#32

Lines

Lucy Rose

 

 

Album: Like I Used To

 

Occasional Bombay Bicycle Club vocalist Lucy Rose broke out on her own this year with her own brand of minimal, earthy folk music. “Lines” shows off her style in brilliant fashion, as the rhythm of the song changes during the chorus.

I love Madness. :wub: Such a brilliant song from such a terrible band! :D

#31

Death of Fun

Cashier No.9

 

 

Album: To The Death of Fun

 

Northern Irish psych-rockers Cashier No.9 released this single as a free download at the start of 2012 as an offcut from their wonderful album “To The Death of Fun”. Why the left it on the cutting room floor is something of a mystery, as it’s a great song that really gets under your skin.

 

Previous end-of-year positions:

2011 Oh Pity - #21

I love Madness. :wub: Such a brilliant song from such a terrible band! :D

 

Indeed. It's nice to see them tone it down a bit every now and again. Then again, if they're not over the top the majority of the time, then arguably they're not Muse.

Reading more from your blog more is something I keep meaning to do but never get round to, so I'm going to listen to as many songs in here as I can.

 

My comments on the 1st 5:

50: I bought this, however I soon went off it quickly. I prefer 'Chevy Thunder' but that got boring fairly quickly, not a massive fan.

49: As you'd probably suspect, 'Oshin' is an album I own and 'Doused' is a very good song, though certainly not one of my favourite on it.

48: I didn't really like this, sounded a little too close to being like modern US rock bands for my liking.

47: I can perhaps see why this would appeal, but I stopped listening after a minute.

46: I certainly enjoyed this more than the previous two, but it's not something that grabs my attention really.

 

I'm hope it'll get better, and from the ones since that I recognise, it certainly looks that way.

Indeed. It's nice to see them tone it down a bit every now and again. Then again, if they're not over the top the majority of the time, then arguably they're not Muse.

 

That might be the reason why I dislike Muse! Their style is arguably "self-absorbed" and "self-obsessed" and it's nice to see them approach a more "down to earth" sound at times, like you said.

That might be the reason why I dislike Muse! Their style is arguably "self-absorbed" and "self-obsessed" and it's nice to see them approach a more "down to earth" sound at times, like you said.

 

Self indulgent maybe, but their lyrics are less introspective than most bands of their ilk so your description is odd to say the least.

 

Great list so far, unfamiliar with a fair amount of it but safe to say there's definitely some crossover with my own provisional top 50.

Self indulgent maybe, but their lyrics are less introspective than most bands of their ilk so your description is odd to say the least.

 

Great list so far, unfamiliar with a fair amount of it but safe to say there's definitely some crossover with my own provisional top 50.

 

Well, I just feel like Muse are more "up themselves" than any other band I've encountered.

 

However, The Second Law is a good album and is probably one of my favourites of the year. :D

#43

Caliban’s Dream

Underworld ft Alex Trimble

 

 

Album: Isle of Dreams

Chart position: #12

 

When it was announced that Danny Boyle would be directing the opening ceremony of the Olympics, we all had high expectations. However, I don’t think any of us expected to be some incredibly blown away by how amazing it was. And the song that hammered it home was Caliban’s Dream, which played as the torch was brought into the stadium. The atmospheric piece, composed by Underworld, which was patriotic without resorting to jingoism. And how great that Two Door Cinema Club vocalist Alex Trimble provided lead vocals on the track?

I needed a picture from the Opening Cerempny for a presentation I gave last week. It was still quite emotional just looking through photographs of that amazing ceremony - and a photo of the cauldron being lit on Bournemouth beach which I very nearly used.

#30

Delay Delay

The Heartbreaks

 

 

Album: Funtimes

 

Some bands just happen to be a victim of their time period. Had Morecambe based group The Heartbreaks released their fantastic indie-rock track “Delay Delay” back in 2006, it would never have been off the radio. Alas, in 2012 the wider world just didn’t have time for their spunky sound. Maybe future generations will pick up on it...

#29

Hold On

Alabama Shakes

 

 

Album: Boys & Girls

 

Blues-rock group Alabama Shakes came out of nowhere at the beginning of the year and shot straight into the top 10 of the album charts off the back of the incredibly infectious “Hold On”. The real strength of the song comes from the soulful vocals of singer Brittany Howard, who admittedly I thought was a guy until I saw her perform on Jools Holland.

#28

Screamager

I Am Not Left Handed

 

Link To Track

 

Album: The Fire & The Sigh

 

Over the past two years, there has been a trend for taking indie/alternative rock songs and covering them for advertisements in a sincere piano/female vocal style. It all started when Taken By Trees covered "Sweet Child O'Mine" for a John Lewis advert, and since then we've seen The Calling, The Pixies and even The Smiths being used in such a way. Birdy has made a career out of it. Earlier this year, I joked that someone should take Therapy?'s "Screamager" and do a straightforward piano cover of the song. After all, how much emotion can be wrung out of the phrase "I've got nothing to do, but hang around and get screwed up on you?"

 

Well, it turns out that the gods of mischief went and enlisted Irish/UK trio I Am Not Lefthanded to go ahead and do just that. The cover removes the ubiquitous guitar riff that the song was built around and replaces it instead with exquisite strings. It's a brave cover version, and one that head and shoulders above most of the other piano/vocal covers of rock hits.

Edited December 6, 201212 yr by Brett-Butler

#27

TV

Wonder Villains

 

 

Album: Rocky

 

Northern Irish pop group Wonder Villains finally went about making a music video for one of their songs, the quirky “TV”, which is an ode to days spent in front of the screen. The music of Wonder Villains exists solely to bring joy, and it is such a joy to behold.

 

Previous chart positions

2010 SpaceJam - #4

2011 Zola - #8

Edited December 6, 201212 yr by Brett-Butler

#26

Teenage Icon

The Vaccines

 

 

Album: Come of Age

Chart position: #39

 

And last year’s chart toppers tumble to #26 this year. The Vaccines returned this year with their sophomore album, which was a somewhere hit-and-miss affair. “Teenage Icon” however was the highlight of the set, which acts as a commentary on their meteoric rise to fame at the beginning of 2011.

 

Previous end-of-year positions:

2010 Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra) - #19

2011 Norgaard- #1

#25

Open Up Your Arms

Ren Harvieu

 

 

Album: Through The Night

 

Manchester vocalist Ren Harvieu has a voice that belies her 22 years. Just listen to the power behind her vocals on the string laden “Open Up Your Arms” and tell me that it isn’t a voice sent from a different plane.

#24

Under The Westway

Blur

 

 

Album: Blur 21

Chart position: #34

 

2012 saw Blur release their first proper single since 2003 (I don’t count Fool’s Day), and whilst it might have been a million miles away from the sound of the records that they made their name with, it doesn’t make it any less brilliant. “Under the Westway” sees Blur at their most majestic, and its nice to see that whilst some bands so off with age, others ripen instead.

#23

Little Talks

Of Monsters & Men

 

 

Album: My Head is an Animal

Chart position: #12

 

The song that was somewhat unavoidable over the summer, “Little Talks” by of Monsters & Men became the highest charting hit from an Icelandic artist since Alda hit #7 in 1998. It’s not hard to see why it struck a chord with so many people, with it’s uproaring folk melody, wonderful brass arrangements, and the occasional ‘heys’ which made it ideal for football chants.

Edited December 6, 201212 yr by Brett-Butler

#22

Sixteen Saltines

Jack White

 

 

Album: Blunderbuss

 

After being in a million and one other projects, and following the demise of The White Stripes, it’s nice to see Jack White back doing what he does best - straight-up rock. “Sixteen Saltines” is a straight up power chord behemoth that calls to mind the power of ‘Fell In Love With a Girl’.

#21

Sheena is a T-shirt Salesman

Future of the Left

 

 

Album: The Plot Against Common Sense

 

A delightfully short little ditty from punky Welsh group Future of the Left. “Sheena Is a T-Shirt Salesman” is an attack on the bands who spend too much time concentrating on their merchandising and not enough time on writing good songs. And don’t bands need to know that.

Hello! From your countdown so far I like/have heard...

 

41. Jake Bugg 'Two Fingers'

40. Imagine Dragons 'It's Time'

24. Blur 'Under the Westway'

23. Of Monsters & Men 'Little Talks'

 

Not gonna lie, but I think that's more than I thought I would :lol: (I'm sure there will be something further up which I'll like too).

 

Jake Bugg I only downloaded his album due to where he's from (about a 10 minute drive from where I live). It's a pretty meh album for me, but 'Two Fingers' is definitely my favourite song from him. Imagine Dragons 'It's Time', I am predicting to be absolutely huge here next year! I get the feeling it's gonna do something similar to 'We Are Young' (but that's probably only because of the Glee connection to both songs). Blur's 'Under the Westway' was a lovely surprise. I usually despise everything they've put out, but I found myself liking this quite a bit! Of Monsters & Men 'Little Talks' is a weird one. I like it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it.