Top 15 songs of 2011

15. Graham Kendrick - Merciful - The songwriter returned in 2011 with his 30th studio album, Banquet, which is beautifully crafted with mellow instrumentals and moving lyrics. "I'll not use my words as weapons or the past to gain control/On my tongue no trace of venom only grace to comfort and make whole".

14. Jay-Z & Kanye West - No Church in the Wild - Much was expected of the collaboration between Hip-hop giants Jay-Z and Kanye West but Watch The Throne was received with mixed reviews, however No Church in the Wild is Jay-Z at his best, and the driving beat is complimented from a sharp Frank Ocean chorus: "We make it out alive, al right, all right, no church in the wild".

13. Hard-Fi - Stop - Not many people follow the bands progress these days and latest album ironically named 'Killer Sounds' didn't quite have the desired impact. However during Stop their abrasive yet slick song-writing style comes to the fore with a tuneful chorus and reverberating guitar riff that leaves you wondering just how good this band could have been.

12. Justice -Civilisation- The French electro duo released their second album earlier this year and lead single Civilisation's thundering lyrics "the beating of a million drums" provides the perfect up-tempo backing for Adidas' 2011 commercial 'All In'. 

11. Lucy Rose - Middle of the Bed - Recently nominated as one to watch by various music magazines (including Clash Music) the singer songwriter from Warwickshire released her first single Middle of the Bed in the summer and already has nearly 400,000 views on Youtube, the song reveals her soft vocals and her album which will be out in early 2012 is widely anticipated. Remember the name.

10. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - The Death of You and Me - After waiting until the release of brother Liam's first solo effort with Beady Eye, Noel Gallagher reformed under the alias of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and released one of the records of the year. First single The Death of You and Me combines familiar Oasis style with a marching jazz band. To great effect.

9. Kasabian - Man of Simple Pleasures- While Velociraptor is by no means their best record to date, Man of Simple Pleasures is the stand out song, from the melodic chorus to the bridge and pulsating ending riff while the lyrics elude to the hope of an archaic lifestyle, guitarist Sergio Pizzorno comments, "the more you use (modern technology), the more your mind becomes mashed potato". Philosophical indeed.

8. Coldplay - Paradise - Chris Martin labelled this track as the 'backbone' of their 2011 release Mylo Xyloto, and from it's opening strings (with help from Italian collaborator Davide Rossi) to the heavy drumbeat and echoing refrain it doesn't disappoint, already featured on countless adverts, and TV shows. Strong contender for video of the year also.

7. Gungor - This is Not the End - The American band recently received a Grammy nomination for 'Best Contemporary Christian Music Album' and for good reason, although none of the usual criticism directed at Christian music (clichéd lyrics and overused chord progressions), apply here. The echoing vocals are powerful and soothing while the tambourines, piano and glockenspiel offer an almost Christmas-sy effect. 

6. The King Blues - The Future's Not What it Used to Be - The King Blues rise to acclaim in the music industry has been a slow one, but they are starting to become recognised by critics, their latest album reached 31 in the UK Charts and their murky urbanised approach certainly is in a class of its own, The Future's Not What it Used to Be is a fusion of trumpets, ska and hip-hop and even a contains a drum & bass break. 

5. The Strokes - Machu Pichu - The Strokes's 2011 effort 'Angel's' isn't their most well recieved album, but Machu Pichu leads the album with it's 80's styled guitar beat bouncing along until a classic Strokes chorus, tuneful yet gritty, well chosen by EA for the soundtrack of FIFA 12.

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Even You Brutus? - The Chilli's return after 5 years was greeted with enthusiasm from fans despite the loss of guitarist John Fruiscante, new album I'm With You unveils new sounds with piano's and trumpets making their first appearance. Even You Brutus? is the stand-out track, the combination of drum, piano and bass is perfectly suited to their stadium tour next year.

3.Laura Marling - Night After Night - With released her most though provoking and carefully crafted album yet, it's hard to pick a decisive track from A Creature I Don't Know but Night After Night showcases Marlin'g vocal and musical ability, the haunting guitar opening setting the tone for the dark lyrics "It's fate foretold, it is knowing, what you're told".

2. Lupe Fiasco - State Run Radio - A long running battle with Atlantic held back the release of Lasers, and it was only until fans protested outside the record label's HQ that the album was released. Lupe admitted that he had no hand in some of the songs with Atlantic forcing him to include highly commercialised r'nb style beats, but even so it's his lyrical nous that has awarded him so much credit. The perfect mix of a chart influenced backing track juxtaposed with the lyrics "So beware what's on the air waves/and be more aware of what's not getting’ air played/Independent spirits you can barely hear what they're sayin'/ Propaganda's everywhere, constantly on replay/ all the hits all the time, back to back on relay".

1. The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines - Coming from their most critically celebrated album to date (El Camino), Little Black Submarines starts off as an acoustic blues ballad before launching into a Led Zeppelin inspired anthem, rock and roll in it's purest form.