Records of the Year: Your Personal Top 10

[Drico One]

It’s that time of year again when I don’t bother posting my top 10 records of the year largely because I haven’t heard 10 records that would be good enough to comprise a list worthy of the name. What with X-Factor, Simon Cowell, the return of bad-the-first-time-around boy bands, and the little fact of my advancing years, it’s been a terrible… Change the record!

2008 was, IMNAAHCUMOAO*, the best year for pop music since 2002. Why 2002? Well, that’s the last year that I can remember where I was able to merely lambast, rather than excoriate, the preceding 12 musical months.
*In my not-at-all humble completely up-my-own-arse opinion

This year heralded, surprisingly, to my curmudgeonly ears, a minor rebirth of popular music (if also the end of my Ladytron fandom). As such, I have managed to compile a not-at-all clichéd personal top 10 of the year. In the spirit of the season, perhaps others could post their annual charts in this thread too (so we can all see who really has the worst taste in the Community). No? Ronald is already the hands-down undisputed winner of that category? Oh, never mind. Let the countdown begin!

10. Annie..... Two of Hearts (Richard X Mix)

The kind of record that would have been huge 20 years ago for Paula Abdul or Tiffany, Two of Hearts reminds me of Madonna in the mid-80s (sans the sexual pychoticism). It’s all rather unsubstantial, a fluffy candyfloss spun into insignificance by Richard X, but it works in a disposable manner (like toilet roll), a cleansing but momentarily enjoyable lapse into brainlessness.

9. Neon Neon..... I Told Her On Alderaan

The first of three entries from the Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) and Boom Bip collaboration. This starts out like yet another soon-to-be-erased-from-my-brain rock song but then takes off and grows into a coruscating poptastic romp. Doesn’t have the lyrical cheek of “Michael Douglas’s mirror sunglasses”, but then it doesn’t need to.

8. Sam Taylor-Wood..... I’m in Love With a German Filmstar

The first of three PSB-related entries in my top 10, this qualifies because of the moody atmospherics that Chris Lowe has worked over a rather bland original track by the Passions. It’s still fairly pallid stuff, somewhat joyless and bleak, but then life isn’t always a non-stop Kylie Minogue party either, is it. As PSB collaborations go, this is a vanity project, a sop to an arty pal who has notions. But it has its moments.

7. Mylene Farmer..... C’est Dans L’Air

Swirling, soaring synths, a driving chorus and a touch of Mr Oizo’s throbbing Flatbeat combine to produce a searing, sinister but uplifting stomper from the French chanteuse. Magnificent.

6. MGMT..... Kids (PSB Synthpop Mix)

The second PSB-related entry (I'm such a self-abasing fan, really), the Synthpop version is a glorious record, a rare remix that maintains your interest as the track develops. The haunting pseudo pan-pipes at 3:30 add a degree of sadness. The angry vocal outburst thirty second later adds a further layer of pathos. Nobody does melancholic joy in the manner of our heroes.

5. Annie..... I Know UR Girlfiend Hates Me (Get Shakes Remix)

Fade to Grey for the bubblegum set. About five years too late for electroclash, this fantastic record contorts and distorts into a relentless synthetic orgy of hedonistic electrobeats. Too heavy for her audience, but then, she doesn’t have one.

4. Neon Neon..... Belfast

Who would have thought that a song about the late unlamented corrupt former Back To The Future car manufacturer could be so poignant? “I took you for granted, like so many in my day; I built my empire, and threw it all away.” Stainless Style, a concept album concerning the life of Irish-American auto magnate John DeLorean, has much filler, much excess, and much to drive over in a sports utility vehicle, but it also contains some of the year’s stand-out tracks. This is one of the outstanding records of the year. So retro, you almost expect a “1 point 21 gigawatt flux capacitor” to blow up as the synthetic soundscape expands to ludicrous levels towards the end.

3. Girls Aloud..... The Loving Kind

Girl band pop fodder containing subversive terminology (“disinclined”) and *splutter* daring wordplay (“issues never mentioned with all the best intentions”), set on a crowded platform during a Monday morning rush-hour where Cheryl and the birds seek the love they left behind. And they've got flowers and wine. How could they fail?

2. The Killers..... Human

If Brandon Flowers could write a lyric, the Killers would be the world’s greatest rock band. Sadly, he can’t, so they’re not, and Human isn’t the record of the year. So there. Actually, this is a wonderful record. It’s always a great moment when the rock mainstream embraces the kind of electronic anthem that fey middle-aged pop duos have knocked out blindfolded wearing ear-plugs for years. It’s even greater when the rock clerisy suggests that this kind of record is now somehow unique (it is, but only for the egregious dancer lyric). Brandon’s got a swagger (“Pay my respects to grace and virtue…”), is worth listening to, and is one of the more interesting pop stars of our time, but he’s not half as good as he thinks he is. Are we human or are we dancer? Pah! Speaking of dodgy lyrics...

1. Neon Neon Featuring Cate Le Bon..... I Lust U

A wonderfully wan, deadpan vignette on the materialism of modern-day "love" from the flawed but occasionally brilliant Stainless Style album. Simple electro with a worm-like synthetic hook that burrows into your brain, this is the type of record Sam Taylor-Wood should have made given the resources at her disposal. Minimalist and catchy, this benefits from that perfect pop contradiction: the dichotomy of joyful mood and poignant word: I love you if the price is right.

Drico.

[Patrick Bateman]

Brandon may write crap lyrics but I was stuck in the bathroom on Sunday listening to the brains trust that is Fearne Cotton and Reggie Token run down the upper echelons of the chart and Human was the only thing that prevented me from cutting my throat with the razor. When did pop music become so irredemably awful?

[Undertaker]

Before i clicked on the topic, i thought what Drico put in his first paragraph. A pretty ignorant list form me because i simply don't know 10 songs but i'll go for (in no particular order)

The Loving Kind - Girls aloud
Human - Killers
This Is The Life - Amy Macdonald
Black and Gold - Dunno
That song with the lyrics ''you never brushed up, never brushed up'' is quite catchy but only heard it twice.

Can't think of anything else

[Fugitive1979]

Black and Gold - Dunno

Sam Sparro.

That song with the lyrics ''you never brushed up, never brushed up'' is quite catchy but only heard it twice.

Alesha Dixon - The Boy Does Nothing

[Patrick Bateman]

That song with the lyrics ''you never brushed up, never brushed up'' is quite catchy but only heard it twice.

Alesha Dixon - The Boy Does Nothing

And produced by the ubiquitous Xenomania too.

[whateverman42]

Thanks for the opportunity to organize my favourites from this year, I love making lists.

1. Road to Somewhere- Goldfrapp
Don't know why I like this so much, simple and effective I guess.

2. Human- The Killers
Its so cool that such a big band cites PSB as a major influence.

3. Death and All His Friends- Coldplay
I think its the best song they've done yet. I like how it builds through stages.

4. Love is Noise- The Verve
Probably as close as they'll get to matching Bittersweet Symphony's greatness.

5. Bruises- Chairlift
Easily, easily the catchiest song this year. I'm not sure how unknown it is, but if you haven't heard it, OMG check this f*** song out.

6. Signs- Bloc Party
Lovely.

7. The Rip- Portishead
My favourite evil song.

8. Jigsaw Falling Into Place- Radiohead
At 3:12 is my favourite few seconds of music this year.

9. Grapevine Fires- Death Cab for Cutie
Nice little ditty.

10. Mothers of the Night- Moby
Not up to par with his other downtempo masterpieces, but me likey anyways.

[Fugitive1979]

The Verve - Love Is Noise
Girls Aloud - The Loving Kind
Sugababes - Girls
Killers - Human
Duffy's entire "Rockferry" album

That's about it off the top of my head. The rest of the year's music has passed me by, to be honest.

[GalataPSB]

Coldplay - Lost
Girls Aloud - The Loving Kind
Killers - Human
Keane - Lovers are losing
Sam Taylor-Wood - I’m in Love With a German Filmstar
Coldplay - Viva la vida
Rihanna - Disturbia
Madonna - Miles away

[Danger]

My favourite top7 album:
1. Out Of The Blue-Systems In Blue
2. Max Live 2008-Max Pezzali (italian pop singer)
3. Heartbreak Boulevard-Mark Ashley
4. In Your Room-Yazoo's boxset
4. Catfights And Spotlights-Sugababes
5. 25-Simply Red Greatest Hits
6. Safe Trip Home-Dido
7. Tra L'Aratro E La Radio-Max Gazzè (italian pop singer)
8. Tribute To Bobby-Mick Hucknall

My top10 songs:
1. Love Is Noise-Verve
2. Dr. No-Systems In Blue
3. Higher Than Sky-Mark Ashley
4. Ritornerò-Max Pezzali
5. Keeps Gettin' Better-Christina Aguilera
6. The Loving Kind-Girls Aloud
7. Don't Believe In Love-Dido
8. Sunday Rain-Sugababes
9. L'Evo Dopo Il Medio-Max Gazzè
10. I'm In Love With A German Film Star (Mark Reeder Remix)-Sam Taylor-Wood

[Parkol]

Human -Killers
MGMT - Time to pretend
Kylie - Stars

[BlueSwan]

I diagree with the notion that 2008 was a great year in pop. I think it has been particularly abysmal, espcially when you consider that 2007 was completely amazing and easily the best year in pop of this decade. This state of affairs also means that I for the first time struggle immensely with even compiling a list of 10 songs that I find completely awesome. But I've just spend 5 minutes trying to desperate think of solid efforts from 2008, so although I'm sure I have omitted songs that ought to be there, here goes:

1. The Saturdays: Up
2. Pink: So What
3. Girls Aloud: The Promise
4. Leona Lewis: Run
5. Kanye West: Say You Will
6. Will.I.Am: Heartbreaker
7. Turboweekend: Into You
8. Alphabeat: Boyfriend (Pete Hammond mix)
9. The Game feat Common: Angel
10. Madcon: Beggin'
11. Locobrigida: Stoned Out On TV
12. Firefox AK: Winter Rose
13. Guns'n'Roses: This I Love
14. Spleen United: Under The Sun
15. G-Unit: Straight Outta Southside

[Twoism]

In no particular order, as they're all fab...

Stereolab - Neon Beanbag

The Saturdays - Up

Neon Neon Featuring Cate Le Bon - I Lust You

Sam Taylor-Wood - I'm In Love With A German Filmstar

Girls Aloud - The Loving Kind

Beach House - Used To Be

Au Revoir Simone - Oh! You Pretty Things

Sally Shapiro - Jackie Jackie (Spend This Winter With Me)

Morgan Geist [ft. Jeremy Greenspan] - City Of Smoke And Flame

Tilly and the Wall - Beat Control

Crystal Castles - Good Time

Santogold - Lights Out