First of all, Happy New Year everyone, and here’s to a prosperous Two Thousand and Great!

So this is my second last post dedicated to the year that was 2007. The last one will make an appearance sometime next week; it’s just a reflection of sorts and I’m still not finished with it yet. But todays particular ‘07 inspired post is the one I’ve most enjoyed putting together. I’m quite a big dance music fan, have been since I can remember and it’s a musical taste I can thank my Mother for playing to me in the 80’s, and my Aunty and Uncle playing for me in the early 90’s. The brilliant thing about remixes is they can often turn a pop/indie/whatever song into a great stomping dance anthem. Sometimes these remixes turn out to be better than (or, in the very least, as good as) the original versions, but sometimes they don’t offer the listener anything other than pain. The following list of songs is a great representation of the former.

In previous end-of-year lists I’ve always included the reswizzle as apart of my overall songs of the year countdown, but this year I’ve given the remix its own list. It should be of no surprise that Van She’s Vanshe Tech remix project features heavily on my countdown.

In case you haven’t had a chance to hear some of these remixes, I’ve popped them all into a zip file for download via Megaupload. If you can’t download from that server, just let me know and I’ll put it up somewhere else as well. All 27 tracks fit perfectly on two 80 minute discs.

I was going to write little bits of detail for each of the remixes, but because I’m giving you all of these brilliant tracks in a joyous zip file, I figured I’d just let the music do the talking instead. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy these absolute corkers as much as I have.

DOWNLOAD: The Top 27 Remixes of 2007.zip (MP3 Files) | Megaupload | 222mb.

01. I AM FINN – I Love You (Vanshe Tech Mix)
02. DELTA GOODREM – Believe Again (Tommy Trash Mix)
03. JENNIFER HUDSON – And I’m Telling You… (Dance Mix)
04. DRAGONETTE – I Get Around (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
05. THE AUDIO THIEVES – (Pray Like) Aretha Franklin (Vanshe Tech Mix)
06. ROISIN MURPHY – Overpowered (Seamus Haji Remix)
07. GOSSIP – Jealous Girls (Tommie Sunshine Remix)
08. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE – Lovestoned (Justice Remix)
09. GIRLS ALOUD – SEXY! NO NO NO (Tony Lamezma Mix)
10. UTAH SAINTS – Something Good (Vanshe Tech Mix)
11. BEYONCE – Green Light (Freemasons Mix)
12. DEELAY VS GAMBARELLI – Power Of Love (Fedo Club Mix)
13. EMMA BUNTON – All I Need To Know (Bimbo Jones Mix)
14. ROBYN – Crash & Burn Girl (Jesper Dahlback Mix)
15. SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR – Me & My Imagination (Tony Lamezma Mix)
16. GIRLS ALOUD – Call The Shots (Tony Lamezma Mix)
17. SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM – UFO (Vanshe Tech Mix)
18. ROGUE TRADERS – Way To Go! (Metro Radio Edit)
19. YOKO ONO – Kiss Kiss Kiss (Peaches Mix)
20. THE GOSSIP – Standing In The Way Of Control (Soulwax Nite Mix)
21. JUSTICE – D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Mix)
22. SUGABABES – About You Now (Ultrabeat Mix)
23. THE KILLERS – Read My Mind (Gabriel & Dresden Mix)
24. AMY WINEHOUSE – Back To Black (Mushtaq Vocal Mix)
25. FEIST – 1234 (Vanshe Tech Mix)
26. ROBBIE WILLIAMS – She’s Madonna (Kris Menace Vocal Mix)
27. EVE MASSACRE – Never Be Your Friends (Eve Massacre Mix)

Earlier this week I posted the top 207 songs of 2007. You may have seen it. As promised, here is my album wrap up. 40 of the years best, which was pretty hard to narrow down. Top 10 with lengthy detail, remaining 11 - 40 with brief notes.

There is a list I’ve kept of the other 40 albums (in no order though) which I’ve kept and might share with you randomly at some point because there’s a LOT of brilliance I’ve left off this Top 40. It’s been a killer year for music hasn’t it?

01 :: GIRLS ALOUD - TANGLED UP
Not exactly the biggest surprise now, is it? Not much has changed when it comes to my favourite album of the year since I last reviewed it back in November. I still think it is their best album to date. I still think Girls Aloud are the most important pop group since Blondie (which I doubt I’ve mentioned before.) I still think people would probably have my head for making such a claim. But 2007 has truly been the year where I’ve finally found myself comfortable with not apologising for my musical tastes and - after years of battle - beginning to feel like I finally do not need to defend my passions. And feeling passion for Tangled Up is certainly not something anyone should have to apologise for.

Recently an ‘alternative’ person who just doesn’t “get it” questioned how anyone, “let alone someone as intelligent as you” (exact quote - will haunt me for life) could find any merit in pop music and - even more horrifying to him - be moved or feel something for it. I attempted to even explain my passion for Girls Aloud but he just started talking about Trent Reznor. It was a some sort of awakening - that exact moment, one which my friend Emma was witness to. When I listen to Tangled Up, I sometimes recall that not-so-long-ago moment in time and think how unfortunate it is that this person will never know what they’re missing out on. They will never understand the joy I get out of listening to this record because they cannot even fathom anyone wanting to listen to it. But really, how can you go past it? Call The Shots is a delicious summer-inspired pop song whose bassline conjures up images of sunsets and cocktails. Girl Overboard and Close To Love (GAGGINIG to be a single) are homosexual to the extreme, with the latter roping in the power of disco to deliver its message. This albums true moment of brilliance comes in the form of Can’t Speak French, a mid-tempo love song that marries elements of Wham!’s Careless Whisper together with twisted, distorted sound effects. Unbelievable. Black Jacks throws the girls into a cheeky-Motown infused affair, with the shouty sensibilities of former UK pop double act Shampoo. Then when the chorus kicks in, it all turns into Take That’s cover of Could It Be Magic. And that is amazing, no apologies.

If you are going to tell me that I’m shallow, stupid, or unintelligent simply because you cannot fathom that music doesn’t have to be all grey skies and murderdolls in order for you to emote valid feeling, to quote my beloved Aloud, “shut your mouth because your shit might show.”

02 :: ARCTIC MONKEYS - FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE
I fell in love with Alex Turner’s lyrical genius only this year. In fact, I’d sort of been quite nonplussed by the Arctic’s first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (I couldn’t understand the hype at all,) and only gave Nightmare a chance on the strength of first single Brianstorm. And by ‘chance,’ I mean that I heard Brianstorm for the first time on a Saturday morning, went to the record store on the day Nightmare just happened to be hitting shelves, and bought it on the merit of one single. I haven’t taken a risk like that in years, let alone one that paid off immediately. Good times. This record tapped into a part of my musical brain I’m happy has evolved. If you’re keen on reading my full review from April, clicky clicky.

03 :: SUGABABES - CHANGE
I cannot believe I never actually reviewed this album officially for the old website! Don’t get me wrong, I talked about its brilliance a shitload, but no full review on the interweb with my name underneath it. I’ve written three different reviews for the CD for various publication’s, but somehow failed to give it a proper write up on the blog. Silly really, because I love so much about it. Xenomania production’s Never Gonna Dance Again and My Love Is Pink are - as you would expect - fine examples of the sort of high-class pop these girls are famous for. But it’s moments like Denial, (their best song to date) which has revolutionary submarine (!) noises through the beginning and end, Open The Door, which is this albums Ace Reject, and Surprise (Goodbye,) a cute slice of heavenly bitch-please sass, which really cement these girls even further into the history books as one of the greatest pop acts of all time. Get the Kleenex ready for ballads such as Change, Back When, and Mended By You, which live up to the girls’ legendary run of genuinely great, powerful ballads. This, their fifth studio album, is - along with the current Sugababe roster - their most impressive to date.

04 :: PATRICK WOLF - THE MAGIC POSITION
The journey Patrick wanted to take the listeners of this album on wasn’t lost on me. The first time I listened to The Magic Position, I sat in my room, sipping a glass of cheap and sweet red wine, and allowed my mind to go on the rollercoaster of imagination that is the Patrique Position. The joy, the sadness, the pain, the worms, the explosions, the legendary guest vocalist; I consumed it all. It’s a record that opened my mind, tugged at my heart and filled me with the kind of emotion I had not summoned since whenever I watched Beaches last. It’s a record I’ll probably regret not placing higher on this list in a years time. Truly breathtaking tracks such as Overture, the incredibly joyous and chaotic The Magic Position, Bluebells, the classical Magpie, the wondrous glam-pop of Get Lost, the rush-of-Bjork-to-the-head found within The Stars, and the albums/Patrick’s finest moment Augustine, are all a fine testament to the belief that Wolf is not only a musical visionary, but an absolute genius to boot.

05 :: SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR - TRIP THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
I battled with this up until the very last hour. Did Sophie deserve Number #5, or did Kylie? It was literally a battle between the electro-pop divas and, in the end, Sophie’s gorgeous rhombus face sealed the deal. Whilst Kylie’s X is by all means fantastic, I cannot enjoy it in its original retail format. Whereas with Trip The Light Fantastic, I am titillated by the whole package - from the order of the songs, to the number of songs, to where they’re placed. I’m still shocked that Cameron Adams, Herald Sun’s pop music guru, gave this 3 stars and insinuated it was a bit generic, saying that it all sounded like Kylie Minogue offcuts. Whaaaaaaa?! The thing I’ve found with a lot of Australian media of late is that their blind passion for Kylie seems to block out the fact that, 20 years on, she still has to fight to include a song she loves and - incidentally - they don’t, onto her latest album. No biggie, but it’d be nice if these professionals opened their eyes and noticed. Soph may not be full of life-affirmingly fresh ideas, but to push this album into a label of Kylie Minogue cut-off’s is not only ridiculous, but is also an extravagantly misguided judgment. But then again, a lot of the Kylie cut-off’s have been quite brilliant right? So maybe I should just take that all back… I reviewed this back in May over on the old site if you’re interested in taking an in-depth glance into my feelings for the album.

06 :: KYLIE MINOGUE - X
I guess the previous paragraph may have actually sounded a little anti-Kylie. But the truth is I’m just sick of the Australian media not being very objective when it comes to her work. And her work I love, and have loved for years. Kylie has always played an integral part of my musical tastes. And X is one of her best albums. There is a definitive, non-retail, made-by-Adem tracklisting for X I think you should try on the old iTunes. You open the album with 2 Hearts, follow it with Speakerphone, then slip in Kylie’s Roxy Music cover of Love Is The Drug. Follow all that with In My Arms, The One, Wow, and Stars for the records four biggest tracks, throw in Magnetic Electric, Like A Drug and Rippin’ Up The Disco for a Friday-friendly rave section. Then take it down with the Janet-loving All I See, No More Rain, the gorgeous ballad version of White Diamond and stunning Cosmic. Admit that Sensitized really isn’t as bad as it was when the album first surfaced and place that right before Version 2 of Fall For You (because Version 1 is shit.) Follow that with Lose Control, Excuse My French, When The Cat’s Away, and I Don’t Know What It Is. Actual album tracks (9 of the aforementioned tracks are either b-sides, unreleased sessions or iTunes X bonus tracks not featured on the retail edition of the album) Heart Beat Rock and Spew-di-ty can be discarded without a second thought, banished from ever receiving iTunes play by being placed right into your computers trash can. Review here.

07 :: DELTA GOODREM - DELTA
I often wondered if our Delta would ever be able to top the raw intensity of her brilliant second album Mistaken Identity. And whilst it seems a myriad of people seem to disagree with me (except for the Australian record buying public, actually,) this record is not only her best work, but is also a promising and beautiful sign of what’s to come. HATERZ PLZ, the cover is amazing, I love how International Vogue it is. And if you haven’t seen her glittering Xanadu-cum-Blond Ambition Tour performance of Believe Again at this years AFI’s, you can do so here. Oh, while you’re at it, you can read my full review of this very album on the old site here.

08 :: MUSCLES - GUNS BABES LEMONADE
Unpretentious dance music for the masses. That’s what Shepparton boy Muscles is all about. The incredibly reserved Muscles (real name Chris) produced, wrote and played everything on this remarkable debut which dealt with Ice Cream, the history of Acid music, lemonade, hammocks, and people wanting to have his babies. All in a deliriously fun manner. I wrote about this album quite enthusiastically on the old site earlier this year and still feel exactly the same way about it so many months later. I also have a really dorky crush on Muscles; he’s just so gorgeous/adorable and deceivingly sexy. I would be quite happy to partake in the prologue of having his babies someday. I would also like to get to know Muscles’ love musc… (sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!)

09 :: MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS - DYSTOPIA
I am so proud of my country musically this year. In my top 20 albums of this year, 9 of them are by Australian artists. Melbourne boys Midnight Juggernauts round off the last of the Aussies found within the top 10. This album is dynamite, a celebratory exercise in what electronic music of the future will sound like, several years before its time. Old favourites like Tombstone, Shadows, Into The Galaxy, and the standout track Road To Recovery, are all proof that Australia can belt out the electro just as well - if not better - than the French. And our Juggernauts have something those French duo’s don’t; an exceptionally talented lead vocalist whose voice gives the material a classy, unique blend of electricity. Not surprisingly, you can find my review of this over on - yep - the old site.

10 :: JUSTICE - “CROSS”
A truly twisted epic and almost biblical experience. But I wasn’t expecting anything less from an album with a big giant fuck-off crucifix adorning its cover. I’ve always felt that Justice’s debut album was what Air’s Virgin Suicides Soundtrack would have sounded like were it a rave-friendly electro affair. Pay particular attention to Stress, which is the most fucked up and wonderful thing you could imagine hearing and, if listened to loudly enough, will give you your very first enjoyable headache.

11 :: ANGIE HART - GROUNDED BIRD
DOWNLOAD / Asleep, My Thief, Care.
IN A WORD / Angelic.

12 :: SILVERCHAIR - YOUNG MODERN
DOWNLOAD / Waiting All Day, If You Keep Losing Sleep.
IN A WORD / Pop.

13 :: ROGUE TRADERS - BETTER IN THE DARK :: [ REVIEW ]
DOWNLOAD / What You’re On, Throw Your Arms Around Me.
IN A WORD / Evolved.

14 :: SIOBHAN DONAGHY - GHOSTS
DOWNLOAD / Medevac, Coming Up For Air, Ghosts.
IN A WORD / Witchy.

15 :: ROISIN MURPHY - OVERPOWERED
DOWNLOAD / Let Me Know, You Know Me Better, Tell Everybody.
IN A WORD / Fierce.

16 :: YOUNG DIVAS - NEW ATTITUDE :: [ REVIEW ]
DOWNLOAD / Got To Be Real, Tell It To My Heart.
IN A WORD / Gaygaygaygaygaygay.

17 :: BRITNEY SPEARS - BLACKOUT :: [ REVIEW ]
DOWNLOAD / Toy Soldier, Demi Moore, Heaven On Earth.
IN A WORD / Floozy.

18 :: SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM - SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM
DOWNLOAD / I Love It, Goodbye, U.F.O.
IN A WORD / Spacey.

19 :: RIHANNA - GOOD GIRL GONE BAD
DOWNLOAD / Question Existing, Breaking Dishes.
IN A WORD / Brilliant.

20 :: YELLE - POP UP
DOWNLOAD / A Cause Des Garcons, Ce Jeu, Joie.
IN A WORD / International.

21 :: BLAKE LEWIS - AUDIO DAY DREAM
DOWNLOAD / 1,000 Miles, End Of The World, Surrender.
IN A WORD / A-fucking-mazing.

22 :: TORI AMOS - AMERICAN DOLL POSSE :: [ REVIEW ]
DOWNLOAD / Bouncing Off Clouds, Fat Slut, Big Wheel.
IN A WORD / Cohesive.

23 :: KLAXONS - MYTHS OF THE NEAR FUTURE
DOWNLOAD / Isle Of Her, Not Over Yet, Golden Skans.
IN A WORD / NuRave.

24 :: HILARY DUFF - DIGNITY
DOWNLOAD / Dignity, Danger, Play With Fire.
IN A WORD / Rachelstevens.

25 :: THE VERONICAS - HOOK ME UP
DOWNLOAD / Untouched, Someone Wake Me Up.
IN A WORD / Electronic.

26 :: TRACEY THORN - OUT OF THE WOODS
DOWNLOAD / Grand Candyon, Here It Comes Again.
IN A WORD / Arresting.

27 :: BOYS NOIZE - OI OI OI
DOWNLOAD / The Batter, & Down, Let’s Buy Happiness.
IN A WORD / Glitchy.

28 :: TIMBALAND - PRESENTS SHOCK VALUE
DOWNLOAD / Apologise, Give It To Me.
IN A WORD / IhatedthisoriginallybutnowIloveit.

29 :: OPERATOR PLEASE - YES YES VINDICTIVE
DOWNLOAD / Leave It Alone, 6/8, 2 For My Seconds.
IN A WORD / Vibrant.

30 :: BUMBLEBEEZ - PRINCE UMBERTO & THE SISTER OF ILL
DOWNLOAD / Crazy Tongue, Freak Your Loneliness.
IN A WORD / Freshasfuck.

31 :: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT - RELEASE THE STARS
DOWNLOAD / Between My Legs, Tiergarten.
IN A WORD / Classic.

32 :: SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO - ATTACK DECAY SUSTAIN RELEASE
DOWNLOAD / Wooden, Hustler.
IN A WORD / Techno.

33 :: HAIRSPRAY - SOUNDTRACK TO THE MOTION PICTURE
DOWNLOAD / Miss Baltimore Crabs, Good Morning Baltimore.
IN A WORD / Fun.

34 :: TEENAGE BAD GIRL - COCOTTE
DOWNLOAD / Cocotte, Fuckin’ Frog.
IN A WORD / Corking.

35 :: VHS OR BETA - BRING ON THE COMETS
DOWNLOAD / Burn It All Down, She Says.
IN A WORD / Fuckin’aye.

36 :: THE ROYAL WE - THE ROYAL WE
DOWNLOAD / All The Rage, I Hate Rock & Roll.
IN A WORD / Indiepop.

37 :: GOSSIP - STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL
DOWNLOAD / Jealous Girls, Standing In The Way Of Control.
IN A WORD / NuWaveIndie.

38 :: MARGARET BERGER - PRETTY SCARY SILVER FAIRY
DOWNLOAD / Samantha, Robot Song.
IN A WORD / Glittery.

39 :: THE LONG BLONDES - SOMEONE TO DRIVE YOU HOME
DOWNLOAD / Giddy Stratospheres, Madame Ray.
IN A WORD / Indiepopagain.

40 :: NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB - FANTASTIC PLAYROOM
DOWNLOAD / Ice Cream, Fan.
IN A WORD / Summer.

So the time has arrived, here is the complete list of my most loved songs of the year. Some are singles, some are not. Some are demo’s, some are live performances. From Number 1 right through to Number 207, these made a big impact on me in a VERY good year for music. It was a hard year to arrange tracks in chart-form, so many good releases. Please note that if I could have, the entire Top 50 would have been my Top 10. The original word document I had listing my tracks of the year contained almost 2,000 songs in total, so a lot of loved stuff didn’t make the “final cut.”

Below, you’ll find Numbers 1 to 30 with small, descriptive words of passion. The rest can be found below Number 30 in list form. I hope you enjoy reading through it as much as I did listening to the songs. Album of the year stuff coming later in the week kids…

.

01. VAN SHE - CAT & THE EYE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Weird & Wonderful.
I know that there will be no regrets down the line in relation to my choice to place this song as my track of the year. With every listen to this remarkable Van She single, I am enveloped even more into its beauty and brilliance; the deceivingly mellow introductory sounds which lead into an absolute explosion of sunbeams, crisp sound and shaken-up soda cans, it’s heavenly. The bizarre yet loveable psychedelic feel of the whole thing only adds to its charm. And don’t get me started on that killer middle 8. These talented and good looking boys have been creating the crème-de-la-crème of indie-cum-pop music since 2005, and their levels of genius only seem to have strengthened two years on. Their long (long, LONG) awaited debut album is finally seeing release in time for April 2008 (clearly it’s their birthday present for me,) and is one of the best albums you will hear in the New Year.

02. SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM - I LOVE IT [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Ineligible Entries.
Okay, so I know that this song was released in 2006. I am aware of that, which is why I didn’t place it as my Number 1. People who know me via the medium of Facebook will recall my chart dilemma about a song from last year I wanted to place at Number 1. This was that song. The track was originally released in July 2006, but it wasn’t till around October of that year I started to really appreciate it. By the time December commenced I’d already written out my songs of the year and, shortly after I’d published the choices, decided I Love It was one of the greatest Australian pop songs of all time. 12 months on, the song is the most played track in my iTunes. Those last 35 seconds… wow, musical ecstasy in the purest of forms. And in case you didn’t know, the song has now spent its 70th week in the Top 100 Australian Singles Charts, beating The Living End’s 60-something week run with that shouty first single of theirs. Not bad… And aside from the rent-a-slut dancers boffing about in the background of the video clip, it’s still one of my favourites in music history.

03. GIRLS ALOUD - SEXY! NO NO NO… [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Loud & Boisterous.
Are you surprised? The interesting thing about this song is I’d always loved it, but it wasn’t until I heard it as apart of the album Tangled Up that I realised it had become one of my truly favourite Girls Aloud Classics. It’s loud, it’s clashy, it sounds like a seriously beefy racket thrown through a tunnel of Eurogroove; and I love it.

04. KYLIE MINOGUE - IN MY ARMS
FILE UNDER: Sounds Of Summer.
As much as I love next single, Wow, I do wonder why this CORKER of a pop song is not being released as single Number 2 from X instead. A delicious slice of heavenly electro-pop pie that is going to headline the soundtrack to my summer. Best thing producer Calvin Harris has done by far, and I’m saying that as a fan of his solo stuff.

05. GIRLS ALOUD - CLOSE TO LOVE
FILE UNDER: Songs Paying Homage To Majorie Dawes At Fat Fighters.
“Dust! Dust! D-Dust!” This track has fast-overtaken my previous album favourite Can’t Speak French as the most enjoyable moment on Tangled Up. It’s all brilliant really; the verses, the chorus, especially the ‘man-get-up!-tangled-up!’ bits. But the show is STOLEN by my beloved Kimberley’s FUCKING AMAZING rap-verse. Clearly, this woman is more than just incredible lips, an incredible derrière and classic features.

06. DELTA GOODREM - BELIEVE AGAIN [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Epic Build-up’s.
This song seems to have divided a nation. Unfortunately for me, the big Delta fan, the majority of people I’m surrounded by in life seem to think the song is shit, she’s shit, and that I’m completely wrong. But I can deal with that, after all, I’m Always Right (BOOM-TISH!) This, Delta’s homage to Madonna’s Frozen, is such a pleasure to listen to. It’s a truly electric aural experience, with a supremely angelic build-up right before the final series of choruses. Goosebump-inducing stuff.

07. GIRLS ALOUD - CAN’T SPEAK FRENCH
FILE UNDER: Parisian Broadway.
Such a delightful song! I do think that - if released as a single (remember my ace video clip idea? That still needs to be implemented please) - maybe one or two of the additional choruses toward the end need to be chopped off in a radio edit fashion. Do I still think it’s the new album’s Biology? I think so, yeah…

08. ARCTIC MONKEYS - 505 [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Bewitching Love Songs.
It’s been a hard battle trying to pick which Monkeys track from Favourite Worst Nightmare I loved most. It always swapped around between this, Teddy Picker and Do Me A Favour. But I’ve finally settled (very happily) on 505, a song which conjures up a heavy amount of emotion, and whose lyrics are of definite relevance to situations or times gone by for me personally. Great song structure; from the mellow opening chords, to that final loud and overwhelming verse at the very end, this is a masterpiece.

09. MUSCLES - SWEATY [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Songs To Drink Lemonade To.
I wrote a fairly fanboy review of Muscles‘ debut album Guns Babes Lemonade ealier this year over on the old site, and my passion for this guys music has only strengthened since then. Sweaty is a cheeky, delirious hyper-rave anthem that you’ll find hard to resist. A couple of hilarious and really cute lines in the track to look out for, plus, the clip’s a bit lush too.

10. BJöRK - DECLARE INDEPENDENCE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Fucking Bonkers.
Now THIS is the Björk I know and love. An angsty, well delivered and exceptionally produced Industrial techno piece, this is the kind of stuff I love being a Björk fan for. Whilst Volta wasn’t a groundbreaking record, this track - in my eyes - certainly IS groundbreaking, and is one of her actual very best moments to date. Did any of you catch the performance of it on Jools Holland? Holy crap, one of the best things I’d seen all year.

11. MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS - ROAD TO RECOVERY [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Songs To Injest MDMA To.
Melbourne boys Midnight Juggernauts released one of the best albums of the year in Dystopia, and the albums biggest track was - by a long shot - Road To Recovery. An epic six minute affair with spikey beats, heavenly synths and a bassline ripped from another world. A true Australian dance music classic.

12. McFLY - THE HEART NEVER LIES [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Xanax Love Songs.
Whilst it may not be as dark as She Falls Asleep, this definitely falls into the category of ultra-grim McFly singles, mainly for the actual melody rather than the lyrical content. A powerful chorus and a spine-tingling finale, I am still very much enchanted by this song, sounds like the kind of thing that may have closed an episode of The O.C. were it still around. And yes, I do still think this is their best single…

13. GIRLS ALOUD - THEME TO ST. TRINIAN’S [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Shampoo.
Notice which voices stand out the most in this Girls Aloud track? For once, it’s not Nadine or Cheryl. Theme To St. Trinian’s is ALL about Kimberley, Nicola and Sarah; the weaker-voiced girls with the required naughty-girl attitude this song requires. It’s tacky, trashy, cheesy, and right up my alley. And whilst the clip is complete shit, it’s interesting to see Nadine and Cheryl (what the FUCK is with that hat she’s got on?) barely make the final cut. Another first.

14. MADONNA FT. GOGOL BORDELLO - LA ISLA BONITA [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Monumental Madonna Moments.
Madonna at Live Earth this year was - for lack of a better word - amazing. I Still feel exactly the same way about this as I did the first time I posted about it. What a performance! I’d kill for a studio version of this one, an absolute highlight of my musical year without a doubt. You can read my original comments over on the old site by clicking here.

15. PATRICK WOLF - AUGUSTINE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Stunning.
This is my favourite track from Paddy’s precious The Magic Position album. Gorgeous, staggering, touching and heartbreaking. I was slightly burnt by the fact he left it off the setlist for his infamous Melbourne gig last month (which I still haven’t reviewed, promise to get onto that.) Would have been rather special live methinks.

16. SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM - UFO [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Epic Build-up’s.
An immense song from the Sound System, that hypnotic “hello, hello, hello, helloooo…” build up is quite intoxicating and is what sold me on this song. Miss Connie has such a unique and prominent voice; her delivery - consistently flawless. One of the best video clips of the year too, FYI.

17. TIMBALAND FT. ONE REPUBLIC - APOLOGIZE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Songs From TV.
So. If I told you I only went from really liking this song a lot to completely, full-blown loving it once I’d heard it during the arse-end of an episode of Gossip Girl, would you hold it against me? This track has so many shades of light and dark through it, which I guess is why I seem to enjoy it so much. That slight falsetto in the “too late” through the chorus - it’s perfect. Pretty easy to see why this has been Number 1 on the Aussie singles chart for what feels like the majority of this year.

18. SUGABABES - DENIAL [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Aquamarine Melodies.
Can you hear the submarine? My beloved Sugababes not only produced their best album in this years Change, but also came up with one of their greatest songs too. Denial is so very splendid, with its sharp production, Goddess Amelle’s “you are like a power of nature, telepathic beautiful creature” line, and THAT explosion towards the end.

19. OPERATOR PLEASE - LEAVE IT ALONE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Uni Student Mix-Tape Songs.
No contest, out of all the brilliant singles Operator Please have already released from their killer debut album Yes Yes Vindictive, Leave It Alone has to be their finest. AND IT’S NOT EVEN A SINGLE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY OF AUSTRALIA YET. Thankfully, it’s been confirmed as the next single hitting stores in the New Year. Woohoo!

20. GIRLS ALOUD - GIRL OVERBOARD
FILE UNDER: Xenomania vs Schlager vs BWO.
This all-out, arms-in-the-air, drug-a-rific, home-o-sexual number is so incredibly cheesy and fun, full of - as New Kids On The Block would say - the right stuff, including that SLAMMING middle 8, and Kimba’s verse. Tangled Up really was all about giving Kimba some decent vocal bits, wasn’t it? About time, non?

21. ANGIE HART - ASLEEP
FILE UNDER: Angelic.
This high in bass, low in tempo number is a numbing, enthralling and incredibly engaging three minutes and forty seconds of beauty and wonder that it’s quite hard not to be whole-heartedly entranced by it when you listen to it. It was the iTunes free single of the week a few months back, but even if you have to fork out the cash it is worth every cent.

22. ROGUE TRADERS - WHAT YOU’RE ON [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Synthy Delights.
The older, wiser sister to the gracefully gorgeous In Love Again from their second album, What You’re On is album number three’s finest moment. Melodic, magnetic, and full of synths… it should be of no surprise that there’s a BIG build up in this one. Quite life-affirming watching this one being performed live.

23. SUGABABES - OPEN THE DOOR
FILE UNDER: Emotional Power-Pop.
I know that this was a lot of people’s least favourite track on Change (which baffles me when a turkey like 3 Spoons Of Suga is on offer,) but I am still addicted to it. I probably won’t be well-liked for saying I think Open The Door is this record’s Ace Reject; a lush, harmony-fuelled mid-tempo stomper that is gagging to be a single. Naturally, Amelle completely OWNS too, but Heidi’s middle 8’s pretty fabulous too, as is La Keisha chorus.

24. VAN SHE - WINE CLOUD’S WATER
FILE UNDER: Weird & Wonderful.
Bassist Matt Van Schie takes charge of the microphone for this warped indie-pop number from my favourite Sydneysiders. Very, very cute stuff with an infectiously catchy bassline and, not surprisingly, technically brilliant drumming from Australia’s best, Tomek Archer. Those scattered synths do this a world of wonder too. And to think, it’s only a demo.

25. KYLIE MINOGUE - THE ONE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Where Nobody Dares To Go.
Breathtaking stuff. From her delivery, to the production, right through to the piercing structure, this will be forever remembered as a Kylie classic, up there with Can’t Get You Out Of My Head and Turn It Into Love. Very breathy, very airy, VERY Kylie, this too needs to be a single. It’s Kylie’s very own Xanadu!

26. SUGABABES - ABOUT YOU NOW [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Emotional Power-Pop.
I do still think this is better than Kelly Clarkson’s Since You’ve Been Gone, whilst most others think it’s a poor imitation of it. Whatevs, I love it. It’s got that nice Flock Of Seaguls synth bit through it which Clarkson’s song did not have. But, really, what was the main thing the Sugababes had that Clarkson didn’t? That’d be their secret weapon named Amelle.

27. THE PRESETS - MY PEOPLE [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Chunky As Fuck.
If Franz Ferdinand did big, fuck-off, stompy electro, then My People, the new single from ace Aussie act The Presets, is probably what it would sound like. An absolute dancefloor MONSTER with a simply but entirely effective video clip. I really wouldn’t be surprised if this makes people’s lists next year when the long awaited follow up to their 2005 album Beams is unleashed. This is definitely a single that’s going to sell well into the New Year.

28. RIOT IN BELGIUM - LA MUSIQUE
FILE UNDER: Full On Rave Stompers To Chomp Class A’s To.
It’s all in French! It’s very ravey! And they’re Aussie! These guys are OFFTAP to watch live, been lucky enough to catch them a number of times this year and they’ve blown me away each time. This is one of those songs that’s not going away anytime soon. Pity there seems to be no video clip for it. WTF guys?

29. MUSCLES - ICE CREAM [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Songs To Drink Lemonade To.
Wooooh! Woooaaah! Ah Muscles, the evident fun you are having in all of your songs makes my heart skip a beat. Magical stuff, it’s so endearing to hear/see someone having THIS much fun making music. Le sigh; my crush on Muscles and his music seems to only grow larger with each listen.

30. BO PEPPER - I HAVEN’T GOT YOU ANYTHING [ YouTube ]
FILE UNDER: Festive Brilliance.
I’ve really liked Alexis Strum’s Bo Pepper project, but none of it has been quite as spectacular as this little number. Best Christmas song of the year without a doubt. “When you’re stuffing the Turkey are you thinking about me?” The world is a much better place with Alexis Strum making music in it. Check out the clip too, it’s one of my favourite vids of the year.

031. Arctic Monkeys - Do Me A Favour
032. Roisin Murphy - Let Me Know
033. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Can’t Have It All
034. Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire
035. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - China Heart
036. Margaret Berger - Will You Remember Me Tomorrow
037. Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker
038. Blake Lewis - 1000 Miles
039. Girls Aloud - Call The Shots
040. M.I.A. - Jimmy (Alternate Video Version)

041. The Veronicas - Someone Wake Me Up
042. Michelle Pfeiffer - (The Legend Of) Miss Baltimore Crabs
043. Dannii Minogue vs Jason Nevins - Touch Me Like That
044. Rogue Traders - Don’t You Wanna Feel
045. Kylie Minogue - 2 Hearts
046. Divinyls - Asphyxiated
047. McFly - Umbrella
048. Young Divas - Tell It To My Heart
049. Operator Please - Just A Song About Ping Pong
050. Girls Aloud - Control Of The Knife

051. Delta Goodrem - In This Life
052. The Royal We - All The Rage
053. Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches
054. Kylie Minogue - Speakerphone
055. Rogue Traders - Throw Your Arms Around Me
056. Delta Goodrem - You Will Only Break My Heart
057. Kylie Minogue - Wow
058. Yelle - A Cause Des Garcons
059. Spice Girls - Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)
060. Kate Nash - Mouthwash

061. Timbaland ft. Nelly Furtado & Justin - Give It To Me
062. Maroon 5 - Won’t Go Home Without You
063. The Veronicas - Hook Me Up
064. Fields - Song For The Fields
065. Reba ft. Kelly Clarkson - Because Of You
066. Delta Goodrem - Right Here In My Heart
067. Van She - Danny
068. Aly & AJ - Potential Break Up Song
069. Kylie Minogue - Stars
070. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Love Is Here

071. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
072. Regina Spektor - Fidelity
073. Britney Spears - Gimme More
074. Shakira - Pure Intuition
075. Blake Lewis - End Of The World
076. Justice - Stress
077. Operator Please - 6/8
078. The Veronicas - Untouched
079. Delta Goodrem - Brave Face
080. Muscles - One Inch Badge Pin

081. Reverend & The Makers - He Said He Loved Me
082. Verka Serduchka - Dancing Lasha Tumbai
083. Blake Lewis - Break Anotha
084. Leona Lewis - Run
085. Operator Please - Get What You Want
086. Angie Hart - My Thief
087. Blake Lewis - I Got U
088. Delta Goodrem - Possessionless
089. Kate Miller-Heidke - Words
090. Delta Goodrem - Angels In The Room

091. Tori Amos - Big Wheel
092. Divinyls - Don’t Wanna Do This
093. Roisin Murphy - You Know Me Better
094. Sugababes - Surprise (Goodbye)
095. Babyshambles - Delivery
096. Rogue Traders - Candy Coloured Lights
097. Margaret Berger - Samantha
098. Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
099. Celine Dion - Taking Chances
100. Sugababes - Change

101. Kylie Minogue - Love Is The Drug
102. The Veronicas - This Is How It Feels
103. James Blunt - Give Me Some Love
104. Bat For Lashes - What’s A Girl To Do
105. Young Divas - Got To Be Real
106. Rihanna - Umbrella
107. Britney Spears - Toy Soldier
108. Kylie Minogue - All I See
109. Sugababes - Mended By You
110. Gameboy/Gamegirl - Pumps & Rumps

111. Mark Ronson ft. Lily Allen - Oh My God
112. Angie Hart - Care
113. Girls Aloud - Crocodile Tears
114. BWO - Save My Pride
115. Silverchair - Waiting All Day
116. Siobhan Donaghy - Medevac
117. Young Divas - If I Can’t Have You
118. Arctic Monkeys - Temptation Greets You Like A Naught Friend
119. Space Cowboy - Running Away
120. Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger 2007

121. The Veronicas - I Can’t Stay Away
122. Girls Aloud - Fling
123. Britney Spears - Heaven On Earth
124. Sugababes - Never Gonna Dance Again
125. Mark Ronson ft. Daniel Merriweather - Stop Me
126. Shayne Ward - If That’s OK With You
127. K.I.M. - B.T.T.T.T.R.Y.
128. Arctic Monkeys - You Know I’m No Good
129. Kelly Rowland ft. Eve - Like This
130. Velvet - Chemistry

131. Kanye West ft. Daft Punk - Stronger
132. Groove Armada ft. Mutya Buena - Song 4 Mutya
133. Arctic Monkeys - This House Is A Circus
134. Girls Aloud - What You Crying For
135. Rogue Traders - I Never Liked You
136. Garbage - Tell Me Where It Hurts
137. Rihanna - Don’t Stop The Music
138. La Rocca - Non Believer
139. Sugababes - My Love Is Pink
140. Dragonette - Take It Like A Man

141. Tori Amos - Bouncing Off Clouds
142. Kylie Minogue - In My Arms
143. Rihanna - Question Existing
144. The Veronicas - Take Me On The Floor
145. Rufus Wainwright - Going To A Town
146. Alphabeat - Fascination
147. Muscles - The Lake
148. Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
149. Justice - The Party
150. Bag Raiders - Fun Punch

151. Rihanna - Breakin’ Dishes
152. Simian Mobile Disco - Wooden
153. Beyonce - Irreplaceable
154. Verka Serduchka - Dancing Lasha Tumbai
155. Arctic Monkeys - Balaclava
156. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - If You Go
157. Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The Eighties
158. Sophie Ellis Bextor - Catch You
159. Brian McFadden - Alice In Wonderland
160. Fergie - Barracuda

161. Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
162. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Only One
163. Bloc Party - Flux
164. Justice - Let There Be Light
165. Arctic Monkeys - Diamonds Are Forever
166. Dragonette - I Get Around
167. Rogue Traders - Better In The Dark
168. The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend
169. Silverchair - Straight Lines
170. Kate Ceberano - Go Your Own Way

171. Operator Please - Two For My Seconds
172. Arctic Monkeys - D Is For Dangerous
173. Joss Stone - Arms Of My Baby
174. go:audio - Made Up Stories
175. Madonna ft. Pharrell - The Beat Goes On
176. Rihanna - Push Up On Me
177. Siobhan Donaghy - Coming Up For Air
178. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
179. Hilary Duff - Dignity
180. Vanessa Hudgens - Baby Come Back To Me

181. Hellogoodbye - Here (In Your Arms)
182. Rihanna ft. Ne-Yo - Hate That I Love You
183. Tracey Thorne - Grand Canyon
184. Patrick Wolf - Bluebells
185. Silverchair - Reflections Of A Sound
186. Sad Kermit - Rainbow Disconnection
187. Tracey Thorn - It’s All True
188. Hilary Duff - Danger
189. Bo Pepper - Good Cop Bad Cop
190. Siobhan Donaghy - Don’t Give It Up

191. Fall Out Boy - This Aint A Scene Et Cetera
192. Dragonette - True Believer
193. Silverchair - Young Modern Station
194. Patrick Wolf ft. Marianne Faithfull - Magpie
195. Mutya Buena - Real Girl
196. Silverchair - If You Keep Losing Sleep
197. Hilary Duff - Between You & Me
198. Siobhan Donaghy - Ghosts
199. Kelly Clarkson - One Minute
200. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend

201. Bo Pepper - Love Or Die!
202. Klaxons - Isle Of Her
203. Siobhan Donaghy - 12 Bar Acid Blues
204. Amerie - Gotta Work
205. Mika - Relax (Take It Easy)
206. Coburn - Give Me Love
207. Amy Winehouse - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

So tomorrow I’m posting the Top 207 Songs of 2007 according to moi. First 30 tracks have semi-detailed blurby bits, whilst Numbers 31 - 207 are in list format. Until then, I thought it’d be good to kick the 2007 Countdown Season off with my Top 10 Music Videos of the year…

01 :: OPERATOR PLEASE - LEAVE IT ALONE

02 :: THE PRESETS - MY PEOPLE

03 :: ROISIN MURPHY - LET ME KNOW

04 :: FEIST - 1 2 3 4

05 :: FERGIE - CLUMSY

06 :: ROBYN & KLEERUP - WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT

07 :: MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS - ROAD TO RECOVERY

08 :: DANNII MINOGUE vs JASON NEVINS - TOUCH ME LIKE THAT

09 :: BO PEPPER - I HAVEN’T GOT YOU ANYTHING (FOR CHRISTMAS)

10 :: ROISIN MURPHY - OVERPOWERED