Top 100 Songs of 2014 (100-81)

This is what I thought of 2014.

This is what I thought of 2014.

 

I typically write a lengthy preamble when I issue my Top 100 Songs of The Year list. This year’s won’t be an extended or hyperbolic one.

2014 was fucked up in all manner of ways. One giant ray of light that helps pierce the omnipresent darkness of the world, at least for me, is music. 2014 was no different. My love for and of music is as strong as ever. I continue to zestfully seek out good music, as there’s a bounty of good new music around every corner, if you know where to look.

“Genres” and “types” of music are harder than ever to distinguish and designate, though if I had to isolate one type that resonated the strongest with me in 2014, it’d be pop music. It’s not that pop music ever went away, it’s just that pop has become such a versatile and shifty chameleon — it seems with every passing year, more types of music get sucked into the massive “pop” black hole, and “pop” infiltrates other genres with gusto and stealth. A tip of the cap to “pop” in 2014; a handful of brilliant pop songs made an indelible mark on the year in music (more than I can recall in recent years).

Music does so much to and for me; I won’t go into that though, as I mentioned at the outset of this piece that I’d practice brevity. So instead of me spitting game at music, I’ll end this introduction with some light, but ever true words, from the one of a kind one hit wonder, Cansei de Ser Sexy…

“Music is my boyfriend, music is my girlfriend, music is my daddy. Music’s my imaginary friend. Music is my brother. Music is my great grand-daughter, music is my sister, music is my favourite mistress…my music is where I’d like you to touch…”

 

My Top 100 Songs of 2014 (100-81):

100. Broncho – Class Historian

 

99. Vince Staples – Blue Suede

 

98. Tensnake f. Flora – No Relief

 

97. Tove Styrke – Even If I’m Loud It Doesn’t Mean I’m Talking To You

 

96. Lady Antebellum – Bartender

 

95. Le1f – Boom

 

Bonus: Flume – Sleepless (from 2013)

 

94. ASTR – We Fall Down

 

93. Foo Fighters – I Am A River

 

92. Young The Giant – Mind Over Matter

 

91. Ryn Weaver – Octahate

 

90. Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance

 

89. Wildlife – Lightning Tent

 

88. Beyonce f. Jay-Z – Drunk In Love

 

Bonus Track: Gypsy And The Cat – Sorry (from 2012)

 

87. Royksopp and Robyn – Monument

 

86. Shabazz Palaces – Forerunner Foray

 

85. Beck – Blue Moon

 

84. Lorde – Team

 

83. Milky Chance – Flashed Junk Mind/Stolen Dance

 

 

82. Lily Allen – Air Balloon

 

81. Sleeper Agent – Waves

Top 20 Songs of September 2014

Mind-blowing hits. Amazing covers. September was a blast. Here are my favourite songs from an amazing month in music, described in ten words or less. (Use more words? In this economy!?)

20. ILOVEMAKONNEN f. Drake – Tuesday

Club goes up, squad goes in. Freedom is a Tuesday.

 

19. Bleachers – Rollercoaster

Reminds me of The Boss. Glory days on a rollercoaster.

 

18. Sam Smith – Life Support

He could sing the phone book and it’d sound fantastic.

 

17. Ed Sheeran – One

Sheeran slays often with melodies so strong. And that voice!

 

16. Flume – Sleepless

Relatively old, but new to me. Loopy, punchy, electro goodness.

 

15. Tom Odell – Another Love/Another Love (Zwette Remix)

Not sure which version I prefer. Here’s both.

 

 

14. Say Lou Lou – Instant Crush

Quite like this slightly dark, doom portending Daft Punk cover.

 

13.George Ezra – Budapest

The launch of a star? Who knows. Great tune though.

 

12. Manchester Orchestra – Escape

Yes I like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain.

 

11. Shad and Holy Fuck – Cy Borg (Pt 1 & 2)

Click the link below to hear this unique, immense collaboration.

Holy Shad Explain The Legend Of Cy Borg (Watch & Listen)

 

10. Merely – Princess Hervor

Merely mesmerizing, fiery fervour. So easy to get lost in.

 

9. Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me

Occurred to me recently, this song is pure, unadulterated brilliance.

 

8. Hozier – Like Real People Do

Beautiful, tender. We should just kiss like real people do.

 

7. Taylor Swift – Shake It Off

She’s on fire. Massive pop hit after massive pop hit.

 

6. alt-J – Intro

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

 

5. Enrique Iglesias f. Descemer Bueno & Gente De Zona – Bailando

Enrique’s best song in more than 10 years. Absurdly catchy.

 

4. The New Pornographers – Champions of Red Wine

I love Neko-led New Pornographers songs. This is amazing.

 

3. The Madden Brothers – We Are Done

Thought it was an awesome 70’s song. The Madden Brothers!?

 

2. The Tea Party – The Maker

One of the best covers I’ve ever heard. Completely floored.

 

1. alt-J – Bloodflood pt. II

Rivers of the soul, exsanguinated. Blood on the canvas, art.