Top 100 of 2015: Countdown Edition

Another year over, and a new one's just begun.   And as we say goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016, it's time once again to take a look back at the music that I--and we--listened to in the year gone by.    While it may seem that it's the same-ole, same-ole as far as pop music goes, as R&B and hip-hop, which was relatively speaking, taking a bit of a break, it was back in full force in 2015, with acts like Fetty Wap, The Weeknd, Wiz Khalifa, OMI and a few others dominating the pop charts.

Well, if you're looking for those names on my year end list for 2015, you can pretty much forget it.   None of those artists made my list...in fact, only the latter two I even added this year, and were pretty good songs, I might add.  That also goes for the embarrassing "Watch Me" by Silento, which I never even considered.   While I will always add pop songs that actually have life and soul to them--and there were several of them in my countdown---and while country made a big comeback to my SNS lists, although only one made the year end chart, it was all about alternative rock, or "adult album alternative", as again I discovered some good songs that either got, or didn't get any airplay.  Many indie pop and rock outfits made the list this year with some catchy and well-crafted music.

I wasn't sure whether to just do a list of my 100 favorite songs, from 1 to 100, such as what I did last year, or count down like I did a few years back.   I already wrote a Facebook note for the former, so that would be redundant, so I decided to count them down, with descriptions of the songs that graced my blog and iPod all year.   A lot of effort went into putting this together, including getting all the pictures, many of which I never used for my blog.

Without giving anything away, my #1 song was more of a pop effort rather than rock; although the artist has appeared on triple-A in the past, he is more of a pop phenomenon; the song in question made #2 on Billboard's year end Hot 100 chart, thus failing to become the fifth song to top both lists since I formally started doing such in 1976.    Several artists had three songs in the one-hundred list, but for the first time, one artist had three in the top 10!      Scroll down, read about them, and of course, click on the titles to view the video or check the artists' website.

So without further adieu, here is the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves Top 100 of 2015.

100		Kjband - Our Art Entered the SNS chart : 5/17, WOL (weeks on list): 17 ; Peaked at: #15. A comeback of sorts for this project from New Jersey resident Ken Johnston, a guy who had musical aspirations since college.   I used to work with him back in the 1980's and he'd send me demos of songs he wrote, some of them winding up in my year end countdowns.   In the late 1990's, he started putting out CD's with his makeshift project, the Kjband, but only recently did he clean up his website.   This was taken from his 2014 album, Real Life.
99		Meghan Trainor - All About that Bass Entered: 11/9/2014, WOL: 19, Peak: #4.   One of the relatively few (compared to recent years) female pop artists to make the top of the chart this year, it took me awhile to catch on to this combo retro- and current pop.   Many tabbed her a one hit wonder, but she followed it up with three more hits, one of them to come in our countdown.   Despite it's high SNS peak, it was added too late in 2014 and just made that year end list, and as such, just barely made it this year as well.  But it's a catchy pop song for sure.
98		Allison Iraheta & Halo Circus - Gone Entered: 5/31, WOL: 15, Peak: #12.  Remember Alison Iraheta from American Idol, you know, back when it meant something to be on it?   The Latina teen came in an impressive 4th in season 8, and made her mark with her gritty alternative rock-style,  She released an album late in 2009, but compromised that sound for the sugary pop of the day, and despite "Friday I'll Be Over You", landing in my 2009 top 10, that's not what she was about.   The album didn't sell and she was dropped.   She regrouped, formed Halo Circus and is now making the music she wants to make.   This came out in 2014 but 2016 will be the year her band's debut album will be released.
97		Foxygen - Cosmic Vibrations Entered: 1/18; WOL: 15, Peak:#12.   From their 2014 album ...And Star Power, this Doors-sounding song was the follow-up to the SNS #1 Todd Rundgren-sounding "How Can You Really?" by the San Francisco psychedelic outfit.
96		The Drums - I Can't Pretend Entered: 2/22; WOL: 19; Peak: #22.   The band, a part of the Brooklyn NY scene returns with  their album "Encyclopedia" and this was their second single from that album.
95		Foo Fighters -  Outside Entered: 9/6; WOL: 14, Peak: #15.  It's great to see this band still putting out stuff and rocking hard.  Dave Grohl and company seem to get better with age, and this rather trippy song renewed my interest in the band.
94		Kjband - Man of Few Words Entered: 1/25; WOL: 18, Peak: #23.   A second song from Ken Johnston's project.  This was a stand-alone single written for this recently-deceased dad.
93		Kongos - I Want to Know Entered: 3/15; WOL: 15, Peak: #12.   Follow-up to last year's immensely popular "Come With Me Now", this one, also from their 2011 album, got the South African band some alternative airplay.
92		Sir Sly - You Haunt Me Entered: 2/13, WOL 17, Peak: 20.  One of the songs that came out of our Vermont ski weekend with my friend Anthony Josephs; it got airplay on WEQX in Manchester VT as well as Sirius XM's Alt-nation channel.
91		MS MR - Painted Entered: 5/3; WOL: 13; Peak: #10.  Band enjoyed success with their 2013 album 'Secondhand Rapture" with the song "Hurricane", as well as the SNS big hit "Think of You".  New album was considerably weaker, with this lead single the best, skimming the top 10 during the summer.
90		Thomas Rhett - Crash and Burn Entered: 10/4; WOL: 11; Peak: #6.  Current hit on my list, but a country hit earlier in the year.   Not counting Rachel Allyn, it is the highest-peaking country song in the five-year history of my blog.  A retro song and a country song, but not retro-country.   And in essence, a fresh sound to it.
89		I Am Dynamite - In the Summer Entered: 7/2; WOL: 15 , Peak: #11.  One of four "summer" records I added this year, and all of them made the year-end list.   Band is from Ann Arbor, MI, and it's their second album ("Wasa Tusa")
88		Meghan Trainor - Lips are Movin' Entered: 1/18; ROL: 16, Peak:#14.   Follow-up to "All About That Bass" proved she's no one-hit wonder.   Distinctive sound continues mixing current pop with late 1950's doo wop and girl-group sound.
87		Zella Day - Hypnotic Entered: 3/18; ROL: 19; Peak: #19.  Arizona singer made inroads this summer with this track from second album "Kicker".
86		The Kooks - Bad Habit Entered: 2/1; ROL: 15, Peak: #11.  Their prior album "Junk of the Heart" produced a monster SNS hit in the title track.   New album "Listen" was a vast disappointment, with the lead single "Around Town" stiffing out in the middle of my chart.  This second single was a bit better, but still not up to their standards for this England band.
85		Lana Del Rey - High By The Beach Entered: 8/9, WOL: 14, Peak: #11.  The second of four summer songs on my list, this was a "mild" comeback of sorts for this haunting singer whose  "Ride" was a huge SNS hit in 2013.
84		Taylor Centers - Wild Entered: 2/13; WOL: 16, Peak: #18.  Singer from Charlotte NC, recommended by my friend Mary Anne Reed Nolan, during the ascent of this pop record, announced that she was changing her genre to country and was raising funds for her first recording in that field.  In the meantime, this one kept me listing in late winter.
83		My Morning Jacket - Big Decisions Entered: 4/5; WOL: 15, Peak #8.  From the veteran's seventh album "Waterfalls', a weaker effort than recent albums, but this single still hit my top 10.  Another new album is in the works for 2016.
82		Mac Demarco - The Way You'd Love Her Entered: 8/9; WOL: 18, Peak #17.   "Mini-LP" release from the Canadian singer/songwriter whose "Chamber of Reflection" was a top 5 SNS hit in 2014.
81		Walk the Moon - Shut Up & Dance Entered: 8/1 WOL: 23, Peak: #13.  One of the biggest alternative crossovers to pop in 2015, this was a well-talked about song and video.
80		Selena Gomez - Same Old Love Entered: 10/18, WOL: 10, Peak: #3.   A current hit both on SNS and Billboard's, singer which I hadn't paid too much attention to the last few years, comes out with a strong pop single that went through the roof.
79		Corinne Bailey Rae - Bluebird Entered: 2/22; WOL: 16, Peak:#6.  I wonder what had happened to this great jazzy pop artist, as she fell off the face of the earth.   She hasn't released anything new in five years, and the only thing I could dredge up was this Paul McCartney song included on a various-artists tribute album to the ex-Beatle.  And the song didn't disappoint.
78		Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do Entered:  2/5; WOL: 21, Peak: #21.   Not counting Adele, Ellie was the first pop artist to hit #1 SNS, with "Lights".   Her new album is more pop than that effort, and she appears twice  on my countdown.  Good effort.
77		Brandon Flowers - I Can Change Entered: 8/23; WOL: 16; Peak: #6.   Flowers is the front man of the alt-rock outfit The Killers, best known for "Mr. Brightside" 12 years ago, as well as for an annual release of Christmas issues.   From his second solo effort, "The Desired Effect".
76		Alabama Shakes - Future People Entered: 7/26; WOL: 15, Peak: #14.  One of my most anticipated albums of 2015 was the release of this bluesy-band's "Sound and Color" album.   This is just the tip of the iceberg, and we will hear more from Brittany Howard and company.
75		Best Coast - Feeling OK Entered: 9/13; WOL: 3, Peak: #9.  Like the Kooks, the first single from this long-time faves, "California Nights" disappointed; it could only climb to #49.  Follow-up did much better and was the Best Coast I've come to know and love.   From the album "California Nights" released this year.
74		Silversun Pickups - Nightlight Entered: 8/2; WOL: 19; Peak#28.  For the second year in a row, a song by this LA alt-rockers missed the weekly SNS  top 20, but logged enough weeks to make the top 100.   In 2014 it was "Cannibal" from their compilation "The Singles Collection" that made it, despite not climbing above #34 on my list in any one week.  This one, from  new studio effort "Better Nature", was a top 5 alt chart smash and made my list in spite of peaking only at #28, a testament to their songs growing on you.
73		Waters - I Feel Everything Entered: 12/21/14; WOL: 20, Peak#13:  Waters is a project of Van Pierszalowski after the split of his prior band Port O'Brien.   The song did get airplay on alt-rock stations and I picked up on its great sound.
72		Modest Mouse - Lampshades on Fire Entered: 2/13, WOL: 17; Peak: #15.  I've been a fan of this band going back to 2004 (although the band has been together a decade before then), and they never seem to disappoint with their quirky, catching indie pop.  This one was no exception. "Strangers to Ourselves" was the album released this year.
71		Django Django - Shake & Tremble Entered: 9/6; WOL: 14, Peak: #7.  Yet another band that I was disappointed in their first single release from a long-awaited new album.    "First Light" only reached #33,. "Reflections" did make the top 10, but failed to make the year-end list; it's the third track, a hint of their past material, that did the trick.  And the band has finally been getting some notice on alt-rock stations.
70		Catfish & the Bottlemen -Cocoon Entered: 6/14; WOL: 21, Peak: #23.   British rockers come forth with their debut album "The Balcony" released in 2014 and are on the radio with the first of two songs that made the countdown.
69		The Big Takeover - Children of the Rhythm● Entered: 8/3/14; WOL: 28, Peak: #5.  One of four songs to appear both on 2014's and 2015's year-end survey, this neo-reggae song by the mid-Hudson Valley outfit which we saw at 2014;s Rosendale Street Festival, wouldn't go away.  Nor should it.  Title track from their album.
68		Demi Lovato - Cool for the Summer Entered: 8/9; WOL: 16, Peak: #10.  Like Selena Gomez, I've pretty much ignored this pop princess for awhile now, but for some reason this one intrigued me...maybe it was the rock-ish breaks in between the verses, or just the summer theme, the third of four "summer theme" songs.
67		Alvvays - Archie Marry Me Entered: 1/18; WOL: 20, Peak: #20.   My friend Brian Sniatkowski continued his "song of the week" postings, although it was more sporadic in 2015.  This was one of his recommendations, and the band and song is in the spirit of other neo-girl group bands like Vivian Girls and The Launderettes (although this band is actually mixed male/female). It's not on Brian's 2015 top 25 list as it was released in 2014, as I was still going thru a backlog of songs in the wake of my hiatus during the later months of that year.   A worthy effort from their self-titled debut.
66		Hozier - Take Me To Church● Entered: 6/8/2014; WOL: 34, Peak: #2.   The oldest song on the countdown in terms of when I added it to my weekly SNS 100 playlist.  That came in June, 2014 when alternative stations jumped on this thought-provoking song by this newcomer from his self-titled debut.    Even after my hiatus this coincided with the pop crossover into the top 5.   It reached #19 on my 2014 year-end list, and is the third of four songs to make both years list.    And although in the pop world, he's a one-hit wonder; that's not the case in the alt-rock world; he has two other songs coming up.
65		St. Paul & the Broken Bones - Broken Bones & Pocket Change Entered: 9/6; WOL: 14, Peak: #4.    When triple-A stations jumped on "Call Me" in the summer of 2014 it was a refreshing treat to hear this soul & blues outfit but it was gone too soon.   But that was the radio and media, not me.   This is currently in my top 5, and is the first of three songs on my countdown, and the third track I featured.   So, a year-and-a half after the "Half the City" came out, I'm still digging this album.
64		Jungle - Busy Earnin' Entered: 3/8, WOL: 16, Peak: #5.  London duo fall under the "modern soul" banner, and their self-titled 2014 debut took off in their home country, but somehow this song trickled over to our shores.
63		Soak - Sea Creatures Entered: 8/23, WOL: 16, Peak: #15.  Another Sniatkowski "song of the week' by an intriguing Irish teen (real name:  Bridie-Bonds Watson).  She sings with soul for sure.   Catchy and eclectic at the same time.  From her album "Before We Forgot How to Dream", which somehow didn't make Brian's top 25 albums list.  Go figure.
62		Hippo Campus - Suicide Saturday Entered: 8/19; WOL: 18; Peak: #11.   Nice to hear a refreshing indie-pop song come out from time to time. St. Paul band released their sophomore EP "South" in 2015 and were featured on "CBS Sunday Morning" a couple weeks back.
61		Alice Russell - Breakdown Entered: 3/1: WOL: 24, Peak: #20.   British soul singer started around the same time as Duffy, Amy Winehouse and others, but still has yet to make a mark.  This 2013 cut surfaced on some soundtracks and a commercial, and caught my attention.
60		Ting Tings - Wrong Club Entered: 5/3, WOL: 20, Peak: #16.  You know a band has peaked when they no longer get alternative airplay , just Adult top 40 consideration.   Needless to say, this English pop duo remembered for stuff like "That's Not My Name", couldn't make the charts with their late 2014 effort  Super Critical.  But then again, how could you not like the hooks on this one?
59		Golden Void - Dervishing Entered: 8/6,  WOL: 17, Peak:#15.   San Francisco psychedelic band remembered fondly for its post-Sandy rock jam "The Curve" from its 2012 debut, released its long-awaited (for me, anyway) sophomore set "Berkana", and although this lead track was sort of a disappointment for me as it lacked the chills of their first single, it grew on me, and this band still has much potential.
58		Tennis - I'm Callin' Entered: 3/22, WOL: 17; Peak: #4.  Husband-and-wife duo had a #1 SNS hit in 2012 "Origins" that didn't get exposure anywhere else so I wondered what they were up to these days.  "Ritual and Repeat", as it turns out, was released just a few months prior, in late 2014.    Whoever discovers this band will be in for a treat.
57		Saint Motel - My Type Entered: 4/19, WOL: 23, Peak: #18.   Indie-pop band from LA had their breakthrough this year. EP "My Type" released this year had some airplay on a couple of tracks, most notably this one which crawled into Billboard alt chart top 10 and my top 20.
56		Kat Edmonson - Lucky Entered: 5/10, WOL: 25, Peak: #22.  This was one of those songs that you just hear and love, and you don't know any specifics about it like when it was released.   Heard the song when viewing the movie Admission.   After doing research, it was determined that the song was from 2010, and this songstress' album Way Down Low.
55		Hozier - Angel of Small  Death and the Codiene Scene Entered: 2/5, WOL: 18, Peak:#7.   This bluesy-rock song made it clear that this singer wasn't just all about "Take Me To Church".  Album cut got airplay on Alternative and Triple-A stations.  Second of three songs he has in my countdown.
54		Locksley - Let It Ride Entered: 3/15, WOL: 24, Peak: #14.   Another band that was on my first blog top 20 in 2010 that I wondered what happened to.  This was a stand-alone single released in 2014 that I picked up early in 2015.  Appropriately enough, the song reached my top 20 five years to the day that " The Whip" did the same.
53		The Big Takeover - Dolphins Entered: 2/22; WOL: 21, Peak: #18.  "Children of the Rhythm" was a big local SNS hit; but shortly thereafter, the band, led by Jamaican DeeDee Rushie, released a video for this song.   A nice tropical feeling on this one for sure.
52		Palma Violets - Danger in the Club Entered: 8/30, WOL: 15, Peak: #4:  A current hit on my blog; the band had two top 20 songs in 2013, and release their follow-up album, the title track.
51		Borns -  Electric Love Entered: 6/28; WOL: 20, Peak: #10.    Michigan-born Garrett Borns released his debut album "Dopamine" ;late this year, which featured this rocking effort.
50		Mumford & Sons - Believe Entered: 4/5; WOL: 18; Peak: #7.  Band that led the "indie-folk/Americana movement" a few years back, release their third effort, decidedly more rocking than the first two.   That, of course, eliminated any pop airplay, but this is not a pop band.
49		Calvin Harris f. John Newman - Blame Entered: 1/25, WOL: 18, Peak #7.  Popular producer Calvin Harris dated Taylor Swift this year, in the meantime produced formulistic and catchy songs like this one he did with this British singer.
48		Mumford & Sons - The Wolf Entered:  7/12; WOL: 18; Peak: #8.  Another song from band's third album "Wilder Mind".
47		George Ezra - Budapest Entered: 2/13, WOL: 28, Peak #13.   British singer-songwriter in the Sam Smith/Ed Sheeran mode sounds older than his 22 years.  This one was one the radio frequently in 2015.
46		Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You) Entered: 2/1; WOL: 15, Peak: #5.  Synthpop outfit got some awards upon its "Singles" album released in 2014.  I catch up to what's going on early in 2015 and liked what I listened to.
45		Phoebe Ryan - Mine Entered: 2/13; WOL: 19; Peak: #6.  A few years back, my friend Merrill Kenny Butler told me about a New York band called Town Hall and that the girl in it was someone she knew since she was a baby.   Earlier this year, she told me the same thing about Phoebe Ryan.  Turns out they were one and the same, as she headed west and went solo.   She got some national buzz on this single; which was on Billboard's Up-and coming artist chart.   Will she make a big breakthrough?   We shall see.
44		Cage the Elephant - Cigarette Daydreams● Entered: 11/30/2014; WOL: 21; Peak: #1.  We hit our first SNS chart-topper on our countdown, the third single from the band's 2013 album "Melophobia". Later in the year, they release a new album "Tell Me I'm Pretty", with the disappointing first single 'Mess Around".
43		White Arrows - We Can't Ever Die Entered: 1/25; WOL: 19; Peak: #5.   Songs like this make it worth listening to current music.  Thumping, rumbling, driving rock song heated up the early part of the year.  Their second album, "In Bardo" was released in 2014.
42		Catfish & the Bottlemen - Kathleen Entered: 1/18; WOL: 24, Peak: #17. Promising new band released their debut I 2014 and this was the second of two songs on my countdown.
41		Adele - Hello Entered: 10/25, WOL: 9, Peak: #1 (5 weeks).  Long-awaited for sure...by everyone.   One has to wonder that this phenomenon  who has broken all sorts of records with this single and her "25" set, has diluted her talent.  I have yet to listen to that album--after all, when everyone else on the planet has, it's not longer a scoop for me to do the same.  I will in time, but I wonder if the heartfelt soul she displayed on her debut "19" has any traces of it here.   Anyway, this song tied an SNS record for quickest ascent to #1.   It was released too late in the year to get a top 10 position, but there's always next year, right?
40		Circa Waves  - T-Shirt Weather Entered: 5/31;  WOL: 23; Peak: #9.   Another nice debut from their "Young Chasers" debut this year.   Some great driving rock with a pop flair to it.
39		Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - S.O.B. Entered: 9/16; WOL: 14; Peak: #1 (2 weeks).   This one leaves out the soul, drama, and is just a song to have a good time with.   It was my friend Robyn Bridge Carbonera's fave song of the summer (a big feat, considering it wasn't released until August).   Arguably, it was my song of the fall, and would have ranked higher had it been released a little earlier. Definitely a party song.
38		Ariana Grande - Love Me Harder Entered: 1/18;  WOL: 21; Peak: #7.  A year ago, I was boasting that this pop queen was one of the more talented singers around these days, in the wake of this heartfelt song.   But then there was that incident at Dunkin Donuts in which the brat licked the donuts and dissed America and Americans.  Add to that, two horrible follow-up singles, and in my opinion, she's headed to the scrap heap.    Too bad.
37		Lucius - Hey, Doreen Entered: 12/14/2014; WOL: 21; Peak: #2.  Impressive debut album "Wildewoman" came out in 2013 and "Turn It Around" was a huge SNS hit in 2014.   Follow-up single did just as well, and got on the playlist at alternative station WEQX to boot.
36		Florence + the Machine - Queen of Peace Entered: 10/18; WOL: 10, Peak: #1 (2 weeks). One of the best albums of the year was "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful".  This third single, my current SNS #1 at year's end in my opinion was the best, but suffered as it was the end of the year.
35		Launderettes - Red River● Entered: 2/1; WOL: 23, Peak: #9.   Female garage band from Sweden was the latest in a line of songs I heard on my friend Alan Corso's playlist that he uses for Jets games as well as his get-togethers.  This retro-sounding girl-group sounds never grows old.
34		Belle and Sebastian - The Party Line● Entered: 2/13; WOL: 20, Peak: #3. Scottish-band has been around since the 1990's, and they came out with an album "Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance".  This one, a Brian Sniatkowski "song of the week" clicked with me.
33		Grace Potter - Alive Tonight Entered: 5/10, WOL: 19, Peak: #4.  I still don't know what to make of this one.   One the one side, as soon as I heard it, I loved it, a great, danceable pop-rock tour de force.   On the other hand, it was a departure for the Vermont singer, the head of Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, noted for their rock jams.  It seems that Ms. Grace wanted to break pop; in that case, it fell on its face.
32		Florence + the Machine - What Kind of Man Entered: 2/5, WOL: 21; Peak: #2.  This was the first single form the long-awaited (four years) third album by Florence Welch and her band.    It was a hit on the rock formats, and picked up right where she left off.  One of my favorite bands these days.
31		Leon Bridges - Coming Home Entered: 8/16, WOL: 17; Peak: #1 (3 weeks).  Close your eyes and listen to this great lost song from 1967.  No, it's not from that year, it is very much 2015, but the sound just takes you back to that Memphis soul scene.   Talented singer songwriter's debut album of which this great song is the title track.  Soul at its best.
30		Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk Entered: 1/25, WOL: 21, Peak: #2.  This was Billboard's #1 song for 2015, and everybody was singing and posting the song.   It altered the course of pop music in a way, bumping the pop divas out of the top of the charts in its wake.   It was many of my friends' top song of the year as well.
29		St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Call Me● Entered:  11/26/2014; WOL: 26; Peak: #1 (3 weeks).   This one actually came out in the summer of 2014, and got a noteworthy post from my friend Elizabeth Sullivan.   Another song that could have come out decades ago, but is very much now.  The song only lasted a few weeks on the Triple-A airplay chart in August, 2014.   What hurt its initial chances on my blog was my unexpected hiatus for 14 weeks.  When that ended in November, 2014, I added the song, and it reached the top earlier in 2015.  I followed it with two more awesome songs, one of which still has yet to be heard.
28		Fall Out Boy - Uma Thurman Entered: 5/10; WOL: 26; Peak: #18.   You really couldn't avoid this song--or band, for that matter-in 2015.   This was the second single, heard notably when I was on the beach at Asbury Park, back in July.   Of course, it was heard everywhere since, and made two trips to my top 20.
27		Calvin Harris f. Ellie Goulding - Outside● Entered: 4/19; WOL:  20, Peak: #3.  The second song from Calvin Harris, the second song from Ellie Goulding...and the second song named "Outside" on my countdown.   But this pop song is second to none.
26		X Ambassadors - Renegades Entered: 5/24; WOL: 26, Peak: #7.   Some songs have immediate impact, some take a while.  This one stayed at the top of the alternative charts for quite awhile.  My friend Gail Cacciarelli Bradley posted it; but it took its sweet time in ascending my SNS 100, indicating that it took a while to grow on me.   But it eventually did, landing in my top 10 late in the year.
25		Alabama Shakes - Don't Wanna Fight● Entered: 2/22, WOL: 23, Peak: #1 (2 weeks).  Another big album for me in 2015 was "Sound & Color" from this blues band.   It was the lead single, and it elaborated from their impressive debut "Boys & Girls".    Second song from them on the countdown.
24		Maroon 5 - This Summer's Gonna Hurt Entered: 6/14; WOL: 22, Peak: #3.  It's usually the lesser performing songs by this band headed by "The Voice" coach Adam Levine that reaches the upper parts of my charts.    "Sugar", their most popular track from "V", did reach #18 but missed the year-end countdown.  This one broke their string of top 10 hits on the Hot 100, but I loved it.  It got some posts from friends, and is the last of 4 "summer themed" songs on my year-end list.
23		Foster the People - Are You What You Want To Be● Entered: 11/30/2014; WOL: 26; Peak: #2.  One of the sorely underappreciated albums of 2014, "Supermodel", this was the third single from it, and definitely accentuates the pop-rock attributes of this band.  After modest success with the first two singles, this didn't get noticed at all.  A third album is due in 2016 which will be more hip-hop.  If you can't beat 'em.....
22		Foals - Mountain At My Gates Entered: 8/2; WOL: 18, Peak: #7.  Oxford, England band has always been an SNS fave, and listening to this shows why.   Very palatable song, with substance.  I can only dream of a radio format playing songs like this.   It may be underground, but rock in its various forms was still alive in 2015.
21		Beck - Dreams Entered: 6/4; WOL: 20, Peak: #1 (2 weeks).   Kanye may have tried to steal this guy's thunder at the Grammy's (when he beat out Beyoncé for Album of the Year), but he has far more "artistry" than either of them combined, just sayin'.    He released this stand-alone, fun single this past summer, and it was one of his biggest alternative songs in some 10-12 years.  You can bet he had a good time doing this one.
20		Matt Weiss - Black Magic Entered: 7/19; WOL: 21, Peak: #6.   Finding out about new music can come from all kinds of sources.  I met his mom over thirty years ago at a weekend in Downingtown, PA, and five years ago reconnected on Facebook.   Just so happened that I was scrolling down her timeline that I saw a link to this song.   I listened, and WOW.   Looks like he's creating some buzz out on the island.  One local reviewer compared him to Shawn Mendes.  Given that Canadian singer has recently broken through could Matt Weiss do the same?   He certainly has the talent.
19		Coin - Run● Entered: 5/17; WOL: 28, Peak: #6.  Catchy tune got a lot of airplay this summer on "Alt Nation".  You can hear why.
18		Courtney Barnett - Dead Fox● Entered: 6/28, WOL: 24, Peak: #1 (2 weeks).   One of the rare songs that when I heard it for the first time, I loved it.   One of three songs from her debut album "Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit" that made my top 30.   She's been nominated for Best New Artist at the upcoming Grammy awards.   I thought to myself, this is an artist that Brian Sniatkowski would like, and sure enough, he did--it was his #2 album of 2015 (why not number 1?).
17		Hozier - Someone New Entered: 7/26; WOL: 20, Peak: #1.   Third and final song by this breakout artist on my year-end countdown.   I like this one even better than "Take Me To Church", he sings with his heart, for sure.   Didn't do well in the pop arena, but rock stations did take note.   It's gone through my head many a time recently.
16		The Raveonettes - Killer in the Streets● Entered: 1/11; WOL: 25, Peak #2.   Although their halcyon days may be behind them, for me, they are still relevant.    I had noticed there wasn't any activity from them lately, so I Googled them and found they released a surprise album in 2014, "Pe'ahi".  Their sound is no longer romantically retro, but they still know a great pop hook when they hear one.     This one just kept rolling along, and now could you NOT like it?
15		St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Like a Mighty River● Entered: 4/9; WOL: 26, Peak: #5.   After their well-known "Call Me" finally ran its course on SNS, I had to check their album to see if there was anything just as good.   And I came across this one which certainly fit the bill.    Soul & blues are still alive in 2015, and the band landed three songs in my countdown this year.  Great song.
14		Ed Sheeran - Photograph Entered: 7/12; WOL: 22, Peak: #3.  Okay, so "Thinking Out Loud" was liked a lot because of certain connotations, but could the follow-up stand on its own?    The answer is a qualifying "Yes".   This song did better on my SNS list than it did on the Billboard Hot 100; that doesn't happen often for a pop hit.
13		Phases - I'm In Love With My Life Entered: 7/12; WOL: 22, Peak: #3.  2015 was definitely the year of the catchy alternative/indie pop-rock, at least on my list, and here is another example.   Band was originally called "JJAMZ", but wisely changed its name.
12		Omnia Hegazy - Dust Entered: 3/8; WOL: 22, Peak: #1.   Staten Island singer/songwriter (and niece of my good friend Diane Tarantino Hegazy), noted for her socially aware world rhythmic take on pop music, surprises us with a rock-oriented song, that is still about an issue of the day.  It became her second #1 on my SNS 100.
11		Florence + the Machine - Ship to Wreck● Entered: 4/26; WOL: 23; Peak: #3.  Second single from "How Blue....." continues to show why she's one of the best from across the pond.    One of these days, she's going to have a big pop hit, I just know it.  Three songs from that album made my year-end countdown this year.
10		The Arcs - Outta My Mind Entered: 6/28; WOL: 24; Peak: #5.  You know when a band has "made it", when one of its members does a side project.  Such as the case with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, who released "Yours, Dreamily" this summer.  It has the same haunting, stripped down rock sensibilities of his main band.   They're signed to play Coachella in 2016.
9		The Black Keys- Weight of Love● Entered: 2/13; WOL: 31; Peak: #1 (6 weeks).   Meanwhile, Auerbach's main band still continued to feed off of 2014's "Turn Blue" set.   While radio was tired of them by this single #4, I definitely wasn't....not when this blues/rock throwback jam lit up the cold winter as well as my friend Anthony Joseph's ski trip to Vermont this year.   It was on WEQX; and I played it on the jukebox at one of the bars we were at.    It's six weeks at the top tied the longest run this year.
8		Fitz and the Tantrums - Fools Gold● Entered: 11/9/2014; WOL: 39,  Peak: #1 (2 weeks). Like "Call Me" by St. Paul & the Broken Bones, this third single from their 2013 "More Than Just A Dream Set" suffered from my hiatus, but once I got going again, this was the first one I added.   Top 15 on the Alternative chart, this one became the 4th chart topper from the album on my list.   For various reasons, Fitz & the Tantrums became a big part of the year even though the album is almost three years old.    And this is just the start.
7		Tame Impala - Let It Happen Entered: 3/29; WOL: 30, Peak: #5.  Aussie act recommended by friends, release their third set this year, "Currents".  This song took a bit for me to catch on to, mainly because it seemed like two songs in one, but airplay on "Alt Nation" as well as Alan Corso's Jets tailgate playlist confirmed that I made the right choice.   Album also landed on Brian Sniatkowski's top 25 list.
6		Fitz and the Tantrums - 6AM▲ Entered: 6/22/2014; WOL: 62, Peak: #3.   Okay, what more can you say here?    I added this as an album cut shortly after the second single from "More Than Just a Dream", "The Walker", ran its course.  That was in the summer of 2014!    It peaked that fall, spent two weeks in my top 20 to start 2015, and then just....stuck around, and around, and around.    At a memorable hometown event in September for two returning classmates, this was on the jukebox, prolonging its presence.  As of the last SNS blog of 2015, it's still on my list.    If it stays on my list one more week, it will (1) tie fellow cut "Out of My League" for most weeks on the list, and (2) become only the third song to appear in three calendar years, and the first to do it in one chart run.   It already has the distinction of staying on my blog every issue of 2015.
5		Fitz and the Tantrums - Last Raindrop● Entered: 7/5; WOL: 23, Peak: #1 (2 weeks).  And one more time.   Since I've been having a blast with "6 AM", I checked that album one more time, and I just had to add this one.   Even though the album came out in early 2013, it sets history for having three cuts from it in year-end top ten, 2 years later.    But, when will we see new product from them?  By the way, this is the first time that three songs by an act have made my year-end top 10.  Nirvana came close in 1992 with three songs in the top 11.
4		The Decemberists - Calvary Captain● Entered: 3/29; WOL: 27; Peak: #1.  "What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World", released in 2015 may have been a bit uneven, but any album that scores four top 25 songs on my blog list has a lot going for them.  This is one of their best, and topped my chart for a week last spring.  I couldn't put this one down.
3		Alabama Shakes - Gimme All Your Love● Entered: 4/12; WOL: 33, Peak: #1 (4 weeks).  While I anticipated "Sound & Color" to be a great sophomore effort from Brittany Howard and company, I never expected a song like THIS.   First heard on their "Saturday Night Live" appearance, the song just blew me away, and I jumped on it, even as first single "Don't Wanna Fight" was near the top of my list.    Howard's voice is one to be reckoned with.
2		Elle King - Ex's and Oh's● Entered: 5/30; WOL: 30; Peak: #2.  This was one of those songs that took forever to catch on.   I got a passing notice back in January when she, the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider, performed this on the Today show.   Still, I sat on this one (as did many others) until I added it in May.  Apparently I was ahead of the curve as it became a summer smash, just before alternative radio got this to top that genre's chart.  Finally it hit the top 10 on the Hot 100 in the fall.  Very catchy rock song, for sure.  But, what will she do for an encore?  We'll find out!
1		Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud● Entered: 2/22; WOL: 40; Peak: #1 (6 weeks).   Although I promoted my year end chart-topper to be a battle between this and Elle King, to be honest, there really wasn't a contest here.   However, for the first 9 weeks after I added this one to my playlist, this one wallowed around the bottom half of my SNS 100 before it suddenly took off.  Nationally, it had a run at #2 behind "Uptown Funk" and in the final year-end Billboard lists, held that designation.   This was my summer song as well.  While one rock purist friend didn't care to much for his "screeching" voice (huh?), and wanted to know where Jim Croce was when you need him, everyone else liked my choice for my #1 song of 2015.