Top 50 Singles of 2014: 10-6

10. Kliff - Mun Jopo



I just couldn't get enough of this strange pop trifle this year. It's a hybrid of hip hop, dubstep, and even choral elements in the middle eight. That beat is an absolute sledgehammer. It's hard not to lose it every time it kicks in during the hook.

9. The Madden Brothers - We Are Done



I'm a sucker for bright, summertime harmonies. I would've never expected the Good Charlotte guys to be on my countdown, let alone in the top ten, but this is just a perfectly written, classic pop song.

8. 2NE1 - Come Back Home



The girls do it again, with a galvanizing blend of East and West, pop and trap, and one of the year's most soaring hooks. A deserved smash.

7. B1A4 - Solo Day 



Who would've expected K-pop and summer beach pop to be such a great mix? This has to be the year's ultimate feel good track, especially when those kaleidoscopic harmonies bust in towards the end.

6. GOT7 - A 



A real sense of groove is hard to find in mainstream pop music these days, especially as electronica continues to take over. But, this track boasts one of the year's funkiest, smoothest beats. It doesn't even sound like it's trying, and that's what makes it so addictive.

Don't forget, if you'd like to listen to the Top 50 Singles Countdown in full, download the audio version!

Top 20 Albums of 2014: 6-5

6. Ola - Carelessly Yours



This album has been around for awhile, released at the very beginning of the year. I had been waiting for it so long, and it doesn't disappoint. The singles do outshine almost everything else on the album, but there are many of them and they are sprinkled wisely throughout the running order. The only reason the album isn't ranked higher is that I just haven't returned to it as often this year as I'd expected to. I don't know why that is... perhaps because the newer songs aren't as strong and I'd already played the older ones so much last year?

5. 2NE1 - Crush



Korea's coolest girl group finally made their comeback this year. After many single releases, which I've chosen to pepper throughout the running order of this new album, they finally released something more substantial. Even without those bonus tracks, the album stands as one of their most consistent. A bit ballad-heavy, maybe, but I certainly can't fault any of the tracks themselves. I also give them props for trying some different things with production and structure. It gives the album a varied feel.

Top 50 Singles of 2014: 25-21

25. ToppDogg - Annie



K-Pop borrows from one of my absolute favorite genres, New Jack Swing, in this effervescent, beat-driven dance track. It's this group's best single by a mile. So far...

24. Orange Caramel - Catallena



So many have called this annoyingly wonderful, and it's true that the vocals and production will drive many people away. Honestly, though, it's inventive, fun, fizzy stuff with a mammoth hook.

23. BTS - War Of Hormone



This is the single (and music video) that broke this band for me. I'd liked them before, but for whatever reason I just fell in love with the hyped up, goofy bravado of this track.

22. 2NE1 - Happy 



A strummy, melodic summertime pop song that's much calmer and relaxed than most of the group's output. The vocals on this are so charming, as is the colorful video.

21. Ruth Lorenzo - Dancing In The Rain 



Eurovision's top act, in my mind, and a moment of retribution for the amazing ex-X-Factor contestant that finally got her due this year. The vocals? They'll give you chills.

Don't forget, if you'd like to listen to the Top 50 Singles Countdown in full, download the audio version!

Top 50 Singles of 2014: 40-36

40. 2NE1 - Crush



This is the Japanese (ie: single) version of the song that opened their brilliant second full length album. So much attitude crammed into three minutes.

39. Martin Stenmarck - När änglarna går hem



A chest-beating anthem from this year's Melodifestivalen. It's criminally underrated, and is guaranteed to boost your energy.

38. BoA - Shout It Out



BoA's been around for a long time, but she's rarely sounded so youthful and carefree as she does on this track. She could teach Western divas a thing or two.

37. iKON - Wait For Me 



At the time this was released, the group wasn't even fully formed yet. I predict that iKON will be 2015's major success story. This emotive midtempo is certainly a promising start.

36. Alex Metric - Heart Weighs A Ton (ft. Stefan Storm) 



In a year without a new release by The Sound Of Arrows, this track featuring the band's lead singer was a welcome treat. Lush dancepop at its best.

Don't forget, if you'd like to listen to the Top 50 Singles Countdown in full, download the audio version!

2NE1 - Crush

Crush is the fourth single taken from 2NE1's newest album of the same name. Add to that the three promo singles the group released last year and they've been quite prolific of late. I've been enjoying/obsessed with vocalist Park Bom on the reality show Roommate recently, so that's pulled me back into this excellent album. Crush is the opening track, and for some reason initially I dismissed it as being a bit of filler. It's amazing what a dynamite music video can do for a song! My love for the chorus, in particular, has been reinvigorated. There's so much attitude and swagger. The music video is for the Japanese version of the track, but not understanding either language, I just subbed this version in for the original Korean version on the album. I actually kind of prefer the sound of the Japanese language on this.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

2NE1 - Come Back Home

"You gotta do what you gotta do"

Now that Melodifestivalen is over for another year, I can focus on other parts of the world again. Over in South Korea, the big news is the album comeback (after way too long) of amazing girl group 2NE1. When I first listened to the album, I was a little underwhelmed, but YG productions have a way of growing on me in major ways. Lead single Come Back Home is one of those instances. I was expecting something with a faster tempo throughout, but it turns out that this hodgepodge of hip hop, pop, reggae, dance is just what I actually wanted from them. It's a weird little track, with one hell of a hook. I've basically had it stuck in my head for the past week. There's just something about this group's sound. It's like nothing else out there.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 35-31

35. Crayon Pop - Bar Bar Bar



In the wake of Gangnam Style, this was the next big novelty hit from Korea. And it couldn't have been catchier.

34. The Vamps - Can We Dance



Could've been released back in '06/'07 when the indie rock craze was all the rage in the UK. Would love more of this sound in the future.

33. EXO - Growl



This was the Korean boyband well and truly arriving. After an amazing 2012, this funky r&b stomper cemented their place as one of the biggest bands in Asia.

32. 2NE1 - Falling In Love 



In a year that saw far too few releases from these girls, their first comeback wormed its way into my head and became a Summer staple.

31. Robin - Haluan Sun Palaavan (I Want You To Return) 



The sound of this Finnish teen popstar maturing. A striking wintertime ballad that transcends the language barrier with a shot of emotion.