Previously:
100-91,
90-81
Spotify Link
80. Quadron - Crush
Much like their previous entry on this list, Quadron have a soulful outpouring of a song here. It's not the upbeat, joyful tune that Hey Love is, but what it gains in trading that aspect out is relatable vulnerability in the form of unrequited love. That's usually one of the more powerful forces, and who can't relate in some way to the line "Maybe some day he'll notice me / if I keep a close proximity?"
79. Au Revoir Simone - The Lead is Galloping
Brooklyn trio Au Revoir Simone may borrow their name from a Pee-Wee Herman reference, but (forgive me) there's nothing little about their sound. Their sound is at its biggest and best during the chorus of The Lead is Galloping, a dreamy pop song with keys like a digital church organ. The vocals are gently harmonized and reverbed over the song's two and a half minutes, a varied and interesting drum machine pattern keeping time behind the keys and filling whatever little space is left.
78. Snowden - Anemone Arms
Conveniently and coincidentally released the same year that a man with the same name made a few headlines, Snowden returned from a seven-year hiatus with a similar but more refined take on their 2006 debut. Jordan Jeffares's distinctive vocals set him apart still, but his vocals are decidedly less anti-authority. He sounds gentle, empathetic, even if the image created by the embrace of an anemone (obviously not the song's literal focus) isn't exactly a down pillow.
77. Jamie Lidell - Do Yourself a Faver
A funky English soul, Jamie Lidell is at his grooviest on this track off his self-titled release, his sixth full-length. In a way, he's a slightly dancier version of another artist who'll appear later on this list, Autre Ne Veut. Combining a soulful voice with this kind of pseudo-disco groove is a winner.
76. Chvrches - Gun
This Scottish electropop trio has swooped in to capture the hearts of lots and lots of listeners. Formed from something of a ragtag collection of previous band histories, Chvrches have managed to create catchy, upbeat pop songs with terrific beats and hooks. This is the first of a few times they'll show up on this list, and this single from their debut full-length embodies everything about what makes this band work.
75. Lucius - Hey, Doreen
You want harmonies? We've got harmonies here. Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe are a terrific vocal tandem, and their prowess is well-exhibited on this track. It only barely stops for breath after it gets going, only to build back up to full strength for a final pass at the chorus. It's forcefully sung, but it's not overpowering, and its chorus sounds tailor-made to be explosive during a live show.
74. Arcade Fire - Joan of Arc
Starting off deceptively punk, this track quickly morphs into something that sounds like an even-more-back-alley take on Billy Joel's It's Still Rock and Roll to Me. Regine Chassagne is the star in a supporting role, her "Jeanne d'Arc, ah-ooh" during the chorus will stick with you long after the song finishes, and her creepiest French verse to date is riveting. It's a song about persistence and beliefs, in sticking by what you feel to be true even in the face of opposition or disbelief; it's sort of a microcosm of Arcade Fire's approach to this album, a departure from the style that made them famous. It's bold, and it doesn't always pay off. Here, though, it certainly does.
73. The Love Language - Calm Down
Having a spaceman as the main character for the music video of this song sure seems appropriate, given how tall and airy the music sounds at points, especially as the chorus erupts. Driven by simple instrumentation layered just right, The Love Language make fun indie pop without complication or excessive frills. The instrumental breakdown is the one chance on the track the instrumentalists take to shine, and it's gloriously indulgent, slowly ramping up to an absolute cavalcade of sound.
72. St. Lucia - Elevate
Jean-Philip Grobler is back, and he's got more of the '80s in tow, this time with a bit of a tropical flare. This summer afternoon-style track does well enough drifting along on the haze it creates over synths and wood blocks, but the breakdowns after the second and third chorus are what make this song truly excellent. Fun throughout.
71. Local Natives - Three Months
An absolute heartbreaker of a chorus, song completely in falsetto, is the punch behind this pensive Local Natives track. Stunning and beautiful at moments and tinged with uncertainty at others, it's not the Local Natives that made their name with Gorilla Manor; this is an introspective band that's in touch with something deeper, something emotive. They've left part of their carefree sound behind to explore the more serious and expressive side of their music, and here it just flat-out
works.
