Top 119 Songs of 2019, #70 - 61

#119 - #111

#110 - #101

#100 - #91

#90 - #81

#80 - #71

#70. SUGAR

by Peking Duk and Jack River

Want to be with you

Want to be right there by your side

On ‘Sugar’, Peking Duk and Jack River prove they’ve got the recipe down pat for the most perfectly delicious musical treat. I know we’re not supposed to compare things (for reasons?), but I love seeing listeners say they’re getting ‘Steal My Sunshine’ vibes from this one. Like Len’s seminal and possibly only track, ‘Sugar’ comes so close to falling off the sickly sweet cliff, but unlike that smash hit I don’t think I’m going to have any reservations 20 years from now about openly discussing my love for this one. River slides easily into Duk’s anthemic electronic sound, owning the dance stage in the process. Maybe it’s a little unexpected, but it’s a pleasant surprise. Who wouldn’t want to hear more from these two acts? (Matt Bond)

#69. TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY

by Texas Tea

This way you have no regrets

And each day it comes and each forgets

Brisbane’s own Texas Tea makes the surprise comeback of the year with the release of the album Röda Tråden. It had been seven long years of a wait for the obscure tea bag fan group, but that wait was well worth it. Texas Ben took the lead on ‘Tomorrow Is A New Day’, a track that rolls over and over. Kind of like a new day beginning. Kind of like a new bit of quiet heartbreak with each promise that maybe tomorrow’s that new beginning you’ve found yourself hoping for. I’m listening to this and can’t stop thinking about how each time I order Uber Eats I’m thinking I’ll be better tomorrow, knowing full well I won’t be. Things aren’t going so bad when that’s the extent of my pain... I’m sure Texas Ben had something much deeper on his mind when putting these words down. Or maybe this is truly the regretful Uber Eats soundtrack tune we’ve all been longing for. Maybe it’s best we never know/I never put these thoughts in hearts and minds around the world ever again. (Matt Bond)

And here we are at what was probably my most unexpected but so awesome surprises of the last twelve months. I didn’t know how much I’d really missed Texas Tea until they returned early in the year. As soon as I heard Ben Dougherty’s voice I was spellbound, taken back a few years to a couple of albums that defined some time for me earlier this decade. I googled them while thinking about what I was going to write about them and found a quote about their music defining a season, “it will be one I play years from now and remember this summer, it’s an album that will transcend time but bring me back to the first warm afternoon I heard it” which is pretty much how I feel about Röda Tråden now, which is kind of funny, considering I wrote those other words in the first place. And now that Texas Tea have returned, and I’ve begun quoting myself, this blogging and countdown thing really has come full circle, hasn’t it? 'Tomorrow Is A New Day', indeed. (Jo Michelmore)

#68. BACKSEAT

by Ali Barter

 


No, we've never really met

But if we did, then I think that'd we be perfect

I mean, I love this song and everything Ali Barter does, but can we talk about her facial expressions at the start of the video for ‘Backseat’ because that’s damn good comedy right there. Get this gal a TV Week Logie award. What? It’s not like we have real awards in this country... ‘Backseat’ is a lot of fun. It feels like it’s packing a whole lot of sarcasm, a scandalous touch and a catchy energy that will have you dancing around your room before the song rockets to its end. Is it ironic that it’s taken from an album titled “Hello, I’m Doing My Best,” when it’s so painfully clear Barter’s delivering her best work? I’m genuinely asking... Alanis Morissette really screwed with my understanding of what irony is. Killing it as always, Ali Barter. Total jam. Can you play on my EP? (Matt Bond)

#67. NOT ANGRY ANYMORE

by Thelma Plum

You can try to make amends

Tell the world that we're still friends

But was it worth it?

I was lucky enough to see Thelma Plum live earlier this year and during the show, in between songs, she told lots of little tales of herself and her life and as she so sweetly does, giving lots of little glimpses into who she is and who she wants to be. It was so nice to hear her talk of past tales and future dreams and what it’s like to text Paul Kelly accidentally and tell him you’re so nervous you’re going to be sick. But the secret about Thelma Plum that you get to know once you see her live telling those tales, is that you don’t really need to hear the tales to tell who she is, because if you want to know, she puts it all out there, right in the songs. Humble and sweet sit perfectly alongside broken and empty, which also live with exasperated and the opposite to that in this song, not angry anymore, each as important as each other.  There’s never anything to hide with Thelma Plum, and that’s one of the things that makes me such a big fan. (Jo Michelmore)

#66. MODERATION

by Florence + The Machine

Can't hold it back, I can't take the tension

I'm trying to be good

It was a bold choice for Florence + The Machine to add ‘Moderation’ to their setlist before it was released in the ENCORE slot. As the non-album cut started playing during Florence’s performance at the Brisbane Riverstage at the start of the year I couldn’t have been alone in looking around and thinking, “what’s this all about?” It didn’t take long for the entire crowd to get right into this even though they hadn’t heard it before. This is rock and or roll, it sends Florence’s voice soaring and takes you along for the ride. There’s nothing moderate about it, but like our leading lady says, who do you think you’re talking to? We want what we want from a Florence + The Machine song. We want it to be dramatic, shameless and over the top. And that’s everything ‘Moderation’ is. Please don’t ever change, Lady Flo. (Matt Bond)

#65. EYES TO THE SKY

by OKENYO

Save the best oh yeah

For last but not the least oh yeah

I read something about OKENYO and someone referencing her “signature swag” and I was like, what even is a signature swag and how do I go about getting myself one? Are you born with it, or can I learn it? OKENYO has swag in doubles and triples, making her brand of hip hop sound like she woke up like this, completely effortless cool. And here I am sitting in my pjs with a cup of tea writing words about her. That's my signature swag. (Jo Michelmore) 

#64. EVERYTHING I DO IS REPLACED BY TWO

by Jeremy Neale

We were building a dream

Now it's over

Swinging guitar pop and a way with words, Jeremy Neale has never disappointed with his brand of straightforwardness, his keen observation of the absurd and his way of turning those things into riffs and harmonies and hooks that are born to be heard and made to sway to. He wears his pants high and his heart on his sleeve and ultimately, they are both very important things we can all learn from. (Jo Michelmore)

#63. ANOTHER DAY

by #1 Dads

Lay down just don't lay down

Let this be a little song for you

I’ve got a whole bunch of things I think about one of Tom Iansek’s other things, No Mono, after stumbling into a gig of theirs earlier this year, which I’ll discuss later in this little countdown of ours (spoiler alert), but for now, this thing; #1 Dads. The clip as sparse as the song, ‘Another Day’ is a really nice example of how little is needed to make an impact sometimes. Nothing unusual, just a sweet little swinging tune with a winning whistle in the middle, there’s nothing confronting but all comforting and it's so very pleasant. (Jo Michelmore)

#62. PARTY FOR ONE

by Carly Rae Jepsen

You don't want my love, if you don't care about me

I'll just dance by myself, back on my beat

I was a little late to the Carly Rae reinvention party. See, I was thinking she was running around finding new ways to record ‘Call Me Maybe’ (a certified banger) and she sort of disappeared form the mainstream eye and also disappeared from everywhere I’ve been consuming the musics. But I should have been actively seeking this reborn C Jepsen, the Robyn of a new generation. Like the super gay friendly electro Queen that came before her, CRJ put her one hit wonder ways behind her, threw her amazing personality into her tunes and became a dancehall goddess. It’s a whole thing, you haven’t done it? Everyone’s doing it. You should do it. I’ve done it. It was a thing. Anyway long story short or whatever that TL;DR thing is... I should have been on board the Carly J express this whole time, because it’s banger after banger like ‘Party For One’. Give it a listen and say to yourself, “here’s another banger.” You won’t regret it. (Matt Bond)


I don’t know what to make of Carley Rae Jepsen, because if you look at music in a traditional way, she’s pretty much a no one hit wonder. But music (thankfully?) isn’t traditional in any way, so if you look at views and likes and online such things, she’s a bit of a big deal. If you ignore that song that you know, even though it was perfect pop in itself, she’s a perfect definition of pop music; bouncy beats, quirky relatable lyrics and colourful clips. ‘Party For One’ is all of those things. Perfect pop. (Jo Michelmore)

#61. ROBBERY

by Lime Cordiale

 


Wait that's her, stop that girl

How flippin’ good is it to see all the success that Lime Cordiale have found over the past couple of years? It’s pretty damn flippin’ good. Oli and Louis Leimbach have been churning out top notch, quality tunes and this trusty and true method of being musically awesome is winning them more and more fans with each release. We’re expecting to hear them more than once when it comes time for the Hottest 100 and you just know ‘Robbery’ is going to be on that list. Everyone’s going to be shouting along to, “hey that’s her, stop that girl!” And you’re going to love it. (Matt Bond)

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #50 - 41

Airling, Tkay Maidza, #1 Dads + HOWQUA!

#114 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80 - 71

#70 - 61

#60 - 51

#50. FISHING FOR GOLD

by HOWQUA

I won't be your victim anymore,

And you can't break my spirit like before.

We get sent a lot of music from a whole bunch of great artists to check out. It's probably the best part of this whole blogging thing we've got going on. We get to listen to songs we might not have had the chance to if we were just listening out for new tunes on the radio or on rage or... Spotify or whatever. So Jo checked out an email about this HOWQUA guy and did a really good review (I'm allowed to compliment how awesome Jo is... sometimes) of this track 'Fishing For Gold' and I gave it a listen and was completely blown away by how talented this HOWQUA fella is. He's got a fantastic and emotive rock voice that he can belt out in a way that reminds me of both Counting Crows' Adam Duritz and Eddie Vedder. 90s rock star vocals. The best kind. Yeah, so getting to listen to a track from an artist like HOWQUA definitely makes me enjoy this whole blogging thing. I think it's safe to say that if we keep hearing gems like 'Fishing For Gold', HOWQUA is going to be making a big impact very soon. (Matt Bond)

Let me be honest. I wrote about struggling with my words when I wrote about HOWQUA earlier this year and here I am, actually finding it really difficult to write about this song again. I’m afraid if I write anymore I’m just gonna sound like some kind of crazy fan girl and the thing is, he’s so good he deserves better than crazy fan girls. I just really appreciate a singer who has the ability to be so utterly honest in his music, facing his dreams and his demons through his creativity, because facing my own are still things I’m trying to figure out how to do. “I won’t cry beside your grave, I’ll dance on it instead”. With the ability to put feelings like those into song, artists like HOWQUA and songs like ‘Fishing For Gold’ sure do help. (Jo Michelmore)  

#49. SO SOLDIER

by #1 Dads ft. Ainslie Wills





You've been hiding that secret under your shirt collar,
 You can breathe easy. 

Tom Iansek is a man of many talents. Taking some time away from Big Scary, he's created the side project #1 Dads and teamed up with some of the best singer-songwriter types in Australia on tracks like 'So Soldier'. Stepping into that lead vocal role for this number is Ainslee Wills and her voice with Iansek's guitar (and voice on back-up, he's very good too) are a match made in music heaven. 'So Soldier' is one of those songs that you're convinced no one could actually dislike. Everything about it is extremely likeable. If someone was to say, "hey, I don't like that 'So Soldier' song," I would call them a liar and ask what sick game they're playing. Anyway, can't get enough of this one. (Matt Bond) 

#48. PULL THE TRIGGER

by Apes

I feel like you're inside of me,
Waste my mind and let me breathe.

My first proper introduction to Apes was as the support act for Band Of Skulls in the early part of this year. The thing is at that gig they were one of those bands I didn’t know well, but had me going “Oh! This song! That’s this band!” which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What that means is that they write great rock songs which keep me so busy rocking I forget to figure out who is singing. I’m generally so busy listening to the guitars and nodding my head to the drums and remembering all the great rock gigs I’ve been to that the band name leaves my brain until the next time that rock voice blares out of my speakers again. Never fear, after that gig the name Apes is etched into my brain and ‘Pull The Trigger’ isn’t a song to forget. This is Australian rock at some of its memorable best. (Jo Michelmore)

After seeing Apes support Band of Skulls earlier this year it’s been a fast and furious affair. Except there has been no illegal street racing and Vin Diesel hasn’t appeared once. I have on some days, however, listened to at least seven of their songs, sometimes whilst driving in my car. (Katie Langley)

#47. THEY SAY

by Kilter ft. Tkay Maidza

And I never had someone like you, like you, someone...

Ned East aka Kilter would have to be a shoo-in for 'Class of 2015' lists. The 20 year old, Sydney based producer is already showing he's got the skills when it comes to laying out future-classic electronic beats and he's also got an eye for collaborating with crazy/good talent like Citizen Kay, Ngaiire and in the case of 'They Say', Tkay Maidza. Known for her fast-paced rhymes, the rap dynamo takes a moment to let us know she's got pipes too and a voice that's perfectly complimentary to Kilter's brand of electronic goodness. Easily one of the best dance tracks of 2014. (Matt Bond)


Alright, admission time. I didn’t know much of Kilter until I heard this song. A name on a list of names of people who played Splendour and Listen Out, a name is all Kilter was. Nowadays I know he’s a Sydney-sider with a healthy habit of making some beats that are near impossible not to move to. Some of those beats reside right here at number 47, along with the vocal of Tkay (we’re totally on a first name basis these days alright?) and they’re beats that are world class. I can hear them in a club only a few kilometres from my own house and I can hear them pounding across a tent in a giant music festival somewhere in the middle of Europe. Maybe that’s just because the last couple of days I have been dreaming of returning to Europe or maybe it’s because that’s where they belong. Let’s go with the latter option. (Jo Michelmore)
 

#46. WASTED PILOTS

by Airling





A broken in mess,
You don't need no one to tell you how it is.

You could say Airling had a pretty good year. Stepping into the spotlight after backing up Emma Louise and being part of the band Charlie Mayfair, Hannah Shepherd decided to go it alone under the new moniker, Airling. She scored a lot of triple J love with the tracks 'Ouroboros' and 'The Runner', supported Ella Hooper and a showcase slot at BIGSOUND Live. That's not to mention being crowned the Unearthed winner for a spot on the Splendour in the Grass line-up. That's an awesome year... way better than mine. Probably better than yours too. What I loved the most about Airling in 2014 was this track, 'Wasted Pilots' which tells you everything you need to know about what makes Airling such a special music maker. Dreamy electronic touches with even dreamier, ethereal vocals... you won't be able to get enough. And Thelma Plum's in the clip. Everything's better with Thelma Plum. (Matt Bond)

Gosh this one is a really nice piece of pop perfection. There are understated synths, a sweet sense of innocence, a bass line that is discreet but so very important and a drum beat that starts simply and ends up being integral to what the song becomes. All of that and Hannah Shepherd’s lovely voice floating across the top of all those sounds and challenging you not to love it. You shouldn’t fight it, really. This is perfect electronic pop and perfect pop is just….perfect. Of course. (Jo Michelmore)

#45. I AM NOT AN END

by Montaigne

I am not your end,
Does that make me alone?

I get the same excited feeling when listening to Montaigne's music as I did when Kimbra was first kicking about at the start of her career. It exists in its own wonderful place with its own sound and identity, seemingly different from everything else, but it's still pop-tacular and infectious enough to get stuck in your head for days/weeks/months. On one hand, 'I Am Not An End' is a bit quirky. On the other hand, there's huge pop hooks and a massively powerful voice that will leave any listener suitably impressed. 'I Am Not An End' presents a fierce, independent new artist with a voice demanding to be heard. It's smart and emotional, but it's also just really, really, ridiculously good pop music. And I love pop music. (Matt Bond)


Montaigne has already received praise from all ends of the music industry. The radio people on JJJ love her, the actual music journos who get paid to write about things they like and paid to write about things they don’t, love her and those crazy people who sit at home and write lots and lots of words about things they like and sometimes things they don’t for no monetary reward at all (some would call them bloggers) love her as well. Ok, so I might be one of those people in the last group who love her but you only have to hit play once to know why. ‘I Am Not An End’ is glorious in its pop and a tragedy in its themes and that’s what makes it so very perfect. She has a voice unto her own, a sound unto itself in today’s soundscapes and that special something that can be hard to describe but is present, the relatable at arms distance quality which makes her seem kind of magical. Oh I don’t know what I’m saying, I suppose that’s why I’m not one of those radio or journo peeps, but I do know I like Montaigne. A lot. (Jo Michelmore)

#44. SOMETHING FROM NOTHING

by Foo Fighters

Bid farewell to yesterday,
Say goodbye I'm on my way.

My love for Dave Grohl is no secret, on this here blog and in the real world. It’s as strong as my love for Jack White (oh Jack, oh sigh) and dare I say it, possibly even stronger. That’s probably because of Dave’s lack of ‘wanker’ factor. I mean, seriously, he took his band around America to record in classic studios all over the country (this one recorded in Steve Albini’s studio in Chicago) but he did all of this because of his passion for music, without a sense of "look at me I'm so cool", just a sense of wonder and awe. Of course, there’s more to the Foo Fighters than just Dave and it’s the other members who also deserve a round of applause (those playing at home please join in now) for their unbelievable skills on ‘Something From Nothing’, with its guitar worship and various feelings of rock. So much rock. The Foo Fighters? They can do no wrong in my eyes so add this to the list of things I love about them. It’s a long, long list. (Jo Michelmore)

I do love Foo Fighters but find that it’s sometimes hard to fully give myself over to them. It’s not Dave Grohl’s fault, but he looks an awful lot like my ex-boyfriend, who is a massive douchebag. I tend to combat this issue by avoiding all video footage of Foo Fighters, otherwise I find myself muttering things like “liar”, “cheater”, and “drunk” under my breath. I have not watched the video clip for this song, so it’s a thumbs up from me. (Katie Langley)

#43. FINISH THEM

by Tkay Maidza


 

Let me finish them,
Let me finish them... 

Oh hey, it's Tkay Victoria Maidza. You should already know Tkay. Not just because she's featured earlier in today's edition of our songs of the year countdown. You should already know her because she's been a 2014 music highlight, smashing it with every release. One of the tracks we loved this year was 'Finish Them', a statement of intention that there's a new power in the rap game. Well, that's how I'm choosing to interpret it because the track has #slay written all over it. If I used that even remotely in context I'll be ever so happy. The Bok Bok produced 'Finish Them' is the closest I'll get to agreeing with the Azealia Banks comparisons in terms of beats and the repeated 'what' and 'hey' backing segments, but that distinct Tkay delivery sets it on a higher plane. She won't be an Underground Queen for long. (Matt Bond)

 

It’s really odd to think that this time last year I had no idea who this unbelievably talented rapper from Adelaide was and even more odd to think I had no idea how much I would like her now. ‘Finish Them’ was my third taste of Tkay this year and she’s still avoided that “oh this one isn’t as good as the last one” thing that plagues some artists. While ‘Finish Them’ was totally different to the fun party times that ‘U-Huh’ was and almost a world away from the super cute stomping of ‘Brontosuarus’ from last year, it’s still got Tkay stomped all over it (ha, get it?), it’s built for the clubs and some serious arm throwing leg kicking manically dancing at 2am. Let’s just face it, right now, Tkay can do no wrong and I’m really enjoying that. (Jo Michelmore)

#42. DO IT AGAIN

by Robyn and Royksopp

One more time, let's do it again
Blow my mind, do it again

Grab yourself and drink (drank?), put on your finest duds and get ready to boogie, because this is one of the best dance songs of the year. Of always. This is a song you want playing at the clubs and then when it's over, you want the DJ to forget about Avicii for just one night, instead opting to repeat this track again. And again. And again and again and again. What? I'd be cool with that. We already knew Royksopp and Robyn were an electronic music match made in heaven after their track 'Girl and The Robot'. But 'Do It Again' kinda makes you think they should collaborate together all the time. I sure do hope they... do it again. Yeah, I never said I was cool. These guys, they're cool. (Matt Bond)

I have spoken of my love of Norway and its music (and royalty; hey Crown Prince Haakon, who is so cool he is obviously a reader of this blog), so that’s one half of this collaboration covered, but I’ve probably never mentioned my thoughts of Robyn, who, is a little difficult to dislike if one likes Sweden and pop music. I like both those things. ‘Do It Again’ is everything European pop music should be, quick, catchy and with a sense of urgency running throughout. The clip is all of those things too and as well as all that, they released a mini album and while one still questions why one doesn’t call this an EP or an album (these are questions for another time) if two of Europe’s greatest have done it who cares anyway? (Jo Michelmore)

This week I bought a floral shirt and decided that I like 'Do It Again'. At the outset these seem like trivial things. But I’m a rock chick who tends to lives her life in black, black and black, so this is big news people. (Katie Langley)

#41. WAR OF ONE

by Bertie Blackman

 And the rules that you make never let me win,
'Cause I'm always a freak that can never fit in.

Bertie Blackman has consistently provided us with good time throughout her music career. It's with her new album, The Dash that she's truly at the top of her game with pop gems like 'War Of One'. The opening guitars make sure you're hooked from the get go, leading into some dramatic battle cries from Blackman that will have you ready to fight in a war of one or wherever Blackman wants you to fight. She'd be a pretty badass leader. There's a fair bit of 80s throwback going on and that just makes me love it more. Who didn't love some 80s power pop? If you didn't, you're sick. Bertie Blackman continues to show she can do no wrong. There needs to be more recognition of her talent. (Matt Bond)


Ooh ooh ooh, it’s the 80s and there is someone wearing purple lycra, someone wearing knitted leg warmers and someone wearing white reebok shoes nearby. I always think it’s so funny where one’s mind wanders when one hears a song for the first time and how that place changes and morphs as one hears the song more and more. It’s morphed a couple of times, but it’s still a track that needs moving to, the bass line a call to get your Rocky on Sylvester Stallone style and the synths a call to get your bubble skirt and side pony on while shaking your ass all the way up or down a staircase. Yes, the mind continues to wander. (Jo Michelmore)

Top 25 - 3 August, 2014

Jim Lawrie, Gena Rose Bruce, #1 Dads + Jane Tyrell!

1. Tkay Maidza - U-Huh





2. Little May - Dust





3. Christine and The Queens - Saint Claude





4. #1 Dads ft. Ainslie Wills - So Soldier (NEW)





5. Kimbra - Miracle





6. The Kite String Tangle - Arcadia





7. HOWQUA - Fishing For Gold (NEW)





8. Jim Lawrie - Just Like Normal (NEW)
 




9. The Griswolds - Down and Out





10. Harts - Angels Walk Below





11. Jane Tyrell - Wild Waters (NEW)





12. Velociraptor - Sneakers





13. Courtney Barnett - Pickles From The Jar





14. Gena Rose Bruce - Blazing Radio (NEW)





15. Meg Mac - Roll Up Your Sleeves





16. Jessie Ware - Share It All





17. Shura - Just Once





18. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (NEW)





19. Little Deed - Neon (NEW)





20. The Presets - No Fun





21. Amy Shark - Spits on Girls (NEW)





22. Mammals - Wolf (NEW)





23. Grimes ft. Blood Diamonds - Go

 


24. Vance Joy - Mess Is Mine





25. Karen O - Rapt (NEW)