It is that time of year again. The “Best Of” season, the best singles, best album and best artists of the year. The lists are all over the internet, magazines and TV shows. I am sure that everyone of these lists use very scientific calculations and means to decide their rankings, and the list below is no exception. I used various facts, figures and statistics to compile my list of top 25 songs of 2010. (Who am I kidding, this is all opinion based somewhat on my musical whim, fancies and other highly unscientific reasons.)

You may ask why 25? Well first Josh and I tried to create our top ten lists, and well this was an utter failure on all accounts. It was impossible to whittle down our favorites to just ten. And twenty, too easy, lets add five more into the whole mess and together you will get the top 50 songs as seen by C&B.

After the Top Ten, number order really loses nearly all meaning, just an FYI.

1. Alphabeat – DJ (I Could be Dancing)

This is hands the best song of 2010. ‘DJ’ is what Pop music should be, infectiously fun, campy, and really doesn’t take it self too seriously. With a perfect tip to 90′s Euro dance-pop and something all their own, Alphabeat is something special in the world of Pop music. ‘DJ’ has done more to make me smile this year alone than maybe any other song.

2. Robyn – Hang With Me

Robyn truly one of music’s most masterful writers, my good friend DJ MAJR sums it up the best, “[Robyn] is catchy without being vapid.” Honest, sincere and beautiful, Robyn is able to tell a story like very few in music can.

3. HURTS – Better Than Love

From Theo’s enthralling voice, to rich full synths that ebb and flow creating a whirlwind of sound, to brooding lyrics that cut straight through it all, ‘Better Than Love’ is a song that stands out from everything else in Pop.

4. Example – Kickstarts

Completely new and unique is the way to describe ‘Kickstarts’ and anything Example creates. ‘Kickstarts’ really is an endearingly sweet love song about the highs and lows of every relationship; expertly paired with explosive beats and high energy synths that are the perfect embodiment of all the excitement love brings. Plan and simple its quite brilliant!

5.  Kylie Minogue – Get Outta My Way

Her want to live to the fullest and her lust for life is contagious and passed through her music to everyone who listens to it. ‘Get Outta My Way’ is no exception, full of spunk and sass with that ever present exuberant joy.

6. Japayork – Teenagers

For me there is a visceral reaction/connection to this song that I feel every time the chorus hits. The urge to escape; to leave the problems, pain and strife of the world behind and enjoy the now. Revel the moment you are in, to love life and the people you are sharing it with.

7. Penguin Prison – The Worse It Gets

Penguin Prison has created the perfect musical embodiment of the yearning I get to leave the noise of the world behind and get away from it all.

8. Chew Lips – Slick

Cool synth beats paired with piano chords and deep bass that build excitement through the whole song. Tig’s voice perfectly floats over the beats telling the story of memories and life gone by.

9. Goldfrapp – Alive

Disco is alive! Glam and glitter. I would say more but it would only cheapen it.

10. Bright Light Bright Light – Love, Pt 2.

‘Love Pt. 2′ overwhelms you with the carefree exuberance that comes with realizing you are able to feel love’s faint flutter in your heart again.

11. Florence and The Machine – Dog Days Are Over

12. Joe McElderry – Real Late Starter

13. Cassette Kids – Spin

14. Delphic – Doubt

15.  Moneypenny – Destroy

16. Gorillaz – Doncamatic

17. Aeroplane – Without Lies (ft. Sky Ferreira)

18. Sia – I’m In Here

19. Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

20. Frankmusik & Computer Club – Losing Streak

21. The Ting Tings – Hands

22. Kaskade – Fire In Your New Shows (ft. Dragonette)

23. Ellie Goulding – Lights

24. Lights – My Boots

25. Hyper Crush – Keep Up

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Eternally optimistic, while seemingly always melancholy. I do not think it is possible for anyone to capture how I have felt the past few Christmas seasons any more perfectly.

“Everybody waits for Christmas
For me it’s New Year’s Day
That’s gonna come and take my blues away
I’m wishing on the stars for Christmas
And hoping for a better day
When it doesn’t hurt to feel this way

And everywhere there’s joy around this festive time of year
And happiness has never felt so far away

All of the bells ringing out for Christmas
I’m singing goodbye to the year before
I know that the next one will be different, so much more
All of the bells ringing out for christmas
And I’m not supposed to feel this way
All that I want this year for Christmas in new year’s day”

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Hurts is a duo from the current British creative hotbed of Manchester, made up of singer Theo Hutchcraft and synth player Adam Anderson. Noticed early on by Guardian.co.uk and featured as its “Band of the Day” in July 2009. Hurts also garnered the very impressive nod from BBC as the #4 act to watch in its “Sound of 2010″ poll. All of this formal praise and acclaim aside, what really matters is that they live up to the hype. Let me assure you that they do much more than live up to their hype, they blow all expectations out of the water. From intensely vivid lyrics, that pull at your emotions from every direction; to music that is all-consuming and richly layered, Hurts creates music that is simply this: GORGEOUS.

I was fortunate to get the album while traveling in Spain, which with plenty of long plane rides, enabled me to listen to the album quite thoroughly, but didn’t leave me the time to craft the proper post the whole album deserved. So after some time to settle back into DC, I am able to share Happiness with you all.  We have showed you the visually stunning videos and beautiful singles, ‘Better Than Love‘ and ‘Wonderful Life‘, which unlike some artists, were by no means the extent of the quality music on the album.

‘Unspoken‘ – Gut-wrenching, honest lyrics about love’s light slipping away. Filled with violins, and a rich orchestral feeling, that is by far more than one would ever expect from a duo that is one half synth. “But it’s the same old situation/We made it through this far./Oh./We watched the rockets kiss the sky./I saw the flames burn out in your eyes./Nothing that I do/Will ever be enough for you/Whatever I do, whatever I do./Take me as I am/I’ll never be the other man.”

‘Devotion‘ – All the things never uttered, but certainly always thought at times in any relationship. How do I keep my devotion during the times less happy? Theo and Kylie’s voice are perfect counterpoints, haunting and full of emotion. “Devotion save me now/i don’t wanna stray from the hallow ground/i’ll turn temptation down/i’m asking you to take me to safety this time”

‘Silver Lining‘ – The story of intense loyalty and devotion are beautifully told with lyrics as beautiful as provoking. Music tinged with hope and faint sorrow. “When the World surrounds you, I’ll make it go away/Paint the sky with silver lining./I will try to save you, cover up the grey/With silver lining./Now there’s no way back from the things you’ve done/I know it’s too late to stop the setting sun./You see the shadows in the distant light”

Happiness explores the deeper, more subtle meanings of what it means to have happiness and to be happy. There are songs on this album that examine the intense devotion and protection that comes with deep love. Songs that take through the pain and agony of realizing the love you had is lost. There are songs that remind you that through the pain, devotion, and struggle, it is in the middle of all this that you have happiness, hopefully, you are able to realize it.

Few album are made with this level of care and talent and well worth the $25.00 import price, and absolutely worth the £6.99. PLEASE support these guys, they are incredible and well worth the investment.

Hurts continues to give me what I want to hear. The title track, ‘Happiness’, from their upcoming LP has leaked on the interwebs. As expected it’s stunning.

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Very much waiting with bated breath for this LP.

A video from Hurts, ‘Wonderful Life’, has just hit the interwebs. Simple and striking a beautiful meld of fashion, art and great filmmaking. Enjoy the new single, which gets official release on August 23.

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So just a quick post, the day job has gotten decidedly crazy this week. But here is a new clip from the guys of Hurts. I won’t say too much other than these two are something special. I will let the hauntingly beautiful song speak for itself.

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There is a reason BBC included the Manchester duo “Hurts” in its “Sound of 2010″. They are in short, quite brilliant. Their music is moody, melancholic, and elegant. They are quickly proving to be the rebirth of the darker side of 80′s electro-pop. The video for their latest single “Better Than Love” is a stand out in a field of uninspired music videos flooding the web and remnants of music television networks.

The single is out May 23rd, it is available for pre-purchase on the UK iTunes store, and will most likely be available for download from amazon.co.uk. To keep you content until then, click here.