56 Utah Saints - Something Good '08 (9wks 30-18-7-6-5-5-8-14-28)

 

 

This remix of the early 1990s dance classic which originally sampled Kate Bush's 1985 iconic Cloudbusting track was one of the more inspired dance remakes of the year. Good video too.

55 Feeling - I Thought It Was Over (9wks 9-3-3-5-8-11-14-20-29)

 

 

The retro guilty pleasure melodic rockers fell foul to the "sophomore slump syndrome" this year. This gurgling Buggles like track was the excellent lead single.

54 Duffy - Mercy (10wks 32-15-9-6-2-2-5-11-19-29)

 

 

This Northern Soul inspired UK#1 hit at the beginning of the year hailed from her year end best selling album Rockferry. But it is not the highest placed song in my countdown from the Welsh chanteuse.

53 Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha Men (6wks 6-2-4-8-18-32)

 

 

The Oxford Britpop power poppers released their 6th studio album early this year, from which this Stooges meets Glam Rock track was the lead single. Sadly the album was their first to fail to reach the UK Top 10 despite positive reviews.

52 Late Of The Pier - Heartbeat (8wks 11-8-7-10-25-17-25-38)

 

 

The first of three appearances from Nottingham's highly inventive New Ravers who turned out to be everything the Klaxons were not. Highly original, genuinely experimental, great music, not a ghastly cover in sight, whom admirably have gained a following outside of the chart via chart ineligible physical single releases & releasing the digital singles in album bundles. Unlike the god awful Klaxons I can't imagine them collaborating with Rihanna or Lily Allen anytime soon.

51 The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Sun Ain't Shining No More (7wks 6-4-4-8-14-26-34)

 

 

The debut Danish alternative band released this as their debut single in September with airplay support from Radio 6 Music & Radio 2's Radcliffe & Maconie show. A debut album is due in early 2009. Here's to chart success next year.

50 Tom Baxter - Better (11wks 40-21*-14-20-32-37-X 22weeks 11-8-15-28)

 

 

Taken from the Irish #1 album Skybound this heartfelt ballad reached IRE#10 and UK#67. Unsurprisingly it is vastly superior to the cover version by Boyzone. Unsurprisingly Boyzone will earn Tom Baxter more money in Royalties than his original. Factoid: The video was directed by (comedy legend in the making) Simon Pegg.

49 Sparks - Good Morning (7wks 22-12-8-4-4-10-23)

 

 

Taken from the Mael brothers 21st studio album Exotic Creatures Of The Deep, this was the lead single which gained radio support from Radio 2 & Radio 6 Music.

 

 

 

48 Alicia Keys - Superwoman (7wks 9-3-2-6-8-15-28)

 

 

For me the stand out track from Alicia's third album. This female Stevie Wonder female power anthem is sheer soulful class.

 

47 Annie - I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me (8wks 4-1-3-5-9-16-23-38)

 

 

Norway's Annie released this sleeky Saint Etienne meets her own Chewing Gum electro strut in the early summer. However the poor chart performance (UK#54) meant the album (Don't Stop) has been pushed back to an April 2009 release date.

46 Teddy Thompson - In My Arms (8wks 31-20-11-7-8-11-12-17)

 

 

The UK folk pop singer & son of Richard Thompson released this joyous acoustic folk pop anthem during the autumn to critically acclaim.

45 The BPA ft Emmy The Great - Seattle (7wks 2-2-5-8-15-23*)

 

 

Why are Radio 1 so utterly incapable of picking up on new music by new young British talent (For the umpteenth time thank goodness for Radio 2 & Radio 6 Music). This inventive hypnotic pop anthem in waiting produced by Norman Cook features the Hong Kong born London anti-folk singer songwriter on vocals.

44 Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Sophisticated Side Ponytail (7wks 13-8-6-4-6-15-26)

 

 

Why are Radio 1 so utterly incapable of picking up on new music by new young American talent (For the umpteenth time thank goodness for Radio 2 & Radio 6 Music blah blah blah). This indie rock/electronic pop anthem is an economic joy to listen to with echoes of The Go Team collaborating with MGMT.

43 Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal (8wks 27-15-9-6-7-10-15-30)

 

 

This stunning piece of Crosby Stills & Nash folkish choral vocal harmonies is one of the most otherworldly pleasures I've had the honour to listen to in 2008.

42 Portishead - Machine Gun (8wks 5-3-4-6-10-14-10-17)

 

 

This stunning haunting Beth Gibbons vocal meets electronica track with a frightening military like beat is probably the most disturbing track to listen to in my countdown. A welcome return after 11 years away for the Portishead trio.

41 Emmy The Great - We Almost Had A Baby (7wks 14-5-4-3-8-15*)

 

 

This wonderful anti folk track is taken from Emmy's debut album released at the beginning of February 2009. No doubt Radio 6 & hopefully Radio 2 will support it. Radio 1 will probably be to busy licking Lily Allen's backside then to notice it.

40 Laura Marling - Night Terror (9wks 19-12-8-7-7-11-19-28-39)

 

 

Starting off the Top 40 is the teenage folk pop of Laura Marling with this haunting almost PJ Harvey performing a sea shanty like track. If you like this then buy the album Alas I Cannot Swim, please.

39 Ava Leigh - Mad About The Boy (8wks 29-11-7-5-5-12-17-30)

 

 

This attractive blonde Chester-born Brit-reggae starlet may be a self-styled "hippie from the countryside", but she's recorded her debut album with veteran World's Best Rhythm Section, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Despite the retro-reggae and support from Radio 2; stubbornly the Great British public refused to buy her music as they are presumably waiting for the new Amy Wino, Lily Allen & No Doubt albums in 2009. A great pity.

 

38 Oasis - The Shock Of Lightning (9wks 12-3-2-2-3-5-8-14-28)

 

 

Oasis released their 8th studio album in 2008. This was the lead single. Unsurprisingly it did not stray far from their usual formula except with a dollop of psychedelia added. This track is a great example of what Dig Out Your Soul has to offer. As I type I'm listening to Noel Gallagher on Radio 2 with Kate Thornton = Hilarious stuff, especially them both bitching about the X-Factor...

37 Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (12wks 26*-18-11-10-10-9-9-13-19-25-34)

 

 

The 2009 Grammy nominated Best Dance Recording is a jerky frenetic indietronica track with a video clearly inspired by Prince's 1989 Batman era videos. The media (which I quoted on BJ at the time) wrongly claimed this track had been written for and rejected by Kylie Minogue's X album.