So that's the first 40. Tomorrow commencith the top 10. What songs do you think will feature in my top 10 songs of the year, and who will sit proudly at the top of the tree?

Not heard any of #15-#11 but all 5 from #20-#16 are superb! I never truly understood Frank Turner until this summer, discovering more of his stuff on a whim. I'd love to see him live!

So that's the first 40. Tomorrow commencith the top 10. What songs do you think will feature in my top 10 songs of the year, and who will sit proudly at the top of the tree?

I would certainly expect 'Night Mail' to be in there, the higher the better.

 

I really like 'Fade', definitely one of the better dance songs to have made the top 40 this year. 'Riptide', 'Hit Me' and 'Chocolate' also good. Will have to listen to the Girl Names songs, I really like the couple of theirs I know.

#10

Kisser

Step Rockets

 

 

Album: N/A

 

For rock music to survive, it must evolve beyond its roots. Like their contemporaries Imagine Dragons and AWOLNATION, Minneapolis band Step Rockets have a sound that is recognizably rock, yet is augmented with layers of keyboards and synthetic drums to create something more accessible to the masses. This formula payed off earlier this year when their fantastic single "Kisser" topped the Hype Machine earlier this year, and it's not hard to hear why. Just listen to that soaring guitar solo, a feature that has been much neglected in recent times.

#9

This Side of Winter

A Plastic Rose

 

 

Album: N/A

 

Very few songs get a double digit amount of spins of Radio 1 solely on the love of individual DJs without ever making the playlist, but that is exactly what happened with "This Side of Winter" by Northern Irish group A Plastic Rose.

 

And it's not hard to hear why it received so much love, as "This Side of Winter" is, their poppiest, most accessible, and best single to date. The loud guitars and angsty vocals of APR of old are still intact, but on this occasion it has been utilized in an incredibly radio-friendly manner. There are lovely Britpop vibes coming from the song, which is particularly welcome from someone who has long worshiped at the feet of that movement, and is also reminiscent of a heavier version of the similarly influenced Tribes.

 

 

 

Previous chart positions

2012 Build From The Ground Up- #48

#8

High Hopes

Kodaline

 

 

Album: In a Perfect World

 

Yes, the promo clip for "High Hopes" might be the most gratuitous example of emotional manipulation I've ever come across in a music video, but there is no denying that the song by Dublin band Kodaline is one of the finest of the year. It's a soft-rock masterpiece, using familiar yet effective chord structures to create a song to pull at the heartstrings. It gave the band their biggest hit to date, making the top 20 in the UK and topping the charts in Ireland.

#7

Diane Young

Vampire Weekend

 

 

Album: Modern Vampires of the City

 

Vampire Weekend are by far the finest band to have emerged in the past five years, taking indie guitar music and twisting it in ways that are both unique and enjoyable. "Diane Young" sees the band do their own take on familiar rock & roll chord progressions - with intelligent lyrics, unusual rhythms and THAT pitch-shifted vocal making this their best song of the year, and their 2nd best song ever.

 

2008 A-Punk - #1

2009 Horchata - #39

2010 Holiday - #34

2013 Unbelievers - #30

#6

Strong

London Grammar

 

 

Album: If You Wait

 

Sparse emotional indie meets trip-hop on “Strong”, the fantastic single from one of the most critically celebrated breakthrough artists of 2013, London Grammar. The song is carried by the fantastic, almost operatic vocals of Hannah Reid, whose voice belies her young years. If you listen to this song without a tear running down your face, then you’re a stronger person than I am.

Hmm, not too keen on the A Plastic Rose track, Kisser is better. Kodaline are ok but the only track of theirs I particularly like is 'Brand New Day'. 'Strong' is good and 'Diane Young' excellent.

Edited December 8, 201311 yr by RabbitFurCoat

#5

Black Belt

John Grant

 

 

Album: Pale Green Ghosts

 

There hasn't been a better, funkier F U song in 2013 than "Black Belt" by John Grant. Over a minimalist electronic beat, the song's antagonist is told that "what you got is a black belt in B.S." Irresistible, sharp tongued, and bloody brilliant.

#4

King City

Swim Deep

 

 

Album: Where The Heaven Are We

 

This is how pop music should be done. Birmingham band Swim Deep released a re-recorded version of "King City" back in June, and periods of great joy were ushered in. They've taken a very familiar chord progression, added youthful lyrics about a crush on Warpaint's bassist and topped it all off with the most earworm-inducing pop hook of the year. Why it didn't become a massive hit, especially after the buzz surrounding the band earlier in the year, is incredibly puzzling, but at least it's one over quite a few people regardless.

#3

It Starts & Ends With You

Suede

 

 

Album: Bloodsports

 

When you're releasing your first official single as a band in 10 years, you'd better make sure that it's just as good as it was then. Thankfully, Suede, the greatest band of all time, were never going to let us down, giving us "It Starts And Ends With You", a song that harks back to the best moments of their career whilst still sounding like it belongs in 2013. It's got quite a strange structure, given that depending on what way you look at it, in consists of only choruses, or only verses. It's a song that has slotted very nicely into their live sets, and definitely proved the naysayers who said that they had no place in the current musical landscape very wrong indeed.

 

Previous chart positions

2013 Hit Me - #13

#2

Leeway

We Were Evergreen

 

 

Album: N/A

 

"Leeway" by French trio We Were Evergreen one of the quirkier twee-pop songs to be released in 2013, and by far the best. The song takes doo-wop vocal samples, toybox keyboard sounds, xylophones and cute vocal harmonies to create something as sweet and delicious as a Battenberg topped with Caramacs.

The #1 song to follow tomorrow. What ever could it be?

Swim Deep have released some good singles this year, King City definitely my favourite of them. I like 'It Starts...' but I do prefer 'Hit Me'.

The #1 song to follow tomorrow. What ever could it be?

The only question is which of two songs as I expected both to be in the 50.

And the winner is............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1

Signal 30

Public Service Broadcasting

 

 

Album: Inform - Educate - Entertain

 

And so, the award for best song of 2013 goes to London duo Public Service Broadcasting with their stunning single "Signal 30". Taking vocal samples from a smattering of over-the-top road safety films, the song saw PSB at their heaviest, rockiest, and most mosh-enducing, with guitars and drums firmly set to 11. It has been highlight of their live sets, the one moment when their fans tend to go just a little bit mental.

 

Previous chart positions:

 

2012 Spitfire - #3

2012 ROYGBIV- #19

And the top 50 (for people that like lists):

1. Public Service Broadcasting - Signal 30
2. We Were Evergreen - Leeway
3. Suede - It Starts and Ends With You
4. Swim Deep - King City
5. John Grant - Black Belt
6. London Grammar - Strong
7. Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
8. Kodaline - High Hopes
9. A Plastic Rose - This Side of Winter
10. Step Rockets - Kisser
11. Girls Names - Hypnotic Regression
12. Ed Zealous - Medicines
13. Prides - Out Of The Blue
14. Suede - Hit Me
15. The Dancers - For Something In Your Eyes
16. Frank Turner - The Way I Tend To Be
17. Vance Joy - Riptide
18. Jakwob - Fade
19. The 1975 - Chocolate
20. Franz Ferdinand - Right Action
21. In An Instant - All Binds Fall Undone
22. Tribes - Dancehall
23. Hurdles - Kaleidoscope
24. Bastille - Pompeii
25. nano.RIPE - Tsuki Hana
26. Everything Everything - Duet
27. Hentai Babies - One Potato Two
28. Icona Pop - I Love It
29. Shugo Tokumaru - Katachi
30. Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers
31. Primal Scream - It's Alright, It's OK
32. Shonen Knife - When You Sleep
33. Superfood - Superfood
34. The Killers - Shot At the Night
35. Foals - My Number
36. A Northern Light - Kill It
37. Avicii - Wake Me Up
38. Best Boy Grip - Runaway
39. Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
40. Fryars - The Power
41. Parquet Courts - You've Got Me Wonderin' Now
42. Fred V & Grafix - Basilisk
43. Major Leagues - Endless Drain
44. Crash And The Coots - Don't Kill Bugs
45. Clean Bandit - Mozart's House
46. Outfit - House on Fire
47. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know
48. TeamRKT - Break Out
49. Little Bear - Killer
50. Daft Punk - Get Lucky

Well it was obvious who it was going to be. I thought 'Night Mail' would be in here somewhere though, you must not like it as much as I thought you did!

Catching up here massively.

 

Loving the #1 - the version that they played on the final of the Grand Prix on the BBC was inspired. "Signal 30" was their biggest hit on my chart this year, reaching #5 in April but nothing has surpassed "Everest" (a No. 1 in December 2012) for me yet - though the album is really addictive and a firm favourite of mine from the year.

 

Good to see Vampire Weekend (CALLED IT!) and London Grammar in the Top 10 - though I much preferred "Wasting My Young Years". Loads of tunes I've not come across and therefore new stuff for me to discover. Thanks for sharing Chris.