[Shaun]

#20 - "Northern Lights", Kate Boy

Spoiler:

Youtube video

It sounds Swedish. Is she Swedish? *googles*
Oh look, she is. Well, what more do you expect from Scandipop than a dark, swelling sample of pinball machines and a killer chorus?

#19 - "Starships", Nicki Minaj

Spoiler:

Youtube video

It's a shame that RedOne exposes and saturates himself so frequently with the most forgettable of dirge, because it overshadows the pop diamonds like this. More hooks than a fisherman's shed. Amazing. The less said about her arse, the better, though.

#18 - "Angels", The xx

Spoiler:

Youtube video

When this emerged I was so excited about their return, so Coexist's overwhelming averageness came as a major let-down. At least this makes up for that somewhat.

#17 - "Blue Jeans (Smims & Belle Remix)", Lana del Rey, Azealia Banks, Smims & Belle (Foster the People, Isom Innis)

Spoiler:

Youtube video

Blue Jeans featured on my 2011 list quite highly. It's not often that I take a look at remixes so I have to thank my occasional veer from routine for this find. Ridiculously catchy.

#16 - "Cut the World", Antony + the Johnsons

Spoiler:

Youtube video

I'm not saying I wish to see Willem Dafoe's throat slit too often but this video, this song and - generally - Antony Hegarty's voice just send me into this solipsistic dream-state that's painful to emerge from. Beautiful beautiful song.

#15 - "End of the Line", Sleigh Bells

Spoiler:

Youtube video

As was the theme with their 2010 debut Treats, Reign of Terror was an unforgiving wall of noise finally succumbing to one glorious, rapturous song: 'End of the Line' is a sweet, sublime comedown and one that's always enjoyable. The kitten is looking at me as if to say she agrees. That or she just likes my keyboard-tapping.

#14 - "Climax", Usher

Spoiler:

Youtube video

Probably the greatest vocal performance of the year, and the biggest surprise too. Just a phenomenally good R&B jam, and a very sensual video & performance. Love.

#13 - "Higher Ground", TNGHT

Spoiler:

Youtube video

The only way this could have been marginally better would be to place a vocal on it... and dare I suggest Nicki Minaj? For the time being, there wasn't a beat more unrelenting and ridiculously hair-ripping as this this year.

#12 - "Yellow Halo", Goldfrapp

Spoiler:

Youtube video

I was extremely scared for a while that this would be their swansong. It has all the classic tell-tale signs of a band on the final lap of their career: it's nostalgic, it closes with a thank you to the fans, it's serene and it's peaceful. Whether or not it turns out to be true, for now the song comes as Goldfrapp at their best: the most convincing connecting piece between music and solace.

#11 - "Default", Django Django

Spoiler:

Youtube video

Please just let them win something. It wasn't the Mercury, so... I dunno. A Brit would be hoping for too much. But this level of funkiness cannot go unrewarded.

[Doogle]

End of the Line only song on the album (along with Comeback Kid/the Xtina cover) that I ever listen to.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Climax

[Niall]

Yellow Halo and they're in the midst of making a new album right now so it definitely won't be their last.

[Shaun]

Top ten time...

[Shaun]

#10 - "Elephant", Tame Impala

Youtube video

If the idea of John Lennon covering T. Rex appeals to you, this shall be right up your street. If it doesn't, then give it a chance, because it'll go down as a classic.

[Shaun]

#9 - "Disparate Youth", Santigold

Youtube video

Summeriest hook of the year recipient right here. Who'd have thought Santigold would've been soundtracking DirectLine ads? Bloody catchy yah.

[Apple202]

lol I thought Alex Burke had just got #10 then

[Shaun]

#8 - "I Love It", Icona Pop

Youtube video

I THREW YOUR SHIT INTO A BAG AND PUSHED IT DOWN THE STAIRS, I CRASHED MY CAR INTO THE BRIDGE. I DON'T CARE.

i love it.

[Benjamin]

Icona Pop.

[Apple202]

yes yes yes for icona

[Shaun]

#7 - "Awol Marine", Perfume Genius

Youtube video

Eternal sadface. The prettiest piano melody of the year, if not the BLOODY MILLENIUM. Nah bro Chopin and Saint-Saens and Einaudi are safe. For now.

[Shaun]

#6 - "Bad Girls", M.I.A.

Youtube video

Obviously an amazing video, but the song itself was a massive return to form after the rather meh MAYA. The rest of the snippets from the upcoming Matangi are equally promising, and prove M.I.A. to still be one of the best around.

[Doogle]

Icona

Took me long enough to get into the song but I don't care I love it~~~

[Shaun]

#5 - "Laura", Bat for Lashes

Youtube video

This deserved to be the year's Someone Like You but y'know... Just block out the rest of the world and listen to this and try not to at least sigh out of comfort and satisfaction. Mesmerisingly pretty.

[Doogle]

[Shaun]

#4 - "It's Not My Fault, I'm Happy", Passion Pit

Youtube video

A lot of the top ten seems to mirroring 2011's and I guess this comes close to M83's Midnight City in all-around uplifting listenability. It's just so so happy and I love it.

[Shaun]

#3 - "Esta Noche", Azealia Banks

Youtube video

Hate on Munchi for refusing to let his work be monetised, or love him for producing the sickest synth of the year? It's the blogger's dilemma. This fusion of Montell Jordan's Get It On Tonight and Azealia's token foul-mouthed catchphrase delivery was perfect.

[Shaun]

#2 - "Pyramids", Frank Ocean

Youtube video

As far as conceptualisation and execution goes this is the hands-down song of the year. Two sections of equal brilliance, and entirely captivating for just under ten minutes. How many other songs can you say the same of? [Wish the video just used the proper version though...]

[Shaun]

#1 - "Oblivion", Grimes

Youtube video

Breathy, sweet, catchy, ethereal belter. The song that made me sit up and pay the most attention this year.

[Niall]

Laura

[Doogle]

what a top 5

[Tom4784]

That top 10, I don't dislike any of them.

[Novo]

That top 10, I don't know any of them.

[Shaun]

Let's move onto the meatier stuff now... I've had a bit of difficulty finding fifty because 2012's been, overall, not so great for music. Therefore I've had to use a couple of EPs and mixtapes rather than fifty full LPs, but the end result is much the same... here's the first ten

#50 - "Happy to You", Miike Snow


It didn't quite spawn the indie-dance anthems that 2009's debut did with Animal or the excellent and underrated Black & Blue, but what this album did offer was a fine selection of very similar-sounding brass-pop tracks.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#49 - "Cut the World", Antony + the Johnsons


It was just a live album with loads of old songs so doesn't really deserve to rank too highly here, but what was interesting and new about it was its, of course, standard display of raw, live emotion and excellent showmanship.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#48 - "Cruel Summer", G.O.O.D. Music


Wasn't quite focused or cohesive enough to really blow me away, but featured enough stellar moments (see Creepers, in the spoiler, or New God Flow, or I Don't Like) to deserve a placing.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#47 - "Instinct", Niki & the Dove


It's strange. At the time I raved about this and them... but since I've grown quite bored of them. That said, the album is strong, and has a very distinct sound... I just think it's one that's now sadly overused.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#46 - "Born to Die", Lana del Rey


A handful of excellent, beautiful, poignant songs surrounded by a mix of quite forgettable ones.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#45 - "Magic Hour", Scissor Sisters


Their career low is still good enough to warrant repeated listens. Never go away please, my favourite band named after a lesbian sex position <3

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#44 - "Push and Shove", No Doubt


It might not have been quite the chart-commanding comeback we were all secretly hoping for, but it was consistent and decent enough to at least not disappoint everyone.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#43 - "Write Me Back", R Kelly


Didn't go into 2012 expecting to love an R Kelly record... I wouldn't say it's one of my favourites of this year, but it's really quite excellent all the same.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#42 - "The Late Blue", Gypsy and the Cat


One of the few albums charting here that I've been too lazy to review... basically, if you like Empire of the Sun, the Drums or Vampire Weekend, you'll enjoy this album.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

#41 - "Danger (EP)", Katy B


Only four songs, but an EP so jam-packed with collaborations and exciting new potential directions for 2010's best newcomer that just about should please everyone. My favourite was the below 'Light as a Feather', but all were good. And free! Amazing.

Spoiler:

Youtube video