25. Mikky Ekko “Pull Me Down”
Nashville indie-pop singer/producer Mikky Ekko seems to have found his muse for his latest single. Produced by legendary Clams Casino, the song carries Casino’s signature spacey vibes while the romantic and catchy lyrics of Ekko complements the smooth and harmonious beats, creating one of 2012’s best slow indie-pop songs without becoming another indie cliché. As Ekko sings, the track manages to capture the listeners’ full attention and “pulls us down”. For a different feel to the song, make sure to check out Ryan Hemsworth’s very successful remix. —Idil Gur
24. Patrick Watson “Into Giants”
The love song comes in many forms, and Patrick Watson delivered something truly unique back in January with “Into Giants.” Utilizing a full array of acoustic instrumentation, Watson masterfully blended strings of all kinds, horns, percussion, and hypnotizing vocal layers together into a cinematic anthem about embracing uncertainty about the future and finding solace in the present. With an uncommonly fresh composition, his acoustic palate of tones gave listeners a new spin on a classic sound. —Sam Swiech
23. Alabama Shakes “Hold On”
“Hold On” is one of the tracks that shook up 2012. Brittany Howard’s powerful, raspy vocals are old school and give the band the soulful sound that makes them so unique. Though created in 2009, Alabama Shakes gained attention in September 2011 with their self-titled four-song EP. Performing on Conan, Letterman, and at festivals, the band was all over the map this year and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. —Erica Matlin
22. Disclosure feat. Sam Smith “Latch”
Emerging on the UK dance scene as teenagers with their first single in 2010, Disclosure’s rise to international recognition stands as a testament to the boundless potential dance music provides for those with the talent and drive to establish themselves within the scene. Blurring the already loose genre distinctions that fall under the umbrella of “dance music”, their unique blend of deep house, post-dubstep, and R&B provides a sound versatile enough for the dancefloor as well as the living room stereo. Coming off the heels of their venerated first EP, The Face, “Latch” is the first taste of what we can expect from their debut album due out in early 2013. —Sam Swiech
21. The xx “Angels”
After a three-year gap between albums, fans of The xx were greeted with a love song. Instead of a beat-heavy single that smacks you in the face, the first track of the anticipated Coexist was filled with distant sounds and romantic whisperings. Dumbstruck and delighted listeners are left with the difficult decision to continue with the album or fall in love with “Angels” enough to postpone the experience and hit replay. —Chris Kraemer
20. Grizzly Bear “Yet Again”
Ed Droste leads “Yet Again” with the same smooth vocal intimacy we’ve grown accustomed to. His voice perfectly dances over the crisp percussion and the bass groove creating a balancing counterpart to the mesmerizing vocal harmonies. About four minutes in we finally reach the peak of the crescendo that is this entire song. The guitar pushes its way to the front, creating a seemingly disjointed group of sounds that end this track on a high note. —Hillary Sprecher
19. ScHoolboy Q feat. A$AP Rocky “Hands on the Wheel”
ScHoolboy Q’s 2012 effort Habits & Contradictions is aptly titled: one half of the record functions as the perfect party soundtrack, while the other concerns the comedown and ensuing consequences. “Hands on the Wheel” is a safe bet for the party side, but there’s nothing safe about it. Throughout the track, ScHoolboy and A$AP relentlessly rap about — politely put — reckless drug and alcohol usage. Lack of responsibility made “Hands on the Wheel” the party banger of 2012. It was the one sure-fire song to crank any night up a notch, or two. —Andrew Brandt
18. Purity Ring “Obedear”
Like the rest of Purity Ring’s 2012 debut, Shrines, “Obedear” exists in its own separate, brooding world. The beat (which consists of fragmented bleeps and twisted clicks) projects a haunted backdrop. Upon first listen, Megan James’ fragile “handle with care” delivery may appear out of place. However, one glance over the lyric sheet lets you know she’s right at home here: her obsession with the physical being mutilated and torn perfectly fleshes out the scene. This balance makes “Obedear” a creepy, infectious listen. And I mean that in the best way possible. —Andrew Brandt
17. Twin Shadow “Five Seconds”
“Five Seconds” is a self-inspired single from Twin Shadow’s sophomore album, Confess. Gaining inspiration from brainchild George Lewis, Jr.’s novel about motorcycle gangs, the video for “Five Seconds” includes all the chains and full-throttle whippings one might assume. Lewis croons the song’s chorus with a sense of detached urgency that would raise the likes of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis or just about any post-punk, new wave ensemble. If tenacious picking or tri-note drumming isn’t enough to get the blood flowing, the track’s video is sure to instill a skin-crawling eagerness to tear down the open road and maybe even bust a few heads. —Jason Oliva
16. First Aid Kit “The Lion’s Roar”
“The Lion’s Roar” marks a first step of Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit’s exploration of heavier subjects in their music, and damn do they do it well. This is a song haunted with the frustrating nature of lost love and the attempt to determine what went wrong when. It’s a powerful message packed into a straightforward refrain with the force of Johanna and Klara Söderberg’s stunning vocals. —Rebecca Edwards
15. Dirty Projectors “About to Die”
One of the most accomplished albums of the year, Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors gave birth to “About to Die”, a song that manages to combine all the talents the band has to offer. David Longstreth’s voice, just the right amount of scratchy and melodic, takes over the song and carries it until the end without getting boring or repetitive. The idiosyncratic drumbeats that grab our attention at the beginning of the song get mellower throughout, but the rhythmic effect they bring to the song does not go away with their intensity. The seraphic back vocals led by Amber Coffman are another element that gives the song its nonchalant but strong vibes. “About to Die” is a song that many of us listened to on repeat over the past six months and perhaps that’s why the band decided to name their November EP after this track. —Idil Gur
14. Alt-J “Tessellate”
Although they arrived on the music scene all the way back in 2007, this year’s release of Alt-J’s debut album, An Awesome Wave, propelled them to indie acclaim both in their native UK as well as North America. “Tessellate” represents one of the band’s slower, more stripped-down tracks with its looping, low-tuned guitars accompanying a simple half-time drumbeat and exotic live percussion. Lyrically, Alt-J paints a unique picture of connection and harmony through geometric terms. —Sam Swiech
13. Jessie Ware “Wildest Moments”
The third single from Devotion, “Wildest Moments” unexpectedly entered Jessie Ware into the world of popular music. Never straining to be something it’s not, Ware’s smooth vocals and a booming bass aid the track to comfortably groove along. Ware ties her heart’s strings to her sleeve and then tugs at them as she recalls the demise of a close relationship. The song is saturated in nostalgia, as the oft-repeated bridge and chorus highlight (and lowlight) unforgettable memories. Already making a splash on the UK’s radio waves, I can only hope the infectious “Wildest Moments” makes its way over to the States’ waves in 2013. —Andrew Brandt
12. The Lumineers “Ho Hey”
Be it heard on film soundtracks, TV commercials, or all over the radio and Internet, “Ho Hey” emerged as a definitive song of 2012. Since its April release the song has gone from “a bus to Chinatown” to all over the world and we’re still not sick of it, which is a miracle in this musical world we live in. With each listen something new is discovered, heard, and felt. To put it simply, the Lumineers have recreated the ultimate feel-good song, and we’re thankful for it. —Erica Matlin
11. Jack White “Love Interruption”
This is that rare occasion where an artist delving into their solo career is met with unanimous applause. While all of Jack White’s involvements since The White Stripes have been enjoyable, “Love Interruption” is a prime example of what we’ve been missing before the release of Blunderbuss. The dark, minimalist take on love is something only Jack himself could’ve written; edgy yet extremely catchy despite its short length and utter lack of percussion. Take away key components and those that remain shine brighter. —Chris Kraemer
Edited by Jon Kjarsgaard and Derek Hagen