's bad at all though. Heroes was also a guilty pleasure of mine roughly one year ago.
As I've said elsewhere, I think I hate "Renegades" more for what it represents than for the song itself. #1 Alt song of the year in America. Song's about as Alternative as "Ex's and Oh's", which, oh, right, was ALSO a #1 song on Alt this year. God dammit, Alt format.
RECAP
Esos del 71 siguen sacando música? 
