Top 100 Songs of 2018 - #60 to #51

Ella Hooper, The Presets + Megan Washington!

#100 - #91

#90 - #81

#80 - #71

#70 - #61

#60. CITY LOOKS PRETTY

by Courtney Barnett

Sometimes I get sad, it's not all that bad

One day, maybe never, I'll come around.

Courtney Barnett never really left us, with a Kurt Vile team-up tiding us over between albums, but it was oh so nice to have her back in 2018 with the album Tell Me How You Really Feel. The irony in an album title like that from someone who's copped so much unecessary troll shit is as delicious as the songs that make up the album. Songs like 'City Looks Pretty', which features arguably the most "upbeat" version of Barnett. That comes down to attitude, something she's never been short of in the past and that rocking guitar line. But there's a liberated feeling that's emanating from Barnett's vocal performance as she let's out all those things running through her head. We're all better for it. (Matt Bond)

#59. CLAWS

by Megan Washington

And there's something I love about these intimate wars

If I bare all my skin show me your claws.

Megan Washington, never leave us again. The world is a much better place with you putting new music out into it. Picking up from where 2014's There There left off, 'Claws' shows that Washington remains one of our most relatable writers and finest music makers and when you put those together you get the kind of timeless pop that you know you're going to come back to years from now. She's got claws, but flaws? Get out of here. This music is 100% flawless. (Matt Bond)

#58. TREES

by Ariela Jacobs

I'm just asking for a change.

Our yearly dose of Ariela Jacobs goodness was particularly beautiful this year. Sure, it's beautiful every year, but Jacobs gets better and better with each new release and 'Trees' stands as one of her finest releases. Her performance holds strength and a whole lot of dignity, even in the sadness that comes as she finds herself, "asking for a change." Absolutley goregous in every way and we wouldn't expect any less when it comes to the music of Ariela Jacobs. Here's hoping for a full album of songs like 'Trees' in 2019. (Matt Bond)

#57. 14U+14ME

by The Presets

Yeah, if we pull ourselves together

So much world all at once for us to breathe...

The title may be styled like something I wrote on someone’s pencil case in my middle high school years (do kids still do that kind of thing these days? Do kids still use pencil cases?) but the sound of 14U+14ME is far removed from anything those nuns at my high school would have been happy for me to listen to. A subtle build to pounding beats and a flood of everything The Presets do so well, this could be one of those songs they call a banger. Do The Presets do anything but bangers? If I knew exactly what a banger was I’d let you know. Let me find someone with a pencil case and get back to you on that one. (Jo Michelmore)

#56. TO THE BONE

by Ella Hooper

I'm gonna raise this town

Rip it up, tear it down.

Yes. Yes to Ella Hooper. Yes to 'To The Bone'. Yes to that 90s inspired film clip. Yes to raising this town. Yes to that guy on the cowbell. Yes to that black and white shot at the start of said film clip where Hooper has her back to us and then flips around. Yes to slowing it down. Yes to female symbol earrings. Yes to blowing fireball kisses and then laughing about it. Yes to possibly eating the cowbell guy. Okay... things get a bit out of control on 'To The Bone', but the whole song is out of control in the best possible way. Ella Hooper, delivering unto us the funnest of all the musics once more. And what we want is so much more of this. Please? (Matt Bond) 

#55. BLUE MINDED

by Gretta Ray

Tell me when you wanna go

To where we wanna be the most.

There’s immediate imagery in my mind as soon as Gretta Ray’s voice leaves my speakers, which are backed up by storytelling lyrics and layer over layer of keys, strings and this glorious voice Gretta’s; who won both JJJ’s Unearthed and the Vanda and Young Songwriting Award a couple of years ago and let me say, she deserves ALL of the accolades she’s going to be receiving over the next few years. Such a precious voice, such a way with words and such a calmly passionate sound; I’m a big fan and if you aren’t already, I’m going to predict the future and suggest almost everyone will be sometime soon. (Jo Michelmore)

#54. NOTHING TO REGRET

by Robinson

All of my friends are the reason I'm only

On for the weekend when it's not so lonely.

Robinson? Who is this Robinson we speak of? I’m still not sure, even though I’ve heard this song about a hundred million times this year. I do know she’s from New Zealand, which means someone somewhere is either going to compare her to Lorde, convince us she’s best friends with Lorde or try and start some online feud between her and Lorde. Probably all of the above, if they haven’t happened already. I wouldn’t know, I don’t know who anyone is anymore. I do know I have a silver puffa jacket in my wardrobe that I’ve been attempting to prove is fashionable since the day I bought it. I’ll keep wearing that thanks Robinson, you’re right, I’ve nothing to regret about that purchase. (Jo Michelmore)

#53. ROLLERCOASTER

by Bleachers

So come a little closer

There is something I can tell ya...

The last time I enjoyed a Rollercoaster themed song from a movie soundtrack was the Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Love Rollercoaster’ from the Beavis And Butthead Do America soundtrack, which, for those readers born after 1996, was an excellent film and excellent song and I won’t hear another word of it. This Rollercoaster has nothing to do with that one but is almost as fun. Taken from the Love Simon soundtrack, it’s exactly as it’s titled, a rollercoaster of smashing guitars and a sing along chorus that sticks around in your head long after it’s done. And also, although I know very little about this band, youtube has taught me they make great, amusing clips, should you care to get lost in one of those youtube black holes for an hour or so. You’re welcome. (Jo Michelmore)

#52. MISSING U

by Robyn

There's this empty space you left behind

Now you're not here with me.

Anyone else feeling like they want to go out and dance like it's 2010? Where would I be... I'd be in London. At a club called Fez that had a light up dance floor and ended every night with Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing'. And the drinks would be cheap, but not cheap enough to justify spending all that money on them since all of your money was going to that tiny room in the big, beautiful house you were living in that backed onto a train line. And you went to that retail job and gave no fucks about it because you knew it was a temporary stop to save up enough money to go travel as far away from those neon clothes and tacky bags. And even that job was fun enough. I'm missing 2010 like I've been missing Robyn since she went away. Now that she's back... let's dance. (Matt Bond)   


There’s no one else in the world who does dancing and depression as well as Robyn. She’s pretty much built an entire career around it, which makes me concerned for her emotional state, but completely comfortable with the state of her health, because she must certainly get a lot of cardio training in with all these heartbreaking situations she’s seemingly constantly in, and therefore getting over, by hitting the dancefloor. Do people still hit dancefloors? I don’t know, But if they call songs like this bangers then, broken hearted? Here. Have a banger. (Jo Michelmore)

#51. YOUNGBLOOD

by 5 Seconds of Summer

Remember the words you told me

Love me 'til the day I die?

They might be the last boy band left standing, but 5 Seconds of Summer went from being Australia's answer to One Direction to legitimate pop superstars with 'Youngblood'. It's the highest selling song of the year by an Australian act and the why to that is quite simple to answer really. It's pop perfection. Admit it, you can't resist singing along to one of the biggest choruses of the year. What's a One Direction? It's all about the 5SOS, baby. Okay, probably for this one song only. The Angus and Julia Stone cover ain't too shabby either. (Matt Bond)

Are there five members of 5 Seconds Of Summer? This is something I should find out before I finish typing these words, but I’m busy clicking my fingers and trying to figure out just how many times I may have heard this song this year. A thousand times? A million times? Commercial radio couldn’t have played this song anymore this year or they wouldn’t have fit any Ariana Grande in, so it was pretty much impossible to avoid these guys. A really smart track and album, ‘Youngblood’ moved them from being a band with a loyal pop punk fanbase to a band with a large pop fanbase,  and while it’s not a big switch, it’s a much easier place to grow from and with. PS There’s four members of 5SOS, FYI. Thank you google. (Jo Michelmore)