Top 10 Best songs cause I say so.....

Dudes, I feel I should share with you some of the most kickass tracks I’ve heard so far this year. Oh, by the way, these are mostly indie tracks cause I have been covering a lot of metal lately and I usually try to be fairly even minded. Enjoy,

10. Albert Hammond Jr – In Transit

We know he’s the guitarist for the Strokes, but who would have known he was the obviously talented one. Sure hes rich and hes got that whole my dads controlling and named me after himself in an attempt to justify his life thing going on but this song is damn catchy.

9. Beck – I Think I’m In Love

You know they say that this album isn’t selling as well as Guero did, but I actually like this album more. This song is a perfect example of why I feel that way. It’s catchy, interesting and sort of endearing in the way the lyrics tell the story of a total deadbeat screwing up his hopes of romance. I like it.

8. The Shins – Sea Legs

Wow. This song is a large departure from their prior well loved brand of soft indie pop. And I appreciate a band who has the balls to break away from a stereotype and embrace new styles. Sea Legs is about as close as the shins have got to a dance song and its one of those tracks that takes up shop in your head. Catchy as bird flu.

7. Ryan Adams – Oh My God, Whatever, Ect.

I know this isn’t actually released yet, but Ryan Adams is a personal favourite of mine and I had to include this live version of a song from his forthcoming LP Easy Tiger. A really beautiful song even in this unfinished form

6. LCD Soundsystem – North American Scum

Unlike the vast majority of Americans, LCD Soundsystem’s driving musical force James Murphy obviously knows how to take the piss. And I respect that in a man. This is a total dance-the-night-away ditty of epic proportions, expect much gyration and white boy dancing.

5. Bright Eyes – Four Winds

Oh hooray. Bright Eyes has finally achieved his wish of becoming Ryan Adams. So country, and I have been known to love a country song. Sorry but if theres one genre where Conor Oberst’s crackly voice and melancholic lyrics would be perfectly suited too, its in country music. More of it I say.

4. Modest Mouse – Dashboard

People are saying that this is Modest Mouse’s sell-out song, but I just say its one of the best indie songs out there at the moment. And I would be right. Modest Mouse’s best song since Roll On, and I may be attacked by a million indie kids for that comment but notify me when I start caring about that.

3. Kings Of Leon - On Call

Another big change. This one came straight from left field, its really good, but really different. It's the kind of change that could either bring KOL to a bigger audience or make them lose the one they already have. Im convinced though if thats any indication. Needs a few listens but i really love this track.

2. Klaxons – Golden Skans

This song just doesn’t get old. Ive heard it about 30 times in the last week and I still hum along. I’d never heard about them until I heard this song on Triple J and from there it was just all kinds of love. I haven’t got the album yet but id be tempted to buy it on the strength of this song.

1. Maximo Park – Our Velocity

This song is the best indie song of the year so far. It’s intense, melodically interesting, well arranged and catchy as hell. I was whistling this song after two listens and that really all I have to say, its just so damn good. Thank god these boys decided to release more music.

On The Horizon (OF METAL)

I like to keep my non existent fan base up to date with the important releases of the future, because it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling deep inside. Plus ive got nothing better to do. Here are some of the important releases coming soon.

Machine Head – The Blackening

Important because Machine Head’s last album was a motherfucking asskick. That’s the proper musical terminology I believe. Expect fast paced technical groove metal, with a little bit of 90’s thrash thrown in too. I’ve a few of the leaked songs and by the sounds of it, it could actually out-do It’s predecessor.

Machine Head - Aesthetics Of Hate

Dark Tranquillity – Fiction

One of my favourites, co-originators (along with In Flames) of the Gothenburg sound, these heavy metal stalwarts keep on coming with one solid album after another. I cant seen a massive change happening with this record but I’d expect it to be another solid release. Their guitarists create some of the best metal riffing around.

Dark Tranquillity - Focus Shift

Shadows Fall – Threads Of Life

It will be very interesting to see if Shadows Fall can survive the transition to a major label that so many other bands haven’t. If you like you American metalcore, Shadows Fall dish it out better than most. They’ve done well not to get lost among the flood of metalcore bands that have spawned in the post-Killswitch frenzy. I HOPE its good.

Listen to their new stuff here

Chimaira – Resurrection

I’ve heard the first single and its pretty awesome. Should be interesting to see if these boys can recover some form after being dropped from Roadrunner Records last year. Expect some A-Grade post thrash groove metal, fitting for all your head banging needs.

Listen to their new stuff here

So keep on rocking rest assured that these titles are on the horizon and ready to rip the proverbial jugular right out of your heavy metal necks in the very near future.