It's a welcome challenge to look back on the previous year's music and narrow down my favourite tracks - this year I've opted for an economical ten song selection. Which means that the likes of rising stars Allman Brown and Sophie Jamieson miss out (with their collab, 'Fields Of England'), as do much larger acts such as Purity Ring, whose 'Push Pull' was an excellent return late in the year. Find out who did make the cut below.
10) DJ Earworm - 'United State Of Pop 2014 (Do What You Wanna Do)'
DJ Earworm dropped his annual mash-up of the biggest tracks of the year, and it was arguably his best yet. Featuring everything from BASTILLE's 'Pompeii' to 'Let It Go' from 'Frozen', the upbeat track often bettered its constituent elements - resulting in one of the year's biggest bangers.
9) Youth Warrant - 'Strange Paradise'
Probably the most unheralded act on this list, but 'Strange Paradise' regularly raised spirits since appearing in my inbox in the first quarter of 2014. A driving, alt-rock anthem which we hope to see replicated by the Baltimore duo in 2015.
8) Wolf Gang - 'Ghost In My Life'
Wolf Gang dropped this track in July as the first taster of their second album, and I was immediately interested. Quite possibly the best use of brass in 2014.
7) boxboxbox - 'I Get Wet'
I don't think I could ever have imagined the legendary Andrew WK tweeting a link to something that I'd written on this very site. But he did, when he pointed people to the boxboxbox glorious electro cover of WK's 'I Get Wet'.
6) Jess Glynne - 'Home'
Making her name on hit singles with Route 94 and Clean Bandit, but I might argue that Jess Glynne's debut solo single topped them all. Sharing the strings-influence with the latter collaboration, 'Home' gave Glynne her deserved centre stage attention.
5) Twin Graves - 'Brothers'
Post-punk still lives strong, and 'Brothers' showed just that. (With some synth flourishes.) Deliciously nostalgic.
4) Port Isla - 'Steamroller'
One of the rollicking anthems of the year came from this relatively small Norwich outfit. Who will hopefully be much bigger by the end of 2015.
3) Charli XCX - 'London Queen'
If I wasn't so tediously inflexible, there may well have been two Charli XCX tracks on this list - 'Boom Clap' being the other selection. 'London Queen' was joyously rambunctious, and edged past the aforementioned track thanks to its fierce live renditions.
2) Ryn Weaver - 'Promises'
There was a bit of backlash for Ryn Weaver, probably because of her friends-in-high-places such as producer Cashmere Cat and co-writer Charli XCX. I wasn't especially bothered by her links, which have undoubtedly helped raise her profile - instead I was wowed by this glistening pop anthem.
1) Bleachers - 'I Wanna Get Better'
The very last song I heard at Glastonbury 2014, and the very best song. Indeed, my favourite song of 2014. The RAC remix was similarly top notch, and to add, RAC's 'Strangers' double album was probably my favourite album of the year.
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