:wub: for Little Talks! My fourth favourite song of the year! :D

#20

Back of Your Neck

Howler

 

 

Album: America Give Up

 

American indie group Howler were hotly tipped at the start of 2012, but seemed unable to live up to the promise. It’s a pity, as they’re really good live, and especially when they’ve got such wonderful songs in their arsenal like “Back Of Your Neck”

#19

ROYGBIV

Public Service Broadcasting

 

 

Album: ROYGBIV

 

London duo Public Service Broadcasting take samples from public information films from the 40s/50s/60s and turn them into spacious electronic rock. ROYGBIV sees them looking at the advent of colour television, and it’s impact on the lives of those who experience it. Also one of the few bands who can feature a banjo prominently and get away with it.

#18

Sea Creatures

SOAK

 

 

Album: Sea Creatures - EP

 

16 year old Derry singer/songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson has become the most hotly tipped artist from Northern Ireland for some time now, and listening to the wistful sounds of “Sea Creatures”, it’s easy to hear why. She has a voice that belies her years, and can write songs that really touch your heart.

#17

The No.1 Song in Heaven

The Futureheads

 

 

Album: Rant!

 

On paper, it was a terrible idea. Take a moderately successful rock group and get them to record an album of covers using only the voice. However, by a stroke of luck, the finished article turned out to be a work of genius. Their take on Sparks’ “The No.1 Song in Heaven” is absolutely superb, and in my humble opinion, is probably better than the original.

#16

The Smell of Pregnancy

Free Swim

 

 

Album: Dennis! EP

 

“The Smell of Pregnancy” is a song that’s very much an acquired taste. Bizarre monologues, lyrics about eating Vienetta and insane bass popping aren’t everyone’s idea of a great song. Thankfully for me, it is very much my thing.

#15

The Brutal Here and Now (Part 1)

The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock

 

 

Album: The Brutal Here and Now

 

1 minute and 23 seconds. That’s the moment in this video that you realise how great “The Brutal Here And Now (Part 1)” by Irish group The Spook of the 13th Lock is. Their sound mixes psychedelic music with Irish traditional music, and ends up sounding like a folk version of “Atlas” by Battles.

#14

Great Unknown

Various Cruelties

 

 

Album: Various Cruelties

 

Leeds neo-soul now from Various Cruelties. “Great Unknown” had great power behind it, and at one point was even a challenger for song of the year. Alas, better songs came along and a less than brilliant album meant the song lost some of its sheen. Nevertheless, it’s a great song, especially when the choirs come in after the 2nd chorus.

#13

Kehaar

B>E>A>K

 

 

Album: The White Edition

 

Instrumental ‘bird-rock’ now from Sunderland band B>E>A>K, who recently landed in a surprise 5th place in a recent edition of Unknown Pleasures. “Kehaar” is a wonderful instrumental track, with lovely interlocking guitar and trumpet lines.

#12

Lightning Bolt

Jake Bugg

 

 

Album: Jake Bugg

 

And the second entry this year from young Mr Bugg. When I first heard “Lightning Bolt”, I felt that he was the lovechild of The Arctic Monkeys & George Formby, which I feel is as apt a description as any. Tis a wonderful, short piece of brilliance.

#11

We Take Care of Our Own

Bruce Springsteen

 

 

Album: Wrecking Ball

 

Can anything stop Bruce Springsteen? Now in his 60s, The Boss released his most pop-oriented single in years with “We Take Care on Our Own”, a sly, sarcastic ode to those who refuse to help others in their time of need. With thundering drums and lovely strings, it’s a worthy addition to his already impressive arsenal.

#10

Pop Tune

Shonen Knife

 

 

Album: Pop Tune

 

30 years into their career, Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife are still able to deliver songs full of the joys of youth. The title track from their 18th studio album, "Pop Tune" exists very much at the pop end of pop-punk, with sumptuous backing vocals and a last minute key change making it a joy to listen to.

 

2011 Perfect Freedom - #12

Edited December 27, 201212 yr by Brett-Butler

#9

Harlequinade

Eugene McGuinness

 

 

Album: Invitation to the Voyage

 

Mr McGuinness appears to be one of the most well-read artists currently operating in the popsphere, if the sound of "Harlequinade" is anything to go by. The lyrics hark back to the time of the commedia dell'Arte, a dramatic form in Italy in the middle ages, where the performers wore masks and improvised the action based on predetermined scenarios with stock characters. Two of these stock characters are mentioned by name in the song, Harlequin and Pantaloon, who are seen as the zany archetypes.

 

And I think the last paragraph just justified my drama degree. Thanks a lot, Eugene McGuinness.

 

Previous chart positions

2011 Lion - #16

2012 Sugarplum - #36

#8

Take a Walk

Passion Pit

 

 

Album: Gossamer

 

It's strange that in a time of economic meltdown, the situations faced by many people hasn't really been reflected in mainstream music. One exception to this however is the wonderful "Take a Walk" by Passion Pit. On the surface, it appears to be a jaunty synth-pop tune with an infectious electronic riff. However, take a closer look at the lyrics and it reveals a dark side, about not being in control of your finances and being unable to admit your faults to the ones you love. If only all pop music would reveal such depth.

 

Previous chart positions

2009 Little Secrets - #26

#7

Default

Django Django

 

 

Album: Django Django

 

Who'd have thought that the most badass guitar riff of the year would come from a group of art-school graduates? Django Django hit pay dirt in 2012 with their hypnotic alt-rock sound. "Default" was the highlight of the set, with an epic two-chord riff and seemingly nonsense lyrics coming together to make something engaging and suspiciously intellectual. And if that wasn't enough, their lead singer is from Derry.

#6

Inhaler

Foals

 

 

Album: Holy Fire

 

Is this really the same band that first broke through at the tail end of 'landfill indie' in 2008? "Inhaler" is a tightly produced, confident tune, brushing with intense energy that belies its relatively modest BPM.

 

Previous chart positions

2008 Cassius - #50

I bet you're all wondering what songs have made my top 5. Well, soon you won't have to wonder any longer.

Great choice! Love your taste. Many of these songs will be in my yearly Chart too.

Foals are at 2 in my Top 50 this week.

Who by David Byrne & St Vincent is one of the Record of the Year to me (though it's got no higher than 17, but already spent 22 weeks in Top50 and still in). Under The Westway has been No.1 for 5 weeks. Jake Bugg's 'Two Fingers', Madness by Muse, Hold On by Alabama Shakes all were in Top 3 in my Charts in the course of 2012.

Now i'm looking forward to see your Top 5 :)

#5

Ferrari

Wonder Villains

 

 

Album: Rocky

 

Wonder Villains first released "Ferrari" as part of a compilation CD curated by the Oh Yeah Centre. When it came to recording their second official single, the track was re-recording with a more prominent guitar riff, to make it the wonderful exercise in energy-soaked pop that it is today. It contains one of the most playfully fun lyrics of the year, and one that hits home with a 90s child like myself: "I swapped my brother for a Pokémon card, shiny Charizard.

 

 

Previous chart positions:

2010 SpaceJam - #4

2011 Zola - #8

2012 TV - #27

#4

The House That Heaven Built

Japandroids

 

 

Album: Celebration Rock

 

Canadian rock duo Japandroids had an rock monster on their hands when they unleashed "The House That Heaven Built" to the unsuspecting public. It was one of those songs that crossed so many boundaries for so many people. The hard rock fans loved the loud guitars, the NME/indie crowd loved the hooky "oh oh's", the likes of which hadn't been used so effective since The Futurehead's cover of "Hounds of Love", whilst the classic rock purists were in it for the Springsteen-y overtones to the tune. It's a tune that struck a chord with so many people. It just a shame that after they played this song live in Belfast, half the audience promptly left.