Pop off BLACK BOX FAKE FACT!!!

 

:cheeseblock: :cheeseblock: :cheeseblock:

Thanks for the recommendations! I gave those a listen and would put Cosmic Road as my favourite so far, although that might be the most a song I've heard from Kae Tempest has stuck with me.

 

My favourites of the 20-11 section were the last couple. Regarding Arcade Fire, I feel your pain - it's a double-edged sword that we've been fortunate enough to enjoy their music without consternation for so many years which anyone new to their music will not have done, yet at the same time the prospect of modern classics such as Rebellion being airbrushed from acceptability is painfully dispiriting :( I don't have the same affinity with last year's album, yet I did think The Lightning I & II was the highlight of it.

 

With The Arctic Monkeys, there's a different kind of bittersweet feel to Mirrorball, because it seemed as if everything was in place for them, with their ticket sales, old songs doing well with Tik Tok boosts, and I thought it was a great, mood-building comeback song, you just didn't know where it was heading next. Body Paint - not so great, but it's solid. And then they go and release the album in the same week as Taylor Swift, and despite posting the 6th biggest opening sale since 2017, they break their run of #1s, and the album's considered a bit of a disappointment too. I still prefer it to Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino though.

 

:'( I think I'll always be able to separate art from artist with them just because of how good their songs are (plus the ones with Regine vocals don't have Win on it), just a shame it'll be something you don't really want to say too loud anymore.

 

Oh yes I forgot about that album thing, I guess they're not bothered about that anymore (though I was a tad annoyed Taylor released like 100 versions and got there easily, I would've liked to see a fair fight x), which figures given the sound of the single, it's a miracle it was a small hit at all tbh!

 

Sunset has been on repeat for me in the last few months. Just bonkers that she released it so late in the year though. It feels MADE for Summer?! Welcome to My Island is almost just as good too. This upcoming album is shaping up to be something special. I can't share the same enthusiasm you have for Billions though.

 

I was so impressed by the Arctic Monkeys comeback single and think it remains my favourite track on the album. Sure, it's slow but it builds in such a way that it's just as exciting as their upbeat bangers of yester-year.

 

Yes, it was somewhat the wrong time of year for Sunset, but at least that's allowed us a full year of great songs from her! (pfft, Billions is fab x)

 

:hi: Chez! pigeon.gif

 

It's really nice to read that another BJSC participant (I've lost count how many it is now) that in hindsight would have given Eliza Rose actual points in BJSC. Songs can grow on people I can understand that :)

 

I was following its progress from the start and I believe how it started was that numerous DJs at Glastonbury played the song during their sets and from there TikTok latched onto it as well as a Warner Records A&R who was at the festival

 

Wall Of Sleep *.* great to see it appear on someone else's EOY other than mine. Also loving Widow and Let's Do It Again and especially Sunset :wub: OooooOoooooOooooOoooooOoOoooOooooOoooooo :wub:

He didn't :drama:

 

:ph34r: Blame me being bitter and away at the time and rush-voting :kink: But seriously, I think hearing it out and about in the summer was what I needed for it to click, it was made for that, let's hope for some justice in TBO x Incredible journey for that song, I really didn't see it coming but easily the best number 1 that was released in 2022 <3

 

Great to see you liking others, I'll check out yours as well x

 

 

Pop off BLACK BOX FAKE FACT!!!

 

:cheeseblock: :cheeseblock: :cheeseblock:

 

:cheeseblock:

 

-x-

 

Sorry for the delay, gonna make some amendments before the top 10 x

So the omission of one of my top 10 made me go back and it turns out, there were quite a few songs I wanted to show some appreciation that I haven't got round to so to make it so it doesn't look like I did this haphazardly (however can you think that x), I've decided to expand this to a top 50 and will acknowledge the new additions before the top 10 x

 

 

22. Gorillaz feat. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold

27. De Lux – They Call This Love

31. Julien Bracht – Don’t Chase Your Enemies

33. Metric - Doomscroller

42. Mxmtoon – Mona Lisa

44. Magdalena Bay – All You Do

45. Beyonce - BREAK MY SOUL

49. Aamourocean – Parmi Des Mortals

50. Desire – Black Latex

 

I'm not sure how I forgot Gorillaz initially, I have enjoyed them intermittently while adjusting to them not being chart presences (good old days :'() Cracker Island was an earworm, but New Gold was something else, I will put that mainly down to Tame Impala's haunting vocals in the chorus giving it a lost folktale kind of vibe with the lyrics, but even the rap verses are quite infectious, adding up to the great brand of dreamy genre hybrids they do so well. I should give Beyonce a shout too, even though it wasn't quite instant for me, it made a lot more sense in the context of the album, where she really embraces dance music and lets every bit of it shroud the album to a pretty fantastic listen. It really was released at the perfect time in the hot summer months and maintains her deserved status as one of the most interesting, constantly evolving music superstars.

 

 

I'd quite liked what I'd heard from Metric, but I wasn't prepared for something quite as striking and standout as Doomscroller. A great title anyway (don't we all do this x), but the ten-minute slowly unfolding electronic song is glorious, starting out ominous and slow, getting truly intense, almost screamo, at one point, before gradually growing calmer by the end. It's truly a bit of a journey, with prog rock, electronic and even piano ballads, yet it all feels very natural and the mood changes from dark and negative to more pristine and optimistic towards the end, resulting in quite a beautiful and emotional journey. Someone needs to send it to BJSC tbh. Speaking of that, De Lux has been a potential yet I'm still undecided, I would highly recommend it though as an epic seven-minute synth-drenched song, it reminds me of that classic 70s and 80s early synth sound and it's really worth a listen.

 

 

He'll be coming up later and I usually stick to one song per artist, but Julien Bracht had a whole host of bangers I found on an internet trawl. Don't Chase Your Enemies is a wonderful, slowly building techno track that sounds wonderfully mid-90, it also has a great, atmospheric video of a brilliantly choreographed chase between man and man's best friend x My second favourite BJSC discovery of the year was this quite mind-blowing French dance song by Aamourocean, starting out as a gorgeous dreamy, choral vibe before that drop comes and everything goes haywire, it's a truly standout moment and one of those songs that makes me thankful for BJSC for keeping this sort of thing on my radar.

 

 

Not a BJSC discovery, but one that did turn up there anyway is mxmtoon, this isn't my usual bag, but the art references, sunny vocals and just all around girl next door charm of this song is such a winner, it always puts a smile on my face (and the video has an iconic end x). Finally one of my many BJSC flops, actually introduced to me by our own Jade through my chart thread, but it was excellent to hear from Desire again after the wonderful Under Your Spell, with them and Kavinsky back, it felt like a real throwback to Drive this year (just need College and Electric Youth now x). Black Latex is an intense song with low spoken word vocals and a flowing electronic soundscape, adding up to a beautifully dark and atmospheric listen, It's linked below but I would also recommend this

inspired by the work of Andy Warhol and really captures the heroine turned predator dangerous vibe of the song.

 

 

 

 

So to recap, the chart so far:

 

11. Arcade Fire – Lightning Part I & II

12. Arctic Monkeys – There’d Better Be a Mirrorball

13. Royksopp feat. Alison Goldfrapp – Impossible

14. Resina – Horses Tail

15. World’s End Girlfriend & CRZKNY – BLACK BOX FAKE FACT

16. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – Edge of the Edge

17. Go_A – Kalyna

18. Daniel Avery & HAAI – Wall of Sleep

19. Caroline Polachek – Sunset

20. NYX feat. MA. MPOY- Mutualism

21. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Spitting off the Edge of the World

22. Gorillaz feat. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold

23. Kae Tempest feat. Lianne La Havas – No Prizes

24. Regina Spektor – Up the Mountain

25. Wet Leg – Chaise Lounge

26. Jamie xx – Let’s Do It Again

27. De Lux – They Call This Love

28. George Fitzgerald feat. SOAK – Rainbows and Dreams

29. Lykke Li – HIGHWAY TO YOUR HEART

30. Eliza Rose – B.O.T.A (Baddest of Them All)

31. Julien Bracht – Don’t Chase Your Enemies

32. Sung – Cosmic Road

33. Metric - Doomscroller

34. NoSo – Man Who Loves You

35. Grimes – Shinigami Eyes

36. Joywave – The Inversion

37. Black Country, New Road – The Place Where He Inserted the Blade

38. Para One – La Musique du Futur

39. Emancipator – Minor Cause

40. Working Men’s Club – Widow

41. Harry Styles – As It Was

42. Mxmtoon – Mona Lisa

43. Father John Misty – Q4

44. Magdalena Bay – All You Do

45. Beyonce - BREAK MY SOUL

46. Let’s Eat Grandma – Happy New Year

47. Milk & Bone – Bigger Love

48. Kasabian – ALYGTR

49. Aamourocean – Parmi Des Mortals

50. Desire – Black Latex

 

Now top 10 will start from tomorrow!

Some good additions in that group - Beyoncé song stands out as the only Top 40 hit, but I enjoyed it more than any of her lead singles since... can't recall a better one since Crazy In Love actually, a proper dance anthem, but it's the final verse where the lyrics really hit for me. I heard a lot about Doomscroller and gave it a couple of listens a few months back, it's quite a journey which I'll be sure to make again.

I'm too credible for top 40 hits don't you know xx Glad you liked them both!

 

-x-

 

 

10. Bdrmm - Three

 

The top 10 starts with one of the most brutally hard-hitting and rawest songs I've heard this year. When I first heard this song out shopping one day, I could've sworn I'd bumped into a lost Radiohead song, the vocal tones are so similar and the structure of the song and mood are so close to that, but apparently bdrmm (pronounced Bedroom, get it x) they wear their influences on their sleeve. It's a dark, personal song about the struggles of addiction with a slow building drone-like instrumental starting off slow and rough before exploding into wall of sound by the end perhaps reflecting the pent up demand, the slurred delivery, and dark lyrics are harrowing but so effective. It's a really striking package, too striking for the likes of BJSC clearly, but a great introduction to the band. Sadly the album this was meant to be from still hasn't come out from what I can see, the tease D:

 

9. Sun’s Signature – Golden Air

 

One of two discoveries in this top 10 which I'd never have known about if it weren't for 6Music, I know I've said it but it really did do wonders for my interest in music letting me know there was still some great music bubbling under outside the shite chart music I kept hearing on Radio 1 (yeah, I'm getting older, can't you tell x). Sun's Signature are made up of Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins (a band incidentally I've never really checked out) and her partner, Damien Reece. They make quite a magical combination together with Fraser's angelic, ethereal vocals really lifting the song up and the gentle, dainty acoustic strumming soon turning into a prog-rock-esque beauty by the end. Accompanied by a gorgeous video featuring the Northern Lights (can confirm they are hard to find x), it's one of those rare songs that paints an aesthetically pleasing picture as well as being great to hear.

“There’d Better Be a Mirrorball” is very Richard Hawley, which was funnily enough who they beat to the Mercury music prize in 2006 - with Alex Turner proclaiming 'Someone call 999! Richard Hawley's been robbed!'. I've really grown into the album over time, my Dad lent it me after he played it when he visited last autumn. I wasn't initially that impressed when it was first released but like you say it begins to reveal itself upon repeated listens.

 

“Wall of Sleep” is a great choice too, one of my favourites of the year but only the 3rd best Daniel Avery track behind the SHERELLE inspired “Higher” and the incredible “Chaos Energy” (my #4 of 2022). Not sure if you've heard the album in full at all but it hits upon most of the great touchstones of dance music in the 1990s, the title track is very reminiscent of 92-94 Aphex Twin and the aforementioned “Chaos Energy” gives me a Future Sound of London “Papua New Guinea” vibe.

 

Really enjoyed “Golden Air”- that was a great discovery from Nuggets (among many others). : )

“There’d Better Be a Mirrorball” is very Richard Hawley, which was funnily enough who they beat to the Mercury music prize in 2006 - with Alex Turner proclaiming 'Someone call 999! Richard Hawley's been robbed!'. I've really grown into the album over time, my Dad lent it me after he played it when he visited last autumn. I wasn't initially that impressed when it was first released but like you say it begins to reveal itself upon repeated listens.

 

“Wall of Sleep” is a great choice too, one of my favourites of the year but only the 3rd best Daniel Avery track behind the SHERELLE inspired “Higher” and the incredible “Chaos Energy” (my #4 of 2022). Not sure if you've heard the album in full at all but it hits upon most of the great touchstones of dance music in the 1990s, the title track is very reminiscent of 92-94 Aphex Twin and the aforementioned “Chaos Energy” gives me a Future Sound of London “Papua New Guinea” vibe.

 

Really enjoyed “Golden Air”- that was a great discovery from Nuggets (among many others). : )

 

I do really need to hear the Daniel Avery album (and more from HAAI for that matter), though I will say it's not the last we've seen of him here! Great that Sun's Signature was a discovery for you, I first heard it on morning 6Music *.

 

8. Julien Bracht - Nocturne

 

The song I initially forgot which I'm mad at myself for, but it was worth doing the additions to my list if it meant giving this beauty some more exposure. Julien Bracht's 2021 album (which I would highly recommend to all x) was filled with beautiful techno ambiance throughout, but this one struck me right away (including before even hearing the song with its title which screams prestige x) with its atmospheric, towering instrumental completely immersing you in the soundscape with its variety of tones and synths as it gradually unfolds and takes you deeper in, I know if Apple Music does this in Dolby Atmos sound but it would really benefit from it. It's accompanied by a gorgeously shot video that literally takes you deeper into the heart of the song and becoming a real audio-visual feast for the eyes and ears. I wish I'd had the courage to send this to BJSC, but I did get into one song contest at least x

 

7. Indian Wells - Calabrian Woods

 

So in the early autumn, I really did get quite hooked on ambient, slowly building instrumentals. I could write praise for this one just as I did Nocturne, but they were both excellent in different ways and led me to check out the parent albums. I only knew Indian Wells through the BJSC entry a few years back, but this was more of that ambient dreaminess with a progression that is luscious as it moves from a single synth line resembling something fizzling to a chaotic combination as the drums fire back, you gradually hear the music change tones as the song progresses and it's really quite an excellent trick and makes the progression of the song even more amazing. Like Nocturne also, it has some fantastic visuals, with these resembling a psychedelic visual arts show with it's style getting more chaotic with the music and ending in something quite abstract. A wonderful song to further my knowledge of this artist.

 

While this was by far my favourite from the album, I will also give a shoutout to Before Life as one of the most beautiful videos I've seen this year:

 

 

6. Highasakite – Autopsy

 

It's been almost a full calendar year at this point since I first heard this song, the song that pretty much turned me into a Highasakite stan overnight. I honestly didn't think it could be topped until...well we'll get to that. I'd quite liked what I'd heard from this group, but they were never on my radar properly, I never thought they were capable of something quite as striking and unusual as this...a nine-minute song that instantly tells you things might be different, first four minutes when I heard them I thought 'OK, this is kind of just like their other songs', though there was a certain vulnerability and dark feel to the lyrics and intense club feel to the production that I wondered what was going to happen, and then halfway through, the song really changes tact and becomes an instrumental slowly building trance-like song with gradual intensity building with the synths until it's a straight out club banger, you can gradually some muffled and spoken vocals throughout which are indecipherable though I feel it was meant to be linked to the first part with the paranoid and unsettling lyrics. It is supposedly set in a single room with rave, sweat, and neon lights which we see through the eyes of a woman talking about anxiety and persecution paranoia. Being critical, I wish they could've been a bit clearer so they could've contrasted with the throbbing instrumental and made a clear and thought-provoking of female paranoia in the club that the song is going for (I'm similarly gutted we never got a video despite a teaser coming, guess they didn't have the money for it), and I guess that added up to it missing the top 5 in the end, but I don't want to be too critical as it doesn't dull the impact of this being one of the best build-ups I've heard in a long time and a stunning and entrancing number, the sheer power and atmosphere just really made me stop in my tracks. The ultimate surprise package of 2022 and one that led me to even more treasure troves...

 

5. ILLENIUM feat. Spiritbox – Shivering

 

Similar to before, but in this case, it's an act I used to love (Illenium featured quite a few times in my 2016 countdown), but that got gradually much worse as they found commercial success, so imagine my surprise when I see they've not only returned to hard drops next to that watered down Spotify-Esque shit but they've duetted with a heavy metal band with some proper screamo *.* I'm aware this one is probably an acquired taste, but if you're into it like I am, it goes really hard. The dubstep drops have so much power and the lead singer is a great vocalist who sells the forlorn and lost feeling of the song's protagonist to present something truly intense that never lets up. I would say this is easily Illenium's best since Afterlife and Reverie in 2016, it's good to see my Terra Avium Alumni are still doing well x

Oh interesting to see Indian Wells here. I don't think anything has quite ever hit me as much as “Cascades” - particularly that bit from 2m 30s onwards, that melancholia. <3

 

Julien Bracht was another brilliant discovery in CB this year.

Was wondering if you knew Indian Wells' material this year! Cascades is indeed still beautiful <3

 

Sorry for the slight pause, ready to resume now and hopefully conclude tomorrow if I remember x

 

-x-

 

 

4. Daniel Avery - Higher

 

I hadn't actually heard from Daniel Avery since Drone Logic was sent to BJSC years ago, I really love the atmospheric slow build and intense soundscape of that song so wondered what else he could come out with. While I'm still playing catchup on a lot of his other singles this year, going by Higher, I can safely say that a lot of those same qualities are present here. Higher is a very in-your-face and instant piece, after some brief spoken words at the start, it goes full-out audio assault with thumping drums accompanying a twinkling piano and harsh drones. Creating something that is immediately contrasting yet beautiful, harsh yet melodic and emotive at the same time. It's pretty simple for what it is, but it doesn't need to be anything else when it packs so much at what it is. It's a song that really shows the mastery of his craft of creating dance music with feeling.

 

3. David Holmes feat. Raven Violet – It’s Over, If We Run Out of Love

 

My favourite morning discovery from 6Music (the other two still to come are a bit too obscure for that x). I hadn't actually heard of the Northern Irish producer before, and a lot of his other work I'd searched down (including my BJSC entry, the beautifully titled Hope is the Last Thing to Die) was more electronic and ambient in style. Awkward title aside, My first thought when hearing this was that it had that distinctive Britpop sound of Noel Gallagher, and I wasn't surprised to see it samples his song, This Is The Place. The rest of the song has some slight electronic undertones as well as some killer guitars and a chorus reminiscent of classic Pretenders or Blondie. It's a shame as it seems that the 6Music playlist was the only place it actually made any impact, but I'd highly recommend it if you'd like a dose of varying eras' nostalgia.

Here are my favourites from your latest selection:

12. Arctic Monkeys – There’d Better Be a Mirrorball

19. Caroline Polachek – Sunset

21. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Spitting off the Edge of the World

30. Eliza Rose – B.O.T.A (Baddest of Them All)

40. Working Men’s Club – Widow

41. Harry Styles – As It Was

45. Beyonce - BREAK MY SOUL

 

2. Kavinsky feat. Prudence & Morgan Phalen - Zenith

 

It's accurate that in the same year that I finally hear new music from Desire, I hear from the other artist behind the holy trinity of Drive soundtrack artists. Nightcall was truly one of a kind, with its gruff vocals on the verses contrasting with the ethereal charms from Lovefoxxx of CSS fame, it's truly an enigma of a song that makes you want to listen over and over to uncover more layers (or at least anyone with taste, not like anyone can dislike this that I know of? :thinking:). Almost a decade later, he's back with what is apparently a direct sequel to the song, much like the original, it's a duet and seems to be telling a story following on from Nightcall's story of someone rising from the dead and trying to contact his past love, who can't quite feel him. This flips the script and makes the female voice the narrator of the verses and Morgan Phalen's (slightly less gruff) vocals take on the chorus, it seems much more reflective and sombre in nature and strips back the mystery to turn it into the sense of fading away, although the song is very much like it's predecessor with beautiful riffs, synths and vocoded vocals still making this a gloriously 80s-drenched outing. All in all, I just really love cinematic 80s-Esque songs that form a mysterious story, and this song, and the parent album, really hit the spot for me.

Here are my favourites from your latest selection:

12. Arctic Monkeys – There’d Better Be a Mirrorball

19. Caroline Polachek – Sunset

21. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Spitting off the Edge of the World

30. Eliza Rose – B.O.T.A (Baddest of Them All)

40. Working Men’s Club – Widow

41. Harry Styles – As It Was

45. Beyonce - BREAK MY SOUL

 

Thanks for commenting! Do feel free to check out some of the top 10 too ^_^

 

 

 

No tension pause, as honestly, this shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone that's been paying attention...

 

 

1. Highasakite - Can I Come Home

 

Honestly, there was no contest at all. I didn't think something as powerful as Autopsy could be topped, but that was powerful enough for me to check out the album and while it wasn't perfect throughout, it truly did save the best for last. A complete contrast to the dark and mysterious nature of Autopsy, Can I Come Home is seeped in vulnerability all the way through, starting with the pleas to hold them close and make them feel at home around a somber piano, but then the song really takes off as the emotion hits peak level. The keys pick up, the strings soar and the hushed vocals remain hushed, as it perfectly encapsulates the vulnerable part of you feeling silent next to the loud soundscape, letting your emotions run wild. It made the album with themes of moving on and going to places really make sense in the end in a heart-rendering way, and given last year was my first full year living independently, it really clicked with me as while I am perfectly comfortable, I was and still am lonely at times and do enjoy going back home with my family in a loving environment, it could really function in any coming of age scenario and you just really want to be that little kid coming home again. Overall, a total triumph and I'd honestly be surprised if I found a song at the same level this year. If you don't know it, I really would recommend checking it out, it'll change your life x

Recap:

 

1. Highasakite – Can I Come Home

2. Kavinsky feat. Prudence & Morgan Phellen – Zenith

3. David Holmes feat. Raven Violet – It’s Over, If We Run Out of Love

4. Daniel Avery - Higher

5. ILLENIUM feat. Spiritbox – Shivering

6. Highasakite – Autopsy

7. Indian Wells – Calabrian Woods

8. Julien Bracht - Nocturne

9. Sun’s Signature – Golden Air

10. Bdrmm - Three

11. Arcade Fire – Lightning Part I & II

12. Arctic Monkeys – There’d Better Be a Mirrorball

13. Royksopp feat. Alison Goldfrapp – Impossible

14. Resina – Horses Tail

15. World’s End Girlfriend & CRZKNY – BLACK BOX FAKE FACT

16. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – Edge of the Edge

17. Go_A – Kalyna

18. Daniel Avery & HAAI – Wall of Sleep

19. Caroline Polachek – Sunset

20. NYX feat. MA. MPOY- Mutualism

21. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Spitting off the Edge of the World

22. Gorillaz feat. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold

23. Kae Tempest feat. Lianne La Havas – No Prizes

24. Regina Spektor – Up the Mountain

25. Wet Leg – Chaise Lounge

26. Jamie xx – Let’s Do It Again

27. De Lux – They Call This Love

28. George Fitzgerald feat. SOAK – Rainbows and Dreams

29. Lykke Li – HIGHWAY TO YOUR HEART

30. Eliza Rose – B.O.T.A (Baddest of Them All)

31. Julien Bracht – Don’t Chase Your Enemies

32. Sung – Cosmic Road

33. Metric - Doomscroller

34. NoSo – Man Who Loves You

35. Grimes – Shinigami Eyes

36. Joywave – The Inversion

37. Black Country, New Road – The Place Where He Inserted the Blade

38. Para One – La Musique du Futur

39. Emancipator – Minor Cause

40. Working Men’s Club – Widow

41. Harry Styles – As It Was

42. Mxmtoon – Mona Lisa

43. Father John Misty – Q4

44. Magdalena Bay – All You Do

45. Beyonce - BREAK MY SOUL

46. Let’s Eat Grandma – Happy New Year

47. Milk & Bone – Bigger Love

48. Kasabian – ALYGTR

49. Aamourocean – Parmi Des Mortals

50. Desire – Black Latex

 

And that's that for another year, just 19 days late :kink: Thank you all very much for all who commented and read, I will try and repay the favour if I haven't already. I hope to keep up my personal chart this year as I did last in quarterly segments, it may be harder to keep up this year as I'm a bit busier (and already feel a bit behind with music whoops) but I managed to stay semi-up to date last year so I hope the same will happen this time. See you all at some point x