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Red's Best of 2014: The YECA (Top Singles, 50-31, Page 19)
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Member Since: 9/26/2001
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The YECA: Top 100 Singles of 2014 (60-51)
 
| "STREETS ARE LINED WITH PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE, MOVE, MOVE." Any song that opens with that kind of a statement is a song after my own heart, but it better live up to that statement. Thankfully, "Uptight Downtown" does live up to that statement, with one hell of a beat and a commanding vocal performance from Elly Jackson. "Uptight Downtown" establishes the tone of Trouble In Paradise in one four minute tune, demanding your presence on the dance floor and not accepting no for an answer. Even though my favorite moment of the album was when the tempo slowed down, I would be fooling myself if I said I didn't love just how much this album refused to accept no movement on my part, and "Uptight Downtown" is one of the best examples of how that album caused me to involuntarily dance. |
| OneRepublic actually out-Imagine Dragoned Imagine Dragons with "Counting Stars". I'm not sure if that really makes sense, but it did in my head, so I'm running with it. This song takes the Imagine Dragons core style and shoots it in the head. And I like Imagine Dragons, but "Counting Stars" basically reworks the core Dragons sound and turns it into one of the catchiest pieces of music released in the last couple of years. When that chorus begins, it sends me on a euphoric trip that I only come down from when the song moves away from the chorus...and then, when the chorus comes back, OFF I GO AGAIN. I love everything about this song, and I'm not afraid to admit it. |
 | Before I go on, yes, this song was obviously made in the wake of the Daft Punk revolution of last year. There's no getting around it. One listen to this song makes you think of songs like "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself to Dance". It's just the way it is in this post-Random Access Memories world. But here's something that I haven't seen enough people talk about: Do people just conveniently forget that The Ting Tings have sounded pretty similar to this in the past? Have people just decided to ignore songs like "Shut Up and Let Me Go"? Because go back and listen to "Shut Up and Let Me Go" and then listen to "Wrong Club". Notice a similarity or two, or, at the very least, a distinct sound connecting the two songs? Okay, if you don't, listen to the bass riffs in both songs. Don't they both sound pretty funky? Okay, so there's no getting around the Daft Punk influence. But The Ting Tings have always been funk-influenced, and this would almost feel like a natural progression of their sound...if, you know, Random Access Memories never existed. |
| The thing about Billy Talent that always excites me is that they never not put in their best effort for any new release, even for a new track off of a greatest hits collection, which is basically the best possible excuse to release a subpar track, because who the hell is really going to care about that NEW song, right? Billy Talent doesn't half-ass anything, though. They treat every new song as a means of releasing a new mission statement of rock goodness. "Kingdom of Zod" is just another example of what many in the States have missed out on since "Try Honesty' was the Canadian band's only blip on the radar here. Billy Talent just doesn't accept less effort than they usually put in to new material, and their knack for a kickass chorus is still just as prevalent as ever. Billy Talent is one of America's biggest rock band misses of the last decade, and I hope to continue to point this out in the future. |
 | If nothing else, you can always count on Chevelle to deliver on first singles. The second of three Chevelle singles to make the top 100, "Take Out the Gunman" is exactly what you'd expect from a first single from Chevelle: It kicks your ass, it kicks it hard, and then kicks sand into your face when it's over. What really makes this particular song stand out compared to previous Chevelle singles is just how groovy this song is. Previous first singles like "Jars" and "Face to the Floor" (which also happens to have hit the same spot three years ago) were more focused on blowing your face off with huge riffs. Well, so does "Take Out the Gunman", but this particular song features what has to be a little bit of swagger, almost a bit of cockiness and a sneering attitude while performing, and that gives this song an added dimension that those previous first singles lacked. Is it my favorite Chevelle first single? Look at my name. Yeah, no, it's not. But it's at least a viable contender for second place. |
| This song is just so freaking HAPPY. I can't fathom any person out there truly hating "Up We Go", unless they're just a miserable curmudgeon that can't enjoy anything. I do feel like I need to elaborate a bit on this song, though, because I think there might be a misunderstanding brewing. I do think that this is one of the "weaker" tracks on Lights' new album Little Machines, but that's only because the rest of the album is just so GREAT. There's standout track after standout track everywhere you look. And "Up We Go" certainly has its place on the album, because it's been a while since I've listened to a song that is just so unmistakably joyful. This song doesn't just soar. It drags you along, even if you don't want to go on the ride. And you're going to enjoy the ride anyway, because it's impossible not to. |
| Well, let's just go on ahead and move from one Red Crush to another, while we're at it! And while this song may sound deceptively happy (and the video DEFINITELY furthers the supposed happy feelings along), the song itself is anything but. It's more about self-loathing for continued poor decisions. Yeah, not really the happiest song meaning there. But it's hard to care when you're listening to the song itself, because I don't think I can recall someone making self-loathing sound so joyous. I mean, just LISTEN to that beat. If you didn't know better, you'd swear that it could rival "Up We Go' as one of the decade's happiest songs so far. Admittedly, it's the added depth that (just barely) puts Ellie ahead of Lights. Actually, I went back and looked at my year-end lists, and Ellie has placed one spot ahead of poor Lightsy in three of the last four top 100s, including this year's. Ellie doesn't like giving up her territory, I guess. |
| "Always" was in the top 30 for the longest time this year, but it just fell off near the end due to...well, my own ignorance. Killswitch Engage are the masters of hard rock ballads. They never seem to put in a lazy effort, either. Songs like "The End of Heartache" and "The Arms of Sorrow" speak to me in ways that other songs by metal artists just can't. "Always" may be the best song of its ilk yet, too. You can feel the genuine emotion in singer Jesse Leach as he sings (or, more accurately, mourns) an unspeakable loss. As an aside, I've tried to figure out why Killswitch's slower tunes are always the ones that hook me the hardest. Is it because of the emotion that comes through in those songs? Is it because the more metal tunes aren't as good? Is it because I find things to connect with in the slower tunes that I can't find in the harder songs? Maybe it's just meant to be a mystery forever. |
 | Good god, this freaking song. THIS song is what pop music should be, now and forever. I feel like I'm doing a massive disservice to this song just by putting it outside of the top 50. This song could have been performed by a million other pop artists and still, at the very least, had a decent shot at making the top 100. Pop music like this is timeless and always powerful, no matter who is performing it. It just so happens that the song is elevated because a genuinely talented singer is the one performing the track. It's no secret to...well, any of you that I am absolutely in love with Louisa Rose Allen, and I think I've figured out why. It's not that she's a great singer, or that she's incredibly beautiful, though I feel that both of those statements are true. What really puts Foxes over the top is that she knows exactly what she's doing at all times. She has COMPLETE control over any song that she sings on, even songs that she's not the main artist of. When Foxes is singing, she demands your attention, and by god, does she ever get it. I tend to use the  smiley a lot for my designated Red Crushes, but that smiley was designed with such a lovely flower as Foxes in mind. |
| I nearly forgot about this song's existence as I was putting this top 100 together. Really, that's the only way that I can start this blurb, because it illustrates an issue I've had with Seether for years. I tend to enjoy Seether more often than not, but they're just not really that memorable most of the time. They're really just another rock band, only they've become so successful and popular in the last decade that it's impossible to label them as "just another rock band". "Words as Weapons" is the first time that I've listened to Seether where I genuinely felt that I was listening to one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. This song felt like a revelation to someone who wanted to truly "get" Seether and just couldn't. And then, they released "Same Damn Life"...and I struggled all over again. But even if "Words as Weapons" is an outlier, it's one HELL of an outlier. It's the one time I've listened to a song of theirs and thought, "Oh, so THAT'S why they're so popular." |
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Not only are we at the halfway point of the top 100 (something I didn't accomplish for the 2013 top 100, high five?), but I'm already working on the next set, which is songs 50-41. This means that there's a good chance that this next set will be up tomorrow, or, at the very latest, two days from now. I may actually complete this top 100! Fingers crossed. 
Oh, and even though nobody really cares about these things, I'm still going to do the hints for the upcoming set anyway, just because it wouldn't be a Red top 100 without them. In the next set are the second of three singles from a band I fell pretty hard for in 2014, the first of two singles from a band that released an album last year, two different singles that can be found in the "Previous Singles" portion of this very set, and the second of two singles from an artist that both terrified and aroused me at the same time. Let's go...for tonight. 
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Member Since: 5/9/2009
Posts: 6,397
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God, never thought I say that I’m behind on commenting on a Red Best of and that you’re still going and still behind in my own countdown. Crazy.
JUST missed….: I like Blue Moon and can’t believe that Stay With Me didn’t make it. I love that song. I also like Fever, Get Hurt, Flaws, and Fools Gold. I actually want to see you get hurt since these didn’t make it.
90-81: Yeah, I barely remember Cannibal, Glorious is so……glorious. Final Masquerade is good, West Coast got me hypnotized and Magic is great, but it was a grower.
80-71: Lazaretto! Sleeping with a Friend! The Walker! Heard the Two Weeks and that Damien Rice song and I liked it.
Just Missed…110-101: Can’t believe that Stolen Dance and A Sky Full of Glorious didn’t make the countdown. How could you? Regarding, the latter, I guess I should be glad you even heard of it.
But you know what album I’m anticipating the most? Untitled album Untitled Artist. Yeah!
70-61: Agree with your comment about All of Me and Ordinary People. I love both songs. I Bet My Life could’ve been fleshed out better I understand from those who detest this song, but like you said, the chorus is powerful and soaring as the song is so that’s all that really matters. Must hear that YTG song, like that AM song, Afraid does have more of that atmosphere feeling more than Sweater Weather that would explain why I like to play Afraid a lot in my iPhone in 2014, One and All is a quality song that it’s good to get into, Jealous (I Ain’t with it) is a jam, Best Friend is also a jam.
60-51: Never liked La Roux so skipping that, 1R out-ID ID in Counting Stars you say? Hmm. Interesting. Still, like Counting Stars in 2013 and 2014. That song was huge like Apologize. Love your comment on Wrong Club with Daft Punk and RAM stuff and all that. I do like Wrong Club and its funky dance sound and I also like their old sound that I guess have that funky element underneath. Still, it’s good either way and that’s what important. Take Out the Gunman is epic should’ve listen to that more in 2014, haven’t heard of Lights’ music since 2010, but I should soon …maybe. Goodness Gracious is okay, but not into it anymore. I forgot about Always. Wasn’t it a 2013 single? No? Doesn’t matter, I would’ve included it anyway if I have remember it. It’s not too…….nah don’t have to mess a good thing . It would’ve been good to see Let Go For Tonight released in the US to hear that pop goodness that every pop stars should starting that type of song just like you said and I see your point about Seether and yes, Word As Weapons is a hell of an outlier that I had to put it on my top 200 barely.
Great stuff, sir! Yes, you must continue. You’re still going strong. Keep it up. Can’t wait for the top 50….that I"m a believer that it will come.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2009
Posts: 70,975
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Billy Talent, Ellie, LIGHTS, Foxes, The Ting Tings, OneRepublic 
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Member Since: 10/13/2003
Posts: 48,022
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Let Go For Tonight 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 7/23/2007
Posts: 35,994
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6/10
Counting Stars + Take Out The Gunman + Goodness Gracious + Words As Weapons + Up We Go + Wrong Club <33
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Member Since: 4/25/2011
Posts: 41,661
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Counting Stars 
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Member Since: 12/25/2008
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The TIng Tings and Foxes
you have here 2 masterpieces, Counting Stars and Goodness Gracious 
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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I like Let Go For Tonight somehow didn't make my years. I think it got cut off in the middle.
Goodness Gracious is amazing, Up We Go was good too
Counting Stars, another pick from my last year.
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Member Since: 8/27/2010
Posts: 3,636
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10 | 10
Perfect set 
Counting Stars is the best of the set
Let Go For Tonight + Take Out the Gunman + Goodness Gracious
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Member Since: 5/18/2007
Posts: 18,745
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8/10
Counting Stars >>>>>>>>>> the rest of the set. It was my #1 in 2013
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Member Since: 11/17/2008
Posts: 28,694
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I love Counting Stars, 1R's music is awesome
Good to see Foxes and Ellie as well
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Member Since: 7/22/2009
Posts: 13,429
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Lights and Ellie 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/3/2014
Posts: 34,134
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Counting Stars is still here, the song is just refusing to die. 
Yas, Up We Go is such a feel good song. 
Quote:
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I do think that this is one of the "weaker" tracks on Lights' new album Little Machines
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I agree with this one, too. 
Goodness Gracious is my least fave song from Ellie.
Let Go for Tonight, pop perfection. Both the song and the music video. 
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Member Since: 1/26/2006
Posts: 17,384
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80-71: 8/10
What a great set! Finally someone else shows love for "After The Disco" and Cold War Kids!
I feel quite the same with "Red Eyes", great song but noy my fave on the album.
Most Anticipated Albums of 2015: I'm also excited to listen to more new music by Coldplay, Modest Mouse, Adele and of course MUSE! 
70-61: 7/10
"I Bet My Life" is growing on me a lot right now.
"R U Mine?" was in my best of... 2012? Wow, it doesn't seem that old, but great you include it on your best of this year!
60-51: 5/10
I remember I didn't find interesting "Counting Stars" at all in 2013, but I really loved it in 2014.
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Member Since: 2/13/2012
Posts: 62,082
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Goodness Gracious totally would've been a hit in the US if she weren't a sleeper hit artist here Uptight Downtown
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Uptight Downtown. Why is Counting Stars still here. 
Hmm The Ting Tings have always been very funk, though this time they did go a bit more disco. Idk there's something about their debut that's so insanely charming which they've never reached again. 
Up We Go and Goodness Gracious are indeed such joyous songs, love them. 
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Member Since: 10/17/2011
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/9/2002
Posts: 6,789
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Your Smashing Pumpkins write-up is so true. I clicked the link to listen to the song and it really is pretty good! It's just a shame he has to be such an ass. Also love how you have always supported Canada's own Billy Talent! You're right that it is such a shame that they didn't break out into the U.S. Also love "All of Me," "R U Mine?," and "Goodness Gracious" (a song called Goodness Gracious in 2014 will always get an A+ from me).
BRING ON THE NEXT FIFTY. Well, not all at once haha!
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Member Since: 8/9/2010
Posts: 17,189
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Counting Stars & Goodness Gracious
Don't forger to comment mine, it on the sig 
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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The Counting stars stanning made me cackle but I'm with you there 
Up We Go and Goodness Gracious are my cheerful songs. I can't help but put a dumb smile everytime I listen to them 
Uptight Downtown is great too. Too bad La Roux didn't go under the same shine of their debut era this time around!
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