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Top 10 Songs of 2014 – #1: “Got It” by Banoffee

12 Dec

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I’ll be honest, choosing the best song this year was not hard for me. This was the first track I had ever heard from Banoffee, and it made a great first impression. “Got It” is our number one song of 2014.

It starts out with a realization: “I don’t think I know you at all.” Gently, the beat weaves between Banoffee’s airy, but fierce vocals, and carries into the refrain. “When I look at you I see this picture of how we could be, cuz I know what you got. I got it.” It is repetitive, but avoids being overbearing and annoying- this is one earworm I am happy to hum all day.

There are two elements of this track that stood out when I listened to it on repeat for hours. First, I noticed the brilliance of the artificially deep backing vocals. I haven’t heard a version without the altered backup vocals, but I imagine that it would sound sweet, yet untethered. Then there’s the soft electric sighs that sound like air. I know it’s probably just some kind of muted percussion, but if anyone were to actually use air as an instrument and make it flow as well as it does, it would be Banoffee. Homegirl’s a genius.

Please spend five measly dollars on Banoffee’s debut EP, all the cool kids are doing it. I’m told there’s an album in the works slated for release late next year. For more information, check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud.

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Top 10 Songs of 2014 – #2: “Mess is Mine” by Vance Joy

10 Dec

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Vance Joy (James Keogh) is not afraid of messes. A veteran of the Victorian Football League (before he left behind is football career to pursue music), Vance Joy, I’m sure, experienced many messy situations on the field. Heck, the mess might have been his, but the #2 song of 2014 is tinged with a bit of irony, because there is nothing messy about “Mess is Mine,” and there lies the draw of Vance Joy’s delightful tunes.

Since the release of “Riptide” in 2013, Vance Joy has taken the singer-songwriter genre by the storm; he has even received a good amount of mainstream radio play from the song, which peaked in the Top 10 on music charts in five countries. That was 2013, though, and this is a 2014 list. Vance Joy did release his first studio LP Dream Your Life Away in July, however, and with the album came the single “Mess is Mine.”

What makes this song good? The opening riff is inviting like a warm home or cup of hot cacao. Vance Joy’s conversational vocal turns him into a polish troubadour, and he sings with an effortless quality that is refreshing. The percussion varies from what sounds like a muted snare hit to organized hand claps, much in the vein of a less produced Phillip Phillips song. An old man river lead-in culminates into an ardent chorus followed by an agglutination of instruments and a Ritter-like howl. The song combines so many influences into a sprawling piece of vocal and instrumental beauty; it is pastoral in its simplicity, and the string-laden bridge is wonderful. Excellent song from a tremendous new artist – expect a whole lot more from Vance Joy.

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Top 10 Songs of 2014 – #3: “Take Me To Church” by Hozier

9 Dec

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I’m going to go out on a limb and proclaim that Hozier had the best year of any Irish musician. That’s not a big limb to go out on though because Hozier has transcended the realms of internet popularity and has entered into the homes of a diverse range of music lovers. His sweet croon, lugubrious lyric, and rough-around-the-edges tint creates an aura of pious music with a hint of melancholy and malevolence. In that, Hozier creates an almost mystical persona that is all the more attractive to his listeners.

Hozier released debut EP Take Me To Church with the eponymous title track in tow back in 2013, but, like one other song on the countdown, I am taking into account when the song jumped in popularity, and that was during 2014. Since then, Hozier has performed on Saturday Night Live and is currently on an international tour with a slew of sold-out dates. The song and its singer have taken off into the stratosphere of music, and Hozier is well deserving of the accolades he has received.

Usually I avoid songs with 40 million YouTube views, but Hozier’s piece “Take Me To Church” is popular for good reason. His sultry vocal carries over drawn-out keys like a dirge. The song carries a dark overtone; Hozier knows the song is downcast and he is proud of it. This leads to Hozier’s unmistakeable chants of “amen,” which is untraditional in a pop song, but carries with sardonicism that is refreshing. It is almost anthemic in its darkness, and that is impressive. Excellent song that is a great #3 on the list!

Check out Hozier’s Website, Facebook, and Twitter

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Top 10 Songs of 2014 – #4: “On My Mind” by Tom Misch

8 Dec

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Precocious beat-maker Tom Misch has released a lot of music over the course of his career. Glancing at his Soundcloud page, you’d think he’s been at this for years. He probably has been at this for awhile behind the scenes, but only recently has he created music with lyrics. Why he hid his voice for so long is a mystery, but now that I’ve heard his sultry croon, I’m hooked. Misch’s “On My Mind” is our #4 best song of this year.

Tom Misch is first and foremost a J Dilla inspired producer. He honed his craft, which you can hear listening to the deep cuts from two years ago, and then made an effortless transition to songwriter and singer. “On My Mind” is the perfect merge of these two personas- the record sample is a work of art, but his voice makes me swoon. You’re on my mind, too, Tom.

Recently, Misch has teamed up with Carmody on a new EP, Out to Sea. Carmody is also a singer-songwriter, whose first major endeavor seems to be this release. Like solo Misch tracks, this EP focuses on soothing beats and gorgeous combined harmonies. Carmody balances out Misch’s natural depth, and gives another layer of the music to savor.

Out to Sea is out now. Find more information on Tom Misch’s website, Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp.

Top 10 Songs of 2014 – #5: “High” by Young Rising Sons

7 Dec

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Back on July 19 I wrote about Young Rising Sons in advance of its debut EP which dropped a few days after (July 22) and met with success. The Red Bank, New Jersey natives had a breakthrough 2014, and “High,” the band’s first single, is the crowning achievement for a year that featured several television appearances and an ongoing U.S. tour with The 1975.

When I wrote about the band back in July, I had this to say about “High,”the #5 song on our top 10 countdown:

“High,” which you may have heard before (it’s been making its rounds), begins with a sweet whistle followed by lead vocalist Andy Tongren’s effortless vocal. What makes this song? Did you get to the Mika-like chorus yet? Tongren’s falsetto is sweet and uplifting. The whistle is a bit Noah and the Whale-esque. The song is just a testament to the band’s efficacy. I can’t stop listening to it.

While that does sum it up, I will add a bit more laudatory comments to the band’s praise repertoire. Look, the song is clearly catchy. It’s actually more than catchy; it’s downright impossible to get out of your head. Seriously. It has been stuck in my head since July. But, aside from this inherent catchiness, it is also a masterful piece of pop. Young Rising Sons combines all necessary components for an effective pop tune. First, it is short, a sub-3 minute ditty that says what it has to say and then ends so the listener can immediately press repeat. Secondly, it features an upbeat, sing-a-long vocal that quite literally makes the listener sing (or hum). Most importantly, though, the song has an infectious hook. And, come on, it features a great whistle as well. It’s just a perfectly constructed song and well deserving of #5 on our countdown.

Check out the band’s website, Facebook, and Twitter.

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