Top 119 Songs of 2019, #50 - 41

#119 - #111

#110 - #101

#100 - #91

#90 - #81

#80 - #71

#70 - #61

#60 - #51

#50.IN MY DREAMS

by Jack Colwell

And in my dreams we could be brand new

And in my dreams we're always brand new

Rather than repeat Matt’s sentiments about Jack Colwell, which I’m sure are going to be very positive, I’m just going to suggest something very simple. Press play on this song, then Google the name Jack Colwell, put the name Jack Colwell in your music streaming service of choice and remember the name Jack Colwell. And once you’ve done that, your life will be richer than it was a minute ago. And you’re welcome. (Jo Michelmore)

Jack Colwell has been one of our absolute favourite artists of the decade. That voice, the piano led arrangements, the DRAMA in the performance and the stories he tells... it’s all sparkling brilliance from Australia’s most criminally underrated act. He’s the musical love child of Kate Bush and Nick Cave and if that doesn’t have you scrambling to take a deep dive through his back catalogue I don’t know what will. Perhaps a listen of ‘In My Dreams’, one of the two tracks Colwell released in 2019 will do the trick. Within you’ll find timeless surrounds, hopeless longing, steamy promises and encounters on the train with Edgar Allen Poe. If you’re not already on board the Jack Colwell led musical journey express train to awesomeness, you’ll also find your new favourite singer/songwriter too. (Matt Bond)

#49. DON'T START NOW

by Dua Lipa

So if you don't want to see me dancing with somebody

This is just straight up damn good pop music right here. Can I get an amen or yeehaw or hell yeah? A quiet nod of agreement? Blink your eyes then. Once for yes. Twice for you’re being held captive and need help. Dua Lipa has some ‘good’ pop tracks on her debut, but this? ‘Don’t Start Now’? This is disco fantastic. This is get your butt to the dance floor right now. This is doing the bus stop on that dance floor. This is screaming along and waving those arms in the air like you just don’t care inducing. ‘New Rules’ is so 2000 and late. ‘Don’t Stop Now’ is the future and with Dua Lipa, the pop musics feel like they’re in very safe hands. What. A. Banger. (Matt Bond)

Look, I don’t know what the kids do for entertainment these days, but I imagine if they still dance in darkened rooms, this would be one of those songs that would drive people to join a dancefloor in a very speedy manner; with its Eurodance beats and disco influenced synths and strings, and a very easy hand clap thrown in there as well, or, should I want to shorten my review slightly, I’ll use some of Matt’s most used words of the year…anyway, here’s another banger. (Jo Michelmore)

#48. FU

by WAAX

Nobody hurts me and fuck you for trying

  You got me all wrong, what were you thinking?

This year, when people have asked me who I’ve been listening to, when people want an opinion on what I like, when people of a certain age (anything over 30) have said that music isn’t what it used to be back in the 90s/00s/etc, this is the name of the band that I have mentioned over and over again. Who did I listen to this year? WAAX. What type of music do I like? WAAX. And they’re right, music isn’t what it used to be, it’s better. WAAX. (Jo Michelmore)

#47. HOUNDS

by Olympia

We're stories without ending

And I'm still wishing you would stay

And head riffs all jingle jangle, blow out your birthday candles. That line from this song ‘Hounds’ by the simply divine Olympia will pop into my head at unexpected moments. Eating a pie? Jingle jangle. Running on a treadmill because of the many pies consumed? Jingle jangle. Business meeting? Jingle jangle. Blowing out birthday candles? That’s a big jingle jangle. If I could define jingle jangle, I’d say it's ‘Hounds’ by Olympia because it works its way into your head and you don’t want it to leave. It makes your day and has the world around you seeming shiny and brand new. Such is the power of Olympia, jingle jangle Queen. Long may she reign! (Matt Bond)

#46. TEACH ME ABOUT DYING

by Holy Holy

I am alone at first light

And I feel, I feel alive

If I have any regrets about 2019, perhaps not having seen Holy Holy live this year could be it, because there’s a hook in this song that I imagine absolutely comes to life in a live setting, guitars and beats that must pulse through an audience and lyrics that would be the moments life is all about, when sung at the top of your lungs and probably out of tune, while bouncing around with your mates, which is exactly how one should live while dying, which Holy Holy obviously know is exactly the same thing. (Jo Michelmore)

#45. AS LOVING SHOULD

by Little May

And I didn't know that you'd hang around

Little May have never shied away from breaking your heart, but they like to do it in the most delicate way possible. Take ‘As Loving Should’ as an example. Hannah Field’s dreamy vocals and Liz Drummond’s electrifying guitar lines put you at ease, at least on the surface. The more the tracks plays out, the more you take on board the true sadness behind the words Field is singing. It’s a hidden, dignified pain; a stark contrast to the totally undignified battle that some have when alcohol has become a real problem. This only makes the song all the more affecting and, as we’ve already covered, totally heartbreaking. Little May, so powerful and incredible at this whole making music thing. ‘As Loving Should’ feels as bittersweet as knowing we may never hear another album from Little May again, but we’re so thankful for what we do have from them. And hey, it’s not like it’s the last you’ve seen of them in this countdown. (Matt Bond)

#44. AM I DOING IT RIGHT?

by Alex Lahey

Don't say I have nothing to prove

I stay in every cheap hotel room

The answer to Alex Lahey’s question is yes. She is doing it right when she makes everyone move. She is doing it very well and I hope she’s having as much fun doing it as we are listening to it. While ‘Am I Doing It Right’ is deeply personal to Lahey’s journey so far as a recording artist and touring musician, there’s something perfectly universal in lines where she thinks about the million ways she could fuck it all up that make Lahey so relatable. With one of the strongest singalong choruses of the year and some frank confessions on where she’s at right now as a music maker, there’s no doubt whatsoever that Alex Lahey is doing it right. (Matt Bond)

#43. MY NEW TATTOOED CHAMELEON

by Annie Hamilton

Did you realise I could change my skin?

I don’t really know how to pull off those chef’s kisses in writing like the kids on Twitter, but if I did, I would blow a big *mwah* chef’s kiss to Annie Hamilton’s musical output in 2019. ‘My New Tattooed Chameleon’ was the first track Hamilton released during the calendar year and it feels like a statement of renewed love in the music making process. Lines about not knowing whether Annie would be with ‘you’ again, asking if we knew she could change her skin. It sounds like an artist reborn and I could totally be looking into it wrong (most definitely) but this works so well as an introductory note to the solo works of Annie Hamilton (the ridiculously incredible 2018 track ‘Fade’ isn’t to be overlooked though). Chef’s kisses for everything Annie Hamilton is doing right now. *Mwah* (Matt Bond)

#42. CHIVALRY IS DEAD

by Machine Age

Look at us now, he said

You're holding yourself to blame

There’s something classic about Machine Age’s album Point Of Departure, which is weird considering the mix of electronica and rock and sometimes almost folksy, dreamy sounds all mixed together create a very 2019 feel. The concept of an album as an entire work, almost one piece of music seems like such an old school concept, in a world of streaming songs and playlists, it’s almost alien to think of an album like a book, each song a chapter in the story. If that’s the case, then 'Chivalry Is Dead' is one of my favourite chapters in this book. It’s deep darkness give it a real 90s feel, its simplicity hidden amongst layers of sound and Adrian Mauro’s talent is given time to shine. I can’t wait for him to write his next book…I mean album. (Jo Michelmore)

#41. STRANGER

by Bec Sandridge

I need a mental break, a holiday

Someone on my side

Every time I hear Bec Sandridge I get taken down a tunnel of pop that is incredibly difficult to remove oneself from, which I’m not complaining about, but I do have another forty songs to write about so can’t get caught up here. I just need to recognise the fabulous 80s feeling snyths, adore Ms Sandridge’s quirky and glorious vocal and do not press play on the next track, do not get lost in a googling frenzy of influences and do not remove myself from my seat, because if one is to start moving to such a song, one may not stop (presses play, again…) (Jo Michelmore)