50. "Bed of Nails" by Leon Jean Marie Mark Ronson produced this track, which sounds like a Stevie Wonder contribution to the White Album.
[Watch the video]
49. "Boobar Come Back To Me" by Tindersticks Stuart Staples uses his quivering baritone to moving effect in this epic ballad about loss.
48. "Soul On Fire" by Spiritualized
Jason Pierce opens a vein for the world to see.
[Watch the video]
47. "Discolights" by Darren Styles vs. Ultrabeat A straightforward rave-up done to perfection.
[Watch the video]
46. "Young Love" by Mystery Jets
A charming song about missed connections. Get on Craigslist, you twits!
[Watch the video]
45. "Cassius" by Foals A sharp and smart dance-rocker from a few brainiacs from Oxford.
[Watch the video]
44. "Mountains" by Biffy Clyro The Scottish band's coming-out moment.
[Watch the video]
43. "Put a Donk On It" by Blackout Crew The party song of 2008.
[Watch the video]
42. "Chasing Pavements" by Adele
The only evidence that she could possibly be heiress to Winehouse's throne. Should have been a bigger hit here; maybe her Grammy nods will give it a second chance.
[Watch the video]
41. "Space and the Woods" by Late of the Pier This fuzzed-out indie rock morsel received a nice second wind after its initial release in 2007.
[Watch the video]
40. "Strength in Numbers" by The Music Between the Kaiser Chiefs, Hadouken!, and these fine lads, Leeds is back on Britain's musical map.
[Watch the video]
39. "You & Me" by One Night Only The "Transylvania" of 2008.
[Watch the video]
38. "Can't Speak French" by Girls Aloud The kind of song Girls Aloud can do in their sleep. Just try to get the hook out of your mind.
[Watch the video]
37. "Get Over It" by Guillemots Lead singer Fyfe Dangerfield sings "In another life I'd be drenched in sweat with you." Someone pass me the smelling salts.
[Watch the video]
36. "Waving Flags" by British Sea Power An almost Himalayan-sized rock anthem. I just wish it ended a little better.
[Watch the video]
35. "If She Knew" by Lemar Britain's leading crooner returns and shows the Shayne Wards of the world how it's done.
[Watch the video]
34. "Kidulthood To Adulthood" by Bashy Who knew socially conscious (yet edgy) rap like this still existed?
[Watch the video]
33. "Great DJ" by The Ting Tings They were just getting warmed up for "That's Not My Name."
[Watch the video]
32. "Ouch" by Ndubz Like The War of the Roses, but hip-hop. Totally awesome.
[Watch the video]
31. "One Day Like This" by Elbow Far more elegiac than anything on Viva La Vida.
[Watch the video]
30. "Geraldine" by Glasvegas The best Jesus and the Mary Chain song since Psychocandy.
[Watch the video]
29. "Never Miss a Beat" by Kaiser Chiefs
The Chiefs do their typical warmed-over garage pop but with far more wit than usual.
[Watch the video]
28. "Come On Girl" by Taio Cruz
Like his U.S. soul-music counterpart, Ne-Yo, Taio Cruz also found inspiration in '80s pop. A great track, featuring a sexy guest spot from Luciana.
[Watch the video]
27. "I'm Outta Time" by Oasis
Oasis do what they do best - rip off the Beatles. Still, this is their best tune since What's the Story, Morning Glory?
[Watch the video]
26. "My Mistakes Were Made For You" by The Last Shadow Puppets
Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner, alongside pal Miles Kane, finds his pop star footing.
[Watch the video]
25. "Diamond Hoo Ha Man" by Supergrass
Like a White Stripes song but not annoying. And it rocks so much harder.
[Watch the video]
24. "Machine Gun" by Portishead
M.I.A. used a real gun in "Paper Planes"; Beth Gibbons creates a similar effect with drum machines. Hypnotic.
[Watch the video]
23. "Pumpkin Soup" by Kate Nash
That horn sample! That hook: "I just want your kiss, boy. I just want your kiss." Almost makes me forgive her for the self-indulgence of "Foundations."
[Watch the video]
22. "Daddy's Gone" by Glasvegas
The sincerity of the lyrics, spoken from a son to his long-lost dad, draws you in: "Right now, Im too young to know
how in the future it will affect me when you go. You could have had it all; you, me, and Mum, y'know, anything was possible."
[Watch the video]
21. "Spiralling" by Keane
The sensitive boys trade in their piano for '80s electrofunk. They pull it off impressively.
[Watch the video]
20. "The Promise" by Girls Aloud
The girls trade in their 21st century sensibility for a sexy '60s throwback. They pull it off impeccably.
[Watch the video]
19. "Lonely Buoy" by Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
Singer Joe Lean has a gift for making us see what he's singing: "I need to watch the sparks made by the trains as they rattle on the deadbeat tracks." A band to watch.
[Watch the video]
18. "One Pure Thought" by Hot Chip
An almost tribal dance song from a band that can do no wrong.
[Watch the video]
17. "The Quest" by Bryn Christopher
Apparently, Grey's Anatomy only turns really crappy songs (i.e. "Chasing Cars") into big hits. This gospel-tinged R&B track was featured on the hospital drama's season finale, but the exposure didn't translate into radio airplay. America's loss. Bryn Christopher's one of soul's freshest voices.
[Watch the video]
16. "Dance Wiv Me" by Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris
Between this and last year's "Flex," Mr. Rascal is really laying his claim on the dancefloor. The first Dizzee song I could see becoming an American hit.
[Watch the video]
15. "The Beginning of the Twist" by The Futureheads
This raucous tune more than makes up for their hideous, blasphemous cover of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love."
[Watch the video]
14. "Stuck On Repeat" by Little Boots
Believe the hype.
[Watch the video]
13. "Wearing My Rolex" by Wiley
"Sometimes I drink, sometimes I dance, sometimes I bubble." An instant dance classic we'll be hearing for years, if not decades, to come.
[Watch the video]
12. "Paris" by Friendly Fires
Pure sonic uplift.
[Watch the video]
11. "Changes" by Will Young
The most talented Pop Idol/X Factor champion (eat it, Leona Lewis) comes of age with this Simply Red-influenced slow jam.
[Watch the video]
[Listen on Last.fm]
10. "Love Is Noise" by The Verve
Richard Ashcroft and the boys are back, and they aren't content to repeat past successes. The spooky looped sample that runs throughout the song is particularly inspired.
[Watch the video]
9. "The Journey Continues" by Mark Brown ft. Sarah Cracknell
In this breezy dance tune, the Saint Etienne frontwoman effortlessly accomplishes what Madonna has been straining to do for years.
[Watch the video]
8. "That's Not My Name" by The Ting Tings
Raps and handclaps and lots of women's names being called out - the essence of modern-day pop music.
[Watch the video]
7. "Sun Goes Down" by David Jordan
This is utterly bizarre and marvelous - like a pirate song re-interpreted by Terence Trent D'Arby. Why this crazy R&B genius isn't the biggest star in the world right now, I will never understand.
[Watch the video]
6. "Standing Next To Me" by The Last Shadow Puppets
Miles Kane channels Scott Walker as if it were as easy as putting on a suit. At little over two minutes, waaaay too short.
[Watch the video]
5. "Unbreakable Heart" by Sugababes
The best girl group ballad in years and the best Sugababes tune since "Push the Button."
[Watch the video]
[Listen at Last.fm]
4. "Ready for the Floor" by Hot Chip
Was brilliant when I first heard it a year ago. Remains brilliant now.
[Watch the video]
It's like they went back to the pastoral sounds of Felt Mountain having learned the pop music lessons of Black Cherry and Supernature. Alison Goldfrapp's vocals are gripping.
2. "American Boy" by Estelle ft. Kanye West
Estelle leaves Adele/Duffy in her dust with this loungey, laidback summer tune. Even Kanye West's basically nonsensical rapping becomes charming here.
1. "Grounds For Divorce" by Elbow
Superb. The song blends Delta blues, pub rock call-and-response, and metal guitar into a coherent pop song. It also conveys so many seemingly conflicting things at once: drunken camraderie, belligerence, and sadness ("There's a hole in my neighborhood down which of late I cannot help but fall" is a particularly poignant lyric.) When I listen to it, I'm astonished Elbow pulled it off. Thank the music gods this band has finally gotten the respect they deserve.
[Watch the video]
Loved the 'My Family' Christmas show, nice to see a family more crazy than mine. Hang in there Nick!
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This is a great list! Particularly excellent #1 choice.