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 2015 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2015 - THE YEAR IN ROCK

- In 2015, I saw some of the best and most memorable concerts that I've ever seen. I saw AC/DC play at Dodger Stadium on my birthday, in what may well prove to the final tour for the legendary rock band. It was an incredible show - I'd seen the band play once before, but this one took the prize for sheer enormity and earth-shaking epicness. Angus Young strutted around the stage like a man possessed. Brian Johnson's voice rang out through the stadium leaving fans thunderstruck. For one night only, we were all passengers on the proverbial highway to hell, and lo, it was good. Seeing AC/DC perform to a sold-out stadium filled with people of all ages - young people, old people, parents with kids - it made me realize that rock n' roll was alive and well, even if the radio won't play it, the media largely ignores it, and the awards shows will barely acknowledge it. People love to rock, and they always will.

And yet, so many of the legendary bands are nearing the ends of their runs - and too many have had their reigns prematurely cut short. You have to wonder - who will be left to carry the torch?

I also saw Rush - one of my all-time favorites - perform live this year, as part of their R40 tour. It now looks like that will also have been their final major tour, following iconic drummer Neil Pert announcing his retirement. Rush has been around for forty years, and in all that time they've continued to innovate. Their incredible, career-spanning live set on the R40 tour took audience-members on a journey from the band's classic-rock roots to its high-concept experimental stuff to its synth-filled prog-rock era to its more modern hits. When will we ever see another band like this again?

One of my favorite new rock songs of 2015 came from The Darkness' new album. Its title track, "Last of Our Kind," felt appropriate in terms of how I felt about rock music this year. Bands like The Darkness sometimes felt like the last survivors of some great rockpocalypse, keepers of an ancient but dying tradition. I think people will come around though. These are crazy times we live in, and crazy times call for rage against the machine. And one of the most cathartic ways to do that is via some good, old-fashioned, rock n' roll. It's why The Interruptor's punk-rock protest song "Take Back the Power" felt like the kind of thing we needed a lot more of in 2015 and will need in the years to come. A straight-up fight-the-power fist-pumper. Not something we're going to get from the Coldplays of the world.

In addition to the aforementioned, life-changing, mind-altering AC/DC and Rush live shows, I saw a bunch of other great live music this year from some of my favorite bands. After decades of being a fan, I finally saw The Offspring live this year at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa - an absolutely kick-ass show that also featured a fantastic opening set from The Interruptors. The hometown hero Offspring brought the house down, and it was amazing to see some of the defining rock songs of my pre-teen and teen years performed live. I also saw another live show from The Scorpions, who released a great new album this year celebrating 50 (!!!) years of rock. The Scorpions don't show their age at all when you see them live. This was my third time, and they destroy every time they go on stage. Opener Queensryche was also pretty excellent. And to cap it off, I saw another legend live - the one and only "Weird" Al Yankovic - at the storied Greek Theater. Getting to the Greek to see Al for the third time was yet another reminder that no one, and I mean no one, puts on a show like the Weird One. Dare to be stupid? Yes, please.

In any case, here are my top rock songs of the year. Here's hoping that as torches continue to be passed, there are bands waiting in the wings ready to keep the fire burning.


DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2015:


1.) Dead Sara - "Something Good"

-  Dead Sara put out my pick for 2012's song of the year with "Weatherman," In 2015, they came roaring back with an all-new album, the highlight of which was the timeless, sing-along rocker "Something Good." Dead Sara's latest album has a decidedly 90's alt-rock feel, but "Something Good" blends fuzzed-out 90's sound with the kind of classic rock power-ballad feel that evokes the likes of Heart and other such bands. One thing's for certain, vocalist Emily Armstrong has one killer set of pipes, and she can belt 'em out with the best of 'em. Dead Sara is one of the best things to happen to rock in quite some time,

2.) The Interrupters - "Take Back the Power"

- I discovered The Interrupters by accident. They opened for The Offspring when I saw the band live, and I was sort of blown away by what I saw. When I realized that the lead singer was actually Aimee Allen - who had been a favorite of mine since she did the kick-ass theme song to the Birds of Prey TV show - I was sold. Allen brings amazing vocal chops to the group, and a lot of personality to boot. But what's more, the band is exactly what's been missing of late from the mainstream rock scene - a peppy punk-band who can both sing both tongue-in-cheek party songs and fight-the-power ragers. "Take Back the Power" is going to be a personal rock anthem of mine for a long time to come.

3.) Scorpions - "We Built This House"

- I don't know how they do it, but The Scorpions keep coming out with great rock albums that sound like they'd fit in seamlessly with their catalog in their 80's heyday. "We Built This House" is just a classic Scorpions rocker that showcases their trademark melodic guitar-playing and arena-friendly anthems.

4.) The Darkness - "Open Fire" / "Last Of Our Kind"

- After a lengthy hiatus, The Darkness thankfully re-united a few years ago, and have been on a tear ever since. Their latest album - a concept album with a running barbarian-age theme - continues the band's resurgence. "Open Fire" is just a great throwback rock song, with strong shades of The Cult. "Last of Our Kind" is a soaring rock-ballad with a belt-it-out chorus. These two - and the entire Last of Our Kind album - come highly recommended.

5.) Twenty One Pilots - "Stressed Out"

- Last year I hailed Twenty One Pilots as the next big thing in rock - a totally unique fusion of rock, pop, rap, and EDM. Looks like others felt the same way, as the band has blown up and become huge - their hybrid style winning them fans across multiple music genres. I'll be honest though, I thought their new 2015 album, Blurryface, was a bit of a step down from their breakthrough Vessel. Whereas Vessel raged, Blurryface plays it safer - with a much more pop-y feel. Still, "Stressed Out" is a clear standout - a catchy, super-likable song that showcases the band's trademark rapid-fire rap lyrics with a throw-your-hands-up chorus.

6.) Fallout Boy - "Uma Thurman"

- How can you not like this song? It samples the theme song to The Munsters and is all about Uma Thurman's character from Pulp Fiction. Plus, it's just a really fun dance-rock song that puts you in a good mood. Fallout Boy continues their late-period comeback - and I can't complain that they've seemed to embrace the ways of rock n' roll since they jumped back on the scene. If songs like this one help nudge the mainstream music scene a little bit back towards rock, hey, I won't complain.

7.) The Dead Weather - "Cop and Go"

- Jack White's super-group side-project has been a reliable source of solid, Zeppelin-esque rock for a while now. And so their new 2015 album was a welcome package of straight-up rock grooves, with Alison Mosshart's searing vocals ripping through song after song. My favorite of the bunch is "Cop and Go," a heavy, atmospheric rocker filled with sick riffs and satisfyingly snarling delivery from Mosshart.

8.) Hollywood Vampires - "My Dead Drunk Friends"

- A super-group featuring Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Johnny Depp?! Okay, I'm interested. The Hollywood Vampires released a one-shot album this year of mostly covers, but the original track "My Dead Drunk Friends" was a nice bonus. It's a whiskey-tinged barroom elegy to friends that have come and gone -a tribute to the guys Cooper used to party with on the Sunset Strip, where he and other legendary rockers were knows as the Hollywood Vampires. I'm always excited for new Cooper material, so this one was an interesting oddity that also happens to be a nice, down n' dirty rock song.

9.) Weezer - "Thank God For Girls"

- Weezer released a couple of late-in-the-year singles that made for a nice end-cap to 2015's year in rock. "Thank God For Girls" is a fun, tongue-in-cheek song about, well, girls - but it's nice to see Weezer having fun and rocking hard following a few rough patches over the previous decade.

10.) The Offspring - "Coming For You"

- No new Offspring album in 2015, but they did release this one-off single that is vintage Offspring - an aggressive punk-rocker that could easily live alongside the band's old-school material. Seeing The Offspring live this summer, it's amazing what a deep catalog of great songs they have - and also amazing that they continue to put out new material that has been largely excellent. Write them off if you will, but The Offspring can still bring it.

THE BEST OF 2014 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2014 - THE YEAR IN ROCK

- 2014 saw a continuation of the previous year's slowed momentum for all things rock. And yet, there were signs of a pulse. Some great new bands emerged from far corners and unexpected places. It was also a year in which some of rock n' roll's biggest titans stood tall - determined to send a message that, as long as they were still alive and kicking, rock yet lived.

If nothing else, 2014 was the year that AC/DC returned. Despite illness and turmoil in the band, the rock legends pulled it together for, perhaps, one final run. And that effort brought us Rock Or Bust, and album that continues AC/DC's uncanny, unflappable streak of delivering great rock music without fail. In these waning days, a new AC/DC album was a true gift from the rock gods - a reminder of what pure rock sounds like from a band that embodies the rock n' roll spirit. In 2014, I bought a new AC/DC album, and that alone makes it a pretty damn good year in my eyes.


Other big rock acts hit back this year with new material, to varying degrees of success. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - prolific in recent years - came out with Hypnotic Eye, which was a solid if not amazing album. What really sold me on its songs though was when I heard them played live. I saw the Heartbreakers play in LA at The Forum, and it was a true show for the ages. Petty was in rare form, and he blazed through hits and rarities and new material. And the tracks he played off his latest album sounded phenomenal on that night. Weezer, The Foo Fighters and Jack White also came out with some great new music, though the biggest news in the rock world may have been U2's iTunes album-drop. I'll admit, something about the spectacle of it all turned me off. But eventually, I warmed up to some of the songs, and felt grateful that U2 was still capable of doing innovative stuff here in 2014. The gifting of the album to everyone though? It may have been a little much.

But really, did anyone have a better year than "Weird" Al Yankovic? One of my musical and comedy heroes since childhood, Weird Al had a true moment in 2014, and it was well-deserved. For a while, Weird Al's offbeat but inherently well-meaning brand of comedy seemed decidedly uncool. Liking Al was the musical equivalent of admitting to playing Dungeons & Dragons. But in 2014, the world finally caught on to the fact that Weird Al is a by-god national treasure - a man whose songs are clever, funny, and the rare sort of pop-cultural treasure that can be equally appreciated by people of all ages. America was loud and proud in its collective love for the Weird One in 2014, and man, it's about damn time. I guess it's just another sign that the nerds have won? But regardless, it was great to be living in a world in which Al is a beloved icon, and even more so, a world where his latest album became a #1 chart-topper. With spot-on parodies of the latest pop music, Al's latest was right up there with his greatest. What a man.

I do think that 2015 has the potential to be a real turnaround year for rock. There are several albums I'm looking forward to in the new year, including new albums from favorites like The Darkness and Scorpions. But my main hope is simply that good new stuff gets played. Every so often I'll hear a great new song, like Volbeat's infectious rocker "Lola Montez," and I'll think "Yes, this. Show me more of this." Or I'll get turned on to a great new band, like Twenty One Pilots, whose 2013 album Vessel was my favorite musical discovery of this year. Hearing songs like "Car Radio," "Semi-Automatic," and "Guns for Hands," I was sort of blown away. This was new, original, different ... but it was 100% rock. I want more new bands - bands that embody rock n' roll (as opposed to the seemingly neverending parade of folky indie bands) - to break through in the coming year. And by the way, I'm going to include both of the above in my 2014 best-of, because neither really hit the mainstream until this year.

I also saw some great live shows in 2014. I saw none other than KISS in concert (with opener Def Leppard), and they completely rocked. Talk smack about them if you like, but they still put on a hell of a show. I last saw KISS circa 2003, so eleven years later, it was great to see 'em one more time. I also saw Motley Crue at the Hollywood Bowl, during their farewell tour. I'm only a casual Crue fan, but it was a great, hugely energetic show - made even better by the fact that the opener was one of my all-time faves, the legendary Alice Cooper. I also saw Tom Petty and the Hartbreakers, as mentioned, and it was a fantastic show at The Forum. An added treat was seeing opener Steve Winwood - not someone I'd see solo, but a definite bonus in this instance. Finally, I was lucky enough to see The Simpsons, live at the Hollywood Bowl. A 25th Anniversary celebration, featuring key voice talent from the show - as well as special guests like Conan O'Brien, Jon Lovitz, and Weird Al - it was a fantastic tribute to the show and all of the great songs and musical numbers it's produced over the years. As a lifelong Simpsons fan, this was a rare treat.

Here's to a rocking 2015. As AC/DC said: it's rock or bust, baby.



DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2014:


1.) Twenty One Pilots - "Car Radio" / "Semi-Automatic"

-  I heard "Car Radio" on the radio one day (ironically enough), and it was one of those "thank god for Shazam" moments. The song was not quite like anything I'd heard before - an escalating descent into madness that evolved from a deliberately spoken rap/emo hybrid into a head-banging rock/EDM rager. Soon after, I caught Twenty One Pilots when they performed on the MTV Movie Awards back in April. These guys were insane. Donning white face masks and stage-diving into the crowd like alien freaks, this was, finally, it seemed to me, a legit rock band for the 2010's. As I dove into their album, "Vessel," I was pretty amazed at how seamlessly they blended rock, rap, and EDM to create something wholly unique. "Car Radio" and "Semi-Automatic" are my favorite examples of their sound - great, catchy songs that go from zero to one-hundred and just plain rock.

2.) AC/DC - "Rock Or Bust" / "Rock the Blues Away"

-When I heard "Rock or Bust," all seemed right with the world. This is just straight-up classic rock, the sort of stuff that AC/DC seems to be able to churn out in their sleep. And yet, with a long gap between albums, and with rumors that this could be their final run, this is not the sort of song we can take for granted. In reality, "Rock or Bust" is a minor miracle - a song that's vintage AC/DC at a point in the band's career when they shouldn't be able to still be making music this good. "Rock or Bust" is yet another mission-statement from a band that is needed now more than ever, digging their heels in the sand and saying "Rock on its deathbed? Not on our watch."

3.) Weezer - "Back to the Shack"

- Weezer gets a lot of undeserved crap, but the one thing that is true is that it was high time that they delivered a kick-ass rock song on the level of their best tunes. Luckily, they did just that with "Back to the Shack," a stand-up-and-clap-your-hands rallying cry that beckons listeners to rock out "like it's '94." This is Weezer at its best - confessional and defiant, funny and flip, rocking confidently while also being self-effacing.

4.) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - "Shadow People" / "Forgotten Man"

- With each passing year, Tom Petty seems less and less interested in creating a radio-friendly rock anthem in the vein of his greatest hits. But he can still rock a jam like nobody's business, and he's still one of the best lyrics-guys in the biz. "Shadow People" is a mesmerizing, hypnotic jam that sucks you in and doesn't let go. "Forgotten Man" is a more straight-up rocker, a bluesy tune that casts Petty as a man out of time. Like that's news. 

5.) Jack White - "Lazaretto"

- I still miss The White Stripes, but Jack White has been keeping plenty busy, and I can't deny that his solo stuff has been pretty consistently excellent and interesting. His latest album was an eclectic mix of sounds and styles, but "Lazaretto" is the loudest, most badass rocker of the bunch. With White's trademark guitar stylings and rebel-yell vocals, it's the kind of song that makes you appreciative that guys like White are carrying the rock torch loud and proud.

6.) Volbeat - "Lola Montez"

- I noticed this song one day atop the iTunes charts and gave it a listen. What I heard was one of the catchiest rock songs in a long while, the kind that begs you to sing along and jump around. The source is unlikely - Volbeat is a Danish rock band whose songs lean towards the metal side of the spectrum. But Lola Montez is a melodic, anthemic song - with strange lyrics about a legendary Spanish dancer. Whatever it is, it works, and I'm pumped to hear more from this band.

7.) The Pretty Reckless - "Heaven Knows"

- The Pretty Reckless were a band that, until now, has perhaps been better in concept than in execution. Led by Taylor Momsen of TV's The OC, the band's trashy, thrashy aesthetic made me want to like them, but I just never got that into the music. But with "Heaven Knows," I'm converted. The song feels like vintage 80's arena-rock, and it's the kind of fist-pumper that you just don't hear much of anymore. It's a perfect match for Momsen's growling voice, and the whole thing has a Joan Jett-esque flair that I dig.

8.) U2 - "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)"

- This one grated on me a bit at first, but after a few listens I really came around to it. For one thing, I like the premise - the idea of a young Bono being transfixed by the music of Joey Ramone ... that's pretty cool. For another thing, I like the song's mix of heavy, distorted guitar with soulful singing. In a way, it's a departure for U2, but it also quickly feels like a lost classic.

9.) Foo Fighters - "Something From Nothing"

- The Foos seemed to be men on a mission this year. They were everywhere. They saw themselves as the defenders of the holy name of rock, and their new album seems intent on cranking things up a notch and going decidedly heavy. "Something From Nothing" has an almost Sabbath-like feel, grinding away like it's a song with something to prove.

10.) "Weird" Al Yankovic - "First World Problems"

- All hail the Weird One. Al's latest album is rife with spot-on pop parodies, but the man has always been a rock n' roller at heart. First World Problems, a surprisingly rocking original song that pays stylistic homage to the Pixies, shows Al's rock bonafides. It's even got supporting vocals from Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls. And in addition to being a pretty rockin' tune, it's also a typically hilarious example of Al's warped observational humor. Basically, it sort of seals the deal: Weird Al friggin' rocks, dude.


OTHER TOP POP SONGS OF 2014:

1. Iggy Azalea - "Fancy"
2. Charli XCX - "Break the Rules"
3. Jennifer Lawrence - "The Hanging Tree - Alternative Radio Mix"