Top 50 Singles of 2010: 5-1

5. Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light



The group’s longest, most experimental song to date. The final minute or so, with that drug-induced, otherworldly build, is the best moment in pop this year.

4. Tinashé - Zambezi



A somewhat unknown afro-beat pop anthem that utterly captured me this year. From the coming-of-age lyrics to the bright, soaring chorus, this is a staggering achievement.

3. Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over



Quite simply, it conquered the world this year. I can’t think of a more galvanizing song. Rattling drums battle it out with divine, gutsy vocals to create what can only be described as a masterpiece.

2. Robyn - Dancing On My Own



I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to return with something even better than With Every Heartbeat. This is everything I love about Robyn distilled into one song. Soaring, heartbreaking, cool, unforgettable.

1. Foxy Shazam - Oh Lord



From the moment I heard this, it was hard to imagine any song besting it this year. This was the arrival of something breathtakingly, awesomely new. They threw everything I love about music into a blender and Oh Lord was born.

Tinashe - If You Say So

"I'll be yours"

Tinashe's debut album is out today and it's a great example of modern, British pop/rock. There's a little bit of The Feeling in there, a little bit of Mika, some Kooks... all swirled around in a blender and polished until it sheens. I wish there were more songs like his single Zambezi, though that's a big ask because that track is literally a masterpiece. What we've got instead is a collection of potential singles with just enough individuality and charm to set them apart in the pop landscape. Tinashe's expressive voice is always at the forefront, with his unique phrasing and lyrical observations. If You Say So is the second track, a punchy, percussion driven pop song with a melody that'll lodge in your brain. It sounds a lot like something you would've heard on the first Feeling album. That's a very good thing. Whether or not Tinashe will get the radio love that he deserves remains to be seen. If he does, though, he'll be unstoppable.

Tinashe - If You Say So by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Tinashe - Zambezi

"Do you remember the day you let me be the only one?"

I feel slightly behind the curve when I have to find out about a new artist through an outlet like Q Magazine. Usually, we bloggers are way beyond the magazines, but I'm so glad I took the time to read a review of Tinashe's upcoming album because I have found a new obsession. Zambezi is the best single I've heard since Foxy Shazam's Oh Lord back in April. It's simply perfection, a song of such uplift and beauty that it seems timeless the moment you hear it. It's one of those nostalgic tracks that manages to cram every emotion into three minutes, all over a soaring, afro-pop beat that complements the buoyant melody perfectly. Tinashe hails originally from Zimbabwe, but went to school in London. It's an interesting mix of styles, and one that should find him success. Add to that an undeniable x-factor and a distinctive pop voice, and you've got my favorite new solo artist of the year. CHECK THIS OUT. I'm dying to hear the album!!

Tinashe - Zambezi by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.