Top 20 Albums of 2011: 6-5

6. Aqua - Megalomania



The comeback of the year. Aqua went from novelty pop band to something more mature and interesting. Yeah, there are still plenty of fun bubblegum tracks, but they're filtered through a band whose experience makes itself known through the laser-targeted songwriting and awesome production. There isn't one track worth skipping.

5. Melody Club - Human Harbour



Melody Club may just be the most consistent pop band out today. Every one of their albums has easily found its way into my top ten, year after year. The band knows what they do best and treats us to yet another album chock full of catchy pop tracks. The production, as usual, is flawless and varied, especially the inspired use of a children's choir in Dreamer's Wasteland.

Countdown to the Countdowns: An Alienhits Christmas!

Next week kicks off my annual year-end countdowns. Top 20 Albums and Top 50 Singles, here we come! But first, I've got a week-long countdown to my countdown, starting with this requested feature on Christmas music!

While Christmas is definitely one of my most favorite times of the year, when it comes to music I'm more of a Halloween songs kind of guy. Still, there are quite a few of lesser known tracks that I love to listen to around the holidays. Here, in no particular order, are a few of them:

Darren Hayes - Last Christmas
My favorite version of this track, captured during his Savage Garden days. It ups the tempo and pretty much perfects an already perfect pop song.

Melody Club - I Don’t Believe In Angels
The kind of Christmas track I could (and do) listen to all year long. It's got everything: bells, cheesy lyrics, a singalong chorus and that indelible Melody Club charm.

Girls Aloud - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (or anything off their EP)
Leave it to Girls Aloud to camp up Christmas. This is them at the height of their powers.

The Who - Christmas
From the best rock opera ever, Tommy, it's not the happiest of tracks, but it's freaking brilliant. I've gotta say, though, I prefer the movie version to the Who's version.

Aqua - Spin me a Christmas
Christmas the euro-pop way! Aqua 2.0 basically can do no wrong, and this follows suit.

Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
She may have a new, more traditional Christmas EP out now, but I prefer this smutty oldie recorded back when she was still hungry for fame.

Sparks - Thank God It’s Not Christmas
An epic song anyway you shake it, this is just ridiculous bombast. Not the cheeriest of lyrics, but they're amazing anyway.

Hurts - All I Want for Christmas is New Year’s Day
It's about as downbeat as you'd expect from these guys, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The bells make it.

Billy Elliot Soundtrack - Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
From the absolute best modern stage musical, this is the show's catchiest track. I listen to it all year, but it's especially festive (in a vitriolic, down-with-Thatcher way) this time of year.

Pikko - The Ghost of Christmas Future
An icy electro track by one of my favorite indie Swedish artists. It's not high on melody, but has a sound that compliments the chilly season.

The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)
Pretty much what you'd expect from a Christmas song by the Darkness. It's got everything stuffed into it. And it's highly melodic to boot.

And some songs that sample Christmas. Can you tell which classics these tracks use?

Prozzak - It's Not Me It's You
The Mo - Rats on the Radio
JLS - Do You Feel What I Feel

Aqua - Like A Robot

"You still leave me high and dry"

Aqua have gone dirty! All that subtext in Barbie Girl has become in-your-face fourteen years older. Don't play this for your kids. And if you happen to be a kid, stop reading now (haha). This is fully in-the-moment, piggy-backing-on-trends Aqua. But unlike their last single (which I found somewhat underwhelming), this gets it right. For one, it's hilarious in its bluntness. But more than that, the melody's addictive from the first listen (the bridge is the best part). Lene sounds strong enough to compete with any of the younger pop vixens out there now, and although lyrically this is somewhat of a throwaway, it's still a really, really fun one. Next, I want something more like My Momma Said (and no, their new single doesn't count). It's rare that a band like this can come back fourteen years later with such strong material. I'm looking forward the album now!

Aqua - Like A Robot by DKrella

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 35-31

35. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling



Ubiquitous this year, and more maddening each time it was played, it’s easy to forget that when this first came out it was instantly the group’s high point. I just don’t want to hear it again for awhile.

34. Aqua - Back To The 80’s



A shamelessly nostalgic dance track composed of little more than a list of 80’s high points. It should have been horrible, but the melody keeps it in epic territory.

33. Erik Hassle - Hurtful



The only song on this list that I think still has a chance of crossing over big in the States. Not usually my type of thing, but the sum is greater than its parts in this case.

32. Gossip - Heavy Cross



Primarily a showcase for Beth Ditto’s howling vocals, this muscular funk track surprised me this year. There’s something almost primal about it.

31. Caroline af Ugglas - Snälla snälla




Usually the type of song I hate to see in Melodifestivalen, this 70’s-styled ballad took the competition by storm and won a place in my heart. Very endearing.

Top 50 Singles of 2009: 50-46

50. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero



The furthest they’ve come to obtaining that infamous label of poptastic. The video, especially, shows Karen O at the height of her power.

49. Alphabeat - The Spell



A reinvention of sorts, which took some getting used to. The adlibs and synthesizers are ever better than the main melody.

48. Aqua - My Mamma Said



The group’s most mature, achingly beautiful song with a dark, artsy video to match. Far removed from novelty pop.

47. Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For



The biggest radio ballad of the summer, they stuffed this one to the brim with drama and layered a hands-swaying-in-the-air chorus on top.

46. Janet Jackson - Make Me



The most Janet Jackson sounding single she’s released in a long while, it’s not among her best, but even autopilot Janet is better than most.