#20. DELETE YOU
by Handsome
Set me up to lose like I can't refuse (and I can't let go)
Got me chasing you like I never do (oh I want you to know)
My incredible Google research powers tell me that Handsome is the musical alias of Caitlin Park (yes, the amazing Caitlin Park!), who is based in Sydney and crafts what she calls tomboy pop. My incredible listening to music powers tell me that Handsome is the fucking bomb and ‘Delete You’ is one of the best songs of the year. It didn’t even take me the thousand or so times I’ve listened to it to figure these things out. Just that first, glorious listen that made me want to hear those call and response lines and that booming chorus again and again and, like Handsome herself, dance it out until the heart’s forgiven. Tomboy pop, electro pop, pop pop pop... whatever you want to call it, this is just too good. More please. (Matt Bond)
You know how sometimes you're watching a clip to a song and it gets you thinking about something and so you search for something else which gets you thinking about something else and then next thing you know it's three hours later and you're watching clips of garbage trucks on youtube? I love how pop is a reflection of life and in a hundred years will anyone know what Handsome meant about our lives when she sang something about deleting someone in her own time, because will social media even exist then or will we all be virtual-ing everything and will music even be music anymore because surely spotify will have disappeared and will any of us even exist then because climate change and the internet and this is a dark hole I didn’t expect to be in….best get back out and listen to some pop music to take my mind off things. This one by Handsome will do it.... (Jo Michelmore)
#19. QUEEN OF HEARTS
by Sahara Beck
If the sky can take the rain
Baby I can play the lonely game of loving you
Sahara Beck has arrived, peasants. Tremble in the presence of musical greatness. She is the true Queen of the North (hailing from the Sunshine Coast), breaker of musical boredom, first of her name. On ‘Queen of Hearts’, Beck stakes a claim to the pop music crown, with snappy lines and a hook that refuses to budge from your head. It’s a huge moment for an artist who has been working so hard over the years to put out consistently top quality tracks. Have Beck or the song received the attention they deserve? Nope. Not even a little. But when the music’s this good, it can’t be ignored for much longer. Here’s to a huge 2020 for Sahara Beck. (Matt Bond)
#18. A HUNDRED MILLION YEARS
by Texas Tea
I'm not lonely, who told you that I was?
It seemed like a hundred million years between new releases from our favourite Brisbane-formed Alt Country duo. But the music gods were kind to us in 2019 and brought Texas Tea back to us with the brilliant album, Röda Tråden, which was home to its first track, ‘A Hundred Million Years’. Do you get the opening line now about how long the wait seemed? Do you get it? Do you? Good. Texas Kate’s soaring vocals return on a track that will warm the heart just as much as it will break it in the way only a Texas Tea track can. Plus there’s horns so bonus points for the arrangement. Texas Tea keep on getting better and better. We’d happily wait another hundred million years to hear more from them. (Matt Bond)
#17. RETROGRADE
by Maggie Rogers
But heartache feels the same
And I know we've both been here before
Appropriate that I should love a song that references a Stevie Nicks lyric, because anyone who appreciates Ms Nicks must have a little something I’m going to relate to. But is moving in retrograde about moving backward or is one in retrograde merely appearing to move backward, because I’m going to suggest while she sings about it very well, Maggie Rogers has no where to go but forward with beats like these. I can’t even decide if she’s angsty or ecstatic about her state of retrograde, but I guess that’s what makes it so addictive, every listen a different take but every listen a little more love. (Jo Michelmore)
#16. COOL AS HELL
by Baker Boy
I been feeling like a lone wolf
Dancing in the street light howling at the moon
I could make this easy and say just head back to number 74 and read that again to see how I feel about Baker Boy, but I’ll just take this opportunity to also say that this song is one of the many reasons I love music so, so much. Because what Baker Boy does in this song is exactly what music does so often, takes me somewhere else (mostly emotionally, but sometimes physically as well) and for just a couple of minutes makes me feel pretty much something I never think I am. Every time I hear a song like his, just for a second I feel so cool as hell, something that I’m pretty sure Baker Boy is all of the time. (Jo Michelmore)
#15. TALK DEEP
by E^ST
Lying in your bed we're losing track of time
You say what's in your head, I say what's on my mind
Melisa Bester has a way of taking the most important, relatable things and moments in your life and turning them into songs that anyone who has lived can love. Last year, it was... the blow job... um, but this year THIS YEAR it’s something a little deeper and oh boy, no puns. This year it’s that very basic yet essential need we have to connect with at least one person that gets us, that we can say anything to without fear of judgement... our very own Meredith Grey/Cristina Yang ‘person’. ‘Talk Deep’ puts this desire to connect into a charming three and a half minute package that will take you back to all of those moments in your life that had you staying up all night to talk about everything and nothing. Just like those moments, ‘Talk Deep’ will leave you feeling like everything is okay in the world. Even if it is just for three and a half minutes. (Matt Bond)
Does anyone write songs that describe things so exactly perfectly as E^ST does? I can't think of a song that describes Saturday 3am as a nineteen-year-old better. Ok, twenty-three-year-old. Ok ok, thirty-one-year-old. Look, I’m not going any further than that. The point is everyone’s been there, and E^ST has managed to write a song about how damn fun it is to like someone so much that you don’t care about whatever it is you have to do the next day at 9AM, 8AM, 7AM, whenever AM…I don’t know what you do with your life. The bounce in this is the bounce in your stomach with every word in the middle of the night and the percussion means who needs sleep anyway? When the music is this good, no one. (Jo Michelmore)
#14. WEAK
by Jack Colwell
You say I'm weak, you say I'm small
I'll never be anything but a punchline
So I have to admit a huge mistake... Jack Colwell appeared earlier in the countdown at number 50. It said ‘Weak’ when we were reviewing his other 2019 song ‘In My Dreams’. We (I) make the occasional stuff up with these countdowns, to err is human and all that. But a huge sorry to Jack Colwell who was #50 with ‘In My Dreams’ and is here at #14 with ‘Weak’. Please go and find the video for ‘In My Dreams’, listen to it a hundred times, fall in love and then come back here to listen to ‘Weak’, fall in love with Jack Colwell’s music more and then we’ll laugh and laugh at my mistakes. My embarrassment over this whole situation makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come out, so I’ll leave the praise for ‘Weak’ to Jo, but I’ll just say the lyrics are a real punch in the face and we love you Jack Colwell! (Matt Bond)
The most interesting thing about writing and performing a song like 'Weak' is exactly the opposite of weak, which is to say that someone who can turn themselves inside out and then put that into a song for all the world to hear is a much stronger person than most, let alone talented, whether they realise it or not. The strength in Jack’s vulnerability is astounding, relatable and so, so beautiful…all the things that make me love Jack Colwell more with every release. (Jo Michelmore)
#13. I AM NOT AFRAID
by G Flip
I am not afraid to do this alone
I know that it scares you but I am my own home
G Flip had a huge year. Debuts on the hottest 100 in January, sell out shows, one of, if not the best debut album of 2019. Not too shabby, right? The musical creations of Georgia Flipo made the perfect soundtrack to get us through the year, with ‘I Am Not Afraid’ in particular finding a special place in the hearts of fans. It feels like a huge moment, a realisation that everything is going to be okay. It’s the moment of clarity after the storm has passed. It’s knowing that you come equipped with everything you need to get through this because you’re you. And hey, dear reader, you’re great. We know it, G Flip knows it and you should know it too. From the opening admission of being fine with feeling lonely, G Flip takes you on one hell of a self love ride. That it comes with a booming chorus and Flipo voice sounding better than ever before is a pretty sweet bonus. (Matt Bond)
I can’t imagine 2019 without G Flip in it. I have listened to her album probably more than any other, she has been a constant on my recently played lists, I saw her play live twice and I must have mentioned her enough as I was gifted some G Flip merch for Christmas, so she’s also become part of my wardrobe as well. All of that and she was responsible for the ultimate thing my favourite music does, she inspired me by writing some of my favourite words of the year in this song, something that has become a bit of a mantra for me since I heard them, the ones up above, and partly because I relate to the words so well, but also because so often, when I don't feel them, I so need to. (Jo Michelmore)
#12. TRUTH HURTS
by Lizzo
by Lizzo
I just took a DNA test, turns out
I'm 100% that bitch
I would like to thank Lizzo for allowing myself and many others to finally recognise that we are indeed 100% that bitch. Sure, we may or may not be living the messiest of lives but we, like our new Lordess of light, handle things with class, dignity and a new man on the Minnesota Vikings. What? Lizzo captured the world’s attention with ‘Truth Hurts’ and it doesn’t look like she’s going to let us go for a long time yet. And why would we want her to? Don’t be bom bom bi dom bi dum dum, bay. Don’t be like that. (Matt Bond)
2019, the year of Lizzo. What can I say about her that hasn’t already been said? Not much, so I’ll just say I’m a little bit sick of hearing about controversies, who said what, who wore what, who wrote what, who called who what, who actually cares, is anyone listening to what’s going on here? This isn’t 2019 the year of Lizzo. This is 2019, the year of really good music. (Jo Michelmore)
2019, the year of Lizzo. What can I say about her that hasn’t already been said? Not much, so I’ll just say I’m a little bit sick of hearing about controversies, who said what, who wore what, who wrote what, who called who what, who actually cares, is anyone listening to what’s going on here? This isn’t 2019 the year of Lizzo. This is 2019, the year of really good music. (Jo Michelmore)
#11. I LIKE TO DANCE
by Alex The Astronaut
I'm like everyone else
I'm mostly like everyone else
It’s hard to find the right words to do a song like this and the message it represents justice. Domestic violence is a very real issue that needs to be talked about openly and honestly if there’s any hope of removing the stigma that many people face before they can think of seeking help. Alex The Astronaut puts forward what I think is a mostly fictional account of an abusive relationship that goes a long way in getting those that listen to consider all the aspects of what it means to be in a situation that to many of us seems unthinkable. I use the word heartbreaking a lot when describing the music I like because I like a sad song, but this isn’t just a sad song. It’s a conversation starter, haunting and, yes, tremendously heartbreaking. It’s also delicate and handled with respect so as not to sensationalise. A powerful and raw piece from one of the most thoughtful members in the next generation of classic Australian songwriters. (Matt Bond)
I wish I could admit I’d been an Alex the Astronaut fan since forever and this song was an obvious step on the path of an incredibly talented musician etc. etc., but if we’re up to number 11 and you’ve read any of my words you’ll know I know nothing other than what I like. So, while driving somewhere late one night this year I was searching radio stations for something decent to listen to and stumbled across a live performance by someone who had me reaching for the volume button very quickly. That artist was Alex the Astronaut and that performance changed my musical year. This song is the essence of everything I heard as I drove around that night; an incredible storyteller, a very talented musician and a sweet humble soul. Alex the Astronaut is all of those things, and I might be late to the Alex party, but I’m here now, and with songs like this, I’m not leaving any time soon. (Jo Michelmore)
It’s hard to find the right words to do a song like this and the message it represents justice. Domestic violence is a very real issue that needs to be talked about openly and honestly if there’s any hope of removing the stigma that many people face before they can think of seeking help. Alex The Astronaut puts forward what I think is a mostly fictional account of an abusive relationship that goes a long way in getting those that listen to consider all the aspects of what it means to be in a situation that to many of us seems unthinkable. I use the word heartbreaking a lot when describing the music I like because I like a sad song, but this isn’t just a sad song. It’s a conversation starter, haunting and, yes, tremendously heartbreaking. It’s also delicate and handled with respect so as not to sensationalise. A powerful and raw piece from one of the most thoughtful members in the next generation of classic Australian songwriters. (Matt Bond)
I wish I could admit I’d been an Alex the Astronaut fan since forever and this song was an obvious step on the path of an incredibly talented musician etc. etc., but if we’re up to number 11 and you’ve read any of my words you’ll know I know nothing other than what I like. So, while driving somewhere late one night this year I was searching radio stations for something decent to listen to and stumbled across a live performance by someone who had me reaching for the volume button very quickly. That artist was Alex the Astronaut and that performance changed my musical year. This song is the essence of everything I heard as I drove around that night; an incredible storyteller, a very talented musician and a sweet humble soul. Alex the Astronaut is all of those things, and I might be late to the Alex party, but I’m here now, and with songs like this, I’m not leaving any time soon. (Jo Michelmore)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Love it or hate it? Agree or disagree? Let me know what you think!