Songs Of 2014...

This is nearly an impossible task, to rank my favourite songs of this (or any) year. I'm confident of the Top 3, as they had the biggest effects on me. But after that, it's only a loose, ever-changing order. Nevertheless, this should give an accurate picture of what I've been listening to this year. So let's just start with Number 1...

(all quotes from my Quietus reviews)

1. Cleaners From Venus - The Band Plays Delilah





How I love this tune. I fondly recall wandering around Cardiff the day after Martin gave me the new album, listening to this on repeat, perpetually struck by its beauty. "Major key memories slide out from unsuspecting scenes, gathering in a processional to a triumphant chorus where 'the dancers hold each other closer still' and all seems right if just for a moment."


2. Gwenno - Patriarchaeth

Blew me away the moment I heard it. One of those magical Pop experiences, 'POP in all its transcendent glory', the kind that you got into music for in the first place. The joy I felt on hearing the outro of 'Patriarchaeth' ('Patriarchy') was simply indescribable, and one of those rushes one could not wait to feel again.  Unfortunately, the song's not yet online anywhere but you can hear a snippet here. Just buy the album, you won't be disappointed. 


3. Mikey Georgeson & The Civilised Scene - I See What You Did There



This is the version from the live EP, though the original can be found on Blood & Brambles.  Spectacular song all around. A transcendent ripping across the starry night sky.


4. Trwbador - Start Your Car




"The outstanding highlight on their second album Several Wolves is 'Start Your Car'. It's pure cinematic cool with a seductive pulse, picture Ladytron in an opium-hazed driver's seat, propelling you around the bends of long urban tunnels, flashing multi-coloured lights as they speed by, all in slick, slow motion. There's an intelligent, purposeful use of backing vocals throughout the record, and here they're like night angels materialising and stretching across the ether."

5. Gwenno - Fratolish Hiang Perpeshki


 'A song to dance to at the end of the world' - Gwenno

Filled with spectral dance floor magic, "delivered with a power and intensity that we need more of in Pop music." 


6. Cleaners From Venus - He's Going Out With Marilyn




The hook really does its job. In the words of Robert Palmer, it's 'simply irresistible'. I had this on repeat countless times. And those 'ah' backing vocals - ace.


7. Papernut Cambridge - Accident's Children




Such a great laid back rock n roll tune. Killer melodies, honeyed voice, loose loose groove.


8. Guards! Guards! - That Spring




Perfect POP to me. Lovely tune. Great synths and charming voice.


9. Robyn Hitchcock- The Ghost In You




I find it strange to include a cover in such a list, as the song itself didn't actually come out this year. But Robyn's take on this Psychedelic Furs tune is so gorgeous (as is most of his record), I couldn't not include it.


10. Taylor Swift - Style

Can't find the audio to this anywhere online but I'm sure everyone already has the album anyways ; ) There was one week I had this on repeat like 50 times in a row. I actually had to pry the cd out of my car stereo to force myself to listen to something else. It's a great, great, very well constructed POP song. And those pick-up 'and I got that-' lines in the chorus are amazing.


11. St. Vincent - Psychopath




I Love the way this song, especially her vocal, moves.


12. Trwbador - Several Wolves




This song is so badass. How could it not be when it's called 'Several Wolves'? "As throbbing bass cavorts around this shadowy supernatural dancefloor, a lone figure comes to grips with the prospect of extinction."

13. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off



How could this not make the list? It's probably Song Of The Year as far as 'The World' is concerned, and listening back to it now, I'm surprised I don't have it higher. But figuring out where Taylor fits into all this has been a tricky one from the get-go. It is a Superb Pop Song. And so much fun.


14. Robyn Hitchcock - San Francisco Patrol




A gorgeous original from Mr. Hitchcock.


15. Mikey Georgeson & The Civilised Scene - Bringing Rocks Back From The Moon




So nice to see this song get the proper single release that it deserves. An excellent tune and the lyrics are a lovely surreal dash off into the lunar beams, both fun and poignant, in an attempt to make some sort of sense of Mikey's harrowing car accident a few years back.


16. Kylie Minogue - Into The Blue




Excellent Pop tune from Kylie. That chorus is so dang uplifting!


17. St. Vincent - Digital Witness



Thankfully someone's making interesting-in-a-Bowie-esque-way Pop. Great tune.


18. Penny Orchids - Shell Beach




Everything about this is lovely - the changes, Kate's voice, the whole feel. "A beautiful, cinematic dream, with a lovely lazy twist towards the end of the chorus further played upon in the middle eight."

19. The Lovely Wars - Brân i Frân



The Lovely Wars really know their way around a Pop tune (last year's 'Young Love' was my Song of 2013). Here it's that twisting rise through the pre-chorus that really does it for me.


20. Tyson Meade - Buddy Dash



Again it seems to be all about rise, and Tyson's duet with Smashing Pumpkins' Nicole Fiorentino is hundreds of fireworks that just can't wait to BLAST OFF.

21. The Church - Laurel Canyon




Lovely number by The Church. From their very good new album that I need to spend more time with to fully appreciate.


22. Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul - Afflux de Luxe




A floating pop dream, reminiscent of Saint Etienne's filmic interludes if they were given a full-on Pop makeover. 



And then there were some discoveries of some absolutely Brilliant songs that didn't come out this year but are very worth noting:

Rita Ora - How We Do?



I was driving back from Cardigan to Carmarthen after a day of hanging out with Nik Turner and his family at the beach at Mwnt. It was my second day of driving on 'the other side of the road' which was still a little thrilling and as Avengers-esque scenery swept by me, this came on the radio. I was jumping out of my skin with excitement. The sheer exuberance it brought reminded me of the all-consuming excitement that my first forays into the world of Pop music held.


Akira The Don featuring Gruff Rhys - We Won't Be Broke Forever (Baby)




This is a great tune. I just love the sentiment. Especially the beautiful hopeful dreamyness of the middle eight.


P.P. Arnold - Everything's Gonna Be Alright




Kevin Reinhardt put this on a mix cd for me this year and it totally floored me. What an incredible Northern Soul tune (co-written by Andrew Loog Oldham) and what an amazing performance/voice.


Life Without Buildings - The Leanover




This is so unique, idiosyncratic, and yet wonderfully POP.


Neon Neon - Dream Cars




How this passed me by I do not know. But it is a perfect perfect tune.