We have finally made it to the end of 2013 and wow! What a year! We want to thank everyone who participated in our year-end poll. There were more voters who participated than last year, and also much more music coming out of Springfield. We have to say that pretty much all of the music that came out of Springfield this year is worth mentioning and all of you musicians and artists out there deserve a round of applause. We are going to start off by listing some of your favorite songs that came out of Springfield this year. Write-ups have been done by different people who have been active in various parts of the music scene this year. This was a close contest with ties for the number 2 and number 5 choices, and a couple of bands had multiple songs in the running.

5. Josh Catalano & The Dirty Thoughts – When We Were Young

When you press play on any of Josh Catalano‘s work, you’ll immediately be glad you did. Light, inspirational guitar work and honest, beautiful vocals collide in the song “When we were young” for a truly pleasant experience. I’m honestly sad it took me this long to discover this gentleman’s work. Catalano comes together with his company in Josh Catalano & The Dirty Thoughts to bring you a series of wonderful tracks, but “When we were young” jumps out as an instant hit. It starts with a nearly quiet acoustic guitar line into a beautiful vocal melody, eventually building via string section and well placed guitar work into a driving, meaningful experience altogether forcing you to replay over and over. Its short and sweet, and definitely one of my favorite pieces to ever come out of this local music scene. If you haven’t given this music a listen, I strongly suggest you do. “When we were young” will be on repeat for me, as a great listen, and an inspiration to me as a musician. -Clint Kesinger (Good Times, Battalion)

5. Soap Scum – Fiberglass/Compactor

If there was one definitive sound of 2013, it was Cory VanMeter’s opening bassline to Fiberglass, Soap Scum‘s epic ballad that tells the tale of Brian Galecki cleaning out Black Sheep’s fiberglass, resulting in one if the most memorable coughing fits in the history of Springfield’s music scene.

On the other hand, the phrase of 2013 was “Sweep the floor; Mop the ceiling,” from Soap Scum’s all star smash hit, “Compactor.” As my personal favorite Soap Scum song, it holds a special place in my heart, but not without subjecting my ears to minutes of reckless guitar from groovemaster Mario Cannamela, paired with some sick beatz from Papa Kevin. Two great tracks from some of the best hardcore I’ve ever seen come out of little old Springfield, IL. -Mitch Baker (Lovecow, Wir Können, Looming)

5. Big Storm – Wasting Away

2013 was a big year for emo, harsh noise, band reunions, and… power pop? Big Storm had a good year, particularly with the release of “Wasting Away”. When first listening to this song it seems like nothing to write home about, some dude just whining about being alone, like that’s never happened before. But Brandon Carnes and company aren’t like most guys, they have horn sections and big harmonies! I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings for this band and this guy hopes they “stay here forever” and keep bringing the feel good!       -Jeff Black (The Radon Lounge)

4. Battalion – Resilience

With earth shattering guitar tones, creative drumming, heavy grooves, killer two steps, gang vocals, and all ending with a fantastic melodic passage, it’s no wonder that Battalion’s song, “Resilience” made the cut for this list. Battalion has been around for quite sometime in the Springfield music scene and resilience completely solidifies what the band has grew into. As voted by the people, the results have obviously been well received! Fans of modern heavy music, you won’t be disappointed at all by this track. -Cameron Franklin (Table Drama, Skywalker)

2. Good Times – All My Friends Are Ghosts

Clint Kesinger’s project Good Times is a clear stylistic departure from Battalion, the band he’s fronted for quite some time now. The first track of his ‘Good Times’ EP (available for free download at goodtimesstl.bandcamp.com) is a 3 and a half minute sample of Clint’s softer, more easy-going side. ‘All My Friends Are Ghosts’ chronicles a night of waking a ghost, presumably with song, and inviting her to ‘kick back and chill’ with him. It’s an upbeat tune that’s easy to nod along to, and has hooks that are bound to keep you repeating the chorus, “we’ll all keep singing along, and i won’t tell anyone”. This jaunty tune is a great introduction to Good Times, a fantastic way to start off of the EP, and one can only imagine there’s plenty more ‘Good Times’ to be had! -Brandon Carnes (Looming, Big Storm, The Timmys)

2. Our Lady – Buque/Feeding Fields

Our Lady definitely brought their A game this year, and this song is certainly no exception. With Buque, the band showed a more intense side of themselves. With this song being the first revealed from Dawning, the band finished their transition and became dark as all heckie. Our Lady blew up bigger than they already previously were this year, and with this song, they only grew stronger. They are now a 12 foot, 2 ton beast waiting to take on every scene in the entire world. Watch out, everyone. -Austin Connelly(Wir Können, Montagh)

1. Looming – Definition of Home

Surely by now you have all heard Looming’s “Definition of Home” and probably know most of the lyrics. The song was the band’s very first and they debuted it well before their first show. That first day it hit the net, I listened to it at least 10 times. It is good. Really good.

Definition of Home is a well crafted song. The lyrics allow the listener to create their own meaning and ideas. I relate to the lyrics on a personal level. “I’m running home when everyone’s running away” can mean different things. To me, it is about accepting your surroundings and making the most of them.

I feel Springfield in my bones. I like my bones. Please celebrate your own definition of home. Your city, your music scene, your bones, and Looming’s 6 track EP. It’ll make Springfield a better place… and you a better person. -Robbie Kording (The Black Sheep Radio Show, The Timmys)