hozier

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.

Top 100 Songs of 2014 (60-41)

When you're trying to tell your friends something but they're not listening.

When you’re trying to tell your friends something but they’re not listening.

Getting warmer and warmer… Some may view a song ranked 60th or 53rd and not think much of it — I don’t see it like that. All the songs I’ve listed here are impressive. It’s not easy to rank songs when they’re this good, but hey, I give ‘er anyway. Fun fun fun ’til your daddy takes the T-bird away. Top 100 Songs of 2014 (60-41):

60. Grace Mitchell – Runaway

Slow-tempo’d power pop with a fantastic chorus.

 

59. Banks – Beggin For Thread

When I first heard Banks a while back, I thought, nice voice and vibe, but she doesn’t have anything I’d call a good song. That’s since been rectified. “Beggin For Thread” is a beast.

 

58. Merely – Princess Hervor

So chilly. So atmospheric. So good.

 

57. Bleachers – I Wanna Get Better

Insanely catchy. Great debut single.

 

Bonus: Naughty Boy f. Sam Smith – La La La (from 2013)

 

56. Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me

Took me a little while to get into it. A fantastic song, lyrically, melodically, Canadianally.

 

55. Perfume Genius – Queen

Harder than anything Mike Hadreas had done previously. One of his best. Sensational chorus.

 

54. Royal Blood – Figure It Out

Rock ‘n Roll bliss.

 

53. Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud

Soulful, sunny, and downright addictive. Isn’t everything the Ginger King does golden though? Or would his jewels be rubies? Either way.

 

52. Eternal Death – Head

One of my favourites from early 2014.

 

51. Rita Ora – I Will Never Let You Down

Best song she’s yet done.

 

50. Grimes – Go

Took a couple listens before I truly appreciated this masterpiece of a jam. What a jam it is. For some reason, it didn’t connect with the masses like “Genesis” or “Oblivion”, but “Go” is a tune on that level. Blood Diamonds’ production is downright filthy. Love the cymbal work in the chorus.

 

49. The Madden Brothers – We Are Done

When I first heard this track, I had no idea which 70’s band sung it. All I could do was hum and be impressed at the massive chorus. I wondered who it was by for some time. Then one day, I found out the song wasn’t 40 years old, but brand frickin new, and by Benji and Joel from Good Charlotte?! I was floored. Good Charlotte had some decent tunes, but this is by far the best thing the Cali bros have ever released.

 

Bonus: One Republic – I Lived (On my HM list in 2013, left a huge mark in 2014 also.)

 

48. Tei Shi – Bassically

It builds and builds and builds and builds. One of the sexiest pop songs of the year.

 

47. 5 Seconds of Summer – She Looks So Perfect

No escaping a chorus that huge.

 

46. Tove Lo – Over

Oh Sweden. How many times do you win me over in a given year with your mastery of pop music? I can’t count that high.

 

45. Hozier – Like Real People Do

Full discl-hozier, this is my favourite song from the Irish lad. Great lyrics. Fantastic melody.

 

44. The Griswolds – Beware The Dog

So sunny. So gitchy. So good. One of the best sing-a-long songs of the year.

 

Bonus: The Griswolds – Red Tuxedo

 

43. Rudimental f. Emeli Sande – Free

Rudimental lays down a pulsating beat, over which Emeli Sande shines. This song never gets old.

 

42. Enrique Iglesias f. Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona – Bailando

Best song Enrique’s done in at least 10 years, if not ever. I had no reason to believe he’d ever be associated with a song of such quality. This tune is pure bliss. I can feel the warmth of summer when I listen to this song. That’s an amazing quality to possess.

 

41. The Alternate Routes – Nothing More

Gorgeous song in all manner of ways.