50
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James Morrison - You Give Me Something
Ahh, I like him. He's got a face like a guy with serious sinus trouble and the voice of a young Otis Reading living in Slough. "You Give Me Something" is a song I loved the first time I heard it and I still turn it up on the radio. It is even part of my 'I've drunk more than I should and I'm feeling tuneful' repertoire, belted out while stumbling out of bars at closing. I like him and probably always will.
Lisa S
No of votes: 6, Score:
38, Highest vote: 2nd
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49
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Justice vs Simian - We Are Your Friends
The best dance record of 2006. I don't know who Justice is and I'm barely aware of Simian's previous work, so this remix must be much, much more than the sum of its parts. It's such a happy and funkily persuasive piece of alien chic that if little green men introduced themselves to earth with this as their press conference walk-on music, then I would trust them 100%. In fact, I'd vote for them. Hell, I'd even let them buy me drinks and smile benignly as they try to seduce me. But I wouldn't go through with full intercourse because I don't think I'd be a successful father to interplanetary offspring - I'm going to want them to be Northampton Town fans while she'll be buying them iShirts and jet-booties in the colours of Zarg. Besides... green skin, with all this hair? Out of this world.
Danny G
No of votes: 6, Score:
39, Highest vote: 1st
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47
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OK Go - Here It Goes Again
So hands up who had heard much of OK Go before they burst into our consciousness last year via You Tube? With what has to be one of the simplest and best music videos of all time OK Go were everywhere! And it's not just a cool video, the song really rocks too. The jangly guitars and inisistent drums get you nodding your head in time and by the time the chorus comes in you're jumping on the spot kicking your feet out too just like you're on one of their running machines. This song is fun, infectious and just a little bit silly and short enough at exactly 3 minutes long to leave you wanting more...
Karen G
No of votes: 7, Score:
38, Highest vote: 1st
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46
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Primal Scream - Country Girl
The 'Scream seem to be able to operate on 2 rather fundamentally different levels - either fast-n-furious-no-holds-barred-electro-rock, or country tinged rock. Could it be the choice of illicit substance that depends on which of the musical bi-poles Bobby's internal compass points to? Either way the needle heads, you can be pretty damned sure the result will be class - and true to form this is another gem. It even manages to wheel out a mandolin into the mix without damaging their rock n roll credentials.
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
41, Highest vote: 1st
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45
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Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
The record company have been plugging away with Ray LaMontagne's debut album for a good while now and its to their credit that they did. The single Trouble belts out from the skinny ginger bloke (? - must be metaphorical - Jason M) like he's spent a lifetime sharpening his vocal and song craft with broken hearts. Leaves the likes of Paolo Nutini, James Morrison and James Blunt in the shade.
Paul M
No of votes: 7, Score:
48, Highest vote: 1st
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44
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The Flaming Lips - The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Artist link: 21
Wayne Coyne and co have built up one of the biggest reputations for their live performances in recent times, all thanks to their combination of fancy dress disco, heeuuuuuge weather balloons and the occasional need for the employment of fake blood (though not as you'd expect at a death metal gig). Their music is similarly critically lauded, though what they've perhaps missed is an all out party tune. Well, no longer. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song bounces up and down like a 5 year old overdosing on fizzy drinks and then grabs you by the arms and spins you about until you're dizzy. Whether it's simply about empowerment or a more political swipe at the Bush administration I don't know, but for most, it's a great invitation to lose yourself in Wayne's World (add WW catchphrase of your choice here).
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
55, Highest vote: 2nd
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43
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Madonna - Jump
Artist link: 5  6  40
'Jump' is another piece of high quality pop music from the woman with the hardest working groin in the business. It's also me and my girl's ticket out of the Hanwell ghetto, because we're gonna mix it with another golden groove and then hide under the table as the industry whirlwind begins. The mash-up will create such a sue/sign dilemma for record company executives, that 2007 will be a lucrative year for both legal types and cocaine dealers all over the capital. But enough about our impending wealth, I'll be sober tonight just long enough to consider whose rude bits are the most vital to pop music today; is it Kylie's Aussie arse, which is on every boy's five fingered iPod shuffle? Or is it the Madge vag, which has recently thrust itself back into the centre of the music universe? Well whoever wins - and frankly I would be a fool to decide without giving the issue a lot more consideration - it seems that both parties have realised that great songs, brilliant production and stunning live shows are the way to sustain a popular recording career.
Danny G
No of votes: 8, Score:
39, Highest vote: 2nd
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42
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Arctic Monkeys - Leave Before The Lights Come On
Artist link:1  14 15  22
The best thing about the music scene going into 2007 is the proliferation of bands singing about their own lives, using their own accents and vocabulary. Maybe The Streets helped push things forward in this regard, perhaps real kids from real schools formed bands after hearing Art Brut's glorious celebration of that act. But the biggest factor may well have been the successful emergence of the Arctic Monkeys and the subsequent A&R hunt for others who sound like they mean it, maaan. 'Leave Before The Lights Come On' takes me back to the all-too-few occasions when, in a youthful and almost certainly bladdered incarnation, I'd pulled and then the alcohol-affected mental debate about whether it was worth trying to stumble into a very brightly lit room "to see what you've done" before you... er.. did it. It was a tactic with just one flaw - it would give your lucky lady the same opportunity to check on her night's work. So that's the review done, what time's the bus come?
Danny G
No of votes: 8, Score:
39, Highest vote: 2nd
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41
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The Feeling - Never Be Lonely
Artist link:25
It's always good to see some bands able to draw on past influences (Wolfmother being a very obvious case in point this year) but I have to admit, I didn't think anyone would have the brass to hoover up the likes of Supertramp and generate mass appeal in 2006. Step forward Sussex's The Feeling, who managed to do it no fewer than 4 times. Never Be Lonely is a particular fave of mine, deftly switching between slow paced country tinged verses and stuttering harmony drenched choruses, whilst continuing their ability of nailing songs that you can't forget. You want to hate them, but you knows you loves it.
Jason M
No of votes: 8, Score:
40, Highest vote: 2nd
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Paul M, Kat B
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Paul M, Kat B, Isaac H, P Shoo, Dan Mc, Karen G, Emyr I, Greg B, Lisa S, Elliot H, Wendy B, Elliott
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