twostepcubchart's Best of 2014: Part Three - #80 to #71...

I'm back with part three of my recap of the biggest songs on my weekly personal music chart this year. You can check out the first two parts by clicking here...

#80 - "Into The Blue" - Kylie Minogue
          from the album Kiss Me Once (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #3 (two weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 12

After parting ways with career-long manager Terry Blamey, switching to Americentric Roc Nation, she again seemed to try to capture the Western audience with her 12th album Kiss Me Once, which harkened back to her "see what sticks" effort X but with a bit more vivaciousness and overt sexuality (three songs had sex in the title), but still included a club anthem in this single that should've at least hit the top-40 if not for American pop radio's ageism, and young gay men's infatuation with slutty younger girls.

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 #79 - "Coming Of Age" - Foster The People
           from the album Supermodel (2014)
           twostepcubchart peak: #15 (one week)
           weeks on the chart: 16

After an impressive debut that got them a Billboard Award for Best Rock Song and a pair of Grammy noms, the modern rock trio came back low-key for their sophomore effort, not satisfied with simply recreating their past work. This song heralded a maturity that maybe their fans weren't totally ready for.

#78 - "Try" - Colbie Caillat
          from the album Gypsy Heart (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #20 (one week so far in 2014 - still climbing)
          weeks on the chart: 17 (so far in 2014 - still on the chart)

The soft-rock singer/songwriter returned after a three-year absence on the Hot 100 with this delicate number that spoke to the legions of older female listeners relatively ignored by radio these days, along with an empowering video about beauty in all forms.

#77 - "Compass" - Lady Antebellum
          from the album Golden (Deluxe Edition) (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #19 (four weeks)
          weeks on the chart (in 2014): 16

The country crossover trio re-released their moderately successful Golden album and added this basic rewrite of "Follow Your Arrow" without the touchy parts and nabbed a CMA video award and another #1 country hit.

#76 - "Left Hand Free" - alt-J
          from the album This Is All Yours (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #11 (two weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 15 (so far in 2014 - still on the chart)

The British art-rock band went in a more indie direction on their sophomore album, and had an even bigger hit with this song that draws from the slacker tunes of the early 90s.

#75 - "Raging Fire" - Phillip Phillips
          from the album Behind The Light (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #20 (two weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 19

Eleventh season American Idol winner Phillips was at #20 on last year's list with "Gone, Gone, Gone" from his debut album. The anti-Idol came back with more semi-Matthews rock with the first single from his sophomore effort.

#74 - "When She Says Baby" - Jason Aldean
          from the album Night Train (2012)
          twostepcubchart peak: #27 (one week)
          weeks on the chart: 22

The fifth single from Jason's fifth album sounds like it was plucked off an alternate universe version of Bryan Adams' Reckless album, but for me (or maybe because of that) it was the highlight of his Night Train album. (the title track almost made the year-end list in 2013.)

#73 - "Love Me Again" - John Newman
          from the album Tribute (2013)
          twostepcubchart peak: #15 (three weeks)
          weeks on the chart (in 2014): 14

The beginning of this year saw two amazing British male singers ready to take on the American market with two totally different vocal styles. And while Sam Smith's angelic falsetto got the most attention, I fell in love more quickly with Newman's gruff soul, and his debut album is a treasure. He's back in my top ten this week courtesy of Calvin Harris' "Blame"...

#72 - "Do You" - Spoon
          from the album They Want My Soul (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #18 (four weeks)
          weeks on the chart: 18 (so far in 2014 - still charting)

Britt Daniel motors through some sort of toddler-infected apocalypse in the veteran indie-rock band's first song to make my personal chart...

#71 - "I'm Not The Only One" - Sam Smith
          from the album In The Lonely Hour (2014)
          twostepcubchart peak: #1 (two weeks so far in 2014 - still at #1)
          weeks on the chart: 15 (so far in 2014 - still charting)

My current #1 on my weekly list, another reason why In The Lonely Hour deserves the Best Album Grammy next year. Along with a flawless video with minimal Sam and a powerful performance from Glee's Diana Agron.

I'll be back on Monday with the next ten, including a pop triumvirate, a fun side-project, and one of this year's laughing stocks.