THE BEST OF 2025 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

 

- I recently saw the movie Song Sung Blue, and it was a potent reminder of the power of music. Music makes us feel larger than life, it makes us feel like anything is possible, it heightens emotion and helps us to get through even the darkest of times. In 2025, we needed music to be a cry of rebellion. We needed music to be a call to action. We needed music to feel like hope yet remained even in this darkest timeline. 

It's why, as I thought about my favorite songs of the year, I ultimately gave the top spot to a band that has been leading that charge. Dropkick Murphys have long been one of my favorites, but in the Trump era they've talked the talk and walked the walk - giving us songs and albums that felt urgent, timely, and sorely needed. 

I was lucky enough this year to see the great John Fogerty live in concert for the first time ever, at the Hollywood Bowl. Decades ago, Fogerty and Credence Clearwater Revival used music to talk about the changing times, and to protest the bad moon rising, the trouble that was on the way. In his 80's, Fogerty was still absolutely fantastic - sporting his trademark bandana and blue jeans, he sang iconic song after iconic song. And you couldn't help but notice that so many of his Vietnam-era protest songs resonated more today - sadly, I suppose - than they have in many a decade. 

I got another dose of still-vital classic rock when I saw Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening at the Greek theater. I'd recently watched the new Led Zeppelin documentary, and was eager to get the Led out in whatever way was possible in 2025. Seeing the son of the band's legendary drummer (not to mention *his* son, whose band was the opening act) was a pretty good way to honor the Zeppelin legacy. While not quite the same as seeing the original band, this was a fun show that gave us a mix of iconic rock songs and some deeper cuts. 

I had another really fun experience at the Hollywood Bowl, seeing the "I Want My 80's" concert. I love me some vintage 80's music, so this was a real treat. The headliner here was Rick Springfield - who, at age 75, was somehow still in great shape such that women were screaming when he took his shirt off (life goals for my 70's, I guess?). But Springfield legit rocked, and I came away from the show with a newfound appreciation for his surprisingly deep catalog of 80's rock bangers (my new favorite: "Human Touch" - it rules). That said, I was also really excited to see Wang Chung. They've been having a bit of a moment of late, with their classic "Dance Hall Days" being featured in a number of recent movies, and their "To Live and Die in LA" song also serving as the theme to John Mulaney's Netflix talk show. Wang Chung seriously rocked live, and I got sort of emotional for "Dance Hall Days" ...

 ... Because to bring this post back full circle, the song was used in one of my favorite movie scenes of the year, in the film The Life of Chuck. In the scene, a young Chuck spends time with his grandmother after the death of his parents. She's in the kitchen, cooking, as "Dance Hall Days" kicks up. Nick Offerman's narration states: "She liked rock n' roll, while she was cooking. Music Chuck would have thought much too young for her. But which she clearly enjoyed." Young Chuck looks at his grandma. She smiles back, as she taps the counter with her ladle, to the beat. She looks at him and says "C'mon little brother, let's dance." And they do. And from that moment on, a love for music and dance awakened in Chuck. It made me think of my own seemingly forever-young grandmother. It made me think of my own love of music. It made me think of how music keeps us young, smiling, and alive. 

2025 was a really tough year in a lot of ways. It was a struggle. But music made it easier. Music made me feel like I could fight back. Music made me feel like I - and all of us - still had a fighting chance. 

So here are some of the songs that spoke to me, that moved me, that energized me - in the year that was.

DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2025:

 

1.) Dropkick Murphys - "Who'll Stand With Us?" / "Chesterfields and Aftershave" / "Bury the Bones"

-  As I said above, Dropkick Murphys have become more than just a kickass punk rock band in recent years - they've become a voice of the revolution. And their recent 2025 album encapsulated that. It's filled with songs that urged us to fight. That proverbially spit in the face of Trump and MAGA and anyone who would follow them. Songs that lament the fate of the working man, that look back nostalgically on simpler times, that mix rage and sadness and emotion into a maelstrom of punk rock anthems that make you want to pump your fist and fight the good fight. "Who'll Stand With Us?" is the protest song we needed in 2025 - an anthemic rager that doesn't quit. "Bury the Bones" is another standout track, a scornful eulogy for would-be oppressors. And "Chesterfields and Aftershave" is the best song about grandfathers ever - a nostalgic ballad about the good ol' days and the people we miss from them. It's songs like these that make the Murphy's 2025 album "For The People" my pick for Album of the Year.

 

2.) Aerosmith & Yungblood - "Problems" / "My Only Angel"

- I'm a diehard Aerosmith fan, so it felt like a minor miracle that, somehow, the band returned from the brink to give us unexpected new music here in 2025. It had seemed the band was done, finished - but lo and behold, 2025 saw a new collaboration with up-and-coming rocker Yungblood that gave new life to the Bad Boys From Boston. And you know what? While their 5-song EP was sort of up and down, it had a couple of certifiably rocking tunes that have only grown on me more with each new listen. First single "My Only Angel" is a radio-friendly tune that, yeah, smooths out Steven Tyler's rougher vocal edges way too much. But still. There's some magic there. And "My Only Angel" is actually my favorite of the new songs - it's got vintage Tyler wails, some heavy Joe Perry riffage, and an emotion-packed vibe that reminds me a bit of "Sweet Child o' Mine." There's stuff that can be picked apart here, no question. But let's take a moment to celebrate that Aerosmith is back, baby.

3.) The Darkness - "Walking Through Fire"

-  I was a bit mixed overall on The Darkness' latest 2025 album, but the standout song for me was, easily, "Walking Through Fire" - a hard-driving rocker that is the band at their best. This was a big anthem for me in 2025, a motivational song that could be cranked up to 11 during those times when you need a musical pick-me-up. 

 

4.) Lady Gaga - "Abracadabra"
 

- Lady Gaga's latest album is all killer, no filler - and "Abracadabra" is flat-out one of the best dance-pop songs in a long, long time. It quickly entered regular rotation on my morning exercise playlist, and *also* served as a key source of inspiration as I penned the latest chapters in my spooky comic book series Halloween Team. Talk about a song that's got it all. This is a mystical, magical, evil spell of a song that is both mesmerizing and energizing.

 

5.) Billy Idol featuring Avril Lavigne - "77"

 

- If you've been paying attention, you know that Billy Idol has been on a bit of a musical tear for several years now. Yes, his music will always be rooted in 80's-era punk and new wave - but man, don't sleep on his 2020's output. In 2025, he put out a great new album, filled with fun collabs. One of the best, in my humble opinion, is his banger of a pop-punk song, "77", done with Millennial icon Avril Lavigne. It's a great mix of both of their sensibilities, and it speaks to the current moment as well. It's a call for rebellion like it's seventy-seven.

 

 

6.) Florence + The Machine - "Everybody Scream"

- I've not necessarily been a mega-fan of Florence + The Machine, but I've long had a healthy appreciation for the band's dark, haunting melodies and gothic-tinged tunes. But wow, when I first heard "Everybody Scream," I really sat up and took notice. This song got under my skin and really stuck with me. It's a dark, moody, and mystical song that gets my imagination running. So good.

7.) Ghost - "Satanized"

- Ghost is now a rock band whose new music I consistently look forward to. They have a uniquely epic, theatrical sound - and their songs tell stories like few other bands can. "Satanized" is their latest goth-metal epic - a maximalist power ballad that soars, that tantalizes, and that just plain rocks really hard. 

 

 

8.) Evanescence - "Afterlife (Gunship remix)" / "Fight Like a Girl"

- What a comeback year this was for Evanescence. Incredible cameo on Nathan Fielder's show The Rehearsal aside, Evanescence released some amazing new music this year. Their new song "Fight Like a Girl" played over the end credits of the new John Wick spinoff The Ballerina (and was arguably the best part of that movie). It's a badass rock song that kicks you in the teeth and doesn't let up. And then, they dropped a super cool remix of their new song "Afterlife," done in conjunction with the amazing synthwave band Gunship. 2025 was a full on Evanescence comeback, and I can't wait to see what else they've got up their sleeve for 2026.

 

9.) Alice Cooper - "Blood on the Sun"

-  Alice Cooper is one of my all-time favorites, and I buy every new album of his sight unseen. And so, I was intrigued to listen to Cooper's 2025 album that saw him reunite with his original Alice Cooper Band lineup. The resulting album did indeed have a different, more old-school feel versus other recent Cooper output. And to be honest, not all of it worked for me. But! I did love, in particular, this song - "Blood on the Sun." It's a hard-driving rock ballad with great lyrics and a sense of real epicness. A standout track that makes me, as always, incredibly thankful that Cooper is still around doing his thing.

10.) Twenty One Pilots - "City Walls"

-  In re-watching the music video for "City Walls" on YouTube, I was reminded from reading the comments (I know, I know ...) that Twenty One Pilots have an insanely dedicated fandom who closely track an incredibly complex lore that is associated with the band and their songs. So, yeah - I am nowhere near that level of fandom, but I have been a big Pilots fan since their original album. And that made me particularly excited for "City Walls," which feels like a return to the original, electric combination of rock, rap, and techno that made me love this band from the get-go. 

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

- The Paradox - "Get the Message"

- NewDad - "Misery"

- Gorillaz (featuring Sparks) - "The Happy Dictator"

- Spoon - "Chateau Blues"

- Men Without Hats - "I Love the '80s"

- KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack - "Golden"

 

 

To close, I wanted to mention the monumental loss that the rock world suffered in 2025, with the death of Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy's music meant so much to me from an early age, and I was devastated to hear of his passing - even as I was awed by Ozzy's epic and emotion-packed final show, when he knew the end was near. "Maybe, it's not too late ...".

THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

 

- When I look back at 2022, it will in many ways be a tale of two halves of a year. Going into 2022, it felt like, after multiple years of pandemic-induced precautions, things might finally be getting back to some degree of normalcy. There were so many things I was looking forward to finally doing again this year - and of course, a big part of that included concert-going.

I had seen some great shows in 2021, but I started 2022 out with a bang by seeing my first ever Sparks concert. I had become an instant fan after seeing Edgar Wright's Sparks Brothers documentary, and I could not wait to see them in person. The February show - at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA -  did not disappoint. The legendary Mael brothers who comprise the band were as amazing as ever, putting on an amazing, career-spanning show. Later, in April, I once again saw one of my all-time favorites, Alice Cooper, in concert at the Greek theater in LA. The concert would prove historic - as it was one of the final Alice shows featuring guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss, who I'd also become a huge fan of over the years. Nita would leave the band that summer to pursue solo efforts, but man, I'm glad I got to see her play with Alice Cooper one more time. In May, I saw the memorable musical Hadestown - featuring songs that evoked classic folk and blues music. In June, I was seemingly recovered from a rough bout with COVID and feeling ready to rock (literally and metaphorically) once again. I saw an incredible "Weird" Al Yankovic show that once again saw Al forego playing his parody hits in favor of original songs and rarities. It was great to see the legendary Al in concert again, and after some major bumps in the road with COVID, things were looking up.

Until they weren't. In early July some of my nagging, lingering COVID symptoms erupted into full-on Long COVID. I suffered debilitating vertigo attacks that then morphed into persistent dizziness, and then into lightheadedness. My blood pressure spiked, I got weird rashes and muscle/joint pains, and had strange bouts of blurry vision. And that, unfortunately, has been the crazy reality that's characterized the second half of my 2022. I wasn't able to go into the office, congregate with friends, or even drive. Through the ups and downs of my ongoing symptoms, I tried my best to still go out when I could. In September, I somehow made it to a live production of Jagged Little Pill - based on the Alanis Morissette album of the same name - at the Pantages theater. And it was fantastic. But overall, I've been very limited these last several months. And I struggled at times to keep my spirits up when so much seemed to be working against me. 

And that, as always, is where music played a huge role for me. I remember the moment I got the latest Interrupters album and gave it a listen. During the height of my Long COVID issues, I heard their song "Jailbird" - and the punk rock anthem felt like the perfect song for that moment. "Strung out adrenaline junkie / My heart pounds, but I look like a zombie / There's wires crossed inside my brain / And broken tracks lead to runaway trains." It's amazing how the right music can take a melancholy feeling and turn it into a rebellious rallying cry. There's some kind of alchemy there that works magic - that lifts us up, inspires us, and energizes us to scream, scratch, claw, and fight no matter how tired we may be. This past year we lost the rock icon Meat Loaf (following last year's loss of his legendary collaborator, Jim Steinman). I always joked that Meat Loaf's songs were so epic that they could make even doing laundry feel like an adventure. Such is the power of a great song. So yeah - long live the spirit of rock n' roll. And as always, for those about to rock: I salute you.

DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2022:


1.) The Interrupters - "Jailbird"

- I've been a huge fan of The Interrupters for years now, and I'm eternally grateful that they help to keep 90's/00's-style punk rock alive and well, while still experimenting and evolving. Their latest album In the Wild was another strong entry in their canon, but "Jailbird," to me, was the standout song. As I mention above, it's a simple fist-pumping punk anthem that nevertheless contains some affecting lyrics that speak to the moment we're in. Dealing with our own health and wellbeing. Trying to get our minds and bodies to function properly. It can all be a lot, but this song turns the despair into a rallying cry.

2.) The Interrupters - "Raised By Wolves"

- One more from The Interrupters. "Raised By Wolves" is a bit less uptempo than a typical Interrupters song, and that speaks to the continued evolution of the band that I mention above. But yeah, this song is one of the band's best - a clearly personal reflection on coming up in hard times and having to fend for yourself and find your own pack. Singer Aimee Allen's soulful wolf-cries are the icing on the cake.

 

3.) Billy Idol - "Cage"

- Yes, seriously. 80's legend Billy Idol had a new album this year, and it contained some genuinely incredible songs - chief among them "Cage," an absolutely banging rocker that will have you pumping your fist in the air like it's 1985. Idol's more grizzled sound - an inevitability of age - only adds to the primal power of this one.

4.) Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs - "Electric Gypsy"

- The 2017 death of the great Tom Petty still haunts me ... but this year I took comfort that key members of The Heartbreakers are still out there, making great classic rock music just like old times. Petty's legendary guitarist Mike Campbell has his own band now, and they put out one heck of an album this year. Check out "Electric Gypsy" for some down n' dirty, blues-y rock that just never goes out of style.

5.) Paramore - "This Is Why"

- Yes, part of me still laments the fact that Paramore moved so far away from their harder-edged hard rock roots. But there's no denying that "This Is Why" is a fantastic alt-rock/dance-rock tune that would get any bar or club (or personal at-home dance party) hopping. Hayley Williams belts out the uber-catchy chorus with aplomb - it's a party anthem for the stay-at-home era.

6.) The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Burning"

- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their first new album in several years in 2022, and there appears to be no ring-rust, so to speak. Their music is as atmospheric and immersive as ever, ready-made for epic movie trailer montages and the like. "Burning" is one of those new songs that feels like it's already existed for decades.

7.) Scorpions - "Rock Believer"

- Somehow, Scorpions just keep on truckin', delivering awesome new arena-ready rock anthems year after year, decade after decade. While some may dismiss the band as 80's relics, the fact is that they never really stopped putting out great new rock music. In 2022, we got yet another new Scorpions album - and while not, as a whole, a classic - it does contain at least one certified new classic in "Rock Believer." A bit cheesy? Sure. But in these dark times I'll gladly take a bit of cheese with my crazy-burger.

8.) Ghost - "Darkness at the Heart of My Love"

- Ghost has really emerged as one of my favorite modern rock bands - a weird but potent mix of Smashing Pumpkins goth-metal and 80's-style over-the-top arena rock. "Darkness at the Heart of My Love" has that goth-horror tinge for sure, but at its heart it's a good, old-fashioned, slow-building 80's-style power ballad. So get ready to pump your fist and play some air guitar along with this one.

9.) Falling in Reverse - "Zombified"

- This year, the WWE wrestler formerly known as Paige - now going by her given name of Saraya - made her long-awaited return to the wrestling ring for ring for rival AEW. Her grand entrance was made all the more epic by the kickass rock song that accompanied it, and I was immediately curious about this new entrance theme. Turns out, it's a new song from band Falling in Reverse - and it rules. All you need is that opening growl of "zombified!" to know you're about to get rocked.


10.) Avril Lavigne - "Love Sux"

- It's no secret that I've long had a soft spot for Avril Lavigne's brand of brash, bratty pop-punk - and this year she came out with a legitimately great new album that was a return to 2000's-era Avril that was sure to give Millennials everywhere a rush of nostalgia. "Love Sux" is maybe my favorite from the new album, a ridiculously shameless rock song with lyrics like "let's play a game of tic-tac-toe /
I'ma go and make all my exes say 'Oh." If that kind of stuff is your jam, then yeah, Avril came through for you in a big way in 2022.

THE BEST OF 2018 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

- I listened to a lot of great music in 2018 - new music from long-time favorite bands, new music from recent-favorite bands, and new music from new (or at least new to me) bands that could become future faves. It definitely felt like rock music was on the upswing in terms of pop-culture presence this year. One of my favorite bands from 2017, Greta Van Fleet, became a full-blown sensation in 2018. A band I've been a big fan of for a few year s now, The Interrupters, blew up in 2018 ('bout time!) with their kick-ass song "She's Kerosene." And classic rock was everywhere, be it a well-received new album from Sir Paul McCartney or the smash-hit movie Bohemian Rhapsody that celebrated the life of Freddie Mercury and the music of Queen. A couple of new albums from staples like Weezer disappointed - but at the same time, there were some real surprises ... like Smashing Pumpkins' coming out with a pretty rocking new album that evoked their 90's heyday. Music is weird now - you mostly have to proactively seek out the good stuff, and good curation can be hard to find. But I still find taking time to follow favorite bands and to seek out new ones to be rewarding. Discovering a great new song is always an awesome experience.

- I was also lucky to see some fantastic live music in 2018. I didn't go to quite as many big concerts as I did in 2017, but I did see some real gems. Maybe the best one was seeing the man, the myth, the legend - Weird Al Yankovic - as part of his The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour (yes, it really was called that). I'd seen Weird Al in concert a few times already, but man, seeing him at a smaller venue - the Ace Hotel in downtown LA - playing only (mostly) his original songs and more obscure tunes ... it was awesome, and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. I mean, I got to hear songs like "Albuquerque" and "Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" live. Amazing. I also saw an all-time favorite rock band - The Scorpions - live once again, but this time at an outdoor venue (The Five-Points Ampitheater in Irvine). I took friends who'd never seen them live, and man, it was a great show. The Scorpions always rock like a hurricane, and I will never not nerd out when they do their classic "Coast to Coast" performance, with all members of the band wailing in sync on the most epic of epic guitar solos. I also saw another all-time fave - Alice Cooper - once again, this time at the famed Greek Theater in LA. I've seen some amazing Alice shows before, but this one was up there with the best I've seen. Alice was in rare form, and guitarist Nita Strauss was absolutely phenomenal - there were clearly a lot of fans there to see her as much as to see Alice, and with good reason: she freaking rocks. It was also really cool to see former KISS member Ace Frehley open the show - seeing him perform "New York Groove" live was a rock n' roll dream come true. Finally, I finally did the LA bucket-list thing that any LA resident worth his or her salt has to do ... I saw Jeff Goldblum's live jazz show! This is a must-see treat for anyone living in or visiting LA ... you get the full Goldblum experience, with tons of patently oddball audience interaction and a guaranteed photo with the man himself. Plus some cool jazz music to boot, courtesy of Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Like I said, you must, uh ... find a way ... to see - nay, *experience* - this, if you can.

So without further ado ... here are my top rock picks of the year. And for those about to rock in 2019, I salute you.


DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2018:


1.) The Interrupters - "She's Kerosene" / "Room With a View"

-  I first became aware of The Interrupters a few years back, when I saw them open for The Offspring. They killed it at that show, and I was an instant fan (even more so when I realized that their lead singer was actually Aimee Allen, who I'd been a fan of since college when she did the kick-ass theme for the quickly-cancelled Birds of Prey TV show). The Interrupters just deliver simple, classic, catchy punk rock anthems like nobody's business - and that feels even more special in a world where this sort of music just isn't made that much, and definitely doesn't enter the mainstream consciousness. But you know what? When the music is this good, this undeniable ... it will rise to the top of the charts. And "She's Kerosene" is quite simply an instant-classic rock song. You can't help but love it from the first second you hear it. I actually really loved the band's latest album as a whole, and so I'll also give a shout-out to "Room With a View" - the rare punk rock song that's genuinely both rocking and emotional - a feat rarely accomplished since the days of The Ramones. Anyways, I can't say enough about this band, so if you're not already onboard the bandwagon - jump on it.

2.) Andrew WK - "Music Is Worth Living For" / "Ever Again"

- It was a long time coming, but with his latest album You're Not Alone, Andrew WK has finally produced a worthy follow-up to 2001's breakout I Get Wet. I Get Wet is a top-to-bottom modern classic, but You're Not Alone has a number of vintage WK rockers (it also has some odd spoken-word motivational mini-sermons, but I'll reserve commentary on those). Notably, "Music Is Worth Living For" is the kind of epic, earnest, joyful rock ballad that only Andrew WK could create. It's awesome. Similarly, "Ever Again" is another concentrated dose of motivational rock that that personifies the album's message of using the power of positivity to life oneself up from the lowest of lows. Corny? Maybe. Party-worthy rock that demands to be played as loud as possible? Most definitely.

3.) Greta Van Fleet - "Brave New World" / "When the Curtain Falls"

- I'll cut to the chase - as a whole, Greta Van Fleet's first full album of original music - Anthem of the Peaceful Army - feels like a bit of a step down from their holy-$%&$-this-is-good debut EP, From the Fires. That said, there are still some real gems to be found on it - namely, in my opinion, the hard-driving rocker "Brave New World." It's a slower and more methodical song than we're used to from the band, but man, it's got some power behind it. "When the Curtain Falls" is more the speed that GVF fans are used to - and it's a catchy barn-burner in their classic, Led Zep-tribute style. And hey, to those who've been hating on the band of late - please. Maybe this album isn't quite the sonic force of nature as From the Fires was, but these guys are still doing more to re-popularize rock n' roll than anyone. And they can play. I am still very much a fan, and can't wait to see what they do next.

4.) Ghost - "Dance Macabre"

- Ghost is a crazy goth metal band that I was turned onto this year. And while I don't know that I would have become an uber-fan based on their past output, their most recent album - full of 80's-tinged rockers with more of a pop-feel, hit a lot of my rock music sweet spots. I'm guessing some of their longtime fans may not love "Dance Macabre" - as it's a dose of pure, synth-accompanied 80's hair-metal cheese. But man, do I dig this song. It's the throw-your-hands-up-and-dance goth-rock anthem I didn't know I needed, but glad we got.

5.) Meg Myers - "Numb"

- I discovered this one late in the year - but man, what a great song. Meg Meyers has a unique, powerful voice and style to burn. And this song captures an 90's alt-rock style that you don't hear much of anymore ... this song would have been HUGE back in the day, but I'm glad I discovered it here in 2018. I hope to hear more from Meg Myers, and I hope that this isn't just a blip ... give us more great alt-rockers and I will be there for them.

6.) Dead Sara - "Unamerican "

- Dead Sara has been one of the best rock bands out there for several years now, and they're a band whose new music I always look forward to. And "Unamerican" is a return to the loud, angry, pull-no-punches vibe that first put them on the map with "Weatherman" a while back. Not only that, but it's one of the first big rock songs to directly and angrily go after Trump. It felt like this song - or a song like it - has been a *long* time coming. So if you're feeling some rage about the current state of America (and who isn't?), this is the song you've been waiting for.

7.) Paul McCartney - "Come On To Me"

- It's sort of amazing that Paul McCartney, after all this time, is still making really, really good rock music. In fact, I'd argue that his last couple of albums have been genuinely excellent in a way that his music, prior, had not been in quite some time. I mean, give a listen to "Come On To Me" - this is a great pop-rock song, the kind of song that in a different era would probably be (and probably should be) a huge crossover mainstream hit. I think there's also something to be said for Sir Paul's unwavering positivity - now is an era when I think many of us long for the utopian dreams of the Beatles' 1960's - and with songs like this one, Sir Paul is keeping those dreams alive.

8.) The Raconteurs - "Now That You're Gone"

- Late in the year came a nice surprise: Jack White's garage-rock band The Raconteurs were back, with new songs and an upcoming all-new album. I quickly gave a listen to - and really dug - the song "Now That You're Gone." It's exactly the kind of bluesy rock song that made me a fan of Jack White and his various musical projects to begin with. As a bonus - the music video for this one is super cool - a stylish film-noir odyssey that is a great compliment to the song.

9.) The Smashing Pumpkins - "Solara"

- People are often quick to write off Billy Corgan - and I get it, the guy is not exactly the easiest person to like or to root for. And the various dramas around his band make it easy to be skeptical about their music. But I dare any fan of classic Smashing Pumpkins to listen to their new song "Solara" and tell me that it's not exactly the kind of grunge-y, goth-y rocker that made you a fan of the band in the first place. It totally is. This song rocks.

10.) Twenty One Pilots - "Jumpsuit"

- I was an uber-fan of Twenty One Pilots' debut album - but I definitely think there have been diminishing returns since then. For whatever reason, the band seems intent on drastically changing up their musical style with each new album - even as I'd love to see them return to the unique, up-tempo, ear-worm blend of rock, rap, and techno that characterized their early songs. That said, I give credit to the song "Jumpsuit" from the band's third album - if their goal is to pioneer a new sound with each new album, then this one definitely has an undeniable sound-of-the-future vibe. There's an apocalyptic theme to the new album, and this song fits in with that to a T - it's a dystopian banger that starts methodically but ends in full-on screamo panic. It's the kind of song that we're going to see in a lot of movie trailers next year.