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Top Tracks of September 2019 - Ghost, Charli XCX, Foals and more!

September may have seen Green Day and Blink-182 dropping some of their most embarrassingly bland material to date, but there was also enough greatness from across the music spectrum that I could have easily made this month's list even longer. Either way, I've stuck to my usual five picks of the very best tracks of the past month. If you haven't heard these yet, get them in your ears!
Foals - The Runner

This second single from the upcoming Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part II is a more than worthy follow-up to last month's excellent 'Black Bull'. While not quite as furious as that track, 'The Runner' sees Foals continue to deliver on their promise of heavier material for this new album with a formidable, fuzzy lead riff and production that packs a hefty punch. The chorus is a straightforward but hugely effective showcase for Yannis Philippakis' soaring vocals, while the frontman's conceptual lyrics are, as ever, owed your attention. October 18th can't come soon enough!
Charli XCX - Silver Cross

In last month's Top Tracks feature, I predicted that the new album from Charli XCX would be the best pop release of the year, and I think that's now been proven true. Charli is so chock-full of electro-pop bangers that just about every track could be fairly chosen as a highlight, but my pick right now is 'Silver Cross'. A perfect blend of synth instrumentation, strong vocals, moments of electronic experimentalism, and that trademark 'futuristic' production style, this track proves that Charli XCX is the most exciting artist in pop right now.
Post Malone ft. Ozzy Osbourne & Travis Scott - Take What You Want

 The latest album from Post Malone features the year's most unexpected collaboration, with none other than heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne stepping into the studio with the rap superstar. This is Ozzy's first new recording since Black Sabbath's 2013 album, 13, and the vocals of the Prince of Darkness are a perfect fit for the track's dark, brooding atmosphere. 
Post Malone's love of metal is well-known, but on this track he really wears this passion on his sleeve, going as far as to cap things off with a ripping guitar solo. Travis Scott also helps to elevate the track with a strong verse of his own, but Ozzy is the real highlight here.

Zuzu - Money Back

 Following the excellent 'How it Feels' and 'Get Off' from earlier this year, rising Liverpool star Zuzu has returned with yet more feel-good indie-pop vibes. Built around an infectious vocal hook, 'Money Back' is another showcase for Zuzu's energy, personality and songwriting talent and is tailor-made for audience-wide sing-alongs. Catch her opening for Yonaka on tour this December!

Me with Zuzu recently!

Ghost - Mary on a Cross/Kiss the Go-Goat

Following 2018's Grammy-nominated Prequelle, Ghost have made a surprisingly quick return with a new double A-side single collectively entitled 'Seven Inches of Satanic Panic'. The band's distinctive mix of metal riffs, macabre theatricality, and intoxicatingly catchy choruses is thankfully still in tact, but has been subtly evolved to great effect. Bringing the pop and classic rock elements further to the fore, 'Mary on a Cross' is one of the biggest earworms Ghost have ever crafted, with a keyboard refrain that sounds like something Toto or Kansas would have written after watching a few too many horror movies. Meanwhile, 'Kiss the Go-Goat' shows Tobias Forge's lyrics and vocals to be as delightfully devilish as ever, contrasting brilliantly with the track's pop sensibilities. If you're a fan, definitely give these two tracks a listen.
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And there you have it! I'll be back soon with another installment of my Liverpool Sounds series, but until then, check out my Top Tracks of August here.

 Thanks for reading!

- Danny
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