#33

Go

Apache Darling

 

 

Album: N/A

 

If you love Chvrches, then you will love “Go”, by Glaswegian band Apache Darling, as it is an infectious slice of electronic-pop with a tender heart.

 

Interestingly, this is the 5th song by the name “Go” to have made my top 40 in the past 3 years. What is it about that name that I find to alluring?

#32

Glue

Bicep

 

 

Album: Bicep

 

Northern Irish electronic duo Bicep next, with “Glue”, their musical tribute to the sound of rave music in the early 90s. It’s a highly effective song that contains only 5 component parts, that weave in and out of the song as it progresses, yet never feels boring or as if it is repeating itself.

 

#31

Semicircle Song

The Go! Team

 

 

Album: Semicircle

 

You can always count on The Go! Team to delivery something fresh, fun and funky, and they sure as heck delivered it with “Semicircle Song”. The band departed from their usual sound with “Semicircle Song”, a song that contains a brass band, xylophone & steel drums, and feels so fresh and fun.

 

Previous chart positions:

2011 Buy Nothing Day - #2

 

#30

You + Me

Public Service Broadcasting

 

 

Album: Every Valley

 

The album “Every Valley” by Public Service Broadcasting marked many firsts for Public Service Broadcasting. It was the first to use newly-recorded samples for many of the songs, it was the first to features guest singers on several on the tracks (including James Dean Bradfield). And interestingly of all, it marks the first vocal performance by “frontman” of PSB, J Wilgoose Esq on “You + Me”.

 

Featuring Lisa Jên Brown on co-lead vocals, the song is a tender ballad sung in both English & Welsh, telling of love that transcends dire circumstances and the ebbing of time. A rather unexpected track to come from PSB, but one of unexpected joy.

 

Previous chart positions:

2012 Spitfire - #3

2012 ROYGBIV - #19

2013 Signal 30 - #1

2015 Go! - #8

#29

Lost

Howl

 

 

Album: N/A

 

A rollocking good indie-rock song from Bradford based band Howl, whom I was very impressed with when I saw them in Brighton at The Great Escape. They appear to have disappeared from the web when I tried to look into them more, but at least they left a great song like “Lost” before they did so.

 

#28

Silver Heat

Ten Tonnes

 

 

Album: Born To Lose E.P

 

Hailing from Hartford, Ten Tonnes has built up a following this year, and one of his songs, “Silver Heat”, really tickled my fancy, an infectious indie song build around one of the most familiar chord patterns known to humanity, and ruddy good it is too.

 

#27

Last One Standing

Paths

 

 

Album: N/A

 

Infectious electro from Northern Irish producer Jules Shaw, aka Paths. Her single “Last One Standing” is build around a tropical-house themed riff, yet has a dark and menacing core to it.

 

some great stuff here as per usual like Hot Thoughts, Feel It Still, Semicircle Song, Give Me a Reason etc.

 

hoping to see a high appearance for Confidence Man! one of my favourite newcomers around atm

 

#26

Strangest Thing

The War On Drugs

 

 

Album: A Deeper Understanding

 

You can always rely on The War on Drugs to make music that makes you feel things. “Strangest Thing” is a dreamy, hazy, synth-washed song that builds and builds under you fall deeper under its spell. It is the sort of music that you could only get from TWND.

 

Previous chart positions:

 

2014 Red Eyes - #8

2014 Under The Pressure - #33

 

#25

Dear Life

Beck

 

 

Album: Colours

 

The thing with Beck is that you don’t know what sound he’s going to dip in to with each album. This time around, he’s gone for a full-up pop record, albeit one with his own idiosyncratic spin on it. “Dear Life” was one of the highlights of that record, with twinkling pianos, and lyrics about singing a swan-song to dogs, among other things.

 

Previous chart positions:

2008 Chemtrails - #14

2015 Dreams - #11

 

#24

Jacknife & The Death Call

The Shimmer Band

 

 

 

Album: N/A

 

The best way to describe “Jacknife & The Death Call” by The Shimmer Band is to call it a mix between Kasabian and “Grounds For Divorce” by Elbow. If that’s your sort of thing, you’ll absolutely love this song.

 

#23

Jana From Barcelona

Glass Wings

 

 

Album: Made For Me E.P

 

Next up we have Northern Irish singer-songwriter Glass Wings with his country-inspired song Jana From Barcelona. It’s a lovely tender song with an earworm-ish chorus.

#22

With or Without Me

SAINTE

 

 

 

Album: Smile & Wave E.P

 

Whilst pop-rock isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, I was really taken by “With Or Without Me” by SAINTE when it was entered into the Buzzjack Song Contest earlier this year, and has remained a firm favourite for the rest of it. I love both the energy and vulnerability that sits at the heart of this song.

 

#21

You Can’t Handcuff the Wind

Richard Thorncroft

 

 

Album: Mindhorn OST

 

And at #21 we have Richard Thorncroft, aka Julian Barrett's character from this year’s film Mindhorn, about a former 80s TV star who is brought out of retirement to negotiate with a criminal who thinks the character he played is real. “You Can’t Handcuff The Wind” is taken from the film, and is a pastiche to 80s music, with overblown ridiculous lyrics (the reason you can’t handcuff the wind, is because it would be like “trying to put thunder in jail”). Incredibly silly, yet rather great.

 

Great to see SAINTE here! One of those songs that hit me instantly!

#20

Believer

Imagine Dragons

 

 

Album: Evolve

 

Imagine Dragons are probably the biggest rock band on the planet that can still get charting singles on a regular basis (although to what extent you may consider them to be a “rock” band may vary). Released as the first single from their 3rd album, “Believer” showcases the band’s knack for a powerful, anthemic chorus.

 

Previous chart positions:

2012 It’s Time- #40

 

#19

Grand Dérèglement

Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains

 

 

Album: Solide Mirage

 

I believe that this is the first song sung in French to make one of my year end charts, so congratulations to Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains for their achievement. “Grand Dereglement” is a song about the displacement of refugees and immigrants in the modern world, with its musical bed taking inspiration from both eastern and western instrumentation. Not like any other song you’re likely to hear this year.

 

#18

Kiss?

Childcare

 

 

Album: Made Simple E.P

 

The lead singer of London band Childcare is a full-time nanny in his day job. The song “Kiss?” is a song inspired by a bout of social awkwardness he faced whilst picking up the children he minds from school, where he was unsure whether he should greet the mothers waiting for their kids by kissing them or not. The song’s a fine indie-rock song, with boy/girl vocals bouncing off each other during the song.

 

#17

Propaganda

Catholic Action

 

 

 

Album: In Memory Of

 

You don’t need a big, long song to make a big impact. Just ask Glasgow band Catholic Action. Their song “Propaganda” clocks in at just under 2 minutes, yet they’re two of the most exciting minutes in music this year. It is a fizzy, poppy song that calls to mind the brilliance of Black Kids, or The Cure at their most poptastic.

 

Previous chart positions:

2016 L.U.V- #20

#16

No Known Drink or Drug

Japandroids

 

 

Album: Near to The Wild Heart of Life

 

Canadian noise-rock band made a welcome return after 5 years away with “No Known Drink or Drug”, a powerful punk-meets-heartland rock song, that can easily sit proudly beside some of their best songs, with its infectious chants and scuzzy action.

 

Previous chart positions:

 

2012 The House That Heaven Built - #4