Top 5 Miscellaneous songs of 2016

Top 5 Miscellaneous songs of 2016

5. The Juniper Drive - Decade

[self-released, 2016]

These young punks from North Dakota came through and played a house show in Salem. I loved their energy and spirit, and I can't help shouting along with the refrain from this song.

(buy at Bandcamp)



4. Boy Eats Drum Machine - Blazers Theme

[self-released, 2009]

Stumbled across this old chestnut from Portland's BEDM as a free download. This song is probably not meaningful if you didn't grow up watching the blazers on TV, but it gives me ALL the feels. I listened to it a lot during Portland's great but heartbreaking semifinal series against the Clippers this year.

(download for free at Bandcamp)


3. Magic Sword - The Legend of the Keeper

 

[self-released, 2016]

Transport yourself into a magic fantasyland. Check out their live shows, they look epic (but I haven't been to one yet). If you buy their music, buy the accompanying comic book as well.

(buy the music and comic books here).


2. Weezer - Long Time Sunshine

[DGC, 2010]

I'm enough of a Weezer fan to really like Pinkerton and be vaguely aware that Rivers wanted it to be some sort of more grandiose rock opera, but not enough to be one of those folks piecing together the clues on the internet. So, when I stumbled across a deluxe edition of Pinkerton with bonus tracks (thank your local library!), I was floored by this one. Vulnerable and weird like Pinkerton, but with a sort-of Broadway slant.

(can't seem to find it online for less-than-preposterous prices. Good luck.)


1. Radiohead - Spectre

[self-released, 2015]

Far better (in my opinion) than the other songs on their 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool, Radiohead dropped this failed James Bond theme on Christmas Day 2015 . A Moon Shaped Pool missed my top 5 for this year, but this song is AMAZING.

(used to be a free download. Now you'll have to try something clever to get it)