Each and every song that follows is amazing (to me). My Top 100 Songs of 2015 (40-21):
40. The Vaccines – Handsome/Dream Lover
The Vaccines deserve to be huge. I hope they find their way to that some day.
39. The Wombats – Greek Tragedy
Right up there with the best they’ve ever done.
38. Robert Plant – Rainbow
His voice sounds splendid singing this type of music.
Bonus: Bear In Heaven – Autumn
Frenetic and fantastic.
37. Imagine Dragons – Shots
Best song on their most recent record.
36. Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin
Favourite tune Vile has ever done. Undeniably catchy.
35. Hot Chip – Need You Now
Hot Chip are so reliable. This is an absolute banger with soul pouring out of every pore.
34. Dear Rouge – Black To Gold
Immeasurably slick. Nodding to M83 and sage for doing so.
33. Foals – Mountain At My Gates
A slow burner that took a bit of time to become massive in my head. And how it did. Wicked video too.
Bonus: Alvvays – Ones Who Love You
What a sweet, sombre melody. I can’t not sing along when I hear it.
32. Sufjan Stevens – Should Have Known Better
Sufjan tugs on heart strings unlike any other. The shift to a more relaxed, jubilant sound in the second half really makes it special.
31. Glass Animals – Gooey/Hazey
Sooooooo sexy. One album in, and Glass Animals already have a sound all their own.
30. Modest Mouse – Lampshades On Fire/The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box
The lead single, “Lampshades” is classic Modest Mouse, and the Indie-disco strut of “The Ground Walks” is a jolly ol’ romp.
29. Brandon Flowers – Can’t Deny My Love/Lonely Town
“Can’t Deny My Love” is the best song on Flowers’ second solo LP, but the bridge in “Lonely Town” is so strong I have to include it with the lead single.
28. Grimes – Flesh Without Blood/Kill V. Maim
Grimes’ latest album is one of the best of the year, a jaw-droppingly good electropop album, and these are the two best songs on it. Wish there was a studio version of Kill V. Maim to share. Alas.
27. Cage The Elephant – Trouble
Just came out the last month or so of the year, but won me over right away. Possibly the best song on their brand new record. I love it when Cage goes tender.
Bonus: Wolf Alice – Blush
“Punch drunk, dumb struck, pot luck, happy happy…” I love alternative music that sounds like this. Rare that it’s ever this good though.
26. Tame Impala – Let It Happen
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this song. There’s so much to latch onto in this 7-minute-plus epic.
25. Christine and The Queens – Saint Claude/Paradis Perdu
I discovered Christine and The Queens not long before I went to Osheaga, and they became dear to me almost overnight. A revelation.
24. Jr Jr – Gone
This is happiness incarnate. I worry I haven’t ranked this song high enough. I don’t think it’s possible to quantify this much ebullience. I simply adore this song.
23. Jack U f. Justin Bieber – Where Are U Now/Justin Bieber – Sorry
When I roasted him, I ended the piece by saying all he needed was a hit and a lot of the negative stuff would fall away. He got it, with Skrillex and Diplo’s help, on “Where Are U Now”. It’s a gargantuan banger. #ThatDropThough. And then a few months later “Sorry” came along, the best song he’s ever put his name on.
22. El Vy – Return To The Moon
This is the sound of The National on vacation, fully relaxed and enjoying the sun, all the way from the moon. I’ve always wanted to hear Matt Berninger do a song like this. I really like the guitars in this song.
21. Years and Years – King
I’m not sure how big this song got in North America, but it should’ve been bigger. That chorus is really special.
The Pun Is Sure 