Top 20 tracks of 2011

Hello again.

Long time no blog huh?

Let's do a deal though, you and I. If you skip the accusatory glares, I'll skip the lame excuses and then we get straight down to business.

Deal? Good, right then. Okay. 

Today begins my countdown of the all time top tracks of 2011 ever...

20. Future Starts Now - THE KILLS
After recent extra-curricular activities with other musicians, it was good to have Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince back together doing what they do best: creating the kind of rock 'n' roll that makes you sweat. New album Blood Pressures induced cold sweats in places - and hot, lusty sweats in others. 'Future Starts Now' was of the latter variety, featuring jagged guitars, aching harmonies and lines like "You can fuck like a broken sail". Listen to it here

19. Somebody That I Used To Know - GOTYE (feat. KIMBRA)
Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) was Mr Everywhere this year and this single was ubiquitous in Australia. On radio or on television, in shops or in bars, you couldn't escape the tip-tapping xylophone, the impassioned chorus or Kimbra's gentle dusting of fairy dust. This quirky, creepy little pop song transcended genres and generations, topped the charts for weeks and made Gotye a bona fide star. Listen to it here

18. A Whole Day Nearer - JACKSON MCLAREN & THE TRIPLE THREAT
In 2011, the New Folk movement was finally hijacked by hipsters and people with more facial hair than sense. Every middle class kid with a bike and a banjo was trotting out "hey nonny" nonsense and scoring a record deal. Most of the folk music on the airwaves currently should therefore be treated with extreme caution. Yet Jackson McLaren and his merry men somehow managed to produce this reflective, sentimental gem with a complete lack of woolly jumpers, trendy cafes or organic vegetables. It's a song that defies all the cynicism you can throw at it (believe me, I've tried). Listen to it here

17. Do What You Will - PAPERCUTS
February seems like a long time ago now, but it was an exceedingly good month for music. One of the highlights was the welcome return of San Fransiscan shoegazers Papercuts. 'Do What You Will' was a quiet, understated triumph. It floats into your consciousness on echoey guitars and impassioned vocals from singer Jason Quever, then drifts away again on the gentle refrain of "Home is where you run to". Truly gorgeous. Listen to it here (but try and ignore the terrible video clip)

16. The Glorious Land - PJ HARVEY
February also saw the release of the album of the year, Let England Shake by PJ Harvey. The entire album was so strong that it's hard to pick individual tracks above others, but 'The Glorious Land' typifies Harvey's new haunting sound as well as anything. The song is wet with tears of mourning for a lost England and it's impressive to see an artist still challenging herself two decades into her career. The album turned out to be prescient too, as the wounded nation descended into ugly riots by August. Listen to it here.

...to be continued in the coming days...