#10 - "Los Ageless" by St. Vincent
aka. the commentary on the shallowness of rich America that Katy Perry wishes she'd released! Perhaps the most visually-appealing video I've seen all year, too, but it makes this top ten on account of its dark sound, its rich synths, and how versatile her voice is on it.

#9 - "4:44" by Jay-Z
I loved this before I even knew (ie. just now) that its video had an intro featuring Eartha Kitt and some cute kid singing 'Feeling Good'. The sample is shrill and powerful enough but outshone by Jay's self-flagellation and one of the best apologies ever issued

#8 - "No One Knows Me (Like the Piano)" by Sampha
As starkly beautiful and poignant as the stuff released by Adele and Sam Smith and yet didn't enjoy even a smidgeon of the success they do :think: can't think why :think: At least he won the Mercury. Sampha's voice :love:

#7 - "Malibu" by Miley Cyrus
I know placing this higher than 'Praying' will be controversial enough without me trying to compare the two, especially when Miley's "struggle" was trying to get over the public image that she alone was really responsible for, but as far as 'musical reflections on maturity and evolution' go, Malibu was the most satisfying for me. The song underwhelmed at first - largely because I just wanted another 'We Can't Stop' - but grew and grew into a rich, understated chunk of serenity.

#6 - "Supercut" by Lorde
It was tough choosing between Liability, Perfect Places and this. Supercut just won out on account of its perfect flow. Each portion of the track sounds like a chorus, and feels triumphant - and its story of a girl trying to stay grounded in a relationship whilst being whisked all over the place... well we all can relate can't we?

#5 - "Call the Police" by LCD Soundsystem
The vinyl for this album just got delivered today so I'm particularly ~in the mood~ to wax lyrical about this band and indeed this track right now. 2017 was a year of many, many unexpected returns (which was good because there were a lot of returns I would've expected that never materialised - looking at YOU, Robyn, Sky Ferreira, Janelle Monae and Disclosure!) and LCD Soundsystem's was by far the best. This first track to emerge from it is a Bowiesque dream and confirms them as my current favourite band.

#4 - "Everything Now" by Arcade Fire
How do you go from a lead single like this to everything else that would unfold on the album? :( Ugh it's just so depressing. The title track, at least, was as joyous and multi-layered as they are at their best.

#3 - "HUMBLE." by Kendrick Lamar
The idea of saying "this might be his greatest song" about someone like Kendrick Lamar is so worrisome and hesitant that I might just not bother... but it is tempting.

#2 - "Don't Take The Money" by Bleachers
I desperately wanted to give this 'first place' because it is 100% the song that's given me the most happiness and life this year whenever I've put it on... which really undermines the #1 I've chosen's status as #1 :laugh:... but I guess a last minute decision adds to the drama. Jack Antonoff - aka Mr. Bleachers - is the man behind most of your favourite Lorde, P!nk and Taylor Swift* songs this year so the VERY LEAST YOU COULD DO, IS LISTEN TO THIS, AND ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR.

*everyone has their off-days. But get that coin!

#1 - "Don't Kill My Vibe" by Sigrid
I can already smell the ire of a bunch of Pitchforkers over me using a song that shares a title with a Kendrick Lamar track over Kendrick himself this year but oh well.

Sigrid is excellent. This song is excellent. The way its intro is a distorted, ugly interpolation of the chorus. Her vocal command at such a young age. Her weird stage presence for someone so small. 'Don't Kill My Vibe' is a brilliant debut single.