Tracks of the Year 2010

As revealed on Twitter over the last few weeks, here's the complete rundown of the 25 best tracks of the year.

25. When I'm Alone- Lissie
24. Wrecking Bar (Ra Ra Ra)- Vaccines
23. We Are Sex Bob-Omb- Sex Bob-Omb
22. All Eyes On You- Philip Selway
21. Blue Blood Blues- The Dead Weather
20. Tighten Up- Black Keys
19. Fast Car/Slow Traffic- Paul Weller
18. Drunk Girls- LCD Soundsystem
17. Dead American Writers- Tired Pony
16. Crossover- Magnetic Man ft Katy B
15. Laredo- Band Of Horses
14. Truth Sets In- Avi Buffalo
13. POWER- Kanye West
12. Photoshop Handsome- Everything Everything
11. Devil's Spoke- Laura Marling
10. Bloodbuzz Ohio- The National
9. Stylo- Gorillaz
8. Tightrope- Janelle Monae
7. (It's Not War) Just The End Of Love- Manic Street Preachers
6. Fuck You- Cee-Lo Green
5. Spanish Sahara- Foals
4. Month of May- Arcade Fire
3. Pass Out- Tinie Tempah
2. Tenderoni- Kele

AND THE WINNER IS...


1. Stay Too Long- Plan B

Perhaps not as revolutionary as many tracks that have found their way onto this list, Plan B's comeback nevertheless tops this chart based on the explosive impact it had when it was first heard. Ben Drew had found considerable success as a potty-mouthed rapper singing about social issues like child abuse and alcoholism. But after the revelation of his voice on Chase & Status' End Credits single at the end of last year, Plan B spent the year living the life of Strickland Banks, the soul man whose life is destroyed on his album.

The song depicts a night out after a big gig. Strickland heads to a bar, gets blindingly drunk, runs from the law, takes drugs and finally ends up having an a one night stand with an obsessive fan (feeding directly into next single, She Said). The heady rush that Drew sings and raps about is captured perfectly in the music, an exhilarating run through the London streets.

Stay Too Long didn't quite go for the full-on soul of tracks like Praying, She Said and Love Goes Down, but this was easily the most exciting sound of the year, all the while Drew keeping up with the social explorations of his older work.

It's with a level of sadness we learn that Plan B is returning to hip hop next year. But if his next album The Ballad Of Belmarsh can retain the artistry of songs like this then it's also something that can be faced with excitement too.