Listen to these songs right now.

Another top 10 of my current favourites is gonna ensue. Readers, feel priveleged- I'm sharing some of my best kept secrets and I hate everybody knowing about my obscure bands. So here we go; the 10 I can't stop playing right now.



10. Tegan & Sara- I Know I Know I Know

I actually love T&S, although until recently the only song I really knew was Nineteen (which is fucking amazing, go away, find it and download it.) But then this song randomly appeared on my iTunes shuffle and I've had it practically on repeat since. The lyrics describe the difficulties of a long term relationship and the voice of one of the girls (I forget which one) is so desperate and poignant as she sings 'Tell me this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all..' If you love alternative Canadian duos who are related, you'll have hit the jackpot!

9. The Reindeer Section- I'll Be Here When You Wake

The Reindeer Section are one of those adorable ensemble groups, consisting of various members of different bands. The brains behind this one is the guy from Snow Patrol, who decided to round up after a drunken night out. Well, if this beautiful soft-folky song is the result then he can make as many drunken pacts as he likes! I love this song- I love the soft, dreamy vocals, the cute and slightly vague lyrics and the incessantly catchy flute hook. It makes me want to hug the nearest person.

8. Hot Chip- Ready For The Floor

I used to loathe this song with a vehement passion because it was my alarm signal, and can you imagine anything more annoying than being woken up by 'Do It Do It Do It Do I Do It Do It Do It Now' being sung over and over? No. But eventually I grew to love this quirky piece of electro-alternative pop and the band's hairy lead singer after a spot on NMTB. And it SO gets you in the mood for a party- try dancing around your bedroom, hairbrush in one hand and glass of wine in the other. Works a treat!

7. Dresden Dolls- Night Reconnaisance

The Dresden Dolls are firm favourites of mine because they're unlike anything else I've ever heard, branding themselves 'Brechitan Punk Cabaret'. And this song certainly doesn't disappoint. It's a story of being a high school misfit, detailing the cliques to an energetic piano riff and Palmer's volatile vocals, and then describing the outcast's acts of vengeance, stealing gnomes from the lawns of their enemies. It's so quirky, and yet so loveable. I searched high and low for the hilarious video on YouTube, but they've removed it because of 'copyright issues'. Wankers.

6. Oasis- The Importance of Being Idle

Undoubtedly my favourite Oasis track ever. I've never heard sloth be described so articulately and insightfully. Now I was never a fan of the band, to be honest- and it angered me when people made comparisons with the Beatles. But in this song, I can see where they're coming from. It's such an intelligent and well structured track, and the Gallagher vocals are as strong as ever before- he's almost wailing, but he's making it a good thing. And the video is absolutely fucking killer- what a homage to the Kinks.

5. The Beatles- Eleanor Rigby

This is definately my favourite song by The Beatles, and coincidentally it's my most played on iTunes (75 times, if you're interested). It's so chilling to me- I love songs that tell a story, and this is primarily a well crafted tale of loneliness in a man and a woman, simply featuring amazing vocals and a legendary string arrangement. I could listen to it for hours at a time because it's so beautiful to me and the lyrics are so amazing. It makes you understand Beatlemania that bit better because, churning out songs like this, they deserved to be worshipped that way. Oh, and skip to like, 30 seconds in- that annoying intro is not The Beatles fault!

4. Belle & Sebastian- Piazza, New York Catcher

Belle and Sebastian are in my top three favourite bands, and this is my all time favourite track by them. It manages to be happy and sad, light and dark at once. It's so simple and so pretty, with such cute lyrics with so many double, triple, quadruple meanings. Stuart Murdoch is so fucking intelligent with his words and I absolutely love his voice, which is in a heavenly place between whispering and whining.

3. Lady GaGa- Love Game

I must say that, after hearing Lady GaGa's album, the fame, I know for sure that pop/electro crossover artists everywhere will be quaking in their boots. She's young, she's hot and she's definately smart. She makes credible, fresh dance tracks with an electro vibe laced through them, complete with sexually ambiguous lyrics and tight leather outfits. And Love Game is the one I keep coming back to, although I recommend Boys Boys Boys strongly, as well. Pave the way for GaGa mania!

2. Smash Mouth- All Star

It's so uncool to admit this, but I first heard this song on the opening credits of Shrek! Don't let this put you off. It's biting anf cynical with amazing uses of irony and guitars. They're the perfect pop band: amazing, good quality tunes with a feel good factor and catchy hook, minus the formation dance routines and matching outfits. Smash Mouth: The most underrated band ever. How come Westlife made it big and they didn't?

1. Third Eye Blind- Semi Charmed Life

Again, it's majorly uncool to admit it, but I heard this song on an episode of Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Expecting a light-rock./power pop fare involving lyrics about loving your baby, I was surprised and extremely amused to discover that underneath the relentlessly cheery melody and 'do do do do's' are dark and cynical lyrics about the ups and downs of crystal meth addiction. The contrast between the content and the first impressions are so amazing that it had to be number one!