Top 114 Songs of 2014, #80 - 71

Ella Hooper, Lorde, Angus and Julia Stone + Kelis!

#114 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80. THE RED SHOES

by Ella Hooper





My love don't worry,
I'll put on my red shoes. 

Sure, it only came out late last month, but I'm still all over Ella Hooper's debut solo album, In Tongues and this week, I've been hitting up 'The Red Shoes' a lot. Hooper is completely at home here, surrounded by pop/rock guitars and percussion while she spins her take on a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. Hooper creates some dramatic imagery with lines about being laced up and down and dancing in her blood. But it's not all doom and gloom-y at all. There's an upbeat, singalong vibe that gives the track an anthemic edge and some suitably stellar vocal work from the tale's leading lady. It all adds up to being one mighty, magical song and that's how every fairy tale inspired track should be described, right? (Matt Bond)


There are actually a lot of things I’d like to say about Ella Hooper and who she has been and who she is as an artist, about her place in the landscape of Australian music, about the general media and the music industry that she is part of, which gives as much as it takes. I’d like to talk about how underrated she is as not only a musician but also a voice of reason in a sometimes cloudy distrustful business, but this probably isn’t the place to say all of those things. Instead I shall just mention the super catchy tune that is ‘The Red Shoes’, the instinctive need to bounce a little when I hear it and the thought I have of how awesome, powerful and emotive Ella’s voice actually is and really always has been. And I might also mention how much of a fan I am and how glad I am she finally released In Tongues after an eternity but I will also mention that it was worth the wait. Well worth the wait. And one more thing. My favourite ever pair of shoes were red. Of course I was going to like this song. (Jo Michelmore) 

#79. YELLOW FLICKER BEAT

by Lorde





This is the start of how it all ends,
They used to shout my name, now they whisper it. 

It wasn’t the song that really got me interested in this late year offering form Lorde, but a text message from Matt that declared his love for the clip. He described it as kind of pointless but beautifully shot and he didn’t care, he loved it all the same. He was right, that’s a perfect description for the clip and even though I replied this way via text, dare I say it publicly? I shall. That was also a perfect description of Lorde herself and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ is one in a long line of Lorde songs that sound incredibly beautiful and are recorded perfectly, with enough emotion to keep you listening without questioning. It’s something Lorde does really well and I think I feel about the song exactly the same way Matt did about the clip, maybe it’s full of meaning, maybe it’s completely vacuous, I don’t really care what’s going on, I like it all the same. (Jo Michelmore)


I'll be honest with you... I would listen to and love anything my Lorde delivers unto us. Ya ya ya. My attempts to learn to bust a move with the same carefree spirit and uncaring sense of abandon, such as those in the clip to 'Yellow Flicker Beat' are coming along quite nicely. I will make no apologies to anyone that has to be subjected to these moves in the very near future. I'm totally rocking a Lorde 'tude. Deal with it. #yolo. Or something? Whatever it is the kids are saying these days, I just said it. (Matt Bond)

#78. REVOLUSION

by Elliphant





Now! Now! Now! Now!
Revolusion! 

I wouldn’t be so bold as to say that Elliphant has stolen my idea, but it’s no secret that I’ve had grand plans to become the female Eminem. I’m not mad; I’m just disappointed I didn’t pull my finger out soon enough. Now she is targeting my niche market and I’m forced to live life as a corporate zombie. Touché. P.S. I actually really love this song. (Katie Langley)


It’s funny, because before knowing anything about Elliphant, I pictured her to be South African. I think I pictured her as the fourth member of Die Antwoord actually, and everyone knows I have a weird love/hate relationship with them, so I wasn’t really sure whether I liked her or not. One listen to Revolusion and all was ok; it’s smashing in your face beats and slightly threatening sound keeps me totally on my toes, alert but not alarmed, as our very own K-Tizz would say, and I like that in a song. PS She’s from Sweden, by the way. (Jo Michelmore) 

#77. MY SILVER LINING

by First Aid Kit





I don't know if I'm scared of dying,
But I'm scared of living too fast, too slow. 

Things that are true... sibling harmonies are always the greatest. First Aid Kit's Johanna and Klara Soderberg are just the latest piece of evidence to support that, with silky smooth that are enough to make you think you've died and gone to vocal harmony heaven. It's a nice place. There's a never ending supply of gelato and a chocolate river and the clouds are fairy floss. You should stop by some time. 'My Silver Lining' will take you there. (Matt Bond) 


And here it is, the first driving song of the countdown. Well, I mean, in all honesty the place I listen to most of my music is in my car, so any of these could be considered driving songs by me, but this is the one that makes me want to get in my car, wind down all the windows and drive as far as my tank of fuel will get me (which at the moment might only be the local supermarket, but that’s another story). It’s those pedal steel guitars and the insistent beats that beg to be taken on the highway and the lyrics that are demanding to be sung while cruising into the sunset and possibly crying about regret and remorse and where you’ve come from and where you are driving to….and I don’t mean the supermarket. (Jo Michelmore)

#76. RUMBLE

by Kelis





So you keep one foot out the door,
I know I said leave but, baby, don't go. 

Our introduction to the new Kelis in 2014 came as a bit of a surprise. Long gone are the days of hating you so much right now... AHHH! As are the days of bringing boys to the yard with tasty milk-based beverages. But the last time we heard from our favourite, sometimes afro-adorned beauty, she was dipping her toes in electro-diva territory and pulling that off nicely. So when the Food era Kelis emerged earlier in the year, all soulful and making full use of those powerful pipes, yeah, it was a bit of a surprise. But one listen of 'Rumble' was all it took to make it a welcome one. I'd say she's embracing her roots, but I don't know what they are. So I'll just say... the new Kelis? Let her stick around for another album or two before she takes on another form. She's a lot of fun. (Matt Bond)


At the beginning of the year, it felt like I had waited for-ev-ah to hear something new from Kelis, which I suppose I had, because for-ev-ah can be relative, I guess. Well, I didn’t say literally, at least be thankful for that. Four years is a long time between albums, or should one say between drinks, considering the title of this year’s release; Food. Admittedly, I did find the whole 'food' concept a bit weird, good, but weird. However, this is a song countdown, we can get to the album later in the month. For now, let’s talk ‘Rumble’, which was all exes and currents and go-no-don’t-go, a set of keys I couldn’t get out of my mind and a smooth r’n’b groove that hit all the spots a good r’n’b song should. (Jo Michelmore)  

#75. HEART BEATS SLOW

by Angus and Julia Stone





You said I move so fast,
How could you be with me? 

After some time apart, the Stone siblings reunited in 2014 for arguably their best effort yet, the self-titled third studio album, Angus and Julia Stone. The lead single, ‘Heart Beats Slow’, was a welcome reminder of how perfectly these two vocalists fit together as they traded lines back and forth, as well as singing a healthy chunk of the track at the same time. A relatively small break seems to be exactly what Angus and Julia Stone needed to come back stronger than ever. Here’s hoping they’ll be back with their next effort very soon. (Matt Bond)  

#74. XO

by Beyonce





Baby, love me lights out...

Queen Bey… she could do no wrong in 2014. Amongst the swag-tastic tracks that predominantly made up the album, Beyoncé, ‘XO’ stood out as a shining beacon of pop perfection. Yes, there’s no lines about “dranking” and it’s a pretty straight forward love-y, dove-y ballad, but that doesn’t mean it’s not amazing. It’s totally amazing. Duh. It’s Beyoncé. (Matt Bond)


In a lot of people’s eyes, Beyonce can make no mistakes. I’m not necessarily one of the people who worships her, but I do know she’s someone who interests me, not only as a musician but as an experiment in marketing and the music industry and the media and various other words beginning M. I don't know what words they are, but they may start with M. Regardless of all of that, 'XO' was a delicious little piece of pop, full of light and numerous walls of sound, some kind of fireworks in the air and a joyous little feeling of wanting to dance. It was everything that pop music should be, a little bit magical, nothing more and nothing less and that’s something Beyonce does really well, irrespective of all of those other things beginning with M. (Jo Michelmore)

#73. HISTORY

by Holy Holy





All I want is to hold a little piece,
Of history between my teeth. 

My adoration of Holy Holy is well documented on this here blog and I’m quite happy to admit that I’ve declared Timothy Carroll’s voice one of the finest in Australian music, although my opinion doesn’t really stand for much. Nevertheless, I do have one that's why I write on a music blog. And you’re reading it, so maybe it stands for something. Or not. Shut up. ‘History’ was probably my favourite track from their splendid debut EP ‘The Pacific’ with its dense driving guitars and drums to be tapped to at every single beat. The song only became better and better when I found out it was a chance song, the possibility it may never have existed if the stars weren’t aligned correctly one fateful day, as they recorded it in a moment of inspiration with the drum, lead and rhythm guitar tracks played live to tape in the studio while on a break from working on the rest of the EP. Those are the kind of moments that make the greatest stories in rock n roll history (see what I did there?) and this is the kind of song we get to enjoy when those awesome moments happen. (Jo Michelmore)

#72. PICKLES FROM THE JAR

by Courtney Barnett





We couldn't be more contrary if we tried...

“I say Hugh, you say Grant, I say pot, you say plant.” Simple and memorable, that’s the Courtney Barnett way. You only really need to hear ‘Pickles From The Jar’ once or twice to know these lyrics off by heart and start singing along with Australia’s bestest good with words person. Short and sweet, that’s the Courtney Barnett way. ‘Pickles From The Jar’ might run for less than three minutes, but the most is made of our short time together. But it’s probably not that short of a time together if you don’t stop listening to it. Why would you want to stop listening to it? (Matt Bond)


I don’t even know what to say about this song, it’s just so darn cute. Is there much more to say than that? I could type all sorts of words about who Courtney Barnett is and some kind of underlying meaning behind the simplicity of ‘Pickles From The Jar’, why it’s so damn catchy and why Courtney Barnett should be much more well-known than she is, but it would take me longer to type and you longer to read than the song actually goes for, so the best thing to do is just suggest you go listen to it again. It’s pretty darn cute. (Jo Michelmore)

#71. WISH I WAS

by Ayla

 I'm not outta my mind,

But I wish I was. 

It would be easy to forgive you if you thought Ayla was older than her actual age of eighteen. With the storytelling ability and vocal talents of a more… experienced… artist, you can feel a sense of wisdom and quiet reflection emanating from the breakthrough track, ‘Wish I Was’. ‘Experienced’ might not be the best word to use, because Ayla has been busy releasing music and performing since 2011. Let’s just say her sound is far more mature than you’d expect from most young singer-songwriters and you wouldn’t want it any other way. Triple J have gotten firmly behind ‘Wish I Was’, with the track getting a ton of well-deserved airplay. With a new single set to arrive shortly and an EP coming in the New Year, 2015 is Ayla’s for the taking. (Matt Bond)

That lyric up there; “I’m not outta my mind but I wish I was” well this one hits a little close to home doesn’t it? Phew Ayla, why don’t you just get out of my mind, hey? Impressive words from an 18 year old, but I guess we’ve all felt that way at various stages of our lives, it just takes a talented musician like this one to pick them out of our heads and put them in front of our faces. Combine them with the twanging guitars, a bohemian inspired clip and a sweet and unique vocal and you have an artist I’d like to hear a lot more from. (Jo Michelmore)

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #90 - 81

The Preatures, MKO, Remi + Jack Colwell!

#114 - 101

#100 - 91

#90. RAMONA

by Velociraptor





And I thought I knew you,
But baby you make me so blue. 

You're always going to have a good time with Velociraptor, because Jeremy Neale and his music friends want you to, "make like a powerful metal guitar solo and key change your life today." I took that from Neale's Facebook page. Go and give it a like and have a read, it will make your day. Velociraptor fly the flag as the franchise players in Brisbane's burgeoning Garage Pop scene and with 'Ramona' they're showing that status isn't changing anytime soon. It's as good, if not better, than what's come before with some banging hooks and a nice surf rock-ish "love" story driving it along. You stay classy, Jeremy Neale and friends. I'd write out everyone's names, but I'm pretty sure the band's got about forty-five members. (Matt Bond)


Like many people, I have a facebook account. I show appreciation for things on that facebook account by pressing the ‘like’ button, that is, the small thumbs up symbol. I follow a lot of pages on my facebook account. I quite enjoy ‘Shit Brick Fences Of Melbourne’ and the ‘Walthamstow (Unofficial) Tourist Board’, as well as one of my more recent favourites ‘The Same Photo Of A Fork Everyday’. I like all of these pages, but I think the page I press ‘like’ on most often is that of Jeremy Neale, singer from the band featuring here at number 90. Jeremy Neale is a beacon of light on a social media tool too often darkened with an addiction to boredom and I feel like I need to pay his band and their song ‘Ramona’ the ultimate compliment, which I give to Jeremy Neale’s facebook page every couple of days so here it is…..like. (Jo Michelmore) 

#89. BUT I SAY

by Tulane





If silence is golden,
Then you certainly are king. 

Sydney's Tulane is a duo made up of vocalist Nikki Malvar and guitarist Nikk Retalic. They work really well together as a pair. All the proof you need of this is in their 2014 release, 'But I Say'. It shows you don't need all the bells and whistles to make a connection with the listener. Sometimes all you need is a relatable story, an emotive performance and a memorable melody. Try not to feel just a little bit heartbroken while you're listening to Malvar's performance. Tulane as a duo are hopefully just getting started. I want to hear a lot more from them in 2015. (Matt Bond)


Well, I certainly do wish I was better at this writing thing. I wish I had the words to describe the sadness and the desperation and the heartbreak and loneliness in Tulane’s ‘But I Say’, but I don’t. I’ve written thousands of words on this here blog and I’ve learnt that it’s mostly easier to let the artists speak for themselves, because they have the emotional capacity to face their own sounds, which are sometimes so beautiful I can’t. So I’m gonna leave this one in the words of half of Tulane, Nikki Malvar, because besides telling you to press play, I just can’t describe the beauty of heartache as well as she does; “Despite the fact that your head might know better, unremarkable people can make remarkable impressions on your heart sometimes. ‘But I Say’ is one of those unfortunate stories.” Yep. It is. (Jo Michelmore)

#88. CUT

by Hopium





Everyone here is just a bad version of you...

It could be because I’m a bit of a creep, but I really love and appreciate this song. I mean, I have all kinds of crazy thoughts that run around this brain of mine that are confined to a diary and a therapist. Okay, both of those things are lies, but I really do need an outlet. I digress. The point I was going to make is that I feel like this song is such a collection of random, private ramblings. I mean, “I'll cut off my legs so I could never leave you”? It’s brilliant. (Katie Langley)

There are some grand declarations of love and all that stuff in music. But if you can come up with anything that compare to, "I'll cut off my legs so I won't ever desert you, I'll cut out my tongue so nothing I say can hurt you, I'll cut out my eyes so they won't ever wander, I'll cut off my hands so there's no chance I'll ever touch another," please let me know. I don't know much about Hopium, because they're doing the whole 'mysterious' thing and not giving much away about themselves, but they've got some world class music to their name and 'Cut' is one of the best things to come out of 2014, so they can be as mysterious as they want. Brooding and industrial dark electronic pop with killer vocals and unforgettable lyrics. What's not to like? (Matt Bond)


Ah see, here we go. This is the kind of thing I get. I don’t often admit it, because no one really wants to know about the darkness, but this is the kind of thing I revel in. You hear those beats? Do you hear how painstakingly placed they are? Do you hear the tiny cracks inside every one that pound against that little paranoid part of my head? Can you hear the synths? Can you hear the shadows creeping in over every sense of light? Do you hear those words? Don’t pretend you don’t. We’ve all been there. Some of them you’ll hear more than others. But those lines; “Maybe I wanna see what burns, maybe I wanna see what breaks, maybe I need to learn from my own mistakes” well, they’re ones that hit a little closer to home than I care to admit. Except I just did. (Jo Michelmore)

#87. TYSON

by Remi





And I'm Tyson, circa 88, 
Yeah right, son. 

Before this year, I wasn't the biggest fan of Australian hip hop or rap. If that's your thing, that's great, but you don't really need to tell me about why I'm crazy for not declaring a 360 song as my, "jam". My attitude has been turned around quite a bit though in 2014, with releases from the likes of Tkay Maidza, Citizen Kay and this guy right here, Remi Kolawole. 'Tyson' has a great beat, shows that Remi can rap with the best of them and doesn't make me want to punch myself in the face in a display of pain transference. It might not seem like it, but that's a huge compliment to a really excellent song. (Matt Bond)


Fun fact: 'Tyson' runs for four minutes 20 seconds. Yes, 4:20. (Katie Langley)


2014 did something completely unexpected to me. Well, maybe it wasn’t 2014 itself, but artists like Remi, who kinda called out my name, made me sit up straight and demanded I listen. I’ll admit it to you Remi, I’ve always had this minor awkward relationship with Australian hip hop, it’s always made me cringe a little. Ok, more than a little. You Remi and your song ‘Tyson’? No cringing. Because it doesn’t sound like you have anything to prove, you’re just doing your thing and you don’t care whether I like you or not; but not in an ‘arrogant-wannabe-something-you’re-not-rapper’ kind of way, just in a ‘hey-I’m-just-doing-my-thing-you-do-yours-whatever’ kind of way. Maybe it’s that whole liking the boy who doesn’t like you thing I’ve always had, but whatever, that’s my psychological makeup I have to deal with. This is just a song countdown. I like you Remi. I like you a lot. (Jo Michelmore) 

#86. SEEK THE WILDE

by Jack Colwell and The Owls





A frightened child thrown into the wild...

You'll probably get sick of me repeating the same sort of lines throughout this countdown, but here's another one of our favourite people from 2014, Jack Colwell! His unique musical style made us big fans and 'Seek The Wilde' was just one of his tracks from the year we've been loving. Colwell set out to deliver a "baroque pop romp" on 'Seek The Wilde' and he more than delivered. In a sea of overproduced electronic music that all sounds a bit same-same, Jack Colwell stands out by composing an actual song with these things called instruments. And they're instruments that aren't just like a guitar or a triangle. There's a harpsichord. And what sounds like a flute and an oboe. And it's still really good pop music. It's only a matter of time before the right person pays Colwell the attention he deserves and his music gets celebrated the same. (Matt Bond) 


If you’d told me at the end of last year that we’d be featuring a song with a harpsichord in this year’s countdown, I may have been a little surprised. Don’t get me wrong, I would have been incredibly happy, but I would have been surprised, it’s not an instrument you hear every day and I would probably have demanded that you tell me how you know this you gypsy fortune telling freak and then I would have wanted you to play the song for me immediately. Ok, maybe I wouldn’t have said gypsy, but I would have wanted to hear the song. If you’d played me the song, I would have demanded to know the artist, because this is one song I LOVED from the very first note the very first time I heard it. It is so joyous, so bouncy, so full, so melodic and fairy tale and whimsical and goddamn I just want to get inside its soft feathery sounds and roll around. Is that weird? Shut up you gypsy fortune telling freak. (Jo Michelmore)

#85. BETWEEN FRIENDS

by Japanese Wallpaper ft. Jesse Davidson





If you wanna be my friend,
Stop trying to be my lover. 

I find myself using the word mesmerising a lot, but when I say it about this song, I actually, genuinely mean it. ‘Between Friends’ is just beautiful with its serene tones, the synths crashing around the sounds of twinkling bells and that chorus lyric whirling around and around my mind, over and over again. All of this from someone barely out of high school; way to make the rest of us who just write a couple of words on a blog every now and then feel inadequate. It’s ok, I’m prepared to feel inadequate when the music sounds this delicious. It’s simply stunning and only the very start of what I expect we will hear from Japanese Wallpaper in the future. (Jo Michelmore)

Japanese Wallpaper, for real-real name Gab Strum must be very happy with his 2014. He took out the triple J Unearthed High competition in July, joining the likes of Asta and Snakadaktal (R.I.P) as winners. 'Between Friends' alone is enough to say, "I'm a big winner, just give me the title!" Beautifully put together by Japanese Wallpaper and completely chilled out, the track scores bonus points for Jesse Davidson's restrained vocal work and the somber tone of the story against the ethereal music production. (Matt Bond)


This is one of those amazingly powerful songs that, depending on your mood, has the ability to reduce you to tears or make you smile. Isn’t that the best kind of music though? Music that makes you feel so strongly that you’re overcome with emotion. The answer is yes. (Katie Langley)

#84. PUDDLES

by MKO





And I know I'm just one fish in the sea,
But you're gonna get to know me. 

After seeing them live and declaring myself a fan of MKO last year, the release of ‘Puddles' was a perfect piece to put in the giant puzzle of MKO. I say puzzle, because sometimes I’m not sure whether to refer to just Hannah Macklin as MKO or whether to consider MKO a trio or a band or a sound or a feeling. The thing is, MKO is probably all of these things and when she and they are creating these sounds and I am swaying along to them, I don’t even care who they are, I’m just lost in the stylishly smooth beats and Hannah’s effortlessly sweet vocals singing of messes and guesses and puzzles and puddles. (Jo Michelmore)

After a stellar 2013, we weren't sure if MKO would be gracing us with their musical presence in 2014. Luckily for us, these Brisbane babes aren't ones to rest on their laurels and we got treated to a couple of new numbers including this one, 'Puddles'. It's dreamy. Isn't it just the dreamiest? Hannah Macklin can do no wrong, her voice is a thing of wonder and I'm convinced this is her best performance to date. It might even be my favourite MKO song so far too. If their trend of one-upping themselves continues, I'm already fascinated about what comes next. (Matt Bond) 

#83. JUST ONE NIGHT

by Julia Why?





Just give me,
One night where I can't think. 

Julia, why have I only just now heard this song? Badoom-tish! Clearly I’m behind the times, but it’s better late than never, right? I love me some rock, I love me some grunge, and this new found love affair is definitely not going to be just a one night kind of thing. (Katie Langley)  


Bands like Julia Why? are the ones who make me wonder why I never went through with that high school fantasy of picking up my guitar, finding myself a denim clad band member or two and started playing gigs in venues I was too young to actually be allowed into. Why didn’t I do that Julia, why? I actually have a friend named Julia, so that isn't neccassarily just a ridiculous play on words or a rhetoric question. The clip for ‘Just One Night’ is all sorts of high school fun and the song is full of “na-na-na-na’s” so I can’t find anything not to love and well, this is our top 114 so I shouldn’t be finding things not to love, right? Julia Why? and your perfect pop punk. I demand more than one night, please and thank you. (Jo Michelmore)

#82. BUCK UP AND PAY THE REAPER

by Dear Plastic





I've been picking the pockets of strangers,
Using what I found, to guess their names. 

Dear Plastic's debut album, The Thieves Are Babes, was one of the best releases of the year and 'Buck Up and Pay the Reaper' was one of its greatest tracks. I was completely sold on it when the chorus hits and vocalist Scarlette Baccini starts howling lines about looking out for number one, smiling like a dreamer and bucking up to pay the reaper. It's grungey-vibes galore and I'm loving the quiet, atmospheric moments in the verses and the fuller sound as the band lets loose in the chorus. As for the video, the performances from the band members are great. And then it's kinda gross, but the song... the song is a delight. And it's not even our favourite Dear Plastic song of the year. #foreshadowing (Matt Bond)


Oh this one caused some controversy in the IMKOS office (don't be fooled, we actually don’t have an office, it's mostly just Matt and I sitting in track pants in front of laptops which are in front of TVs). Back in May, Nayt and I battled it out over whether we loved the clip or hated it (Nayt a little on the hate, me a little on the love, neither of us really committing to either emotion) but we both came to the conclusion that regardless of what we thought of the clip, it had made us realise we liked the band and I guess that’s the job of a clip anyway, is it? I don’t even know any more in this crazy minefield of a music industry I keep observing. I do know that ‘Buck Up And Pay The Reaper’ is a glorious piece of dark indie pop rock that deserves to be heard by a lot more people than just Nayt and I arguing over what to love and what to hate about milking potatoes. (Jo Michelmore)

#81. SOMEBODY'S TALKING

by The Preatures





Now don't make me reason, don't pretend,
Reel me in so our love can begin again. 

There’s a reason why 'Somebody’s Talking' has become one of my favourite pre-work bus anthems – there’s a feel good vibe that provides the perfect amount of hope and zest. It’s not an I’ve-had-4-coffee’s-and-I’m-so-amped kind of rah rah song. It has a quiet confidence that gives you a reassuring pat on the back to let you know, “you got this.” (Katie Langley)

As infectious as last year's breakthrough single, 'Is This How You Feel?', this year's hit from The Preatures, 'Somebody's Talking' makes me want to dance like I'm on one of those 60s TV shows where the band's playing and all the teens are on stage with the band and just dancing around them. That's exactly how it makes me feel. But then I'd probably just be standing around like a creeper, staring at Isabella Manfredi because she's just the perfect front for a band and her voice is magical. Yep. (Matt Bond)

  

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #100 - 91

Meg Mac, Lily Allen, The Antlers + Benjamin Booker!

#114 - 101

#100. MISSING HER

by Wilding





I'm missing her, I'll never look the same again.

So here’s a not so secret secret. When you blog, some people tend to read your words and eventually, if you’re lucky, people will start sending you music to listen to. This is one of the reasons one continues to sit in ones pyjamas and write words on a little machine about music they love. One of the things I learnt to love this year was a musician from Melbourne who writes and sings songs that take a huge portion of their sounds from a time well before this one, from a time I’m a little bit in love with, not old enough to have experience first-hand, but every now and then wish I was. (Maybe not. I just want a time machine actually, so I can stay this age, listen to One Direction every now and then, but fill my wardrobe with clothes from eras past. Anyway, I’m digressing.) ‘Missing Her’ came to our attention via this here blogs email address a couple of months ago and it’s been playing on repeat in my retro inspired lounge ever since. This is when I love blogging. There are shoulders shrugging, hair waving and feet tapping when I listen to this and all of those things equals a happy Jo. (Jo is me, by the way.) I wanna hear lots of where Wilding intends to go in 2015, because I think there’s a big likelihood I may follow. (Jo Michelmore)

#99. AIR BALLOON

by Lily Allen





When I'm bored, I, kinda drift away,
I'm not sure, quite, why we work all day... 

Did Lily Allen fall off the Lily Allen bandwagon this year? Some say yes, some say no, I say who fookin' cares (say that with a west London accent and sorry, bit of Lily inspiration there) ‘cause she’s still releasing good pop and that’s what she’s always done. So what if she was accused of sounding like M.I.A? M.I.A is awesome and so was that song; there are a lot worse people to be compared to. It’s four minutes of pop perfection and was co-written with someone who has written for ol’ Swifty and P!nk, so what were people expecting? Nothing too earth shattering, one would hope. In fact, with those kind of credentials, we’re lucky we didn’t get something with one of my least favourite lyrics of the year; “get down with this sick beat” or my other despised lyric from a few years back; “so what I’m still a rock star”. Even with it’s annoying “Miami/Timbuctoo” reference, I loved ‘Air Balloon’ for the fun it was the first time I heard it and I love it for the same reasons right now. (Jo Michelmore)

I'm not going to lie. I hated 'Air Balloon' when I first hear it. Ok, I lied. Hate's too strong a word. How about... I wasn't quite sure of 'Air Balloon' when I first heard it. Safe to say, after about a thousand listens now, I love it. It's fun and silly and a little bit M.I.A in random lines about Timbuktu and Kurt Cobain, but there's some melodies fine enough to stop you in your tracks and the song's also genuinely sweet and earnest. That could pretty much be used to sum up what's so great about Lily Allen. She's ridiculous, but she's genuine. Sheezus was chock full of excellent songs like 'Air Balloon'. If you haven't given it a go, I strongly recommend it. (Matt Bond)  

#98. ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES

by Meg Mac





It's easier to fake it, oh oh...

Seriously, stop it Meg Mac. Your soulful tones are just too good. It's only too easy to see why Mac took out the Unearthed Artist J Award this year. When she's got powerful tracks like 'Roll Up Your Sleeves' in her repertoire, it's very easy to think up all the places her career will take her in the near future. 'Roll Up Your Sleeves' will have you involuntarily clapping along to the booming, beautiful voice it features and Meg Mac will truly have you believing, "everything is going to be alright." Meg Mac just might be the artist to watch in 2015. (Matt Bond)


There is a beautiful simplicity in a song that starts with the modest words “roll up your sleeves” and ends in the unpretentious words “everything is gonna be alright” and there’s something beautiful about a girl from Melbourne taking some sounds from 70s American soul and making them her own and there’s something simple about a piano driven, hand clapping song and there’s a beautiful simplicity in knowing you're going to be loving an artist like Meg Mac when she writes and releases songs so simple, so beautiful and so lovely like this one. (Jo Michelmore)

#97. RIVERBED

by The Septembers





Somebody's gonna be hurting...

Speaking of some of our favourite new vocalists, it's The Septembers, a duo featuring the supremely talented Donna Arendse and James Chatburn. 'Riverbed' puts the charm of old school rhythm and blues against a chilled out, modern indie-electronic soundscape and you won't be able to get enough of it. Arendse takes lead with some captivating vocal work that will make you melt. Chatburn hits all the right notes backing Arendse up, doing a nice job of building up the track's atmosphere in the process. The duo's respective backgrounds have led them to create a unique sound together and if 'Riverbed' is an indication of what we should expect from The Septembers, we're going to be in for a treat with future releases. Hopefully we get to hear more very, very soon. (Matt Bond) 


I was raised on a diet of music and while I didn’t really know what it was at the time, a huge portion of that diet was soul, which means it makes me incredibly happy to know such a smooth duo like The Septembers have featured in our top 114 for 2014. If you read (other people’s) words about ‘Riverbed’ it keeps getting described as a ‘slow burn’ and while I’d like to have come up with something else, those words describe it per-fec-tly. The guitar invites you into a story that you know is going to be dramatic, the vocal demanding you pay attention, the beats making sure you can’t turn away. I love this kind of song, I’ve always loved this kind of song and if The Septembers keep making music as soulful as this, I think I might feel the same about them. (Jo Michelmore) 

#96. VIOLENT SHIVER

by Benjamin Booker





We found a way,
We found a way... 

That childhood diet of soul music I was talking about with The Septembers in number 97? You can throw a huge portion of Americana-bluesy-rock as the dessert after that plate of soul. ‘Violent Shiver’ is the type of that makes me internally scream “YES!” and throw my fist in the air with each beat. If the gritty guitars and the solid drums aren’t convincing enough, it’s Benjamin’s voice, like gravel coated with a dash of bourbon that make this the kind of song that belongs in a bar in New Orleans, on a stage in front of an enthusiastic audience and in my lounge room, played loudly enough that my neighbours wonder why I’m having a party on a Friday morning. All of that and it’s the type of song I can’t help but nod my head to and if we were to ask Katie Langley that means it’s a winner. (Jo Michelmore)


People are saying big things about Benjamin Booker. And for good reason! There’s a raw, bluesy feel to “Violent Shiver” that really resonates with me. It’s rock, it’s fun, and it’s honest. If you took “Violent Shiver” to a party it would drink Whisky and dance unapologetically, hands flailing on the dance floor. It would make friends with party go-ers in the line for the bathroom, eat all of the kabanos sausage, and have a sneaky vomit behind the bush. (Katie Langley)

You had better strap yourself in, because Benjamin Booker takes you on one rocking and rolling ride you're not going to forget on 'Violent Shiver'. It's a non-stop, jump up and down while you scream and shout kind of jam that's over way too soon. But at least you get to do it all over again. And again. And again and again and again. Booker's guitar work whips you into a frenzy and his bonafide rock star growls will have you completely invested in what he's selling. Yep. 'Violent Shiver' is one hell of a ride. (Matt Bond)

#95. PALACE

by The Antlers





Beautifully oblivious before you were hid inside a stranger you grew into,
As you learned to disconnect. 

When this song came into my atmosphere very early this year, it came via it’s clip, which hit me hard and wouldn’t let go, after all, therein contained so many images and concepts that spoke to me, but as is mostly the case with me, it wasn’t the visuals that really grabbed my heart, they merely made me hear the things I needed to in a stunning piece of music. The pieces that shook me most were the keys, creating the sweet, soft sounds of memories and a sense of bittersweet, of times and places loved and lived and those events and relationships that build who we are in this very moment. It gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it and it does it again now, seven months later and it’s one of those that will always remind me of now and then and now again. In 2014, this is one I have truly loved. (Jo Michelmore)

#94. SPITS ON GIRLS

by Amy Shark





Don't be the boy that spits on girls,
Everybody hates that guy...

'Spits On Girls', our introduction to the music of Amy Shark was so easy to fall in love with. Shark confidently lays out snappy lines, the tune is catchy as anything and the slow build up in the sound that surrounds Shark's vocals is most excellent. Finding a way to stand out from every other performer trying to find a break and get noticed must be ridiculously hard, but Shark comfortably shows us what makes the 'Amy Shark' sound on 'Spits On Girls' and it's a little bit quirky, more than just a little cool, packs the right kind of attitude and it's definitely smarter than your average pop song. And the song also teaches you to share... (Matt Bond)     

Here’s where I admit something. I saw the name of this song way back in July and I didn’t press play. ‘Spits On Girls’? I’m a girl, I don’t wanna be spit on. Who does? Why would I have an interest in a song about that? Then Matt said something wise, as he sometimes does; “unwanted interaction with saliva is blurgh” but he had more courage than I, he listened to it, reviewed it and convinced me maybe I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or a song by its title and here we are at number 94. Lesson learnt; Amy Shark tells a little tale in her impressive piece of indie pop, subtly thumping along until the layers of vocals and music create a wall of sound that keeps me thinking that I have to remember not to judge a book by its cover, a song by its name and not to share my drugs with celebrities. I don’t even know what that means, but I like it. (Jo Michelmore)

#93. PREY

by Stella Angelico





When it's all burning down, dress me in my wedding gown,
Won't be your prey. 

Stellaaaaa. STELLLAAAAAA! Sorry. Couldn't resist. Stella Angelico might just be the biggest badass in music today. Have you seen the video for 'Prey'? Come on... she's a total badass. When all the sand dudes start running at her I was pretty much expecting her to just go street fighter on all of them. The look on her face says, "I ain't the lady to mess with." While I've got a lot of love for the 'Prey' music video, I've got even more love for the song itself. Angelico puts that powerful voice to work on one of the year's most empowering diva jams. She's been a woman since she was a little girl and she won't be your prey. Stella Angelico keeps on getting better. (Matt Bond)

#92. LOOK OF LOVE

by The Jezabels





In the dead of night,
I can't give in to your love. 

Hayley Mary isn't the biggest fan of music reviewers... but we're just blogger type people or something. So maybe we're still friends? I don't know. But I do know I was a big fan of The Jezabels' second album, The Brink, and spent a lot of time listening to 'Look Of Love'. Um... keep up the great work? (Matt Bond)


So Matt’s right, our friend from The Jezabels doesn’t particularly love music reviewers, but the difference between music reviewers and us bloggers is that we ain’t getting paid a cent, so as far as I’m concerned we can say whatever we want, because we’re only going to spend our time bothering to write about things we like, unless we’re referring to Robin Thicke, so hopefully Hayley can see we actually really like The Jezabels and well, screw anyone who doesn’t. If they just keep making catchy little songs like ‘Look Of Love’ with all its shiny guitars and synths and we’re all going to get along just fine. (Jo Michelmore)

#91. FIGURE IT OUT

by Royal Blood





Nothing here to see, just a kid like me,
Trying to cuss and see, trying to figure it out. 

I love the term ‘garage rock’. Royal Bloods are described as garage rock. Can you imagine that? Damn, I’d love to live next door to the house that their garage belongs to. Rough guitar and harsh, fast drums, a grunting rock vocal and some attitude, this is a band I’d be happy to hear rehearsing in any garage. In fact, I have a garage, it even has some junk in it which I say will only add to the acoustics. Forget that Foo Fighters tour next year Royal Bloods, fancy a gig under my house? (Jo Michelmore)


Finally, some music with oomph! It’s a running joke that one of my tests for a good song is whether or not I am nodding my head and/or tapping my foot. I’m pleased to report that “Figure It Out” passes both of those tests with flying colours. (Katie Langley)
  

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #114 - 101

Megan Washington, Client Liaison, Kingswood + Chelsea Wolfe!

We've listened to hundreds and hundreds of songs this year and loved oh so many of them. Cutting through all the goodness to select our favourite 114 was no easy task, but it's done and over the next eleven days we'll be counting down the Top 114 Songs of 2014! So let's not waste any time, let's listen to some excellent music. Enjoy!

#114. Walls

by Winters End

With eyes too soft to see,

The jagged edges, that are surrounding me. 

By saying this, I may or may not be giving something away very early about our top 114 songs countdown, but it must be said anyway. I’m really, really happy that we’re kicking off the 114 with an Australian artist and I’m really, really happy it’s with a pair as talented as Winters End. After releasing their debut EP in 2012, it was nice to hear a new single from this brother sister duo, but even nicer when it was a track as strong as ‘Walls’. Marissa’s vocal is solid from the very beginning and Chris’ percussion skills drive the track from the start to the end. It’s no wonder these two have recently been playing across the US because if they keep making these kind of sounds hopefully Winters End have a lot of playing, recording and touring ahead of them. (Jo Michelmore)


Sydney's sibling duo, Marissa and Christopher Pinto make up Winters End and they make quite the team. 'Walls' makes an immediate impact with the opening lines and there's so much to love about what comes after. The story packs an emotional punch and the music is top notch with some great hooks, but for me it's Marissa's voice that has me really loving 'Walls'. The delivery walks a fine line between showing strength and vulnerability in a truly impressive effort. I'm not sure what comes next for the Pintos, but I'm definitely looking forward to it. (Matt Bond)

#113. Feral Love

by Chelsea Wolfe

Crossing the water,

Lead them to die. 

Here’s where I have to make a confession and it’s not going to be a popular one amongst some. Even some of my fellow bloggers don’t like this one. I don’t watch Game Of Thrones and the facts are, I don’t watch it because I don’t like it. Eeeeeek. Don’t hate me. I don’t watch a lot of TV. But ‘Feral Love’; one of the tracks featured in one of the trailers for GOT’s fourth season has so much angst, drama and experimental noise that I don’t even need to watch the TV show. The angsty, dramatic, experimental and noisy nineteen year old me (who doesn’t appear so much these days) comes out to play as soon as the first notes are heard and she really likes what she hears. (Jo Michelmore)


There is a dark, brooding anticipation to this song that appeals to my gothic wannabe tendencies. It feels desperate and grim, and gives me the urge to burn all coloured clothing I own (because using a bin is so passé), dress in my blackest black and linger around the Hungry Jack's in Brisbane Queen Street Mall. (Katie Langley)


Game of Thrones 4 Eva, winter is coming etc. etc. Yeah. I'm in the GOT obsessed camp and I'm more than ok with that. If I wasn't, I likely wouldn't have heard Chelsea Wolfe's 'Feral Love' in the first trailer for the 2014 season. I'm glad I did though, because Chelsea Wolfe is all the right kinds of alternative cool for me and 'Feral Love' is one mighty fine song. The accompanying clip will have you thinking Wolfe is the heir apparent to Marilyn Manson's 90s shock-rock-alternative throne. Which is actually a compliment. Manson was great back then. 'Feral Love' creates some captivating imagery in the clip, with the most captivating creature being Wolfe herself. (Matt Bond)

#112. Just Like Normal

by Jim Lawrie

We don't need to dream no more...
 

It's interesting that a song called 'Just Like Normal' is one of the most genuinely uplifting songs of the year. Jim Lawrie doesn't need to use a thousand different adjectives to tell you how extraordinary you are. All he needs to do is tell you that, "we don't need to dream no more," and you can feel absolutely normal. And there's nothing wrong with being normal. (Matt Bond) 


So I first heard the sounds of Jim Lawrie way back in 2013 with his track ‘Midnight Run’ and then his performance at BIGSOUND that year. Back then he was Grizzly Jim, but nowadays he’s a little less Grizzly and a little more Jim, whatever that means, but both Jims are ones I like so who cares anyway? Having evolved from the first Jim I knew, ‘Just Like Normal’ still held all the things I loved about Jim when he was grizzly; a little folky and a little indie, but now a little richer with a six piece band to help him out. It’s a fabulous track that made me feel all warm and fuzzy the first time I heard it and those same lyrics “we don’t need to dream no more…” create the same feelings now that made me feel so comfortable with an artist I hope to hear more and more from in 2015. (Jo Michelmore)

#111. That's Why Darling

by Tanzer

Careful, forever turning stones,

That's why darling, I've come back for you. 

When I say this, I say it in only the best way possible, because while some people may not understand this statement, those who do are the only ones who count anyway and those that know me will understand how much of a compliment this is when I say it. There’s something really Eurovision-esque about this, the debut track from Tanzer; it starts in one place and ends in another, it’s dramatic and begging for lights, pyrotechnics and choreography, its vocals are so strong and end up so surprising and it belongs on a soundtrack, in a theatre production and in my playlist all at once…and all of those things are what make it Eurovision-esque. I don’t know how anyone could find that anything but the most amazing compliment anyway. (Jo Michelmore)


Be still, my beating heart... I am in love with the enigmatic Tanzer. This Melbourne-based songstress is another ridiculously engaging artist to emerge in 2014 and have us looking forward to 2015 in anticipation of what will come next from them. 'That's Why Darling' is a moody, atmospheric slice of dark electronic pop that showcases Tanzer's incredible vocal range and power. It's dramatic without being overbearing and waltzes into performance art territory when you add in the striking black and white music video. And I'm pretty sure she drops into French while dropping some operatic vocal bombs on us. For all that and more, you should be loving Tanzer. That's why, darling. That's why. (Matt Bond)

#110. Oh Lover

by Ruby Boots

Take this one sided love, oh to the grave...

 

Ooh ooh ooh, from the very start, that country-twang-Americana-type thing that sends a sense of anticipation through my whole being, this is a super cute little number from the alter ego of Bex Chilcott, who happens to be Ruby Boots. Which reminds me, I need to get myself an alter-ego, except my alter ego would be much like Ruby herself, a little heartbroken and a big bit torn between right and wrong and a whole lot of banjo and a big portion of drama. Funnily enough, all of those things are what makes up ‘Oh Lover’, which is probably why I like it so much. Ruby Boots and my yet to be named alter ego? They’re going to get along so well. (Jo Michelmore)


Ruby Boots aka Bex Chilcott is another one of our favourite people to gift us with some sweet new music this year and we've spent a lot of time with 'Oh Lover'. It's all very 'heartbreak in the wild, wild west' and Ruby Boots and her alt-country leanings sells this so very well. Chilcott goes from strength to strength as a performer, with her vocal control putting you right where she wants to. A slight pause at just the right moment or a note held for a second longer than you'd expect... it's stellar work. But we've come to expect nothing less from Ruby Boots. (Matt Bond)

#109. Cupid

by Boyeur

You don't know, don't try understand,

Why this love lives inside my head. 

Boyeur made the most of their year. They made the finals of the Melbourne Music Bank competition and it didn't come as a big surprise when they've got tracks like 'Cupid' in the catalogue. It lets them show off how talented Hugh Middleton and Tom Ischia are as multi-talented musicians and as excellent creators of catchy pop music. The done in one take music video was also one of my favourites of the year. You haven't seen it? Do it. Do it now and it'll likely be one of your favourites too. (Matt Bond) 


The angsty, dramatic etc etc nineteen year old that loved Chelsea Wolfe back at number 113 doesn’t get along with the one who likes the song at number 109, but I’m such a sucker for strings that the current me can’t resist. Six instruments amongst two band members impresses every me and I’m also a sucker for a clip with an actual storyline and while I’m not totally sure what’s going on in that room full of vinyl, I do love my vinyl, so as far as current me is concerned, Boyeur are a duo I like and ‘Cupid’ is a track I love. (Jo Michelmore)

#108. Pray To God

by Calvin Harris ft. Haim

I pray to God, I just don't know anymore...

Haim can do no wrong. Like, nothing against Mr. Harris. He can make some bells and whistle-y noises to back up stellar talent who I imagine wrote the song to go with the music. A bit like most of the catchy stuff that Guetta fella comes up with when he's working with someone like Sia. What? Yeah... I should focus on some positives here, shouldn't I? Haim! Everything comes with a side of 'sunnier disposition' when the sisters Haim are around. With any luck, we'll be hearing more from them in 2015. But at least in 2014 we got a reminder of their fantastical-ness. Calvin, old chap? You're alright too I guess. I feel like I wrote something very similar when Calvin Harris roped Florence Welch into recording with him. Moving right along... (Matt Bond) 

#107. I Can Feel That You Don't Love Me

by Kingswood





And I know that you know I can feel your disease,
I can feel that you don't love me. 

I can’t even decide what this is. Is it 80s big hair rock? Is it 90s stoner rock? Is it 00s indie rock? It must be 2014s rock, because it was called ICFTYDLM, without a hashtag, which wouldn’t have made much sense in the 80s or 90s or even a lot of the 00s, but somehow Kingswood made sense of all those decades, threw them all together and came up with one of my fave Aus rock songs of the year. I love a good bit of depression with my guitars and I love a good bit of self-doubt with my grungy vocals and I also love a good Australian rock band. Here we have all of those things and a tiny bit of an Arctic Monkeys feel as well. I love it all. (Jo Michelmore)


Kingswood have shown they can pull off the larger than life, powerful rock jams. And with the release of their debut album Microscopic Wars this year, they were able to show there's a lot more to them than just being that really, ridiculously cool rock and or roll band. They have feelings, y'all. They can feel when you don't love them. Which is pretty darn silly, because when the music is as good as 'I Can Feel That You Don't Love Me', there's only going to be a whole lot of love. Bluesy rock goodness with layered vocal parts and a sudden, dramatic ending. Yep... there is only love. (Matt Bond)


Matt and Jo are going to try and convince you that I only like Kingswood because they have lovely beards. In all honesty, I would be lying if I said that wasn’t some of the original appeal. C’mon, can you blame me? But I soon discovered there is much more to these guys than facial hair – they are uber talented and this song quickly became one of my favourites of 2014. It may have something to do with the countless dead end dates that I went on and subsequent ice cream pity parties and tears with the realisation that I may indeed be forever alone. I cannot confirm or deny.  (Katie Langley)

#106. Free Again

by Passerine





The strength that I needed I had all along,
Now I'll make my own way. 

Passerine always take me back to a special little time in the early 2000s when dance music made people happy. You weren't hearing about all this dubstep nonsense and it wasn't all lame sampling, auto-tuned vocals and a general vibe of skanky-ness. Think of like... Spiller's 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' or Paulmac's 'Just The Thing'. Music that's a little bit funky with soulful vocals and when you listened to it, you just wanted to have some fun and a bit of a dance. Passerine are bringing back the fun and the criminally under-appreciated 'Free Again' is an excellent example of this. I'm a big fan of Phoebe Dubar's smooth vocal tones and they're the perfect match for the funk-infused guitars and horns that stand out as a welcome change from the standard bump and grind electronic noises that dominate so much of dance music today. The clip for the song is so full of win from the moment Dubar emerges from the ocean in her gold jacket and should have about seven 0's added to its view count to match the quality of its production. Anywho, with a recent lineup change, it looks like we'll be getting to hear more from Passerine in 2015 and that's putting a big smile on my face. (Matt Bond) 

I remember being really excited when I first saw the clip for ‘Free Again’ earlier this year, because it was filmed in one of my favourite parts of one of my favourite cities in Australia, which is kind of stupid, because it’s probably one of a lot of people’s favourite parts of their favourite city, but nevertheless, leave me be, it wasn’t the only thing I liked. I also liked the jacket she’s wearing, the headphones on her head and I really liked the chorus to this catchy little pop song, which should probably have received much more attention and acclaim than it did. You watch those talent TV shows and think Australia can produce some really, really good pop music and then you hear people like Passerine and realise you don’t always need a TV show. Love to hear more from Passerine in 2015. That rhymes. Why am I not writing pop songs? Don't answer that. (Jo Michelmore)

#105. Blazing Radio

by Gena Rose Bruce





I keep falling through the window,
I can feel you coming closer... 

I’m resisting a strong urge to comment on Gena’s choice of head-wear in the video clip. I’m resisting because it shouldn’t and doesn’t matter what she’s wearing on her head – she has an amazing voice! Her sound isn’t my usual musical choice, but after seeing her perform earlier in the year I couldn’t help be captivated by her sweet melodic sound. Although that was the initial lure I was pleased to discover that there’s much more to Gena than meets the eye – she has soul and she isn’t afraid to cover some interesting lyrical content. I was going to make a reference to Gena being the Australian Taylor Swift, but I foolishly told Matt I was going to do so, and I’m sure he’s plagiarised my idea already. (Katie Langley)


Let me just say, I had no idea what to expect from a song called ‘Blazing Radio’ when I first saw the title of Gena Rose Bruce’s song. Blazing Radio? This could be anything; a terrible dance number full of boring beats and repetitive lyrics, it could be a rock song gone terribly wrong full of air, or it could be exactly what I got - a fantastic rollicking indie pop song with a teeny tiny country twist to make it just that little bit interesting. I suppose if I’d bothered to do some research I would have predicted that last option, considering she spent some time in Nashville last year, but you know, sometimes it’s nice to be surprised with these things, isn’t it? (Jo Michelmore)


I'm not usually one to hit up the merch stand at a gig. It's not that I'm a jerk and don't want to support the artist or whatever. Like I'm at the gig supporting. Get out of my face about it. But when I was first introduced to the music of Gena Rose Bruce at Ella Hooper's Brisbane gig earlier in the year, I was won over to the point that I had to pick up one of her EP's. Swoon-worthy vocals? Check. Top-notch storytelling? Check. Fashionably on-trend as a crossover country star in the making? Check. She was ticking all the boxes for me. Bruce made mention of new music coming and sure enough, we got it in the form of 'Blazing Radio' and it did not disappoint. It's completely and utterly engaging, with Bruce building her own little world for the listener to take a quick three and a half minute wander through. She's got the right attitude shining through that unique and powerful voice that you can't help but love. And this is just the beginning for her. I can only imagine that the best is yet to come from this intriguing new act. (Matt Bond)

#104. Burn This House

by Mwansa





Picture me, dark as night and her, sitting China white,
Magic. 

I feel like 'Burn This House' is a song that everyone needs to experience. It's a shining example of how well an emotional and real story can be delivered in song form. Beginning with fairly sparse electronic touches and then slowly building up as the track progresses, Mwansa's voice and the story never get lost or pushed to the side. Mwansa's voice and the story make the song. And you'll want to hear a lot more from this emerging Perth-based artist as soon as possible. (Matt Bond)

#103. Free of Fear

by Client Liaison





I don't have time to be home,
To slow down when I'm told... 

This is just ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous how much I like Client Liaison. No, really, it is. Ridiculous. There’s not another word to describe it. The beats are straight from the 80s, the vocals a little from the 90s, the synths just walked out of a Pet Shop Boys song, the percussion sits somewhere else altogether, the lyrics are insanely silly, the band member’s hairstyles belong on an Australian made for TV mini series and the clothes? Well some of them belong in my own closet, which could be what makes them so ridiculously good. All of this. That and the fact they put all of those things together with such finesse and such panache, I feel like I’m watching an ad in the middle of an episode of ‘East Of Eden’ (google it) which was taped on a VCR and all of these things make me cringe and make me laugh and all of these things make up ‘Free Of Fear’, which seems to sum up the philosophy of Client Liaison totally, right? (Jo Michelmore)

#102. Paranoia, Ghosts and Other Sounds

by SAFIA





All that I needed,
I need your love,
They said time isn't waiting for you. 

You listen to songs all the time and they’re just songs you know, something to bounce or sway along to and then they’re gone again. Safia did something really special with their brand of electronic pop with this song to make me hear it, sway to it and remember it. They made me feel like I could hear all the layers, every single piece of the puzzle individually, the track as sparse as it is full, each part as important as the other and each sounding delicious in its own right. But then somewhere midway through each listen, I realise how good everything sounds together, how all the pieces match and swap secrets with each other to make a perfect little piece of electro goodness. I don’t actually know how they did that, but whatever they did, they did it really well. (Jo Michelmore)

#101. Limitless

by Megan Washington





Won't you please remember to mention me to the ones who love you...

Oh, Megan Washington. It's so good to know you're not alone in the world. It's so good to know that someone else has felt that, "certain kind of lonely where you sleep in your jeans." Well, it's not good, it's kinda sad-o, but when it's being told to you in an incredibly catchy four minute Megan Washington number, it's easily digestible. 'Limitless' is a song I love just a little bit more each time I hear it. For a long time I couldn't get over how much I loved the lyrics. Then it was the yodel-ish section of, "oooOOOoooOOOooo," at the end. Then it was that hair in the clip, which you are pulling off lady. Where was I going with this? I don't know. But my love for this song has no limits. Ha! Yeah, I know. I'm hilarious. (Matt Bond) 

It’s bubblegummy and it’s poppy and it’s kind of cute with a dark cloud floating overhead and then it’s a little bit 80s and a little bit 00s and a little bit neon and I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. See, I never know what to expect from Megan Washington. One minute I think I know what she’s up to, then she goes and releases a song like ‘Limitless’, which is not the box I’d previously put her in and everything is turned upside down and round about and who the hell is Megan Washington anyway? I don’t know, I may never know, but I guess that’s why a song like ‘Limitless’ is perfect for her, right? (Jo Michelmore)

Top 114 Songs of 2014, Honourable Mentions

Taylor Swift, Azealia Banks, Montaigne + Lily Allen!

Oh, hey December. It's the last month of what has been a glorious year for music. We've seen Australian acts like Sia, Iggy Azalea and 5 Seconds of Summer make a huge impact on the international charts, those French robot fellas won a swag of Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year), Miley Cyrus seems to be all but forgotten again and the hottest non-feud of the year seems to be between Ariana Grande and Bette Midler. 2014 saw the end of Crystal Castles and The Knife, but it introduced us to some of our new favourites like Montaigne, Sam Smith and Taylor Swift 2.0, pop edition. Yep, it's been a fun year and we'll be celebrating all the good times over the next month. To kick things off, it's our Top 114 Songs of 2014 countdown, which officially starts tomorrow... but there were way more that 114 amazing songs this year, so we thought we'd bump it up with some honourable mentions. And to give us time to finish writing stuff and so on and so forth. What? Here are ten incredible songs from this year that just narrowly missed out on the Top 114 Songs of 2014 list. Enjoy!

Honourable Mentions:

I'm A Fantastic Wreck

by Montaigne

And if I'm a little bit deranged would you not,

Estrange me, or change me...

Humdrum Blues

by The Growlers

She wants something tangible,

Like a ring on her hand.

Chasing Time

by Azealia Banks

Check my watch, I had the future in my pocket,

But I lost it when I gave it to you.

Hard Time

by Seinabo Sey

Hard time forgiving, 

even harder forgetting...

The Haunted

by Northeast Party House

 We all stand too long on the wrong side.

Trainwreck 1979

by Death From Above 1979

I was born on the highway in a trainwreck,

With a heart that was beating outta my chest.

R.I.P CHIX

by Tempura Nights

All the girls that lied to me are dead...

All of Time

by Avec Sans

One day you'll lose somebody,

In the way I'm losing you.

 Our Time

by Lily Allen

Let your hair down it's the end of the week,

And this is our time now let's forget everything...

Blank Space

by Taylor Swift

Got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane,

'Cause you know I love the players, and you love the game.

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See you tomorrow for our Top 114 Songs of 2014 kick off!