Hot Press' 2019 Tracks of the Year: 40-31

40. Brittany Howard - 'Stay High' (Columbia)

On this gorgeous soul ballad, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) is full of warmth. ‘Stay High’ evokes the feeling of a sunny day with love all around. She seems to channel the energy of Al Green, making the tune a true instant classic.

39. Thom Yorke - ‘Dawn Chorus’ (XL Recordings)

Poetic, chilling, simple. All Thom Yorke needs to transport humanity into an alternate universe is himself and his piano. His greatest songwriting endeavour in perhaps a decade, 'Dawn Chorus' is one to savour.

38. Dave feat. Burna Boy - ‘Location’ (Neighbourhood)

The crossover we never knew we needed, 'Location' with Dave and Burna Boy levelled-up the UK rap game this year. The song is lowkey but danceable and proves Dave is a mainstay not only in the rap game, but as a stellar storyteller.

37. Rosalía - ‘Aute Cuture’ (Columbia)

'Aute Cuture' was the sound of the summer! On this track by flamenco-popstar Rosalía, the singer lends her sultry voice to a synth-infused beat, doing what she does best: merging pop with flamenco music. We dare you not to dance to this tune.

36. The Highwomen - ‘Highwomen’ (Low Country Sound/Elektra)

2019 just might be the year country got good again, or at least got back to its roots. That’s thanks in no small way to The Highwomen. The opening number of the supergroup's debut, a rewritten Jimmy Webb tune, finds the ladies stating their mission loud and clear.

35. Charli XCX & Christine and the Queens - ‘Gone’ (Asylum)

Two pop icons in one gay-as-hell song? Yes please! The electro-pop tune is one of many major collabs on Charli XCX's latest album, Charli, but by far the most catchy and the best for the dancefloor.

34. Princess Nokia - ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.)’ (Platoon)

Haters? Princess Nokia's never heard of them. The American rapper spits fire about being above criticism. "That toxic energy shit / Ain't really good for your health / I think you need better goals," she raps as she proves to us once again that she really is the coolest.

33. The National - ‘Oblivions’ (4AD)

Taken from their brilliant album I Am Easy to Find, 'Oblivions' is a beautiful and heartfelt ballad that tells the story of a couple who struggles with trust issues. The back-and-forth between Matt Berninger and Mina Tindle makes the song especially moving and impactful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D69HB5gF3W8

32. Lethal Dialect - ‘The Irishman’ (Lethal Dialect)

After a notable hiatus and a return to his birth name of Paul Alwright, Lethal Dialect once again took his rightful place among Ireland’s hip-hop heavyweights this year. One of the highlights of his return to the spotlight has been ‘The Irishman’, which harks back to Golden Age hip-hop – complete with a laid-black flow, classic doo-wop samples, and Sinatra and mob movie references.

31. Wale – ‘Sue Me’ (MMG/Warner Records)

Melding together jazz, rap, hip hop, R&B, and pretty much every genre between, 'Sue Me' is the a stellar lead track off Wale's latest album, Wow... That's Crazy. The socially-conscious, anthemic rap track is one of the greatest we've heard from Wale.

You can read the complete list of Hot Press' Top Tracks of 2019 in one brilliant sweep in the Hot Press Annual – in which we distill the highlights and low-points of the year, across 132 vital, beautifully designed pages. Starring heroes of the year Fontaines D.C. on the front we cover Music, Culture, Sport, Film, Politics, the Environment and much, much more. Buy this superb publication direct from Hot Press here.