80:

Crystalline by The Midnight

I think Nocturnal might be my least fave Midnight record now. It’s funny how your taste changes, even in such a short space of time. I used to looooove this track, now I’m not even sure it’d make my top 10 for them. Don’t get me wrong, I still like it. It’s a great synth track and fits perfectly into the Nocturnal collection.

79:

When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars

I don’t listen to this album anywhere near as much as I should, but apparently I listened to When I was Your Man enough to make the chart. It’s one of his best songs in my opinion and very Elton John, which is a huge plus. I’m surprised others from the album weren’t on the list to be honest. I listened to a few others from it as much as this I thought. I guess I was mistaken!

78:

Back To You by Timecop1983 / The Bad Dreamers

Finally acquired a copy of the Night Drive record last year which is nice. They did a repress with some fancy shmancy coloured vinyl so I picked a copy up. Took time off work to make sure I was ready at the release time so that I definitely got a copy since, as usual, they were a very limited run. I need Reflections now! I drive all night but still the truth is none of these streets lead back to you.

77:

I Need My Girl by The National

This song has been around for like 7 years now, but for some reason, I got really into it in 2020. It’s a great tune. I like the simplicity of it. I think I got into The National at the same time I got into SYML. This is taken from the album Trouble Will Find Me which I highly recommend picking up at some point. Great album from start to finish.

76:

Arcade Dreams by The Midnight

Taken from the brilliant Kids record, this has always been a fave track of theirs for me. I love the whole album, the feelings of youth it invokes, the nostalgia, the pure brilliant synth work. Arcade Dreams always gives me a Saturday Morning vibe. A lay in, get up and play games, eat crap and watch TV. Fun times.

75:

New Sensation by INXS

They don’t make them like this anymore. I miss Michael Hutchence. He was so fucking good. A great voice and a truly gifted song writer. It’s not the only time we’ll here from them in this list I don’t think. New Sensation is from one of my all time fave albums, Kick, which I also managed to pick up on vinyl last year. A jewel in the collection.

74:

Your Love (Lift Us Up) by Panama

This took me a while to find a video for as it turns out I’ve been listening to an alternative version of this song. The original is far more up-tempo and dancey. After having heard the original, I vastly prefer this version. I think it works better on every level! Last year I had quite a few Panama songs on the list, but I THINK that this year this is the only one. A shame.

73:

Hook by Blues Traveler

From 1994, obviously, all the best songs are from 1994, Hook was a pretty huge fucking hit for Blues Traveller in the US. The song had little to no impact in the UK however, and my knowledge of it only came from seeing it on TV one time. Given what the song is about, I’ve often wondered if they were upset that it did so well. In case you haven’t heard it and don’t plan on listening to it properly, the song is essentially a satire about hit pop songs. Unlucky! It does have some very good lyrics to be fair, with the opening verse serving as a very nice deconstruction of pop. It doesn’t matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection. It makes you feel I’ll convey some inner truth or vast reflection. But I’ve said nothing so far, and I can keep it up for as long as it takes. AND it doesn’t matter who you are, if I’m doing my job then it’s your resolve that breaks. Jesus. Sounds like my usual blog posts.

72:

Flash by Queen

Flash! A H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H!

71:

I Did Something Weird Last Night by Jeff Rosenstock

An album I saw James Acaster banging on about! The title of his book, Perfect Sound Whatever, is lifted from the last track on the album that this song appears on. To be fair, it’s an incredible album and this song is by far my fave track from it. It’s just so… wonderful. The whole album is and I’m glad I took the plunge and got the vinyl straight away. It’s a brilliant ride from start to finish. Educate yourself!