Best Songs of 2012! (5-1)

Had to finish this first list eventually. Couldn't possibly move on to another beforehand...

5. Frank Ocean - Pyramids
An obvious choice perhaps but consider this. A 10 minute R&B epic with references to Samson, Cleopatra, strip clubs and ending with a John Mayer guitar solo. Does this sound like a hit? Thought not.

4. Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments
A pop star cut from 80s soul. A sort of 'what became of the unlikely lass' story. Not your ordinary love song, it's cut from something a lot more deeper. Sadness permeates through like dye through silk.

3. Kendrick Lemar - Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
The emotional and lyrical centrepiece of the taught, spellbinding 'good kid, m.A.A.d. city'

2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Mladic
Post rock goodness. Builds up wonderfully to something terrifying and staggering.

1. Grimes - Oblivion
It's my favourite song of the year. By a margin. Why? Claire Boucher's beguiling vocals, the lilting synth sequence, the vulnerability, the walk-alone-at-night lyrics, the baritones of the last few minutes and this slice of visual Americana. Listen to it once and it'll feel like its been with you forever.

Best Songs of 2012! (10-6)

On to the top 10!

10. Grizzly Bear - Yet Again
Effortless stuff. The chief claim against GB was they made pretty, yet meandering indie rock.  I think the latest album, 'Shields', allays those calls.

9. Burial - Ashtray Wasp
When I first listened to this track it felt like a mini EP in itself.  Fragmented and almost claustrophobic. The second time I played it, I understood this was the point.

8. Twin Shadow - Five Seconds
Propulsive and lilting. Just what a summer single of this elk should be.

7. Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Wonderful single. A throwback to 60s sunshine pop with an undeniable Lennon-esque vocal.  Not particularly a homage or a rip off, just lovingly nostalgic.

6. TNGHT - Bugg'n
This LP is too much fun. Make ya wanna dance! This is my fave of the bunch.

Best Songs of 2012! (20-11)

Here we go!

20.   Chromatics - Kill For Love.
Just a gem of a pop song. Synths built like skyscrapers but with enough manoeuvrability to allow it to    BREATHE.
 

      

19. Death Grips - Get Got
Such anxiety and tension here.  Of course the synth/beat combo is the headline grabber but lyrically this is razor sharp.

18. Beach House - Myth
A tale of lost love set to 21st century musical box percussion.  Bold yet also warm and inviting.

17. Spiritualized - Hey Jane
Love the breakdown in this song. Made up of pretty simple elements leading to the choral section. Its epic but it feels earned.

16. M.I.A. - Bad Girls
Quintessential M.I.A - Swagger beat pop with Indian/Arabic influences. Love it and play it on Route 66 while watching Death Proof.

15.  Solange - Losing You
More quirky than 'sis'.  "Tell me the truth boy am I losing you for good".  This is liberation in its purest nectarine form.

14.  Philip Glass - 73-78 (Beck Remix)
Beck hasn't been this great for a long time.  Glass' original template seems so far distant, moulded into something approaching nirvana. It takes a degree of attentiveness to be able to dissect what came before.

13. Bat for Lashes - Laura
Natasha Khan has spoken of writer's block on the path to 'The Haunted Man'.  But what could've been a trite force of hand is instead a humane tour de force.  Stripped down, emotional and poignant.  The antagonist to most of chart music's protagonist.

12. Swans - A Piece of The Sky
My drone pick of the year.

11. Fiona Apple - Every Single Night
Songwriting at its best, with its loud/quiet vocal arrangement and "i just want to feel everything" sub-lament.

Best Songs of 2012! (Honourable Mentions)

Lists, lists, lists.

2012 has provided such a plethora of musical goodwill that it was difficult not to indulge in a spot of self-indulgence.  Akin to dipping toffee in a vat of smouldering toffee, if you will.

Having signed my direct debit away with the adoption of Spotify in the last 12 months, I now have a crawling, gurgling toddler in my midst spurting new tunes and discoveries every day. 

With that being said, it makes any potential list that much more difficult to put together.  But the aim here isn't to be definitive, rather to stimulate. Stimulate conversation, debate, wrath. Whatever your frequency, Kenneth.

The point is your songs are better than mine, but unfortunately this is my list. So here goes, list no.1. Songs of 2012;

Most honourable mentions

Gorillaz - Do Ya Thing. Fiona Apple - Werewolf, R Kelly - Share My Love (POPULATE!), Cassie - King of Hearts (Richard X Remix), El-P - The Full Retard, Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank), Grimes - Genesis, Beach House - New Year, Animal Collective - Anamita, Grizzly Bear - Sun In Your Eyes

Honourable mentions could go on forever but i'll stick to 10.  The real, deal top 20 coming up...