20 Foals – Red Socks Pugie I really don’t like Foals, OK. Just this song. It’s some kind of fluke. Remember that
19 Vampire Weekend – Walcott As an Arsenal fan, this bizarre anthem to a misfit that references the Holy Roman Empire is even dearer
18 Cut Copy – Lights & Music Hard to choose one track from a great album of Aussie ’80s disco which is so much better than that sounds
17 Goldfrapp – Clowns The opener to gloriously fresh new record Seventh Tree, this wraps you up in strings and carries you far away to a much better and calmer place
16 Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains They came, they saw, they conquered, but then this was always going to be their year; Neil Young had a comeback too. The mandolin and trebly piano on this track help to tingle the spine
15 TV On The Radio – Shout Me Out This could in fact be any of the 11 tracks on Dear Science; every one is a classic. This is one of the most measured and uplifting
14 Wild Beasts – The Devil’s Crayon The tune and lyrics are entrancing, but this song’s genius really lies in its kaleidoscopic, joyous backing arrangement
13 Neon Neon – Belfast Another album – Stainless Style – with a surfeit of knockout singles. But listen to the chorus of this in the back of a car through a lit up cityscape at night; you’ll fall in love
12 Metronomy – On Dancefloors Bizarrely, there’s no link for this woozy disco gem. Think Bloc Party’s ‘Like Eating Glass’ stripped down and spaced out. Or first check out Heartbreaker, which is nearly as good
11 Estelle – American Boy A great year for Esetelle, whose second album was loaded with crossover pop magic to unite R&B, pop and indie through the medium of great music
Tomorrow, the Top Ten. Oooo.
