Top 100 Songs.
Top 20 Albums.
Soon.





After the Adele domination of 2011, this year was a wide open race for the #1 song and album of 2012. With a handful of new bands exploding at Modern Rock, giving the likes of Green Day and Linkin Park a run for Alternative format supremacy, it became an exciting time for new music very quickly this year. Throw in breakout success stories like Frank Ocean, fun., Lana Del Ray, and Gotye - and the enduring nature of artists we've come to trust; Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift, and Muse - this year was definitely one to remember.

Great acts

Will be checking your countdowns

Top 100 Tunes: Part 1





91. Jack White – Sixteen Saltines
92. Katy Perry – Wide Awake
93. Olly Murs – Dance With Me Tonight
94. Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
95. Bush – Baby Come Home
96. David Guetta f. Nicki Minaj – Turn Me On
97. Electric Guest – This Head I Hold
98. Soundgarden – Live To Rise
99. Linkin Park – Lost In The Echo
100. PSY – Gagnam Style

What better way to kick off the 2012 year-end bender than a little GAGNAM STYLE? The entire phenomenon was absolutely insane – but for a couple of weeks, I was totally in. I can’t stand hearing it now, but to deny its cultural relevance would just be nonsense. Speaking of relevance, the likes of Soundgarden, Bush, and Linkin Park prove they can still compete with all the big names in the game; the Avengers assembled for “Live to Rise”, a song that many feel doesn’t live up to the rest of their new album, but I quite enjoyed it. Linkin Park I feel are now the victims of back to back clunker albums, which thankfully have a few redeeming singles, “Lost in the Echo” being one of them – but this is the last you will see of Chester and the boys. Bush surprised big last year with “Sound of Winter”, a song that hit the top 50 of my year-end, and while the follow up “Baby Come Home” wasn’t as big a hit, it was still a pleasant listen. On the pop front, David Guetta will place a couple of singles this year as he was everywhere yet again. First up is the fiery Minaj collaboration. Kelly Clarkson takes the Grammy nominated “Stronger” to the #94 slot, but that’s also the last we will see of her – kind of surprising since she usually does well on my chart. Katy Perry continued to put out hit singles, and while “Wide Awake” is probably my least favorite from her enduring ‘Teenage Dream’ album, one that will just not die, the single did still go to #1 despite being the 8th release, pretty damn impressive. And last but certainly not least – Jack White – who is reeling in Grammy love and year-long praise for his brilliant solo album “Blunderbuss” – which we will revisit on the album set.

Top 100 Tunes: Part 2





81. Coldplay f. Rihanna – Princess of China
82. Garbage – Blood For Poppies
83. Foster The People – Houdini
84. Youngblood Hawke – We Come Running
85. Blondfire – Where The Kids Are
86. Ed Sheeran – Lego House
87. Snoop Dogg f. Bruno Mars, Wiz Khalifa – Young, Wild, & Free
88. Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up
89. Bruce Springsteen – We Take Care Of Our Own
90. Grouplove – Tongue Tied

This is a solid, well-rounded set I feel. Leading off is Grouplove who had a successful year with three singles going top 10 at Alternative – although they never quite took off like other new bands this year. Bruce Springsteen came roaring back after his last album was a dud – “Wrecking Ball” was the total opposite, a ferocious return to form where the 4-hour stadium marathon man showed whose boss yet again. Jason Mraz had another spend 6-months on the chart type of hit with “I Won’t Give Up” – while similarly, Ed Sheeran slowly built a fanbase in the US thanks to good will and Taylor Swift. “Lego House” was my first exposure to Sheeran, and the entire album along with the magic of “A-Team”, makes him a force to be reckoned with in 2013. Blondfire and Youngblood Hawke were two newcomers to the Alternative format in the last part of the year – Youngblood took the anthemic route, while Blondfire mixed the sound of Emily Haines vocals with MGMT-type zing for a real winner. Garbage came back with “Not Your Kind of People”, a welcome return that was met with modesty but strong touring revenue. Good for them. Foster The People finally released “Houdini” off the just won’t die ‘Torches’ album – hope we get something new from them in 2013!

In a time where I am finally finished school, employed, and earning a living – songs like “Young Wild & Free” – just feel damn good. That kind of easy going attitude from Bruno Mars is what makes his work and contributions so great – and he will have a great year end showing with his terrific sophomore album, “Unorthodox Jukebox”, and its Police inspired lead single “Locked out of Heaven”.

81. Coldplay f. Rihanna – Princess of China 82. Garbage – Blood For Poppies 83. Foster The People – Houdini 86. Ed Sheeran – Lego House 88. Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up 90. Grouplove – Tongue Tied 91. Jack White – Sixteen Saltines 97. Electric Guest – This Head I Hold 98. Soundgarden – Live To Rise 99. Linkin Park – Lost In The Echo