Single Of The Year 2020 | Our Sound

As 2020 draws to a close, we thought it would be fun to do a top fifty countdown of our singles of the year. Revealing two tracks a day throughout December, the countdown is drawn up from our Singles Of The Week since OurSoundMusic.com launched in June, plus a few others that we reviewed that have stood out. Only one song per band/artist is entered and the positions are entirely at our own whim. Which song will be our Single Of The Year? Let the countdown begin...

50. JOE WRIGHT - WAY OUT

Released in November, this is the current single from the hotly tipped Brummie. We begin our countdown with a banger.

49. TROPICAL BOYFRIEND CATALOGUE - I CAN RUN FASTER THAN YOUR CAR

We discovered Tropical Boyfriend Catalogue earlier this year and think it's about time you did too - with a slew of releases throughout the year, I Can Run Faster Than Your Car is perhaps their most indie pop song to date.

48. LATE FEES - SILENT SIREN

Former Glasgow cafe workers Late Fees impressed us with Silent Siren - a song recorded in separate homes.

47. ST BURYAN - TORN APART

In October, Geordie outfit St Buryan released their third song of the year, Torn Apart. Big Riffs and strong lyrics.

46. BAXTR - FEATHERS

All-female London Trio BAXTR more than impressed back in September with their second release Feathers.

45. THE CLOCKWORKS - ENOUGH IS NEVER ENOUGH

Following on from Can I Speak To A Manager, Enough Is Never Enough was released early last month on Creation 23. Already scheduled to perform at next years Creation Day Festival, the Galway band are sure to have a big 2021.

44. VISTAS - COMFORT

Taken from their debut EP Everything Changes In The End, this jaunty single delivered in spades.

43. THE STRIFES - ALL DAY AND NIGHT

This was the Southampton lads debut single from October, All Day And Night is full of grit and undeniable energy.

42. FIVE O FIVES - THROUGH THE DARKNESS

Coventry band FIVE O FIVES more than delivered on this, their debut single. Through The Darkness is a tale of coming out of University complete with a distortion filled chorus.

41. REGENT - NO GOING BACK

Released just last week, No Going Back proves that Brits CAN do grunge. With a passionate vocal and a smooth yet heavy sound, we can't get enough of this one.

40. ANDREW CUSHIN - WHERE'S MY FAMILY GONE?

Remaining inexplicably under the radar despite being produced by and featuring Noel Gallagher, Where's My Family Gone? was released in November. In a different era Cushin would be a household name - he may still get there yet.

39. RIVVER - SMILE BACK

Championed by ourselves over the past few weeks, Smile Back was released just a few days ago. The Smiths inspired sound impresses massively.

38. LAURAN HIBBERD - BOY BYE

Cheeky Miss Hibberd hit us for six with Boy Bye - a slacker pop song that is full of vibrancy. Lauran released a splendid acoustic version this past week too.

37. INDOOR FOXES - PEACH STONE

Our Single Of The Week in early November, Peach Stone is DIY bedroom pop at its very best. Gritty 90's style guitars and tongue in cheek lyrics complete a cracking release from Indoor Foxes.

36. PAUL NIXON - COMING TO GET YOU

If it is a massive sounding Oasis inspired rock n roll tune you're after, then Coming To Get You ticks all the boxes.

35. THE SHOP WINDOW - SAD EYES

A poignant and moving jangly guitar tune, Sad Eyes merits a place in any top fifty singles of the year list. A stunning track.

34. CIVIC GREEN - CITY STREETS

Melodic indie four-piece Civic Green gave us a big tune with a huge chorus in City Streets. The South Yorkshire lads are poised to take on the world.

33. JADE BIRD - HEADSTART

Jade released her new single in early November, marking a new era for the talented singer songwriter whose debut album blew us away.

32. THE OUTCHARMS - TO BE YOUNG AND IN LOVE

A new direction for the Doncaster band, this jangly pop single impressed in early November. With a mini tour scheduled for March next year, the world is their oyster.

31. CHILDREN OF THE STATE - HOT MONEY

Taken from their new EP, Hot Money is a "a sleazy observation of greed and hyper-capitalism" - we think it is a rock n roll monster of a tune.

30. SKYLIGHTS - DARKNESS FALLS

In October, Leeds United super fans SKYLIGHTS gave us Darkness Falls, a soaring indie-pop ballad. With a beautifully thick acoustic sound, this one took us by surprise.

29. NORTHERN REVELATION - HISTORY

The Liverpool lads showed a tender swagger with History, a jangly Britpop inspired track.

28. ARTESAN - FEEL LIKE MYSELF AGAIN

This is the bands debut single that we only caught up with last month but are we ever glad that we did. A rousing, acoustic classic rock song that leaves us begging for more from the band.

27. SCARLET - BRING ME DOWN

Full of attitude, Bring Me Down is as hard hitting and ferocious as it gets. Scarlet have a headline show at Jimmy's Liverpool in March and are hotly tipped to have an amazing 2021.

26. BARK MAILEY - ONE LAST TIME

That's not a typo - the quirkily named Bark Mailey was our Single Of The Week in August with his EP release.

25. APOLLO JUNCTION - BORDERLINES

Apollo Junction grabbed our attention with their single Borderlines. The song has the best chorus you'll hear anywhere.

24. JOHNNY LLOYD - REAL THING

Catching us unawares, this cracking tune came out of leftfield and was one of our Singles Of The Week back in the summer.

23. ABNORM - CITRUS

The bands debut single was written, recorded and produced by Abbie and Alex in their bedrooms. Outstanding.

22. SHAMBOLICS - LOVE COLLIDES

The Fife lads are signed to Alan McGee's Creation 23 label and are hugely talented as shown single Love Collides.

21. THE POSIES - SIDEWAYS

Dream pop veterans The Posies remind us of their penchant for putting out pure escapism.

20. SHADE - HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

Manchester powerhouse indie-rock band Shade gave us a bold outing with Head In The Clouds - intense as it gets.

19. TOM SWAN - GHOSTS

The lead track from his Ghosts EP, this song is mesmerizing.

18. THE ROSADOCS - SAY SOMETHING

Sheffield's finest proved again why they are one of the UK's most exciting new bands on their release Say Something. Complete with a tremendous music video.

17. MICKY JAMES - KINGS

80's rock with a hint of glam, Kings took us completely by surprise back in August.

16. SEPRONA - ROSE TINTED EYES

Liverpool lads Seprona add a layer of synth on this bonafide indie anthem.

15. JONNY ASH - ECLIPSE

Eclipse sounds huge with a wall of sound and scintillating lead guitar. Incredible.

14. SEA GIRLS - ALL I WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY

2020 has been a great year for Sea Girls. This single is a standout from their album Open Up Your Head.

13. CHRIS CONROY - SINK OR SWIM

This powerful single was released in November and flew under the radar somewhat. Intense with a raspy vocal.

12. RAE - I NEVER MEANT TO START A WITCH HUNT

This was our first ever Single Of The Week back in June. Formed from the ashes of 0rmstons, the Leeds band now have a killer edge to their sound as shown here.

11. THE LATHUMS - ALL MY LIFE

The much hyped band from Wigan were rampant throughout 2020 and lived up to the hype on this single at least.

10. MIKE CLERK - KEEP MOVIN'

This was our Single Of The Week a month ago and for good reason - a huge sound that grips your ears and doesn't let go. There's a fun video to go with it too.

9. RECLAIM VIENNA - INFAMOUS

Featuring emotional vocals and a synth sound that defines the sound of modern indie music, Infamous adds to the bands collection of solid songs.

8. DEATH THREAT CASSETTE - TANK GUN SOLDIER

With a new album on the horizon, Death Threat Cassette gave us the sound of a one man Army taking on the world as heard on captivating release Tank Gun Soldier.

7. BLOXX - OFF MY MIND

Taken from one of the albums of the year, Lie Out Loud, this is the defining single release from the bands debut. Pop brilliance.

6. THE REYTONS - RED SMOKE

With two tours on the way and an EP, The Reytons are set to take 2021 by the scruff of the neck. Red Smoke had us jumping up and down like dafties. Here we, here we, here we fuckin' go indeed.

5. DMA'S - LEARNING ALIVE

Taken from their new album 'The Glow', the Aussie lads excel when they produce sweeping ballads such as this.

4. THE SHED PROJECT - LUCKY NUMBER

No new band has impressed as much in 2020 than The Shed Project. Their Stone Roses inspired sound breathed life into indie rock. Our number one discovery of the year.

3. SHADER - DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME)

As far as lockdown covers went in 2020, nothing sounded as great as SHADER'S take on this The Simple Minds classic.

2. PALE WAVES - CHANGE

With their long promised Avril influences finally unleashed, Change was pure indie pop, the first single to be taken from their second album, Who Am I?

1. KOMBAT - TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

Number 1 - and our Single Of The Year - is Take It Or Leave It by KOMBAT. This uncomplicated rock n roll tune has the sound of the hunger of youth. Blistering guitars. A vocal that hasn't been heard since early Liam Gallagher.