10.
WTF (WHERE THEY FROM) - Missy Elliott
Fun blip of a party record with Pharrell's propulsive mechanical beats. Not spectacular by Missy standards... but these days, few can reach Missy standards.
9.
HOTLINE BLING - Drake
Drake's heartache is quite acute on this cool, dreamy, bossa nova track.
8.
LET IT HAPPEN - Tame Impala
Epic psychedelic typhoon with a driving swirl of guitars and layered vocals from the Aussie rock band. Was excellent to see live at Radio City!
7.
I'M A RUIN / FORGET - Marina & the Diamonds
I had these catchy, pop-hooked singles on repeat from Marina in '15.
6.
MULTI-LOVE - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Keyed-off with a baroque-pop piano intro and topped off with an infectious main melody line, Unknown Mortal Orchestra's tune builds into a sun-soaked, fuzzed-drummed embrace.
5.
DELIRIOUS - Susanne Sundfør
I was blown away by Susanne's towering tune (in a similar vein to Hounds of Love-era Kate Bush). Blissfully melodramatic.
4.
CAN'T FEEL MY FACE - The Weeknd
The best thing to happen to mainstream radio this year was The Weeknd's suggestively-lyric-ed MJ throwback.
3.
FEEL YOU - Julia Holter
Gentle strings, oohs and ahhs, stuttering drums and twinkly harpsichords: Holter's song is a crafty swoon.
2.
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER - Sufjan Stevens
Heartbreakingly beautiful and gentle elegy from Stevens.
1.
DEPRESTON - Courtney Barnett
What was the song that stood out to me the most in '15? Barnett's "Depreston"--a chilly gentrifying house warming party with disarming, concrete image-laden lyrics, a repetitive Dylan-esque melody and Barnett's clear-cutting voice.
You picked a few I hadn't heard of, so I'll be listening to those now. My husband and I randomly quote Hotline Bling to each other all the time. It's a fun song.
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