Thursday, January 7th, 2010
SIA – You’ve Changed
Long lauded overseas but criminally overlooked in her home country up until now – sneaking in just before the year’s end, You’ve Changed is the perfect example of the endearing quirkiness and THAT voice we’ve all fallen in love with. An avid fan of Twitter, she uploaded the song and encouraged fans to download and spread it like wildfire radio didn’t need telling twice and a national ATB was promptly handed out by NOVA.
GOSSIP – Heavy Cross
There were a few sceptics when the three-piece band, born out of the post-riot girl scene in Olympia inked a deal with a major label. Gaining momentum with 2006’s Standing In The Way Of Control, any non-believers were quickly silenced when Heavy Cross stormed onto radio, securing massive airplay across major metropolitan networks. The track peaked at #4 on the TMN Hot 100 and #7 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
THE xx – Crystalised
Four unlikely south Londoners, clad in a uniform of Doc Martins and black shirts, who became the most blogged about band of 2009. Their understated, self-conscious approach of their debut struck a chord with audiences worldwide. Self produced, they ditched the luxury of a recording studio to lay down tracks in the XL garage. Crystalised led their propulsion into a world of non-top touring and upper regions of many a Best Of lists.
Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
Another unlikely cross over hit, this song can owe its success, in part, to its use in the Palm Pixi worldwide ad campaign. Once radio picked up on the track it took the band to another level of popularity, taking them out of the blog-world and planting them in clubs around the world. A heady mix of dance, indie pop and even disco, Sleepyhead is one of a number of Passion Pit songs with hit potential.
Lily Allen – The Fear
The lead single from her sophomore album, The Fear does what Lily does best, at once indulging in the celebrity lifestyle and exposing its many pitfalls. A hefty dose of sarcasm is inserted, and cheeky references to the British tabloids see her press-baiting as usual. The Fear sometimes falls into cliche, but it is wonderful none the less. A weaker artist couldn’t pull this off.
Jay-Z Ft. Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
Celebrating both Jay-Z’s hometown, and the oft-heard notion that if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere, Empire State Of Mind is pure bravado. No wonder the New York Yankees adopted the tune as their anthem during their championship run this year. Alicia Keys provides one of the most memorable hooks of the year and turns this into a home run.
Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man
Both the most surprising breakthrough hit of the year, and the most deserving, Mumford & Sons have managed to create a song that radio adores, yet is yet to receive a critical or social backlash. Sounding like nothing else on the charts, and plucking their sound from rock’s back pages, Mumford & Sons found their niche and, through Little Lion Man, buried their way into the mainstream.
Miike Snow – Animal
Described by The Guardian as A-Ha meets Animal Collective, and possessing a cool robotic sound, Animal is not an easy listen, and as a result it didn’t get a whole lot of commercial airplay. However the single was one of the most blogged about tracks of the year, and was met with almost unanimous critical praise when it was released. Plus it was played on Gossip Girl!
Sarah Blasko – All I Want
As Day Follows Night was quite a departure from the layered widescreen of Blasko’s first two albums, the sparse arrangements giving the songs room to breathe, matching the lyrics with the music in a way she hadn’t explored previously. All I Want is at once the biggest departure, and the most obvious single from the album. A bold statement, and a great song wrapped in one. 2009 was Blasko’s year.
The Big Pink – Velvet
Channelling My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Primal Scream and a host of other Creation bands, The Big Pink fuse dance, shoegaze and pop, and nowhere else is this distillation more evident than in Velvet. There are better moments on the album, but there is no better single, and this is the perfect introduction to the bands aesthetic and wall of sound atmospherics.
Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry
Cute, and quirky, but with a sultry Cat Power-esque voice, Lisa Mitchell was never cut out for life as an Australian Idol pop star. Coin Laundry centred around an addictive hook line, with Mitchell’s breezy delivery highlighting the minutia of inner city living – with a cute flirtation thrown in for measure. Lisa Mitchell is only 19 years of age, and yet musically, she arrives fully formed.
Jonathon Boulet – A Community Service Announcement
Many high profile people are predicting that Jonathon Boulet will become a massive star, and the main reasoning for this is the undeniable quality of this track. Modular have an unbeaten record for picking out future worldwide stars, and Boulet is no expectation to the rule. 2009 was just a training ground for Boulet, and we guarantee that this time next year, he will be featuring heavily in our 2010 lists.
Pink – Bad Influence
The fourth single from Pink’s mammoth Funhouse opus kept the momentum rolling in 2009, hitting the higher reaches of the ARIA singles chart long after everyone in Australia had seemingly bought the album from which it was lifted. Despite subject matter that unapologetically addresses hedonism and excess alcohol consumption, radio still saw fit to flog this track for most of 2009.
David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over
Making his move out of the relatively obscure world of DJing, Guetta teamed up with a host of famous vocalists, produced a series of undeniably catchy pop/dance singles, and made his name as one of the most important and influential producers of 2009. When Love Takes Over, his collaboration with Kelly Rowland showcases all his skills perfectly, taking a piano line reminiscent of Clocks by Coldplay, and matching it to Rowland’s pop melody.
Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
Auto-tune will absolutely go down as the most utilised production convention of 2009. Never a group to shy away from riding the wave, the Black Eyed Peas whacked this device around an infectious hook and a futuristic sparse beat and came up with their highest selling single in their home country to date. We can take some of the credit – Will.i.am admits to being heavily influenced by the electro sounds he heard in the nightclubs in Sydney.
Hilltop Hoods – Chase That Feeling
Single handedly flying the flag for Adelaide, Hilltop Hoods are the premier Australian hip hop group. Chase That Feeling, the first single from their fifth album smashed into the ARIA top ten single charts, marking their crossover from an underground hip hop group to commercial darlings as complete. The track isn’t a huge departure stylistically, but the Hilltop Hoods do what they do at a world-class level.
Guy Sebastian – Like It Like That
Idol-alumni Guy Sebastian flooded the market with this upbeat song midway through the year, and it is hard to deny its infectious chorus, and summer feel. Channel Seven used this song heavily, radio played it to bits, and it topped the singles chart. The good vibes were felt across the ocean as well, with the track being used in the NBC network’s summer promotional campaign.
Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People
Empire Of The Sun may have started in late 2008, but when people look back at this album it will be forever tied to 2009. Walking On A Dream was the unlikely breakthrough single, but We Are The People proves that this wasn’t just a flash in the pan. With a psychedelic video shot in Mexico, and syncs in a number of ads and television indents, this song just didn’t go away!
Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers
Hip-hop has long trodden the line between schlocky cartoon novelty, and serious violence fuelled tales of hardship. Bonkers falls triumphantly into the former camp, with strong pop hooks, and a house music feel, courtesy of producer Armard Van Helden. There is not a dose of grime in this track, and as one of three songs on his Tongue N’ Cheek album to top the UK chart, it’s fair to say Dizzee won’t be in a rush to abandon this tact.
Daniel Merriweather – Change
Cowritten by Merriweather with Miike Snow singer Andrew Wyatt, produced by Mark Ronson, and featuring a rap by Wale, it would be a criminal oversight if this track didn’t feature in our end of year singles list. Ronson’s production shines in this song, as his hi fidelity Motown-esque sheen compliments Merriweather’s effortlessly soulful vocal. Catchy as hell, this track broke Merriweather on radio, and set critics and fans raving.
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