1) Annie Lennox – I cover the waterfront

Annie Lennox’s latest album is a jazz/soul cover album, full of songs from the Great American Songbook. Every track is simplistic and exceptionally beautiful. Her powerful voice suits every song, this one included.

[Not on YouTube]

2) Annie Lennox – Summertime

A mellow, piano-based version of a classic song. Love this.

3) One Direction – Ready to run

Don’t be fooled by the almost identical guitar riffs and verses to ‘Story of my life’, this song is far superior. Once it develops, it turns into a powerful stadium-rock driven song. Absolutely love the middle eight on this! Great harmonies too. ‘Four’ is going to be an amazing album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ElOnmwV7rM

4) The 1975 – Medicine

Simplistic and a little repetitive but absolutely stunning. Sometimes a minimalistic song is the most powerful and this proves it. Written and recorded for Zane Lowe’s re-score of the movie ‘Drive’, this has a gorgeous synthesiser based introduction and outro, with wailing guitar arpeggios and Matt Healy’s voice melting over the wavy production.

5) The 1975 – Milk

A song about addiction with the incredibly catchy ‘She’s doing it all of the time’ refrain. Love the power and catchiness of this awesome song.

6) Wretch 32 – 6 words

Apparently this song is inspired by Take That and Coldplay records. I do see the influence despite it still being unmistakably Wretch 32. On this record he attempts to sing – he doesn’t have the strongest of voices but it works. It’s an awesome track.

7) Tom Odell – Real Love

A cover of the John Lennon/Beatles song for this year’s adorable John Lewis advert. This is the first time in years where I feel like the cover hasn’t butchered the original! Great job, Tom.

8) One Direction – Stockholm Syndrome

I shouldn’t have technically heard this because the album isn’t out yet but it was leaked and I am hooked. SO edgy, so incredibly catchy and I just can’t get enough of this right now!

[Not on YouTube yet]

9) Katy Perry – Double Rainbow

Underrated and absolutely stunning song off Katy’s Prism album. Beautiful lyrics.

10) Madeleine Peyroux – I’ll look around

Absolutely stunning rendition of a jazz classic. Jonathan Waugh (saxophonist for The 1975) tweeted this so I gave it a listen and have been hooked ever since. Gorgeous. Got an Autumnal feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd5_CV-3eTQ