In the lead-up to triple j’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs this weekend, the Blunt Mag team are counting down their personal top ten – here’s Writer Ben Veress’ top picks.
Triple J’s countdown for the top 100 best Australian songs is right around the corner, so to get everyone in the spirit, we’ve been sharing our top ten iconic Aussie tracks.
Now, picking 10 tracks might sound easy, but as you start hitting that eight-to-nine mark, you’ll want to throw up over the stress of only picking ten.
If I had it my way, all ten picks would be every song from Karnivool’s Sound Awake, with ‘Deadman’ and ‘Change’ merged into one track (because who seriously only listens to those tracks one at a time?) At least that way, I wouldn’t have to worry about picking favourites. But, alas, that is what I must do.
For obvious reasons, this list is very subjective. Should Midnight Oil be on this list? Yeah, probably. Does Kylie Minogue deserve top spot on every list? Oh, absolutely. Are they on my list? Nah, sorry. It’s more of a “me” issue more than anything else.
So, without further ado, here are my top ten Aussie song picks.
10. Thunderstruck – AC/DC
It’s tough to just settle on a single AC/DC song, but my pick has to go to ‘Thunderstruck’.
I grew up playing drums in bands that exclusively played AC/DC, and as any musician would know, you couldn’t wish a worse hell on another drummer. But even then, I still can’t deny that ‘Thunderstruck’ is a perfect song.
You have to love that finger-picked melody that immediately builds suspense, the chorus of vocals chanting, the drums banging like strikes of lightning. It’s all very goosebumps-inducing. All of which pays off in the most explosive chorus in the band’s entire discography. You know the moment those first few notes are played at an AC/DC concert, the whole roof is about to come down.
9. INXS – Never Tear Us Apart
Some might say INXS is the best Australian band of all time. I’m not entirely sure that’s true, but what I do know is that their iconic track ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ is an all-time hit.
The moment you hear that iconic synth play, you know you’re in for a good time. Vocalist Michael Hutchence delivers a charismatic vocal performance of a lifetime, one that makes it a certified karaoke hit. But what really sells the song is the iconic sax solo towards the end, making this solid 80s hit timeless.
8. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
I might be exaggerating here, but ‘Sweet Disposition’ might be the ‘prettiest’ song I’ve ever heard. It’s one you’ll find endlessly reposted on r/Frisson because it makes your head tingle and gives you a newfound motivation to climb out of bed.
The song has seen a huge resurgence in recent years thanks to TikTok, so I think it’s safe to say that it’s a certified classic at this stage.
7. Gang of Youths – The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest of Shadows
I have two great music secrets. The first is that I think Slayer sucks (sorry). The second is that I joined the Gang of Youths bandwagon late. I’m not sure why, I love The National so I had no excuse. By the time I finally got around to listening to the band’s 2017 album (sharing the same name as the track), I had the same reaction as Ted’s dad trying the Lobster. It had been so hyped up, I almost didn’t want to believe they were that good.
Well, egg on my face, because they are, and it was this song that made me a believer. The song oozes infectious joy: it’s cinematic, catchy, and will have you hitting repeat just to hear that chorus one more time.
6. Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
I don’t think there’s another Australian artist you can point to who has been more influential to Australia’s modern indie scene.
While plenty of bands attempted to mimic Barnett’s sound and stream-of-consciousness lyricism, not many really matched her in the lyricism department. The song is littered with one-liners that capture a malaise that’s extremely relatable. I have to admit, while I’m not the biggest fan of how this genre developed over the years, I can’t deny ‘Avant Gardener’ holds up to this day and deserves all the flowers it has been given.
5. The Avalanches – Frontier Psychiatrist
A certified “never give this man the aux again” banger.
The Avalanches Since I Left You is not only one of the most influential Australian electronic records, but it’s arguably one of the most influential records of all time. The group’s use of 3,500 samples in the record is impressively showcased in the track ‘Frontier Psychiatrist’. The result? An overwhelming psychedelic trip that makes you wonder if you’re dying, but also makes it blissful.
I’m also no historian, but in my eyes, this was the first ever YouTube Poop. For that alone, I have to put it on the list.
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – I Need You
It’s nearly impossible to pick a single song from Nick Cave’s massive discography, but I have to be selfish with my choice here.
I think Cave’s ‘I Need You’ from his 2016 album Skeleton Tree is his best song. Cave’s heartbreaking vocal performance hits all too hard, especially given the background of what was unfolding in his life at the time of recording. Warren Ellis’ synth here is also just the most looming melancholic sound I’ve ever heard that always gets me feeling blue.
I’d go as far as to say this is probably one of the saddest songs ever made, and as a lover of depressing music, I have to put this one on my list.
3. Genesis Owusu – Leaving The Light
Genesis Owosu is releasing some of the best forward-thinking Aussie music out there right now. It’s why the Owusu earned that ARIA with his debut album Smiling With No Teeth. But his follow-up album, Struggler? That’s the really good stuff, and ‘Leaving the Light’ is a triumph of a track.
It’s an absolute unhinged track, blending post-punk with alt-pop, and those are all things I gobble up like a hungry hippo. If you haven’t checked out Owuwu’s stuff yet, it should be at the top of your to-do list by now.
2. Gotye – Hearts A Mess
There’s something so smug about recommending a Gotye track that isn’t ‘Somebody That You Used To Know’. I feel like a Letterboxd addict recommending a foreign film after someone dared to say they liked the latest Marvel.
But by golly, it’s hard to argue this isn’t Gotye’s best track. I love the eerie vibe going on here. I love even more that he’s a creepy ‘Salad Fingers’ looking bean in the music video. A huge song for all the piners out there.
1. Karnivool – Goliath
Aussie prog is one of our nation’s greatest exports, and no band waves the flag better than Perth’s very own Karnivool.
Picking just one song from their iconic album Sound Awake was like asking a parent to choose their favourite kid. But alas, there really is only one obvious choice.
If you have to pick one song to represent the album, the aptly named ‘Goliath’ is your best bet. The riffs in this track will curl the stankiest of faces from you, and the drops will make your knees weak. In an era where modern prog is mostly just Dream Theater homages or Djent-noodling, Karnivool shows that impressive prog rock still exists.
Check out the rest of the Blunt Mag team’s top ten Aussie song picks here:
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