[R & B] Frank Ocean - Wise Man

And we're back to new releases, hope everyone had a good Christmas! Anyways here's a new one from Frank Ocean who recently leaked this track after director Quentin Tarantino was unable to feature the poetic ballad on his brand new film Django Unchained. Quentin explained that it wasn't the quality of the song that was the problem, it was the fact that he didn't have a scene in the movie that would do the song justice.  

Frank Ocean - Wise Man

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[Flashback] Best 20 Songs of 2012: #1 - 5

So we finally reach the top 5 songs of the year and may I just say that all 5 artists are well deserving of their spots. Finishing at #5 is one of, if not the catchiest songs of the year for myself and a lot of fellow Australians. "Cherry Lips" from Loon Lake's Thirty Three EP delivered an incredible foot stomping anthem to bring them right to the foreshore of Australian music talent. No doubt this one will feature in the top 10 of the Hottest 100 on Australia Day.

#5: Loon Lake - Cherry Lips

Probably my most anticipated album of the year, TDCC's Beacon promised so much from their lead single "Sleep Alone" sitting at #4. I'll be honest here and say that Beacon in comparison to Tourist History it definitely was not as good, but then again, they set the bar extremely high to begin with. No matter this was definitely my favorite from the album and was most reminiscent of their older work which I have loved for so long.

#4: Two Door Cinema Club - Sleep Alone

One of the more somber songs on the list but Colorado's The Lumineers' "Ho Hey" was a song that touched my very heart. I'll admit it, I'm a softy for a good ol' love song and this exactly what it is. Coming from their self-titled debut album this year, "Ho Hey" is the kind of song that will either make you cry or sing along with in joy. Funny that it should stand at #3 when this is the same position it finished on Billboard's Hot 100.

#3: The Lumineers - Ho Hey

About 3 months ago I discovered Chvrches after they were making so much noise within the Blogosphere. At #2 "The Mother We Share" was an absolute monster of a track and I literally fell in love with it within the first 10 seconds. Lauren Mayberry (the lead vocalist) has an extraordinary voice and the production was so crisp and clean. So much potential and here's hoping they live up to it in 2013 and beyond.

#2: Chvrches - The Mother We Share

So here we are at #1 and in all honesty, this was a clear winner in my books. The Neighbourhood's "Sweater Weather" was the greatest song to grace my ears in 2012. A mix between indie rock and R&B - esque rhymes made this track so much fun to sing along to. Originally it was released as a single by itself later on forming part of the I'm Sorry EP and the band has been riding the wave of success ever since. HUGE things to come in 2013.

#1: The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather

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[Flashback] Best 20 Songs of 2012: #6 - 10

Quite the productive year for The xx with the release of their second studio album Coexist. "Angels" was by far the standout track for me and sits comfortably at #10. Didn't think it was possible to pack so much raw emotion into one song. The haunting atmospherics, the ghostly guitar lines and Romy's heartfelt vocals result in the making of absolute masterpiece. Their live studio performance in Tokyo is something to be seen to be believed.

#10: The xx - Angels

Well it wouldn't be a Top 20 without San Cisco and with the release of their self titled debut album this year. Coming in at #9 "Fred Astaire" was one of my favourites off the album and trust me when I say that choosing just one San Cisco song to feature in this list was terribly difficult. Perth based (just like myself) the indie pop quartet finally had they're breakthrough year with Jordi and Scarlett leading the lines with their amazing vocals and general talent.

#9: San Cisco - Fred Astaire

Maybe not a well known group to you all, but this was certainly one of my favorite releases of the year by Tanlines. Mixed Emotions was their debut full length album released earlier this year and "All of Me" was just this funky catchy song that I fell in love with. The Brooklyn duo are the ultimate craftsmen when it comes to producing
electro-pop goodness and in my eyes this song deservedly gets placed as #8 of 2012.

#8: Tanlines - All Of Me

It wouldn't be a top 20 without featuring Passion Pit's latest work. Gossamer being the second studio album and a highly anticipated one I might add, delivered the goods yet again. Again, lot's of great things came from this album and I did enjoy the band's more somber moments, but it was "Carried Away"at #7 that was most reminiscent of the good ol' fun electro - pop for which I had fallen in love with in the first place.

#7: Passion Pit - Carried Away

More Aussie talent to talk about! The Jungle Giants released their second EP earlier this year and not only has it taken Australia by storm but I can clearly tell they're making an impression all around the globe. "She's A Riot" the lead single from the She's A Riot EP is a shoe in to make the Triple J top 10 this year and with the band's perfect pop sensibility there's no reason that these guys can't be as successful as some of the big game players of today.

#6: The Jungle Giants - She's A Riot

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