These are my Top 20 Songs of January, in terms of plays and resonance:
20. Tove Lo – Habits
19. Lucius – Wildewoman
18. Massari – Brand New Day
17. Alvvays – Adult Diversion
16. Foster The People – Coming Of Age
15. Trust – Rescue, Mister
14. Britney Spears – Alien
13. Kaleida – Tropea
12. Beyonce f. Jay-Z – Drunk In Love
11. Basia Bulat – Tall Tall Shadow/It Can’t Be You
10. Zedd f. Hayley Williams – Stay The Night
9. Broken Bells – Holding On For Life
8. Ghost (B.C.) – If You Have Ghosts
7. One Direction – Story Of My Life
6. Wildlife – Lightning Tent
5. Maximo Park – Leave This Island
4. Katy Perry – Unconditionally
3. Eternal Death – Head
2. Future Islands – Seasons (Waiting On You)
I thank the stars they’re back. What an immense, amazing tune. Future Islands own so much real estate in my heart that I think I’d disappear if they ever chose to sell.
1. Against Me! – True Trans Soul Rebel
NB: At present, and for the life of me, I can’t find the original version of this song to share. The acoustic version I’ve shared below is brilliant, but the original is one of the catchiest alt/pop songs I’ve heard in a long time. If you can find it, listen to it. Embrace it. Against Me! are on fire.
The summer was sensational for songs, and September didn’t let up. Brilliant tune after tune made its way to my ears. I went in detail with the written accompaniments of my favourite songs of the summer, so I’ve decided to switch things up a bit here and practice some brevity.
That said, here are my Top 20 Songs of September 2013, described in 10 words or less.
20. Porcelain Raft – The Way Out
Getting pretty damn good at using synths that “cry.”
19. Flyleaf – Something Better
The best not-by-Paramore Paramore song of the year.
18. Two Door Cinema Club – Changing Of The Seasons
The seasons might change, but the hits keep coming.
17. In The Valley Below – Peaches
Peaches is delicious, succulent, juicy, fresh, from the first bite.
16. Foxes – Youth
Those lips. That look. The hooks. This song.
15. Autumn Hill – Fire
Brilliant New Country-Pop. That chorus, burning hearts and ears.
14. Katy Perry – Roar/Ylvis – The Fox/Natalia Kills – Saturday Night
Does The Fox Say Roar On Saturday Night?
13. Gavin DeGraw – Best I Ever Had
Toe-tapping, foot-thumping, piano pop of the highest order.
12. Goldfrapp – Jo/Drew
Ethereal. Deep breaths. Cold air. Warm summers. Jo and Drew.
11. Mikky Ekko – Kids (Monsieur Adi remix)/Zedd – Clarity
Kids: when remix trumps original. Clarity: a flat-out smash.
10. Arcade Fire – Reflektor
A reflection of a band with unparalleled creative might.
9. Editors – The Phone Book
My favourite song from their latest album. Wonderful.
8. The Killers – Shot At The Night
Simply, spectacularly: M83 + The Killers = a monster tune.
7. Haim – Strong Enough
A fantastic choice of a cover that makes magic. #TeamCrow.
6. Placebo -A Million Little Pieces
No more glowing in the dark for… my heart.
5. Avicii – Wake Me Up
Made when Gustaffson came out to it vs. Jones. Monstrous.
4. King of Leon – Supersoaker
Meh at first. I was so wrong. Absolutely massive.
3. Blue October – Sway/Bleed Out
Sway: Justin Furstenfeld doesn’t get the credit he so rightly deserves.
Bleed Out: He’s shown an incomparable ear for melody, mood, major songs.
2. Alt-j – Matilda (Johnson Somerset remix)
Absolute transcendence. Rarely ever said of remixes. Pure, powerful, bliss.
1. Neko Case – Local Girl
For me, quite simply the best voice on the planet.
And a bonus, brilliant, breathtaking live rendition.
The Pun Is Sure 