Best of 2021 - Singles / Tracks

Time to roll back and motor through some of the great single releases from 2021. Musical highlights are certainly the albums by London Grammar, Wolf Alice, Big red Machine and the Duran Duran come back. More about this in the album selection.

01. Wolf Alice - The Last Man On Earth
02. Geoffrey O' Connor ft Laura Jean - Foolish Enough
03. Yves Tumor - Jackie
04. Duran Duran - Anniversary
05. London Grammar - Lose Your Head
06. Big Red Machine ft Fleet Foxes and Anais Mitchell - Phoenix
07. Fleet Foxes - Featherweitght
08. The Weeknd - Save Your Tears
09. Wolf Alice - Delicious Things
10. The Antlers - Solstice
11. Agnes - 24 Hours
12. Sharon van Etten & Angel Olsen - Like I Used To
13. The War On Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore
14. Cold Cave - Night Light
15. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club
16. Manchester Orcherstra -  Bed Head
17. Juno Francis - Symmetry
18. Manic Street Preachers - The Secret He Had Missed ft Julia Cumming
19. Weather Station - Parking Lot
20. Shygirl - Cleo

Best of 1991 - The Singles

The early 1990s, particularly 1991, marked the peak of Grunge music's popularity, epitomized by Nirvana's groundbreaking release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and their second album, Nevermind. This success paved the way for other influential grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and even the early works of Radiohead.

Simultaneously, in 1991, Metallica and Guns N'Roses achieved their greatest commercial triumphs with their respective albums. Metallica's self-titled "black album" sold over 30 million copies worldwide, while Guns N'Roses' Use Your Illusion I & II collectively sold over 15 million copies.

However, amidst the musical milestones, tragedy struck on November 24 when Queen's frontman Freddie Mercury passed away at his home in London due to complications from AIDS. Queen's iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody," released as a double A-side with "These Are the Days of Our Lives," reached number one on the UK charts for the second time, further solidifying Mercury's legacy.

01. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

02. REM - Losing My Religion

03. Guns 'n' Roses - November Rain

04. Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

05. Queen - The Show Must Go On

06. Pearl Jam - Alive

07. Metallica - Enter Sandman

08. Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman

09. The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored

10. Simply Red - Stars

11. Guns'n' Roses - Don't Cry

12. Metallica - The Unforgiven

13. My Bloody Valentine - When You Sleep

14. U2 - The Fly

15. Lenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over Till It's Over

16. Erasure - Love to Hate You

17. Prince and the New Power Generation - Cream

18. Prince the New Power Generation - Get Off

19. The KLF - 3 AM Eternal

20. Enya - Caribbean Blue 

Top 100 Songs of the 80's

The 80s, with its broad appeal and sing-along melodies, played a pivotal role in popularizing Pop music like no other decade before. It brought a new glamour, charm, and diverse music forms, shaped by influences from Glam rock, Punk, Disco, Kraftwerk, David Bowie, and Blondie. The convergence of these influences resulted in one of the most significant explosions in music history—the New Wave supernova.

New Wave, functioning as an overarching term, was remarkable for its diversity, encompassing a festival of music genres. The technological advancements of the era, coupled with the launch of MTV, transformed the music landscape, elevating the visual image's importance alongside the music itself. This visual emphasis led to iconic figures like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, and George Michael, who not only dominated the charts but also profoundly influenced popular music and culture.

Simultaneously, in and out of the mainstream, the charts were shaped by the likes of Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, The Cure, and The Smiths—chart favorites that continued their influence into subsequent decades. This rich musical tapestry culminated in the Top 100 80s songs chart, where a multitude of factors were considered to showcase the era's musical brilliance.

• Official releases only
• Maximum two song per artist

01. New Order - Blue Monday

02. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

03. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill

04. The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

05. Bronski Beat - Small Town Boy

06. The Cure - Just Like Heaven

07. a-ha - Take On Me

08. Visage - Fade To Grey

09. Echo & Bunnymen - The Killing Moon

10. Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls

11. Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

12. Kraftwerk - The Model (1981)

13. Madonna - Like A Prayer

14. The Human League - Don't You Want Me

15. New Order - True Faith

16. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart

17. OMD - Enola Gay

18. Talk Talk - It's My Life

19. Alphaville - Big in Japan

20. Eurythmics - Love Is A Stranger

21. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

22. Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down

23. Ultravox - Vienna

24. Soft Cell - Tainted Love

25. The Clash - Rock The Casbah

26. David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes

27. The House Of Love - Shine On

28. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Spellbound

29. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart

30. The Stranglers - Golden Brown

31. The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary

32. Depeche Mode - Everything Counts

33. The Cure - Charlotte Sometimes

34. Gary Numan - Cars

35. Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)

36. Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

37. Dear Or Alive - You Spin Me Around (Like A Record)

38. Prince - Sign O' The Times

39. Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face

40. Blondie - Atomic

41. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

42. Roxy Music - Avalon

43. Desireless - Voyage Voyage

44. Duran Duran - Planet Earth

45. Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short

46. Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy

47. Yazoo - Don't Go

48. Enya - Orinoco Flow

49. The KLF - 3AM Eternal

50. Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hanging On

51. Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin

52. The Stranglers - Always The Sun

53. INXS - Need You Tonight

54. The Jesus and Mary Chain - April Skies

55. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat

56. MARRS - Pump Up The Volume

57. Japan - Quiet Life

58. Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

59. Tanita Tikaram - Twist In My Sobriety

60. U2 - New Year's Day

61. Sade - Smooth Operator

62. Tears For Fears - Mad World

63. The Sisters of Mercy - This Corrosion

64. Morrissey - Every Day Is Like Sunday

65. Killing Joke - Love Like Blood

66. a-ha - The Sun Always Shine On TV

67. Black - Everything Is Coming Up Roses

68. The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums

69. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

70. Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm

71. Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning

72. Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over

73. Bryan Ferry - Don't Stop The Dance

74. Talk Talk - Live's What You Make It

75. Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

76. Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams

77. Duran Duran - Save A Prayer

78. Spandau Ballet - True

79. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Happy House

80. Heaven 17 - Temptation

81. Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven

82. Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot

83. Wham! - Everything She Wants

84. R.E.M - Pop Song '89

85. Bauhaus - She's In Parties

86. Bananarama - Cruel Summer

87. Laura Branigan - Self Control

88. Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way

89. Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up

90. Erasure - Little Respect

91. Inner City - Good Life

92. S'express- Theme Form S'express

93. Sinead O'Connor - Troy

94. The Church - Under The Milkyeway

95. Robert Palmer - Johnny and Mary

96. The Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang

97. Laurie Anderson - O Superman

98. Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach

99. Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

100. Electronic - Getting Away With It

Best of 1991 - The Album List

 The early 1990s, particularly 1991, marked the peak of Grunge music's popularity, epitomized by Nirvana's groundbreaking release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and their second album, Nevermind. This success paved the way for other influential grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and even the early works of Radiohead.

Simultaneously, in 1991, Metallica and Guns N' Roses achieved their greatest commercial triumphs with their respective albums. Metallica's self-titled "black album" sold over 30 million copies worldwide, while Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion I & II collectively sold over 15 million copies.

However, amidst the musical milestones, tragedy struck on November 24 when Queen's front man Freddie Mercury passed away at his home in London due to complications from AIDS. Queen's iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody," released as a double A-side with "These Are the Days of Our Lives," reached number one on the UK charts for the second time, further solidifying Mercury's legacy.

01. Niravana - Nevermind

02. Metallica - The Black Album

03. Prince and The New Power Generation - Diamonds and Pearls

04. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

05. U2 - Achtung Baby

06. REM - Out of Time

07. The KLF - The White Room 

08. Massive Attack - Blue Lines

09. Primal Scream - Screamadelica

10. Roxette - Joyride

11. Simply Red - Stars

12. Swans - White Light From The Mouth

13. Talk Tak - Laughing Stock

14. Erasure - Chorus

15. Pearl Jam - Ten

16. Slowdive - Just for a Day

17. Army of Lovers - Massive Luxury Overdose

18. OMD - Sugar Tax

19. Mercury Rev - Yerslef is Steam

20. The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld

Best of 2020 - The Singles List

The year 2020 has been different in many ways and could not be compared to any of the recent years. The world stopped for a certain period of time, paralyzed by the global COVID-19 pandemic where the virus spread to all corners of the world leaving difficult consequences for the population everywhere. 

It certainly did affect the music world in the sense that all major music events, festivals and concerts were cancelled until further notice. Only one global event was organised to support the World Health Organisation -One World: Together at Home- a benefit concert, organised by Global Citizen and curated by singer Lady Gaga whose objective was to promote the practice of social distancing while staying together during the COVID-19 pandemic and also support the medical staff all over the world.

On the quantity level of album and singles releases, it might have been less in offer this year but certainly not on its quality level. Every year has its own charm, no matter what is going on and the events that occurred this year events certainly influenced the artists and some of them have already integrated them in their music. 

Our Top 50 songs list, is as always a festival of styles and genres and while this year's saw some interesting newcomers emerging on the music market, it also meant some happy returns and comebacks. Hope you enjoy the Songs list!

01. SRSQ - Temporal Love

02. Jessie Ware - Spotlight

03. The Killers - My Own Soul's Warning

04. Weyes Blood - Wild Time

05. The Neighborhood - Devil's Advocate

06. The Flaming Lips -  Flowers of Neptune 6

07. Sally Dige -  It's You I'm Thinking Of

08. Groove Armada - Edge of the Horizon

09. Cold Beat - Double Sided Mirror

10. Angelo De Augustine - Santa Barbara

11. Fleet Foxes - Sunblind

12. Gorillaz ft Peter Hook - Aries

13. New Order - Be a Rebel

14. Jessie Ware - The Kill

15. Girl in Red - Rue

16. The Weeknd - Blinding Lights

17. Structures - Sorry, I Know I'm Late

18. Porridge Radio - Circling

19. Yves Tumor - Kerosene!

20. James Blake - Godspeed

Best of 2020 - The Album List

The year 2020 has been different in many ways and could not be compared to any of the recent years. The world stopped for a certain period of time, paralyzed by the global COVID-19 pandemic where the virus spread to all corners of the world leaving dificult consequences for the population everywhere. 

It certainly did affected the the music world in the sense that all major music events, festivals and concerts were cancelled until further notice. Only one global event was organised to support the World Health Organisation -One World: Together at Home- a benefit concert, organised by Global Citizen and curated by singer Lady Gaga whose objective was to promote the practice of social distancing while staying together during the COVID-19 pandemic and also support the medical staff all over the world.

On the quantity level of album and singles releases, it might have been less in offer this year but certainly not on its quality level. Every year has its own charm, no matter what is going on and the events that occurred this year events certainly influenced the artists and some of them have already integrated them in their music. 

Our Top 25 album list, is as always a festival of styles and genres and while this years saw some interesting new comers emerging on the music market, it also meant some happy returns and come backs. Hope you enjoy the Album list!

01. The Flaming Lips - American Head [Bella Union / Warner Bros] 

The Flaming Lips have returned with their 16th studio album American Head released through Bella Union in the UK and Warner Bros in the US. It seems that the band have returned to their winning formula of the late 90's and early 00's, focusing on the American roots producing symphonic psychedelic sound which could easily be treated as future Americana. The songs reveal a strong sense of melody by being freaky and tendering at the same time. There is also a drug connotation throughout the songs on the album, bringing the acid and psychedelic in front. Out of the seven songs which were released as singles, the outstanding are certainly "Will You Return", "Flowers of Neptune'' and "You N Me Sellin' Weed". 

02. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure [PMR] 

What's Your Pleasure? is Jessie Ware's fourth studio album, released through PMR. The album includes 12 tracks out of which half of the songs were also released as singles. Overall this is a very uncomplicated, joyful and passionate electronic, dance album with a festival of sub genres and influences from all decades which flow into a nice cohesive package. At the same time the album marks Ware's return to her roots and moving away from the soul melancholy of the previous album. This album might not have been released in perfect timing, in the year of COVID-19 pandemic when all dance floors are sealed, still it feels like a time machine and a trip to better times with, a great staying power. Favorite tracks: “Spotlight”, “The Kill” and  “Remember Where You Are”.

   

03. Porridge Radio - Every Bad [Secretly Canadian] 

Porridge Radio is among the best newcomers this year and at the same time probably the best female fronted indie band in 2020. Every Bad is their second album and the first one on a big record label. Released through Secretly Canadian, the album contains eleven tracks, where each of the songs seems to be an interesting chamber of elements that harmonize with each other. In addition to the indie elements there is noise but it does not get too loud, there are synth accents, but it does not get too electronic. There is also a great emotional range to the lead singer’s voice which plays perfectly with all rhythm sections. Favorite tracks: “Born Confused”, “Sweet”, “Long”, and “Circling”. 

 

04. Fleet Foxes - Shore [Anti-] 

Fleet Foxes released their fourth studio album Shore in Fall this year. It was quite a surprise release for an album whose writing and recording started in 2018/2019 respectively, to be released only one day after the announcement. Beautiful as ever, bright, complex and accessible, this is how I would describe this nearly solo effort by the singer/songwriter Robin Pecknold. There is an autumn feel throughout the album and the feel of closing oneself in the deep drift away against the existential worry of 2020. It is the same vein as their debut album, the finest range from baroque pop to the 60’s spacey folk. Favorite tracks: “Shore”, “Sunblind” and “Maestranza”.  

 

05. Linea Aspera - LP II [self released] 

Linea Aspera has surprised us all this year with the reunion and the release of a brand second album which comes eight years after their debut album release. The duo Alison Lewis and Ryan Ambridge split after the debut album release but never really stopped making music, moreover continued exploring new dimensions and grounds with their solo projects. Their second album comes with a similar recipe of songs as their debut but even more perfected and crafted. LPII is dark, scientific and emotional with great analogue production against Lewis' intense vocal delivery. Different from 2012, when Minimal Wave and Synth pop were closer to  mainstream, this year this record feels more like a loner in its genre and certainly the best Minimal Wave album of 2020. Track highlights: “Solar Flare”, “Equilibrium” and “Entanglement”. 

 

06. Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today [Domino] 

The Detroit based Protomartyr released their fifth studio album Ultimate Success Today this year, their second Domino release following the critically acclaimed Relatives in Descent. Using the Post-punk as foundation for their sound the band continues to deliver good quality production songs feeding in the misfortunes of the modern world like sadness, anger and aggression. Even though the themes might be sinister and dark, the band manages to deliver quite an involving sound with guitars that shine on. The input of the session musicians on saxophone and clarinet even more contribute to the diversity of sound. Even though this record was recorded before 2020, it is probably the loudest and most fitting album to the COVID 20 soundtrack. 

 

07. Groove Armada - Edge of the Horizon [BMG Rights Management] 

The duo has released their ninth studio album this year. Edge of the Horizon comes as a 10 years anniversary to Black Light which was also our Album of the Year in 2010. It seems that the band has decided once again to leave the club friendly tech house behind and to grant us with another great synth pop album. This also pretty much goes back to the 80’s taking some influences from the hiNrg and early Italo disco underground styles. Similar as on Black Light, this album features an interesting array of collaborations which completes the overall good LP experience. The album features the hit singles “Get Out on the Dancefloor” and “Love 4 Now”, but probably the stand out is the title track "Edge of the Horizon".

   

08. The Killers - Imploding the Mirage [Island / Virgin EMI] 

The Killers released their sixth studio album Imploding The Mirage this year and with this record they have returned to our radar for the first time since Sam’s Town. This new album brings some changes both in the line up and in the music style, trafficking in Americana, catchy synth hooks and the Springsteen influence all together. It deals pretty well with every day themes and the pop-heartland-epic input makes it quite accessible. The album also features some interesting collaborations including k. d. lang, Weyes Blood, Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) and Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs). Four singles were released from the album including the catchy the “My Own’s Soul Warning”.

   

09. Working Men’s Club - Working Men’s Club [Heavenly] 

Working Men’s Club is among the best newcomers in 2020 and also one of the best debut albums in this year. The band actually started releasing singles in 2019 with a different line up and this year brought the change in lineup and the sound perspective and the band adopted more electronic influences including shades of the early 80’s underground synthpop and early 90’s alternative dance. The record’s dynamic course is kept by the raving energy, a synth-guitar criss cross against the industrial lead. The outstanding tracks are of course the first single “Valley”, “Tomorrow” and “Angel". 

 

10. Cindy - I’m Cindy [World of Paint] 

With I’m Cindy, we enter the DIY territory and home base of the producer Palbomen II who started recording music around 2015. Focused on the fictional character Cindy Savalas portrayed by the actress Blue LoLãn, he recorded around thirty pieces in his home studio in Belgium in 2019 and some of them were even picked for the Memories of Cindy release. This album is set in a cold and dark synth pop setting and through out the 13 tracks, it explores different episodes in the life of Cindy Savalis where she sings about her mom, her boyfriend Justin, her cat and other personal sides of her life. Stand out tracks: “Boy Friend”, “Never Let Me Go” and “2Y and 6M”. 

11. Nation of Language - Introduction, Presence [Not on Label] 

12. Coldbeat - Mother [DFA] 

13. Kleerup - 2 [U, OK] 

14. Active Child - In Another Life [Sony Masterworks] 

15. The Orelles - Disco Volador [Heavenly] 

16. Perfume Genious - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately [Matador] 

17. The Strokes - The New Abnormal [Cult] 

18. Riki - Riki [Dais] 

19. Doves - The Universal Want [Virgin] 

20. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush [Modular] 

21. Georgia - Seeking Thrills [Domino] 

22. Muzz - Muzz [Matador] 

23. I Break Horses - Warnings [Bella Union] 

24. Alice Boman - Dream on [Adrian] 

25. Of Montreal - Ur Fun [Polyvinyl]

November Singles Round up

We have almost reached the end of 2020 and this is the last Singles Round up for this year, highlighting  with Yves Tumor's single "Kerosene" for which the video was directed by Ssion aka Cody Critcheloe. 

Yves Tumor - Kerosene!

Fiona Apple - Shameika

 

Lana Del Rey - Summertime

Nairod Yarg - Trophy

Bleachers - Chinatown ft. Bruce Springsteen

breathe. - Home

Angelo de Augustine - Blue

Nilüfer Yanya - Crash

The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking

Retrovision: Boys Brigade - Melody

 "Melody" was one of the two single releases for the Canadian New Wave band Boys Brigade. It was released in 1983 and it was also featured on the band's debut and only album which was never reissued.