Top 119 Songs of 2019, #80 - 71

#119 - #111

#110 - #101

#100 - #91

#90 - #81

#80. RE: STACKS

by Gretta Ray and Dustin Tebutt

This is pouring rain

This is paralysed

I love Gretta Ray’s voice. I love Dustin Tebutt’s voice. So is it any surprise that with their powers combine I would have any other reaction to 'Re:Stacks' other than loving it? After individually releasing brilliant EP’s last year, Ray and Tebbutt had a much quieter 2019 as far as releases go, but ‘Re:Stacks’ isn’t any less impactful. Their voices fit together in such a beautiful way against a simple arrangement and take the best of both artist’s previous releases to form a unique whole. It’s the reserved heartbreak of Ray’s ‘Towers’ or ‘Time’ against the quiet hope of Tebutt’s ‘All Your Love’. It’s everything a duet should be and leaves you wanting to hear more and more from two of the best singer/songwriters out there right now. (Matt Bond)

#79. ADOLESCENT

by Jack River

You're drunk and wasted, I won't talk to you

Stumbling through the room

Right or wrong, I've always thought of Jack River as a bit more indie-pop than anything else, but there’s a bit more grunge in this track which is channeling the Americana style of the Juliana Hatfield’s or the Heather Nova’s and the Liz Phair’s of the 90s (which can be names you should google if you’ve not heard of them), or, alternatively you could listen to ‘Adolescent’ over and over, which wouldn’t be a bad idea, considering how catchy those riffs are. (Jo Michelmore)

#78. MISSING YOU

by Ingrid Michaelson

And I don't wanna be dramatic

But your, but your lips are like a drug and I'm an addict

Who would have thought Ingrid Michaelson could take her love for Stranger Things and turn it into a concept album that’s just another fantastic Ingrid Michaelson album? No one saw that coming. If you’re a fan, you probably didn’t see her moving as far away from the indie-adult-contemporary sounds that have defined her career and pulling a Robyn to become an electronic Queen either. But here we are, it’s 2019. Up is down (the upside down?), left is right, the world is on fire. But Michaelson owns this moment and with ‘Missing You’ has released one of the most endearing (and sadly underrated) dance anthems of the year. And that one shot video? Dead. I’m not really sure what stan culture is, but I stan a musically versatile Queen. (Matt Bond)


“He’s got his hand in all the right places, but the wrong face is in front of me...” Congratulations to Ingrid Michaelson for writing what I think is one of the cheesiest opening lines of the year, but also congratulations for writing one of the poppiest pop songs of the year. Pop this good is exactly where cheesy lyrics should live, and the synthy sounds of ‘Missing You’ feel like they should live somewhere between the top of whatever charts it is that happen these days and on stage at Eurovision. And anyone who knows me and anyone who doesn't should know that’s one of the biggest compliments I can give. (Jo Michelmore) 

#77. OBSESSED

by Hatchie

Hung myself out to dry until you let me in

That's when I knew, I'd clip my wings, do anything for you

Hatchie had a huge 2019 that saw her sound go global on the back of the release of her super fun debut, Keepsake. That album would quickly become one of our favourite LP’s of the year and with throwback pop gems like ‘Obsessed’ it shouldn’t come as a surprise. It builds on 90s pop’s trippy bridges and beats and dreamy vocals and a chorus that you could just float away on with modern electronic touches and Millennial attitude. It’s the angst that’s missing and with the way things are right now, we don’t need any of that. Just the sweet admission of a little healthy obsession for that special someone. It’s all so dreamy and I can’t get enough of it. (Matt Bond)

#76. I AM

by WAAX

I didn't cut you off, you phased me out

And that's fair enough, I'm breaking down

I'm going to spend the next two songs speaking of incredible female vocalists, so welcome to the first at number seventy six. Here we have WAAX, one of my fave bands of the year. If it were the 70s and I was listening exclusively on vinyl then my copy would have a giant groove dug through it from being played over and over and over and over and so on and so forth, if that’s how vinyl works. Such an awesome album, filled with drums and guitars that burst from my little speakers, screaming with all the rage of the 90s, but all of the character of 19, I haven’t been able to get enough of WAAX this year. Also, they are from my hometown. Bonus points. I am such a fan. (Jo Michelmore)

#75. KEEPING TIME

by Angie McMahon

Oh, I want the time to stop

So I don't have to grow

I listen to ‘Keeping Time’, it comes to an end and all I feel is excited about the many years of music releases ahead from Angie McMahon and how I already know I’ll get the same excited feeling from all of them. Her talent, her voice and lyrics, the guitars, the atmosphere... this is yikes going to sound so cliched and probably lame, but it makes you feel alive. I’m sorry? I’m not even sorry, songs like ‘Keeping Time’ speak directly to your soul or whatever concept you’re going with of what makes you ‘you’. It makes me want to be surrounded by friends and screaming along. It really does make you wish that time could stop. Angie McMahon has such a bright future ahead and I can’t wait to be listening along. (Matt Bond) 

Imagine having the voice of Angie McMahon. Like, imagine that being the sound that your vocal chords make. Like, imagine the body you own being able to make sounds like that. Like, imagine having that voice and then having the ability to write songs like ‘Killing Time’, and then being able to perform them exactly the way they should sound. Like, imagine knowing you had the talent of so many greats before you, the Chrissie Hyndes and the Patti Smiths of the world being people you can be compared to. Imagine that! Impossible I know. Instead, just imagine being alive in the world when songs like Angie McMahon’s are released. Don’t imagine. Just enjoy. (Jo Michelmore) 

#74. IN CONTROL

by Baker Boy

And the darkest days won't last for ever

Even brighter days come sooner or later

I’d like to make it clear that I love Baker Boy. So don’t expect to read some kind of unbiased review of his music here. There is absolutely nothing he has released or done that I don’t adore. Every track another collection of beats and sounds and words and grooves that make me move, make me smile and make me a bigger fan with every note. I don’t know if there’s some kind of tricky thing that music producers and programmes do to give him that cheer squad every chorus in this song, or if they were actual people, but I’d like to join that cheer squad because quite simply; Baker Boy is the best. (Jo Michelmore) 

#73. YOU WERE RIGHT
by Julia Jacklin

Started feeling like myself again

The day I stopped saying your name

Julia Jacklin sells the hell out of both the good and bad to come out of saying goodbye to a friendship that just isn’t working anymore. Especially the good to come out of it. It’s a lot more thoughtful than a simple ‘screw you’ coda to this relationship, but you’ll cheer all the same as Jacklin recounts being finally able to get into what her former pal enjoyed because now she wants to, not because she’s having things forced down her throat. ‘You Were Right’ barrels towards a rather abrupt ending. It’s like that moment you finally put an end to a relationship you’ve outgrown. Brilliant. (Matt Bond)

Giving your song the title of  'You Were Right' is a pretty smart move, because I can’t name many people who don’t like hearing that sentence, which makes this track likable enough as it is. But add the story of Julia tearing herself away from someone, whatever their relationship may have been, and you can’t help but cheer her on and wonder just who the band was she heard when she “started listening to your favourite band and I stopped listening to you”, because she can’t have started listening to her own album Crushing, which is something I’d listen to should I be exiting a situation like she is in said song, could she? Sometimes I probably think too much. Just enjoy the song. (Jo Michelmore) 

#72. FALLING DOWN

by Harrison Storm

Always felt this could get dark

Held on 'cause things change fast

If you've been reading this countdown with any regularity you'll know Mr Storm appeared a little earlier on. So let's just reflect on everything I said about him last time, back at number 90, and reapply all of those thoughts to this track, then double them, and add in a dash of pensive and a whole spoon of heartache, because he certainly creates all those feels in 'Falling Down'. And then add this to that long list of songs I spoke about last time, and I love. (Jo Michelmore)

#71. FINAL FORM

by Sampa The Great

Only four years, fantastic

Young veteran, new classic

Straight. Up. Fire. From the moment ‘Final Form’ kicks off, you know Sampa The Great’s latest musical masterpiece is going to be one hell of a ride. Free flowing rhymes full of a swagger and confidence that’s virtually infectious, unapologetic cries of ‘black power’ and an artist firmly coming into her own. This feels momentous, like you’re witnessing a moment in history we’ll look back on when Sampa takes over the musical world and we can all go, well of course this was going to happen. It’s just that I really don’t think we’re even close to seeing the final form of Sampa The Great. This isn’t the peak, this is the rise from the self-proscribed ‘young veteran, new classic.’ I can’t wait to see how Sampa The Great tops this with what comes next. (Matt Bond)