Top 100 Songs of 2018 - #20 to #11

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

#100 - #91

#90 - #81

#80 - #71

#70 - #61

#60 - #51

#50 - #41

#40 - #31

#30 - #21

#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)