2019 List Week: The Top 100 Singles Of 2019
100. Science Beat - Have A Nice Life
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Have A Nice Life is one of the most loved and acclaimed experimental rock bands of the internet era, and after their third record and first in 8 years got off to a shaky start with its lead single, Science Beat was a breath of fresh air. A return to the dark, hazy and challenging sound the groups is known for was refreshing to critics and fans alike and did enough to just barely land on this list by a hair.
99. Haagen Dazs - Ghetto Sage
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Last year was a great year for Chicago rappers Saba, Noname and Smino and while they all took a bit of a rest in 2019 they did manage to link up for their debut single as a group Haagen Dazs. The song is as much a worship to lyrically sharp Chicago rap music than it is to ice cream but the trio clearly have a ton of chemistry and show off a fantastic blend of stylistic excellence on this single that serves as our first taste of a highly anticipated collaboration.
98. Bulletproof - The Soft Cavalry
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Rachel Goswell is one of the mothers of shoegaze as a member of the big three shoegaze band Slowdive. This decade though her side projects have proved quite enticing as she wowed in 2016 with Minor Victories, and on The Soft Cavalry she teams up with her husband for a series of sweet, distant, echoed shoegaze revival tracks. The best of which is Bulletproof. A punchy straightforward track with a tight hook and some slick guitar lines that come together for a very easy vibe.
97. Millionaria - Rosalia
2018 - Malamenta
Rosalia became a superstar in 2019, but not as a result of the flamenco pop wave she arose from last year. Despite a change in Style she managed to release a number of sharp tunes all across the year. The swagger filled double single Fucking Money Man produced some of her most sleek and confrontational songs yet, including Millionara a sexy latin pop trap tune that showed how badass Rosalia can be when she wants to be.
96. The Edge Of New Clothes - Open Mike Eagle
2018 - Relatable / 2017 - Brick Body Complex
Open Mike Eagle didn't have a loud 2019 after going independent last year, but every time he pops his head up to say just about anything rap fans are listening. The Edge Of New Clothes is yet another in a long line of lyrically magnificent, totally hilarious and creatively assembled rap song that gets fans even more excited for what Mike may do next.
95. Feel For You - Bat For Lashes
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Despite the three year gap between releases from Bat For Lashes, Natasha hasn't missed a beat and the sultry sound of her dark pop songs shone bright in 2019. Among a few fantastic singles Feel For You managed to separate itself with a killer hook and shimmery beautiful instrumental. This song was one of the many reasons to listen to Bat For Lashes music this year.
94. Rocket Fuel - DJ Shadow (Feat. De La Soul)
2016 - Nobody Speak
DJ Shadow has long has a knack for great collaborations with rappers, some recent songs with Run The Jewels, Danny Brown or Nas made that more than clear. This year his best collab came from linking up with legendary hip hop trio De La Soul on a bright, funky and unrelentingly catchy tune. Good luck getting this one out of your head once you hear it.
93. Lost In The Fire - Gesaffelstein (Feat. The Weeknd)
2018 - Reset
French house music producer Gesaffelstein emerged off of a collaboration with Kanye West on his album Yeezus, so fittingly before returning for his 2nd studio album he hopped on a pair of tracks on The Weeknd's My Dear Melancholy EP last year. Abel got back to him however and the two linked up again on this R&B meets electronica single from very early this year.
92. Addicted Youth - Hemlock Ernst & Kenny Segal
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Hemlock Ernst is the pseudonym of Sam Herring, long time front man of indie pop band Future Islands. Many had some questions when he announced an upcoming rap album with underground producer Kenny Segal, but Addicted In My Youth silenced the doubters. Not only did Sam's great lyrics work their way into his rap music but he also proved to have a tight flow and a great sense of songwriting as the verses and hook here work wonders in the lowkey jazz inspired landscape of the song.
91. Virile - Moses Sumney
2018 - Rank & File
Not giving Moses Sumney's 2017 record Aromanticism the credit it deserved at the time definitely came back to bite me, but since then he has been absolutely lights out releasing a great EP last year and two great single this year. Picking between them was difficult but ultimately Virile continues the exciting and groundbreaking pursuit of futuristic R&B music that Moses has become so well known for, and was one of the most interesting tracks I heard in the genre this year.
90. INTRO - DaBaby
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DaBaby came out of nowhere in 2019 to become a verified rap hit-maker and put Charlotte on the map as a rap city. It was the first track off of his second record of the year and really shows how wide reaching his appeal is and how talented he is as a songwriter and performer. While addressing his massive spike in popularity, the birth of his daughter, and the passing away of his father Baby makes the subject matter feel so breezy as he raps perfectly over the beat with seamless flows for one of the smoothest trap singles of 2019.
89. The River - Liam Gallagher
2018 - Wall Of Glass
While rumors of an Oasis reunion have been swirling for years now, and many believed they were destined to headline next year's major Glastonbury festival, the Gallagher brothers who fronted the band seem to be doing just fine on their own. Liam dropped this jammy politically charged track earlier this year that is packed full of snarky social commentary and bouncy hard hitting guitar riffs that sound straight out of the 1970's.
88. Fear Inoculum - Tool
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In 2019 Tool finally returned with their 5th studio album, a feat many fans believed would never happen. Their first new music in 13 years came with the announcement of an upcoming record which had fans absolutely quaking with excitement and paired with it was a track that was actually pretty good. The song is a long and winding experimental metal track that both calls back to the classic Tool sound as well as pushing the envelope even further forward compositionally.
87. The London - Young Thug (Feat. Travis Scott & J. Cole)
2017 - Homie / 2016 - pick up the phone
With Thugger, Travis Scott and J. Cole on a track together heads were obviously going to be turned, but The London was more than ready for the attention. Not only do the artists have a ton of natural chemistry but their different sounds meld together perfectly. Cole and Thugger's upbeat rapping hit hard in between Travis Scott's lowkey and effortlessly smooth hook and bridge. The song is a meeting of the minds that proved to be a commercial smash and a fan favorite this year.
86. It Just Doesn't Happen - Destroyer
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Dan Beyar and Destroyer have two of the best indie folk records of this decade under their belt in Kaputt and Poison Season and if It Just Doesn't Happen is any indicator they may be on their way to one of the best of the next decade as well. The song is a winding and catchy tune sung with a suave cushioned voice and a short but sweet repeated refrain on the hook that ties everything all up and gives it the memorable quality that the best Destroyer tracks share.
85. Sunday - Foals
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Foals released a ton of singles this year across their two part return record, one of them was destined to land here and the pick is the driving and grand track Sunday. With powerful vocalization and a constantly building instrumental the crescendo of this track is one of the best moments in alternative rock all year and became a fan favorite as its composition channeled many of the groups best tunes from their past.
84. Moment - Pinegrove
2016 - Old Friends
Pinegrove are still trying to become the modern indie heroes that they once seemed destined to be just a few years ago. Movement is a step in the right direction as the raw emotion of their low-fi indie sound is as potent as ever and when it's paired with the fantastic songwriting they have always been known for you get a band that once again seems primed for a breakout moment to become the next indie darlings.
83. Shameless - Camila Cabello
2017 - Havana
In a year where Camila handled Shawn Mendes vocally in one of the biggest hit songs of the year she even managed to one up herself further with Shameless one of her best tracks to date. Pairing her raspy powerful voice with a smooth latin influenced beat is a formula she has done many times but one of the most rewarding is this track, with a slick instrumental and belting hook you can file this under tracks that prove Camila was one of the premiere talents in Fifth Harmony.
82. Ban This Book - American Pleasure Club
2018 - This Is Heaven & I'd Die For It
Despite a name change, constantly evolving sounds, and outsider reputation within experimental music, Sam Ray just keeps on going. After wowing me last year with the first proper American Pleasure Club record he followed it up quickly with one of the most experimental takes on the band yet. Ban This Book wowed me as a single with its whispered almost indistinguishable lyrics flanked by harsh walls of distorted noise made for unsettling compositional brilliance that has stood out to be ever since I first heard it earlier this year.
81. Middle Child - J. Cole
2018 - KOD / 2016 - False Prophets
J. Cole is no stranger to good singles and earlier this year he showed up with Middle Child where he goes against a long running narrative of his corny arrogance. He poignantly analyzes his role in rap music "Dead in the middle of two generations" and talks about bridging the gap between new and old in the world of hip hop. Not only is the song lyrically sharp but it is really catchy and has a hook that while distant from the song's themes, immediately stood out with Cole's lowkey stuttered delivery and a rattling horn led beat.
80. Denver Haircut - The Hold Steady
2018 - Star 18
Craig Finn's The Hold Steady have always been one of the most unique rock bands out there, for better or for worse. But last year they got started on one of their best eras of their entire career and while it contained many great singles Denver Haircut has to be my favorite with its macho demeanor and absolutely hilarious lyrics. "Wherever he goes he always orders the usual, he likes to see what they bring him" is a classic Craig Finn lyric that comes up in a perfect place in one of rock music best singles of the year.
79. Press - Cardi B
2018 - Money Bag / 2017 - Bodak Yellow
Cardi B has been a force of hugely successful singles since she blew up in 2017 and this year was absolutely no exception. Press may be the unpopular choice among critics but the song displays her unabashed personality to perfection with a sharp bad bitch chorus and a provocative cover photo. Cardi owns the track with her classic ruthless flow, come to think of it there is a reason her first two mixtapes were called Gangsta Bitch Music.
78. Vossi Bop - Stormzy
2017 - Big For Your Boots
While Stormzy has caught some flack for blending his original Grime sound with US and UK pop rap music Vossi Bop seemed to briefly set the record straight as despite its slick chorus Stormzy brought both a commanding vocal presence and some classic Grime lyrical tropes into the fray. While the highlight of Stormzy's year for some will inevitably be his newfound Twitter friendship with Peppa Pig, Vossi Bop is a very close 2nd.
77. Jumpin On A Jet - Future
2018 - King's Dead / 2016 - Low Life
Future has long been an artist whose singles I've enjoyed much more than his full length releases and this year was no different as his The WZRD project let me down, but Jumpin On A Jet seems like the formula for good trap music executed really well. The short track features a perfect hook, punchy percussion and Future's classic not awake but not asleep vocal delivery executed to perfection. Hidden in the tracklist of his long album was one of his best singles to date.
76. Future Love - Ride
2017 - Lannoy Point
The second of the big three shoegaze bands to get mentioned here is dreamy rock legends Ride. After a surprisingly good comeback album in 2017 they brought even more material to a new record and it got off to a killer start with Future Love. The track is far sweeter than most of Ride's tracks but in this pop influence it finds a ton of pretty moments including one of the best harmonizing I've heard all year on the hook.
75. Home - Caribou
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Dan Snaith's Caribou isn't the only one of his projects that made a successful comeback in 2019 given that the new Daphni EP was on my EP's of the year list. But in bringing back Caribou he hasn't missed a beat, when Home dropped out of the blue it was like he had never left. A sugary electronic landscape paired with bright manipulated vocals in a way that nobody has done this catchy since Burial's Untrue. Maybe that's an exaggeration since Burial is relevant for some reason... Regardless Home is the perfect moment for Caribou to have their comeback.
74. Best Life - Danny Brown
2016 - Really Doe
Danny Brown was really living his best life in 2019 as he released the highly anticipated follow-up to Atrocity Exhibition and his new record seems to come from a much healthier place. While some of the album tracks on uknowhatimsayin REALLY wowed and will be featured on tomorrows list, the best of the three singles was Best Life. The flows are ridiculously smooth and the hook is catchy, all paired with a great glitchy beat from Q-Tip and you have yourself a fantastic hip hop single.
73. Every Wave To Ever Rise - American Football (Feat. Elizabeth Powel)
2018 - Silhouettes
While the band doesn't quite reach the height they hit last year with the lead single to their new record, this Elizabeth Powell featuring third single grew on me a lot as the year went by. From a band who will have multiple tracks on tomorrow list this song is particularly dramatic and hits all the right spots to remind us why American Football was such a legendary emo band in the first place.
72. Alligator - Of Monsters And Men
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Four years is a long time to be gone in the world of modern music and for a band that never quite established themselves like Iceland's Of Monsters and Men it can feel like starting all over again. Thankfully the transition was quick as the moment we all heard Alligator we knew the band was back and as strong as ever. The song works in the bands folk influences and crafts a sound that is recognizable but explosive in a way their last record never was, it made for a satisfying year of music from the band right out of the gate and was a shoe in for this singles of the year list.
71. From Out Of Nowhere - Electric Light Orchestra
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Jeff Lynne and company are already one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, with a number of classic songs under their belt and decades of critically acclaimed albums. I say all that because there is no reason they had to go this fucking hard and write one of the best ELO songs since their heyday as the lead single and title track to their new album. Whether it's the soaring synths that make up the instrumental or the cascading vocal harmonies on the hook this track sounds straight out of 1978 in the best way possible.
70. Ecstatic Baby - Yeasayer
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Just as I was gearing up to write this list Yeasayer announced their break-up as a group and while it is unfortunate, I'm glad they at least had something good to go out on. Ecstatic Baby was the bright, punchy and catchy single from their newest record that delighted in just about every way an indie pop song can. We will all miss the best days of Yeasayer.
69. Fire Is Coming - Flying Lotus (Feat. David Lynch)
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It is fitting that the first we heard from the always strange FlyLo this year came on a dark and cerebral spoken word track featuring David Lynch of all people. Thematically the track stands strong on its own as Lynch's stone faced delivery of the surreal lyrics is hauntingly compelling, and the tracks breakdown in the second half is lucid, sporadic and groovy as hell. You won't hear this strange odyssey of a song on the radio but that doesn't make it any less great.
68. That World - Tim Hecker
2018 - Keyed Out
For the second year in a row experimental electronic music producer Tim Hecker assembled an ambient track so unique and captivating that it grabbed the attention of those even outside the world of ambient music. With the much more natural companion to last years record Hecker chose his lead single well as That World at just over 9 minutes of compositional beauty and sonic bliss.
67. Bored And Razed - The Raconteurs
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Jack White is a name that rock fans will be paying attention to for the rest of time, so when he announced the return of his narrative driven 2000's rock band The Raconteurs everyone was wondering what they would sound like in 2019. Bored and Razed answered that question with blistering guitar riffs and careening vocal harmonies. The track is a catchy, flashy rock tune that throws back to the bands best works over a decade since they were first released.
66. Costa Rica - Dreamville (Feat. Reese LAFLARE, Bas, Guapdad 4000, Jace, Mez, Smokepurpp, JID, Buddy & Ski Mask The Slump God)
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The new Dreamville record was packed full of collaborations that varied in consistency but one of the best and most surprising was the absolute banger of a single Costa Rica. Guapdad 4000 sings a lights out hook that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head but almost everyone from top to bottom performs well. Superstars like JID and Ski Mask drop some great verses flanked by Dreamville projects like Jace and Bas but the chemistry between all the artists is tangible and the track is one of the most infectious all year.
65. A Boy Is A Gun - Tyler, The Creator
2017 - 911/Mr Lonely
IGOR was one of the more controversy stirring records of 2019, trust me I would know. And while much of it was a disappointment the singles were far from the worst part. A Boy Is A Gun is the records best track by far and I was thrilled to see it released as a post-album single. The song ditches the ugly pitch manipulation and awful mixing for a sugary sweet and perfectly sung hook that serves as one of the records strokes of genius. The track could have fit comfortably into Flower Boy which is just about the biggest compliment you could give a Tyler track, don't miss this song.
64. Claustro - Burial
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Despite how long it has been since Burial dropped a proper studio album, when he releases anything people pay attention, and Claustro was no different. His compilation record released just last month proves just how creative he has been in the years since Untrue and Claustro proves just how much he has left in the tank. Whether it's the driving bright synths or the beautiful vocal samples the single is just as classic as so many Burial singles and EP's before it and helped to get him his long awaited first spot on the singles list.
63. Planet B - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
2017 - Crumbling Castle / 2016 - Robot Stop
King Gizz were prolific as ever in 2019 and while their first record was corny tongue and cheek environmentalist pap, their second record was one of the truest thrash metal revivalist records you'll hear in 2019. The record;s story of evacuating a dying planet Earth extends well past its singles, but the rager Planet B encapsulates the records sounds and themes perfect. As Stu growls out the hook "There is no Planet B" it calls back to the godfathers of thrash metal and proves just how capable King Gizz can be with constantly changing and evolving their sound.
62. Love Is A Parasite - Blanck Mass
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Benjamin John Power crafted some of the greatest noise records of all time as a member of Fuck Buttons, but with his solo project Blanck Mass he is pushing the envelope even further. Love Is A Parasite uses its long runtime and winding composition to include elements of noise, drone, metal and pairing them with pop and electronica for a soaring and constantly thrilling roller coaster ride of shimmery exuberance.
61. The Running Styles Of New York - The Tallest Man On Earth
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It's been a long 4 years since the last studio record from The Tallest Man On Earth but that doesn't mean Kristian has been quiet. On The Running Styles Of New York he returns to his Bob Dylan inspired folk classics with a lovely acoustic guitar passage and some drifter-esque lyrics. Kristian pairs that with his fantastically rustic and raspy vocals belting out over a soaring key lead for a low-fi folk odyssey that begs to be heard this year.
60. MEGATRON - Nicki Minaj
2018 - Chun-Li / 2017 - Swish Swish
In a decade packed absolutely full of Nicki Minaj hits she managed to sneak yet another one into this year with the stylish bop MEGATRON. While Nicki's singing on the hook is a little typical she absolutely owns her verses and dominates this track with her always sharp delivery and personality filled bars. With the singles she releases getting more and more badass as the years go by all we can do is hope Nicki has a full record of bad bitch anthems as good as MEGATRON on the horizon.
59. Arabesque - Coldplay
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Coldplay hasn't truly been the band they once were for almost a decade now, but they had big shoes to fill when they promised their most experimental record in years. Arabesque came as the second half of a split single that really set the record straight. The song is a grand composition that features a number of warm orchestral instruments backing some gorgeous English and French sung vocals. The song definitely calls back to the bands breakout alternative rock days of the 2000's, the song has the grandeur of Viva La Vida paired with the reserved but potent vocals of The Scientist for a song only Coldplay could truly pull off this well.
58. Everybody Here Hates You - Courtney Barnett
2018 - City Looks Pretty / 2017 - Continental Breakfast
Courtney Barnett's narrative and self-depreciating songwriting style has truly been one of the best musical treats of the second half of this decade. That carried on when she dropped the catchy, relatable and often funny Everybody Here Hates You. Not only is she writing some pretty poignant analysis of her struggles but also writing a flat out great tune as the exploding guitar lines that glide into the hook are quintessential indie rock, and prove she is capable of being in the spotlight for years to come.
57. Left Hand - Beast Coast (Feat. Meechy Darko, Nyck Caution, CJ Fly, Erick The Architect, Zombie Juice, AKTHESAVIOR, Kirk Knight, Joey Bada$$, Issa Gold)
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When Joey Badass announced on Twitter that Pro Era, Flatbush Zombies and The Underachievers were all getting together for a collaborative record, expectations were high. Left Hand silenced all the doubters right away as the boys came together for one of the most electric posse cuts of this entire decade, and proved their chemistry and creativity straight away. Meechy Darko's hook is hilarious and infectious and highlights from the track include performances from Erick, Joey and Kirk Knight. The group's wild stage performances only added to the already deep legacy of the various New York groups and showed a side of many of these individual artists that we haven't seen nearly enough of in recent years.
56. Bad As The Boys - Tove Lo (Feat. ALMA)
2017 - Disco Tits
While Tove Lo's new record this year didn't blow anyone away she did add yet another excellent single to her catalog with the ALMA collaboration Bad As The Boys. The song is a breezy summer pop classic that features the two artists calling out lovesick verses over a bouncy instrumental, but it is really the hook that sells the whole track. The sugary instrumental breakdown pairs perfectly with the hook for the perfect execution of a classic sensual pop formula.
55. Hungry Child - Hot Chip
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Hot Chip released one of their most experimental and unconventional records this year, but in Hungry Child they had a single that sounded just like many of their most classic tunes. With the pitch perfect walls of bright synth beats giving the track a steady driving composition and the cloudy reverb heavy lead vocals they made a true to form dream pop song with a heavy influence from house and dance music. While it may not be quite as instantly catchy as some of the bands most recognizable songs it does have a much sneakier memorability to it that made it a single I returned to over and over again this year.
54. Lockii - Igloghost, BABii & Kai Whiston
2018 - Niteracer / 2017 - Bug Thief
Iglooghost is the face of shimmering futuristic electronica for a few years now and the lead single for his Gloo project showed off just how potent the collaboration could be. Between production from Ghost and Kai and the zany digital singing from BABii they are doing some truly trailblazing work painting an exotic take on the distant future of pop music.
53. People - The 1975
2018 - Love It If We Made It / 2017 - Milk / 2016 - The Sound
The 1975 have been the most historically dominant band of this list through the first four years I've been making it, being one of only two artists to appear on each list with one of their own songs. This year People showed how capable the band was of adjusting their style when they dropped a socially charged punk anthem. The band has long been known to criticize societal issues but on People they finally found a sound that matched that ambition, and the marriage made for one of the best straight up rock singles of the year.
52. Token - Panda Bear
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Panda Bear dropped one of his more obscure and challenging records this year with Buoys but the lead single Token is a little bit easier to love. With a strong sense of melody, some beautiful plucked strings and the classic Animal Collective watery synths he assembles a song that feels warm and natural in the way only Noah really can. Navigating the ever expanding world of Animal Collective can be difficult but if you only listen to one thing from the boys this year, make it Token.
51. Giving Up - Whitney
2016 - No Woman
Whitney dropped their long awaited second studio album this year and pretty much everybody knew it was gonna be good based on the singles. Giving Up is an immensely catchy, soft and patient, but memorable tune that re-imagines the bands low-fi aesthetic in the image of groups like The Band. The sweet and catchy lead vocal melodies tie a rustic bow around one of standout indie tunes of 2019.
50. Nobody - Mac Demarco
2017 - On The Level
Mac Demarco has spent his entire career slowing down his sound, and while many have their reservations about that, almost everybody agrees that Nobody is a great track. Serving as the lead single it certainly had hopes up with its somber string plucks and Mac's extended vocalizing making for a great indie folk sound. The real strength of Nobody is the exquisite songwriting that Mac always brings to his records and this slow developing but emotionally potent lead single made yet another example of that.
49. Manifest - Andrew Bird
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One of the best songs of the year was snuck out just before the release of Andrew Bird's My Finest Work Yet. The March single has been one of the more under appreciated of the year especially given that it has everything that makes indie folk fans tick. The songwriting is excellent, the instrumentation is a rich and full arrangement and yes, there is even whistling. The track manages to be both quality and quantity and has the potential to be one of the best of Andrew's storied career.
48. Orange Trees - Marina
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Marina had one of the more disappointing comeback records in recent memory this year but that didn't extend to the gorgeous single Orange Trees. Not only is she sounding like a veteran pop singer with touching pitch perfect vocals, but it all gets wrapped up a fluttering synthetic beat that sounds like something everybody forgot about since the 90's. The song is mature, well produced and performed and one of the most underrated pop tracks of the year.
47. Livin A Lie - Foxygen
2017 - On Lankershim / 2016 - Follow The Leader
Foxygen have been one of the most on and off indie bands of the decade, releasing three of the best albums the genre has seen in between some so-so periods. Thankfully they got at least one more great single in at the end of the decade with the swelling somber Living A Lie. Despite the accusatory lyrics the performance channels a love sick club singer crooning out to a late night crowd. The charisma of front man Sam France paired with the brilliant instrumental arrangements of Jonathan Rado are a combination that will be electric going into the next decade.
46. Red Bull & Hennessy - Jenny Lewis
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Jenny Lewis didn't need anything more to establish her as one of the most legendary and most loved figures in modern indie rock, she just had the luxury of making good ass rock music. Red Bull & Hennessy features a jangly but gruff indie rock instrumental but the highlight is the retrospective narrative lyrics from Jenny that she performs with as much bravado as any of her male lead singer contemporaries. She clearly hasn't missed a beat in the years since she last wowed us with The Voyager.
45. House Of Glass - Cage The Elephant
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Picking one Cage The Elephant single from 2019 to include on this list was tough but ultimately House Of Glass took the cake. The song is a dark driving piece of rock introspection that matches its provocative lyrics with a grimy driving instrumental that was ready for alternative rock radio. While the sound isn't necessarily as challenging as Melophobia it was a return to form that fans of the band and the general public alike were comfortable vibing with all year.
44. BITE ME - Kilo Kish
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Kilo Kish is known by many exclusively for her frequent collaborations with Vince Staples but hopefully her new EP REDUX, that came out just this month, could change that. BITE ME was absolutely stunning teaser track for the record that featured a much harder sound than we are used to from Kilo Kish. She applied her cloud rap sound to a dark and punchy combination of electronica and R&B that is instantly ear grabbing and has one of the most infectious hooks of the year. We don't know yet if BITE ME will truly be Kilo Kish's breakout moment, but it deserves to be.
43. Hot Girl Summer - Megan Thee Stallion (Feat, Ty Dolla $ign & Nicki Minaj)
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Was there a phrase that we as a society used more than "Hot Girl Summer" over the three summer months of this year, there certainly wasn't for me. Despite the fact that the phrase predates the song by a few months when it ultimately did drop it was everything we could have wanted and more. Ty Dolla $ign is legendary for his features and the buttery smooth hook here is no different. Paired with some of the baddest verses you'll hear this year from college girl Megan Thee Stallion and the veteran Nicki Minaj made this one of the biggest songs of the year as well as one of the best collaborative efforts.
42. Ibtihaj - Rapsody (Feat. D'Angelo & GZA)
2017 - Power
On Rapsody's Eve she names each track after a famous black woman that lyrically inspires its themes. On Ibtihaj she not only salutes the Olympic fencer, but also in a fitting connection, GZA's legendary 1995 album and title track Liquid Swords. Not only did she lure D'Angelo out of hiding to do his own rendition of the tracks classic hook but she also pulls GZA himself too deliver one of the best features of the year. This was a single for the rap old heads but the consistent quality of its performances make it a clear contender for the list.
41. Violence - Grimes (Feat. i_o)
2018 - We Appreciate Power
2020 could be the year that Grimes takes over the music industry, again. If her collection of dark, despondent singles this year are any indication, we will all submit pretty easily. Violence is a uniquely dark and stylized synth pop track with a grand atmosphere that helps mask it's hidden demeanor. Hearing her voice resonate out over a dark electronic landscape for the first time since 2015 should fill any fans stomach with butterflies, a sensation that may be common with Grimes music going forward.
40. Dylan Thomas - Better Oblivion Community Center
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Side projects and one off collaborations rarely get the attention that an artists main pursuit typically does, which is why it was so surprising and refreshing to see the indie community so quickly latch onto Better Oblivion Community Center and their song Dylan Thomas. Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst, former frontman of Bright Eyes, teamed up for an indie folk collaboration for the ages that got off to a killer start with Dylan Thomas, a lyrically smart and consistently catchy example of how perfectly the duo could work together as a team.
39. Proud Of U - Earthgang (Feat. Young Thug)
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Earthgang are one of the brightest and most creative young rap groups around and they established themselves in 2019. So what would be the best way to expand their reach and sound, team up with a rapper as eccentric and explosive as they are. This meeting of the minds resulted in Proud Of U a modern Atlanta rap classic where the duo shoutout all of the people who helped them along the way, and Young Thug drops in for a standout verse in the center of the track. The song is three young MC's showing how innovative and creative they are.
38. Prophet - King Princess
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Keeping the string on young talent going is King Princess, who dropped her debut studio album this year. While she has been inconsistent in her output so far if there is one track that proves just how high her ceiling is, its Prophet. A sleek pop anthem with a powerful belting lead vocal and some excellent production. The percussion in the songs bridge leads into an awesome chorus that rivals just about anything you'll hear this year. Keep an eye out for King Princess going forward as she has proven her potential to drop a great pop single in any year going forward.
37. Bad Idea - YBN Cordae (Feat. Chance The Rapper)
2018 - Old Niggas
Despite the fact that he dropped a record that lasts over an hour long, the best Chance The Rapper verse of 2019 comes on upcoming rap star YBN Cordae's Bad Idea. Almost nobody has a bigger breakout year or a better debut album than Cordae and the quick embrace of him from so many veteran MC's is proof. On this warm and lowkey rap track Cordae and Chance trade off bars about the lives they are living, their relationships with family and fame, and some of the sharpest double entendres you'll hear all year. The track is a buttery smooth example of both rappers talents when working at their best and a track that should be agreeable with just about anyone.
36. Seventeen - Shaton Van Etten
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Sharon Van Etten has had a critically acclaimed career in the world of indie singer-songwriter music, but she has never had a single like Seventeen. Her gorgeous anthemic age themed ballad has become her biggest song to date and has been lauded in critical acclaim all year, for good reason. Her powerful vocals combine with the fantastic subject matter for a true modern classic that looks at time passing, responsibility and of course, being 17.
35. King James - Anderson .Paak
2018 - Bubblin / 2016 - Am I Wrong
After dropping his most popular record to date last year Paak may have quickly followed it up with an even better record in Ventura. The good signs of what was to come started with King James, the records lead single. The song is a mix of buttery smooth singing with a dash of social commentary named after Lebron James and in defense of his strong social activism presence. The track is catchy, soulful and fun as well as an addition to the ongoing list of great singles from one of the most talented young artists in the music industry.
34. Jailbreak The Tesla - Injury Reserve (Feat. Amine)
2018 - Campfire / 2016 - Oh Shit
When you think of Injury Reserve you think experimental production, hard hitting bangers, and aggressive vocal delivery. Those descriptions basically write the book of Jailbreak The Tesla a wall to wall banger that hilariously ponders what it would be like to hack a Tesla like an old ipod. Not only is the subject matter funny and the lyricism witty but Amine drops a CAREER feature in the second half of this song. With rapid flow switch-ups, hilarious lyrics and a killer performance he is everything the song needed to rap up one of the best rap singles of the year.
33. When The Fires Come - Kero Kero Bonito
2016 - Trampoline / 2018 - Time Today
Kero Kero Bonito are no strangers to great singles and despite only releasing a three track EP this year they still managed one of the best singles of their career and a great placement on this list. On When The Fires Come the band trades out the bouncy J-Pop tunes of their past for a pan flute backed political track. Despite the constant changing and evolving of the bands sound their knack for making tunes that are unique and memorable has never faded and this track is simply the most recent example in the ongoing line.
32. Heartless - The Weeknd
2018 - Call Out My Name / 2017 - Lust For Life / 2016 - Starboy
The Weeknd technically has been on this list every year, although 2017 was from a feature on an Lana Del Rey song. It looked like Abel may not make the cut in 2019 as a solo artist, but out of the blue he showed up with one of the best singles I've heard all year in Heartless. The song is a mix of his effortless charisma with a punchy driving Metro Boomin beat that makes for a lights out banger. From the opening lines "Never need a bitch, I'm what a bitch need" you know that Abel took it back to basics and made a track that embodied what had us all falling in love with his music in the first place.
31. 2099 - Charli XCX (Feat. Troye Sivan)
2018 - 1999 / 2017 - Boys
Making their second appearance on this list together in as many years Charli XCX and Troye Sivan made the sequel to 1999 with a very different approach. While 1999 was a nostalgic 90's inspired pop jam, 2099 is a futuristic PC Music camp approach to pop that is just as exciting, if not more. The vocal manipulation and shimmery synths make the track sound like it really came from 2099 and the dark sleek demeanor is perfectly matched by Troye and Charli's confidence. The song is an assault on the senses and proves just how versatile Charli is capable of being, in a year where she dropped so many great tracks this one stands above the rest.
30. True Blue - Mark Ronson (Feat. Angel Olsen)
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Angel Olsen undoubtedly had a great 2019, but before we heard her gorgeous singles or her fantastic new record, she popped up in an unlikely place. Mark Ronson's new record features artists like Camila Cabello, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Li and King Princess, so seeing an indie artist like Angel Olsen was certainly a big surprise. Thankfully Ronson had the intuition to craft a brilliant song around Angel's swelling, dramatic lead vocal performance. The driving two-step drums and sweet guitar playing that matches her melodies round out an excellent meeting of the minds that I would never have expected, but am thrilled we got.
29. Doorman - Slowthai (Feat. Mura Masa)
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Slowthai was one of the defining breakout artists of the year, while his debut record Nothing Great About Britain is a takedown of British politics that is more serious and somber than hard-hitting, his Doorman single takes a much different approach. The song trades out the drum and bass approach typical of Grime as Mura Masa assembles a killer, mind-bending beat for Slowthai to riff over. He really shows just how exciting of a performer he is on the track as his delivery is soaked in personality and his kooky lyrics are quintessential British cynicism. The song is a sharp and catchy genre crossover that instantly became one of the most memorable songs I heard in 2019, and has stayed healthy in my rotation all year.
28. Scary Mask - Poppy (Feat. FEVER 333)
2018 - X / 2017 - I'm Poppy
Poppy combining her computerized synth pop with post-hardcore probably wouldn't have surprised anybody at the start of this year. The fact that she did it alongside FEVER 333 was one I definitely didn't see coming. The track is a compositional beauty that sees Poppy's sweet and charming vocals laced in and out of Jason Butler's screamed verses and heavy metal guitars. As Poppy continues to trailblaze and explore new genres she is not only leaving tons of great songs in her wake, but leaving fans on the edge of their seats wondering who she will collaborate with next.
27. Babushka Boi - A$AP Rocky
2018 - A$AP Forever / 2017 - Pick It Up
A$AP Rocky was already a superstar coming into 2019 but he found his name in headlines more than ever before when he was arrested in Sweden, with the issue becoming large enough for even the president to get involved. That's why it was so fitting that after he was finally released from the ordeal, he had one of the best rap songs of 2019 lined up for release, with a fantastic Dick Tracy themed music video to match. Babushka Boi dropped at the perfect time with Rocky at the height of his notability and it instantly became an unforgettable part of pop culture in 2019, as well as one of the best singles of the year.
26. Hey, Ma - Bon Iver
2016 - 29 #Strafford Apts
Justin Vernon is a busy bee, popping up in all kinds of places around the music industry doing all kinds of different things. But when he settles down to release music as Bon Iver, people stop and listen, and for good reason. The first we heard from Bon Iver this year was the absolutely touching and gorgeous Hey, Ma. The song features Justin's dramatic but softly manipulated vocals over a warm orchestral instrumentation, the sound is uniquely captivating in a way that pretty much only Justin can do and makes for one of the most astonishing singles of the year.
25. Lo/Hi - The Black Keys
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The Black Keys went from a critically acclaimed garage rock band, to commercially viable rock band overnight and then music from the duo suddenly ground to a halt. I don't think anyone could have predicted that they would return with a song as electric as Lo/Hi, or that people would grab onto it so excitedly. Not only did the track become the unofficial theme song of this years NCAA march madness tournament, but also an outright contemporary rock smash. The song was a jam of classic rock proportions that kick started a year where they dropped a true to form throwback rock record.
24. Movies - Weyes Blood
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With the help of Foxygen's Jonathan Rado on production, Weyes Blood really came out of her shell this year. She had a handful of great singles but the most grand statement was on the gorgeous Movies. She approaches a huge wall of carefully arranged orchestral fills with an incredible but refined vocal presence. The combination is a dreamy, spacey and delicate one that is paired with the crashing of Weyes Blood's soaring vocal harmonies. In a decade where chamber pop emerged as a genre capable of amazing things Weyed Blood was along for the ride and dropped a classic tune in Movies.
23. The Crying Pill - Matmos
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Matmos is a long running experimental electronica act who have a long history of releasing highly conceptual and critically acclaimed records, not the type of artist you'd expect to be on a singles list. But The Crying Pill bangs way too hard to miss out on. It came as a teaser for a concept album built entirely out of samples of various types of plastic, an interesting concept that netted all kinds of different tracks. The Crying Pill was one of the more conventional electronic tracks with hard-hitting beats and driving punchy samples that make the song one of the hardest hitting tracks this year. A killer song like this goes a long way to getting Matmos name out there, and they made the most of it being one of the most critically acclaimed experimental music acts of the year.
22. Barefoot In The Park - James Blake (Feat. Rosalia)
2018 - If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead /2017 - King's Dead / 2016 - Modern Soul
James Blake has a pretty good history of good teaser tracks, but Barefoot In The Park was actually a post album single. It was clear how much fans enjoyed the fantastic combination of James and Rosalia's singing voices and the tunes brilliance shines through from top to bottom. Paired with a beautiful and striking music video it emerged as one of Blake's most popular tracks to date and one of the most stunning collaborations of the year.
21. Ashes To Ashes - Jenny Hval
2018 - Spells / 2016 - Conceptual Romance
If you thought Weyes Blood was the only great chamber pop you would hear this year look out for Jenny Hval. After last year when she first began to interlace ambient and avant-garde jazz into her music it became more interesting than ever, and when the world first had Ashes To Ashes it stopped the chamber pop community in their tracks. With nearly whispered vocals and a distant but vibrant instrumental Jenny manages to craft one of the most subtly compelling and sonically striking singles of the year. You wouldn't think an experimental take on a niche indie genre could be so catchy but Ashes To Ashes is one of the years most memorable tunes, and a standout moment for an artist who typically prefers to spend her time out of the spotlight.
20. (I Blame) Society - Titus Andronicus
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New Jersey punk band Titus Andronicus has a legendary single under their belt that is nearing ten years old. Thankfully they added another classic to the mix with I Blame Society. A true to form classic punk tune with blistering guitars and gruff lead vocals that serve as the perfect backing for the tunes themes. No song quite so poetically encapsulated the societal rage that so many feel in 2019 and it was absolutely essential that in the modern world, somebody carried the torch for classic punk rocks ability to stake society, and Titus Andronicus have done just that.
19. Ricky - Denzel Curry
2018 - Black Balloons / 2016 - ULT
If there is anybody that has become a reliable source of at least one banger a year, it's Denzel Curry, and in 2019 he had several. The choice this time around was easy as the slickest combination of great bars, a great beat and an infectious energy has to go to RICKY. Not only does the song have an explosive instrumental but Denzel's introspective and personal bars manage to bang just as hard despite their narrative nature. While it may not be Curry's greatest accomplishment it does even further prove his versatility as an artist and his creative capabilities for his singles.
18. Boy Bye - Brockhampton
2018 - 1998 Wildfire / 2017 - Gold
Brockhampton didn't get off to a great start with their first two singles of the year being some of their most underwhelming to date. So it was all the more fascinating when they showed up not a long time later with one of the best singles of their entire career in Boy Bye. Not only is it one of the smoothest tracks in the bands catalog but it also has some of the most consistent performances from its various members all around. Kevin, Bearface and Dom all flat out murder their performances individually and pairing it with a fantastic beat and some short but sweet additions from the supporting cast and what you get is an enticing, catchy and infectious song that almost nobody could stay away from this year.
17. Clarity - Kim Petras
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Kim Petras had a big 2019, she had long been classified as a singles artist, but after dropping her debut album Clarity she showed her immense potential to make futuristic, sexy pop music. But as one would expect she dropped a killer single along the way, in fact she dropped a couple. The single Clarity was not only her best, but one of the most infectious songs I've heard all year. The glittering electronic production pairs with her silky voice for a brilliantly insatiable combo. There were many, many reasons to fall in love with Kim Petras this year and Clarity may be the strongest of them all.
16. All Mirrors - Angel Olsen
2017 - Fly On Your Wall / 2016 - Shut Up Kiss Me
Angel Olsen made the most of her breakout moment in 2016, releasing the incredible record My Woman and finding a ton of new fans off of her big single Shut Up Kiss Me. But aside from a B-Sides record in 2017 the indie singer-songwriter has been mostly quiet since Woman. When she finally broke her silence she did it with one of the most powerful statements of the year, and one of the standout indie tunes. Taking her powerful vocals and pairing them with a grander orchestral instrumentation made All Mirrors a soaring high point for music this year. The songs compositional mastery and beautifully arranged instrumentation are perfectly balanced in a mix that lets Angel's vocals shine, and supports them perfectly with the musical crescendos. If you weren't already in love with the music of Angel Olsen, there are no more excuses.
15. Blankenship - DIIV
2016 - Under The Sun
DIIV caught a lot of flack a few years ago for the sweeter and more pop oriented sound they took on their sophomore album Is The Is Are, while it seemed pretty clear their intention to change direction on their newest record it didn't really come to fruition until the world heard the absolutely killer single Blankenship. The song sounds like a Shoegaze jam straight out of 1990 with blistering walls of distorted guitar flanking a killer driving groove at the songs core. It is catchy, explosive, hard-hitting and most importantly, layered. The tracks multi-facated instrumental palette is one of the most subtly beautiful arrangements of the year and makes for a constantly evolving track that always has another punch left to pull, all the way until its final moments.
14. Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot - JPEGMAFIA
2018 - Puff Daddy / 2017 - Baby I'm Bleeding
Peggy was one of the breakout stars of 2018 in the rap underground with the critically acclaimed Veteran as well as the fiery Kenny Beats produced track Puff Daddy. He made for a surprisingly quick turnaround with a new record in 2019, and the fantastically titled lead single showed off his massive creative diversity. Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot is a musical montage of dreamy landscapes with Peggy singing paired right beside distorted hard-hitting hip hop beats and aggressive shouted bars. The song is a firestorm that never settles on a single sound and never lets you rest as a listener, but that seems to be just what Peggy wanted. For the third year in a row one of the most creative and innovative singles of the year comes from Jpegmafia.
13. Around The Sun - Remo Drive
2018 - Blue Ribbon / 2017 - Yer Killin Me
Despite the fact that Remo Drive dropped a disappointing sophomore record they have been a dominant force of singles since emerging as one of the best young emo bands in 2017. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that they dropped yet another flat out masterpiece in Around the Sun. The song is a perfectly dramatic and tangibly emotional cut with a powerful lead vocal performance. It's wrapped around a twangy and incredibly catchy lead guitar riff but the lead vocals are truly what makes it so amazing. Frontman Erik Paulson soaks his performance in classically emo melodrama and with his huge, almost all-encompassing presence in the track it is impossible to look away even for a moment as the song holds you tangibly on the edge of your seat.
12. By Myself - FIDLAR
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FIDLAR has never really been a band that I would be looking for to drop one of the best singles of the year, but in 2019 they had two of them. Narrowly edging out the explosive Scam Likely is ts the groovy and impossibly bouncy By Myself. Taking a hilarious spin on the "Cracking one open with the boys" refrain the song is pretty typical garage rock fare lyrically. The drinking, the drugs, the hating yourself and ultimately the turn to music as a relief making it like a twelve step program wrapped into one catchy tune. But the seriously shining moment of the single isn't in its lyrics but its stylistically unconventional instrumentation. Not only is the tight groove of the bass one of the catchiest things you'll hear all year but the bouncy percussion track pairs with the raw guitars for a song that feels low-fi, but clearly had a lot of love put into it. FIDLAR may not be on as many radars for singles as some of their contemporaries, but this track alone should garner that recognition for the group going forward.
11. Blood Of The Fang - Clipping
2018 - Face / 2017 - The Deep / 2016 - Air Em' Out
Daveed Diggs and Clipping join The 1975 as the only act to get their 4th song in 4 years onto the singles list, but this time they did it in a fashion more dominant and stunning than ever before. Blood Of The Fang is a dark and incessantly hard-hitting experimental rap track that features flows and lyrics only Daveed is capable of. Whether it is the breakneck pace he is capable of in his delivery, the tightly thematic lyrics he weaves in and out of the haunting vocal samples, or the warbled abstract beat he is rapping over, the song is brilliant from top to bottom. There really is no better way to get Clipping fans excited then with a track like this that not only does everything so right, but in an innovating, unique and relentlessly creative way.
10. Crime Pays - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
2017 - Crushed Glass
Bandana, the second collaborative record from Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs and legendary producer Madlib, was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. That was before they dropped a modern classic, and one of the best rap songs of the year bar none, Crime Pays. The track features Freddie Gibbs spinning some quintessential gangster rap lyrics with a loose but insanely infectious flow that shines over Madlibs bright, shimmering instrumental. He crafts a beautiful breakdown into the songs bridge that features some of the best interpolating of vocal samples I've ever heard from anyone not named Kanye West. For a track that isn't the hardest, or most violent in lyrics or tone from Freddie Gibbs it doesn't seem like the type of single that would be one of the best of the year, but the pair clearly knew they had something truly special in Crime Pays.
9. break up with your girlfriend, I'm bored - Ariana Grande
2018 - No Tears Left To Cry / 2016 - Dangerous Woman
Everything about break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored is sheer marketing genius. Ariana scored her first #1 single last year off the back of her most popular record to date, then immediately announced a follow-up album for this year. Just after the mega hit that was 7 Rings started to slow down, Ariana releases the tracklist to her upcoming record, with the infectiously titled closing track. And drops it as a stand alone single just hours before the albums ultimate release. Paired with a provocative music video the song is one of the most brilliant examples of successful industry playing of this entire decade, not just this year. That isn't even to speak on how infectious it is with dark stuttering trap drums, Ari's sensual and unabashedly flirtatious lyrics and a sleek attention grabbing music video made it impossible for people to not talk about the song, and one of the best singles of the year was born as a result.
8. Body Chemistry - The Drums
2017 - Blood Under My Belt
One of the sunniest, brightest and most outwardly colorful singles of 2019 came from an unexpected place, Jonny Pierce's The Drums and the lead single to their new record Body Chemistry. His nearly breathy vocals on the verses soar over a shimmery pop rock instrumental, and when the bridge kicks in he gets more direct in his performance delivering some evocative lyrics that set up for one of the best musical moments I heard all year. The explosion from bridge into hook is led by a shiny descending guitar line before the entire song picks up its pace multiple times over and erupts into the catchy, and utterly showstopping chorus of the song. No track this year felt more destined for a Beach Boys style surf rock rager on the beach, and it may stand as one of my favorite pop rock tracks of this entire decade, not bad for a band that has been worked down to just one remaining member.
7. The Greatest - Lana Del Rey
2018 - Venice Bitch / 2017 - Lust For Life
After dropping one of my favorite singles of last year and one of the best songs of her career in Venice Bitch the hype for Lana's new record was through the roof. In the lead-up to its release she happened to drop a pair of tracks that sent that hype into the stratosphere, starting with The Greatest. The song features some absolutely gorgeous instrumental arrangements from Jack Antanoff of Fun. fame, but the highlight is Lana's soft but commanding vocal performance. The song has a much tighter structure than she typically takes and benefits heavily from it as the hooks become cerebral, all-encompassing moments of musical bliss. The track is one of the most well written, beautifully performed, and intricately detailed of Lana's career and is an essentially part of her defining year, and defining decade.
6. Julien - Carly Rae Jepsen
2018 - Party For One / 2017 - Cut To The Feeling
Carly developed a massive cult fanbase over the second half of this decade, and did it with slick 80's throwback production and songwriting, but on Julien she had a different approach. The surprisingly heavy synthesizer punches throughout this song scream out modernity and when paired with the bouncy percussion and Carly's always brilliant vocal performances you have one of the boldest and most unique singles of an already storied pop music career. While the commercial success she deserves given the quality of her music continues to elude her fans were fittingly thrilled by a number of her incredible singles this year, none more than one of my favorite pop tracks of 2019, Julien.
5. Lights Up - Harry Styles
2017 - Sign of The Times
In 2017 Harry Styles came off of the break-up of One Direction, one of the more mind numbing acts of the first half of this decade, and nobody really knew what to expect. I was just as stunned as many others when Harry dropped his brilliant debut single, and ultimately my single of the year for 2017, Sign Of The Times. While Lights Up served as the lead single from his second era, I still would have never guessed it would have gotten anywhere close to his debut, but it is damn close. The song is a short but heavily stylized pop tune that features some of the smoothest and most mature vocals Harry has ever laid to track as well as a short but sweet sense of songwriting that makes it's high points all the more satisfying. Whether it is the harmonious chants of "Shine" that opens up the hook or the softly manipulated outro hums that bring the track to a close Harry and his producers crafted a track with a strong melodic pop sensibility, but one that simultaneously isn't afraid to push the envelope and in that dichotomy managed to craft one of the best singles of 2019.
4. Eye In The Wall - Perfume Genius
2017 - Slip Away
This year was dominated by artists who showed up for the first time in a long time and instantly lived up to their legend status. While the general public may not have been waiting on Perfume Genius with bated breath, those in the know were. After Mike's brilliant 2017 record No Shape he was liable to do just about anything. Two years later he showed up out of the blue with a surreal, psychedelic and driving dance song that sounds both familiar, and like it came from another world. The songs swirling beat and hypnotic pulsating synths transport the listener to a cerebral world of dim lights and bad dancing in a way only Perfume Genuis could. The track is one of the most unique sonic experiences and one of the most unconventionally catchy songs of 2019 and stands out as a truly unforgettable moment from an artist who feels like he is still just getting started.
3. Harmony Hall - Vampire Weekend
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Expectations were VERY high for Vampire Weekend six years after dropping one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the decade Modern Vampires Of The City. All of the doubt was silenced the moment we all first heard Harmony Hall, the bands first new single in six years. With a slick folk inspired acoustic guitar riff Ezra effectively dropped the mic with a vocal and lyrical performance for the ages, putting to rest any whispers of his songwriting not being as sharp as ever. His boyish and charming vocals are expertly laced over the tight instrumental to achieve the always tight balance between indie and folk that the band is so well known for. Vampire Weekend truly needed a track capable of announcing them as back and better than ever this year, and that was Harmony Hall.
2. Patience - Tame Impala
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2015 was a big year for Kevin Parker and Tame Impala. Currents, the bands third record, took a much more psychedelic pop direction than the more rock oriented albums of their past and while it alienated some of their more reclusive indie fans, it also turned the band into an overnight sensation in mainstream rock. This newfound popularity was met with three years of absence from any official new music from the group. But when they teased their first new single in 4 years, it was clear that fans of the band were not only ready, but they were foaming at the mouth. Patience gave just about everything fans could ask for, the bright psychedelic sounds and catchy harmonies of Currents paired with the shimmering keys and full bodied percussion that has always been a mainstay of Tame Impala instrumentals. The song turned heads from across the indie spectrum and set Tame Impala up to have a fantastic 2019, and maybe an even better 2020. One of the figureheads of rock music this decade went out with a bang, and while any of the 4 singles Tame Impala released could really inhabit this spot, Patience is the most stunning, and the best shining example of Kevin Parker's genius as a songwriter.
1. Cellophane - FKA Twigs
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So here we are, #1. Many of the tracks that landed in the top 10 were at one point considered for the #1 spot but the more I thought about it the more I realized that there was no one song that embodied the criteria I laid out for this list better than FKA Twigs Cellophane. The track was a massive critically acclaimed comeback song after a grueling 5 year break between studio albums that had fans calling it her best track to date. It thrust her back into the spotlight and served to get many excited for her upcoming record, which performed well commercially and critically. And finally it is flat out one of the best songs released by anyone in 2019. Whether it is the jaw-dropping and immaculate vocal performance Twigs provides on the song, the somber and full piano arrangement that flanks her emotionally draining performance, or the stunningly beautiful music video attached to the song. There was no single this year that shined brighter, sounded better, was more perfectly timed, and generated more raw excitement among fans than Cellophane and for all those reasons and more I am excited to officially call it my best single of 2019.
Thanks for reading!
Check out the Spotify playlist with all 100 of these tracks in order here.
This list was definitely a hike and there are two more just like it coming over the next two days, but you can check out the 4 smaller lists I released earlier this week here, and stay tuned for Songs and Albums!
