1. Arcade Fire – Rebellion (Lies)
It’s furious, ecstatic, frustrated, yearning, beautiful and uniquely brilliant. All at once.
The first single from Coles Corner is a rather splendid piece of lush romanticism.
Wake Up is melancholic, inspiring and, for a band preoccupied with death, gloriously uplifting.
Loops, a sampler and an acoustic guitar help construct a very fine song.
A three-minute blitz of corrupting bass, incendiary guitars and screams in all the right places.
Makes the relentless monotony of routine sound like an excuse to dance like an epileptic child watching Japanese cartoons by strobe light.
Quite simply, Fightstar rock. Yes, really.
As anyone who hasn’t yet been soothed by Richard Hawley’s velvety-rich baritone won’t know, this is not music to rush by.
Out goes irreverent animation and overtly 80s haircuts, in comes vintage Americana principles and film noir stylistics.
It is unlikely that you will find a more graceful song released this year.
Never mind the X-Factor, it’s got the ‘what the hell’ factor written all over it. Surrender to the pop majesty of Girls Aloud.
A song of jaw dropping brilliance.
Massive, punchy, metallic riffs piledriving the verses before a surprisingly poppy chorus enters the fray.
As mighty as you’d expect from one of the best bands in the world.
15. The Rakes – Work Work Work (Pub Club Sleep)
= The Subways – Oh Yeah
= Madonna – Hung Up
= My Chemical Romance – I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
= Gorillaz – Dare
= The Bravery – An Honest Mistake
= The Departure – All Mapped Out
22. White Rose Movement – Alsatian
= Switchfoot – Dare You To Move
= Beck – E-Pro
= Depeche Mode – Precious
= Five O’Clock Heroes – Head Games
27. The Futureheads – Hounds Of Love
= Franz Ferdinand – Do You Want To
= Antony And The Johnsons – Hope There’s Someone
= Now It’s Overhead – Wait In A Line
= Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
= Katie Melua – 9 Million Bicycles
