Last year I said I was officially over the hill because both my annual playlist and that my minutes on Spotify were less from the prior year. Sadly, that trend has continued in 2023. However, there is another metric that has increased for two years now, which gives me hope... the increased influence that the Eurovision Song Contest has in my annual post!
Song of the Year: “Tattoo” by Loreen
[runner up: “Cha Cha Cha” by Käärijä]
Yes - my top two tracks of the year are the top two vote getters in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. I had a blast watching Eurovision live (on Peacock!) this year and have had both songs in my Best Of playlist ever since. If I ever find myself in a karaoke bar in Sweden - I'm going with "Tattoo!"
Album of the Year: That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware
[runner up: My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks
Jessie Ware has had a handful of albums, but her latest effort is arguably the best. At first she was positioned as the next Amy Winehouse - but I think she's more a hybrid between Winehouse and Janelle Monae. That! Feels Good! is a timeless pop album that feels at home in a speakeasy or junior high dance.
Concert of the Year: Explosions in the Sky at Ryman Auditorium
[runner up: Adam Pally at The Den Theatre]
More than a decade after I wrote down "See a show at the Ryman Auditorium" on my Bucket List - I crossed it off in September! My wife and I had a great long weekend in Nashville that was punctuated by seeing one of my favorite bands: Explosions in the Sky. It was perfect. Even my wife was "having a great time" at it.
Song of the Summer: "Cha Cha Cha" by Käärijä
[runner up: "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa]
Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: “Like An Eagle” by Dennis Parker (used in The Curse on SHO)
Regret of the Year: Missed shows
2023 is a year I'd like to forget, full stop. My concert going this past year is in line with that sentiment. I had tickets to as many acts (LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Phoenix, Beck) as I saw (Explosions in the Sky, The National, Soccer Mommy).
Best Decision I made in 2022: The Nashville Weekend
It’s official. I’m over the hill. My peak “music fan” years are behind me. I’m writing this on December 13 because there’s no hope that I can make up for 50 subpar music seeking weeks in the last two. My annual playlist is only 19 songs long. It hasn’t been that short since 2008 (when I kept the list to the maximum that could be burned onto a single compact disc).
Song of the Year: “Hop To It” by Marc Rebillet
[runner up: “Anxious” by Carly Rae Jepsen]
“Hop To It” isn’t even a stand alone track by Marc Rebillet. The above YouTube clip is just seven minutes that was cut out of his hour long live steam earlier this year. A stream that was sponsored by a sex toy company. But who cares about those above caveats — I love this sound. Meanwhile, I don’t know why “Anxious” was subjugated as a ‘bonus track’ instead of being on the album proper.
Album of the Year: Three Dimensions Deep by Amber Mark
[runner up: The Loneliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen]
It was nearly impossible to pick a single track from Amber Mark’s album to feature on my annual playlist. Important to note: Our North American Idol, CRJ, released her best work since Emotion.
Concert of the Year: Broken Social Scene at Thalia Hall
[runner up: Broken Social Scene at Thalia Hall]
Broken Social Scene is one of my favorite bands and I’ve seen them multiple times. My favorite song of their is “Shampoo Suicide” (which they rarely play live), so when it was announced they were playing the entire album as a tour — I made sure to go to BOTH Chicago shows.
Song of the Summer: Hottest Record in the World by Digitalism
[runner up: Let’s Do It Again by Jamie xx]
Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: “Renaissance” by Cristobal Tapia De Veer (the remix/version used for The White Lotus season 2)
Regret of the Year: Missed shows To paraphrase a dead Beatle, Life got in the way of my concert plans… The War On Drugs, Beach House, The National, and Amber Mark are all acts I literally had tickets to see and was unable to attend.
Best Decision I made in 2022: Recording a “Triller” video with my wife There’s no way I’m posting that on a public post, but if you know me — ask and I may text it to you.
Thank you very much for reading. To close, here are the concert collages / showlog from 2022:
I hate to admit it, but the largest reason I'm writing this is because I don't want to break the streak. This is the 11th year in a row I've written [whatever this is] and I'm confident that there are five people who read it. To four of you, thank you. I'm the fifth - because this doubles as my diary entry to help me remember. It's also worth nothing that the most important person in my life (my wife*) has no interest in reading these posts.
*2021 is the year I got married
Song of the Year:
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by M Y W I I I F E
[Runner up: “VACCINATED ATTITUDE" by Marc Rebillet]
If you were there, you know.
Meanwhile, Marc Rebillet is an incredibly fun personality I discovered from his viral video last year and think this song captured a very significant moment from my first half of 2021.
Album of the Year: star-crossed by Kacey Musgraves
[Runner up: Planet Her by Doja Cat]
Is it bad that, in my opinion, the best album released in the year of my wedding was about a divorce? It is worse that if a war were to break out between Swifties and Grave Diggers for who is the better singer/songwriter of the duo I will be picking up a shovel despite knowing my wife is Delicate?
On the other end of of the energy spectrum is Doja Cat's album. A collection of songs best described by Kendall Roy. It was very tough to pick just one song for my Best of 2021 playlist.
By the way, I think I've peaked as far as how much new music I listen to in a given year. I've found myself more on playlists I've made of my favorite bands. Speaking of those favorites - I don't think the albums by My Morning Jacket and Beach House were their best efforts.
Concert of the Year:
My Morning Jacket at Auditorium Theatre
[Runner up: n/a]
If I had to pick any of my favorite bands to see first since *gestures to the entire world* - it would've been My Morning Jacket. It's also wonderful I was able to do it as #TeamHardTicket. They didn't disappoint in the least! 2022 looks to be a good rebound year as I've already got tickets multiple shows. Worth noting that I would've seen Tame Impala this past year, but they rescheduled their concert to a date I was unable to attend.
Song of the Summer: "A Second to Midnight" by Kylie Minogue
[Runner up: "Leave The Door Open" by Silk Sonic
Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: "We Love Each Other So Much" by Sparks (performed by Marion Cotillard & Adam Driver [Runner up: NO RUNNER UP]
There is a movie you can watch on Amazon Prime Video titled Annette. I cannot recommend based on its intended qualities. That said, the song created an inside joke strong enough between my wife and I that it had a small role in our wedding day.
Two large factors drive what I listen to in a year: older tracks from acts I'm about to see in concert and new releases (driving mainly from writing this annual post). I was only able to go to two concerts this year, which led (as The Pudding's expert AI reported) to a year dominated by listening to 2020 music. In the past years I've grown less likely to tryout new sounds, which results in my "new release radar" dominated by past finds. Thankfully many of my favorites released new music this year (e.g. My Morning Jacket, Cut Copy, Washed Out, Carly Rae Jepsen).
Song of the Year:
"Olympik" by EOB
[Runner up: “Stop, Horizon” by Cut Copy]
EOB is the side project of Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien. His debut album Earth, sat in my "on deck" playlist for a while until (friend of the blog) Ryan texted me to check out this track. I can't think of a song in recent memory that had a guitar bridge I enjoyed more. It instantly became my favorite song of the year in April and no other song was able to top it.
Album of the Year: Purple Noon by Washed Out
[Runner up: Swimmer by Tennis]
Washed Out makes the music I find most relaxing. It makes total sense that Spotify told me it was my top artist (and I landed in the top 0.5% of their listeners) for this horrid year - it was needed. I awarded its previous album, 2017's Mister Mellow, my favorite album of that year as well - and I've arrived at the fact that Washed Out deserves to be in my Top Ten graphic. Sorry, Arcade Fire, you're been bounced.
I had a much more difficult time figuring out the runner-up. There were great albums by TOPS, Poolside, Jessie Ware, and a long awaited return from Land of Talk.
Other sources have told me that a pair of albums were released by a singer/songwriter out of Nashville, but I'm only able to discuss her on our podcast.
Concert of the Year (tie):
Bag Raiders at Lincoln Hall / Best Coast and Mannequin Pussy at S.P.A.C.E.
[Runner up: there weren't any other shows!] The two shows I attended were very separate experiences. One was a dance party that I had to coax a friend to join me knowing we'd be the two oldest in the room at the last minute and the other was a big group of friends that had months of planning ahead of it. Here's a list of acts that I had tickets in hand to see and were Covid-cancelled: Tame Impala, Foals, Local Natives, Perfume Genius, Delta Spirit, Peter Bjorn And John... I hope I can include these in my 2021 post. Song of the Summer: "WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)" by Cardi B
[Runner up: "JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zak De La Rocha)" by Run The Jewels] Both these songs speak for themselves.
Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: "Jaja Ding Dong" by Will Ferrell & My Marianne [Runner up: "Add Some Kente" by Sherman's Showcase & Viceroy]
Many people have seen Eurovison, but not enough are watching Sherman's Showcase. Go to it for the goofy parody of Soul Train, but stay for the great original songs. It was tough to select just one to highlight from this show - sorry, "Drop It Low (For Jesus)".
Thank you very much for reading. I like to close these posts out with my concert collages / showlog from the year... but it's just these two:
BONUS CONTENT: special awards for this pivotal year in our history
White Guy Acting Dumb of the Year (music related): David Guetta White Guy Acting Real of the Year (music related): Marc Rebillet
Welcome to my 9th annual Music Awards / year in review post. I’ve also embedded my Spotify playlist of my favorite tracks at the top of this post.
[Previous Year End Reviews: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011]
Song of the Year: "Drunk II" by Mannequin Pussy
[Runner up: “Got To Keep On” by The Chemical Brothers]
The process of a song getting to this title usually starts with a question of, "I like this song - how will it sound live?" Thankfully, this song got a chance to prove itself in front of a sold out Lincoln Hall show (a setting that has resulted in many past tracks to earn this acclaim). It's written from a great perspective and performed with equal emotion.
Album of the Year: Horizons by Bag Raiders
[Runner up: Outer Peace by Toro Y Moi]
I didn't put much thought into this award. Spotify told me that Bag Raiders was my most listened to artist of the year, and it made me realize how often I went to this album to just flat out feel better about whatever state I currently mired. Especially handy on morning commutes.
Concert of the Year: Foals at The Riviera Theatre
[Runner up: Mannequin Pussy at Lincoln Hall] Just another in a long line of shows (from many different artists) in which my top ranking of them was once again confirmed by their stage presence. They played the hits, they played my new faves, they left me already looking forward to their next show. Song of the Summer: "Juice" by Lizzo
[Runner up: "Sucker'" by Jonas Brothers]
I saved listening to Lizzo's new album in order to listen to it while on vacation over Memorial Day weekend. It was an instant favorite and of course - everyone had it featured on whatever summer party they were hosting.
Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: "Misbehavin" by Jennifer Nettles and Walton Goggins
If you watched this show and *didn't* have this song instantly earworm into your daily life - check your pulse. We are all running around the house with a pickle in our mouth. Regret of the Year: Not attending the 312 Block Party to see Priests
[Runner up: losing my concert credibility by bringing my future wife to see Bon Iver at Allstate Arena]
I was Kevin McAllistering it, marathon watching something on Netflix, when I saw through someone else's post that a band I've been trying to see for a couple of years was performing down the road. It was a huge miss (both in the fact that I didn't know it was occurring until too late and not going). Later that year I went to another street fest solo in order to avoid missing another favorite only to have that band's set canceled last minute. Overall, my summer street fest planning was a huge miss this year.
Best Decision I made in 2018: Buying a WONDERBOOM to upgrade playlist mobility
[Runner up: not fighting my future wife's insistence on hiring a live band for our wedding reception]
This is a quality product that I fully endorse.
Thank you very much for reading. To close, here are the concert collages / showlog from 2019:
1. The “Perpetual Repeat” Song of the Year: "Let It Happen” by Tame Impala [Runner up: “Loud Places” by Jamie xx]
I almost cheated and went with a tie here (as I almost did in 2011 when “Pumped Up Kicks” narrowly bested “Midnight City”). Tame Impala wins simply because I still remember how I felt when I first heard it, because it’s the way I still feel today. But, it was very close.
Normally my "song of the summer" finishes just below the top spot, but not this year (although it’s somewhat close “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” is on the same album as “Loud Places”). Maybe the other great songs pulled attention away from “Loud Places.” It’s also the first time in 5 years I haven’t seen the song I chose performed live.
2. The “Share with All Friends” Album of the Year: In Colour by Jamie xx [Runner up: What Went Down by Foals]
Jamie xx's debut album had my second favorite song of the year ("Loud Places" - which could have been number one if he toured with a live backing band), my song of the summer (“I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”), and my favorite instrumental track of the year ("The Rest Is Noise"). It won dancing away.
3. The “If Every One Could Be Like This” Concert of the Year: U2 at United Center [Runner up: Jamie xx at Concord Music Hall]
The setlist, quality of sound, and production value alone would have easily earned its award. However the amount of extra curricular activities that surrounded it launched it into legendary status. Primarily, I went with three other friends who not only liked U2 unironically, but also love "U Talkin U2 To Me" with as much fervor as I. Secondarily, if I were to make a List of the top Podcast episodes of 2015, the #UTU2TM episode when Scott and Scott reviewed the same concert would top it. Tertiary, my friend and I met Adam Scott and were able to talk U2 To Him Too! Finally, you might have heard my blurt laugh when I saw the tweet embedded at the top of this post.
4. The “Phoenix” Becoming Too Big To Not Easily See Again: Beach House [Runner up: Foo Fighters/U2]
I don't know about this award this year. Let's give it to Beach House because they completely skipped Chicago in a year when they released two albums. Note that I am seeing them in early 2016. And let's throw Foo' and U' on the second line because you either have to shell out way above ticket price, get incredibly lucky, or both to see'em.
5. The “Franz Ferdinand” Must Now See Every Time They’re In Town: My Morning Jacket [Runner up: Varsity]
My Morning Jacket reached a new level of status in my heart in 2015. They are now a band I will see multiple nights on the same tour. 2016 may be even larger, with a plan that may take me to Red Rocks to see the band I've seen live the most in the venue I've always wanted to experience.
6. The “Bon Iver” Regret of the Year: not seeing Tame Impala [Runner up: not seeing Foo Fighters at Wrigley Field]
Damnit. Should've ignored my pride and paid whatever a degenerate was charging. Tame Impala was missed in two cities as I gladly would've gone up to Milwaukee to see that Aussie and his pals. It's the first time in many years that I failed in seeing my Song of the Year in person. 7. The “Medulla” Most Disappointing Album: + - by Mew [Runner up: Ghost Modern by Geographer]
I'm considering assigning Mew and Geographer the same status as Diarrhea Planet: Amazing bands I will always catch live but won't spend too much time listening to their recordings.
8. The “Should I Quit You” Most Disappointing Concert: Anything at Metro [Runner up: My conversation with a drunken Ben Folds in a hip Nashville bar]
It's getting to the point when I'm disappointed when I see a favorite band announce a Metro show. I don't know if the sound quality of the venue has decreased, or my aural maturity has become spoiled by the newer and sound-superior venues such as Lincoln Hall and Thalia Hall.
9. The “Shadenfradue” Guilty Pleasure Track of the Year: "I Didn’t Just Come here To Dance" by Carly Rae Jepsen [Runner up: "Hotline Bling" by Drake]
No maybe about it, CarRaeJep released an amazing album in 2015. Drake's mention is 100% because I sing along to it with the words "Hotmail Bing" because that may have been the best joke of 2015 I wish I had written.
10. The "Buy an iPod stereo for the car" Best Decision I made in 2015: Going to the Tomorrow Never Knows festival for the first time [Runner up: Making the push of GA or bust for U2, and not settling for seated ticket]
A funny tweet of mine won me VIP passes to TNK Fest, which I had never previously attended. It got my butt out to concerts during the dead of winter.
Thank you very much for reading. To close, here is the concert collages/log from 2015:
