Songs of 2023

So ... just like that it's almost here, the end of the year!

Before celebrations officially begin, I must impose my annual songs of the year list onto you.  I appreciate that I have zero qualifications as a source of music advice, but this is the 12th instalment and is now officially a tradition.  I'm sure there are worse things you'll have to endure at Christmas ...

I find this a useful chronicle to remember the great music I've come across over the year.  I still love the feeling of being sucked into an album and listening to it over and over.  I know it's hard, but it is worth finding time where you can get lost in the music. (just don't miss the stop on your train like I've nearly done...)

Rambling almost over. Let's get to this year's stand out songs (for me).

Playlists available on Youtube, Deezer and Spotify.

Gorillaz (feat Adeleye Omotayo) - Silent Running

Pitch perfect pop music.  Damon Albarn is ridiculously prolific in his output and the new Blur album is fantastic (The Narcissist just missed out on this list in attempt to be varied).  I adore the simplicity of this song and it has been with me throughout the year.  

Caroline Polachek - Sunset

Fantastic album, great artist.  Highly recommend listening to more of her music.  This is the standout track for me which has been on my running playlist all year. 

 

Romy - Enjoy Your Life

Much more upbeat than you'd expect from an XX band member.  This song has been on the family summer playlist and has a lovely vibe to it.  

Like many of the songs on this list, I'm not sure a middle-aged, straight, white male accountant was the intended audience, but I still love it anyway!

Pearl and the Oysters - Pacific Avenue

Another summery track.  Prepare to be taken away with a chilled out vibe to a Californian beach town.  True escapism.  The album keeps this feeling going.

SZA - Kill Bill

My most listened to song of the year according to Deezer.  It's followed me everywhere and I've never gotten bored of it.  The lyrics still make me smile.

Willie J Healey and Jamie T - Thank You

How can someone from Oxford be this funky?! The whole album has plugged into an attitude that blew me away.  Try listening and not having a little bit of a shuffle or head nod to it. Bonus points for Jamie T who had a great album earlier this year too (check out 90s Cars).

Sufjan Stevens - Will Anybody Love Me?

My vanity almost prevented me from putting on this list.  Sufjan appears many times throughout the years (and the name of the blog comes from one of his songs).  But this is a stonewall classic.  A standout track on a great album.  A proper artist with an incredible ability to trap his emotions in a song.

Hak Baker - Doolally

This is the newest artist to me on this list.  Blimey what a talent.  The album is done as a pirate radio station and segues from songs with different styles with chat between.  This takes me right back to being a teenager getting ready to go out.  Do yourself a favour and spend some time with this album.  First time I listened I thought "cool, this is like a better version of Streets" and by the end I found myself with tears in my eyes listening to the discussion about suicide. (this track is from the "fun" section!)

Fontaines DC - 'Cello Song

This is taken from an album of Nick Drake covers.  Nick Drake means so much to so many people that it is incredibly risky taking on his songs.  But this is a cover that adds a new dimension to stand on its own whilst bringing back memories from my times with the original. 

Janelle Monae - Float 

More summer sun.  I really enjoyed the whole album - a brave and clever evolution from her previous albums.  On one level this is a fun track, but there's so much going on.  As such, it's endured throughout the year.

Flyte - Speech Bubble

I'll finish things by taking them down a notch...

Late night on a train with my headphones on, this song (and album) has relaxed and comforted me to the point I've welled up (and almost missed my stop at Swindon).  You can feel the love that the band have put into crafting this song.  

Hope you find something new and interesting.

Previous playlists here 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012

Songs of 2022

Welcome to my annual look back at my favourite music of the year. Re-reading previous blogs, I realise that I spend most of the "blurb" in shock at how quickly time passes. And had I not done that, this is exactly what I would have done this time! I am a creature of habit (and limited imagination).

I started this series 10 years ago, and I enjoy looking back over the current and previous years to see which songs/artists have stayed with me, and those that I've forgotten. Either way re-listening reawakens old memories.

Being honest, I don't think I've been particularly good at discovering new music this year. I'll blame being busy, but deep down I worry its because I'm getting older and losing my instincts. I'll try to prove myself wrong next year!

Anyway, here we go.

Playlists available on YouTube, Deezer and Spotfiy.

Katy J Pearson - Talk Over Town

A 6 Music favourite and understandably so. Many things in here that tick the box for things I like - acoustic rhythm guitar, powerful female singer, fresh feel, pop sensibilities. Fantastic.

Say She She - Fortune Teller

A recent discovery, but this is such a brilliant song. The album builds on this and is a big recommendation from me. The song has a lovely feeling to it.

Panic Shack - The Ick

This song always makes me smile. Cutting and hilarious lyrics. Though every time I hear it, I worry that I'm the type of guy she's complaining about. "You shusshed me in the cinema!" I think I'm that annoying!

Julia Jacklin - I Was Neon

A welcome return from this incredibly talented artist. Her debut alum is one of my favourites. This track (and the album) has been played repeatedly since release.

Kojey Radical - Gangsta

This has been on my running mix all year and continues to impress me. Great layers to the music and powerful, personal lyrics.

Black Country, New Road - The Place Where He Inserted The Blade

Also a feature on my running mix, I love the sense of space in the song and the musicality. Incredibly sad that Isaac Wood, the lead singer, left the band as this album was released. I feel the rawness of this song shows the challenges he faced. I have no doubt the band will continue to progress and evolve.

Bret McKenzie - America Goodbye

"Brit" from Flight of the Concords released his "serious" solo album "songs without jokes" earlier this year and there is so much to love on it. I'm a huge FotC fan, but have been particularly impressed by McKenzie's development as a musician - he won an Oscar! Well worth checking out. And despite being "serious", there's plenty of wry smiles in the songs. 

Metronony - Things Will Be Fine

Just a really lovely pop song. Metronomy continue to craft fantastic songs. Watching their set at Glastonbury (on tv obviously) was a real memory of the year.

Iraina Mancini - Undo the Blue

A new artist (with incredible music heritage - her dad played with David Bowie). Excited to hear other music that she creates.

Hollie Cook - Happy Hour

Another album that I recommend everyone listens to. Retro reggae vibes that feel so contemporary. A very cool and impressive artist.

Warmduscher - Wild Flowers

Filth. Pure funky filth. Love it.

(warning - includes wonderfully bad language)

And now ... family favourites

Wet Leg - Chaise Longue

Although the single was released in 2021, I'll claim it for 2022. Inappropriately, this is a favourite of Wilf (9 years old). Features on our family summer playlist and always makes me smile. Ted even used it to help learn to play guitar. So pleased to see the band have such a big year.

Harry Styles - As It Was

Time for the the truth ... this was the most played song in our family this year. Like Wet Leg, this featured on the summer playlist that Ted built. As such, it is etched in my memory as the track of the year. And I will defend it as a great song (and album)

Over and out!

Previous playlists here: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018,  2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012

Songs of 2021

What the hell was that?!  It was 2021!  Our crazy world got a little crazier.  I guess we shouldn't have expected anything else.

Fortunately, music remained my mindful companion on the journey and so am compelled to document my favourite tracks of the year.  This is the tenth instalment, which I find a depressing confirmation of how quickly life flashes by.  That said, as I write this, I'm having fun re-living the old lists. 

The creation of this list is a relatively simple process.  Over the year, I add tracks that I've liked to a playlist that lives on my phone.  It's pretty much the only playlist I listen to when running.  This has the unintended consequence of getting bored of tracks released earlier in the year.  So any January/February releases (the best months for new music anyway) that make it here have stood the test of time.  

A further disclaimer, this list is about best songs, rather than albums.  Increasingly I find myself hungry to consume the broader audio picture presented in an album.  But that is woefully pretentious, so here are my personal bangers!

Playlists on YouTube, Deezer and Spotify.

Hamish Hawk - The Mauritian Badminton Doubles Champion, 1973

Undoubtedly the best song title of the year, and my joint favourite song of the year.  The lyrics are brilliant -  amusing and touching - with great underlying musicality.  I smile every time I hear this song.

The Weather Station - Parking Lot

Sharing the trophy for my favourite song of the year, this just brings me in and captivates me.  The use of two drummers creates a depth that fascinates me.  The video helps paint the mysticism.  Love it.

Parcels - Somethinggreater

Take this as a preview of the album.  Funky, nuanced and sonically perfect.  This album has been on repeat in our kitchen in the evening since I stumbled upon it.

Sault - Wildfires

Just wow.  Such a sweet, soulful tune but with such space and layers.  So many new things to hear on each listen.  This is the most "single" song of the album, which is well worth absorbing yourself in.  You can't help but be relaxed by it.   

The Bug Club - We Don't Need Room For Lovin'

A real change of gear, but this is garage band perfection.  Amazing energy and seeming simplicity.  Reciting the alphabet is hilarious and genius (and really hard to mimic). 2 minutes of the best pop punk!

Mogwai - Ritchie Sacramento

Great to see Mogwai back and this track just powers along brilliantly.  Listen for the fuzz bass alone!

The Avalanches - The Divine Chord

Such a tasty little song, it has flavours of the first Avalanches album.  Also featuring MGMT and Johnny Marr.  Amazing how they build great melodies from so many samples.

Hen Ogledd - Space Golf

Anything with Richard Dawson will get me to listen.  This is such a weird but intoxicating song.  Absolutely love it.

Self Esteem - I Do This All The Time

The "Sunscreen" for the younger generation!  Rebecca Lucy Taylor's second solo album is full of positive messages with power pop. Remember that episode of Friends where Rachel lends Chandler a hypnosis tape?  This is how I feel after this ... "I am a strong confident woman".  Much needed!

Parquet Courts - Walking At A Downtown Pace

Every time I listen to Parquet Courts, I want to quit my job and become a professional bass guitarist.  They're just so good.  This song announces their album perfectly.

Public Service Broadcasting - Blue Heaven

PSB are definitely an album band.  They create incredible soundscapes linked around a theme.  The new album is a tribute to Berlin.  This song is a highlight.  Haunting and uplifting.  A fitting end to the playlist I think.

There we go.  Enjoy!

(Prior year playlists here 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012)

 

Songs of 2020

The problem with traditions is that you have to keep doing them! And so I find myself facing my ninth songs of the year list. I love looking back at the old lists, so that's my incentive to keep going - though a big part of me would love to shout "screw 2020!". The list below isn't as adventurous as I would like, Zoom prevented me from exploring music as I first hoped with lockdown. Regardless, music remains vital for my relaxation and I've made some good friends in these songs and albums. Pretty sad that the virtual house arrest of home working means that my friends are now records. Anyway, enjoy!

Khruangbin - One To Remember - For all of their amazing musical skills and complex arrangements, this relatively simple ditty (about post-it notes left around the house) never fails to make me smile.  Chief earworm of the year.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard - John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ - A seemingly simple couple of minutes of lovely guitar pop, succinctly summarise my religion.  I challenge you to not sing along!

JARV IS - House Music All Night Long - I love Jarvis' Cocker's various and projects. This one feels his most ambitious and complete.  This song has some great house sensibilities together a classic Jarvis line: "Goddam this claustrophobia, 'Cause I should be dis-robing ya".

Laura Marling - Held Down - Songs for Our Daughter is my favourite album of the year.  This song buried itself in my head and I obsessively played it on the piano.  I think LM appears on most of my songs of the year reviews. Listened to this whilst reading Abir Mukherjee's Death in the East, no particular connection but both are outstanding and will be inextricably linked in my memory.

Floodlights - Thanks for Understanding - My favourite "new" find of the year. Effortlessly cool Melbourne rock. Love the slacker vibe to it.  Fantastic album too. 

(apologies this is the full album, this is track 6)

Christine & The Queens - La Vita Nuova - A true artist.  Pulls in 80s influences (Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Madonna) and turns it into something truly authentic and powerful. Still need to check out the Thriller style short movie to accompany it.

Eyelids - The Accidental Falls - title track from the album that  I have listened to the most this year. Bought on a whim on a trip to Manchester, inspired by the label from Piccadilly Records. Knowingly REM influenced. Love it.

Arlo Parks - Hurt - I'm excited for the album release in 2021. This is a great song, with powerful story and lyrics, the whole thing comes to life in your mind when listening to it.

Jerskin Fendrix - I'll Wait For It - A strange song in the most fantastic way. The emotion pushes through supported by the mix of synths and various mood changes.

Anna Burch - Tell Me What's True - Gentle, relaxed and warming.  A little bit country.  My sweet spot.

EoB - Brasil - solo project from Radiohead's Ed O'Brien. I really enjoyed it. This track builds and keeps going. Worth taking the time to listen.

Previous playlists here: 2019, 2018,  2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012

Songs of 2019

A bit busy this year, but tradition now dictates that I should keep a log of my favourite songs of the year.  (previous versions here: 2018 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012)

As I get older, I have mini crises of faith, worried that I no longer find music as important, or struggle to find new music.  And then, at moments when I least expect it, I get floored by a song.  This has happened a few times this year - Richard Dawson live on Marc Riley and seeing Electric Kif in Georgia - are particular shout outs.  Though my favourite moment of the year has to be having 110 children singing my own creation back to me with our little Christmas song.  Here's hoping a few of them have got the bug for music.

Here's the list in no particular order:

This Life - Vampire Weekend -  if not may favourite song of the year, then definitely the most played.  The album is really good, with some of the best bass playing I have ever heard. This song does everything that I love about Vampire Weekend.

Jefe - St Germain - a magical night in Athens, GA where this band performed at a rooftop bar with my 2 oldest friends. We had no idea who and they blew me away with their musicianship and smooth sounds. To prove it wasn’t just the beer, I bought their vinyl and have listened repeatedly.

Happy Unhappy - The Beths - great female pop-rock.  I always run faster when this was on. I love the simplicity of the phrase “I was happy, unhappy”.

Vote for Me - The Specials - is there a more prescient song of the year?  Haunting and straight to the point. What a comeback tune.

Juice - Lizzo - a real slap in the face.  Perfect pop dripping in attitude. Love this live version from Glastonbury.

Seventeen - Sharon Van Etten - another great return.  Took me a while to get into this, but it has grown and now I feel her emotion when she sings "Afraid that you'll be just like me”. Live version included to see the energy.

Norman & Norma - Divine Comedy - on one level a funny and clever sitcom in a song, but on the other a tale of romanticism dripping in ordinariness.  Not enough songs reference Norfolk beach towns!

Too Real - FONTAINES DC - pure power and energy.  Love it.

Two Halves - Richard Dawson - what an artist and performer.  There is no-one else like him at the moment and his songs make incredible statements.  This is a lighter one though that  always makes me smile, breaking down the drama of a football game. How many songs could include this line and make it sound poetic: "Stop fannying around, keep it nice and simple” / "You're not Lionel Messi, just pass the bloody ball”

Disco Peanuts - Warmduscher - boom - take that.  What an audio assault.  So much fun.

We Just Saved Christmas Day - Birdlip Primary School - yes it’s narcissistic to include your own music, but I’m proud of this song and the children’s incredible singing.  This was a great project to part of and I hope it provides the kids with a great memory for years to come.

Songs of 2018

So 2018 is nearly over?! Crikey.  A big (and good) year for a number of reasons, though it has passed in a flash.  To quote Basil Fawlty:

“Zoom!” 

"What was that?” 

"That was your life, mate.” 

“Oh."

"That was quick.'

"Do I get another?” 

"Sorry, mate, that's your lot.”

I wrote my first songs of the year blog as a bit of fun and they have become something I look back on in bursts of nostalgia. (They’re full of some cracking tunes, see: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012)

Here’s my frantic attempt to list my favourite songs of 2019 (and here’s a playlist for convenience).  As ever, they probably miss out lots of things (particularly earlier in the year) and my tastes change. 

Enjoy!

Parquet Courts - Total Football

Usually there is no ranking to my lists and that’s kind of true this year.  Except, this song is 100% my favourite of the year.  I love everything about it.  In particular, listen to the bass line.  Incredible.  Listen loud and kick stuff.

Spiritualized - I’m Your Man

Spiritualized have an amazing ability to take relatively simple tunes and build layers to create an strong emotional connection.  This song is no different and takes me back to being a teenager obsessed with “Ladies and Gentlemen, We’re Floating in Space”.

Let’s Eat Grandma - It’s Not Just Me

Being from Norwich always gives you a head start with me, but this band is really exciting. They are scarily young, but this is a really mature recording with great 80s electro influenced production.

Kamasi Washington - Humility

Earlier this year I read: Ted Gioia’s "How To Listen To Jazz" (which really helped an accountant take reassurance that there are rules). This is a great tune, that I used to challenge myself to spot the “rules” in place.  Great fun!

Snail Mail - Heatwave

Like Let’s Eat Grandma, Snail Mail make me realise I am officially an old fart.  This is my favourite type of music.  Raw, heartfelt, simple instrumentation.  Very effective.  She will be an exciting artist to watch.

Anna Burch - Tea Soaked Letter

Another song that fits squarely in my preferences, the album has been listened to on many train journeys this year. I’ll never tire of it.  Check out her session on Marc Riley too.

David Byrne - Everybody’s Coming To My House

For another book recommendation, check out David Byrne “How Music Works”.  In my eyes, he is a genius and I’m in awe of his commitment to creativity.  This song makes me smile every time I listen to it.  The performance below is spectacular:

Baxter Dury - Prince of Tears

This was the first song to go on my “Songs of 2018” playlist that I use to create this blog.  This is usually a death nell as I listen to it so many times through the year.  Not this song.  

Mount Eerie - Now Only

Warning: this is a tough listen.  This album is about the death of his wife only a few months after giving birth to their daughter.  It’s horrific to think about this and the lyrics are so raw, it can floor you. I have found myself listening on the train with tears.  What sticks from this song is the underlying instruction to pull yourself through:  

“Some people have to survive and find a way to be lucky to still be alive”. 

Gulp.

Idles - Danny Nedelko

Oh. My. God. I love this song.  I love this band. Let’s finish the year with a proper mosh.  The music is so good that the lyrics could be about anything, but the fact they make some of the best arguments for inclusivity is genius.  To anyone who makes a narrow minded comment about immigration, quote this: 

My blood brother is an immigrant

A beautiful immigrant

My blood brother's Freddie Mercury

A Nigerian mother of three

And what a performance!

So there it is.  Let’s grit our teeth and show our punk spirit in 2019.  Let’s go and smash it!

Songs of 2017

I struggle to accept that 2017 is nearly over.  But I can’t argue with the calendar.  As I struggle to complete my jobs for Christmas, I was distracted by my self-imposed seasonal tradition of selecting my favourite songs of the year.  

This is largely a record for myself, and I really enjoy looking back at previous years (see 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012).  However, if you have a few minutes spare, do take a listen and hopefully there is something that pleases.  The songs can also be listened to on this YouTube playlist (though annoyingly not Future Islands).

Enjoy!

Shadows - Future Islands

The best duet of the year.  Debbie Harry’s voice is so strong and complements Samuel T Herring perfectly.  I’m not a fan of everything Future Islands have done, but this is a great song.  The performance is full of energy and power.

A Little Uncanny - Conor Oberst

This is possibly my most listened to song of 2017.  A relatively simple song but beautifully executed with acerbic lyrics.  I feel his pain when he sings “I miss poor Christopher Hitchens, I miss Oliver Sachs, I miss poor Robin Williams, I miss Sylvia Plath”.  

Nothing, Not Nearly - Laura Marling

Laura Marling features in almost every year’s review and I could have had multiple entries. Sempa Femina is a brilliant album.  I adore the pace of this song. The descending chord progression in the chorus gets me every time.

Oh Baby - LCD Soundsystem

This is the first song on the new album and it’s the best one.  Relatively slow and takes a long time to build, but that’s the genius - and a statement of the album which mocks the unnecessary rules of popular music.  Despite the intelligent construct of the song, the thing that comes through for me is the desperation and pain in the vocals.  Love it.

New York - St Vincent

It is often easy to get distracted by St Vincent’s style and artistic influence.  But this song allows her songwriting genius to take centre stage.  Whilst the video is visually impactful, again I feel it detracts from a simple and excellently written song.  For those of us who are diaspora from a major city, there is always someone we think of when she sings: “You’re the only mother fucker in the city who can handle me”

Trouble - Girl Ray

A new band for 2017, this has the classic hallmarks of a favourite.  Simple guitar chord progression, tight performance, effortless vocals.  A nice fresh approach.

Spent The Day In Bed - Morrissey

I’m not a fan of putting “popular” artists on here (I can imagine Morrissey spitting that line back at me), but this song needs to be recognised as an instant classic.  The lyrics have all the power of Morrissey, but a refreshingly uplifting message urging everyone to spend the day in bed.  “There’s nothing wrong with being good to yourself"  Never have I been so tempted to take a duvet day...

Take Me Home - Public Service Broadcasting

Every Valley was my favourite album of 2017.  A very well executed album with incredible samples and storytelling.  I found myself humbled by the sleeve notes which include numbers of people killed in mining accidents.  The final song is sung by a choir and sends shivers down my spine every time.  This is a responsible history lesson coated in stunning musicianship. 

As The World Caves In - Matt Maltese

An epic, sweeping song that makes you consider our small place in the world.  At it’s heart is a sweet message (though in the context of a nuclear apocalypse!).  A mature offering from a new artist

We A Famly - Flaming Lips

Yes, this song has truckloads of weirdness and Miley Cyrus as Wayne Coyne’s surprising muse, but this is such a lovely song.  Flaming Lips are a band who have a habit of making songs that make me emotional.

Dreams Tonite - Alvvays

My favourite song of 2017.  A great pop song. Dreamy, catchy, impactful, perfect.  It’s that simple.  The only song that I’ve listened to on loop. I hope you do the same.

Wasn't that fun?!