#34

The Git Up

Benny Blanco

 

 

Album: Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs

 

When discussing “Old Town Road”, I made the argument that it’s a hip-hop song with country elements. In contrast, “The Git Up” is a song that I would argue is a country song with hip-hop elements. It’s call and response style is very much of the genre, and its hip-hop style production is a lot more subtle.

 

#33

Bubblegum

Matt McGinn & Ciara O’Neill

 

 

Album: Lessons of War

 

“Bubblegum” is a heartbreaking song about The Troubles by Northern Irish songwriters Matt McGinn & Ciara O’Neill. It’s a song that juxtaposes normal teenage things like buying sweets & having a crush on the boy down the street with the curfews & bombings you’d expect living in a warzone in the 1980s.

 

Previous chart positions:

2018 Dreamer- #3 (Ciara O’Neill only)

 

#32

Tsukuyomi

Alcabean

 

 

Album: Confessions

 

Some indie-pop next from Danish duo Alcabean. If you’re a fan of The Pains of Being Pure Of Heart and the like, you will absolutely lap this up.

 

#31

Castles

Freya Ridings

 

 

Album: Freya Ridings

 

I just love a finely-crafted pop song, which is exactly what Freya Ridings delivered on “Castles”. Florence-esque dramatic vocals mixed into a very pop package, with a singalong chorus, it ticks so many metaphorical boxes.Love Island is apparently good for something.

 

#33

Bubblegum

Matt McGinn & Ciara O’Neill

 

 

Album: Lessons of War

 

“Bubblegum” is a heartbreaking song about The Troubles by Northern Irish songwriters Matt McGinn & Ciara O’Neill. It’s a song that juxtaposes normal teenage things like buying sweets & having a crush on the boy down the street with the curfews & bombings you’d expect living in a warzone in the 1980s.

 

Previous chart positions:

2018 Dreamer- #3 (Ciara O’Neill only)

 

Thanks for introducing me to this trck!

Castles was another great song from Freya, great to see her shake off the one-hit wonder tag in style!

#30

You And I

Barns Courtney

 

 

Album: 404

 

I could’ve sworn that Barns Courtney was American, but apparently he’s English. Oh well, good for his streams, I guess. “You And I” reminds me of a more widescreen version of “Riptide” - I’m surprised it hasn’t/didn’t cross over to the mainstream, but I guess he’s still popular enough as he is.

 

#29

Something Else to Talk About

Buí

 

 

Album: N/A

 

A lovely piece of slacker-rock from Northern Irish band “Buí”. The music video is quite special, as it renders some of the band’s favourite Belfast landmarks in 8 bit. See how many you can recognise!

#28

Be Someone

CamelPhat ft Jake Bugg

 

 

Album: Lessons of War

 

I didn’t think that the crossover of 2019 that I would enjoy the most would be deep-house group CamelPhat and rock and roll revivialist Jake Bugg, but they won me over with “Be Someone”. It’s definitely more the former than the latter, but Bugg’s vocals do add something else to their sound.

 

Previous chart positions:

2012 Lightning Bolt - #12 (Jake Bugg only)

2012 Two Fingers - #41 (Jake Bugg only)

 

#27

Odd Behavior

Junodream

 

 

Album: Terrible Things That Could Happen E.P

 

Whilst we've now got to the stage where nearly every "this band is going to save rock music in *upcoming year* group doesn't live up to the potential, it would be silly of me to say that of any new artist that makes it in this countdown. Although in the case of Junodream, I wish it were the case. "Odd Behavior" is my favourite of their songs released this year, and is a great piece of throw-back Britpop inspired music. They've got a decent amount of varied tunes already recorded, so I have high hopes of them making a bigger name for themselves in 2020.

 

 

#26

Higher States

Sundara Karma

 

 

Album: Ulfilas' Alphabet

 

“Higher States” is a kaleidoscopic baggy-inspired art-rock tune that really gets you going. The song gained a little bit of indie-notoriety earlier in the year as it bore a striking resemblance to another high-profile single released around the same time...

 

Thanks for introducing me to this trck!

 

Thanks. I'm a big fan of Ciara O'Neill, I absolutely love her voice. I had her on my podcast last year, and she was absolutely lovely.

#26

Higher States

Sundara Karma

 

 

Album: Ulfilas' Alphabet

 

“Higher States” is a kaleidoscopic baggy-inspired art-rock tune that really gets you going. The song gained a little bit of indie-notoriety earlier in the year as it bore a striking resemblance to another high-profile single released around the same time...

 

Do you mean the artwork?

 

Do love a bit of Sundara Karma and “Higher States” is probably their best song so far.

 

Lots of tracks that I'm completely unfamiliar with, so thank you for giving me plenty to listen to over the Christmas break. Liking Junodream on first listen. : )

#25

M5

Sports Team

 

 

Album: Keep Walking!

 

A great slice of English indie-rock from the ambiguously named Sports Team. I’ve seen “M5” described as being a modern take on “Country House” with a music video reminiscent of “Girls & Boys”. A fantastic track.

 

#24

3 Nights

Dominic Fike

 

 

Album: Don’t Forget About Me

 

You can normally count the number of top 10 hits that make my countdowns on one hand, but when I likes it, I likes it. “3 Nights” got stuck in my head through the simplicity of its muted guitar and repetitive lyrics. When it’s good, it’s good.

 

#23

Sean Connery

Allez Allez

 

 

Album: N/A

 

This is probably the strangest song to make my list this year. A funk tribute to a former James Bond with bizarre lyrics, made by a Belgian band who had split up for 30 years before reforming. It’s not my usual cup of tea, but it’s a rather excellent one.

 

#22

Sugarface

Fjokra

 

 

Album: N/A

 

Dublin based singer-songwriter makes it 3 years in a row with his genre-hopping music. Elements of rock, brass and chiptune intermingle in this enjoyable little pop song.

 

Previous chart positions:

2017 Sick Kids - #12

2018 Evening Lights - #17

#21

Working Sundays

TeamRKT

 

 

Album: N/A

 

Rory Powers & Kit Grier, the duo behind formerly NI-based electronic duo TeamRKT, have become award-winning podcast superstars since the last time they had a song featured in my year-end chart (they’re the hosts of “This Paranormal Life”), but I’m glad that they still find the time to release new music, with “Working Sundays” seeing a change of direction for them, moving into more Passion Pit-esque music, rather than the chiptune-rock they started out with.

 

Previous chart positions:

2013 Breakout - #48

Lots of songs in there I like! You & I is one of my favourite Barns Courtney tracks, maybe not as good as 99 for me but still a very well made song. Be Someone is a fab dance track as well, my favourite from Camelphat since Cola and Jake Bugg's vocals just really bring out the best in the song. M5 is another fun indie track I've been on board with this year also.

 

I had to listen to 'Sean Connery' after scrolling past, it... really is something isn't it :lol: I know full well if I listened to it enough it would be cemented in my head (in fact it might be now) but I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if I saw it in the Christmas #1 race!

#20

Laurel Wreath

Bear’s Den

 

 

Album: So That You Might Hear Me

 

A track from former year-end chart toppers Bear’s Den. The album as a whole saw them moving back to the more acoustic song of their debut, of which “Laurel Wreath” was the highlight, a wistful track, underpinned by the refrain “you don’t have to be lonely alone”.