There’s something a bit liberating about listing my favorite tracks of the year. Even if a song is not part of the most consistent album, it can simply stand on its own merits. Standout moments that I heard over the course of the year can be focused on completely, as much as it may be difficult to compare such different moments to each other. Ultimately, the 25 tracks below represent my favorite moments of the year, across an array of genres and emotions. I hope you can find a few moments that resonate with you too.
25. Cielo Falso – Titanic
The Mexico City duo of Mabe Fratti and Hector Tosta work perfectly in sync on this track, with cello and piano intermingling with Mabe’s smooth voice for a jazzy journey that builds into a wonderful groove. Paired with fittingly enigmatic lyrics, the song searches for something beyond this world, behind the illusion of the sky and the earth.
24. Scaring the Hoes – JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown
The titular track from the left field hip hop duo’s album carries their most fundamental message: don’t pander, don’t compromise your music, don’t give a shit (and yes, scare the hoes). With insanely in your face and overwhelming production, and equally hilarious performances from both MCs, this song, and their whole collaborative project, is a testament to committing to your vision, whether audiences can deal with it or not.
23. Andalucia Plays – Slowdive
My favorite track from the legendary shoegaze band’s latest album is one that rejects the genre’s noisy, explosive tendencies, and trades them in for soft, dreamy beauty. Heartwarming to the core, it melts with a pure love, watching that special person in your favorite shirt, sharing a moment of music and memory, and sinking into it with each other. It’s a dream you won’t want to wake up from.
22. History Channel – Hotline TNT
Nothing will lodge a song in your brain quite like having a great melody to sing along to. And nothing makes you want to sing along with a song quite like having an energetic rock anthem backing it up. On “History Channel”, Hotline TNT brings both, turning up their amps and jamming out. It’s simple, it’s fun, and it makes you want to hit play and soon as it’s over.
21. Desolation’s Flower – Ragana
The opening track on Ragana’s brutal new album distills everything I love about it from the get-go. It plays out like a slow burn, building tension one guitar note at a time, but once it gets going, its impossible to avert your eyes. Vocals are screamed, not sung, overdriven guitars lash out with fury, and every drum hit has the weight of a hammer. You won’t hear anger played out with such intensity anywhere else.
20. Defeat – Animal Collective
This 20-minute epic is a special one for me. The first time I heard this track was live, and as it unfolded before me, I was deeply moved by its beautiful lingering notes, and captivated by its many turns. Although its exact messaging can be difficult to unravel, it is clear this track is a meditation on moving towards the inevitable: time, age, and sometimes, defeat. In its conclusion, the repeating exchange “Defeat (oh no, not now)” echoes over and over, each time a bit more painful than the last.
19. Not Strong Enough – boygenius
To say “the boys” had quite the year would be an understatement. Propelled by the continuing success of Phoebe Bridgers and the obvious friendship and chemistry between her, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker, boygenius took the world by storm. “Not Strong Enough” is the clearest example why, with the three of them trading verses and harmonies, each highlighting their unique qualities in their vocal performances, which by the way, are excellent. I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping the boys keep pushing forward.
18. Three Drums – Four Tet
This instrumental track from Four Tet is a feeling you get carried away in. True(ish) to its name, a drum beat persists throughout the track, an easy driving groove you can bop your head to. Around it, synths hum and build, slowly pulsing louder and louder until they crescendo into a tidal wave. After this saturated peak, a long ambient fadeout ensues, almost as though the many instruments of the track have done their work, and are finally ready for bed.
17. FaceTime – Billy Woods & Kenny Segal (ft. Samuel Herring)
This chapter of Billy Woods’ journey finds his worlds colliding. A life of partying on tour, of going to parties and afterparties, of drinking mezcal negronis and smoking artisan weed, clashes with the life he’s left back at home. There’s a clear conflict in his mind, unable to stop thinking about his girl when he needs to be focused on work, but simultaneously pushing her video calls away when they come through on his phone. Despite being able to stay connected through FaceTime, Billy seems more isolated than ever.
16. Shiver – Fever Ray
There is a bit of a dark undercurrent through all of Fever Ray’s music, something that sounds a little sinister. That is still true here, although it is mixed with a bouncy rhythm that might inspire getting down on the dancefloor (even if just for a second). But the lyrics show that this dark feeling is not evil, but rather desire, the primal yearning to make someone, and be made to, shiver. It would be tough to call the song wholesome, but with Fever Ray talking about a girl making them blush, and asking for a moment of trust in the midst of ecstasy, you could say there is something quite sweet about their quest for sexuality.
15. Portrait Of A Clear Day – Julie Byrne
There was no album closer to making my list this year than The Greater Wings, and this song is largely to blame. It’s simple and beautiful and full of vivid heartbreak, and is a reminder of how much a good song can shine when it is allowed to breathe. Consisting of mostly just guitar and Julie Byrne’s beautiful voice, it’s difficult to not get swept up in its peaceful tone and images of sunlight shimmering on the water. Beneath the beauty, a sadness stirs, missing the love that once filled rooms of a house, the grass under Julie’s feet, and her heart. It’s difficult not to feel moved as she concludes “I get so nostalgic for you sometimes.”
14. Barley – Water From Your Eyes
Ok, honestly, I don’t know what the hell is going on this one. I don’t know why I love the slightly off-pitch guitar riffs that blare through like sirens, or the fact that there are seemingly three different rhythms happening at any given time. I certainly don’t know why it’s so funny to me that the lyrics are literally just taken from “Fields of Gold” by Sting. But I think the absurdity of it all doesn’t need much explanation, because at the end of the day the one thing that I do know is that this song rocks, logic be damned.
13. Vampire Empire – Big Thief
It wouldn’t be a complete end of year list without including Big Thief, the band that is incapable of taking a break from releasing fantastic music. “Vampire Empire” is easily one of their most impassioned performances, with Adrianne Lenker digging deep to sing some verses with a bite that she doesn’t employ all that often. Her intensity can be easily understood, as she describes the all-consuming power of a partner that has taken a grip of her life, fangs and all. Between the passion, there are lies and confusion and pain, and Adrienne is subject to all of it under the Vampire Empire.
12. mememe – 100 gecs
The hyperpop duo reached farther and wider on their latest record, taking influence from as many genres as they could. On their closing track “mememe”, they focus on an extremely explosive rendition of pop punk and ska, resulting in a song that is hilarious, catchy, and wild. And at the end of an album full of their signature absurdity, their refrain “you’ll never really know anything about me” feels like the most honest thing they’ve written. Behind the 100 gecs persona there’s two people that we probably won’t understand, and that’s ok, because watching the gecs run wild is all we could ask for.
11. Polaris – Parannoul
The Korean shoegaze musician has become a fan favorite in online circles, and I think “Polaris” is not just a clear indication why, but also his best song yet. It’s an extraordinarily catchy one, with a cute falsetto hook and inviting acoustic guitar, but it gets full marks for the transition that happens halfway through the track. Massive guitars and synths erupt and create a fantastic wall of sound that feels as inspiring as a sky full of fireworks, and even though I do not understand a thing that is being sung, I find it one of the biggest moments of the year.
10. Scapegoat – ANOHNI & The Johnsons
There’s really nothing that can be said about the centerpiece of ANOHNI’s latest album other than it is powerful and deeply affecting. Sung largely from the point of view of a bigot, she makes clear that there is an ever-present part of society that views her and other members of the LGBTQ community as “killable”, “disappear-able”, as vessels to channel their hate into, and above all, as scapegoats. It is a harrowing commentary, and is made even more impactful through the building music that crescendos into a wailing guitar solo. As a cry for change, it does not get much more convincing than this.
9. Paces – feeble little horse
If I had to sell anyone on feeble little horse’s latest album, I would play them this song. Yes, it is a bit noisy, it is a little chaotic, but it’s also cute and endearing. Every sound that comes out of this track has a slightly cartoonish quality, whether its the playful groove that carries the track, the wavy guitar riff that sounds like it’s taken a breath of helium, or Lydia Slocum’s charming vocals. And still, for all of its sweet qualities, it’s a rock song at its core that always leaves me jamming out.
8. Shit Talk – Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens has been known to include some emotional epics on his albums, and “Shit Talk” is one of his best. Across its 8-minute runtime, it carries the listener on a journey that is both beautiful and deeply personal. Through pristine plucked banjo, a massive, climactic choir, and of course, Sufjan’s passionate vocals, the song reaches incredible heights that emphasize Sufjan’s devastating lyrics. This is the story of a breaking point, when you’re fed up with the fighting, the shit talking, the pain of trying to make it work when it just isn’t possible. It deals in the pain of loving someone but being unable to even look at them. And finally it speaks to the fear of letting go, because walking away from the comfort of being held closely to someone can be scarier than another fight.
7. Quarry – Wednesday
My favorite song off of Rat Saw God feels like looking through some old home videos years later, shedding new light on the past. Every vignette has its quirks and its rural sadness, little glimpses into the happenings of a small town. Those boys that lived down the street with the funny hair? Their parents were too busy fighting in the front lawn in their underwear to deal with their lice. The preacher’s daughter we never saw anymore? They sent her away after she got pregnant, and was never spoken of again. Mandy and her boyfriend? Well, they were working with the mob to traffic drugs and guns, who knew? Each story feels unconnected, but together, they feel like a reminder of the crisis that happens wherever we aren’t looking, even if it is in plain sight.
6. Oral – Björk & Rosalía
The last track to have entered this list had a meteoric rise to the top. As it turns out, this song was unearthed from Björk’s decades-old demos, and it was absolutely worth the wait. In fact, I’d say waiting long enough for Rosalía to follow in Björk’s footsteps as an art pop icon was unintentionally the perfect amount of time, because their chemistry on this track is undeniable. Their two voices, both commanding in their own right, mix together effortlessly, trading verses in their respective Icelandic and Spanish accents, giving their own unique flair. The track is joyful to the core, relishing in the excitement of meeting someone new and letting yourself fall for them, asking “oh please, can I kiss him?” It’s a highlight for both of these incredible artists, and hopefully not the last time we see them sharing the stage.
5. Miles Away – Yo La Tengo
There’s always more than meets the eye with Yo La Tengo, something beyond their words and music that is difficult to describe. If I had to describe it on “Miles Away”, I’d call it an ethereal beauty. There’s something in the way ghostly notes drone in the background, something about Georgia Hubley’s soothing, at times wordless vocals, something in the skittering drums that sound like a train taking us somewhere far from here. What few lyrics exist seem to acknowledge this ambience that feels outside of time and space: “Ease your mind, bide your time. Hold those thoughts for now.” Georgia asks us to take a moment to release ourselves from the pain that sometimes creeps in, from the feeling of being alone. When I hear this song, at least for a moment, I can sink into its sound and feel my mind ease for now.
4. Soft Landing – Billy Woods & Kenny Segal
My favorite song from my favorite album of the year arrives right at the beginning of Billy Woods’ story, as he’s taking off on a plane to start the long road of touring the world. Set to the best instrumental on the album, a moody guitar riff plays through the track, imparting a contemplative, gloomy tone. Billy follows suit, noting “it ruins my whole day when my baby mother mad at me” and spending the rest of the flight making dark and negative reflections, from casualties of war, to political prisoners, to suicidal thoughts. Each of these reflections is marked by the chorus, an interpolation of “Feeling Good”, most famously performed by Nina Simone: “birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel.” In his omission of the titular “and I’m feeling good”, his state of mind becomes clear, one of many examples of how Billy’s writing and cultural references manage to be so expressive. If you’ve ever looked out of an airplane window, you know that good or bad, all you can do is think.
3. Will Anybody Ever Love Me? – Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens always knows how to get right to the point, finding a direct pathway from his mind straight to your heart. On this track, the question is simple, and its simplicity makes it all the more affecting: “will anybody ever love me?” The question might not hit so hard if it came from someone else, but Sufjan has been singing about love for decades, the power of feeling and losing it, how it can shape us and the people around us. To now be asking if he will be loved “without grievance, for good reasons, not for sport” is absolutely heartbreaking. It’s difficult to consider this question without factoring the death of his partner, to whom Sufjan dedicated Javelin. To find love and lose it so tragically begs to ask if love will find us again, a love that is whole and without conditions or reservations. The track is lush and beautiful and, despite its lyrical focus, extraordinarily uplifting, with guitars and voices and flutes fluttering around Sufjan’s words. It’s moving in a way only Sufjan is able to craft, and it’s an anthem that could assuredly make any grown man cry.
2. If I Don’t See You in the Future, I’ll See You in the Pasture – Cole Pulice
This 20-minute ambient jazz piece from Cole Pulice is, in a word, gorgeous. Although it sounds lengthy for a track with no lyrics whatsoever, it is worth every second of your time, and then some. Composed entirely of layered saxophone, this track swells with beauty, creating droning chords that fill the air with a mystical nostalgia. As an auditory experience, it’s remarkably serene, a sound you can feel yourself falling deeper and deeper into, following the pulses of notes like waves on the shore. As a piece of ambient music, it encapsulates everything I love most about the genre. When listening to this track, it’s seemingly impossible for your mind not to wander with emotional reflections, whatever shape they take. It could be love, loss, the future, the past(ure), city lights at night, or the morning sun through your window. But regardless of your focus, the music supports these reflections, always evoking and elevating emotion. Just after the halfway mark, a new saxophone takes the lead, boldly soloing until the end of the track, breathing new complexity into a track that so quickly feels familiar. My moments of reflection this year would not be the same without this piece, and if you listen to nothing else on this list, let this track provide you with a moment of your own.
1. CooCool – Róisín Murphy
I won’t repeat my comments on Róisín, but you can read them again here. The truth is that when I first heard “CooCool” back in March, long before any controversies, I knew that it would be one of my favorite tracks of the year. As the year went on, I listened time and again, more than any other track this year, and its grip on me never waned. It was the soundtrack for the summer, with a heavy drum kick that puts the pep in your step, full of joyous energy, with the promise “that old magic’s back.” There really is magic to this song, and the wizard responsible is producer DJ Koze, whose work on the track, and all over Hit Parade, is delightful, playful, and absolutely insane. Throughout, a guitar solo I could only describe as straight out of Looney Tunes jolts in and out of earshot, running around your head like a bee that got into the coffee pot. Koze stretches and warps Róisín’s voice, making her sound like she’s from a different dimension. He mixes pop and electronica and disco into an irresistibly fun blend that really makes it feel like it could be “silly season all year around.” His contributions cannot be overstated. No other song felt right in my top spot, it’s the song that made me groove out non-stop, it made me happy, it played throughout the silly season. It really is my song of the year.
Listening Now 