Songs of the Year – No. 1

Criminally neglected album in my view – there didn’t seem to be anywhere near the love shown to it as it deserved.  Definitely my most listened to track of the year and the rest of the songs on the album weren’t far behind.  A future classic anyway.

Jim O’Rourke – Friends with Benefits

Songs of the Year – No. 2

Can’t think of another band doing this kind of dark, experimental but melodic stuff.  Amazing song and suitably odd video.

Scattered Clouds – Enchanteresse

Songs of the Year – No. 3

It’s always great to find an (annoyingly) undiscovered gem while trawling the never ending seas of the internet.  Charming in a Ben Folds in his heyday kind of way…

Owen Duff – Nobody Loves a Tortured Soul

Songs of the Year – No. 4

C Duncan – Gardens

Just brilliant chord changes.  And harmonies – I’m always a sucker for those.

Songs of the Year – No. 5

Chastity – Manning Hill

Not sure what I can add from my original review – it’s got a fantastic mix of discordant guitars and gorgeous dark melodies and is a prime example of how there are some incredible songs out there that don’t get the publicity they deserve.

Support the band and buy it here: https://chastitysongs.bandcamp.com/track/manning-hill

Songs of the Year – Nos. 7 to 6

Just outside the top 5, but ace songs nonetheless.

6. Field Music – The Noisy Days are Over

7. Foals – What Went Down

 

Songs of the Year – Nos. 10 to 8

Here’s the start of my 2015 run-down, from 10 to 8.  Fantastic songs…

8. This is the Kit – Silver John

9. Kate Tempest – Europe is Lost

10. Viet Cong – Continental Shelf

Kate Tempest – Europe is Lost

I’ll be doing a top 5 (or ten) of the year, but this is my last review for the foreseeable future – got to focus on my own new music!

Thanks for reading over the past few years.

I’m ending with a fantastic song!

Protest songs aren’t dead. Too many spot on lyrics here to mention. Some might argue it’s a futile exercise, simply highlighting what many already believe, but it’s also a rallying call to stand against our current culture that values things over people. Listen…

41/43

Thanks to BBC 6 Music

November Songs of the Month

Recording new songs myself has played havoc with my reviewing over the last month, but there were two fantastic songs that kept buzzing round my brain:

Field Music – The Noisy Days Are Over

Get out a ruler and pencil and you’ll be able to draw a straight line from Talking Heads, through Gabriel’s Sledgehammer and LCD Soundsystem to Field Music.  An uplifting tune with a stellar chorus that beckons you to the dancefloor.  There’s no refusing!

40/43

Thanks to BBC 6 Music