Top 100 Songs of 2018 - #70 to #61

The Kite String Tangle, Florence + The Machine and Amy Shark!

#100 - #91

#90 - #81

#80 - #71

#70. COUCH

by Eves Karydas

Something tonight makes me ambitious.

The artist formerly known as Hannah Karydas/Eves/Eves The Behaviour and currently known as Eves Karydas had a huge 2018, culminating in the release of her debut album Summerskin. The album stands as one of the finest of the year, with huge pop hooks and electronic jams from one of Australia's brightest exports. 'Couch' was the second single to be lifted from Summerskin and it's ready made for the Netflix and Chill generation... sleek, sexy and there's a couch involved and that's where we all do our best TV watching, yes? Netflix and Chill is about TV watching, yes? As someone that's spent an unhealthy amount of time on the couch watching what seems like every television show ever created, 'Couch' really spoke to me in 2018. Seriously though, 'Couch' is a lot of fun and it's not even the best track on the album... we'll come to that a little bit later. (Matt Bond)

#69. PANIC ATTACK

by Liza Anne

I never learned to pull myself

Out of my own damn head.

I don't know why, but I somehow convinced myself that Liza Anne was from Melbourne, but she's actually from Saint Simons Island, Georgia in the USA. Maybe there's something about her incredibly relatable lyrics that makes it as if Anne could be your next door neighbour or the rocking Aussie indie vibes that made me think this... but I'm wrong (shocker, right?) and I'm sure Saint Simons Island is lovely and will have to visit one day. Anyway, the first time I heard 'Panic Attack' I was in love with all things Liza Anne and had this song on repeat for a long, long time. I'm still going back to it regularly because, even though it feels like even the listener is about to be visited by that old friend anxiety, the music is still incredibly inviting and Anne's voice is something else. Fine But Dying, the brilliant album that 'Panic Attack' comes from, sees Liza Anne tackling her emotional and physical issues head on (in this instance, panic disorders) with incredibly nuanced results. (Matt Bond)

Admittedly, I know very little about Liza Anne, but I do know that very few songs have to ability to speak in ways like they understand you, because they find a place in your head that doesn’t get visited that often, thankfully. But there’s a set of chords and a series of words in this song that does all of those things; their simplicity hiding a deceptively complex process; “This feels like a hot summer night, in a turtleneck, I think I wanna die, but I guess I know I’m fine…” and you’ll know if you know what that means, that you’ll love this song when hearing those subtle words. And here’s kind of hoping you don’t understand. In the nicest way possible. (Jo Michelmore)

#68. DON'T TURN AROUND

by Amy Shark

You just never know, we might dance slow

At somebody's wedding that we used to know.

As I write these words, Amy Shark has just won a bunch of ARIA’s, so it seems kinda silly for me to be sitting in my lounge writing a few words when she clearly has the adoration of a nation beside Matt and myself, but it’s just really nice to know that sometimes dreams do come true, and watching Amy Shark’s dreams unfold has been an absolute delight. On a slightly different topic, note to self; do not enter into a relationship with Amy Shark should the opportunity arise, because one is bound to become the subject of a popular song. Just saying. (Jo Michelmore)

#67. 20/20

by OKENYO

Back to the love we had, I'd do it all again

I'd do it all again.

I’ve got such a dream that one day I’ll randomly switch the ol' telly over to ABC Kids and find (Zindzi) Okenyo on the ol' Playshool, throwing down some old school nasty beats for the kids, rapping in amongst the cardboard creatures, crepe paper streamers and Jemima. I’m sure Jemima likes some hip hop beats.  Not to mention Humpty. But I digress. 20/20 is both sweet pop and superb hip hop and an indication that Okenyo isn’t going to be able to be one of those old school PlaySchool hosts who spent a hundred years hanging out with those toys, because she’s got some old school new school incredible hip hop to be working on too. (Jo Michelmore)

#66. FEELING YOU

by Harrison Storm

I won't let you go

Believe it, I mean it.

Why haven't I been hearing this all over every radio station the past couple of months? What's that all about? There's universal appear in Harrison Storm's 'Feeling You' that should have it on the j's, the Nova's and the 4KQ's (or AM equivalent to wherever you find yourself). Storm has never sounded better than right here and now and I'm pretty sure everyone, with the exception of the seven people that have down-voted the video, will love this from the first listen. So if you haven't already, go and listen to 'Feeling You' and continue to stream it, buy it, request it on the radio... do whatever you gotta do to get this one out there. (Matt Bond)

What a set of ten songs. Two songs by a Shark and one by a Storm, I’m really, really hoping that’s his real name. Like, he was destined to become an artist in some form or other, and with those falsetto notes in 'Feeling You' it’s pretty obvious he had to sing. I’ve got a lot of songs to write about and I can’t google all of them, but if you find out what his real name is, don’t tell me. I like to think he’s a singer by day, some kind of superhero at night. Meanwhile, super good song. (Jo Michelmore)

#65. SKY FULL OF SONG

by Florence + The Machine

From what I've seen so far

The good ones always seem to break.

Us mere mortals continue to be unworthy of the goddess that is Florence Welch. Here's some supporting evidence from the YouTube comments section of 'Sky Full of Song' - "She's a real life siren. I could drown and die in her voice and I wouldn't fight it." "Jesus christ I just had a soul out of body experience. Wow." "After listening to this I just realised that I haven't felt an emotional connection to a song for so long. This just made me feel things again." See... an ACTUAL goddess that is healing people while also possibly luring them to their deaths. Are you not entertained?! 'Sky Full of Song' introduces us to the High As Hope era for Florence + The Machine and found the artist and band at their most stripped back and vulnerable. It's still as perfect as what's come before, but there's even more focus on Welch's voice, arguably the best in the business, and there's not a single thing wrong about that. (Matt Bond)

#64. ENNUI AND ME

by The Kite String Tangle

So you run for cover, cover up your tracks

Until you can find yourself another, with a better pain.

There’s a line in this song, repeated; “You put yourself through hell, just to feel alive, just to feel alive…” which poses interesting philosophical questions, regarding something about what price happiness, is delight worth pain, is to feel alive to feel anything or something or is the feeling of nothing a feeling in itself etc. etc. etc, but when The Kite String Tangle repeats such lines; the sound of strings pushing along the beats, the words floating around, you can’t help but be taken to other places in your mind where everything is peaceful and the questions take over. Taken from his mini-album; The Kite String Tangle Presents: In A Desperate Moment, I can’t help but listen and ask all the (un)important questions…what makes a mini album a mini album and not an EP? What is human existence? Do eleven tracks make a mini album or a major album? What's the real difference? Will anyone other than Matt read these words? (Jo Michelmore)

#63. TAKE IT TO THE HEART

by Odette

I got nothing but power, I'll strike you like lightning.

Breaking out in a massive way in 2018, Odette delivered unto us one of our favourite new voices of the year and a sound that won't be denied. 'Take It To The Heart' can be found on Odette's debut album, To A Stranger, a must-listen for fans of... well music. Because no matter what your musical inclinations are, songs like 'Take It To The Heart' are so easy to get behind. Let is wash over you, get those toes tapping and enjoy the ride that Odette takes you on for just a little over three and a half minutes. Then hit repeat and do it all over again. (Matt Bond) 


I’ve got no idea what the kids are listening to these days, so the first time I heard Odette was actually her Like A Version cover of Gang Of Youths ‘Magnolia’, which was quite lovely, should you wish to youtube that. Also lovely is the sweet, sweet pop that Odette does a lot of, apparently. Ah the things you learn on your phone. Her debut album, To A Stranger is filled with piano, strings and vulnerable lyrics and this one’s got all of those as well as the beats that make you wanna move away from said phone and dance. Just hit that ‘+ADD’ button on your preferred streaming service before you put the phone down. You won’t regret that. (Jo Michelmore)

#62. SATELLITE

by Dustin Tebbutt

I'm a satellite for a fading fire

I'm a satellite for you.

You know, technically a satellite is an artificial body orbiting to collect information, which means the lyrics stating “I’m a satellite for a fading fire, I’m a satellite for you” suggests Dustin Tebbutt is either a little bit stalky, or a little bit sweet.  Let’s go with the former and assume the best, because the uncomplicated, beautiful sounds that are Dustin Tebbutt deserve to be circling the whole earth like those satellites we speak of. (Jo Michelmore)

#61. I SAID HI

by Amy Shark

And I lie awake, thinking what's it gonna take

For my moment to arrive, so sick and paralyzed.

Given just how popular Amy Shark has truly become over the past year, I don't think it's necessary to cover the journey she's taken to get to where she is now. Or that 'I Said Hi' must feel like the most perfect, passive-aggressive fuck you to anyone in the industry that never gave her a chance to get there sooner. Or that seeing Shark living her dream now gives hope to a whole bunch or artists that might have felt like they're never going to get a chance at all once they find themselves waving their twenties goodbye. Instead, let's just put on 'I Said Hi', celebrate all things Amy Shark and say "hi" to everyone we've ever wanted to say "hi" too. Hint: "hi" is code for fuck you right now, k? (Matt Bond)