Jerry's Picks: The Top-10 Tracks of 2014

As some of you may know, I listen to all of the new single releases from record companies each and every week and pick-out the few that I feel are solid enough overall songs to withstand repeated plays.  It's like a durability test for the ears.

Today I reviewed all of my picks from the last 12-months and have selected ten of my favorite tracks that still sound just as amazing as the first time they caused my tympanic membrane to vibrate happily.

I've included each of the song's videos but the focus should remain solely on the music itself.  Check 'em all out.  I hope there's something here you can take with you into 2015!

"MOTHER + FATHER"-BROODS
This brother and sister outfit from New Zealand imported a winner with this sentimental yet optimistic ballad featuring an irresistible hook.



"TEMPLE"-KINGS OF LEON
Am I the only person in the world who still thinks this awesome rocker was inspired by the book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”?



"JACKIE KENNEDY"-INGRID OLAVA
I fell in love immediately with this Norwegian vocalist’s delicate handling of lyrics which are chock full of beautiful imagery.



"CAN'T BREAK ME DOWN"-BILLY IDOL
I was a doubter, but that 80s dude with the beached-hair, fist-pump and toothy-snarl has still got it!



"WAVES"-SLEEPER AGENT
A wonderful up-tempo song to close-out the year and say “Goodbye” to all of the assholes who held you back.



"EX'S & OH'S"-ELLE KING
I still think some NFL network should use Elle's (she’s comedian Rob Schneider’s daughter) sassy yet bluesy creation in one of their promos.



"GIRLS CHASE BOYS"-INGRID MICHAELSON
Cute and bouncy, this charming single gives hope to the broken-hearted and lots of poppy-joy to the rest of us.



"I'M WITH YOU"-GROUPLOVE
It may start out with a meandering keyboard but the chorus will have you “ah’ing” and “oh’ing” in a matter of no time!



"CRAZY"-KAT DAHLIA
I love this Cuban-American vocalist’s name almost as much as I love her rapid-fire delivery of the lyrics of this fun song.



"I'M CALLIN'"-TENNIS
It’s the light, carefree vocals of Alaina Moore (wife) and funky guitar-work of Patrick Riley (husband) that had me callin’ back for more.

New Music "Picks of the Week!"

Congrats to Adele for going six-for-six at the Grammys last Sunday. "Rolling in the Deep" definitely was one of the stand-out recordings of 2011. But so many other great songs go virtually ignored every year due to major label influence, music directors with tunnel-vision (tunnel-hearing?) and/or conservative corporate broadcast policies. But that's why I'm here... to shine my little light on those little songs that should!

Okay, here's your chance!  Be the first on your block to play these yummy indy-tracks!  Ready... set... PLAY!


"SO BRIGHT"-ALFRED HALL

This song and band are so new and obscure I wasn't able to find much about them in my Google investigation. All I know is that Alfred Hall hails from Norway and that their single "So Bright" is... so smooth... so hypnotic... so ethereal... but in a good, spacy, nitrous-oxide kind-of-way.  Warning: Do not operate heavy machinery while under the influence of this song.

"FREE"-GRAFFITI6

Although relatively new, Graffiti6 is just beginning to get some notice thanks to a few good reviews and last Friday's appearance on Conan O'Brien.  "Free" is steeped heavily in Sixties falsetto-styled soul backed by a slow-building orchestral string section. Why Graffiti6? Apparently these half-dozen dudes from London have a thing for illicitly sprayed wall art.




 "ORIGINS"-TENNIS

Boy, am I digging deep today.  Here's another promising track I stumbled upon a couple of weeks ago which I feel deserves a bit more attention. The tune's dirty and distorted keyboard riff (husband: Patrick Riley) becomes a wonderful contrast to the sweet and innocent sounding vocals (wife: Alaina Moore) on "Origins." By-the-way... from what I understand, this Baltimore duo was assisted in the studio by Patrick Carney of the Black Keys. Tennis, anyone?

Honorable mention:

"UNDERNEATH THE SYCAMORE"-DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

"WE ARE YOUNG"-FUN.