THE BEST OF 2020 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

 

- Continuing what will be a recurring theme of this year's Best of 2020 posts ... 2020, it must be said, was a strange year. Because of COVID-19, it was a year (mostly) without concerts and live music. It was a year where we were all stuck at home. It was a year where almost nothing went according to plan.

The last live concert I saw was in February. My amazing girlfriend Rebecca and I went to the Microsoft Theater in downtown LA to see the annual 80's Weekend show (it's an annual show, but this was my first!) - featuring dozens of bands who made their name in the most radical of decades. It was a ton of fun - I saw some of my favorites of the era live for the first time. From bands I am genuinely a big fan of like Missing Persons, to one-hit wonders (okay, in some cases three-hit wonders) like Wang Chung, Josie Cotton, Flock of Seagulls, Dramarama, Big Country, Violent Femmes, and The Romantics. The closer was none other than MC Hammer himself - a bit of an outlier in the lineup (especially given that I think of him as more of an early 90's star) - but man, I was an MC Hammer *fanatic* as a young kid, so it was cool to once again get "2 Legit 2 Quit." And by the way, MC Hammer was actually the first big concert I ever attended as a kid - so it was definitely a full-circle moment. I guess if things never get better, pandemic-wise, it would be a weird irony if somehow my first and last concerts both featured Hammer.

And then, things just ... stopped. When things got bad in March, I had tickets to see a bunch of live shows later in the year - Alice Cooper, a live performance of Hamilton at the Pantages theater ... and sadly, one by one, they were all cancelled (along with other planned 2020 events like The Paley Fest, WonderCon, and Comic-Con ...).

Even so, music was a big part of my quarantine survival strategy. Music helped me to concentrate while working, writing, and exercising. It helped me to relax, whether I was chilling out at home or driving to nowhere in particular. It helped to funnel my anger at the insane politics of this year, and motivated me to do what I could to "fight the power," scream to the rafters that #BlackLivesMatter, and push for change to whatever extent that I could. In fact, for me (and I suspect many), one of the best musical moments of the year came on a Saturday night in November - watching Joe Biden's big victory speech on TV. After the speech, a medley of songs played as fireworks boomed in the night sky. Tom Petty's "I Won’t Back Down" began to play, and man, was that a great moment. It was then that the battle of the last four years finally felt over - at least for a bit. We could pause, reflect, breathe, and take a moment to remember those we'd lost along the way.

So with that said, here are my top rock songs of 2020. A mix of long-established stalwarts and newer acts, this was a year where hearing new music from old favorites was certainly welcome. To that end, this year saw great new music from the likes of AC/DC, Springsteen, and McCartney. It also saw the reunion of one of my favorite recent rock acts, Foxy Shazam. And it saw a flood of pandemic-inspired songs meant to inspire and rally us - some worked, some didn't.

Here's to a better 2021 filled with concerts, live shows, and lots of rock.

DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2020:

1.) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - "Ghosts"

- The Boss has always been a chronicler of hard times, and there were no harder times than 2020. In a year when so many were in denial, when so many seemed so removed from the plight that this country was in, from the hurt people were feeling - here was Springsteen to guide us towards the light. I'm no diehard Bruce fan - casual at best - but every so often one of his songs just really soars and speaks to the moment, and this year that song was Ghosts. We are here, we are alive, and we will get back to where we were and where we can be. 

2.) AC/DC - "Witch's Spell"

- AC/DC has been a constant in the world of rock for decades upon decades - but it seemed that their long trek across the highway to hell might finally be coming to an end. The death of Malcolm Young and the health issues of Brian Johnson forced the band to cancel their tour several years ago and stay off the road (I was lucky enough to be at their last-ever show in LA). But against all odds, AC/DC returned in 2020, and they were as thunderstruck as ever - with a new album that was exactly what any fan would want. "Witch's Spell" was, to me, the standout - a hard-driving rocker with a hint of supernatural menace. Inject it into my veins, baby.

3.) Miley Cyrus (with Billy Idol) - "Night Crawling"

- Miley is no ordinary pop princess - she knows how to turn out genuine rock bangers, and her latest album has a few of them. But to me, the one that hit the hardest was her retrowave, synth-filled, fist-pumping song "Night Crawling" - a collaboration with 80's icon Billy Idol. The song could stand proudly next to other 80's Idol classics, prompting listeners to let out a rebel yell due to its sheer retro awesomeness.

4.) Tom Petty - "California"

- I was devastated by the death of one my my true rock n' roll heroes, Tom Petty, back in 2017. I was at his final concert - an incredible show held at the Hollywood Bowl only days before his passing. It was a death that hit me hard - Petty's music had particular meaning to me, and I always looked forward to buying new Tom Petty albums. In 2020 though, we got one last collection of new Petty songs - as part of the Wildflowers & All The Rest album reissue, which included a whole batch of unreleased songs from the archives. "California" was the one that spoke to me - as a California transplant, the lyrics hit home - "California's been good to me." It was good to Tom, and it's been pretty good to me too.

5.) Paul McCartney - "Find My Way"

- A late-in-the-year treat, Paul McCartney's latest solo album featured a song, "Find My Way," that felt like the perfect song with which to end 2020 and head towards (hopefully) a new and better year ahead. Yes, in this upbeat rocker, Sir Paul promises to guide us towards that light at the end of the tunnel. With blaring horns and crunchy Queen-like guitars, this song acknowledges the anxieties of the pandemic era while also offering to lift us up towards good times to come.

6.) Foxy Shazam - "Dreamer"

- After a seeming breakup and long hiatus, Foxy Shazam returned in 2020, and thank the lord for that. At one point, I was convinced that Foxy was destined to be the next big thing in rock - a band that seemed to channel both the majesty of Queen and also the unhinged energy of Iggy Pop. "Dreamer" is a great song from their comeback album - a slowly-escalating power-ballad that, eventually, erupts into a glorious explosion of rock. Welcome back.

7.) Alice Cooper - "Don't Give Up"

- Perhaps Alice Cooper was an unlikely candidate to provide an inspirational, motivational pandemic anthem - and yet, as a devoted fan of the legendary shock-rocker, I know well that he's an incredibly versatile musician who can do just about anything. "Don't Give Up" has a 90's grunge sort of sound - complete with spoken-word interludes in between its hard-driving chorus. Cheesy? Maybe. Awesome? Hell yeah. Released back in May, hearing Alice Cooper's distinct voice telling us "don't give up" was just the rallying cry I needed.

8.) The Pretty Reckless - "Death By Rock And Roll"

- The Pretty Reckless at their best create music that rocks like some femme fatale version of Guns n' Roses. One of their new 2020 songs, "Death By Rock And Roll," channels that classic brand of GnR sleaze-rock to great effect, augmented by Taylor Momsen's powerful pipes. Come for the kick-ass rock, stay for the cheeky Gossip Girl reference in the song's opening line.

9.) Dead Sara - "Hands Up"

- Dead Sara is one of the best rock bands of the last twenty years, and they delivered some new rock n' roll goodness this year - with another album that went hard against bigots, fascists, and Trump himself. This was the kind of rage-against-the-machine rock we needed desperately in 2020. And few frontwomen can growl out lyrics like singer Emily Armstrong.

10.) Weezer - "Beginning of the End"

- 2020 saw a new Bill & Ted movie, and thus it also needed a new catchy rock song to go along with this new most-excellent adventure (after all, let us not forget that Bogus Journey gave us the KISS classic "God Gave Rock & Roll to Us"). This new Weezer jam from the Bill & Ted soundtrack is a catchy bit of retro guitar rock - fitting with the classic-rock tone that seems to characterize the band's upcoming and long-delayed album Van Weezer. 

The Best of the 10's - Danny's Best Rock Music of the Decade!

THE BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF THE 2010's:

Note: I decided to try something a little different here. Typically, in my Best of the Year lists, I look at the best songs of the year. But now, looking back at the decade, I thought it'd be appropriate to look instead at the best albums. Because any band can have a great song or two - but putting out a really great album? Even in the age of streaming, that's what cements a band as legend and creates fans for life.


1. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (2013)

- I actually didn't really love Daft Punk's landmark album at first listen. I was coming off of their Tron Legacy soundtrack and wanted more of the same. But over time, I came to appreciate just how great Random Access Memories really was. From uber-catchy dance songs to cosmic techno and everything in between - this really is a modern classic.


2. Twenty One Pilots - Vessel (2013)

- With its earworm songs and exciting combination of rap, rock, and techno, Twenty One Pilots' breakout album was a game-changer.


3. Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll (2012)

- Full of bombastic rock, Foxy Shazam showed they had what it takes to be the next great rock band with this 2012 album. If only they'd stayed together!


4. Daft Punk - Tron Legacy Soundtrack (2010)

- Want to hear the soundtrack to the electro-future of your dreams? Look no further than the instant-mood-setting of Daft Punk's seminal score to Tron Legacy.


5. Scorpions - Sting in the Tail (2010)

- Doubt me if you want, but Scorpions' Sting in the Tail is a late-career epic from the classic rock stalwarts, that came nearly fifty years into the band's career. From "Raised on Rock" to "The Best Is Yet to Come," this one is chock full of killer rock anthems.


6. The Darkness - Hot Cakes (2012)

- After a long hiatus, The Darkness returned in 2012 with a kick-ass comeback album that's filled with fist-pumping rockers.


7. Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)

- The spiritual sequel to one of the all-time great rock albums did not disappoint. Sure, old-school fans may have been shocked to see Alice Cooper collaborate with the likes of Kesha, but true fans know that one of the secrets to Alice's success is that he's always evolving.


8. Greta Van Fleet - Black Smoke Rising (2017)

- While Greta Van Fleet may have suffered from overexposure, there's also no denying that this debut EP absolutely ripped. From start to finish, it's full of new songs and covers that evoke mystical, magical 70's-era rock.


9. John Carpenter - Lost Themes (2015)

- The soundtrack to so much of my writing in recent years, legendary movie director (and film score composer!) John Carpenter blessed us with two albums of all-new music this decade. The instrumental songs evoke his trademark foreboding, synth-y style.


10. Slash - Slash (2010)

- Before Guns n' Roses improbably reunited to tour again, GnR guitar legend Slash came out with this killer album. Filled with collaborations with everyone from Ozzy to Fergie (and eventual bandmate Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge), this one took you to paradise city and back.


THE NEXT BEST:


11. Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)

- Rush's final album was one hell of a farewell. A steampunk-themed concept album, Clockwork Angels was jam-packed with killer prog-rock anthems filled with geeky-awesome imagery.


12. The Dropkick Murphys - Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)

- Boston's favorite sons are nothing if not reliable - but Signed and Sealed is one of their best. Quite simply, it's loaded with great songs that will have you belting out the lyrics like it's last call at the pub. The boys, as they say, were back.


13. The Offspring - Days Go By (2011)

- By the time this album released, The Offspring were struggling to get rock radio airplay - the world had moved on from their brand of catchy punk rock. But that's a shame, because this was a great album, mixing vintage Offspring-style tunes ("Slim Pickens ...") with super-fun experiments ("Cruising California (Bumpin' in My Trunk")).


14. Kesha - Warrior (2012)

- I've always liked Kesha's rock n' roll attitude, and this album featured everything from iconic dance-pop tracks like "Die Young" to rock collaborations ("Dirty Love") with the likes of Iggy Pop.


15. The Interrupters - Fight the Good Fight (2018)

- The Interrupters' most recent album is a testament to just how good this band is - one of the best new bands of the decade, in fact. From new punk-rock anthems like "She's Kerosene" to more contemplative fare like "Room With a View" - this is statement album. Statement being: there's a new sheriff in town.


16. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye (2014)

- Tom Petty and his legendary band continued to put out incredibly good albums up until the singer's untimely death in 2017. Their 2014 effort is the final Heartbreakers album, but it shows a band still near the top of its game - from the mesmerizing "Shadow People" to the rockin' "Forgotten Man."


17. Weird Al Yankovic - Mandatory Fun (2014)

- How great was 2014, aka the year that Weird Al took over the world (again!)? This album was the culmination of a glorious period in which Al dropped new songs/music videos online every day for several days in a row. The songs were creative, unique, and oftentimes hilarious. A true national hero.


18. Charly Bliss - Guppy (2017)

- If, in the 10's, you were missing 90's-style grungy power-pop, Charly Bliss was there to fill that void. This female-fronted rock group's breakout album was full of catchy, crunchy alt-rock goodness.


19. Joan Jett - Unvarnished (2013)

- Another great album from a classic rocker with, perhaps, something to prove - Joan Jett's 2013 album showed a legend still kicking ass and taking names. Just listen to "Any Weather." If that doesn't strike you as a new rock classic, then I don't know what to tell you.


20. Andrew WK - You're Not Alone (2018)

- Andrew WK's best album since his seminal 2000 debut, this one had a number of songs that were Andrew WK at his infectiously-positive, hard-rocking best. 


21. Paul McCartney - New (2013)

- Between this and his more recent Egypt Station, McCartney had a pretty good decade - and that's saying something. Seriously, how is Sir Paul still cranking out amazing pop-songs in his 70's? I don't know, but I do know that the title track on this one is up there with his best. 


22. Rise Against - Endgame (2011)

- Rise Against entered this decade as one of the breakout bands of the 2000's. They continued their hot streak with their 2011 album, which gave us more of their epic rock stylings - including one of my favorite songs of theirs, "Make It Stop (September’s Children)."


23. The Interrupters - The Interrupters (2014)

- The Interrupters' debut album was a true monster of punk-rock awesomeness. From the anthemic "Take Back the Power" to the funky stylings of "This Is The New Sound" - this signaled the emergence of a great new band.


24. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Mojo (2010)

- Another good one from Petty, this album marked a return to recording with the Heartbreakers after Petty's previous solo effort. I could go through all of the solid-to-excellent songs on this album, but I'll simply say: listen to "Something Good Coming." It's one of the best songs Tom Petty ever sang.


25. AC/DC - Rock or Bust (2014)

- And then there was AC/DC. One of the most consistent bands in the history of rock did not disappoint with 2014's Rock or Bust - despite health issues that sidelined founding member Malcolm Young. But man, what other band could churn out a late-career album with this many instantly-iconic tunes? For those about to rock, AC/DC continues to salute you.

THE BEST OF 2017 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

- 2017 was an interesting and hopeful year for rock n' roll, but a sad one as well. First, let me talk about Tom Petty. Petty is up there for me as one of my favorite musical artists of all time - and I know that's true for many of you as well. And so his loss was very, very hard to take ... and I'm still feeling it a few months later. Somehow, as fate would have it, my brother and I ended up seeing his final concert ever, at the Hollywood Bowl in September. I'd seen Petty a few times before, but this one was, I think, special for many reasons. It was, in my view, one hell of a show. Here's what I wrote on Facebook after hearing of Petty's passing:

" ... I am devastated to hear that Tom Petty has passed away. My brother and I just saw him and the Heartbreakers put on an amazing show this past Monday night at the Hollywood Bowl. And he is one of my all-time favorite musicians. He had a moment right as I was becoming an MTV junkie and a classic rock fan in the early 90's and "Mary Jane's Last Dance" came out. I loved that song and that video. I still do. It took me down a rabbit hole of Tom Petty's greatest hits - the kind of songs that, not to sound too cheesy, are just quintessential "life-soundtrack" songs. Iconic, yes - but also the songs of a hard-working, blue-collar man - an eternal wanderer who scraped and clawed his way through life. He broke down, free-fell out into nothing, learned to fly, and wouldn't back down. He taught us that "even the losers get lucky sometimes." I was lucky to see Tom Petty in concert several times - all in the LA-area that was popularized by so many of his songs. When I first moved here, I knew many an LA location from a Tom Petty lyric. I've bought every new Tom Petty album sight-unseen for years. His songs told stories, and I always wanted to hear them. They were stories from a man who knew that life could be hard, but also knew that there just might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Last Monday night was a celebration of 40 Years of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Petty gave his trademark, enthusiastic "thank you - thank you all very much" after each round of applause. The band was still damn good, the best in the biz. Hearing those songs live - it was amazing every time. They were the human experience. I will never get tired of those songs, or their lyrics, or their stories. I am just sad that their brilliant creator is no longer with us."

There were some big losses this year in the rock world - from Tom Petty to Malcolm Young of AC/DC to Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. And the godfather of rock himself - the legendary Chuck Berry. 

And yet ... there was some exciting new blood that came to fill the void and keep the rock n' roll torch burning. I'll talk about them more below, but hearing the amazing first album from Greta Van Fleet was a moment. These guys sound like the second coming of Led Zeppelin, and they're just barely out of their teens. It was awesome to see them enjoy strong commercial success as well. Yeah, I know - no one ever wants to see their favorite band make it big. But rock music needs some wins, and it needs to be heard. So this was cool. 

In addition to Tom Petty's final show, I saw some other memorable concerts this year as well. I saw a dream concert in Queen. Sure, the frontman was Adam Lambert and not Freddie Mercury - but Lambert surprised me with how great he was, and it was truly incredible to see the legendary Brian May and Roger Taylor perform so many iconic songs live. I never thought I'd get the chance. I saw Metallica for the first time ever, and had a blast rocking out to their hits and new stuff at the Rose Bowl. I also saw Green Day at the Rose Bowl - as the band once again re-affirmed that they're one of the all-time best live acts. I saw The Scorpions (an all-time favorite) with opening band Megadeth, the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a second time, and even a nostalgia-fueled show put on by Styx and REO Speedwagon. In a year that was tough on many levels, music was an escape - it was a call to arms, an inspiration, and a reminder of what unites us.

So here are my top rock picks of the year. And here's hoping for a rockin' 2018.


DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2017:


1.) Greta Van Fleet - "Black Smoke Rising" / "Safari Song"

-  I could honestly list just about every song from Greta Van Fleet's debut album, From the Fires, here and call it a day. It's one of the few albums of the last several years where I can simply say: if you're at all a rock fan, just go buy it immediately, and you will probably love it. This is just a concentrated blast of straight-up rock n' roll. It immediately calls to mind Zeppelin, but there are some dashes of Rush and other prog bands in there as well as moments that give the classic-sounding tunes a more modern twist. That said, everything from the album art to the song lyrics evoke times past - and there is an immediate comfort level with these songs. But they are so damn good, you can't write them off as mere homage. My two favorites are the opening track, "Safari Song" and the closer, "Black Smoke Rising" - as strong a one-two-punch as we've seen on any rock album in a long while. But it's just a great album from top to bottom - all fist-pumpers, toe-tappers, and songs ready-made to sing along to - no filler at all. I don't know, maybe I'm reading too much into it, but to me there's something poignant about a new generation rediscovering rock n' roll at a time, arguably, when it is needed most. As GvF sings on "Black Smoke Rising" - "Many people are dividing / And a world apart / With just one heart / Is bound to keel and fade away." And so let there be rock.

2.) Alice Cooper - "Paranormal" / "Paranoiac Personality"

- And then there was Alice Cooper - the last rock legend standing. I'm a longtime Alice Cooper fan, but I went on a deep dive through his extensive catalog this year and discovered gems like the drugged-out new wave album Flush the Fashion. I am continually amazed at how Cooper has evolved over the years and how he's made great music in so many rock subgenres. All the while, here in 2017, he's still putting out great new music. His latest album, "Paranormal," is legit great - full of fun, often darkly funny songs that span a variety of styles - from straight-up rockers to rockabilly and blues. The opening track, "Paranormal," is an atmospheric, horror-tinged tune that should make next year's Halloween playlist. "Paranoiac Personality" is a great classic-sounding rock song that is the album highlight. Cooper still rocks, and thank god for that.

3.) Paramore - "Hard Times"

- Paramore long ago stopped being a hard-rocking alternative rock band. And yeah, that's sort of a shame. But there's also no denying that Hayley Williams and company have become one hell of a pop-rock band, putting out catchy, dance-ready anthems that always bring something a little different to the table. And that's why "Hard Times" is so great - it's got some layers, lyrically and sonically. It rises above the pack.

4.) The Killers - "The Man" 

- Speaking of ultra-catchy pop-rock, it was nice to finally have The Killers back in 2017. While I didn't love their latest album overall, I did quickly take to their song "The Man' - a satirical dance-rock tune that brings The Killer's trademark future-disco sound to a different sort of song than what we're used to from them. 

5.) The Darkness - "Japanese Prisoner of Love" / "Happiness"

- I love The Darkness, so I always have super high expectations for their new albums. Overall, their latest felt like a slight letdown vs. their previous output - whereas I've unequivocally loved all the previous Darkness albums from top to bottom, Pinewood Smile was a mixed bag. Some songs were great, vintage Darkness. Others felt a bit phoned it, and a bit *too* cheeky for their own good. The band has always toed the line between serious homage to classic rock and winking parody, but something like "$&%%ing Out Solid Gold" definitely felt like a step too far. That said - there are some real standouts. First is the fast, loud, and utterly kickass rocker "Japanese Prisoner of Love," - one of the most metal tunes the band has yet put out. Second is "Happiness," - an 80's-style fist-pumper that reminded me of classic Cars. 

6.) The Foo Fighters - "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" 

- The Foo Fighters are now the old reliable engine of the rock world - a band that's managed to stay on top and keep churning out hit albums that rarely disappoint. Personally, I've definitely grown a bit tired of the band over the last several years - the songs started sounding same-y, and it had been a while since I felt like they'd delivered a true classic. But this year, the Foo's won me back a bit. Maybe it was them jamming out on Jimmy Kimmel this Halloween with Alice Cooper, backing him up on The Ballad of Dwight Fry. Maybe it was Dave Grohl patching up old wounds and rocking with Slash on stage. And maybe it was partly the pretty exceptional songs on their latest album, which reminded me that the band can indeed be pretty great. "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" is my favorite track from the album - an epic rocker that builds and builds towards a huge sing-along chorus. Good stuff. 

7.) Kesha (featuring The Eagles of Death Metal) - "Let 'Em Talk"

- You've got to love Kesha (now sans dollar sign). Aside from making some ridiculously fun dance-pop songs over the years, she's also a woman who knows how to rock. Over the years, she's collaborated on songs with the likes of Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop - and her latest album features a pair of songs created with The Eagles of Death Metal. "Let 'Em Talk" is an instantly likable tune - fast, fun, and insanely catchy. And it continues her album Rainbow's powerful message of empowerment. After going through hell with all of the Dr. Luke stuff, after being prevented for years from making new music - Kesha's triumphant return is one of the year's best comeback stories, and something every music fan can get behind. Let 'em talk indeed.

8.) U2 - "The Blackout"

- Similar to the Foo Fighters, its easy to take the always-prolific U2 for granted. But after giving their latest album, Songs of Experience, a listen-through, I found it to be really solid. It's got some great songs. My favorite is "Blackout" - a pretty epic rock track that's got a pointed political message, but doesn't sacrifice anything musically to put it out there. The song's got killer guitar riffs and a clap-along chorus that's got that trademark U2 sense of scale. I dig it.

9.) Charly Bliss - "Westermark"

- It seems like late 90's / early 00's-style pop-punk might be making a little bit of a comeback. And that's a good thing - I mean, who doesn't miss the days when bands like Sugarcult, Wheatus, etc. were on every college freshman's must-download-on-Napster list? In any case, if you're jonesing for a burst of Veruca Salt-esque female-led pop-punk, Charly Bliss is your ticket. The infectious bubblegum rock of "Westermark" is like hanging out with an old college friend. 

10.) Alice Merton - "No Roots"

- This one is getting a lot of radio play of late, and it's easy to see why. It's a dark, sort of haunting, yet very catchy song with a great beat - that also happens to feel very of-the-moment. Alice Merton's deep voice combines with a progressively more complex techno-beat to create something very unique sounding that stands out from the pack. "I've got no ROOTS!"

THE BEST OF 2012 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2012 - THE YEAR IN ROCK

- All in all, rumors to the contrary, rock n' roll was quite alive - and even kicking - in 2012. This may sound cheesy, but I felt like rock got a kick in the pants thanks to a single song that sent shockwaves through the system. That song is "Weatherman" by the band DEAD SARA. Maybe you've heard it, maybe you haven't. It wasn't a mainstream hit (few real rock songs are these days), but it marked the first time in a long time that I heard a new, totally out-of-nowhere song on the radio and said "what is that? I need to hear that again right now!" The song, with its driving guitars and flaming-hot vocals from lead singer Emily Armstrong, was a revelation. In a year when rock radio was taken over by folk revival bands, Weatherman was a stark reminder that real rock n' roll was still out there, and it could still hit you like a thunderbolt when the right new song or band came along.

Another similar revelation about the state of rock came about early in the year, when I went to see THE DARKNESS in concert. The Darkness coming back after a hiatus of several years was big in and of itself. A playful throwback to glam-rock excess, The Darkness were my favorite new band during my college years, and it was fantastic to finally have them back - touring and putting out a great new album to boot. I was psyched to finally see The Darkness live, but the real eureka moment at the concert came before the band even took the stage. A band I'd never previously heard of, called FOXY SHAZAM, was the opener. They got on stage, and within about 20 seconds my jaw was on the floor, shocked at what I'd seen. Channeling the likes of Queen and Iggy Pop, the band owned the stage like few other rock acts I've seen, and churned out a set of instantly-memorable, bombastic rock songs that, quite frankly, blew my mind. This was another sign to me that rock n' roll was very much alive. 

In fact, this year I sought out, listened to, and enjoyed more great new music than I have in a long while.

Old favorites - Aerosmith, Kiss, Green Day - turned out albums that, even if not top-to-bottom successful, at the least contained some killer tunes. The Offspring rallied from a disappointing couple of albums with a kick-ass return to form. Rush had an epic new concept album that only got better the more I listened. The Darkness finally came out with their long-awaited third album, and it was pretty damn good. Jack White went solo, and had an exciting debut. Bruce Springsteen had a timely new album that produced the rallying cry of the year and Barack Obama's political anthem. This was a great year for rock n' roll.

Personally, I saw some incredible concerts this year. I started the year with a bang, with the aforementioned Darkness / Foxy Shazam show at the House of Blues in Hollywood. Soon after that, I got to see another awesome show from one of my classic-rock favorites, The Scorpions. A year earlier, my brother and I thought we'd seen seen them on their last-ever tour. But now, they were back for one "final sting," and seemed as good as ever ... perhaps talk of their retirement was premature. 

Speaking of classic rockers, this past summer I saw the legendary Meatloaf in concert at the Wiltern in LA. Meat has made more headlines lately for his political stunts than anything else - but, putting that aside, it was a thrill to see a musician I've long been a fan of live and in concert. Meatloaf still had some real power in his voice, and despite a lukewarm crowd it was a really great show. I'm glad I saw him in concert while I had the chance. 

Also this the summer, I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see another band that I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to see again - Aerosmith. The last time I was set to see the Bad Boys from Boston live, they cancelled the show due to a Steven Tyler injury. Soon after that, the band essentially broke up. Then Tyler joined American Idol, and the hopes for more 'Smith seemed shaky at best. But, finally, the band got their act together and went back on tour. And man, they were in fine form on that summer evening. After being intro'd onstage by none other than Stan Lee, Tyler, Joe Perry, and the rest of the band blasted through classic after classic (plus some choice cuts from their new album) looking rejuvenated, and reminding fans why they shouldn't be a pop-culture punchline, but should truly be considered one of America's great rock n' roll institutions. And also, it was great to see opener Cheap Trick again. This was my fifth time seeing Aerosmith in concert, and it was up there as one of the best live overall performances I've seen from them. 

In the Fall, I finally crossed a big item off of my rock n' roll bucket list - I saw RUSH live! The concert, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, was truly epic. Surrounded by an elaborate, steampunk-themed set, the soon-to-be Hall of Famers played a number of classics (a lot of 80's stuff, in honor of the 30th anniversary of their Signals album), plus a good portion of their new Clockwork Angels album, backed by a full string section no less. A series of video vignettes telling the story of the sci-fi themed album set the mood, and the pyrotechnics were spectacular. Plus, Rush ended with a kickass play-through of the 2112 sequence, only appropriate given the year. A ridiculously awesome, monumental show. 

Finally, I capped off 2012 by heading to the Orpheum in downtown LA to see another legend - Alice Cooper. I'd seen Alice once before, paired with Rob Zombie, but this was the first time I'd seen him as a headliner. And it was great to see Alice and his band (which included the female guitar virtuoso Orianthi) tear through so many of the hits - 70's classics like "Eighteen", "School's Out," and "Welcome to My Nightmare," 80's monster-mashers like "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)", "Hey Stoopid," and "House of Fire," "Feed My Frankenstein" from the 90's, and a couple of great songs off his latest album, including a previous rock song-of-the-year pick from me, "I'll Bite Your Face Off." Alice also paid tribute to fallen rock comrades by doing a "Raise the Dead" segment of the show, covering classics from Hendrix, Lennon, The Doors, and more. The theatrics - from sword-fighting to hangings to giant Frankenstein monsters - were all vintage Cooper. And the odd coincidence of the year? At both the Aerosmith and Alice Cooper shows I attended, none other than Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance towards the end of each concert, showing up onstage rather mysteriously and hammering through several songs on backup guitar. 

I saw some amazing shows this year - some - The Darkness/Foxy Shazam, Rush, and Alice Cooper - I'd count as easily among the best I've ever seen. 

But, back to the new music that came out this year ... here they are, my picks for the year's best in rock.



DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2012:


1.) Dead Sara – “Weatherman”

- A sonic blast of pure, straight-up rock n' roll, this was far and away the single most kickass rock song of 2012 - a reminder of what rock can be when it's in-your-face and unrelenting. A pure adrenaline rush, matched with Emily Armstrong's raspy, passionate, almost apocalyptic vocals, "Weatherman" is rock magic, the likes of which we haven't seen from a brand new band in a long, long time.



2.) Bruce Springsteen – “We Take Care of Our Own”

- A rallying cry for 2012, this latest Springsteen rocker was a great song but also a poignant one, a thesis statement for what America can and should be. The song was prescient, summing up the stakes in the 2012 presidential election, and boldly challenging the GOP platform by questioning if they stood for the masses, or only the select few. Sometimes Springsteen can be overhyped, but this was a song that was worthy of the praise, and of instant-classic status.


3.) The Darkness – “She’s Just a Girl, Eddie”

- Man, it was great to have The Darkness back, with a new album that showed the band to still be in top form. This is my favorite comeback track, a sing-along rocker that's just-about perfectly crafted in every way - mixing the band's trademark glam-rock bigness with their tongue-in-cheek lyrics. One of the best-ever "get over that girl" songs.


4.) Foxy Shazam – "Holy Touch"

- This is such a good song - catchy as hell and sort of a "we have arrived" statement of purpose from the best up-and-coming rock band around, Foxy Shazam. When you hear singer Eric Nally's soaring vocals, you can't help but think of Freddie Mercury. And indeed, Foxy performs with the same operatic bombast as Queen, kicking down the door of the rock world, singlehandedly working to save rock with the holy touch of the guitar gods.


5.) Rush – "Wish Them Well"

- My favorite track off of Clockwork Angels, this song works as the a kickass climax to an epic concept album that could only have come from the minds of Geddy Lee and his band. Who else would make a steampunk sci-fi concept album like this? What other classic rock band could make such a top-to-bottom great album - one that is harder and heavier than almost anything they've done before - at this stage of their careers? Rush is one of a kind.



6.) Aerosmith – “Out Go the Lights”

- Yes, Aerosmith's new album "Music From Another Dimension" is a bit of a mixed bag. It's got enough lame ballads (including a duet with Carrie Underwood) to make a hardcore member of Aeroforce One cringe. But ... and this is a big but ... a good 50 to 60% of the new album actually owns it, and "Out Go The Lights" is case in point. A big, brash, bluesy, soulful rocker that is vintage 'Smith, this song makes me smile and sing along every time. 


7.) The Offspring – "Slim Pickens Does The Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell"

- I think I unfairly dismissed the new Offspring album when I heard the first single, "Days Go By," and assumed that the whole album would be that same sort of semi-bland pop-rock. Luckily, I was wrong, as the album is a total comeback for the band, and features a great mix of pop-punk, novelty songs, and more hardcore, vintage Offspring-style songs like this one. "Slim Pickens" is just a jolt of energy, a burn-it-all-down bit of nihilism that begs you to crank up the volume.


8.) Rush – "The Wreckers"

- The most epic song off an an insanely epic concept album, "The Wreckers" is a five-minute sonic journey that is emblematic of Rush's ability to tell a story and create a whole fictional universe via song. Another reason why Clockwork Angels is among the finest albums of the year.


9.) Green Day – "Wow! That’s Loud"

- Green Day released two of my all-time favorite rock albums in American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. It was going to be tough to follow those up, but the band, ever-ambitious, chose to release a trio of back-to-back-to-back companion albums late this year. Did we really need a triple-album? No - in my view there's a lot of filler on these three discs. But there are some gems, particularly on Dos, which I thought was by-far the best overall album of the three. Among the standouts is "Wow! That's Loud," an instantly-catchy anthem that feels like classic Green Day.


10.) Foxy Shazam – "Freedom"

- Foxy Shazam infuses their lyrics with a mix of personal confession, jokey satire, and bombastic balladry. While "Holy Touch" is a bouncy, jokey, darkly-funny song, "Freedom" hints at the band's ability to craft a modern-day power-ballad for the ages. Freedom is Springsteen-esque swagger and Americana mixed with Queen-style go-for-broke bigness. It's over-the-top, but man, it's over-the-top in the way where you've simply got to turn it up and belt it out.


THE REST OF THE BEST:

11.) Green Day – "Nightlife"
12.) Foxy Shazam – "Last Chance at Love"
13.) Green Day - "Let Yourself Go"
14.) Aerosmith – "Legendary Child"
15.) Kiss – "Take Me Down Below"
16.) Aerosmith – "Beautiful"
17.) Slash with Myles Kennedy – "Anastasia"
18.) The Offspring – "Cruisin’ California (Bumpin’ in my Trunk)"
19.) Jack White - "Sixteen Saltines"
20.) The Darkness – "Keeps Me Hangin’ On"
21.) Linkin Park – "Burn It Down"
22.) Kiss – "Outta This World"
23.) Jack White – "Freedom at 21"
24.) Foxy Shazam – "The Temple"
25.) The Darkness – "Living Each Day Blind"

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1.) Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock n' Roll
2.) Rush - Clockwork Angels
3.) Tie: The Darkness - Hot Cakes, The Offspring - Days Go By

POP SONGS OF THE YEAR:

- Yes, as much as I love rock, I like all kinds of music - pop, hip-hop, rap, whatever. I appreciate a great pop-song, and here are my picks for the best tunes of the year that, hey, even a guy like me can't help groovin' to on occasion.

1.) Rihanna - "Diamonds"
2.) Gotye featuring Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used to Know"
3.) Carly Rae Jepson - "Call Me Maybe"
4.) Ke$ha - "Die Young"
5.) Fun featuring Janelle Monae - "We Are Young"


And that's the year in ROCK for 2012. Thoughts? Personal picks? Feel free to comment. But hey, here's to 2013 being a rockin' year for us all.