The Metaphorical Boat's Top Songs of 2016 - 40-36

Numbers 40 through to 36 in this part of the countdown next. Contained within this golden five is some confectionary-based pop-punk, Canadian indie-pop, Italian multi-tracked melodies, artsy Kendalites, and some alternative-rock legends -

40. Hello Bear - We Held Hands Once, But Then She Got Embarrassed




39. The Zolas - Swooner




38. Stop The Wheel - Shape Up




37. Wild Beasts - Get My Bang



36. Nada Surf - Cold To See Clear

The Metaphorical Boat's Top Songs of 2016 - 45-41

After our first five songs in the countdown, the next five naturally follow. Because it would be rather silly if we went from 50-46 straight to 15-11, wouldn't it? Indeed it would.

So songs from 45-41 in our countdown next. Contained within are some art-rockers, a French artist whose captivating choreography captivated so many of us this year, one of the biggest British rock bands about, a Japanese band who've brought the worlds of metal and J-pop together, and the leading lights of contemporary British country -

45. Glass Animals - Life Itself




44. Christine and the Queens - Tilted



43. Biffy Clyro - Re-arrange



42. BABYMETAL - Karate



41. Ward Thomas - Guilty Flowers

The Metaphorical Boat's Top Songs of 2016 - 50-46

Time for the annual listageddon here at The Metaphorical Boat. Over the next few days we will be counting down the blog's top 50 songs of 2016. There will be songs that have featured on the blog, songs that didn't feature on the blog, songs that have graced our lovely Spotify playlists over the last 12 months, and songs that really should have featured. But regardless, they are all awesome, and hopefully there will be a few songs here that will float your Metaphorical Boat.

We start with the songs from 50-46 on the list, which includes the final single from one of the greatest songwriters of the last 50 years, Glaswegian indie-rock, a young Northern Irish upstart, some throwback balladry, and...a song that took part in this year's Eurovision Contest!?

50. David Bowie - Lazarus



49. Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz - Midnight Gold



48. Brash Isaac - In The Dark



47. Yakima - Burn




46. Darren Hayman - I've Been a Bad Bad Boy

The Metaphorical Boat Spotify Playlist - November 2016

For those of you who like your musical recommendations in playlist-able Spotify form, 

The Metaphorical Boat posts a selection of songs that we have been enjoying over the past few weeks, new songs that we haven't written about but are enjoying nonetheless, and a few older but fantastic tracks that are currently floating our Metaphorical Boat.

Below you can find our playlist of songs that we really enjoyed in November 2016. Although we usually post this every two months, given that December is usually thrown over to year-end listageddon, we've condensed the list to just what we discovered in November time. If you like what you hear, or just want another playlist to add to your growing list of playlists, then we really hope that you'll take the time to visit the playlist on Spotify and give it a follow. You never know, your new favourite song of all time could be somewhere on this playlist!

This month's playlist is shorter than others from this year, but no less brilliant, featuring songs from established artists like The xx & Enigma (the latter in collaboration with the highly rated Aquilo), songs from recent discoveries to us, like Henry Jamison & Earwig, and local acts Hannah McPhillimy & The Jepettos. Plus, some great songs from Japanese artists courtesy of Shiggy Jr. & RADWIMPS, the latter of which wrote the theme song for my favourite film of the year, Your Name. Lots of great music from lots of great people for your ear-based amusement.

Hannah McPhillimy - Ruins

It has been a while - nearly four years in fact - since we last mentioned local singer-songwriter Hannah McPhillimy on these pages. Not that she's been silent the past few years mind you - she joined synth-pop band Go Wolf, whom we've talked about quite a bit, and has still been plugging away on her own material, most notably the "Disappear Here" EP released in 2015 in collaboration with author Jan Carson.

Her most recent release is "Wind Machine", which came out in June. Produced by Julie Mclarnon, who's worked with Neutral Milk Hotel & King Creosote among others, the E.P mixes folk and jazz influences into a package topped off by Hannah's plaintive and honest vocals.

Taken from the E.P is "Ruins", which for lack of a better term, is the most accessible song on the E.P, with it's familiar chord structure and emotive and endearing chorus, so it's no surprise to see that it receive the video treatment. The video sees Hannah singing in the forest, interspersed with scenes of what can only be described as the most intensive game of Jenga ever played. We were under the impression that the video is a pastiche of the chess game from the Ingmar Bergan film The Seventh Seal, although we've been since informed that it's most likely a coincidence.



The "Wind Machine" E.P from Hannah McPhillimy is out now.