death from above 1979

Top 20 Songs of June 2015

June was a great month for new music. Here are the songs I listened to most in June:

20. Django Django – Shake And Tremble

 

19. My Morning Jacket – Big Decisions

 

18. A Silent Film – Strong Enough/Message In The Sand

 

17. Walk The Moon – Different Colors

 

16. Mumford and Sons – The Wolf

 

15. Waitress – Hop Along

 

14. Brandon Flowers – Diggin’ Up The Heart

 

13. Ratatat – Cream on Chrome

These Brooklyn cats are such bad asses.

 

12. Muse – Dead Inside

Will and Kathryn from SYTYCD!

 

11. Death From Above 1979 – White Is Red

Probably my favourite tune this Canuck duo have ever done.

 

10. Jamie XX – Loud Places/I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times

 

9. Awolnation – Woman Woman

One of the many catchy tunes on Awolnation’s latest LP.

 

8. A Silent Film – Paralysed

I’m miffed and sorry that this song and the EP from whence it comes have not not received more attention/YouTube views.

 

7. The Chainsmokers f. Great Good Fine OK – Let You Go

Massive dance anthem deservedly getting a tonne of play.

 

6. Tame Impala – Cause I’m A Man

So unique, so fresh, so good.

 

5. Best Coast – Feeling Ok

Took me maybe 4 or 5 listens before I was hooked.

 

4. Beirut – No No No

Welcome baaaaaack Mr. Condon! So happy new Beirut music has arrived.

 

3. Awolnation – I Am

What a great album from Aaron Bruno and company. Even this sort-of ballad sounds raw and rife with energy. Love the vocal harmonies on this track.

 

2. Ed Sheeran – Photograph/Photograph (Felix Jaehn Remix)

I guess I was out to lunch, as I didn’t know about “Photograph” until recently. I’m not surprised it’s become a worldwide smash; Ed Sheeran is damn near incomparable at writing simple yet affecting melodies and lyrics. The original is great, but I might even dig the remix more. Felix Jaehn is on fire right now.

 

1. Miguel – Coffee

It’s his voice. It’s that melody. It’s that this ‘clean’ version is more hard-hitting than the explicit one. It’s that, “word play, turns into gun play, gun play, turns into pillow talk, pillow talk, turns into sweet dreams, sweet dreams, turn into coffee in the morning.” It’ll go down as one of my favourite lyrics of the year. One of my favourite songs too.

 

Top 20 Songs of January 2015

Even though I was working on my best of 2014 lists in January, there were still a heap of new/newish songs that got and kept my attention. Here they are:

20. Nicki Minaj f. Jessie Ware – The Crying Game

 

19. Black Coast f. M. Maggie – Enough

 

18. Natema – Everybody Does

INXS, in excess.

 

17. Sound Remedy – Victory

 

16. Ameriie – Mustang

 

15. Viet Cong – Silhouettes

Fierce. A little Of Montreal feel with a dose of fear and a pinch of vigour.

 

14. Caribou – Our Love

Heard it in 2014, let it slide in 2015.

 

13. Robbie Williams – Super Tony

After all these years, Robbie still does cheeky pop better than anyone else. Possibly the best (and most fun) tune from his surprise release in December.

 

Bonus: Casey Abrams – Get Out

From 2012, just heard recently.

 

12. Death From Above 1979 – Virgins

I’m not a big fan of this band, yet this tune is undeniable. For my money, the best song they’ve ever done.

 

11. The Airborne Toxic Event – Wrong

 

10. Marilyn Manson – Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge

Surprised. It’s clear Manson’s aiming to reach more ears with this type of sound. It works.

 

9. Marina and The Diamonds – Immortal

Love her voice and this pretty pop tune.

 

8. Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance

Was on my best of 2014 list; hit another gear in 2015.

 

Bonus: Hozier – Take Me To Church/Angel of Small Death & The Codeine Scene

I’ve no idea why it took me so long to fall for these two songs. Love the striking, transfixing new video for “Take Me To Church” by David LaChapelle.

 

7. Modest Mouse – Lampshades On Fire

Love it. Sounds like it belongs side-by-side with songs from “We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank”. This is a good thing.

 

6. The Black Keys – The Weight Of Love

I guess I didn’t give this one the time it deserved when their last album came out. Consider the issue rectified. This song is really good.

 

Bonus: Lady Antebellum – Bartender

They’ve an incredible way with melody. This song made my Top 100 of 2014, but I can’t get enough of it.

 

5. G.R.L. – Lighthouse

Amazing comeback song post-Simone Battle. This is pop magic.

 

4. Night Riots – Contagious

Darkness. Loudness. Synthness. Awesomeness.

 

3. Tove Lo – Talking Body

Replay button got worn out with this one.

 

2. Bad Suns – Cardiac Arrest

So, so, so catchy. I’ve played this song constantly since I first heard it.

 

1. Purity Ring – Push Pull

Beautiful. Simply, beautiful. What a brilliant comeback single.

 

Bonus: Cage The Elephant – Cigarette Daydreams

This song was on my best of 2013 list. It was also on my best of 2014 list. I just can’t shake it. I listened to it time after time in January and it helped to quell winter’s cold. I’ve shared the record version before, so here’s an acoustic take on this gem.