Wow, several of my top tracks of the year just inside the top forty! #39-#31 is just solid gold. I shall rake the rest of this for recommendations!

LOON-UP. *.*

 

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#032 John Newman "Love Me Again" (832)

 

Debut: 19th May 2013

Chart Run: 44-34-30-20-11-10-09-03-03-06-09-15-20-27-37 (15 weeks)

 

One of the slow burning hits of the year was the debut solo single by John Newman. Providing vocals on Rudimental's essential 2012 dance anthem "Feel The Love" it was undoubtably preceded by a large amount of hype. It turns out that was totally justified as the song itself is another massive and instantly likeable pop anthem with a killer chorus, whilst at the same time retaining his soul influences. The single eventually made it to No. 3 upon it's delayed UK release in July and spent much of the summer inside the Top 40.

underpaid rentboy (greasy. yet unfairly treated, newt)

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#029 The Irrepressibles "Two Men In Love" (841)

 

Debut: 24th February 2013

Chart Run: 27-13-08-05-04-02-03-04-08-12-17-29-36-44 (14 weeks)

 

Released on Valentine's Day "Two Men In Love" was a subtle but breathtakingly beautiful ballad and love song that should have been a massive hit. It made a big splash by debuting at #27, and eventually made it to No. 2. However, a sad inditement of our society was that the wonderful video which invited gay couples and fans to send in videos of themselves in love, was put under an 'age restricted tag' by YouTube whilst simultaneously videos which feature overtly sexual themes and semi-naked women were not subjected to the same restriction!! This was the gay anthem of 2013, not that bloody awful and incredibly cynically marketed "Same Love" rubbish.

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by Doctor Blind

She Will, So High, Love Me Again, Love is Lost <3 (and that's only just touching on the songs in the top 40!)

 

expecting Jagwar Ma to be in with a very good chance of #1 here!

 

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#028 Jon Hopkins ft. Purity Ring "Breathe This Air" (858)

 

Debut: 18th August 2013

Chart Run: 46-40-27-16-10-05-02-03-07-10-14-22-27-32-39-48 (16 weeks)

 

Jon Hopkins fantastic 4th studio album Immunity is filled with penetrating and sexy house tracks (especially the first half of the album) and probably one of the most commercially serviceable tracks from it - the aforementioned "Breathe This Air" was rightly released in the summer. In adding the vocal talents of Megan James from Purity Ring was a masterstroke and added a lot to the track without taking anything anyway from the brilliant original. A strong #2 hit in October, it again narrowly missed out from topping the chart because of the log-jam at the top at this point in the year. More on that.. later.

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#027 S O H N "Lessons" (884*)

 

Debut: 22nd September 2013

Chart Run: 47-31-18-12-09-06-04-03-03-05-07-10-17-26-34* (15 weeks... so far)

 

I was fortunate enough to catch S O H N performing an intimate gig at Latitude this summer. I had heard "O S C I L L A T E" back in 2012 thanks to Unknown Pleasures and decided to check him out. I was absolutely blown away by his performance, how he creates the sounds live and re-creates the magic of his recorded music. There were two tracks that stayed with me long after that performance on a quiet Sunday morning, "The Wheel" and this, the pulsating bass of "Lessons". 2014 should be a good year for him.

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#026 Arcade Fire "Reflektor" (893)

 

Debut: 8th September 2013

Chart Run: 40-19-08-06-04-02-04-07-10-13-18-24-26-35-43-50 (16 weeks)

 

I was never massively into The Suburbs, I mean it was partly their half-arsed attempt at promoting it with no singles released but also a general sense that something was missing. I was still hyped for any new release from the Canadian group, and in September they duly delivered with the amazing "Reflektor" and an excellent album to follow. Featuring a (not so secret) guest appearance by Sir Bowie the track was produced by the prolific James Murphy (who got EVERYWHERE in 2013) and picked up on the disco influences that summed up the biggest and most talked about records of the year.

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#025 HAERTS "Hemiplegia" (897*)

 

Debut: 6th October 2013

Chart Run: 35-22-14-09-05-02-01-01-03-05-06-10-11* (13 weeks... so far)

 

HAERTS, are a five-peice band based in Brooklyn, New York who came together to start recording music back in 2012 and first came to widespread attention of the public when 2012 single "Wings" was released. The track was rush released as just an example of what the band were trying to create, and was not expected to become a success- however it garnered strong airplay on alternative stations in America and the band were quickly signed up. In the summer they followed-up the debut single with the even more amazing "All The Days", however it seems they were all along holding back something even better.. in October they unveiled the pop perfection of "Hemiplegia", the lead single from their debut EP produced by St. Lucia frontman Jean-Philip Grobler. It promptly shot to No. 1 giving the band their 2nd chart topper of the year; No. 25 seems a little low for this track but it simply ran out of enough time to rack up important points. 2014 will be massive for them, I have no flicker of a doubt about it!

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#024 Roosevelt "Elliot" (898)

 

Debut: 15th September 2013

Chart Run: 37-24-16-09-04-02-02-03-06-08-10-15-23-36-45 (15 weeks)

 

German based music producer and singer Marius Lauber, released one of the most catchy, uplifting and euphoric tracks of the year when London based Greco-Roman records released the record in September. The label, which is run partly by Hot Chip's Joe Goddard carried early promo releases for Disclosure and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and can therefore be marked as a strong precedent for Roosevelt to make it big in 2014. As has been pointed out countless times, I really love the bass in this track- reminding me as it does so of Caribou's 2010 track "Odessa".

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#023 Röyksopp ft. Susanne Sundfør "Running To The Sea" (900)

 

Debut: 9th December 2012

Chart Run: (2012 chart run...)-07-05-03-01-01-03-05-08-14-18-25-30-38-46 (14 weeks)

 

The Norwegian duo from Tromsø have been making music together for almost 15 years since Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland met each other in 1998. I loved Junior, the groups 3rd studio album and first for over 4 years, but this was promptly followed by the ever-so slightly underwhelming Senior in 2010. After hearing nothing from the band for almost 3 years, the silence was broken by the wonderful "Running to the Sea", a collaboration with Norwegian artist Susanne Sundfør. The track is a triumph and shows the band at their very best - although it is sadly unlikely that this will be a precursor to a forthcoming album release - the track was apparently written in just 2 days specifically for the final ever edition of Norway's NKR Lydverket (think Jools Holland). It charted at #1 in January, and joined "The Girl and the Robot", "Only This Moment" and "Remind Me/So Easy" amongst the bands #1s on my chart.

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by Doctor Blind

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#022 Junip "Line Of Fire" (906)

 

Debut: 17th February 2013

Chart Run: 42-25-15-11-09-05-07-04-03-05-10-14-19-28-36-46 (16 weeks)

 

Swedish folk group Junip returned in 2013 with their 2nd and self-titled studio LP. From it was the gorgeous "Line Of Fire" which slowly grew in my affections at the start of the year and worked it's way to No. 3 in April. The track marks José González's finest work for some time, and is accompanied by an extraordinary video which must be seen (if you've not already). The song is really haunting despite the fact that it repeats much of the same theme from it's beginning to end. The orchestral accompaniment grows little by little and brings greater depth combined with the fine vocals.

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by Doctor Blind

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#021 Drake "Hold On, We're Going Home" (919)

 

Debut: 11th August 2013

Chart Run: 33-24-18-13-07-02-02-03-05-08-12-18-25-32-38-48 (16 weeks)

 

Drake last made my Top 5 in late 2010 on the Rihanna track "What's My Name?", which made No. 5 at the turn of the year into 2011; but after almost 3 years finally returned in September last year with the excellent "Hold On, We're Going Home" (reaching #2). The pop leaning and 80s sounding track seemed to compliment Drake's usually jarring vocals really well and the themes of the song tied in especially making this an accomplished and fine record - a popular one too, it gave the Canadian artist his biggest hit by far on the UK singles chart. So in summary: Drake needs to stop pretending like he's a bad man, and embrace his emotional side more.

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#020 AlunaGeorge "Attracting Flies" (919)

 

Debut: 3rd March 2013

Chart Run: 43-26-16-12-08-07-05-04-06-08-09-16-20-28-36-44-50 (17 weeks)

 

Now for one of my favourite debuts of 2013. British duo, Aluna Francis and George Reid first burst onto the pop scene with their future-pop in 2012 with the wonderful "You Know You Like It" and "Your Drums, Your Love" (a minor Top 75 hit), and after finishing second in the BBC's Sound of 2013 were expected to break through in a big way. Sadly their debut Body Music slumped in at #11 and so far they have yet to score a Top 10 single; however "Attracting Flies" - Aluna's ode to an ex for telling untrue tales about her - managed to give the band their biggest hit to date peaking at #17 in the UK and although it peaked at No.4 here - it's longevity was impressive.

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#019 Autre Ne Veut "Play By Play" (936)

 

Debut: 3rd February 2013

Chart Run: 37-23-14-09-03-02-03-03-05-08-12-16-22-30-39-48 (16 weeks)

 

Another Brooklyn (NYC) artist- Arthur Ashin released probably my favourite record of the year to date back in February, a sort of autobiographical album filled with his anxieties, co-incidentally titled Anxiety - "Play By Play" was the second single taken from it and jumped straight to #2 on my chart in March. The track takes a long time to get to the chorus, but the wait is certainly worth it, soaring as it does and filled with hooks that are unrelenting throughout. Following up "Counting" was difficult, but with "Play By Play" he more than succeeded.

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#018 Sigur Rós "Brennisteinn" (951)

 

Debut: 31st March 2013

Chart Run: 50-34-19-11-08-06-04-04-06-10-16-22-28-32-30-26-36-42 (18 weeks)

 

I have to sadly report that I've seen this on NOBODIES chart of the year so far. :( Most upsetting. It was with huge joy when I first heard the thundering industrial thud of 2013s Kveikur - (incidentally on our very own Brett Butler's Young Blood radio show) this was the stunning lead single "Brennisteinn" which gave the Icelandic band their first return to the Top 5 since 2008s "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur" and biggest overall hit single since the iconic "Hoppípolla". Kjartan Sveinsson's notable departure at the beginning of 2013 seems to have changed the band, and we have seen them released from their shackles as the heavy and quite angry sounding "Brennisteinn" (Icelandic for Brimstone) quite clearly demonstrates. The song still contains the unmistakable and angelic vocals of Jón Þór "Jónsi" Birgisson, but this time surrounds them by brutal and distorted beats.

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#017 Daughter "Youth" (984)

 

Debut: 14th July 2013

Chart Run: 41-25-18-07-05-03-02-02-04-06-11-14-20-27-34-41-49 (17 weeks)

 

Daughter are an English rock band who released their debut If You Leave on 4AD last year. Whilst the album is a bit too much for me to listen to all in one go, it is filled with melancholic and beautifully crafted and atmospheric songs. The obvious standout from the album and their career to-date was the title track of a 2011 EP The Wild Youth- entitled simply "Youth". It was used by ITV on the coverage of the 2012 Tour de France (which saw the first ever Brit win it - in Bradley Wiggins) but this has so far sadly not translated into sales.

(They were also v good at Latitude).

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#016 Kate Boy "Northern Lights" (1,009)

 

Debut: 30th December 2012

Chart Run: 44-29-17-07-03-02-01-01-02-04-07-11-20-29-39-49 (16 weeks)

 

Kate Boy was virtually unknown until this year, and when prepping this earlier in the year all I could find about them on the web when this track appeared was that they are a Swedish electro-pop group - who certainly drew their influences from fellow Swedish band, The Knife. They are infact Hampus Nordgren Hemlin, Kate Akhurst, Markus Dextegen, and Oskar Sikow Engström, a four-piece who collaborate together and play together but created a fifth member "Kate Boy" as a fictional fifth member that reflects their egalitarian songwriting process. The production on this track is absolutely SPOT-ON, I mean listen to it! It's clear, sharp but yet it is also so gloriously understated. Whatever "reaching out for the northern lights" means, you totally just go with it.

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#015 Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Sacrilege" (1,014)

 

Debut: 3rd March 2013

Chart Run: 35-22-13-07-03-02-02-02-04-07-10-14-19-25-33-39-46 (17 weeks)

 

Possibly the unluckiest #2 of the decade was "Sacrilege" which came along at the same time as one of my favourites of the decade was SLAYING ALL BASES at #1, and so it had to settle for a trio of weeks in the runners-up slot. The band have had plenty of #1 hits though, with "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll" both taking that honour in 2009 around the time of their 3rd LP It's Blitz. The track finishes with a 24-piece gospel choir, which takes the song to a spiritual climax, and there is certainty a religious theme around the song and video with Lily Cole staring as a promiscuous character who in reverse from her burning at the stake we find out has a number of affairs with local residents. Sacrilege!

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#014 Disclosure ft. Eliza Doolittle "You & Me" (1,020)

 

Debut: 28th April 2013

Chart Run: 44-29-16-06-03-01-01-02-04-07-10-16-23-29-35-42-50 (17 weeks)

 

Surrey brothers' Guy and Howard Lawrence took over in 2013 - nothing sums up the year better then their self-assured debut Settle which has so many highlights on it you could just stick it on at a party, press play and then just leave it. The album shot to #1 and gave them 2 Top 10 hits ("Latch" a No. 11 narrowly missing out) proving that dance music was definitely back in a big way in 2013, and the brothers were at the forefront of this movement both underground and through the mainstream with their innovative mix of house, garage, and electropop. Howard selected British singer Eliza Doolittle to lay down the vocals for "You & Me" which was released in April and rapidly climbed to #1, surprisingly given I am not a massive fan of her solo output, her vocals on this track really work for me. I also LOVE the video to this.

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by Doctor Blind

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#013 Vampire Weekend "Diane Young / Step" (1,098)

 

Debut: 24th March 2013

Chart Run: 47-30-18-06-03-01-01-02-03-04-07-11-16-22-28-35-39-46 (18 weeks)

 

Vampire Weekend are no stranger to my chart - having hit the #1 on 3 separate occasions. 2013 saw the release of their 3rd LP Modern Vampires of the City and the first single from it "Diane Young" - a play on 'dying young' was a double A-side with "Step" and helped the band chalk up their 3rd #1 single on my chart. The track is a fast paced, pumped up rocker with a groove lifted out of a thousand cheesy 80s pop songs, complimented with some motown sax, goofy backing vocals completed by the wonderfully addictive “baby, baby, baby, baby right on time” refrain which nods QUITE CONVINCINGLY to Buddy Holly. Combined with the brilliant baroque pop of "Step" and the unbelievably addictive "the gloves are off, the wisdom teeth are out, what you on about? I feel it in my bones" which will be stuck in your mind for hours after the song finishes made it one of the best singles of 2013.