The Boney Awards for 2014-Top 80 Songs
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 8:48 am
Welcome to the 2014 Boney Awards' countdown of my 80 favorite
songs of 2014.
Only 80 tunes this year, as I really couldn't come up with 100
I felt strongly enough about to qualify for a Boney.
Oh, I could've if I streched long enough, but I wound up with 87
that I REALLY liked, and honestly it was easy enough to weed out
7 in order to even it at 80 winners. So here we are!
My apologies for the ads on some of these links. You can skip most of them after 5 seconds.
#80. THIS FUNKY MUSIC-WAR
Those guys who gave us Low Rider, The Cisco Kid, and other
jazz/funk hits in the 70's returned last year with an album
called Evolutionary. This little butt-shaker is my favorite
track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzm1CcCS0fU
#79. EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WAS ME-ADRIAN BOURGEOIS
This young man's dad is Brent Bourgeois, who had a hit several
years ago with Dare To Fall In Love, and, as a member of the
duo Bourgeois Tagg, with I Don't Mind At All, which was produced
by Todd Rundgren..which is interesting, since this sprightly
piano-based pop tune sounds like it could've sprung directly from
Todd's Something/Anything album..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw-ScIXEjW8
#78. WE ARE THE KIDS-WALK THE MOON
Liked a few tunes from their last cd, and there are a couple of
decent ones on their 2014 effort..this one made the cut. Heavily
similar to Foster The People, Neon Trees, and the like. Lotsa 80's
DNA in this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnQS0FGaBbg
#77. PARALLELS-EELS
Mark Oliver Everett, essentially the Eels, comes up with another
quirky but touching quiet acoustic number. Definitely an acquired
taste, but I love this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_myUVbK49JM
#76. JUST A LITTLE TOO HARD-THE EMPTY HEARTS
Meat and potatoes rock n roll from a band comprised of
some veterans of other bands: Wally Palmar of the Romantics, Elliot
Easton of the Cars, Andy Babiuk of the Chesterfield Kings, and Clem
Burke of Blondie. Nothin' fancy here, folks, just some good rockin'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0YYMHyJF6Y
#75. AFTER THE DISCO-BROKEN BELLS
Kind of an eerie melody married to a dance beat. Pretty infectious,
and more 80's inspired than Saturday Night Feverish. Obviously, or
you wouldn't see it on this list lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeiqMuky3oo
#74. WOW-PRINCE AND 3RD EYE GIRL
Interesting. I've found some pretty obscure stuff on Youtube for
links on this countdown, but this one by a major artist I can't seem
to track down anything for. So, with apolgies, I can only offer a
30-second soundbite. Anyway, His Royal Weirdness issued 2 separate
cd's simultaneously last year, one as a solo and one with an all-female
band called 3rd Eye Girl. I found nothing I liked on Prince's solo,
but several on the group effort I quite fancied..although none of them
were ones sung by a 3rd Eye Girl member...go figure. This slow-grinding
rocker topped 'em all for me.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1L ... mu_dp_trk1
#73. I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU-MICHAEL CARPENTER
This Australian power-popper has long been one of my favorites.
Three part-harmonies ooh-la-la ing, crunchy guitars, a Ringo backbeat,
and a sugary-sweet melody on top. What the hell's not to like?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEn5srF0vC0
#72. I WANNA GET BETTER-BLEACHERS
Side project of fun.'s Jack Antonoff, it is indeed, a "fun"
sounding anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5osPtE7kXI
#71. MIRACLES-COLDPLAY
The type of uplifting tune this band often comes up with..which
is the reason people usually love 'em or loathe 'em. Since they
usually place 2 or 3 songs a year on the Boneys list, it's pretty obvious
where I stand on them. This comes from the movie Unbroken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECHJd2Q63P8
#70. BELIEVE AGAIN-YES
If you aren't paying attention, you might not realize that Jon Anderson is
not the singer. This guy, Jon DAVISON..sheesh, his NAME is even similar...
sounds uncannily like the founding frontman. Yes afficianados might not
agree, but I don't think Anderson's abscence is as unfortunate as you'd expect.
This is a very pretty melody over a nice easy-progressive arrangement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56lNnGAB5bM
#69. RITE OF SPRING-THE LEGAL MATTERS
Sounds like it came outta your late 60's car radio on a summer day.
Brian Wilson's Beach Boys music has obviously spent a lot of time on
these guys' turntables, and I'm also hearing some Pete Townshend
influences from his quieter Who compositions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kbnX2i96Fs
#68. CALIFORNIA STARS-BOB SEGER
I'll have to settle for a live version of this as I can't track
down a studio video. Classic midtempo Seger. Welcome back, Bob!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRufXvHlcQk
#67. PARADE ON-DOUG GILLARD
Your basic 2 guitars, bass and drums no frills rocker. And we all need
a dash of this in our basic musical diet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QUXiTrQIEw
#66. DON'T WAIT-ERIC CLAPTON WITH JOHN MAYER
From Clapton's JJ Cale tribute album. Just a cool, tasty song, with
some nice, slinky guitar work..naturally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ZQD31UQnU
#65. YOU'VE GOT A LOT ON YOUR MIND-SLOAN
To Canada we go for this pop goodness. Melody is the key element
here, with chugging guitars to back it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy62TmrSPGk
#64. ADDING THE BLUE-Chrissie Hynde
Leader of The Pretenders has stopped pretending that there is a
band outside of her anymore and just billed herself as a solo.
If you love Chrissie, you'll love this ballad, which is done in that
tough but tender way that is uniquely hers..'nuff said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MewILDudQo
#63. MADE FOR ENDING-JUKEBOX THE GHOST
Sprightly modern pop from this Washington D.C. outfit. Sort of similar
to a band like fun. Pop but in the best sense of the word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJNXAEH ... Bh&index=4
#62. THE LONG WAY AROUND-JACKSON BROWNE
I can't say that I'm a huge fan of his, but with someone who's
been around as long as he has, there are certainly a fair amount of
tunes I've liked. Considering it's been some 42 years since his
first album, his 2014 release was not too bad at all. This gentle
breeze sounds as good as anything he's done in awhile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2GMr1GtzNo
#61. GIMME SOMETHING GOOD-RYAN ADAMS
This musical chameleon (he's traversed rock, blues, country,
alternative..you name it) rocks out on this Tom Petty-esque
midtempo rocker. And hey, Elvira's in the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=802vbfZe9io
#'S 60-41 ARE UP NEXT...
songs of 2014.
Only 80 tunes this year, as I really couldn't come up with 100
I felt strongly enough about to qualify for a Boney.
Oh, I could've if I streched long enough, but I wound up with 87
that I REALLY liked, and honestly it was easy enough to weed out
7 in order to even it at 80 winners. So here we are!
My apologies for the ads on some of these links. You can skip most of them after 5 seconds.
#80. THIS FUNKY MUSIC-WAR
Those guys who gave us Low Rider, The Cisco Kid, and other
jazz/funk hits in the 70's returned last year with an album
called Evolutionary. This little butt-shaker is my favorite
track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzm1CcCS0fU
#79. EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WAS ME-ADRIAN BOURGEOIS
This young man's dad is Brent Bourgeois, who had a hit several
years ago with Dare To Fall In Love, and, as a member of the
duo Bourgeois Tagg, with I Don't Mind At All, which was produced
by Todd Rundgren..which is interesting, since this sprightly
piano-based pop tune sounds like it could've sprung directly from
Todd's Something/Anything album..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw-ScIXEjW8
#78. WE ARE THE KIDS-WALK THE MOON
Liked a few tunes from their last cd, and there are a couple of
decent ones on their 2014 effort..this one made the cut. Heavily
similar to Foster The People, Neon Trees, and the like. Lotsa 80's
DNA in this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnQS0FGaBbg
#77. PARALLELS-EELS
Mark Oliver Everett, essentially the Eels, comes up with another
quirky but touching quiet acoustic number. Definitely an acquired
taste, but I love this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_myUVbK49JM
#76. JUST A LITTLE TOO HARD-THE EMPTY HEARTS
Meat and potatoes rock n roll from a band comprised of
some veterans of other bands: Wally Palmar of the Romantics, Elliot
Easton of the Cars, Andy Babiuk of the Chesterfield Kings, and Clem
Burke of Blondie. Nothin' fancy here, folks, just some good rockin'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0YYMHyJF6Y
#75. AFTER THE DISCO-BROKEN BELLS
Kind of an eerie melody married to a dance beat. Pretty infectious,
and more 80's inspired than Saturday Night Feverish. Obviously, or
you wouldn't see it on this list lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeiqMuky3oo
#74. WOW-PRINCE AND 3RD EYE GIRL
Interesting. I've found some pretty obscure stuff on Youtube for
links on this countdown, but this one by a major artist I can't seem
to track down anything for. So, with apolgies, I can only offer a
30-second soundbite. Anyway, His Royal Weirdness issued 2 separate
cd's simultaneously last year, one as a solo and one with an all-female
band called 3rd Eye Girl. I found nothing I liked on Prince's solo,
but several on the group effort I quite fancied..although none of them
were ones sung by a 3rd Eye Girl member...go figure. This slow-grinding
rocker topped 'em all for me.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1L ... mu_dp_trk1
#73. I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU-MICHAEL CARPENTER
This Australian power-popper has long been one of my favorites.
Three part-harmonies ooh-la-la ing, crunchy guitars, a Ringo backbeat,
and a sugary-sweet melody on top. What the hell's not to like?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEn5srF0vC0
#72. I WANNA GET BETTER-BLEACHERS
Side project of fun.'s Jack Antonoff, it is indeed, a "fun"
sounding anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5osPtE7kXI
#71. MIRACLES-COLDPLAY
The type of uplifting tune this band often comes up with..which
is the reason people usually love 'em or loathe 'em. Since they
usually place 2 or 3 songs a year on the Boneys list, it's pretty obvious
where I stand on them. This comes from the movie Unbroken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECHJd2Q63P8
#70. BELIEVE AGAIN-YES
If you aren't paying attention, you might not realize that Jon Anderson is
not the singer. This guy, Jon DAVISON..sheesh, his NAME is even similar...
sounds uncannily like the founding frontman. Yes afficianados might not
agree, but I don't think Anderson's abscence is as unfortunate as you'd expect.
This is a very pretty melody over a nice easy-progressive arrangement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56lNnGAB5bM
#69. RITE OF SPRING-THE LEGAL MATTERS
Sounds like it came outta your late 60's car radio on a summer day.
Brian Wilson's Beach Boys music has obviously spent a lot of time on
these guys' turntables, and I'm also hearing some Pete Townshend
influences from his quieter Who compositions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kbnX2i96Fs
#68. CALIFORNIA STARS-BOB SEGER
I'll have to settle for a live version of this as I can't track
down a studio video. Classic midtempo Seger. Welcome back, Bob!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRufXvHlcQk
#67. PARADE ON-DOUG GILLARD
Your basic 2 guitars, bass and drums no frills rocker. And we all need
a dash of this in our basic musical diet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QUXiTrQIEw
#66. DON'T WAIT-ERIC CLAPTON WITH JOHN MAYER
From Clapton's JJ Cale tribute album. Just a cool, tasty song, with
some nice, slinky guitar work..naturally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ZQD31UQnU
#65. YOU'VE GOT A LOT ON YOUR MIND-SLOAN
To Canada we go for this pop goodness. Melody is the key element
here, with chugging guitars to back it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy62TmrSPGk
#64. ADDING THE BLUE-Chrissie Hynde
Leader of The Pretenders has stopped pretending that there is a
band outside of her anymore and just billed herself as a solo.
If you love Chrissie, you'll love this ballad, which is done in that
tough but tender way that is uniquely hers..'nuff said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MewILDudQo
#63. MADE FOR ENDING-JUKEBOX THE GHOST
Sprightly modern pop from this Washington D.C. outfit. Sort of similar
to a band like fun. Pop but in the best sense of the word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJNXAEH ... Bh&index=4
#62. THE LONG WAY AROUND-JACKSON BROWNE
I can't say that I'm a huge fan of his, but with someone who's
been around as long as he has, there are certainly a fair amount of
tunes I've liked. Considering it's been some 42 years since his
first album, his 2014 release was not too bad at all. This gentle
breeze sounds as good as anything he's done in awhile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2GMr1GtzNo
#61. GIMME SOMETHING GOOD-RYAN ADAMS
This musical chameleon (he's traversed rock, blues, country,
alternative..you name it) rocks out on this Tom Petty-esque
midtempo rocker. And hey, Elvira's in the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=802vbfZe9io
#'S 60-41 ARE UP NEXT...