The 25 best tracks of 2019
31 December 2019, 09:30 | Updated: 31 December 2019, 09:31
Radio X has the ultimate playlist from 2019: the best songs by the biggest artists in our world from the past twelve months.
Our Top 25 from 2019 takes in established campaigners like Noel and Liam Gallagher, Stereophonics and The Black Keys, while adding some of the best new acts of the year, from Sam Fender and Jade Bird to Billie Eilish and Yonaka.
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The Amazons - Mother
The Reading rockers have cannoned into 2019 with a confident second album in Future Dust. They're only going to get bigger and better.
The Amazons - Mother
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Jade Bird - I Get No Joy
One of Radio X's tips for 2019, this young singer-songwriter has a unique voice and an equally unique worldview.
Jade Bird - I Get No Joy
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The Black Keys - Lo/Hi
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney returned in 2019 with their patented brand of laid-back blues-rock all present and correct. This is a textbook example.
The Black Keys - Lo/Hi [Official Audio]
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Blossoms - Your Girlfriend
Tom Ogden tells a story of love, angst and trying to do the right thing against one's primal urges. It's like a blinkin' soap opera!
Blossoms - Your Girlfriend
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Catfish And The Bottlemen - Longshot
Their third album, The Balance, kept to the perfect Catfish formula, but Van McCann's lyrics remain witty and insightful. And they know how to write a big tune.
Catfish and the Bottlemen - Longshot
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Gerry Cinnamon - Canter
He's a phenomenon - huge in his native Scotland, and amassing fans across the UK every week. 2020 will be even bigger. This is his call-to-arms.
Canter
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Coldplay - Orphans
Chris Martin and co prove that they can continue to provoke thought and comment as they prep a big year of activity in 2020.
Coldplay - Orphans (Official Video)
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Courteeners - Heavy Jacket
Liam Fray proves he's one of the UK's most consistently interesting songwriters - everyone's looking forward to the new Courteeners album in January.
Courteeners - Heavy Jacket (Official Video)
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DMAs - Silver
Ethereal musings from the Australian trio, much beloved by Liam Gallagher.
DMA'S - Silver (Official Video)
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Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted
A very special talent that's catching the attention of the wider world... and Dave Grohl thinks she's amazing. This is a teaser of her next album, due 2020.
Billie Eilish - everything i wanted (Audio)
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Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles
Young Fender started the year winning a BRIT and he's just got bigger since then. This is a stunning summary of 2019 and all it encompasses.
Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles
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Florence + The Machine - Moderation
A one-off single that followed 2018's High As Hope, Florence Welch now feels like the planet's Earth Mother who's keeping humanity on the straight and narrow.
Florence + The Machine - Moderation (Music Video)
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Foals - The Runner
Two new albums in one year, but Oxford's finest show no signs of stopping their quest for invention and innovation.
FOALS - The Runner [Official Music Video]
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Liam Gallagher - Shockwave
Big, bold, brash - and uncompromising. Liam was back and better than ever in 2019.
Liam Gallagher - Shockwave (Official Video)
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Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - This Is The Place
The elder Gallagher continues to dig deep and expand his sound and influences. He assured us this was a particularly "Manchester"-sounding record and he's not wrong - it could be a Hacienda floor-filler from 1990.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - This Is The Place (Official Video)
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Kaiser Chiefs - People Know How To Love One Another
Ricky Wilson rails against the media's treatment of the General Public with another pointed lyric.
Kaiser Chiefs - People Know How To Love One Another (Official Video)
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Love Fame Tragedy - My Cheating Heart
Murph from The Wombats goes solo with a vocal from Maddi Jean Waterhouse. Epic.
Love Fame Tragedy - My Cheating Heart (Official Video)
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Mumford And Sons - Beloved
From their fourth album Delta, issued around the time that the Mumfords were taking their ambitious new live show around Europe.
Mumford & Sons - Beloved
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The Raconteurs - Help Me Stranger
Jack White's blue rock troubadours keep it classy with a gospel-themed instant classic.
The Raconteurs - "Help Me Stranger" (Official Music Video)
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Sea Girls – Violet
Perfect indie pop from the London quartet that puts a spring in your step.
Sea Girls - Violet (Official Video)
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The S.L.P. - Nobody Else
Kasabian always had one foot in clubland, and Serge Pizzorno's solo project embraces it fully. Best heard as the sun comes up on the beach.
THE S.L.P. - Nobody Else (Official Video)
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Stereophonics - Chaos From The Top Down
Kelly Jones takes aim at society, government, the media - the lot. One of the most passionate songs of the year.
Stereophonics - Chaos From The Top Down
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Ten Tonnes - Better Than Me
George Ezra's brother, Ethan Barnett, delivers a joyous singalong.
Ten Tonnes - Better Than Me I Official Video
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Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall
Ezra Koenig pushes the envelope with Vampire Weekend's comeback album and music is all the better for it.
Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall (Official Video)
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Yonaka – Creature
Theresa Jarvis fronts one of Britain's most striking rock bands - their live shows have proved revelatory.
YONAKA - Creature LIVE | Radio X Session | Radio X
