So there hasn’t been much writing of late, but that doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been gigging and listening aplenty in that time.
And in celebration of all things listening came the annual challenge of selecting 10 favourite songs to vote for in the annual Triple J Hottest 100 countdown. Admittedly, the contribution of my votes to the 100 most popular songs was nothing short of dismal this year, with a mere two songs from my votes making their way into the countdown. But I stand by my votes wholeheartedly because I like them, particularly after the usual agony of getting the first cut of songs down to the ten. So here they are….
At #1 on my list (and proudly at #76 in the countdown!) was Suddenly by British India, being the track that was played on endless repeats throughout the year.
And the remaining nine votes made, in no particular order other than forming a decent little playlist:
Cuffed & Collared – Bad//Dreems
Restraint & Release – Gang of Youths
Hourglass – Catfish & The Bottlemen
You Cannot Call for Love Like a Dog – Holy Holy
(The second appearance of a nominated song, at #72!)
As always, there are a few honourable mentions for those tracks that just missed out because I still can’t work out a way to make 10 songs account for 15 or so…
The Children Came Back – Briggs, Gurrumul, Dewayne Everttsmith
Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart – Chris Cornell
Then of course there were all the other songs that made it to the first cut of the shortlist as well (the not so short version) to begin the culling process. On the positive side, it offered some good listening for a few hours…and for that alone they deserve a small mention in gratitude:
Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes
Limousine – Beach Baby
Voices – The Belligerents
Heaven Sent – Best Coast
I’d Go With You Anywhere – Birds of Tokyo
Burn (And Shine) – Bonjah
Walk The Wire – Boy & Bear
Wolves – The Cat Empire
Son – City Calm Down
I Feel Love (Every Million Miles – The Dead Weather
Snakeskin – Deerhunter
Third Eye – Florence & The Machine
Vital Signs – Gang of Youths
Magnolia – Gang of Youths
Grinder – Gary Clark Jr.
Summer – The Grenadiers
Sentimental and Monday – Holy Holy
Do You Remember – Jarryd James
Songlines – Josh Pyke
Short Movie – Laura Marling
Coming Home – Leon Bridges
Smooth Sailin’ – Leon Bridges
Just Now – Look Lake
Hello Miss Lonesome – Marlon Williams
Once – Ngaiire
Human – Of Monsters and Men
Sandy – Oh Mercy
Tourists – Olympia
Danger in the Club – Palma Violets
Better With You – Sarah Blasko
I’d Be Lost – Sarah Blasko
Only One – Sarah Blasko
Should Have Known Better – Sufjan Stevens
Medusa – Szymon
Cupcake – Teeth & Tongue
Tattoo – Tuka
Handsome – The Vaccines
20/20 – The Vaccines
Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
Random Name Generator – Wilco
Come People – Xavier Rudd and The United Nations
And in 12 months’ time, we’ll be doing this all over again with a truckload of different tracks 🙂
