Musical Advent Day 20: "Wallflower" Martha Ffion

Claire Martha Ffion McKay is an Irish songwriter based in Glasgow and Wallflower is as perfect a pop tune as you're likely to hear. This was a proper ear worm and one of those songs that put a smile on my face everytime I heard it.

Musical Advent Day 19: "Someone To Care For" The Hayman Kupa Band

As opening lines go this one is up with the best. I also love the contrast between Emma & Darren's vocals. It's just a brilliant single and was my introduction to Emma Kupa, who's other band - Mammoth Penguins - I may have avoided due to confusion with the jazz influenced band GoGo Penguin. My brain often does this, especially when it comes to working out which bands I want to spend time with. I have since rectified the Penguin based confusion and discovered I am a huge fan of all Emma Kupa related projects.

Musical Advent Day 18: "I Shot All The Birds" The Blind Shake

The last few days have got a bit melodic so I think it's time for some proper noisey rock'n'roll. The Blind Shake are a punk trio from Minneapolis formed by brothers Jim and Mike Blaha. They are good friends with John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees fame and it was seeing them live supporting Dwyer's band that really broke them for me. They were blistering live and their subsequent album, Celebrate Your Worth, is one of my favourites of the year.

Musical Advent Day 17: "Dry Food" Palehound

Palehound are ostensibly the songwriting vehicle of singer & guitarist Ellen Kempner. I first heard them via the single Molly which has a corking noisey guitar riff that I like but it's the title track of the album that claims the number 9 spot in my songs of the year. Dry Food is a song I've found on loop in my brain thanks largely to it's lyrical refrain "You made beauty a monster to me, So I'm kissing all the ugly things I see". I think it nails the impact of a failed relationship in two simple lines.

Musical Advent Day 16: "Pool Party" Julia Jacklin

Julia Jacklin's debut album has been one of my sleeper hits of the year. A record I've enjoyed more and more with each play and is still on heavy rotation at Top 5 HQ. Her vocals remind me of Sharon Van Etten and this song in particular has a haunting quality about it I very much like.

Musical Advent Day 15: "You and I" Margaret Glaspy

Margaret Glaspy was a new name to me in 2016, You and I being the lead single from her debut album Emotions & Math. I love the fuzzed up telecaster guitar sound on this song. It sounds like it's being played through a fucked up amp which can only be a good thing in my book.

Musical Advent Day 14: "Pool Hall" The Wave Pictures

The Wave Pictures have released enough new music this year to have a Top 5 all to themselves. Pool Hall is from their second album of the year, Bamboo Dinner In The Rain and bemoans the fact that their local pool hall is being closed down and being turned into flats. They're a fabulous live band too, I saw them play a corking gig at XOYO in November after missing their tour earlier in the year.

Musical Advent Day 13: "Burn The Witch" Radiohead

I love this tune. I'm not so comfortable with Radiohead's more challenging electronic explorations and this felt like something of a return to the style of my preferred 'Head era. The video is great too, Camberwick Green was peak viewing when I was a kid, the combination of animation and alternative vibes is rather lovely.

Musical Advent Day 12: "Norms & Values" Slowcoaches

Well this was good timing. I'm writing this on the Sunday night following Slowcoaches album launch at The Lexington. Norms & Values was the first of their songs I heard, though I originally mistook the title for Norman Values assuming it to be some pun about a return to the medaeval dark ages. To be honest that says more about me, my poor hearing and apalling ability to pay attention to lyrics, than it does about Slowcoaches who are the latest in an exciting run of punk influenced bands to appear in the last couple of years. All you need to know is the album is great and they're flipping brilliant live. Go see them at the earliest opportunity.

Musical Advent Day 11: "Cannot Keep A Secret" Emma Pollock

Emma Pollock was previously a member of the magnificent Delgados, a band that helped rekindle my interest in music in the late nineties. Regretfully I only saw them live once but they were introduced on stage by John Peel ahead of a Sonic Youth / Spiritualized collaboration, so it was a memorable night. Cannot Keep A Secret is my favourite tune from her third solo album In Search of Harperfield which is definitely worth checking out if you've not heard it already.