The final monthly round up of the decade and as Australia is baking in another December heatwave there is a Summertime theme to this month's playlist. Keep Hydrated!
1) Wandering Star by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
I’m a sucker for chiming bells on a record at this time of year.
2) Kiss Like The Sun by Jake Bugg
A guitar stomper from Nottingham’s finest.
3) Ice Cream Party by Modest Mouse
A six minute sonic invitation and a welcome suggestion during the Aussie Summer.
4) Must I Evolve? By JARV IS...
Jarvis Cocker monologues set to unsettling musical jams like Pulp circa 1992.
5) Cane Fields by Natural High Music featuring Wayne Marshall, Jesse Royal & Kabaka Pryramid
Social justice message in a modern reggae song - however I don’t endorse fire starting in the cane fields.
6) Sunrise by Alice Ivy & Cadence Weapon
Great tune with summer vibes if you still have the motivation to jump around.
7) Beautiful World (acoustic) by The Beautiful Girls
An acoustic version of a 2018 single from these Aussie dub heads.
8) Your Capricious Soul by Michael Stipe
Another legendary frontman returns with new solo material after a quiet decade.
9) Hollow World by Elephant Stone
Psychedelic pop
10) Enjoy The Silence by Nada Surf
Lively cover of this Depeche Mode classic that is almost 30 years old. I’m feeling like Ancient Indie Kid now!
11) Everlasting Nothing by Beck
Beck has just released his 14th album Hyperspace and this electronic gospel number was co-authored with Pharrell Williams.
12) Show Love by Winston Surfshirt
Laidback grooves that will soundtrack another hot Aussie summer.
13) Talk Deep by E^ST
I can assure any youngsters that you will want sleep and talking deep all night will interrupt this. Priorities change as you get older.
OK Boomer
14) Dance Monkey by Tones and I
This song now holds the record for spending the longest time at the top of the Australian chart (18 weeks so far).
15) Orphans by Coldplay
Coldplay have been on the scene for two decades now.
16) Get On by Easy Street
Australian band with a nod to Bob Dylan.
17) Roddy by Djo
Hard to describe but hard to dislike.
18) Out Of Control (The Avalanches Surrender Remix) by The Chemical Brothers featuring Bernard Sumner
The original is a pounding big beat monster from twenty years ago but this remix version has surfaced with the Avalanches chilling things out considerably.
19) Feel Good Summer by SCABZ
Don't be fooled by the title, this grungy takedown of entitled wankers and the end of the effin' world as we all burn together
20) White Wedding by Graham Coxon
A cover of Billy Idol's classic that didn't make his latest soundtrack.
Summer is officially over in Australia. But I won't mope about it as there is plenty of new music to enjoy and several more months before it actually gets cold or wet. Here's to a long Autumn!
1) In The Air by DMA'S
Love this new song - one of their finest - a real maturity.
2) Lay It Down by Black Gold Buffalo
London based group with a few singles under their collective belts now finishing off their debut album.
3) Bullet Proof by This Is The Kit
What a voice and what a talent! Kate Sables is the first of two artists from the English City of Winchester to grace this month's playlist. Heartbreaking song. Bullet Proof (I'm Glad I'm Not).
4) Does This Last by Boo Seeka
Straight Outta Sydney - lush layered dream-hop not afraid of a catchy chorus.
5) Charlie by Alice Ivy
Australian Alice Ivy has released her debut album I'm Dreaming which is 36 minutes of blissful Avalanches influenced, beats, samples, raps and songs.
6) I'm Waiting For My Man by Beck
Velvet Underground wrote the original about scoring from their dealer over 50 years ago!
7) Riverview Fog by The Sadies
Opening track from the latest album by the Canadian indie folk rockers.
8) High Enough by K.Flay
"Love Is The Drug" is the message from this American artist.
9) Something For Your Mind by Superorganism
This list is taking something of a narcotic twist - so why fight it? Here is a collective operating out of London with their debut album due any day now...
10) S.I.A. by GUM
Perth associate of the Tame Impala crew with his latest slab of funky synth rock.
11) Surface To Air by Django Django featuring Self Esteem
Django Django have gone from strength to strength with their third album containing their best collection of tunes. Think The Beta Band remixed by Hot Chip... Hmmmm...
12) Treetops by Cloud Control
Cloud Control drift out of Sydney's Blue Mountains making dreamy psychedelic pop.
13) Far From Earth by Stonefield
The Lindlay sisters wallow in old school heavy metal riffs and cliched space exploration/final countdown themes. I just can't help enjoying it all. Rock On!
14) Distant Colours by Manic Street Preachers
New Manics is a return to heart on their sleeve passionate rock.
15) 1933 by Frank Turner
Written in 2016 in the aftermath of the Brexit vote whilst touring the US tour during the last presidential election. It was enough to anger this folk rocker from Winchester into penning a punky protest song.
16) Everything Is Now (Part Two) by Belle and Sebastian
My favourite Scottish band ever have released a trio of EPs over the last few months fifteen new songs without the burden of expectation that an album brings.
17) Me and Michael by MGMT
Taken from the excellent new album Little Dark Age. Very 80's feel here. Is that still in vogue?
18) Fever Dream Girl by Kyle Craft
New album Full Circle Nightmare on the Sub Pop label.
19) Call Me If You Need Me by Vance Joy
His second album Nation of Two has just been released and will be huge hit propelling Vance Joy towards the top. The album contains a several excellent singles which will now get wider exposure.
20) Buzzkill by Ash
Short, sweary punky pop song about the death of Summer. Appropriately timed for the Southern Hemisphere where the 1st March marks the official start of Autumn.
2017 has been another fine year for indie rock and if I had to whittle it down to ten essential albums then they would be the following...
#10 The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding
Pounding drums, harmonicas, wailing Americana and dueling guitars abound.
#9 The Allergies - Push On
Brighton duo with their second collection of big beat tunes, styles and a collection of guest vocalists which help with the variety on this album.
#8 Methyl Ethel - Everything Is Forgotten
Second album from the Western Australian band who have taken their hallucinatory rock show to critical acclaim around the world.
#7 Ride - Weather Diaries
Indie shoe gazers return over twenty years since they last recorded together. Great comeback album mixing their early sound with some contemporary flourishes.
#6 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built The Moon?
In a year when Liam Gallagher released his first solo album and spent much of it bagging his older brother, there was no room for complacency and Noel responded with this rocking album.
#5 Beck - Colors
The album was long awaited dropping over two years after the lead single Dreams appeared. This is Beck back in party mode.
#4 Black Grape - Pop Voodoo
Daft Funk. This is Black Grape's 3rd album and their second best of all time. Shaun Ryder & Kermit deliver their assessment of the US election as well as their usual themes of smoking, drinking and other vices.
#3 Jesus And Mary Chain - Damage And Joy
JAMC return with their first album since 1998 filled with fuzzy guitars, guest duets and pop gems. They sound fresh like a much younger group but they look like they have escaped from the portrait of Dorian Grey.
#2 Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
Manchester band dabbling in the well worn groove between rock and dance music.
#1 Kasabian - For Crying Out Loud
The finest album by the world's most self assured band. Packed with hits and funny to boot.
I've compiled a taster playlist mixing four tracks from each album below...
There is an electronic flavour to this month's playlist with many groups releasing new tunes in the last few weeks. The second half is a more mixed bag of indie scmindie covers and full on rock.
1) Everything Is Never Enough by Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp's latest single taken from their seventh album "Silver Eye".
2) Non Believer (Groove Armada's Remix) by London Grammar
Never been a fan of London Grammer, to me they are a moany version of The XX. Luckily Groove Armada have the skills to improve any source material they remix.
3) Be Friends by Alice Ivy
Summertime good vibes with samples, raps and beats.
4) Chameleon by Pnau & Mele
Pnau are a funky Sydney dance outfit who deliver the goods on this remixed single.
The original version and video are below.
5) Black Rainbows by Cut Copy
Another Australian dance act from Melbourne who have been releasing tunes since 2004.
They have just released their fifth album "Haiku from Zero" and this track is quality.
6) Dive (Colorama & Shawn Lee Remix) by Saint Etienne
St Etienne need no introduction. This remix is a mint eight minute workout of their recent single.
7) Lullaby Horizon by Way Out West
Bristol dance veterans doing what they do best - trancey chillout tracks.
8) Strange Waves by Shock Machine
Another slice of synthetic pop genius.
9) Poor Man Dan by Diane Coffee
When the drummer left Foxygen to form his own band he seems to have taken the pop spark with him and Foxygen have been in decline ever since.
10) No Diggity by Alice Jemima
I read recently that people who enjoy this song are more likely to be psychopaths - It's a fair cop!
11) Auld Reekie Blues by Reverend And The Makers
Single taken from their 2017 album "Death Of A King".
12) Waterfalls by Kyle Craft
A cover of the excellent TLC song.
13) Stop by Lisa Mitchell
Another cover by an Australian songstress who has just released an EP of cover versions tackling songs by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Placebo. This one sounded familiar and I couldn't believe who sang the original until I google it. If you can pick it then shame on you!
14) Up All Night by Beck
The wait is almost over - Beck will release his long awaited new album on the 13th October. It will include the hits "Dreams", "Wow", "Dear Life" and this one "Up All Night".
15) Isn't Love by Citizen Kay
Australian skip hop artist Citizen Kay originally came from Ghana before he moved to Canberra asa child and has just released his "Belly of the Beast" album.
16) Asshole by The Creases
One of the highlights taken from the Brisbane band's "Tremolow" album. Such a joyous chorus to sing along to.
17) The Line by Foo Fighters
The singer used to play drums for Nirvana. This is how he spends his retirement.
18) How Far Must We Go? by Horsebeach
Taken from the Manchester band's third album "Beauty & Sadness".
19) Chateau by Angus & Julia Stone
Taken from the album "Snow" which is becoming one of my favourites of the year.
20) The Finish Line by Embrace
It is now the twentieth anniversary of the release of the first Embrace singles and they are back with a single taken from their eighth album expected in early 2018.
Twenty tracks to fill the void left by the end of the Game Of Thrones season.
1) Something More by Shock Machine
The former Klaxon, James Righton, has just released his first album under the Shock Machine moniker.
2) The Devil's Shelter (Young Galaxy Remix) by Elephant Stone
Canadian band remixed by another Canadian band resulting in some hypnotic rhythms.
3) Spanish Town Rocking by Chronixx
Laid back and smooth Jamaican reggae taken from Chronology the debut album by Chronixx.
4) Across The Multiverse by Dent May
Dent May makes a welcome return with an excellent album of the same name.
5) Dear Life by Beck
Beck continues his slow drip feed of singles from his forthcoming album. This is the third single in three years. Just do it already.
6) Put Me Together by Everything Everything
A band named after the opening words from Radiohead's Kid A, creating music in the same vein.
7) Whiskey, Wine and Ham by Black Grape
No idea if it means anything but it is prime Shaun Ryder akin to A Big Day In The North.
8) Love Me More by Chase & Status featuring Emeli Sande
Like a drum n' bass I Will Survive but better than that sounds.
9) You Can Be Your Silhouette by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Taken from the stoner-jazz Sketches of Brunswick East album. Only the third album released this year by King Gizz and the Liz Wiz. Sad to say they are slowing down.
10) Up All Night by The War On Drugs
Finally The War on Drugs have released A Deeper Understanding, their follow up to 2014's Lost In The Dream. If you have a couple of days to spare why not enjoy one of their guitar solos. Still can't put my finger on why I like them so much - it must be old age!
11) In My Car by The Creases
Brisbane indie pop by numbers. It's alright I guess but will I remember it in years to come? I've just listened to it and I can barely recall it. It goes "der dur der dur dur dur" and then I forget.
12) Remedy by The Allergies featuring Dr. Syntax
I keep hearing new tunes by this band and they always sound fresh mixing up genres and adding guest vocalists - can't believe they are not world famous yet.
13) Instant Crush by Cage The Elephant
Taken from a live covers album Unpeeled, they take on the Daft Punk song originally sung by Julian Casablancas. They can't match the vocals but it is interesting to hear it played by a indie band.
14) Heroes by Motorhead
This David Bowie classic is turned up to eleven and tastefully reproduced by Motorhead from their Under Cover album.
15) Stupid Things by INHEAVEN
The band look like a glamourous version of the Senseless Things if such a look was possible or even desirable. Crusties in make-up basically. But in this feedback drenched track they manage to include a catchy pop song. It sounds like early Jesus and Mary Chain playing Friday I'm In Love.
16) Lust For Life (The Avener Rework) by Lana Del Rey
I do like her voice but the original version left me as cold. The song is about climbing the Hollywood sign in the buff and instantly forgettable. But when The Avener remixed it it is subtley transformed into a groovy and mildly funky dancefloor pleaser. The Avener, it appears can polish a turd.
17) Beatnik Trip by Gin Wigmore
A little gospel tinged number from New Zealand's Gin Wigmore.
18) Into The Sky by Pnau
Australia's Pnau have been going for nearly twenty years and are better known as half of Empire of the Sun. This track was inspired by their love of Madchester and the Happy Mondays but despite these influences - it sounds different.
19) Over Everything by Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
A stoner duet by two of indie rock's most rough sounding singer songwriters.
20) The Rains Of Castamere by The National
Finally, The National perform The Rains Of Castamere from the Game Of Thrones Soundtrack. A song beloved by the Lannister Army retelling the grisly fate of House Rain who betrayed them. So wallow in this and lament another long wait until the final season is leaked. But if you haven't already seen it then check out Coldplay's Game of Thrones Musical.
July is here and so are twenty new songs carefully handpicked to soundtrack the middle of the year.
Generic Stock Picture Festival 2017
1) Cloud 9 by Baker Boy - Debut release from this awesome Indigenous Aussie rapper from the Northern Territory - looking forward to hearing more.
2) Everything Now by Arcade Fire - It's just too good to be true - can't take my eyes off of you.
3) Notion by Tash Sultana - This song has wormed its way into my head over several months - another extremely talented Aussie.
4) Holding On by The War On Drugs - Two new songs this year so it looks like an album is imminent. At nearly six minutes, this is the shorter of the two. The other is over eleven minutes long. Did these guys never hear of punk rock?
5) Man of War by Radiohead - One of three Radiohead tracks that were culled from OK Computer but are now found on the 20th anniversary re-release of the album.
6) Put Your Life On It by Kasabian - Kasabian's latest album closer builds to a singalong anthem of epic proportions with a gospel vibe akin to Blur's Tender.
7) Paved With Gold by Sampa The Great - Smoothness and dope beats.
8) Jacket Weather by Sam Gellaitry - Cool bleeps produced by this young Scottish DJ.
9) Enter Sandman by Cookin' On 3 Burners - Australian Hammond organ jazz trio provide an instrumental cover of Metallica. Sounds better than it looks on paper - but only just!
10) Blue Sun by Vanilla - It's great when you imagine a genre in your head and then discover it exists and is flourishing. This happened to me recently with Chill-Hop and this is a fine example of what to expect if you want to take a detour in that direction.
11) Chariot by Beach House - Keeping things on a blissed-out trip are Baltimore's Beach House with their first dreamy soundscape for a couple of years.
12) Can't Help Falling In Love by Beck - Taken from the soundtrack of The Man In The High Castle, Beck croons this epic ballad. But when is his new album coming out?
13) Believe (triple j Like A Version Cover) by DMA's - Melbourne's DMA's cover Cher's 1998 disco hit and make it tolerable.
14) Snow by Angus & Julia Stone - Rejoice! Angus and Julia Stone have recorded a fourth album and this is the lead single.
15) How To Boil An Egg by Courtney Barnett - New catchy song from Melbourne's undisputed Queen of Glum.
16) Monkey Disco by The Babe Rainbow - Sixties hippy throwbacks have released their debut album including this funky monkey French disco number.
17) Wall Of Glass by Liam Gallagher - Liam is back singing other people's songs again with a backing band that sounds like Oasis during the excesses of the Be Here Now. Liam brings his trademark attitude but to what end? To shatter a wall of glass? All Surface, No Feeling.
18) Dive by Saint Etienne - Classic St Etienne handbags disco number.
19) Wait (Non Electric) by The Kills - Acoustic version of an album track from their excellent debut album Keep On Your Mean Side originally released back in 2003. Just love her gravelly vocal here.
20) My Name Is Thunder by Jet & The Bloody Beetroots - A collaboration between The Bloody Beetroots and Aussie rockers Jet. Very Acca-Dacca!
These are my top forty tracks of 2016. The playlist is available on Spotify and some of the videos are provided below for those of you of an audiovisual persuasion.
In reverse order...
#40 Wind In Our Sail by Weezer
A jaunty pop song full of sailing imagery.
#39 Cool Out by Matthew E. White
A laid back tune with a whispered duet
#38 Night Owl by Metronomy
Sounds like a lost synth classic from the early '80s.
#37 Nihilist Party Anthem by Ball Park Music
Australian band from Brisbane with a dark indie-rock singalong.
#36 End Of An Era by Public Access TV
Typical NYC sound. Could be The Strokes younger brothers.
#35 Nothing But Love by James
Manchester's James still creating alternative love songs complete with horn sections.
#34 Signs by The Magnetic North
Simon Tong, former member of The Verve is behind this band and this beautiful song.
#33 Bulls by The Cat Empire
Infectious melody from the Aussie rock reggae band.
#32 Let Me Get There by Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions featuring Kurt Vile
A quiet year for Kurt Vile so I expect he is recording new material.
Hope Sandoval, on the other hand, released an album and will return later in this list.
#31 Natty Rides Again by Nattali Rize & Julian Marley
Head nodding Jamaican Reggae.
#30 Drag by Cat's Eyes
Canadian singer Rachel Zeffira and a member from The Horrors making dreamy 60's influenced pop.
#29 On Hold by The XX
First new single from The XX for several years pushing the dance beats to the fore.
#28 Subways by Avalanches
Melbourne Cut N Paste DJ Collective return after 15 years with a long awaited second album featuring this excellent track.
#27 What Part Of Me by Low
Minnesota slowcore band with a hypnotic duet.
#26 Second Heartbeat by Urthboy featuring Sampa The Great
Aussie Hip Hop tune that Spotify informs me was my third most played track of 2016.
#25 Come On Mess Me Up by Club Sport
Another excellent Brisbane indie band.
#24 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen R.I.P.
The Canadian singer's final single released on his 82nd Birthday and three weeks before his death.
#23 Before The Wall by Kyle Craft
In the ramshackle style of a Dylan protest song this is a song that dreads an American future under President Donald Trump.
#22 The Opposite Of Us by Big Scary
Melbourne band with an epic piano ballad.
#21 1955 by Hilltop Hoods
Skip hop legends with their ode to living in a small town and feeling like you are sixty years behind.
#20 Randy by Justice
Funky French dance rock fusion. Make sure you listen to the full version not the radio edit which cuts off the euphoric instrumental ending.
#19 Bad Habits by The Last Shadow Puppets
Taken from the second album from Miles Kane and Arctic Monkey's Alex Turner.
#18 Blast Off by The Allergies featuring Andy Cooper
The Allergies have been making some smoking tunes lately and here the team up with Andy Cooper of my favorite US rap artists Ugly Duckling to ensure the Hip Hop Don't Stop.
#17 Dark Necessities by Red Hot Chili Peppers
RHCP are still creating laid back funk rock which pleases me immensely.
#16 Poem by She Drew The Gun
Social commentary from a new band who hail from Liverpool.
Are we about to see a re-emergence of protest singers in the next few years?
#15 Ain't No Love by Jake Bugg
This album track songs like an Odelay-era Beck song and was the highlight of Jake's third album.
#14 Gamma Knife by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Sydney's High Priests of Weirdness.
#13 Big Ideas by The Boxer Rebellion
Epic production, great voice and guitars reminiscent of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" result in a tune that swerves into cheesy territory but I still love it.
#12 California Kids by Weezer
Taken from Weezer's White Album which was one of the best albums released this year.
No matter how bad things are there is always a beach in California.
#11 Lauren by Men I Trust
A laidback funky bassline underpins this song about...
well the lyrics appear to be randomly generated so I wouldn't focus on them.
#10 You Are Killing Me by The Dandy Warhols
Best tune from The Dandy Warhols this century and I've been playing regularly all year and it hasn't lost any of its appeal.
#9 Another Day by Steve Mason
Former Beta Band frontman treading a similar path to his previous band but its a track well worth following.
#8 Robin Hood by Jamie T
This is the greatest homage to The Clash that I have ever heard - enjoy all the lyrical references and the unmistakable joyful Clash sound.
#7 Shakedown Street by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
This is a funky cover of a Grateful Dead song from the 1970's and I have been unable to shake it from my head.
#6 One More Night by Michael Kiwanuka
London based singer with a modern classic.
#5 Beautiful Thing by The Stone Roses
22 years after The Second Coming The Roses return with two singles (one cheesy and one groovy)
This is the one, this is the one I've waited for!
#4 1 in 100,000 by L-Fresh The Lion
Australian hip hop with beats, drops, attitude and Indian percussion.
#3 Wow by Beck
Wow Indeed! Just drop your new album and stop teasing me with a new single every twelve months.
#2 The Spoils by Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval
Hope Sandoval's second appearance in this list is for her haunting vocals over this beautiful prime cut from the Godfathers of Trip Hop.
#1 Burn The Witch by Radiohead
What else could it be? A claustrophobic string-laden rock gem
The video is also my favorite of the year as Cambellwick Green meets The Wickerman.
1) Love by Stonefield. Four Aussie sisters from Victoria, Australia
2) People On The High Line (Richard X Remix) by New Order Great dance remix of New Order track courtesy of Richard X 3) Randy by Justice French dance masters with the full joyous version - please ignore the short changing radio edit 4) Harvest Moon by Sunflower Bean New York band with a cover of Neil Young 5) Never Say Never by Thundamentals Funky Aussie Hip Hop 6) Stonecutters by Dope Lemon Another track taken from Angus Stone's excellent new album 7) Acid Rainbow by Sweat Time to find the end of the acid rainbow according to this new sweat band from the UK 8) Still Breathing by Green Day Green Day continue their revival with this being the second new song in two months that I've enjoyed 9) Robin Hood by Jamie T This is one of my favourite tracks of the year and must be remembered when I start compiling an end of year wrap up. It is a fitting tribute to the legend of The Clash 10) Hold On by Teenage Fanclub One of indie's greatest bands has returned after six years with their eleventh album called Here 11) Wow (GUAU! Mexican Institute Of Sound Remix) by Beck. Awesome Mexican remix of his first single with an album expected in November 12) Grace by Work Drugs A dreamy chilled out moment 13) Ceremony by Wussy You can't beat a Joy Division cover (unless you're playing the original) 14) Ivy League by Alex Lahey Alex Lahey is an indie pop songwriter from Melbourne 15) Hearts To Kill by Palace Winter Danish/Australian indie rock 16) Gotta Find A Way by The Frightnrs New York group making classic early reggae sounds. The singer Dan Klein died a couple of months ago but the band have just released this final album. 17) Olympic Village, 6AM by Belle & Sebastian A cheesy instrumental offering from the Twee Overlords that reminds me of O.M.D. 18) Waste A Moment by Kings Of Leon. No description necessary here. Plus I've got nothing of interest to add. 19) The Opposite Of Us by Big Scary Beautiful music from the Australian band who have released a new album this month called Animal 20) Just A Lover by Hayden James A slab of laid-back Aussie house music to play us out
1) Colours by The Avalanches. After sixteen years in the wierderness, Australian DJ collective The Avalanches emerge with new music. Colours is lush, backwards chanting return to their classic sound and much preferable to their annoying Frank Sinatra comeback single.
2) Wow by Beck. It's a fantastic stab at day-glow cowboy pop and together with last year's Dreams single lead me to speculate that he is about to release his album of the decade in the near future.
3) Shakedown Street by Unknown Mortal Orchestra. It's an irresistible feel-good cover of The Grateful Dead's original.
4) Cinnamon by Cullen Omori. I loved the indie band The Smith Westerns who produced some great singles and a classic album Dye It Blonde in 2011. Their follow up was disappointing and they broke up in 2014. Happily the former vocalist has gone solo with a great album called New Misery.
5) Dave's Song by Whitney. The guitarist from The Smith Westerns teamed up with a former singer from Unknown Mortal Orchestra and formed Whitney who just released their debut album Light Upon The Lake. So two excellent albums from the ashes of a great band. Happy days!
6) Parachute by Kaiser Chiefs. The Kaiser Chiefs have traded their guitars for synths and have a forthcoming album in the same vein.
7) Bulls by The Cat Empire. Aussie Legends.
"The Bull's inside my head and the flag I wave is red".
8) I Never Get Old by Nathaniel Rateliff And The Night Sweats. It's a modern soul classic!
9) Beautiful Thing by The Stone Roses. This Is (More Like) The One. Backwards loops, reverb, drums, guitar licks, blasphemy "There was no Crucifixion, just lies to steal your mind...", seven minutes long, room to breathe and a looser funkier jam. This resets the expectations for the third album which is, after all, What The World Is Waiting For.
10) Theme From Likely Stories by Jarvis Cocker. Why has Jarvis never been chosen to write the James Bond theme tune? I can just hear him whispering "Casino chips, and gravy stains, it's not all fast cars and beautiful women, it's dirtier than that".
11) Hype by Dizzy Rascal and Calvin Harris. Unhinged dance floor lunacy and great rhymes.
12) Dune Wind by Palace Winter. Now this is more like it - in fact I'm playing noodling air guitar between typing words in this sentence.
13) Open Wound by Bob Evans. Bob Evans a.k.a. Kevin Mitchell of Perth band Jebediah singing what feels like an album closer from a Crowded House album.
14) Since You Been Gone by The Heavy. They sound very American but actually hail from Bath, England. This is their first single from their new album Hurt and The Merciless.
15) Spinning Away by John Cale. I thought this was a cover of Sugar Ray's classic Spinning Away which graced The Beach Soundtrack. John Cale is of course the Welsh musician and founding member of the Velvet Underground. It appears that actually John Cale's version was the original.
16) Freedom by The Shimmer Band. A new British band tearing up the festival circuits. This is one to watch.
17) Surgery Of Love by The Delta Riggs. Ah the psychedelic pop return of Australia's Delta Riggs. Life is better already.
18) Drag by Cat's Eyes. A Canadian singer Rachel Zeffira and Faris Badwan of The Horrors have teamed up to become Cat's Eyes and produced the wonderfully lush 60's influenced string laden album called Treasure House.
19) Feasting On The Flowers by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'm enjoying the 11th studio album by the RHCPs. It's as rock n roll as a comfy pair of Ugg Boots but just as pleasing.
20) True Love Waits by Radiohead. It certainly does and so do fans of Radiohead who have been waiting two decades for this song since it was first performed. It was previously released as a live recording in 2001.
Update - actually Jarvis did do a cover of All Time High the theme from 1983's Bond film Octopussy.
According to the Spotify, I have listened to over 2000 different artists and nearly 7000 different tracks during the last 12 months. From this I conclude that I should get out more.
I have culled those options into a Top 40 Countdown list of my favourite tracks of 2015.
I'm too lazy to write about every song in this list but they all have merit.
In reverse order...
#40 An Australian collaboration between Craig Nicholls of The Vines and Nick Littlemore from Empire of The Sun under the supergroup name White Shadows they have taken a very ordinary Vines B-side called "Give Up Give Out Give In" and turned it into a classic tune. The transformation is amazing and it is worth finding the original to compare.
#39 "Pedestrian At Best" by Courtney Barnett. Courtney from Tasmania has divided opinion after winning Triple J's Australia Album of the Year ahead of more popular acts such as Tame Impala. I loved her early singles but her debut album was disappointing as a non-stop wordy whinge-fest.
#38 "Stroking My Beard" The Beards. This hairy Aussie band have made a career singing about their facial hair. This is a prime example of why it works so well.
#37 Ryan Adams "My Wrecking Ball"
#36 Hymnal "In The Valley Below"
#35 Public Service Broadcasting "Gargarin" - Ode to an East German Soviet Spaceman.
#34 The Yetis "Little Surfer Girl" Fuzzy Beach Pop.
#33 Gaz Coombes "The English Ruse" - Supergrass Disco Pumpin' On The Stereo.
#32 The School "All I Want From You Is Everything" - Poppy Welsh Gold Miners strike again.
#31 Holy Holy "House of Cards"
#30 Pete Doherty "Flags of the Old Regime" - Pete's Tribute to his friend Amy Winehouse.
#29 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds "Ballard of Mighty I" - Oasis don't need to reform yet.
#28 Sons of the East "Already Gone" - Sydney band who sound a bit like Mumford and Sons.
#26 DMA's "Lay Down" - Another reason why Oasis don't need to reform.
#25 Swim Deep "Fueiho Boogie" - The Brummie Unhinged Psychedelic Reel.
#24 Unknown Mortal Orchestra "Necessary Evil"
#23 Proteje "Protection" - New Jamaican Reggae Legend
#22 Jamie XX "Loud Places" - The XX go clubbing.
#21 The Libertines "Anthem For Doomed Youth"
#20 Pond "Zond" - Perth madmen
#19 Mercury Rev "Autumn's In The Air" Lush orchestration and vocals.
#18 Gengahr "She's A Witch" She turned me into a newt.
#17 Blur "Pyongyang" - Haunting ballad about Damon's trip to North Korea.
#16 The Chemical Brothers "Wide Open"
#15 Methyl Ethel "Rouges" - Singing stream of consciousness ramblings about being knocked down on The Causeway (my nearest bridge), alien abduction and the heat of a Perth Summer.
#14 Jacco Gardner "Find Yourself" A very talented young Dutchman.
#13 Mini Mansions featuring Alex Turner "Vertigo" - Starved of Alex Turner material this year but hoping for the Last Shadow Puppets and Arctic Monkeys to release new albums in 2016.
#12 The Avener featuring Ane Brun "To Let Myself Go"
#11 Kurt Vile "Pretty Pimping"
#10 Alabama Shakes "Don't Wanna Fight"
#9 Beck "Dreams" Beck teases everyone with this gem of a pop record but holds off the album's release until 2016.
#8 Belle and Sebastian "Nobody's Empire" An autobiographical song from Stuart who was hospitalised suffering from M.E. back in the early Nineties.
#7 The Hives "Blood Red Moon" A modern cowboy song that is screaming to be the theme tune to a new Netflix series.
#6 Unknown Mortal Orchestra "Multi-Love"
#5 The Dead Weather "I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)" Supergroup with a super riff.
#4 Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk" Impossible not to enjoy and very hard to listen to without dancing 'round your kitchen.
#3 Blur "Lonesome Street" Classic Blur featuring the alternating mix of positive and cynical lyrics that give way to another bittersweet chorus. The band are tight like it's '93 throwing in some "Woo Woos" and whistling. Their whole musical career is mashed up on The Magic Whip and the only missing element is Phil Daniels' cockney diary extracts.
#2 Tame Impala "Let It Happen" They went interstellar this time.
#1 Hot Chip "Huarache Lights" A groovy repetitive Hot Chip workout. "Replace us with the things that do the job better" they sing until they get replaced by a robotic voice. If Terminators were funky this would be the soundtrack of their revolution against the humans.
