#100
Courteeners
'Are You In Love With A Notion?'
The Courteeners are a four piece hailing from ol' Blighty, and their specialty? Rollicking good indie-rock tunes. Opening their third album "Anna" with this pulsating, in-your-face jam really gets you in the mood. It's instantly recognisable, even though you've never heard it, you feel like you have for many years. Liam Fray, lead vocalist, asks the question in the title over and over, in front of giant crashing guitars and drums, yearning for the answer. It's a song with layers, and I like layers. I really do.
#99
Delta Goodrem
'Heart Hypnotic'
Her best song?...No, it trails 'Almost Here', 'Believe Again' and 'Lost Without You' (in that order) but it is locked in as her fourth best IMO. 'Heart Hypnotic' has Ryan Tedder's fingerprints all over it, and it shows. It's classy pop done right. Borrowing elements of EDM, dance-pop and synth-pop, Delta shows us that she still can be relevant with a damn good pop tune, plus her vocals sound very good. It's a grower.
#98
Josh Kumra
'Waiting For You'
Josh Kumra came onto my radar via this pleasant James Morrison-sounding tune. It's got a big sound emanating from its indie roots. It's the kind of song that could've just slipped onto radio and become a hit, but alas I'll savour the sounds and selfishly continue to become wrapped up in it's insistent beat. Oh, and P.S. The film clip is one of the year's greats too.
#97
Tegan And Sara
'Drove Me Wild'
'Drove Me Wild' is, unbelievably, not the best song on Tegan And Sara's incredible "Heartthrob" album. It goes close though. It fits so well in the context of that whole album that it is sickening. The best thing these two sisters did was discover this sound of theirs that is displayed so stunningly throughout the album, that would be straight-up pop. 'Drove Me Wild' has a stunning chorus ably backed up by those crisp, clever verses. It still gives me shivers when turned right up, especially that chorus.
#96
New Politics
'Harlem'
The kind of song that just hits you between the eyes, unashamedly putting itself out there with it's incredibly catchy chorus. Heck even the verses are singalong. I liked this song earlier in the year, it's only now receiving moderate success. It gets the job done by being a big, bold, brash anthem. And all in well under three minutes. Impressive.
#95
ASTR
'Operate'
'Operate' is addictive. It really does get better with each listen. Hearing fuzzed vocals over the dark, sleek, sexy R&B sounds coming up and slinking it's way into your brain is seriously bordering on overdose of amazingness. I got this great track free earlier in the year and it's remained a staple on my iPod playlist ever since. Anyone would think I was an addict, "Call me the doctor".
#94
Jr. Hi ft. The Weeknd
'Secrets'
'Secrets' only just crept up on me late last year, so its position here is quite impressive for the little time I've spent with it. But obviously I love what I'm hearing. Everywhere-in-2013 man the Weeknd lends his increasingly impressive vocals to elevate this track into a Triple J hit-in-waiting. A somewhat restrained opening verse culminates into a huge chorus and in the process, transforms potential mediocrity into extreme superiority. If you haven't heard this track then do yourself a favour. To be honest the more I talk about it, the less surprise you will have as the listener. It's just that kind of jam. And the fucking thing is still free! So grab it now. Like, now.
#93
Cash Cash ft. Bebe Rexha
'Take Me Home'
This track is in similar in vein to 2012's Zedd ft. Foxes classic 'Clarity'. That in itself should tell you it's awesome, but let me elaborate. Cash Cash are a trio of prominent pop producers and DJ's who released a really nice EP that contained a few high energy EDM tracks back in late October. 'Take Me Home' was the lead single from the EP, and the best of the bunch thanks to that incredible vocal from up-and-comer Bebe Rexha (she co-penned Eminem and Rihanna's 'The Monster'). Just take a listen to the bridge and then set yourself for that soaring chorus. It would be perfect to play in preparation for a night out. It's EDM done right. And no Guetta in sight.
#92
Seekae
'Another'
A perfect slice of minimalist pop that has been cooked up within the confines of Australia? Yes. Oh yes. This slow build of a jam is so affecting and accomplished, that it's as if they've been doing this music thing for a while. Oh wait, they have. Again with the chorus talk, but I love big choruses so... It's amazing. With an intimidating thump it sneaks up and lands on your face and twists the knife into you until you can do no more, but listen and enjoy. A real grower if ever I've heard one. The music video is amazingly bonkers as well.
#91
Cloud Control
'Dream Cave'
Two Aussie acts back-to-back? Yep. It's actually funny, because I never knew how similar these two songs were until I placed them side-by-side at #91 and #92. Both with minimal beats, both with huge choruses that come at you thick and fast, and both sung by males with incredible vocals. 'Dream Cave' wins out just though, as I heard it first. It sounds late 80's to me too, which is infinitely cool. What a way to close Cloud Control's decent sophomore album though right? There's no denying the quality being laid out here for us listeners to well and truly enjoy. Just an added note: That water falling inside a cave sound effect at the end though, it goes for three minutes, which is way to long, plus it makes me wanna go to the toilet. Just sayin'.
#90
The Last Royals
'Only The Brave'
Another song with a great chorus. 'Only The Brave' wastes no time in establishing it's soft rock sound, and seems proud to wear it's influences on its sleeve. A rock song about lost love? Whodathunkit? That final line in the chorus is sung with such gusto that it's hard not to get swept up in it all. The nicely worded lyrics are somewhat taking a back seat to the great vocal and the stellar riffs that seep through to create a memorable tune from the NY duo.
#89
French Horn Rebellion ft. Jody Watley
'Cold Enough'
Oh shit this track is just effortlessly cool. French Horn Rebellion have been responsible for a number of cool tracks this year actually, whether it be their terrific remixes or their stellar originals, they seem to have their finger on the pulse of what's hip right now. Funnily enough, I got this track free on the first day of 2013. And boy am I glad I took a chance on it. It's a perfect summer jam to get your feet moving and to shake or sunbake those hot days away. It was on high rotation back in the summer of last year and has risen from the dead again this summer. The "are you ready?" lyric still pops into my head from time to time. Damn the beat is ridiculously funky though. Yes, funky, that's the word.
#88
James Blunt
'Bonfire Heart'
I have always, unashamedly, liked James Blunt. He's one of my favourite male artists and I really do believe he hasn't put a foot wrong in his career thus far, that is until the release of his lacklustre "Moon Landing" LP. The only song I picked off that was this, the lead single, which sounds so familiar without being lazy. It has to be that voice, still one of the most recognisable voices in pop today. 'Bonfire Heart' shows that the much maligned Blunty can write a great folk-pop tune to silence the haters, as he did with this. Shame about that album though.
#87
Isac Elliot
'First Kiss'
This pre-teen jam shows that not all tween songs have to be pretentious and dumbed down, just don't let that single cover put you off. Under the oh-so pre pubescent lyrics there is a big pop tune masterfully being produced. And this FInnish kid can sing a hook, perhaps sounding a little over dramatic towards the end, this song took me by great surprise and reminded me a little of how Bieber handled 'Baby' so early in his career, he sounded like he knew what he was doing, as does this kid. Killer chorus. Side note: The video is awful, just awful, but just close your eyes as you hit play on youtube.
#86
Tribes
'Never Heard Of Graceland'
Sadly this song never got to see the light of day, as it should have been a single from a fairly decent album. However Tribes unfortunately announced their split after three years together in November last year. They were a band with great potential. 'Never Heard Of Graceland' is beautiful. The production is first class, that chorus is epic, and those verses link it all up nicely. It kind of sounds like an early nineties ballad, in a good way of course, almost as if it could have fit onto the "Cruel Intentions" soundtrack, which is always a compliment. I like it a lot.
So that's Part 1. Expect Part 2 within the next few days... Enjoy and comment if you wish ;)
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