Various Artists - Triple J Hottest 100 Vol. 16 (Album)
I have to admit it’s been quite some time since I’ve listened to Triple J. I tuned in around 2002 and tuned out in 2007. I didn’t once adjust my radio to 105.7 in 2008. It’s remained on 94.5 except when a friend makes me listen to his community radio show. Nonetheless, listening to the latest Hottest 100 compilation reminded me of why I used to love listening to this station...and why I tuned out in the first place.
The Hottest 100 countdown is a well-established tradition in Australian society. Triple J boasts of over 800, 000 votes in this year’s poll. That’s a lot of people logging on to cast their vote for the songs that stood out from the myriad of new tunes that were released throughout the year. The beauty of a countdown such as this one is that it reminds you of particular moments that you remember by particular songs. You log in to cast your vote and songs jump out at you that you completely forgot were released so recently. Sometimes the early months of the year seem so far away...so much changes by the time November and December roll around. Something like Cut Copy’s Lights and Music reminds me of this one rainy Cut Copy gig I attended...and I remember Van She were the support act and I really enjoyed their set...so this was way back when I didn’t think Van She were a bunch of wankers so it seems eons ago, not just a few months! And then there’s something like Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire which is STILL all over the radio and TV and everybody and their mother’s iPod. It’s an eclectic mix is what I’m getting at here.
The two-disc compilation that is Triple J’s Hottest 100 Volume 16 is 44 songs of varying genres, with Disc 1 being dominated by the more popular tracks of the year, featuring artists which topped the chart – Kings of Leon, MGMT, Empire of the Sun and The Presets...an expected outcome; not a disappointing one as these songs captured the hearts and inner groupies in people from every corner of every subculture out there, but still a bit of a downer because of the lack of love for lesser known bands. Triple J pride themselves on sharing new music with us and whilst they do a pretty good job of that, their listeners still seem largely tuned in to what the mainstream radio stations are also playing. Sex on Fire was 6000 votes ahead of the runner-up, a song so overplayed it made me want to slap the Followills for making something so goddamn catchy that a friend of mine who lists Lil Wayne as her favourite ‘musician’ is now a Kings of Leon devotee.
But anyway...
The fantastic thing about this compilation is that it not only reminds you of the year’s stand-out tracks and throws in a few pleasant surprises like Soko’s I Will Never Love You More (who knew she recorded more than that adorably creepy I’ll Kill Her...?!), it also really does deliver on the promise of introducing you to something new and fresh, like me being convinced not all Australian hip hop is an embarrassment (thank you Bliss n Eso...no thanks to you, Drapht). But it also reiterates my belief that those annoying tough guy bands like Cog and Birds of Tokyo just won’t go away, and that The Living End are the new John Farnham – they just keep singing even well after their use-by date...and people just keep buying it, even when it becomes obvious they are just rehashing old material.
This latest Triple J offering provides a nice mix of songs that you can put on any time and enjoy...one of those everything compilations that you listen to when you don’t really know what music you’re in the mood for. The only problem is that at times, the genres are way too varied – the electro 80s beats of Cut Copy don’t really lead well to the heartbreak vocals of Bon Iver, then to the handclapping fun of Mystery Jets...then back to the electro doom that is Ladyhawke's My Delirium. Plus, Disc 2 brings the compilation to a close on a bit of a low note, with very few stand-out tracks, all of which seem to have been bunched together in Disc 1 to overwhelm the listener with hit after hit.
But for someone, unlike myself, who is less bitter about the lack of love for local bands and Kings of Leon selling out, this compilation comes highly recommended.
