Most people write this post in December, but I wanted even more time to reflect on the past year so that this post will be even more awesome. So here it is in no particular order. There is a spotify playlist at the bottom so you know what to do.
Chairlift – Crying in Public
Rarely do I like a non-dancey Chairlift song, but this track off Moth is as tender a ballad as Chairlift can get. The track showcases Caroline Polachek’s flexibility as a vocalist and I love the modern touches in the lyrics. Very good song that’s basically impossible to sing in karaoke, not that that’s a criteria.
James – Nothing But Love
James put out their usual solid album this year, yet they didn’t tour Canada, which saddens me. Nothing But Love is a James anthem in every sense of the way – easy to digest lyrics, a pace ideal for singalongs and a soaring chorus. Some bands would give up an arm and a leg to write a song like this every once in awhile yet James spits these out like it’s free candy. We take them for granted, which is a shame.
Haelos – Cloud Nine
Haelos – Pray
These two tracks off the debut Haelos album are among my favorite of the year – dramatic and dark, they are perfect for that night time drive. Crisp production efforts and just hella moody, hard to believe this is a band in just their infancy stages.
Tegan and Sara – Stop Desire
Opposed to the darkness that is Haelos, this is your get up on a Saturday morning, bust out a workout and drink some milkshake anthem. Impossibly catchy and 80’s inspired, this track will be lighting up indie dance floors for years to come. On par with Closer for the most crowd pleasing Tegan & Sara song.
Allie X – That’s So Us
Speaking of pop songs, this song has got hooks left right and center. I don’t know how this song did not do better. It’s pop candy at it’s best. Maybe it’s too pop.
Bat for Lashes – Sunday Love
We’ll just have to deal with the fact that Bat for Lashes will never top the track Daniel which is fair enough because that’s such a good song. Sunday Love is off what I believe is a concept album (aren’t all BFL albums concept albums?). Natasha Khan makes every song sound kinda epic with her unbelievable voice and this track is no different, although the synthesized harp’s help.
Joey Purp – Girls @ (featuring Chance The Rapper)
This song sounds like a Neptunes rap song from early 2000’s so it’s got that weird new nostalgic feeling to it. It also references Destiny Child, so you know it’s got the late 90s in mind. I liked those young, innocent days. It also features Chance The Rapper who is basically gold these days. Speaking of Chance…
Chance the Rapper – All Night
All night, I been drinking all night
I been drinking all night, I been drinking, ay ay
Everybody outside, everybody outside
When I pull up outside, all night, no
Everybody high five, everybody wanna smile
Everybody wanna lie, that’s nice, no
Probably my favorite first few lines off any song this year. That all night chorus gets you shimmy shaking. What do those words mean? I don’t even know.
Shura – Nothing’s Real
Shura – Touch
Half of Shura’s songs this year would have made this list realistically. I’m a sucker for 80’s inspired disco/pop music. Minor touches like the strings during the chorus of Nothing’s Real elevates this song from standard run of the mill songs, much like how good olive oil take your salad to the next level. Criminally underrated album.
Japandroids – Near To the Wild Heart of Life
Canadian rockers return to us with a song worthy of my 90’s era high school angst. Japandroid has a tremendous talent of melding hard rock with pop hooks and this formula is firing on all cylinders with this song. What a comeback.