Thursday, December 23, 2010

STL's Top Songs of 2010: 60 - 41

So here we are. I'm not quite sure why I settled on 60 but it's a nice number regardless, and one which holds the tracks which have most pleased my ears throughout the last 12 months.

I'm sure I've missed some obvious choices but it's a nice representation of what has been a great year in music none the less, particularly on an Irish front.

Have a listen, find something you may like/have missed and make sure to post your own!

Here's Part 1 with songs 60 - 41

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60) Rubberbandits – Horse Outside   

Sure, who else? Love 'em or hate 'em there's no doubting that Horse Outside will be on the 'Reeling in the years' montage for 2010 in another decade or so...


59) Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes

Summery indie-vibes which are as fuzzy and warm as the name suggests.


58) El Guincho - Bombay 

An outstandingly nonsensical video which almost detracts attention away from a great tune from Spain's Animal Collective influenced El Guincho.


57) Mountain Man - Animal Tracks

As with the best things in life this is simple and beautiful, and if you will excuse the lazy comparison, sounds close to an all female Fleet Foxes - which is never a bad thing.



56) Blur – Fools Day

An unexpected treat from a band presumed defunct; not a Blur classic but it holds more than enough to suggest a proper reunion is a worthy proposition.


55) Ham Sandwich – The Naturist

The greatest achievement yet of a band whose earlier praise baffled me, lovely voice.

Ham Sandwich - The Naturist by tigger_sinclair


54) Robyn – Don't Fucking Tell Me What To Do

Scandanavian pop-let lets loose to wondrous effect.
 



53) Laura Marling – Needle and the damage done   

A charming retelling of a Neil Young classic; her incredible voice suits it perfectly and there's a smashing stop-motion video to boot. 


52) Owen Pallett – Midnight Directives

Sufjan-esque, operatic splendour. 



51) Rory Grubb – Take Your Own Advice

Lush acoustic ramblings; Ireland has never been short on singer-songwritrs but Grubb's latest album 'Sketches From The Big Sleep', does enough to keep his head well and truly above the water.

No videos unfortunately but have a listen over at Breaking Tunes.


50) Rihanna – Rude Boy

A pop song that the indie kids will dance to, no wonder it has 133 million YouTube hits...




49) Stornoway – Boats and Trains

A beautiful seranade from the thinking man's Mumford and Sons.



 48) Tindersticks – Black Smoke

With our very own David Kitt in tow, Tindersticks produced a strong new LP in the form of 'Falling Down A Mountain', with this track in particular appearing as the perfect accompaniment to a 'Cohen' Brothers classic.




47) Everything Everything – My Keys, Your Boyfriend

Will no doubt infuriate many but these off-kilter melodies have enough originality to stick around



46) Belle and Sebastian– I Want the world to stop
 
Modern indie royalty arrive back with a good new album, of which this is a highlight. 



45) The Flaws – Part of you 

Jangly return from Monaghan's finest; which is the equal of anything on their excellent debut.



44) John Grant – TC and Honeybear 

Wherein the members of Midlake combine with a singer to make an arguably more compelling set of songs than the band's own new LP.



43) Patrick Kelleher - Wonder (Jape Remix)

Emerged late last year but only officially released this year on the stellar You Look Colder remixes album. That good that it deserves as many listens as possible; genuinely spine tingling reworking of the splendid original. The Kittser remix would have made it also were it not for fear of an overload.




42) Nouveounoise – Cinnte

A sumptious pebble-dashed array of colours and shapes, which build and latch onto your snyapses in the process.



41) Solar Bears – Primary Colours at the Back of My Mind

The sound of the cosmos and equally as life affirming. Beautiful and in no way immediately recognisable as 'Irish', Dublin/Wicklow's Solar Bears are the perfect example of the depth and variety which Irish music has been offering lately.

 
 


The full run down from 40 - 1 will follow in the next couple of days...







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