Scottie's Singles Of 2009

After spending the year sorting through boxes of releases from Australian Idol losers, electro pop tarts and the truly horrible Grafton Primary, Rip It Up’s editor Scott McLennan has compiled his top 30 singles of 2009. Check next week’s issue of Rip It Up for the top 20 singles, but for now here are the 10 singles that didn’t quite make it into the list.

21. CHILDREN COLLIDE
FAREWELL ROCKETSHIP
(UMA)
Aussie trio Children Collide snorted some magic Bowie moondust, went off with the Pixies and made an out-of-this-world trip a reality.

22. THE JEZABELS
THE MAN IS DEAD
(MGM)
The Jezabels’ Hayley Mary’s vocals swept from soft burr to mesmerising banshee wails with the majestic and marvellous arcs of Falkor the luck dragon.

23. TAYLOR SWIFT
FIFTEEN
(UMA)
For anyone who still believed in happy endings, Taylor Swift’s songs were a refuge from a reality that doesn’t always match teen dreams.

24. LA ROUX
IN FOR THE KILL
(UMA)
From the Back To The Future nod of the sleeve design through to the electro jabs flashing back to early Depeche Mode, this was a killer ‘80s throwback.

25. BERTIE BLACKMAN
HEART
(FORUM5)
Like PJ Harvey and Kate Bush’s most popular works, Heart found Bertie’s bleak subtexts wrapped in accessible production, thus delivering darkness by stealth.

26. LITTLE BOOTS
NEW IN TOWN
(WARNER)
A breezier alternative to La Roux’s chill, debut single New In Town was a fresh and fun single featuring Little Boots’ beloved Tenori-on synth pad and a whole heap of pop class. All hail Queen Victoria.

27. FLORENCE & THE MACHINE
KISS WITH A FIST
(UMA)
A flippant indie take on masochism, whacky British ranga Florence Welch’s hit packed more battery than an Energizer jingle. Ginger nutso.

28. RISE AGAINST
HERO OF WAR
(UMA)
Like Born In The USA riddled with contemporary despair, Hero Of War was absolutely spine-tingling stuff that you could imagine even Bruce Springsteen would be proud to cover.

29. MUSE
UNDISCLOSED DESIRES
(WARNER)
Undisclosed Desires indicated conspiracy monkey Matt Bellamy had been poring over Depeche Mode’s back catalogue as well as his harebrained literature about the world being run by underground lizard men.

30. LADYHAWKE
MAGIC
(UMA/MODULAR)
Although it was indebted to the back catalogue of Depeche Mode, Magic remained a gripping opening track from Ladyhawke’s self-titled ARIA snaring debut. Spellbinding.

Too many girls? Not enough Pitchfork-approved indie? Tell us your own thoughts on what singles deserve their place in the sun!

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