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The 11th Annual Boney Awards--songs #20-1 for 2017

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2018 10:07 am
by T_Bone0806
And here they are---my very favorite songs of last year!


20. BASKET CASE-BASTILLE
Album: single track

A cover of the punk-pop Green Day hit that removes the guitars and rock elements and opts for a small string backing?
Whaaaat..??!? Whoda thunk it would work so well? To my ears it does, anyway. Love this outside the box arrangement. This track
was used on the live action reboot of "The Tick" that airs on Amazon Prime.





19. I DROVE ALL NIGHT-ROY ORBISON w/WARD THOMAS
Album: A Love So Beautiful

This song was originally intended for Roy..he recorded it in 1987 but it didn't surface until the 1992 posthumous album
King Of Hearts. In the interim, Cyndi Lauper took it to the Top 10 in 1989. Her version was also pretty great, by the way.
In 2017 it was updated again, on an album which features original Orbison vocal tracks with new backing instrumental tracks
which include Roy's three sons, AND the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This song is featured twice on the album. I thought that
this version, which features a duet partner, packed a more powerful punch. A great tune sung by a legendary voice.





18. I MISS THOSE DAYS-BLEACHERS
Album: Gone Now

Second album from the side project of this member of fun., Jack Antonoff. It has that same kind of feel that Capital Cities'
"Safe & Sound", my #1 song for 2013, had.





17. TO MY ROMEO-SPIRIT KID
Album: West Coast Vibes

All 70's glam-rock swagger. Made for guitar hero posing. Fun rockin' stuff.





16. END OF AN ERA-PUBLIC ACCESS TV
Album: Never Enough

"They say the kids don't like rock 'n roll anymore" according to the opening lines of this one. Maybe they would if
they heard this song. If not, this "oldish" guy will be happy to listen to stuff like this.





15. DON'T WANNA CLOSE MY EYES-LISA MYCHOLS
Album: single track

Her 3rd appearance on the list. This is more sunshiny 60's style pop. Just a happy, happy sound crafted so wonderfully.





14. THE GLOW-MATT POND PA
Album: Winter Lives

New York based but formed in Philadelphia, the group was very busy in 2017, releasing a lot of pretty nice music. I just read that
the group has disbanded, with Matt Pond recording under his name alone (which, really, only means dropping the "PA"..). I'm
not a big fan of winter, but I am a big fan of the two songs on this countdown, both from the record "Winter Lives". The sweet
images from the lyrics and sense of nostalgia are very appealing.





13. WONDER-MIKE + THE MECHANICS
Album: Let Me Fly

The last entry on the list from an album I enjoyed very much. This one sounds like Bruce Hornsby and the Hornsby song that
was a huge hit for Don Henley, "End Of The Innocence", but I'll forgive the lack of originality since I love both Hornsby AND
that song. This is quite nice, and I really like the new guy's voice. Mike Rutherford sure does get some good
talent to sing his songs.





12. PARIAH-STEVEN WILSON with Ninet Tayeb
Album: To The Bone

Former mastermind behind the Progressive Rock band Porcupine Tree. This one may not score with everyone, but it blows me away,
especially the fragile yet still powerful turn here by Tayeb. The raspy quality of her voice is absolutely perfect for this song.
It's really quite emotionally effective...and when the band blasts in for the final minute and a half...whoa.





11. HARD WORK-THEO KATZMAN
Album: Heartbreak Hits

Katzman sings his butt off over the band's rock solid, funky backing. Try to stay still for this one. He sounds like Taylor Hanson
here (and don't snicker..the comparison is a compliment, as I have mentioned a number of times that Hanson has been doing some great
work since their voices changed..)..this one COOKS, folks!





10. BREATHE (2017 version)-MIDGE URE
Album: Orchestrated

Ure, who had a couple of hits both solo and with Ultravox (and also played a huge role in putting the Band Aid hunger relief
project that gave us "Do They Know It's Christmas?") takes the title track from his 1996 album and reimagines it with a full
orchestra. It's quite lovely.





9. CLAUSTROPHOBIA-COKE BELDA
Album: Coke Belda 3: A Tribute To The Bee Gees

This is a cover of a song written and recorded circa 1965, when the Brothers Gibb were still in Australia and Barry was around
18 and twins Robin and Maurice were all of 15....a full 2 years before their first international hit. It is certainly not a sophisticated
composition, but it is quite charming and has that happy British Invasion sound of groups like Herman's Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers,
and yes, early Fab Four. Germany's Belda captures that innocent spirit quite well..this happily dances in my head afterward every time I
listen to it.





8. IN WINTER-MATT POND PA
Album: Winter Lives

We heard them at #14, and they reappear quickly on the countdown with another winner. This song is a musical fireplace...warm
and cozy and it's as comfortable as your favorite sweater and a mug of hot chocolate.





7. MIDDLE FINGERS-MISSIO
ALBUM: Loner

OK, so I'm 60 years old, but every now and then even us older folk still have a tiny bit of a rebel streak that emerges. So,
middle fingers up!!! (even though I may be doing it when no one's looking lol). My (adult) granddaughter turned me on to this one!
The teacher becomes the student...




6. A LOVE SO BEAUTIFUL-ROY ORBISON w/THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Album: A Love So Beautiful

Originally a song (co-written by Roy and the album's producer (and Traveling Wilburys bandmate) Jeff Lynne on Roy's
comeback album "Mystery Girl" (completed a month before and released two months after his death), this version takes Orbison's
vocal and gives him a new backing track, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Roy's voice is the best instrument on here.
Recorded proof that he never ever lost a step. Just a stunning performance. If it brings a tear or two to your eye, there's
no judgement from this corner...





5. EVERYBODY'S TALKIN'-GLEN CAMPBELL
Album: Adios

Damn. If the song at #6 didn't make you tear up, this one should do the trick. A PERFECT match of cover song to the artist's
situation. Just listen to the lyrics. Wherever you are Glen, I hope that the sun is indeed shining and that you are sailin'
on a summer breeze.





4. SLEEPING AROUND THE CORNER-LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM & CHRISTINE McVIE
Album: Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie

This easily could've been a hit track off Tusk. The best parts of Buckingham merged with the best part of the Mac.
This is what pop music should sound like.





3. SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS-THE CHAINSMOKERS w/COLDPLAY
Album: Memories...Do Not Open

For all the Coldplay haters who thought they could get through one of my countdowns without Chris Martin & Company showing
up..my apologies. Actually, the song is credited to the Chainsmokers and is from THEIR album, but Coldplay does indeed
play on it, and that's Chris Martin doing the vocalizing. Again, sorry Coldplay haters, but once I heard that keyboard hook
I was lost...and I knew this was destined to land near the top of the list.





2. HE'S GOT ME DREAMING-LISA MYCHOLS
Album: single track

Pure..pop...bliss. This could easily been my choice for #1, but it was just BARELY edged out by the eventual winner.
Again, you've got elements of the innocence of the 60's, a Lesley Gore type vibe, combined with the 80's revival of the sound employed
by the Bangles and the Go-Go's. But what really floors me about this song is the abrupt chord change she uses to transition
from the verse to the chorus. It's a move straight out of Brian Wilson's playbook...one that SHOULDN'T work, but does....
magnificently. Mychols was at the top of her game in 2017.





1. SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE-HORNAL
Album: The Game Begins With The Lights Out

And here we are..my favorite song from last year. He's played with Jeff Lynne's ELO and 10cc, and he's learned his lessons well.
This is, to me, one of those songs where every note and musical phrase is perfectly placed and serves a purpose. I'm
hearing something that would've topped the charts in 1966 (I say that because it reminds me in some ways, with the
vocal interplay between singer and female backup vocalists, of Lou Christie's #1 from that year, "Lightning Strikes"). Throw in that bridge
between verse and chorus with a Frankie Valli (without the falsetto) inspired "ay-ee-ay-ee" and the piano backed breakdown that leads into
the rousing finale...well, this is how you build a pop song, my friends. A nonstop musical hook festival from start to finish.





And so...another year's countdown in the books. Hope you found at least a few new tunes to enjoy. If so, remember most of these
artists don't make a ton of money, so if you can, support them with a cd purchase or download, Most of my music is purchased on
Bandcamp.com, CD Baby.com, iTunes, or Amazon. com. Our crack team of Boneys judges are already working on the screening process for next year's Boneys! Let's hope 2018 music is so good that it makes that process extremely tough to pick just 80 favorites!