So here it is – My choice of 2009’s top tracks. This actually took me ages to compile so please to be giving it a good look over. As usual, opinions/comments = love.
I’ve set a few rules. Every track is a single – no album tracks or B-Sides and no re-releases.
If you click on the song, you will directed to Youtube for the vid.
HCP – Highest UK Chart Position Reached
‘L’ next to the title – Seen live by me and The Wifey
LET’S GET THIS SHIT GOING, RIGHT?
SPECIAL MENTIONS
The ones that nearly made it:
- Love You Better – The Maccabees
- Turn The Lights Out – Hadouken! (L)
- The Kids Are Sick Again – Maximo Park (L)
- Who Can Say – The Horrors
- Get Shaky – Ian Carey Project
- Embers – Just Jack
- Bonkers – Dizzee Rascal
- Song Away – Hockey
- Sticks N Stones – Jamie T
- Last Of The English Roses – Pete Doherty
- Crying Lightning – Arctic Monkeys (L)
- Treat Me Like Your Mother – The Dead Weather
- When Love Takes Over – David Guetta ft Kelly Rowland
- Break Your Heart – Taio Cruz
- Cheat On Me – The Cribs
- The Captain – Biffy Clyro
20 ‘Zero’ – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (L)
HCP: 49
Album: It’s Blitz!
Genre: Alt. Dance
NME’s Top single of the year, This is a sexy sexy song. From the opening drum beats perfectly complimenting Karen O’s vocals it builds and builds to a crashing crescendo of synths and shrieks. Hot.
19 ‘Juggernauts’ – Enter Shikari (L)
HCP: 28
Album: Common Dreads
Genre: Post Hardcore/Alt. Rock
Probably the most mished-mashed song in the countdown – that’s a good thing. Short explosive passages, melodic meandering and a good old scream along. Sounds great live too.
18 ‘I Don’t Care’ (This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things) – The Blackout feat. Josh Franceschi (L)
HCP: 107
Album: The Best In Town
Genre: Post-Hardcore
This is such a fun song and you know I have a thing for these boys. Gav’s vocals perfectly compliment Sean’s screaming and the catchy hooks are bound to get stuck in your head.
17 ‘Papillon’ – Editors
HCP: 5
Album: In This Light And On This Evening
Genre: Post-punk/Synthpop
Despite my feelings towards the band themselves (not good) I am unable to deny the quality of the songs produced and this is no exception. A perfect example of electro-indie and one of the best bass lines around.
16 ‘End Credits’ – Chase & Status feat. Plan B
HCP: 9
Album: More Than Alot
Genre: Dubstep
Chase and Status have been massive on the dance scene since 2008 and this single had crossover help by featuring on the soundtrack to the 2009 film ‘Harry Brown’. Not that help was needed as this is a storming track. A mix of Plan B’s impressive vocals, haunting lyrics and an irresistible bass. Quality
15 ‘Supernova’ – Mr Hudson feat. Kanye West
HCP: 2
Album: Straight No Chaser
Genre: R&B
This is one of my favourite pop hits of the year. Catchy and summery it brings a smile to the face. Mr Hudson = Definitely one to watch in 2010.
14 ‘It’s Not The End Of The World’ (But I Can See It From Here) – Lostprophets (L)
HCP: 16
Album: The Betrayed
Genre: Alt. Metal
First for fucking ages doesn’t disappoint and a good taster for Jan 2010’s VERY eagerly awaited ‘The Betrayed’. TBH, it’s not one of their best ever singles – I don’t know if I would even place it top 10. But it’s Lostprophets, kay? Objective reviewing goes out the window here and Ian reading the phonebook would be better than 85% of the shit that’s out there today. TOON!
ETA: AFTER A SUGGESTION FROM THE WIFEY, MY NEXT BLOG WILL BE: ‘IAN WATKINS: LOOKS GREAT FROM ALL ANGLES’
13 ‘One More Chance’ – Bloc Party (L)
HCP: 15
Album: N/A
Genre: Alt. Dance/Alt. Rock
Bloc Party doing what they do best. A storming indie-dance hit this was one of the songs of the summer and went down such a storm at Reading. The boys are going on hiatus now and will be leaving a massive hole in the British Indie scene. At least we have such a class back catalogue of hits to keep us going ’til their back.
12 ‘Omen’ – Prodigy (L)
HCP: 4
Album: Invaders Must Die
Genre: Rave/Punk Dance
“The writing’s on the wall, it won’t go away. IT’S AN OMEN.” What. A. Fucking. Tune. The prodigy are untouchable when it comes to dance and this is the sort of song that makes you want to dance and mosh til your head explodes. Which, at Reading, we did. Good. Times.
11 ‘Fire’ – Kasabian
HCP: 3
Album: West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Genre: Indie Rock
I don’t mean to sound smug but I’ve been trying to champion Kasabian for a few years now. This year, Oasis split, and suddenly Kasabian are being extolled as the UK’s Top Rock band. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, EH PEOPLE! Fire – what can I say. Top TOP tune. A sleazy beat, Tom’s superior vocals and a catchy as hell chorus. Awesome vid too.
10 ‘Remedy’ – Little Boots
HCP: 6
Album: Hands
Genre: Electropop
This catchy hit has been absolutely everywhere this year and I for one, love it! A great party tune that will always get you dancing, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with liking pure fun hits like this.
9 ‘Audacity Of Huge’ – Simian Mobile Disco
HCP: 60
Album: Temporary Pleasure
Genre: ElectroHouse
This song, is just absolute genius. There is no other way to describe it. Probably the most unique song I’ve heard this year. I don’t know how to describe it other than fucking awesome. If you’ve not heard it, click on the link and check out the brilliant vid while you’re at it.
8 ‘Heads Will Roll’ – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (L)
HCP: 5
Album: It’s Blitz!
Genre: Alt. Dance
“Off Off with your head. Dance Dance ’til your dead.” If there is a sexier, sleazier dance track this year, I challenge you to find it. Nope. Didn’t think you could. Once again YYY prove they are at the top of their game and deliver tune after tune. Off the charts this, fab vid too.
7 ‘Paparazzi’ – Lady Gaga
HCP: 4
Album: The Fame
Genre: Synthpop
Love her or hate her, there’s no denying Gaga’s massive influence on the music scene. I am absolutely, positively not ashamed to admit I love this crazy-ass girl. Just Dance and Poker Face were fantastic but Paparazzi is just LUSH.
6 ‘Underdog’ – Kasabian
HCP: 32
Album: West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Genre: Indie Rock
This is an ANTHEM baby! Catchier than a case of the herp, this is the type of song that was made to be sung along too. THAT IS ALL!
5 ‘Undisclosed Desires’ – Muse
HCP: 51
Album: The Resistance
Genre: Alt. Rock/Synthpop
When Undisclosed Desires first hit, there was some derision about ‘Muse trying to be sexy’ Well? So what. You can keep your insipid R&B shit. THIS is one of the sexiest songs I’ve ever heard. Perfect synths, Gorgeous lyrics and who will refute that Matt Bellamy is one of todays best vocalists? I was – actually still am – slightly obsessed by this song. Utter quality.
4 ‘That Golden Rule’ – Biffy Clyro
HCP: 10
Album: Only Revolutions
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Undoubtedly the best rock song of the year. No contest. this has everything you need. Slammin’ guitars, A perfect rhythm and Simons’ powerful rawk vocals. The last minute is just pure rock instrumental euphoria. This is music people, long may Biffy reign
3 ‘Jump In The Pool’ – Friendly Fires
HCP: 57
Album: Friendly Fires
Genre: Alt. Dance
My God, I fell in love with this song the very first time I heard it. Starting off with a cool carnival-like beat and then does an about turn into one of the most ethereal dreamy choruses you will ever come across. It works absolutely perfectly. This is one of the best floorfillers you will have the luck to come across and also goes down a storm at Rock & Indie festivals.
2 ‘Farewell To The Fairground’ – White Lies (L)
HCP: 33
Album: To Lose My Life
Genre: Indie Rock/Post Punk
First off, let me say that I am not biased. Ok fuck it – I am biased. But even if I didn’t have connections to the band I would still think the band, their album, this single are pure pure class. They have received massive critical acclaim and rightly so. To Lose My Life is an album in which every single song is a gem. Having to choose out of the singles released, I’ve gone for this. Fantastic drums, guitars are keyboards combined with Harry’s trademark moody yet angelic vocals. The tune is fantastic, the hooks are awesome and it’s just a god-damn pure perfect song. Many will try to copy this, none will come close. White Lies are here to stay, and thank fuck for that.
1 ‘Sometime Around Midnight’ – Airborne Toxic Event
HCP: 33
Album: Airborne Toxic Event
Genre: Indie Rock
Not only is ‘Sometimes Around Midnight’ one of my favourite songs of the year, it’s now one of my favourite songs ever. This is the absolute epitome of an indie love song. It has everything. Opening with beautiful strings, It has an unbelievably haunting, melodious score and heartbreaking lyrics. If you are in love, if you are heart-broken, if you are missing someone, if you’ve just had the best fuck off your life….This song can evoke so many pure emotions. I don’t know if we will ever come across a song like this again, so enjoy.
And it starts, sometime around midnight.
Or at least that’s when you lose yourself
for a minute or two.
As you stand, under the bar lights.
And the band plays some song
about forgetting yourself for a while.
And the piano’s this melancholy soundtrack to her smile.
And that white dress she’s wearing
you haven’t seen her for a while.
But you know, that she’s watching.
She’s laughing, she’s turning.
She’s holding her tonic like a cross.
The room’s suddenly spinning.
She walks up and asks how you are.
So you can smell her perfume.
You can see her lying naked in your arms.
And so there’s a change, in your emotions.
And all these memories come rushing
like feral waves to your mind.
Of the curl of your bodies,
like two perfect circles entwined.
And you feel hopeless and homeless
and lost in the haze of the wine.
Then she leaves, with someone you don’t know.
But she makes sure you saw her.
She looks right at you and bolts.
As she walks out the door,
your blood boiling
your stomach in ropes.
Oh and when your friends say,
“What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Then you walk, under the streetlights.
And you’re too drunk to notice,
that everyone is staring at you.
You just don’t care what you look like,
the world is falling around you.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You know that she’ll break you in two.
Yeah the haircut's hot, but this has gotta stop 