Best Songs of 2010: 70-56

70. Beat Connection “In the Water”
This is everything you want for summer. A genre-defying University of Washington duo who have obviously done their homework on the last 20-odd years of electronica, Beat Connection do just as their name suggests, throwing together surf guitars and cowbells with handclaps and echoed vocals. There’s a great bit around the 1:50 mark where “In the Water” explodes and implores you to dance and grin and move and really mean it. – Jon Kjarsgaard

69. Yeasayer “Madder Red”
The beauty of Yeasayer’s “Madder Red” is in its balance of uncertainty and assuredness. There’s something unsettled about the song, but the oohs of the chorus cut through like a guiding beacon through the dark. The catch comes in the lyrics, revealing that what’s right isn’t resolution but the severing of ties. – Stacey Lansing

68. Wavves “King of the Beach”
Power chords burst through jangle pop guitars and Nathan Williams’ vocals taunt “You’re never going to stop me” — there is no frilly sentiment here. “King of the Beach” is an ode to the summers before most were concerned with the opposite sex or the perfect bikini body, yet there’s still enough harmonic dissonance here to keep the track from crossing the line in the sand over to pop-punk. – Sarah Probst

67. Suckers “A Mind I Knew”
“A Mind I Knew” is melodic brilliance from this Brooklyn-based band’s debut album Wild Smile. Every part of this song finds a way to stick with you, from the insistent verses to the bridge and the rising chord progression that follows it. – Derek Hagen

66. Holly Miranda “Waves”
Expertly produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, this track by the ex-Jealous Girlfriends frontwoman sneaks up on you; it might not demand your full attention right away but eventually seeps into your subconscious. Often compared to Chan Marshall, Miranda’s smooth delivery sounds like what might happen if You Are Free-era Cat Power jammed with The xx, a band for whom Miranda opened on tour in late 2009. – Jon Kjarsgaard

65. Vampire Weekend “Cousins”
“Cousins” sounds as happily frantic and frenzied as a summer barbecue with dozens of friends, their dogs and, yes, everyone’s cousins. The whirlwind of guitars, drums, and Ezra Koenig’s rapid-fire delivery sound on the verge of spiraling out of control, but instead they deliver a pop song perfect for a sunny afternoon with amiable company. – Claire Tiller

64. Superhumanoids “Hey Big Bang”
Many bands strive to be unclassifiable, and Superhumanoids manage to do just that here with a song that feels like every note is played for a reason. “Hey Big Bang” feels tailor-made for Sarah Chernoff’s fresh vocals as she evokes an isolation (“All I want to do is love, but sometimes my love is gone”) felt by humanoids everywhere. – Jon Kjarsgaard

63. Delta Spirit “Bushwick Blues”
This is the sound of rock and roll’s heart beating. “Bushwick Blues” doesn’t try to be cool or catchy or genuine or any of the other things so many songs strive to be — it just is. We’ve all loved, we can all relate. We just never knew this was what coursed through our veins when our hearts skipped a collective beat. – Stacey Lansing

62. Zola Jesus “Night”
The darkness isn’t always scary. With “Night,” Zola Jesus wraps you up in dark, spare percussion and synths, and it dares you to resist the embrace. Try as you might, the song will take hold. In 2010, Zola Jesus went from playing small clubs in Madison to touring Europe with Fever Ray. Let’s pray that 2011 brings more gothpop anthems to get us through the nights. – Tyler Kieler

61. The Soft Pack “Answer to Yourself”
The punk ethos runs strong here throughout, both in its swaggering grit and its lyrics that embrace self-reliance and living your beliefs. “Answer to Yourself” has the scruff and snags of the daily grind, but pulls through with a certainty that sticking to your guns will get you where you need to go. If you can’t hold yourself accountable, who else is going to take you seriously? – Stacey Lansing

60. Phantogram “When I’m Small”
With relatively simple beats and rhythms, Sarah Barthel’s voice makes all the difference in “When I’m Small.” The rhythm, although predictable, is instantly satisfying and the onset of Barthel’s voice really brings the song to another level. She and partner Josh Carter find a way to make this glam-pop song explode with excitement while making sure it’s not overloaded. – Amanda Hammermeister

59. The Drums “Down By the Water”
Awkward indie boys singing doo-wop in a mopey fashion, complete with choreographed moves? It could come off gimmicky but considering this seems to be a one-off on their debut self-titled album, chalk it up to just wanting to provide the perfect song to slow dance to at a retro prom. – Lindsay Juley

58. Pepper Rabbit “Older Brother”
Head nodding to this song becomes instantaneous the second it starts. Your mind flashes visions of youthful activities, bike rides, bon fires, with hints of “Beach Boy” charm. After the serotonin burst, the words render; this is a reflection song about friendship and loss. “Older Brother” carries the most lure compared to other songs on their Beauregard album; however, Pepper Rabbit’s psychedelic folk sound does not disappoint. – JoAnn Schinderle

57. The Dead Weather “Die By the Drop”
“Die By the Drop” opens with barren percussion, then ramps up to a sort of psych-out rock that would feel at home in a boxing ring. Allison Mosshart and Jack White snarl and howl at one another in an exchange that is equal parts menacing and sexy. – Claire Tiller

56. Foals “Spanish Sahara”
“Spanish Sahara” is a bit more moody and mellow than anything Foals has put out in the past, but it’s a nice departure as they lean more on their atmospheric qualities here than they do their dancefloor panic side. “Spanish Sahara” takes some patience and a few moments to acclimate yourself to, but once you do it’s a beautiful thing. – Jon Kjarsgaard