Starting tomorrow, I will be posting my top 50 tracks of 2011. It has been a very memorable year for me, starting off in America before moving back to Belfast for the 2nd half of the year, becoming Head of Music at Queen's Radio, as well as finally getting my music blog off the ground. All in all, it's been a fantastic year for music, with great songs from returning bands, as well as sone awesome new music from brand new acts.

 

To give you a taster of what might come, here are songs that topped the list in the past few years:

 

2008. Vampire Weekend - A Punk

2009. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

2010. French Horn Rebellion vs Database - Beaches & Friends.

 

And here is 2010's top 10 in full:

 

1. Beaches & Friends - French Horn Rebellion vs Database

2. At the Indie Disco - Divine Comedy

3. Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) - Crystal Castles

4. SpaceJam - Wonder Villains

5. Baby Lee - Teenage Fanclub

6. Can't Shake This Feeling - Grum

7. Release the Bees - Not Squares

8. Hustle - Tunng

9. Tenderoni - Kele

10. The Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti & Spearhead

 

And finally, a few hints about this year's entries:

 

- only 9 of the songs featured made the UK top 75.

- 5 of the songs featured are from acts from Northern Ireland

- One (and a half) artist that featured in the top 10 last year feature again

- I have interviewed two of the acts featured for radio this year

 

So what are you hoping for, and what song do you think will top the B-B chart in 2011?

Edited December 17, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler

#50

The Look

Metronomy

 

 

Album: The English Riviera

Chart position: Did not chart

 

And kicking off the countdown is the lead single from Metronomy’s 3rd album. The song’s icy smooth synths mix well with the hushed lead vocals of Joseph Mount.

 

#49

The Words that Maketh Murder

PJ Harvey

 

 

Album: Let England Shake

Chart position: Did not chart

 

PJ Harvey seems to have been around forever, gaining critical plaudits left, right and centre. 2011’s album ‘Let England Shake’ saw Polly Jean look at the horrors of war, which deservedly saw her become the first artist to win the Mercury Prize twice.

 

‘The Words that Maketh Murder’ sees Harvey use the autoharp as the lead instrument, as lyrics such as “soldiers fall like lumps of meat” recall the misery of senseless violence

 

#48

My Body

Young the Giant

 

 

Album: Young the Giant

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Calfornia based rockers Young the Giant seem intent on mixing the rhythmic complexities of Vampire Weekend with the traditional American stadium rocker anthems. ‘My Body’ is the best example of their sound, with a massive chorus do die for.

 

#47

If You Really, Really, Love Me

Steel Panther

 

 

Album: Balls Out

Chart position: Did not chart

 

In order for a satirical rock band to work, not only does the lyrical content have to be funny, but they should sound as if they could really be recorded by the people they are trying to pastiche.

 

Which is why the music of Steel Panther works so well. The band act as a spoof of 80s metal bands such as Dep Leppard, with lyrics boasting of their sexual prowess and general misogamy. The lead track from their charmingly titled ‘Balls Out’ album, ‘If You Really, Really, Really Love Me’ is a Bon Jovi-esque rock ballad that lists all the things the singer’s partner can do to show how much she loves him (such as let him sleep with her best friend, not introduce him to her parents, and not interrupt him when he plays Call of Duty).

 

#46

Look to the One

The Vals

 

 

Album: N/A

Chart position: Did not chart

 

And we approach Northern Ireland for the first time in the countdown. Country-rockers The Vals recorded this mandolin led number with the legendary Henry McCullough, the guitarist from Wings. It’s a peppy song full of life that is able to uplift even the most bitter heart.

Edited December 9, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler

#45

Super Duper Rescue Heads !

Deerhoof

 

 

Album: Deerhoof vs Evil

Chart position: Did not chart

 

American indie stalwarts Deerhoof released their 11th album this year, and way back in January they released the quirky, yet absolutely bizarre ‘Super Duper Rescue Heads !’ as the lead single. Their lead singer, Satomi Matsuzaki, also collaborated with another artist this year, who may be featuring later in the countdown.

Edited December 10, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler

#44

Space Bound

Eminem

 

 

Album: Recovery

Chart position: #34

 

Almost a year after the release of his critically-acclaimed ‘Recovery’ album, the song ‘Space Bound’ was brought out as a single by Eminem. Although I am not a big fan of rap, I was really taken in by the production of the track, which showed obvious Mercury Rev influences.

Edited December 10, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler

#43

Girls Tell You Secrets

Very Truly Yours

 

 

Album: N/A

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Some cutesy dream-pop courtesy of Chicago based group ‘Very Truly Yours’. ‘Girls Tell You Secrets’ features Black Tambourine-esque guitars and gorgeous ‘la la la’ vocal hooks. Simply lovely.

Edited December 10, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler

#42

Called Out in the Dark

Snow Patrol

 

 

Album: Fallen Empires

Chart position: #11

 

After a band releases a Greatest Hits album, they have three main choices: a) split up. b) continue mining the sound of their previous x albums until they become unprofitable, or c) use it to mark the end of a chapter for the band, before moving on to new unexplored territory.

 

From the sound of ‘Called Out in the Dark’, it sounded as if Snow Patrol had gone for option c). The song is heavily synth based, with very little guitar featuring on it, and showing a more pop side to the band.

 

 

#41

Me & You

Nero

 

 

Album: Welcome Reality

Chart position: #15

 

At the start of the year, they were predicted as being the band that would push dubstep firmly into the mainstream. And didn’t they do well. Their first (and best) single ‘Me & You’ has been the best example of this, mixing the hallmarks of the sub-genre with a distinctive pop aesthetic.

 

#41

Me & You

Nero

 

Great to see Nero in your chart :wub: Out of the songs I know, Snow Patrols one was the best they've done in a long time but Chasing Cars is still my favourite from them - and Spacebound for was disappointing (for me) by Eminem's standards :( Nero will be featuring 4 times in my Year End Top 100 :cheer:

Agreed that Me & You is Nero's best, will definitely pop up in my EOY top 40! The video game styling suits it perfectly as it sounds like video game music (meets dubstep obviously).

#40

Paradise

Coldplay

 

 

Album: Mylo Xyloto

Chart position: #11 (so far)

 

Taken from their 5th album, ‘Paradise’ has been ever present almost everywhere ever since it was released back in September. A marketing anomaly meant that it couldn’t chart until the album was released, and has been racing up the charts ever since.

 

‘Paradise’ has been called (mainly by people on this board) the Coldplay song that it’s okay for pop fans to like. Given it’s heavily electronic backing, simple lyrical structure and a chorus that is basically just the title repeated, it’s hard to argue with that.

 

#39

Expanding Anyway

Morning Teleportation

 

 

Album: Expanding Anyway

Chart position: Did not chart

 

I came across Morning Teleportation in March after I caught one of their gigs whilst on Spring Break in Nashville, Tennessee. After being surrounded by so much music, mainly of a country variety, I found a small venue a mile away from the main street, which plays host to many alternative bands coming through the state. It was here where I saw the Oregon based group’s stunning live show.

 

“Expanding Anyway” is a psychedelic alternative-rock song with an unusual song structure that almost feels like three songs in one.

 

#38

Scarlett

2:54

 

 

Album: N/A

Chart position: Did not chart

 

2:54 make downbeat rock that wouldn’t sound out of place on Radiohead’s OK Computer album – if they happened to be fronted by a sexy female duo. “Scarlett”, which was released a single on lovely blue vinyl, is the first glimse of the band before they release their major label debut next year. Definitely a band to look out for.

 

#37

Bam Bam

King Charles

 

 

Album: N/A

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Have you ever sat along on a lonely night and thought to yourself “what would an artist that is a cross between Vampire Weekend and Mika sound like?” Well, wonder no longer, because now the world has “Bam Bam.” Looking like a 19th Century Russell Brand, King Charles makes incredibly poppy tunes that have a smidgeon on indie production values in them.

 

#36

We Will Never be Discovered

The City & Horses

 

 

Album: We Will Never be Discovered

Chart position: Did not chart

 

And the award for the strangest music video of the year goes to…The City and Horses for ‘We Will Never Be Discovered’ (seriously. Just watch the video above. If it makes any sense to you, you are a better person than me).

 

‘We Will Never Be Discovered’ is an ode to perpetual obscurity, and sounds like a cross between Cake’s ‘Short Skirt/Long Jacket’ and Focus’ ‘House of the King.’

 

‘Paradise’ has been called (mainly by people on this board) the Coldplay song that it’s okay for pop fans to like. Given it’s heavily electronic backing, simple lyrical structure and a chorus that is basically just the title repeated, it’s hard to argue with that.

 

True, it's as close as Coldplay will ever get to sounding like Ryan Tedder...

 

I have to say that whilst I like it a lot I far prefer the gorgeous Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall.

True, it's as close as Coldplay will ever get to sounding like Ryan Tedder...

 

I have to say that whilst I like it a lot I far prefer the gorgeous Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall.

 

ETIAW confuddled me greatly, given that it's a cross between M83 and Bruce Springsteen. Not a bad song mind, just not as good as Paradise.