I created two companion playlists for this note, so you can listen to most of the songs included on this list.
The first half of this song is pretty straightforward, but half way through, it transitions into an awesome, spacey jam. Every time I listen to this song I don't want it to stop. And I never get sick of it no matter how many times I listen to it. I wish this song was thirty minutes longer. That's how much I like it.
Although "Swim" is the song that made me initially fall in love with Surfer Blood, this song has had the most staying power.
Luke Temple's voice is haunting in this song. And the climactic part at about four minutes into the song is stunning.
It might not be fair to include this song on this list since I've been listening to its demo for more than a year, but Mimicking Birds didn't have a proper release until this year. Isaac Brock took Mimicking Birds under his wing last year and took them on tour with Modest Mouse as well as signing them to his label, Glacial Pace, for their self-titled debut. Brock even provides backup vocals on this song; you can hear him screaming in the background at around 0:38 and 1:14. However, Nate Lacy's voice is far too powerful to need any kind of assistance.
There are two main reasons why this song is on this list: (1) the slide guitar parts and (2) Victoria Legrand's way of belting out "Norway!" toward the end of the song.
6. Die Antwoord - "Evil Boy"
The story of Die Antwoord is as interesting as their music. Even the story behind this singular song is fascinating. There are three languages spoken on this track. Diplo (of Major Lazer) produced the song. And the lyrics are all in protest of a tribal circumcision ritual. You can read more about this song and find the translated lyrics here.
7. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Round And Round"
It's a triumphant moment in this song when that first chorus kicks in. Wayne Coyne shot the extremely trippy music video for this song on his iPhone.
8. People, People - "Five Year Drought"
This band is from the town where I go to school, and I am definitely biased toward them. However, their place on this list is not unwarranted. This song is brilliant. There are several time changes and tempo changes throughout this song, but they are very smooth and not jarring or disorienting--not an easy feat. It's easy to tell these guys are very talented songwriters.
9. The Besnard Lakes - "Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent"
This two-part song clocks in at over nine minutes. There's not really much more to say here. This song just rocks.
10. Tanlines - "Policy Of Trust"
I went through a chillwave infatuation for a couple months this year. During that time, this was one of the best chillwave songs I found. Also, I found that listening to chillwave is unexpectedly fitting during rainy weather despite its association with summer, beaches, surfing, etc.
11. The Books - "I Didn't Know That"
I didn't know that The Books would be able to keep finding awesomely strange samples and awesomely strange ways to use them. But they did! Case in point: 1:33 into this song.
12. Avi Buffalo - "One Last"
This song makes me feel like I'm a teenager again. I don't really know why. Maybe it's because this band is filled with teenagers. Also, I'm a sucker for the girl's voice in this song. She sounds slightly dorky, and I like it.
13. Maps & Atlases - "Solid Ground"
Maps & Atlases have drastically changed their sound over the last few years. They used to be a textbook math rock band. Now they have added a healthy portion of pop to the mix. Math pop?
14. PVT - "Window"
I found this band after they did a pretty cool remix of "Collector" by Here We Go Magic. Shortly thereafter, I got hooked on this song.
15. Plants And Animals - "Tom Cruz"
This song might not have made this list if it weren't for its title.
Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order):
- The Bees - "Tired Of Loving"
- Child Abuse - "Opportunity Zone"
- Flying Lotus - "Kill Your Co-Workers"
- Gorillaz - "Superfast Jellyfish"
- The Seven Fields Of Aphelion - "Grown
- Student Film - "Guilty Of Equivocation"
- Zs - "Acres Of Skin"
Favorite remixes:
- Evangelicals - "Bloodstream (Slow Blood Version)"
- Justin Bieber - "U Smile 800% Slower"
- Nosaj Thing - "Us (Dntel Remix)"
- Deerhunter - "Helicopter (Diplo & Lunice Remix)"
- Here We Go Magic - "Collector (PVT Remix)"
