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Tuesday 11 December 2018

Top 100 Songs of 2018 - #10 to #1


Thelma Plum, Cub Sport, Kira Puru + Little May!




#10. ALL YOUR LOVE
by Dustin Tebbutt





Those wide eyes, bright blue
Pulled me from the tide and cold water.


We start our top 10 songs of the year on a calming note, courtesy of singer-songwriter Dustin Tebbutt. 'All Your Love' washes over you like a gentle wave and leaves you in a state of chill. One might say it leaves you feeling ice cold, because it's certainly leaves you feeling cooler than being just cool. You know? Tebbutt has built a reputation for crafting tender indie-folk tunes and this year's Chasing Gold EP provided us with seven of them. It was 'All Your Love' that struck us the most and had us dreaming of a love just like in the song's story. A love that offers a safe place, fills your (cold, dead) heart and leaves you feeling like a brand new you each and every day. Like, I'm happy for Dustin Tebbutt, but right now that feels like some fantasy Grey's Anatomy-level fairytale love and that just ends with a shooter in the hospital, doesn't it Dustin? Doesn't it?! Okay... I've got to go and listen to 'All Your Love' to get that chilled out feeling back. Bye. (Matt Bond)


“All your love it keeps me safe, all your love completes me…”, well, there's the line that means you’re going to be hearing this one at weddings, obviously. Move over Sheeran, Tebbutt is in town. And then you'll hear it on television shows, clearly, where two characters who’ve taken so long to get together because of teledrama tension finally declare their love for each other, just before one is tragically taken in a freak accident, or something. Or even better, a blockbuster rom-com-action-drama-horror film where one character is running down a city street at night, surrounded by headlights and pedestrians, desperately trying to catch another character who’s about to board a train, going to an airport, to leave for ever and ever, because that’s what happens in movies, doesn't it? It’s a song that feels like it’s written for all the greatest stories, the tempo giving a feeling of desperation, but the words giving a sense of completion, a song that feels like a classic from the very beginning. And like the great classics, it’s a song that feels timeless. Appearing in weddings, TV and movies for years to come. And in my favourites list too. (Jo Michelmore)


#9. FLY
by Kira Puru




Brace yourself put on your seatbelt
'Cuz it's gonna be a bumpy ride.


Hello and welcome to Kira Puru Airlines, this is your Captain speaking. Our journey this evening will take approximately three minutes and it's looking like it's going to be a bumpy ride, so please do sit back and enjoy the ups and ups and ups that can only come with the music of 2018 Kira Puru. Puru lived up to her promise of teaching us how to 'Fly' with her most infectious track yet. A track that will have you breaking all the rules; tray tables down, dancing down the aisle when the seatbelt sign is on, stealing those delicious fun-sized bottles of boooooze. When writing about Puru's other signature 2018 track 'Molotov', Jo mentioned how great it is to see Puru winning the hearts of more and more music fans with each release. And as she said, it's so awesome to not only see that happening for KP, but to see her in her musical element, crafting the bestest pop tunes around. The song slays in every aspect, which includes that gorge black and white clip directed by Josh Harris. Anyway, thank you for choosing Kira Puru Airlines and we do hope to see you again soon. Kira Puru, we hope to hear you again even sooner. (Matt Bond)


Put your dancing pants and platforms on, Ms Puru is in the house. Well, not my house literally, she lives in Melbourne, I think, and I live somewhere else a long way away. Kira has come a long way from her days with the Bruise, but the things that made me a fan then are still what draws me in today. She has that kind of cool that is intriguingly intimidating, and a voice that can go from straight up perfect pop through to gut wrenching blues and all the way back to electronica again. With the release of her self titled EP, she’s showing this country and this music industry where she deserves to be, and seeing where her musical future takes her is definitely going to be an awesome journey. As she says; “brace yourself, put on your seatbelt, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride”. I'm in and I so look forward to that Kira. (Jo Michelmore)

 
#8. SLEEP
by Hatchie




Baby, I'm a piece of glass, I shatter so fast
Don't know how long I'll last.


Okay, how many times have we referred to Hatchie's music as dreamy? And now here she is coming at us with a song about hanging out in her dreams and I don't know what your thoughts are on this, but that's some Inception level shit right there and we see you Hatchie. We see you. We also love hearing you on songs like 'Sleep' that take the right amount of influence from 90s alternative, add a touch of Brisbane's signature garage rock, combine those with a healthy chunk of modern electronic-indie and make pure musical magic. We're all smiling in our sleep, Hatchie, because we get to drift off listening to these songs from you that are beyond dreamy. They're so dreamy you'll find yourself daydreaming while listening to them. As Hatchie gains more and more fans at home and abroad, we'll be dreaming of more and more success for Brisbane's own Harriete Pilbeam into 2019 and beyond. (Matt Bond)


Everyone’s always like “Hatchie is so dreamy” (including us, example A as above) and I’m like, yes, definitely, but  ‘Sleep’ is totally daydreamy, conjuring images of green grass and beaches and mountains and the last day of school and some kind of scene in a film where people are hugging and dancing in slow motion and the credits roll on smiling faces….did Hatchie write a song for a film that hasn’t been made yet? It’s a perfect soundtrack song, which means it makes a great addition to life soundtrack, sunny days and a feeling of hope through all of those keys and beats, and the best part is she conjures all of these daydreamy images while making it all sound so effortless. Maybe all those things written about Hatchie being dreamy are right, surely songs this good can only been seen in my dreams. (Jo Michelmore)

 
#7. FLEXIN'
by Tkay Maidza ft. DUCKWRTH




People don't get it, I'm awesome
Talkin', they want me to fail
I am too busy to care.


TKAAAAAAAAAAAY! I said, TTTTTKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY! What up? Hey, remember that time I went to Bigsound and this exciting Adelaide-based MC going by the name of Tkay Maidza got up and absolutely killed her set which included her BLOWING UP THE SPEAKERS? If you weren't around Brisbane in September 2014 then you probably don't remember this, but it was just the most ridiculously amazing thing to happen. In the years that have followed, Tkay Maidza has worked hard to develop her already mad skills on a mic and now here we are in 2018 and she's exactly where we knew she would be. On top of the world, gaining new fans in every country every day, keeping it real and staying humble. On 'Flexin', which teams Maidza with Duckwrth for the first and hopefully not last time, the pocket rocket rap superstar throws out rhymes thicker and faster than ever. While I'm not fully up to date on what a flex means to the young ones these day, I'm digging the attitude that Maidza is rocking. Let's keep the Tkay Slay train rolling into 2019 with even more of this. Thank you in advance, Tkay. (Matt Bond)


I actually feel like I just wanna revisit old words I’ve written and just see if it’s at all possible to describe Tkay Maidza in a different way, because I feel like I’ve written about her a million times, and I’ll listen to her a million times more. It’s because she’s just so incredibly good at what she does, every single release is just as strong as every other, every song making me appreciate her talent a little bit more than the last and every listen ending in me just hitting play again, pretending I have a teeny bit of the rhythm Tkay has, and desperately waiting for the next release. Her EP Last Year Was Weird described my year more than I can explain, but the years are only made better with Tkay in them. (Jo Michelmore)  


#6. MISTAKE
by Middle Kids




You're standing out in the rain tonight
Like you got something to say to God.


2018 was a breakout year for Middle Kids, if by breakout year you mean scoring a tonne of ARIA nominations, taking out the coveted J Award for Album of the Year and winning over fans worldwide with said album. That would be the electrifying debut, Lost Friends, that has made the Sydney-based three-piece into the bonafide rock success of the year. And if you've been living under a rock, which is understandable given the price of living these days, but you find yourself reading this because priorities demand you have phone with internet, I'm going to need you to listen to 'Mistake'. Because once you've listened to it you're not going to be able to stop listening to it and then you'll have to listen to everything Middle Kids have ever released. Which is what happened to me, but I wasn't under a rock, I was in Krakow. A much cooler friend than I (hi Jade!) had posted something on the social medias about Middle Kids so I downloaded their album but life got in the way and it wasn't until I was walking down a street in Poland and 'Mistake' pops up on shuffle and BAM! I'm hooked on Middle Kids. For life. Many things in life end up being a mistake. Loving the music of Middle Kids will not be one of them. (Matt Bond)


Ohmygawd I just wanna dress in baggy pants, eat week old pasta, find my favourite boots amongst a pile of last week’s clothes on the floor and go somewhere strange, to meet a friend who I’m going to know for a hundred years, to drink cheap booze, talk shit about nothing and everything and dream about the mistakes we’re making and where we’ll be in twenty years. And we’ll walk home in the rain because no one can afford cabs and then we’ll do it all again the following week. And I just wanna hit play on ‘Mistake’ every time it ends because I want those riffs to take me back to that place, and I want those words to remind me of that friend and I want those three minutes of Middle Kids to never end because songs that remind you of things you have done and people you have loved are not mistakes, they are the greatest songs ever. (Jo Michelmore)


#5. SOMETIMES
by Cub Sport




You see everything I'm hoping
I'm a river running high.


Well... Cub Sport sure have come a long way, haven't they just? Remember when they were kiddies riding around on their bikes in music videos and singing little indie-pop gems like 'Told You So'? In six years they've grown up and their music has grown up with them, elevating to like super good levels around the same time that 'Come On Mess Me Up' came out. Now, with the release of 'Sometimes', it seems Cub Sport has truly arrived. If you thought the four-piece would be where they're at musically now back in the old Cub Scout days, I've got to tell you... you're a liar and you need to stop lying. 'Sometimes' is the indie dance anthem you never would have seen coming from Cub Scout, but exactly the right kind of amazing that could only come from 2018 Cub Sport. When that chorus hits, you have no choice but to shake it out like you're Tim Nelson standing on maybe a mountain with your shirt unbuttoned, not a care in the world or hair product in sight. A bird tattoo on your stomach... I don't know about that, but I do know 'Sometimes' is much fun, so amaze. (Matt Bond)


Sometimes a song comes along that surprises you. Sometimes bands who you’ve liked but never loved will do something that resonates in a way you can’t explain. Sometimes the sounds songs make will take you to places you’re sure you’ve been, or movies you’re sure you’ve seen, or rooms you’ve been, and those sounds really make you smile. Sometimes you hear a song which makes you start searching back catalogues, makes you turn around and visit albums you haven’t been to for years, or met at all, and sometimes that song will give you a new appreciation for all the things you’ve missed. Sometimes you get in one of your best friend’s cars and they put on a song you weren’t expecting and sometimes that song becomes one of your favourites of the year. (Jo Michelmore)
 

#4. CLUMSY LOVE
by Thelma Plum




I can only love you twice as much before you fuck this up.


After what felt like forty-five years without new music from Thelma Plum, we were treated to 'Clumsy Love' this year. I would very much like this to be the start of the build to us finally hearing the debut album from one of our all-time faves. Was it three years ago that Jo and I went to see Thelma in Brisbane performing songs from her debut? Songs about ice-cream and love and losing that love and did I mention ice-cream? 'Clumsy Love' shows that Ms Plum has only gotten better during her time away, putting together her catchiest, most immediately engaging track yet. It's fun pop, elevated by words from one of the best songwriters in the business. Maybe all this love is because Thelma Plum manages to get the word fuck into all of her best songs, but sings it in the sweetest way possible. Or maybe it's because she makes music that's so heartbreaking so much fun. Whatever it is, don't ever stop doing you, Thelma Plum. (Matt Bond) 


Thelma, oh Thelma, how I’ve missed you. I played that Monster EP until I knew it like the back of my hand and I listened to that Rosie EP until it became an integral part of that year. Those EPs knew me better than I knew myself for a little while. So when ‘Clumsy Love’ came into my existence this year, it was like meeting an old confidante again, a friend who knew all my secrets, coming back to say hi. The familiarity in voice with the sparkle of new words was more than I could have imagined. The bounce in all the sounds combined with Thelma’s sense of beautifully awkward is exactly everything I didn’t even know I missed until it came rushing back, and I can only hope she does exactly as she repeats; “don’t keep me hanging on” for another four years Thelma. I adore you so, so much. (Jo Michelmore)


#3. LOVER
by Little May




You threw me out in the water and turned around
Don't let me drown.


Liz Drummond. Hannah Field. Little May in 2018, this is what we're living for. Because with the release of their new single 'Lover', we know we're going to be treated to a whole album of music this brilliant in 2019. I really don't know where to begin with this one. How do you put into words how happy you were to hear something new from a band you've listened to more than any other over the past couple of years. Their debut, For The Company, was on repeat for a long, long time. So what came next from the now Field and Drummond-led outfit had a lot to live up to. Not that we had any fears they wouldn't be living up to the high benchmarks they've set in the past. It's sort of a thing with Little May to see those benchmarks and smash through them as they soar higher with each new release. And 'Lover' has Little May soaring higher than ever before. They're leaning heavily into their rock influences on a track that makes you want to jump around from start to finish, cursing those that have wronged you... but secretly you're hoping they're going to make it up to you because they're supposed to be your friend. What? Clap along, sing along and fall in love with the music of Little May all over again. What's even better is we'll get to do it all of next year once we get our hands on that sophomore album. Love love love. (Matt Bond) 


While attempting to come up with words about one of my favourite songs of the year by one of my favourite bands, I started to read some things on the internets, which took me to a review someone had written when this song was first released. It was a very favourable review, but it went into great detail about the composition of the song and chords and major minor blah blah and some such things; which made me feel like WTF, I know nothing about music. What am I even doing pretending to write words about it? But then I hit play again and the sounds came out and I realised the most important thing. I know what I love and I love it hard. I know the sound of Liz Drummond and Hannah Field make music I relate to, because their voices make me feel hopeful, the instrumentation always makes me feel alive and I know I don't need to know much more than that. 'Lover' was one of the greatest songs of the year, by one of my favourite bands of the ever. And that’s more than enough to know. (Jo Michelmore) 

#2. MAKE ME FEEL
by Janelle Monae




Should know by the way I use my compression
That you've got the answers to my confessions.


"Baby, don't make me spell it out for you." Janelle Monae is on another level. She's a real life musical super hero, here to save the day with funk infused dance anthems that double as on point responses to questions that shouldn't really matter concerning her personal life. I'm not sure if there's an artist that's more of a total package than she is. Beyonce? More like Bey-schmonce. Tay? Nay. JT? What year are you living in? Look, I'm not actually dragging any other act or anyone's taste in music. We all know that's subjective. But to me, no other act in music is on the artistic level  that Janelle Monae is. She's created a character to live her music through, she's championing minorities in the most creative and clever ways, she's a fashion icon, but most importantly, she makes damn good music that makes you want to dance and puts a smile on your face. That's just the way Janelle Monae makes me feel. Hopefully she's got you feeling the same. (Matt Bond)


It’s taken me many, many listens (and I'm not complaining about that) to figure out what it is about this track that makes it so good. There’s the obvious; an extreme bass line impossible to ignore that makes you move, whether you like it or not, the keys that bring the feel of funk from so many artists before her, the obvious influence of the late, so very great Prince in those chords, but there’s something else. There’s something that’s not as pronounced, but so very important. It’s the confidence she presents it all with; it’s the references to soul greats before her with each breath, the self-assured way she gives a “good god” like the legends of funk she references, it’s the presentation of pop being as important as it is. All of that and it’s the way every single note sits together within each other to feel really, really good, which is what all the music, all of the time, should make you feel. (Jo Michelmore) 


#1. SOCIETY
by Ainslie Wills




I've always done exactly what I'm told
But that ain't gonna work for me no more.


This. This is 2018. So, if you're of a certain age and you're trying to get through the day at work, pay the bills, eat right, get enough sleep, drink enough water, watch all of the TV shows, spend time with people that actually matter, get some exercise, be a "good" person, fall in love, buy a home and/or try to have it all (whatever that means)... do I have the song for you. On 'Society' Ainslie Wills reminds us the struggles that come with everyday life aren't a unique experience. "What am I doing with my life? I feel like I should be hitting some kind of mark." Please raise your hand if that's a question you’re asking yourself on the daily. This isn't just a song... it's you listening to your life and wondering how this total stranger knows you so well. "What is this life we're looking for? I feel I want to make it known that I might disappoint you and I'm sorry if I do." Ha. Same. Sigh. Ainslie Wills has worn her heart on her sleeve on 'Society', putting into words so many things we try to laugh off and not say to each other. "I just want someone to love me quietly, for who I am for real and not for who I try to be." Just another thing to blame on society. Anyway, best not to dwell on these sorts of things, right? Oh and we love you for who you are for real, Ainslie. So much. (Matt Bond)


She says it right there, in the middle of the song; “I need a break from this anxiety”. Don’t we all. Of all our songs, this is not the one that jumped out at me, it’s not one of the ones that demanded I dance and it’s not a song that I’ve been singing all day for months. This is the song that slowly crept in, the one that reminded me when I least expected it. You see, I need this kind of song every now and then. Because I never blame the others, I never blame the outside, for anything and everything. I rarely blame anyone but that weird looking girl in my bathroom mirror who stares back at me every day. That’s the face I mostly can’t stand, she’s the one who sees it all, she’s the one who didn’t say the things she should have, who doesn’t really understand what all the others have and she’s the one I always blame for suggesting there’s something more. That girl though, who I’m sure is much like Ainslie Wills’ girl in her bathroom mirror, well she’s just doing all she can, outside, walking the streets at night, trying to make the wrongs right, trying to get all the fears out of her mind and desperately trying to please a million people all the time. Which is exactly why a song like ‘Society’ arrives quietly, at exactly the right times, because that mirror girl needs it to. Sometimes, someone else needs to ask the questions and take the blame and Ainslie Wills reminded us all of that this year. Things are going to go wrong, things are going to go right, but most of the time, I need to go easy on that weird looking girl in the bathroom mirror, she has rough days too. She also has great taste in music. Best to make friends with her…and blame it all on society. (Jo Michelmore)


2018 Scene Award for Song of the Year:
Winner: 'Society' by Ainslie Wills
Runner-Up: 'Make Me Feel' by Janelle Monae


2017:
Winner: 'Let Me Down Easy' by Gang of Youths
Runner-Up: 'Green Light' by Lorde


2016:
Winner: 'Black Smoke' by Emily Wurramara 
Runner-Up: 'Simulation' by Tkay Maidza


2015:
Winner: 'Clip My Wings' by Montaigne
Runner-Up: 'Hold On Together' by Jeremy Neale ft. Phoebe Imhoff


2014:
Winner: 'Uh-Huh' by Tkay Maidza
Runner-Up: 'How Much Does Your Love Cost' by Thelma Plum


2013:
Winner: 'Royals' by Lorde
Runner-Up: 'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams


2012:
Winner: 'Heart Says Yes (Head Says No)' by Texas Tea
Runner-Up: '212' by Azealia Banks ft. Lazy Jay


2011:
Winner: 'Somebody That I Used To Know' by Gotye ft. Kimbra
Runner-Up: 'Cameo Lover' by Kimbra


2010:
Winner: 'Not In Love' by Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith
Runner-Up: 'XXXO' by M.I.A 

                

Monday 10 December 2018

Top 100 Songs of 2018 - #20 to #11


E^ST, Olympia, Childsih Gambino + Bec Sandridge!




#20. FOR YOUR LOVE 
by Montaigne




Wait just a minute is that a glitch
Did I get a glimpse out?


I was so excited that Montaigne was back with a new song that it took about a week for my mood listening to 'For Your Love' to change from happy to kinda sad. Kinda sad because you can never be 100% sad listening to Montaigne and sad at all because a lot of those words are heartbreaking in a 'this is what happens when young love goes wrong' way. You might not have realised it at the time, but if you've ever been in a thumbs down relationship on reflection, the verses in 'For Your Love' will have you screaming, "SAME!" in Montaigne's direction. Please don't shout at Montaigne. "Like a seal you can train me, tame me, estrange me from my family, make my life a fantasy, take advantage of the fact that I am young and don't know what to run from." If this is that same jerk from 'Because I Love You', I mean like... I won't do anything except shake my fist at the sky because of someone I don't even know. I guess? But if it is that same person, they're a real dick but thanks for allowing Montaigne to make such beautiful music? Conflicting emotions are being experienced. Yep. Montaigne's definitely back. And there are no mixed feelings on our end about that. (Matt Bond)


Let’s start at the end of this song and work our way backward and give a large round of applause to Montaigne for using the (not often used these days) fade out at the end of ‘For Your Love’, which slapped me in the face, reminding me how few songs use this technique anymore. Where did it go? It faded out, obviously. So let’s jump back to the start of the song and give a large round of applause for the use of some kind of technical voice changing thingo (please appreciate my technological knowhow here) which makes the beginning sound like something from the glorious 80s, and reminded me of how few songs use this technique well these days. Then if we jump into the middle of this song let’s give a large round of applause to Montaigne for being Montaigne; a voice from who another world and the confidence and ability to use it, the talent to write things that make you move, make you think and make you love all of the music, all of the time. Let’s just end this with a large round of applause to Montaigne. (Numerous hand clap emoji). (Jo Michelmore)

 
#19. ANIMAL
by Bec Sandridge




I guess that's what the cool kids would do
Oh I think we're animal.


Fuck yes, superstar disco rocker Bec Sandridge! Now this is a track I could embarrass myself to on ze club dancefloor, drink in hand and spilling it everywhere and on everyone and not even caring. This is a track I could listen to in the car, on repeat, and sing along to EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT... with the windows down. This is not an emergency, people. Actually, this IS an emergency. This is the song you've been waiting for that makes you forget your worries and have some fun. Like, it's almost dangerous... you could make some mistakes tonight listening to 'Animal'. And you'll want to make those mistakes. Because we've already covered that Bec Sandridge has made you stop caring about all those boring things holding you back. She just wants us to dance. Let us oblige her. Also, if you do make some mistakes after listening to this, Bec Sandridge is not liable, not that I've tried to get money out of her for anything or made a mistake yet but I'm like 65% sure she wouldn't be liable. (Matt Bond)


#18. TIME
by Gretta Ray




Time held us in her arms, she loved us hard...

It’s like no time has passed (I know, thank me for that clever line later) since I first heard Gretta Ray’s EP; Here And Now, this song quietly packing just as much of a subtle punch now as it did the first time I heard it, and has done every time since. Is it the repeated lyric; “Time held is in our arms she loved us hard and for the longest…” or is it the lone, incredibly pretty piano keys or is it the constant heartbeat of percussion that wraps itself around one’s emotions? I’ve only so much of the time she sings of in my entire life, but I will always be happy to give so much of that time to such beautiful songs as this. (Jo Michelmore)


#17. THIS IS AMERICA
by Childish Gambino




I'm so fitted
I'm on Gucci
I'm so pretty!


As an American, which I am not, I think that this Donald Glover kid has a bright future ahead of him in the entertainment biz. I mean, he was responsible for one of the biggest moments in 2018 pop culture. No... I am not talking about the Solo Star Wars Movie in which Glover stole the show in the all too brief moments he appeared on screen. I'm not even talking about the critically acclaimed television series Atlanta that not only stars Glove, but is also written and has episodes directed by him. What I'm talking about is the release of Childish Gambino's (Glover's musical alter-ego) 'This Is America', which completely held the world's attention upon its release in May. As a song it's great, but when combined with the video as an art piece, it really was something else. In a year full of shocking and powerful moments from artists, did any hold more impact than Gambino pulling the trigger on the hooded man in the chair followed up by the way he deadpans the opening line and song title? If anything was going to tell you that Glov-bino wasn't playing around anymore, that should have been it. Or was it when he massacred the gospel choir? Or the juxtaposition between the distracting dancers and the utter chaos in the background. Maybe that's what best represents the image left by the United States of America at the end of 2018. But, as an American, which I am not, I probably shouldn't comment on that. (Matt Bond)


Is this America? I don’t actually know, I’ve never been. I imagine it would be pretty much like this song though, incredibly awesome, totally confronting, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, visually equally stunning and distressing and calmy chaotic and probably completely misunderstood. Childish Gambino said all the things so many people needed to hear and presented so many things people needed to see with this clip and he managed to do it with one of the most incredibly catchy songs of the year. It’s a life and a music lover’s dream.  Now we need to protect it and ensure the message doesn’t get lost along the way. Like, I’m waiting for some corporate type person without a foot in reality, in a high rise office with incredible views to attempt to turn this into a tourism anthem, which Donald Glover will so fiercely not allow to happen (and rightly so), which will result in a court case….and don’t pretend you can’t imagine that happening. This Is America. (Jo Michelmore)
 


#16. THE END OF LOVE
by Florence + The Machine




We were reaching in the dark
That summer in New York.


Now, I've never had a wild summer romance in New York that ended with someone ghosting me, but Florence Welch is doing a damn good job of convincing me I have on 'The End of Love'. If you don't lose yourself in Lady Flo's voice from the moment the string orchestra's introduction ends then I just don't know what to say to you. I'm sorry... about your cold, dead heart. On 'The End of Love', we have a much more straight up story than we've grown accustomed to when it comes to Florence + The Machine. Our leading lady met someone in NYC, had some good times and then this fella, that can only be described as a complete jerk face decided to smoke bomb because... reasons... and the guy is possibly Joshua (?) from the bible but that must be a metaphorical thing that's flying way over my head. Don't even care though because once that chorus hits I'm back on board with the whole G.O.D thing because that is the voice of an angel singing to you about a summer fling that may or may not have been yours. Seven blessings to you, Florence Welch. (Matt Bond)


I gave the Florence Welch book of lyrics and poems ‘Useless Magic’ to Matt earlier this year. I’ll admit, I did have a good little look through it before I wrapped it and admittedly, I put it in the paper and started taping it as soon as it started to make me cry, which was very early on in the pages. Which brings me to ‘The End Of Love’ because if one is moved to such emotion at the mere sight of words, imagine how one feels when said words are placed with music, a piano, a voice, all of the voices and some strings….one can’t describe that, when one is describing such immense beauty, and one shouldn’t. Press play. (Jo Michelmore)
 


#15. BLOWJOB
by E^ST




Looking at you, looking at us
Why are we so damn hard to love?


There are songs that speak to what is often referred to as the human experience. Songs that anyone would be able to listen to and relate to because they're not about stupid inconsequential shit, they're about thoughts and feelings that we all have that we don't often talk about with the people we care about. You might not think that a song called 'Blowjob' would be one of those songs, but if you're put off by that title and can get the fuck over yourself for a second you'll get to experience this really lovely heartbreaking and heartwarming song. Maybe you're feeling a bit lonely. We've all been there, right? And who hasn't wanted to feel that crazy little thing called love when they're not getting it in the way they need? And hey, if that's not working for you then yeah maybe you've been pissed off because life's led you to the point of facing another bj you just don't wanna give. E^ST is giving it her all and catering to all your musical needs on 'Blowjob'. Perfect from start to finish and how about that piano/vocal finish? It's perfect. I just said that, pay attention. (Matt Bond)


Give ‘em or take ‘em, there’s never been a better song written about them. Make of that what you will. (Jo Michelmore)

 
#14. DAMN LOYAL
by Eves Karydas




But loyalty means I have friends
If you run then you're gonna get done.


Oh, to be young and carefree again. Okay, I'm going to stop with this thing I've had going on where I'm acting like I'm eighty-five and every song is making me look back on my glory days. Eves Karydas is probably five years younger than me and I'm acting like I could be her grandfather so yeah I'll stop... after we talk about 'Damn Loyal', the most magnificent moment on an album full of them (Summerskin) that Karydas released in 2018. You only need one listen to get where I'm coming from in regards to that whole 'young and carefree' thing... the imagery Karydas puts in your head throughout 'Damn Loyal' is essentially the musical embodiment of those words. There's something very Lorde-y about Karydas' performance on the track and I know comparisons are kinda blurgh but I mean that in the most positive way because I love Lorde and if I was going to be compared to Lorde I would be very okay with that. This is mighty fine Australian electronic pop right here. It'll take you back, you know? (Matt Bond)

#13. I'M WITH YOU
by Vance Joy




Well I've been on fire, dreaming of you
Tell me you don't, it feels like you do.


I am confusion. There's this brilliant ballad called 'I'm With You' on Vance Joy's second album, Nation of Two, that's just him singing his heart out alongside a really nice guitar line and some random, atmospheric sounds every now and then. It's sparse, but it's everything it needs to be to sell the words in the song. It's so good that I could listen to it on repeat and never get sick of it. It's so good a gorgeous friend walked down the aisle to it a couple of months ago and now when I listen to it I'm thinking of how happy she was in that moment. It's so good to know that there are still these music makers out there that only need their voice and the instrument in their hands to make something as awesome as this. And then, I'm assuming, a record company random comes along and decides we need to fuck up perfection because, "radio ain't gon' play nothing like dis," (direct quote from record company executives, 1960 - 2018) so they speed it up and they make it into a "single" version for no good reason with a full band or something. It's fine, but the original album version, as the artist intended, is exceptional. Please explain? Rant over, I am sorry, I love this song - thank you Vance Joy etc. etc. (Matt Bond)  


I had this weird thing where I’ve been thinking about this song and what I’ll say about the lovely simplicity of it, and then I realise my words could be out of synch with the version of the song that most people who listen to commercial radio or suggested streaming services, because theres’s a re-released version which may be slightly more well known (popular?) than the version I’m about to write about. But then I started thinking about the things I like about the song, things Vance Joy always does well; the intention, the sing song sing along way he has with words, the emotional build he creates with his chords…and I realised he’s managed to include them in both versions, and then I thought; yes. There’s some emotional and musical maturity in that and he’s got so much of both. Both versions, I’m with you Vance. (Jo Michelmore)
 
 
#12. STAR CITY
by Olympia




Shaped by it, fed by all this time
Carrying around someone else's dream...


Olympia's music was so easy to love before but then 'Star City' came out, both the song and the video, and I don't even think I can put this love that we have for Olympia into the words that she's deserving. WE'RE NOT WORTHY! What does 'Star City' make you want to do? It makes me want to go to university again and get a degree in engineering and then gain 1000 hours pilot-in-command time on a jet aircraft before passing the NASA long-duration astronaut physical so I can go into space and play this song and party in space because this song is so good it's out of this world. That's what it makes me want to do and yes I did just look up how you become an astronaut. The accompanying video could very well be the best video of 2018, perfectly complimenting the song. The last version of Olympia that appears in the clip is exactly how I pictured her in my mind listening to the song too. And me... I want that outfit. In 2018, Olympia delivered once more. If there's a whole album of tracks like this coming in 2019, next year is already a winner in our book. (Matt Bond)


Why don’t we know more about Olympia? Why don’t I hear more of Olympia? How come people don’t wear more yellow tulle? Why aren’t more songs so catchy? Why are people not dancing on their desks in their dull offices to songs like this? How is Olympia not the Queen of Australian pop or rock or indie fusion? Why isn’t indie fusion a thing? Why didn’t rubber gloves ever become fashion? How is Olympia so effortlessly cool? Why don’t more people ask more important questions like this? Why don’t I get to wear tinsel more often? How good is Olympia? So many questions; one important answer. She’s very, very, very good. (Jo Michelmore)


#11. FADE
by Annie Hamilton




You're in my mind again...


I was a little bit single-tear emoji when the news broke of Annie Hamilton's departure from Little May. History lesson that you probably already know coming at ya... Annie Hamilton was a member of Little May, where we were introduced to her awesome voice and guitar playing powers and then she left the band and we weren't sure if we would get to hear said awesome voice again anytime soon but then this song 'Fade' came out and we all rejoiced and stopped leaving tributes to the pagan gods we worship for her to come back. That went a bit drunk history, but seriously... is 'Fade' not just an incredible song? Hamilton shines on the track, with the lines, "you're in my mind again," becoming this overwhelming mantra until that sweet, final time its sung that will have you instantly hitting repeat. It should be no surprise that the music is guitar-led, but the way it builds to a crescendo of guitars circling around Hamilton's voice is going to knock your socks off. Yes please more please, Annie Hamilton. This is just the best. (Matt Bond)


“Waaaaahhhh!” and there I was, pretty much my exact reaction when Annie Hamilton departed from one of my favourite Australian bands, for fear that I would never hear form them again, or never hear from her again (but more about them later). “Weeeeeee!” and there it is, pretty much my exact reaction when I heard ‘Fade’, Annie’s first single after departing from previously mentioned band, and what a song it is. So full of sound, I’m so full of love for it, still now, months after it’s release I’m impressed by the build even though I know it’s coming and so impressed with her vocal even though I know just what she sounds like. Here’s hoping I hear so much more form her in 2019, so I can make other weird and awkward sounds with everything she releases. “Woooooo!” (Jo Michelmore)