2020 (2 of 2) - "Level of Concern" - twenty one pilots

Candidate 2 of 2. 

Written and recorded during the pandemic, it's a light funk track that takes on the heavy subject matter with a bit of levity. Comfort food for the confused and quarantined.

2020 (1 of 2) - "Lost in Yesterday" - Tame Impala

Candidate 1 of 2. 

A psychedelic pop masterpiece with a gorgeous bass line, disco melody and infectious choruses that will stay in your head for days. 

Heavy on nostalgia, convincing lyrics and video argue that eventually terrible memories make great ones. Worth a spin for fans of 70s / 80s pop.

Fave lyrics: “so if they call you embrace them, if they hold you erase them.”

2019 - "Blinding Lights" - The Weeknd

A good intro is critical and this one captivates.

Atmospheric and entrancing, this slightly sinister synth-pop groove is sprinkled with lush hooks reminiscent of A-ha's earlier albums. Pleased to see the 80s continue to inspire millennials.

Nostalgia took over decision-making in the early 2000s, influencing every fave song since 2002, starting with Coldplay (prime U2) and 2003 and Kylie (early Madonna) etc. etc. Guess that's when I stopped listened to the radio and officially became old.

Other favourites from 2019: 

"In the Afternoon" - MGMT 

2018 - "Pink Lemonade" - James Bay

Kinda sounds like The Strokes updated that driving mid-80s tune from Charlie Sexton. 

Oh, and Bowie. 73% of my favourite songs are influenced or can be linked back to David Bowie.

Other favourites from 2018: 

"Me and Michael" - MGMT (2018)

2017 - "Decades" - Matthew Good

A haunting, driving guitar riff accompanies Good's trademark passionate vocals and poignant lyrics; his best in many years never fails to move me or make me move.  

I've loved all the albums from this seriously underrated singer and songwriter since 1997.

Other favourites from 2017: 

"Way to Go" - Empire of the Sun

"The Night is Ours" – Alpha 9 

"Tonite" – LCD Soundsystem 

"Slide" – Calvin Harris 

"Little Dark Age" – MGMT 

2016 - "Under the Sun" - DIIV

Hypnotic and driving bass line. Check, check.
Clangly, jangly and swirling guitars. Check, check and check.
Guitars that sound like shimmering synths. Le check. 

Lovin' the sublime intro and all the layers of this dreamy haze, while channeling mid-80s Cure and early 90s Stone Roses for a retro post-punk vibe. 

This is music you play on sunny mornings with the windows open and top down. 

Shout out to high school buddy Patrick Carr for recommending this track. Now I want a fog machine.

Other favourites from 2016: 

"Secrets" - The Weeknd

"Way to Go" - Empire of the Sun

2015 - "Mountain at My Gates" - Foals

Opens with a delicate melody that builds into a powerful feel-good tune. It's an anthem of sorts, so if you enjoyed U2 around the Rattle and Hum era, you may also appreciate this.

Other favourites from 2015: 

"Leave a Trace" - CHVRCHES

"Restless" – New Order

"The Shade" – Metric

"Hello" – Adele

2014 - "Meteghan" - Arthur Comeau

Part electro, part hop-hop, this laid-back and très drole track is a sort of homecoming for a talented gars de chez nous. 

Meteghan is home for me too; and you're all invited to visit once this shitstorm passes...

Other favourites from 2014: 

"Fade Out Lines" - The Avener 

"Under the Pressure" - The War on Drugs

"Only Human" – Delphic 

2013 - "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk

Pharrell Williams: I'm loving' this retro disco vibe, but this doesn't sound at all like Daft Punk. 
Breakdown: Hold my quarantini.

Maybe not quite "September" groovy, but not bad for 2013.

A fine throwback, instantly catchy and thoroughly funky. 

Other favourites from 2013: 

"The Messenger" – Johnny Marr 

"Reflektor" - Arcade Fire

"Summer Breeze" – Pepper the Crow

"Cool Kids" - Echosmith

2012 - "Motion Sickness" - Hot Chip

The minute and a half intro spins and stuns, setting the stage for a muscular electro groove. Oscillating synths and throbbing bass build and build and build. Should have been a single and still one of my fave running songs.  

On the London trip where we saw George Michael's (unbeknownst to us) last concert, there were two artists we should have seen that week: Suzanne Vega and Hot Chip.  

Other favourites from 2012: 

"The Page" - Chromatics

"Where Is It Going?" - Orbital

"Take A Walk" – Passion Pit

"Doused" - DIIV

2011 - "Midnight City" - M83

It may be cheesy, but the explosive synth riff in the intro that's also the soaring chorus makes the dopamine overflow. How good is this Gouda? Well, the greatest 80s tune outside the decade very handily makes my desert island six pack o' tracks. 

Shout-out to M83's more subtle, dreamier "Kim & Jessie", a close second from 2008, a shimmering homage to 80s synth-pop and John Hughes' films, dressed up with an indie twist.

I have to give "Helena Beat" a little love here, it would have made it in almost any other year this century. 

Other favourites from 2011: 

"Helena Beat" -  Foster The People 

"Set Fire to the Rain" - Adele

"Called Out in the Dark" – Snow Patrol 

"All you Need is Now" – Duran Duran

2010 - "The Suburbs" - Arcade Fire

Montreal wasn't producing many good hockey teams since the turn of the century, but the city made up for it with music, with the likes of Sam Roberts and Arcade Fire.
  
Who would have thought romanticizing the ennui of the suburbs would sound so damn great? The tune is strummy and cheery, the lyrics and video nostalgic, showing a group of friends riding bicycles without helmets, partaking in hijinx and tomfoolery. A beautiful postcard of yesteryear and every 'burb from Dartmouth to Delta. 

Who hasn't tossed their bike to see how far it would go before crashing?

Other favourites from 2010: 

"Ready To Go" – Arcade Fire

"Stylo" – Gorillaz 

"Doubt" – Delphic 

"History" – Groove Armada 

"Paradise City" – Massive Attack