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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 16:23:16 GMT 1
Wow! I think there's only 1 in mine... Yes, the standard of the good number ones this year has been shockingly high! Most were the usual poor-average though. Infact, only five number ones made my top 200, 4 in the top 50! I imagine it will be... To give you a clue, the German, Irish, British and Swedish entries were rubbish!
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 17:01:58 GMT 1
050 Innerpartysystem 'Don't Stop' (35-17-04- 02-05-10-16-21-24-30-37) www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WolkQvHNpsThis was a song that I loved in the summer. I'd never heard of them before and they reminded me of Pendulm a bit, similar style vocals and similar styles of music, although a bit heavier and rockier and less bass. I've not heard anything else by them to match this, though they do play a part in the position of one song still to come... 049 Dodos 'Fools' (38-26-10- 05- 05-06-11-14-16-27-35) www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLRxui7vXUThe second but not final appearance by Dodos. Their folky but very catchy material is certainly something I'll be keeping an eye out for in the future. 048 Noah & The Whale 'Shape Of My Heart' (39-26-17-08-05- 03-05-04-06-07-09-14-21-24-30-39) www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfZzoPxa_7QAlthought this didn't reach my top 2 like their other two singles did this is always the single of theirs that I've liked the most and it had by far the best and longest chart run. Their other singles don't feel right at this time of year but this one still does somehow, bringing back memories of a decent summer... 047 Little Boots 'Meddle' (18-06-02- 01-02-03-07-10-13-21-33) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWbxQDLIS94www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2qz1sJYF6c (Designer Drugs Remix) Someone who's bound to have far more commercial success in 2009 than she has done this year Victoria Hesketh (Little Boots) is someone I'm glad I've got into this year. Of the four songs I've heard this is possibly the weakest, though a lovely acoustic version and the Designer Drugs remix added more dimensions to the song and pushed it to number one and into this top 50. 046 Last Shadow Puppets 'My Mistakes Were Made For You' (36-29-26-11- 03- 03-04-09-14-21*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=23PkA3G6NL8As with 'Standing Next To Me' this never really made complete sense until it was a single, but it's a brilliant song and certainly one of the albums best songs, the 60s influences really telling on this track...
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 17:25:56 GMT 1
045 The Futureheads 'I Wouldn't Be Like This If You Were Here' (40-21-05- 01*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=119yeoWaEEcThis is my current number one, and Christmas number one for 2008, current standalone single for the Futureheads. I'm slightly disappointed I made this my Christmas number one. It's a great song but I'm not sure it should've been, especially when the rest of my current top 5 are still to come! I had just seen them live though and was at the highest of Futureheads madness I've been in for a long time, they were extraordinary. I'd like it to be a little longer though... 044 Tokyo Police Club 'Tessellate' (36-30-17-13- 09-10-17-26-28-37) www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa7JRuLEp-wThey had a couple of 2006/7 singles which I quite liked but never really got properly into. I felt this was much better though. Some may say this is just generic indie, but I think it, and they, are far better than that tag. 043 Coldplay 'Viva La Vida' (20-14-13-20-10- 02- 02- 02-03-05-07-09-14-15-16-21-29-39) www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX1eJHE1K_sThe first of those four UK number ones then. This was the year Coldplay really took me by surprise and became one of my favourite acts. They'd always been good, and certainly someone I'd see live, but this years album was the first I could say that I loved. One of their finest singles, but I still feel they have better work. 042 Laura Marling 'Ghosts' (27-10-07-05- 03-07-17-19-22-32-35-37-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=XonJJbV54BEI think this is by far the standout track on her album which I felt didn't quite live up to all its hype. I was expecting something a bit better but this one certainly does defy her seventeen years of age, I couldn't imagine writing something as lovely and heartfelt as this! 041 Kings of Leon 'Use Somebody' (31-08-02- 01- 01- 01-05*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCZfJ5ai07UTaking advantage of a quiet month towards the end of the year this managed to spend 3 weeks atop my chart, their first number one. I've never thought it was as good as 'Sex on Fire' but competition and all that. It's still great though, and better than most on the album. I think of all of 2008s songs this one defines the term 'stadium anthem' better than any other.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 17:51:08 GMT 1
040 Crystal Castles 'Courtship Dating' (40-22-10-05- 04-09-12-17-27-39) www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jY-Dl1T_V8I've never really been able to get into Crystal Castles this year, this is the only one of their songs I like tbh. I've no idea what the lyrics are when listening to this but it just adds to its overall charm! I suspect these electro beats would be bigger if released in 2009... 039 Rubies 'Stand In A Line' (29-18-13-07- 05- 05-07-14-16-23-31-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo-txPp-7qMI think this is by far the standout track on their fairly average but still nice enough album. Unlike other tracks on the Swedish duo's debut this is less acousic, more electronic and has a lot more going on. Their voices are great too, especially together. 038 The BPA ft Emmy The Great 'Seattle' (39-19-04- 03- 03*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Tz2kI_4mUThe BPA is the latest project from Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim. They released a single in the summer with Dizzee Rascal and David Byrne which I only heard recently and then this one last month with Emmy The Great. If her vocal abilities on this are anything to go by then calling herself The Great will prove to be totally correct. The song is loveliness personified. And I love the video, she's beautiful. 037 Cut Copy 'Lights and Music' (35-33-26-16- 10-11-11-12-21-27-31) www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCRuCAcAZK0It took me a while to realise why there was quite so much hype regarding Cut Copy and this track but I soon did. I'd heard a couple of singles from them two or three years back and whilst they had impressed me, there was nothing that made me want to go and investigate. This was a much different sound though, and whilst Dan Whitford's voice isn't really the best in the world it certainly fits this type of indietronica. 036 Dodos 'Winter' (34- 15*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbnVaSi9pdII do feel that this should possibly be higher but as I've only known it for just over a fortnight I might come to regret it, I certainly like it more than their previous two singles though and it's highly likely to go on to be their biggest hit in my chart. People talk of Vampire Weekend bringing in African influences to their songs but I'm sure it's not just me that can hear them aplenty in here.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 18:29:36 GMT 1
035 Islands 'Creeper' (40-30-16-09- 03-05-10-19-28-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSKd7lBwFY2006s 'Rough Gem' made my top 20 of the year but I hadn't heard anything from them since and had completely forgotten about them. Lead single 'The Arm' was ok but I was never too bothered but this, although it took a while to grow, was much more like it and I'd regard it as their second best song. They can be a bit hit and miss, but when their quirky pop is good, it's excellent. 034 Roisin Murphy 'You Know Me Better' (34-25-14-04-04- 03-05-07-12-19-29-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dBi_aYXjuEFrom a 2007 album I'd forgotten this had been released this year until I came to compiling this. Another album which was somewhat hit and miss in places this disco stomper was certainly amongst the albums best tracks. It, and she, deserved far more success with this. It's the highest placed song from a 2007 album. 033 The Shortwave Set 'Now Til '69' (13-09-05- 02-03-03-06-11-18-20-28-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbajDPo5JX8Not quite able to match the top 10s in the two previous years but a decent position nonetheless. The Shortwave Set are an act I've quite liked for a long time but never got into until this years album. The male/female vocal combination really suits this song well and it sounds like it could;'ve been made at any point from the last 30 odd years. 032 Estelle ft Kanye West 'American Boy' (19-14-11-07- 06-09-19-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6dFZF1-bcEThis was a huge surprise for me. I can't sat I'd ever been overly impressed with Estelle before but this was fantastic. It's not got boring at all as the years passed and it still sounds great wherever, especially out! 031 Sébastien Tellier 'Deivine' (35-22- 02-03-13-21-31-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz58Hw9hldwWhen I first heard Sebastien was doing France's Eurovision entry this year I got quite excited, not only a good act doing Eurovision but one which I was already familiar with! Although I did tire through overplay around the time of the contest it's regrown on me throughout the year, the recent Renault advert probably helping its cause.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 21:42:44 GMT 1
30 La Roux 'Quicksand' (30-17-06-04- 02*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMBNZ6mDSYkThe second (but not final) top 50 appearance for a quirky female who appears on the BBC Sound of 2009 list. If this wonderful slice of Electropop is anything to go by she'll be someone I keep a close eye on next year. 029 The Long Blondes 'Century' (30-16-03- 02- 02- 02-05-08-16-24-35) www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZaUyGTMyEoWell this was a surprise. 2006's 'Someone To Drive You Home' was a great album and was mainly ballsy indie. This lead sngle to the second album 'The Couple' couldn't have been further from it, but all of its electo synthiness was fabulous. More of the same on the album, which made for an even more enjoyable listen than their first. I think it suits Kate's voice more, too. 028 Elbow 'The Bones Of You' (26-16-10-08- 01- 01- 01-02-06-07-11-12-18*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNU4T6rGgzgFrom my album of the year this was always going to be number one. It was released in a fairly quiet time too which certainly helped its chances of making the top. It's a wonderful anthem, not quite as anthemic as 'Grounds for Divorce' or as euphoric as 'One Day Like This' but fantastic nonetheless. 027 Santogold 'L.E.S. Artistes' (37-28-19- 12-17-18-21-24-29-34-37-35-40-36-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeM2Xw7ZP5YSomehow Santogold managed to miss the top 10 of my chart this year with her three singles peaking at 12, 12 & 11. She's always reminded me a bit of M.I.A. but not that much. This is I think by far the standout track on here very good and accessible debut album. 026 Los Campesinos! 'My Year In Lists' (24-11-03- 02-03-06-09-15-18-24-33-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk0vQhxyR5YAt just under two minutes in length this is the shortest song from my top 200. The song epitomises Los Campesinos' debut perfectly. Shouty male and female indie with a lot going on in the background. Lovely.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 22:05:35 GMT 1
025 The Futureheads 'Walking Backwards' (16-05-03- 01- 01-02-04-05-09-11-18-24-30-39) www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN996b5mgLsAfter the slightly more down-tempo 'Radio Heart' this single was the perfect follw-up for the Futureheads. It's noisy, it's energetic, it's classic Futureheads material. Brilliant. 024 VV Brown 'Crying Blood' (28-10- 03- 03- 03-04-08-11-12-20-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-Q4T7bC2cwww.youtube.com/watch?v=zdOB8OilKUE [Live on Later... with Jools Holland] Speaking of those quirky females that are on the BBC Sound of 2009 list.... This spent a lot of time in my head in September/October time to the point that it did become quite annoying. I've refound all of my love for it now though, it sounds so fresh again. I've no idea what Monster Mash is or was however I always see this song compared to it so I guess I should stick to the trend... She was incredible when she performed on Jools Holland's 'Later...'. 023 MGMT 'Time To Pretend' (32-23-18- 09- 09-15-17-11-12-16-27-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmETheir album may be a huge slice of sh*te and the worst I bought all year but they really did have a couple of cracking tunes on it. Somewhat bizzarely for an act who finished bottom in my albums list they're the final act to have two singles remaining and just miss out on having two in the top 20. Right from that first riff I was hooked on this, a brilliant single to introduce them to the public, as much as I dislike the album it's no surprise they're hugely popular with songs like this. And even though I didn't watch the second half of this years series of Skins it still re-climbed my chart when it appeared! Not that they have one single in the top 20 anyway! 022 MGMT 'Kids' (30-06- 01- 01- 01- 01-05-06-08-17-23-29-39-40-38*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIEOZCcaXzEI first heard this when I got the album. It was a huge relief that there was actually something I loved on there. As a result, I played it to death. So much so that it's my 3rd most played song of the year. I still thoroughly enjoy listening to it, but the disappointment of the album and the fact I have listened to it quite so much mean it doesn't quite get as high as I maybe once thought it would. 021 Late of the Pier 'Space And The Woods' (29-18-08- 02-04-06-08-12-19-18-23-28-34-33-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PYcl5drPDIReleased as a AA side with 'Focker' in early summer the standout track from 'Fantasy Black Channel' is something that brings back fond summer memories. Like a lot of their songs there's a hell of a lot going on and it sounds like something Klaxons might make if they were any good. They're local boys too, excellent!
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 22:11:51 GMT 1
20 Goldfrapp 'A & E' (16-07- 01- 01- 01- 01-02-03-04-05-05-10-17-23-34) www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VPyso87fZUSpending four weeks at the top of my chart in February and March I did think this would end the year a lot higher than it has done. It's incredibly lovely and amongst their very best work however I do geniunely think there have been 19 better singles this year.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 22:17:41 GMT 1
019 Glasvegas 'Daddy's Gone' (28-18-11- 01- 01-04-07-07-09-15-18-22-29-31-33-36) www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vpkq4vl1vkFollowing up two excellent singles the lead for the album managed to get them a number one in my chart. I find the lyrics to this so deep and emotive and although I can't really relate to them personally I'd be highly surprised if this hadn't brought a tear to many an eye. The populist choice but definitely the highlight on their debut.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 22:22:21 GMT 1
018 Rihanna 'Don't Stop The Music' (05-04- 03-05-09-10-05-12-16-20-17-21-24-29-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsRWpK4pf90Even though I, like many, have suffered from an overload of Rihanna this year it's obvious why there's been such an overload, its that with songs like this she's so damn good! Unlike most of her songs which I like I've never once got bored with it, it's utterly fantastic and probably my favourite party song of the year. It just never gets boring. One of the best uses of sampling this year too.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 22:27:08 GMT 1
017 Dizzee Rascal ft Calvin Harris & Chrome 'Dance Wiv Me' (09- 06-07-10-20-27-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibLntdLiJADizzee Rascal has always been an act I've loved, however much I've sometimes not liked doing so. But really, he's extremely good at what he does and he's been making decent singles for years now. And I do feel this is very much his best, just edging 'Flex' and 'Stand Up Tall'. Even Calvin Harris is fantastic on it. If you'd said to me a year ago that Dizzee Rascal would have a UK number one this year I'd have laughed in your face, just like I would if you said in August when 'I Kissed A Girl' was number one if you'd said Katy Perry would have an entry in the top 20 of my end of year chart............
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 27, 2008 22:39:15 GMT 1
016 Katy Perry 'Hot N Cold' (26- 16*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-LhyAVzDBIwww.youtube.com/watch?v=zwdRtRs_mVU [ft Yelle] www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgmifTnJtds [Innerpartyststem Remix] Without a doubt this is the shock of the year for me. 'Ur So Gay' - vile. 'I Kissed A Girl' - the worst single of the year. 'Self Inflicted' - barely any better. It's hardly a surprise that the thought of hearing a new Katy Perry single was one of dread. I avoided it for some time but obviously with someone so big you can only do that for so long. I first heard it out and thought it was quite good, then again and it was better. I soon realised that it was actually quite good. I downloaded it and it's so catchy, infact it's more than that. It's a slice of pop genius and if that wasn't good enough the Innerpartysystem is great dancing it up and there's a version with the ever fabulous Yelle! It may only have reached number 16 in my chart so far (the same as this) however it's one of two contenders to be the first number one of '09, the other yet to come.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 28, 2008 13:38:09 GMT 1
Kings of Leon 'Sex On Fire' (31-09-03- 02-06-09-12-19-26-17-18-12-15-22-28-36-34*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhhcKxflMYA band I've always rather liked I've seen them getting bigger and generally better as time has passed. I never expected them to be quite such a success in the UK however writing songs like this they completely deserve it. It's a dj's dream too, they've finally got something to play alongside 'Mr Brightside'. One of the more surprising acts to reach number one this year, but this song reaching the top really isn't.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 28, 2008 13:44:58 GMT 1
014 Gang Gang Dance 'House Jam' (38-32-26-15-04- 01*[/b] www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqn7kaCm8NoTaking the top spot from The Futureheads to become my first number one of 2009 this is something that's grown on me immensely over the past few weeks. It could easily be described as weird, and it's certainly not for everyone, but their experimental indie, electronica reminds me very much of Massive Attack.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 28, 2008 13:50:58 GMT 1
013 Vampire Weekend 'A-Punk' (19-04- 02-03-04-07-12-09-12-15-18-25-35-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XC2mqcMMGQReleased at the beginning of the year this was a far bigger hit than its modest #55 position suggests. They may have been incredily hyped by everyone throughout the year and whilst it may not be completely deserved its little indie-pop gems like this that make the hype seem completely understandable. It's never, and never will, become tiring.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 28, 2008 13:56:13 GMT 1
012 Deerhunter 'Nothing Ever Happened' (37-35-25-16-10-07- 01- 01-02-05-07-10*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1JHdSBibO8Up until September I'd never heard of Deerhunter. I downloaded this song and it sounded decent enough, however it kept growing until it was stuck in my head and eventually became a number one for me. I've listened to a few other songs on their 'Microcastle' album and whilst this is by far the most accessible song of them, it's easy to see why the album has appeared high in so many year end lists. The instrumental second half of the song is as good a piece of music as I've heard all year.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Dec 28, 2008 14:01:31 GMT 1
011 M.I.A. 'Paper Planes' (07- 01- 01- 01- 01-02-02-02-03-04-06-08-11-10-15-20-27-31) www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sei-eEjy4gIt makes me sad that this song that shaped the back end of last year and beginning of this hasn't quite managed to make my top 10 but I don't really feel it's quite as good as the 10 songs above it. Whther it has anything to do with its recent exposure I don't know, but it's still one of the years most innovative and inventive singles which thanks to its samples, vocals and gunshots I've enjoyed a hell of a lot throughout the year.
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Post by Panda on Dec 28, 2008 17:36:11 GMT 1
035 Islands 'Creeper' (40-30-16-09- 03-05-10-19-28-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSKd7lBwFY2006s 'Rough Gem' made my top 20 of the year but I hadn't heard anything from them since and had completely forgotten about them. Lead single 'The Arm' was ok but I was never too bothered but this, although it took a while to grow, was much more like it and I'd regard it as their second best song. They can be a bit hit and miss, but when their quirky pop is good, it's excellent. 034 Roisin Murphy 'You Know Me Better' (34-25-14-04-04- 03-05-07-12-19-29-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dBi_aYXjuEFrom a 2007 album I'd forgotten this had been released this year until I came to compiling this. Another album which was somewhat hit and miss in places this disco stomper was certainly amongst the albums best tracks. It, and she, deserved far more success with this. It's the highest placed song from a 2007 album. 033 The Shortwave Set 'Now Til '69' (13-09-05- 02-03-03-06-11-18-20-28-38) www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbajDPo5JX8Not quite able to match the top 10s in the two previous years but a decent position nonetheless. The Shortwave Set are an act I've quite liked for a long time but never got into until this years album. The male/female vocal combination really suits this song well and it sounds like it could;'ve been made at any point from the last 30 odd years. 032 Estelle ft Kanye West 'American Boy' (19-14-11-07- 06-09-19-32) www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6dFZF1-bcEThis was a huge surprise for me. I can't sat I'd ever been overly impressed with Estelle before but this was fantastic. It's not got boring at all as the years passed and it still sounds great wherever, especially out! 031 Sébastien Tellier 'Deivine' (35-22- 02-03-13-21-31-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz58Hw9hldwWhen I first heard Sebastien was doing France's Eurovision entry this year I got quite excited, not only a good act doing Eurovision but one which I was already familiar with! Although I did tire through overplay around the time of the contest it's regrown on me throughout the year, the recent Renault advert probably helping its cause. 2 of those are in my chart. One will be very high.
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Post by Panda on Dec 28, 2008 17:37:22 GMT 1
30 La Roux 'Quicksand' (30-17-06-04- 02*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMBNZ6mDSYkThe second (but not final) top 50 appearance for a quirky female who appears on the BBC Sound of 2009 list. If this wonderful slice of Electropop is anything to go by she'll be someone I keep a close eye on next year. 029 The Long Blondes 'Century' (30-16-03- 02- 02- 02-05-08-16-24-35) www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZaUyGTMyEoWell this was a surprise. 2006's 'Someone To Drive You Home' was a great album and was mainly ballsy indie. This lead sngle to the second album 'The Couple' couldn't have been further from it, but all of its electo synthiness was fabulous. More of the same on the album, which made for an even more enjoyable listen than their first. I think it suits Kate's voice more, too. 028 Elbow 'The Bones Of You' (26-16-10-08- 01- 01- 01-02-06-07-11-12-18*) www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNU4T6rGgzgFrom my album of the year this was always going to be number one. It was released in a fairly quiet time too which certainly helped its chances of making the top. It's a wonderful anthem, not quite as anthemic as 'Grounds for Divorce' or as euphoric as 'One Day Like This' but fantastic nonetheless. 027 Santogold 'L.E.S. Artistes' (37-28-19- 12-17-18-21-24-29-34-37-35-40-36-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeM2Xw7ZP5YSomehow Santogold managed to miss the top 10 of my chart this year with her three singles peaking at 12, 12 & 11. She's always reminded me a bit of M.I.A. but not that much. This is I think by far the standout track on here very good and accessible debut album. 026 Los Campesinos! 'My Year In Lists' (24-11-03- 02-03-06-09-15-18-24-33-40) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk0vQhxyR5YAt just under two minutes in length this is the shortest song from my top 200. The song epitomises Los Campesinos' debut perfectly. Shouty male and female indie with a lot going on in the background. Lovely. One of these is in my chart and almost at the same position. Did you know the girl singer in Los Campesinos is Russian?
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Post by Panda on Dec 28, 2008 17:38:50 GMT 1
2 of your top 20 so far are in my chart, both of them in the top 30.
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