Top 10 songs of 2010

Looking back over the year that was 2010 I decided to chose my favourite 10 songs from the year. I narrowed it down as much as I could judging on originality, longevity and just my overall opinion of the song but I couldn't pick which 2 to remove from my top 12 so thought i'd just do a top 12 instead. So here they are:

Coming in at number 12: Airplanes Pt. II- B.o.B. ft Eminem & Hayley Williams

This track just seems to work. A great collaboration between rising hip hop star B.o.B and Paramore front woman Hayley Williams as well as input from rap legend Eminem. Just one of those rare songs which manages to unite fans of all different genres.

In at 11: Heart is Hard To Find- Jimmy Eat World

When I found that Jimmy Eat World had a new album out in September my hopes weren't too high as I felt that they had become a little stale over the past couple of albums but 'Invented' truly is a return to form for the Alternative Rock band and the first track off the album is one of my favourite of the year.

Kicking off the top 10: Streetlight- Joshua Radin

One of my favourite singer songwriters of the past few years, Joshua Radin is starting to get the recognition for his work this year especially with his second album coming out in the U.K. but it is the lead single from his 3rd album that makes the cut here. There's something incredibly catchy about his music and this song will simply make you smile.

Next up at 9: House Is Falling- Hadouken!

For me Hadouken's second album was the biggest shock of the year for me. Their first album had a distinctive style about it but was a bit of a niche product and didn't have much longevity to it. 'For The Masses' came out in January and looked immediately to be one of the albums of the year. This is my favourite tune from the album and I look forward to seeing if they can improve once again with their third album due out early 2011

Onto number 8: Swim Until You Can't See Land- Frightened Rabbit

Another track from early 2010. Frightened Rabbit are simply an amazing band and this is yet another brilliant song from then. Although still a relatively unknown band they have improved with every album and with the help of being featured on many American TV shows are likely to reach the mainstream sooner rather than later.

Coming in at 7: Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas- Brandon Flowers

Known as the frontman of The Killers, Brandon Flowers released his first solo effort this year and showed how much talent he really possesses. He has a unique voice which is instantly recognisable and is likely to be around for a great deal longer which can only be a good thing if he continues to improve and mature his sound with each song he's involved in. This is probably the best track of the album.

Following this at number 6: Radioactive- Kings of Leon

I haven't actually listened much to the latest album from Kings of Leon as I wasn't too fussed first time through but I still feel that this is one of the bands best songs and although they didn't have as successful a year they're still one of the most popular bands in the country dare I say it the world. Its just a must have song on your i-pod or mp3 player.

Next in at 5: Take over control- Afrojack Ft. Eva Simons

The beat on this song is just amazing. One of the best chart songs of the year, so catchy and something which gets turned up to maximum when on in the car. Afrojack is a truly a master of his craft and Eva Simons voice works perfectly here.

My number 4 song: Katy On A Mission- Katy B

My favourite club song of the year. Its once again an incredible beat and I haven't heard anything like it all year. Although a pretty cheesy single name this girl has a whole lot of talent and I'm yet to hear something by her that I don't automatically love. Expect big things from her in 2011 and beyond if this is anything to go by. She's also proved she can work collaborations with her work with Magnetic Man on one of his singles and her album is likely to be a big chart success of next year.

Just broke into my top 3: White Flag Warrior- Flobots Ft. Tim McIllrath(Rise Against)

Wow. That was all I could say after I'd heard this song for the first time. Flobots have such a unique style in rock music and to recruit Rise Against frontman Tim McIllrath for this was a stroke of genius. Two bands with very political messages but completely different styles combine to bring one of my tracks of the year. Flobots latest album is brilliant throughout and this for me is the main highlight.

At number 2: Waiting For The End- Linkin Park

Although not everyones cup of tea the new album from Linkin Park is very well written and very different from their other albums. Their newest album is one of those rare things an album which is actually better listened to as an entire album rather than just selecting a few songs. The introduction into each song is as important as the main songs. This was my favourite song off the album and the intro is brilliant. The last album Minutes To Midnight although good didn't really work for me it was almost a transitional album as there is less reliance on Chester Bennington and more influence from Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn. Just a very unique song that I love.

And the number one: Watercolour- Pendulum

Epic track. Epic Band. Epic Album.

This was my number one song of the year, especially the album version. Pendulum's latest album was like a fusion between there previous two with the ability to be mainstream and Drum N Bass like only they can. Immersion was likely my favourite album of the year and I could have picked almost any song of the album but this is in my opinion the best.

5 Years Later And The Message Is The Same

I can't believe that it was 5 years ago since the greatest comeback in a final ever. United fans will no doubt protest but winning a game after going 3 goals down to AC Milan who were perhaps the best team in Europe at the time will for me always eclipse overturning a one goal lead which we see happen almost every week in football. Nonetheless I'm digressing, I'm wearing my Liverpool colours with pride today and even watching that incredible European campaign once again on LFCTV. Remembering Istanbul and other great memories for Liverpool over the past 5 years is a welcome distraction from the worrying state of affairs the team find themselves in. But whilst this has been the worst season I can ever remember from Liverpool every other team that I have fondness for is certainly prospering.

Two of my favourite European sides Benfica and Inter Milan are champions in their respective countries.

The biggest surprise of them all though is that my home town team Blackpool FC have returned to the top league in English football which is a place I never thought I'd see them in my lifetime and thats not an overstatement. I first went to see Blackpool in October 2003 and they won 4-0 against Hartlepool. One fan told me that I should go every week upon hearing it was my first game. I was a lucky charm I'd like to think that day. Truth be told though I was lucky to catch Blackpool on a good day as I learnt on later visits that winning 4-0 at Bloomfield Road was certainly a rarity and in all honestly Blackpool weren't a particularly good side and hadn't been for a long time.

I actually did my work experience at Blackpool for 2 weeks in January 2006 as a apprentice groundsman which gave me an insight into what the club was actually like. I can tell you I was shocked. We were always told footballers were rich and had the best facilities but the Bloomfield Road pitch was terrible that season and on the couple of occasions I went to the training ground I found it was worse than some of the really small local teams who were about 10 leagues below Blackpool with part time players.

Blackpool had the second lowest average attendance in the Championship last year. If you were to put all the league clubs in one table from the past decade Blackpool would have finished 52nd. These are not statistics that suggest that Blackpool are one of the footballing elites in this country but next season they'll be lining up against the likes of Torres (yes he's staying), Rooney, Drogba and co. I'll be looking forward to going to some games next season as much as many of the clubs fans.

Football is a fascinating game and provides some great lessons for young and old. One of those lessons that events like Istanbul in 2005 and Blackpool's promotion to the Premiership show us is that we never really know what we are capable of.

"Look at that scoreboard. Look at that score: 3-3. Look at the words: Liverpool, Champions. And remember how it looked at half-time. And how you were dead inside. And whenever you feel life's beaten you, think of this scoreboard, and realize that anything, anything is possible"

(Brian Reade- '43 Years With The Same Bird')

Remembering the 96

Today, April 15th is the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster where 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives. As a Liverpool fan myself it is as much a part of the club I support as the numerous titles and trophies the club has won in its illustrious history. I dedicate my blog today to all those families that were affected by the tragedy not only on that day but every day since as they have had to cope with losing one or more of their loved ones.

Gone but not forgotten. YNWA.

Gerard Pique...the best defender in Europe?!?!?!

Don't agree?

Well let me be honest neither do I but this isn't my opinion its that of Castrol and its Performance Index which I discovered today. This index ranks all the players from the top leagues in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France. With Messi, Ronaldo, Torres, Villa and Henry making up the top 5 this really could be 'the World's first truly objective football rankings system.'

It doesn't take a genius to pick out these players though and it is when we move down the list that we begin to see its flaws. The 2 highest ranked defenders are currently Pique and Sami Hyypia. Even if you were to accept that Barcelona's Pique is the most reliable defender in Europe it would be very difficult to see how Sami Hyypia who last season was 4th choice centre back at Liverpool is now the 10th best player in Europe and 2nd best defender in Europe. The Bundesliga is simply not up to the standard of the Premier League and shouldn't be compared equally.

I don't think that this is the biggest crime in this ranking though. No that honour falls to its rankings of goalkeepers where we find the ever undependable Huerelio Gomes of Tottenham ranked HIGHER than Iker Casillas considered by many as the world's best keeper.If you have ever seen these men play you'd need to be high on something to believe that Gomes is the better.

I'm not going to even get into how the players are ranked check it out yourself if you're interested at: http://www.castrolfootball.com/rankings/

All I would say is that you'd be better to stick to Football Manager if you want reliable stats on players.

Album of the Month- Four Year Strong- Enemy of the World

Thought I should introduce a bit of music to my blog. My album of the month for March is the latest album of pop punk band Four Year Strong. "Enemy of the World" carries on where their last studio album "Rise or Die Trying" left off producing catchy punk music with riffs galore. There isn't a great difference in the overall sound on this one but there are signs of a greater maturity and confidence in their slightly refined sound especially on lead single 'It must really suck to be Four Year Strong right now' and 'Nineteen with neck tatz.' (Yes, I realise they sound like ridiculous songs but don't judge a book by its cover and all that.) There isn't a bad track on the entire album and its bound to be stuck in your head for a long time.

Love it, loathe it just give it a listen.

Mourinho, what a character!

I'm very happy at Inter. I'm not happy in Italian football. Why? Because I don't like it and they don't like me. Simple." (Jose Mourinho)

Can't say that I've ever liked Jose Mourinho but there's no doubting his talent as a manager and you have to admit there's never a dull moment when he's around. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't turn up at a Premier League club this summer.

One thing I do like about him is that he's never afraid to speak his mind is he! Its not as though he's doing badly at Internazionale this season either with them top of the Italian Serie A table, in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia as well as through to the last 8 of the Champions League. It just seems as though he doesn't get the love from the press in Italy as he did back in the U.K. Either that or he misses the weather?

I'd be a fool if I said I didn't want to see him as the next Liverpool manager but it seems very unlikely in the current climate. This is football though, who knows

To Begin With...

"Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought."

(Sir Arthur Helps)

On this note welcome to my blog. I thought it was time that I found a new way to spend my time avoiding doing work. The month long Easter break is certainly a long time to do so.

I find the hours fly by at the moment. My rediscovered interest in online poker is certianly helping if doing nothing positive for my mood most of the time!

Finally got around to re-watching the second series of Chuck this week. Easily one of the best shows in TV, if you don't watch it you should. Very talented cast, brilliant writing from Josh Schwartz (creator of The O.C) plus Yvonne Strahovski is hot!

Don't believe me?

Watch this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD6Tj5OOF9o&NR=1

The show is packed with great music as well. Can you tell I like it by now?

Anyway check it out and I'll be back soon.