Its been a pretty slow first half of the year for decent single releases in the music industry, but here at Phyrik, we’ve spent quite a while devising a list of good songs from the first half of 2008. Be suprised, be very suprised….

1. Mystery Jets - Young Love

Song of the first half of the year, many a band will come close to toppling this instant classic, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

2. Panic At the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon

A song that you can sing to in two minutes, make you smile and feel good about yourself, its an essential in any library, a song that will lifts anyones mood.

3. Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor

First single on their new album, Ready for the Floor certainly captured peoples attention when it made it popular on the radiowaves, unexpectedly. Totally deserved, the band are finally getting their recognition.

4. The Ting Tings - Great DJ

Chart topping song from the Ting Tings, this is what an indie dance song should sound like.

5. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

Screeching guitars, funky bassline, powerful vocals, then suddenly a change to bliss. This song is a must have for anyone.

6. Hadouken! - That Boy that Girl

Re-released to coincide with the bands ridiculously un-tagged album, this song is a typical teen whine, but done so in a way that anyone can listen to and shout, for no real reason at all.

7. Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me

Co-written by Calvin Harris, Harris has been the man of the year. Bringing Kylies comeback to the top, and moving Dizee finally into the limelight, where he belongs. Himself and Kanye are the best rappers around, and full credit to them.

8. The Enemy - We’ll Live and Die in These Towns

The Enemy has made no enemies here, with one of the pop songs of the year, which makes you think what Girls Aloud would be like if they had songwriters like these guys.

9. Biffy Clyro - Who’s Got a Match?

Biffy has been recently compared to the Foos, which, they have a long way to go before that, but until then, heres a taste of excellent riffs from the scot band.

10. Alphabeat - Fascination

Danish duo Alphabeat fascinate us all with their debut song thats too good to ignore. Harmony and melody is perfect, it cant get much better.

11. Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down

THE band of the year so far, the Mystery Jets are leading the way of bringing 80’s music into the 21st century, with a truly rollicking good song.

12. The Futureheads - Beginning Of the Twist

First single on their new album, its a song that MUST be in your library, regardless of what tastes in music you have.

13. Duffy - Mercy

Welsh singer Duffy cashes in with the sudden spark in interest of Jazz-pop after the Amy Winehouse fiasco, she does a great job not to make it cheesy and to turn everyones head away from Ms Winehouse

14. The Kooks - Always Where I Need to Be

A disappointing album, the promotion single is one of their best to date. Simple, energetic, catchy, it ticks al the boxes for a great song.

15. Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet - Just

Mark Ronsons Radiohead cover pushes all the right buttons, and changes it so much, that it barely sounds like the original anymore, yet make it sound just as good.

16. Radiohead - House Of Cards

Eerily excellent, downright bloody amazing, Thom Yorke still hasnt run out of new ideas, pushing music to new levels with the most heartfelt song of the year.

17. Weezer - Pork and Beans

The single puts a wet towel over claims that Weezer are splitting, this song shows after 15 years in the biz, they still got it with heavy powerful chords and a chorus that andy band would kill for.

18. The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name

Their first ever single, its bewildering how they manage to make such an elgant song so blissfully easy. And lyrically, while its not great, why do we chant it anyway!!?

19. Paramore - Riot Business

Emo punk from the all-american Paramore, this does enough to tempt any drawings from Fall Out Boy. Please, dont go there. Paramore are 100 times better than they are.

20. Sam Sparro - Black and Gold

Pop gold from an otherwise crappy album, this song justifies buying the album alone… or.. just go download it on itunes.

21. Madonna - 4 Minutes

Madonnas comeback single featuring JT, shows that age is no barrier in the music industry, with a song to rival Timbalands own.

22. Good Shoes - Photos on My Wall

Underrated band this year. The song is simple, planned, and packs a punch when listened to on full volume.

23. The Feeling - I Thought it Was Over

First single from the new album, the camp piano pop songs are still there, and still go down a treat. They also manage to do things a bit different, cant complain though, its still magificent.

24. The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let me Go

More of a singles band than full on album epics, the song has had plenty of radio play, and while some people may be getting weary of it, theres not doubt its a hugely catchy song.

25. The Fratellis - Mistress Mabel

In my opinion, one of the weakest songs on one of the albums of the year. If they release My Friend John, its going straight into my top five, no doubt.

26. Panic At the Disco - That Green Gentleman

Excellent melody and songwriting from PATD, who take a total U-turn on their emo style music, to produce an album full of colour, magic and happiness.

27. The Wombats - Lets Dance To Joy Division

Sing-a-long chanting from the Wombats, the song has had decent airplay on MTV2, flagshipping the song. One of the indie songs of the year.

28. Kylie Minogue - In My Arms

Writting by Calvin Harris, you can notice its 80’s electron feel come to you, as Kylies voice powers over it all. Recommended for anyone.

29. We Are Scientists - After Hours

May have been scathed my some media, we think its a fitting single to justify the new album, although, the album itself didnt live up to expectations.

30. R.E.M - Supernatural Superserious

REMs comeback album may have been a bit weak, but they chose the right single to promote it. A typical REM song, that reminds us of why Bad Day was so good.

31. Journey - Don’t Stop Believing

Re-Release from the 80’s band, this song has been many a times played around the country, and it deserves to be.

32. The Courteeners - Cavorting

Highly anticipated single from the Courteeners, well received in the media, and also well recieved here. The melody cant get more perfect than this.

33. MGMT - Time to Pretend

MGMT shot to fame with this song, and its no wonder. The heavy synth electro feel going on here is enough to make you fuzzy inside.

34. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of the Understatement

The second good song, from the mediocre album, this dramatic songs build up has to be heard to be believed. An epic for a soundtrack.

35. Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma

One of my personal favourite bands of the year, Oxford Comma delivers in areas that most bands cant reach; sheer beat-tastic songs.

36. Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse - Valerie

Mark Ronson struck gold with this Zutons cover, and totally deserved. Brilliant vocals from Amy, the twist on the song is a joy to listen to.

37. Scooter - Jumping all Over the World

I might get stick from this one, but Scooters comeback with Jumping all over the World is just what the dance genre needs, a good kick up the arse with an upbeat, instantly catchy dance tune.

38. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - Find The Time

His first single from the new album, its more acoustic ballads for him here, but steers clear of any cliched indie songs, and delivers a great one, with his vocals leading more than the guitar this time round.

39. The Futureheads - This is not the World

The second single from their brilliant new album, its not quite universally appealing, but get your head around the rhythm madness, and you got yourself a shout-a-long that wont escape your head.

40. Scouting for Girls - Elvis Aint Dead

Another pop-tastic piano plink from the scouts, from what is otherwise a disappointing album.

41. Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me

Made famous from a deodrant add recently, this song deserves all the success it has gotten. Pity her album is a letdown.

42. Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy

One of Kanyes better work on the latest album, this is what collaborations should be all about. Drawing totally different backgrounds, they make it work, and very well at that.

43. Aya Hirano - Bouko Desho Desho?

JPop Musician/Actress Aya is gunning big this year, with her first worldwide release, and this is a winner. Its blissful, and her voice makes this go down a treat.

44. Scouting for Girls - Heartbeat

One of the biggest suprises of 2008, they came from nowhere with She’s So Lovely, and done it again with this catchy tune.

45. Madness - NW5

Madness return with NW5. Not quite Come On Eileen scale, its much darker, but very addictive piano-led pop from the post-ska era they once held crown to.

46. Kylie Minogue - Wow

Her comeback single after her tough 2 years, this song is up there with one of her best. The only rival in the music business to Madonna, this is a song to cherish.

47. Hadouken! - Game Over

Electro-funk-indie-something or other that makes you wanna scream bloody murder in your head, but not before banging your head to this.

48. The Feeling - Turn It Up

Sunshine pop from the Feeling has been done before, and this time around they stick to the winning formula. It works, and feels fresh enough that you wont easily get sick of it.

49. Be Your Own Pet - The Kelly Affair

Riff-tastic garage rock song from the new queen of… garage rock. You’ll be humming the riff after 10 seconds, guarenteed. And her vocals are out there too.

50. The Last Shadow Puppets - Standing Next to Me

Dark pop song, that some may be comparing to post Beatles songwriting, but to us, it’s a straightforward catchy song.