2019: My Year of Music Discovery

Introduction

My Musical Journey

I come from a classical music family. Fortunate to play the violin for sixteen years (as well as the oboe for a spell) and even join a youth orchestra, I grew up with a deep appreciation for music but learned almost nothing about music from the past hundred years.

In my high school years I was introduced to the “electronic dance music” of the late nineties, represented by genres like trance (via Paul Oakenfold’s Tranceport mix album) and progressive house which were more popular in Europe than America – certainly less so than modern-day EDM. This expanded my music sensibilities from instrumentals to beats, but transitioning to university life, I continued to struggle with just about any music with lyrics.

Instead, I stumbled into the arguably hipster path of dabbling in world music, where I lacked the means to understand the words anyway, with Rachid Taha’s “Barra Barra” on the Blackhawk Down soundtrack helping me discover Algerian raï and Gotan Project’s recording of Astor Piazzolla’s “Cité Tango” in an episode of Top Gear introducing me to the world of electrotango. Interestingly enough, Top Gear provided much of the basis for my initial playlist expansion, thanks to the “TG What’s That Song?” forum I found.

Fast forward to 2018, when I decided to end my musical ignorance (or to be kind, naïveté) once and for all. Perhaps I wanted to gain some social cred, or maybe I had just caught so many snippets of songs I liked that I knew I should recognize. Starting with classic rock from the Beatles and the Stones, blasting on through less dated hits from Coldplay and Maroon 5, stretching to almost recent territory with some Avicii and Imagine Dragons – I pulled together a Spotify playlist that at last got me started on the more complete musical literacy I had yearned for.

From there, I could finally figure out what styles I liked and, while I still have trouble tuning into specific lyrics, and though electronic and world music still catch my ear quite often, I spent the better part of 2019 catching songs out in the wild, from TV and hotels to restaurants and stores (thanks Shazam!). I then left myself at the mercy of YouTube’s recommendation engine as I lapped up musicality from the chill depths of downtempo to the funky energy of nu disco, all the way to the mellow place illuminated by the indie scene.

What I Listen For

In true music snob fashion, my listening style aligns to factors you could call my three Ms:

My classical music training has trained my ear to favor what I call musicality, which refers to qualities of the tone, texture, rhythm, instrumentation, and so on, that make the music itself worthy of discussion. This refers mostly to the instrumentatals, but a singer's vocal quality or enunciation certainly fits here too. That doesn’t mean I completely avoid songs with drum loops that repeat eight times or take on a basic A-B-A structure, but I certainly favor artists that make the effort to go a little further.

In a similar vein, but perhaps even more subjectively, I also look out for songs with notable memorability, which is a fancy way of saying that something is “catchy.” It helps if the song has an earworm-inducing hook, but any sufficiently lyrical instrumentals or even a well-written refrain can do it. Distinctiveness helps a lot, especially when genre-mashing is involved.

Even if you consider Myers-Briggs a product of “pop psychology” (and perhaps it is), I'm going to ascribe my focus on mood (when constructing playlists) to my association with the F (“feeling”) indicator. In fact, this is how I normally organize my music, with categories for chill, energizing, epic, and mellow songs.

How I Assembled the List

Perhaps it comes as no surprise, then, that I put together this list commemorating my fifty favorite songs the same way I assemble my playlists – by feel. Another thing this list shares with my playlists is the limit of one song per artist, to challenge myself to keep the selections diverse (though there would be few exceptions if I relaxed this rule anyway).

Of course, the absolute ranking of each song within my preferences takes priority, but I also wanted this Top 50 to work as a natural playlist in both directions – backwards and forwards. So while some songs were shuffled a couple places to make more natural transitions, my ranking system is inprecise enough that this should minimally impact the overall tiering.

In the end, not everything I started off considering made the list. Notably, classical music dropped off entirely as transitions proved too difficult. I also struggled to choose just one song for a couple artists. I’ve included alternate selections where appropriate, and also provide an “honorable mention” section at the end of this article to wrap up proceedings.

Regardless of whether my musical preferences share anything with yours, I hope that this list provides at least a little bit of inspiration if you’ve made it this far. Enjoy!

D Tier: Songs 50 to 41

50. Hans Zimmer - Time

I may have left classical music out of my list, but I would be remiss if I excluded this soundtrack gem from Hans Zimmer. I’ve long felt conflicted about his music; his earlier work in blockbusters like The Rock (1996), Gladiator (2000), and Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) scored high in memorability with some epic (if repetitive) themes, but the orchestration came off as simplistic – often with several sections of the orchestra playing the same notes in unison.

By the time he scored Inception (2010), perhaps Zimmer had matured as a composer. With a – dare I say it – timeless theme built without leaning on heavy-handed instrumentation or percussion, this track really captured the metaphysical wonder of the film.

Honorable Mention: “Lost but Won” – Perhaps branching out helped Hans Zimmer in his more traditional work too, with this track from Rush (2013) sounding as epic as ever.

49. Metronomy - The Look

Well, that didn’t take long for us to venture into hipster land – but Metronomy nails the deadpan delivery here (both in the music and the video). Starting with a simple hook on the keyboard paired to a steady beat, developing into a nice electro-acoustic, falsetto set of ideas, this is an easy song to mellow out to.

48. Avicii - The Nights

Modern EDM may not have stuck around on my playlists much as it ventured further into pop territory, but this song represents everything that was good about it. With Avicii’s signature folksy sound (listen for that harmonica!) infused with a truly uplifting set of lines, the voiceover intro to the official music video is made all the more profound by the realization of the tragedy that befell this song’s creator. RIP Tim Bergling, 1989-2018.

47. Monogato - Miami Vibe (Omnia Remix)

Taking a moment to jump back into the world of trance, once this song progresses beyond the guitar chords in the development, the straightforward but effective contrast between a strong foundation of a bassline and soft electronic tones billowing out a melody on top, provides a mainstay tune that I’ve surely gotten hours’ worth of productivity from.

46. Envio - For You (The Blizzard Remix)

Another trance song set up wonderfully by a simple guitar line, the no-nonsense bass here provided by The Blizzard’s remix keeps things focused while the guitar strumming and synth violin string fades add atmosphere. The resulting backdrop for a rather layered melodic track feels like it’s taking you places, that’s for sure.

45. Bakermat - Living (feat. Alex Clare)

This Bakermat hit brings the energy I’ve come to appreciate from today’s takes on house music – and blurs the lines with modern EDM. In some ways the song is not the most remarkable; the bass doesn’t go anywhere and this song isn’t the best showcase of Alex Clare’s strong vocals, but it deserves a place for breaking me into a new genre, keeping my spirits up many a time in the process.

Honorable Mention: “Games Continued” (with Goldfish, feat. Marie Plassard) – In some ways, I like this collaboration with South African band Goldfish even more, but while it keeps a uplifting spirit, it’s a more mellow track without the same level of energy as Living.

44. Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)

Known for the prominent inclusion of his work on The Matrix, Rob Dougan really had a knack for fusing the weight of orchestral strings with dark synths and samples to create the perfect dystopian sci-fi soundtrack. The introduction lifted straight from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations sets the mood before diving into a tapestry of sound, with an appropriately melancholy story told by the solo piano.

43. Moby - Extreme Ways

How’s this for memorability? Anyone who has watched the Bourne Identity and its sequels will have come to associate this song with the films, and you’d be hard pressed to find a thematically better fit. Moby’s vocals really shine through here, but the light electric guitar line give this song a lot of life backed up by an excellent deep bass. Great for a late night pensive mood.

Honorable Mention: “Everloving” – This may be more the type of song I tend to associate with Moby, and it’s certainly suitably mellow and meandering to chill out to, in the right mood. Those guitar chords really hit home.

42. Monsieur Periné - La Muerte

It’s hard to choose just one song from Colombian gypsy jazz band Monsieur Periné, but La Muerte captures everything I love about them. Mixing French and Spanish lyrics into this incredible mashup of styles, Catalina García puts a surprising amount of strength behind her vocals and is backed up by the incredibly talented rest of the band – including a special appearance of an almost Klezmer-like clarinet here.

Honorable Mention: “Sabor a mi” (literally, “taste of me”) – I would be remiss to exclude this song – an absolute beauty of a traditional “bolero” performed by a band that exudes creativity and class, live in the heart of Bogotá.

41. Welshly Arms - Who We Are

This song by Cleveland-based blues rock band Welshly Arms represents a perfectly well-rounded song for me. Sure, I have a soft spot for descending chords and repeated piano chords especially when set against powerful vocals, but it’s really how the whole song comes together that makes it click for me. Playable on repeat, hits home with the lyrics, and hard to find any weaknesses.

C Tier: Songs 40 to 31

40. Emancipator - Minor Cause

Emancipator is a life-changing artist. There, I said it. His pioneering mastery of the downtempo, trip hop genre has produced the kind of beauty – in the way that natural wonders capture it – that makes you just want to keep on living to see (and hear) more. This was the first of his songs I heard, but it remains my favorite, melding the trademark violin solo with a vast set of sounds that weave themselves into something of a musical experience.

39. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold

Perhaps it’s obvious, but a clue to how you should think of this band lies in its name. The warm folksy sound wielded by Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg sometimes does feel like it has healing properties. This song certainly captures that feeling, with rising swells met by the descending vocals of the harmonic refrain. The solo start to the final verse is even more magical as it transitions seamlessly into a beautiful duet. You just have to smile after hearing this song!

38. Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound

Not sure if it’s something in the water up north, but double dipping into the Scandinavian indie folk scene takes us back to this “oldie but goodie” from the start of the decade, by Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men. There’s just something about the mountain air that is captured so well by this song, and proves that a sound like this doesn’t get tired when it becomes popular – it’s timeless.

Honorable Mention: “Dirty Paws” – With its own cute live recording, another favorite captures the Icelandic folk spirit amazingly well.

37. Cocoon - Dolphins

Another example of a well-balanced song, we now go to France for our English-speaking folk fix. Cocoon puts together a great fireside sound here, not letting the melancholy lyrics take away from the illumination of their tidy but intimate instrumentals.

36. Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

One of the longest-running songs on my playlist here, this disco arrangement with flamenco flair goes way back to the film Kill Bill back in 2003, which is where I suspect most others would recognize it from. While it captivated many with how well it paired with a Tarantino-crafted katana duel in the snow, the title, well, is simply the story of my life.

Deep, I know. But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating this particular mashup of genres and the inspiring product it created.

35. London Grammar - Non Believer

London Grammar exposes my limited music theory knowledge here, but there’s just something about the scale and harmonization used here that gives the song an exotic feel, made even more so by ethereal instrumentals. Hannah Reid’s vocals have such a quality that they don’t need dressing up, but the choral effects do put a cherry on top of this song, together with the cadence of the piano as proceedings come to an uplifting close.

Honorable Mention: “Wasting My Young Years” – Another song that moves along a bit more, and showcases Reid’s soprano wonderfully.

34. Los Bunkers - Bailando Solo

One of my forays into the Latin rock scene comes in the form of Chilean band Los Bunkers. There’s something both retro and modern about their sound, but it’s nothing but quality through and through in “Bailando Solo” (“dancing alone”), and while I have to rely on Google Translate for the lyrics they certainly spoke to me after the fact. The simple four-piece rock band setup here works brilliantly, but there’s something about the inversion in the synth arpeggios in the middle of the song that just catch the ear.

33. Stereophonics - Graffiti on the Train

Stay away if you’re trying to avoid sad songs – while this one thankfully is not based on a true story, it certainly wrenches the heart. Along with his Welsh compatriots in Stereophonics, Kelly Jones delivers with emotionally tuned vocals and guitar work that gives this rock band a weighty feel – really good for the moving music they make.

32. Hiroki Morishita - Dusk Falls (Fire)

With the exclusion of classical music from my list, rather than let full orchestral honors go solely to Hans Zimmer, this nod to my casual fandom of video game soundtracks deserves a spot. Stock music featuring “epic” orchestral music is a dime a dozen these days, but Nintendo’s Fire Emblem franchise has featured talented composers putting a more refined spin on the genre for decades.

Hiroki Morishita masterfully captures the “glory-seeking” European-inspired kingdom of Nohr in this battle theme that combines punchy percussion with that unforgettable bagpipe theme 33 seconds in.

31. Midlake - The Old and the Young

Capping this tier is the tremendously heartfelt sound of Midlake, a Texas-based folk/prog-rock band anchored by the velvety vocals of Eric Pulido, with a steady march of backing instrumentals piecing together the “timeless journey” quality of “The Old and the Young.” Not to be missed is the simultanous flute and keyboard action in the latter half of the song.

B Tier: Songs 30 to 21

30. Gotan Project - Santa María (del Buen Ayre)

Speaking of instrumental mastery, Argentina’s rich tango tradition is not only a dance worthy of UNESCO heritage status, but perhaps a worthy successor to what I would call traditional classical music as well. Taking cues from (admittedly, drawing on stereotypes here) spicy Spanish and passionate Italian cultures, those short, snappy violin and piano riffs are unmistakably tango. Yet the electronic groove melds with it so well, that perhaps it comes as no surprise that Gotan Project made as much of a mark on me as it did in creating electrotango as a genre.

Enough of an impression that I would consider the entire Tango 3.0 Live concert recording a must-see (and listen, of course)! Apologies that this version of “Santa María” doubles as a shout-out at concert-end; but this group of performers probably captured the tango spirit better here than in any other version of the song.

29. Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls

I’d long known Franz Ferdinand for their hit “Take Me Out” but this song had far more lasting power for me. It moves, it glides along on a bed of solid drum work in the refrain, builds on the strength of its bass line, and well, those lyrics really hit the nail on the head, don't they?

28. Eagles - Hotel California

This absolute classic gave me a veritable musical feast when I first heard it, and the acoustic version with its flamenco influences takes all of that up a notch, even as it softened what I knew at the time as possible within the rock genre. That trademark chord progression and wonderful storytelling through its lyrics will never get old.

27. Balkan Beat Box - Bulgarian Chicks

It’s almost criminal to not place Balkan Beat Box higher on my list given how long this wild band from Brooklyn sat at the top of my playlist. Despite the stiff competition, there will always be a place in my heart for the genre-busting, turned-up-to-eleven energy of this Israeli group, blending Balkan brass (which I had previously been exposed to randomly – it’s certainly a “thing” in world music) with the Middle East and a mix of electronic and other touches. The funny origin story of how I discovered BBB is actually from hunting for the original song behind Ylvis’s “Mr. Toot.”

This live performance in LA of “Bulgarian Chicks” – already notable for its traditional Bulgarian vocals and asymmetric rhythms – also features a Hebrew rap by Tomer Yusef, frontman for original founders Ori Kaplan and Tamir Muskat.

Honorable Mention: “Hermetico” – This song is the reason I added an “honorable mention” option to each spot on the list; it’s so good that I could not bear to leave it out. The saxophone work is absolutely incredible here, and between the ace instrumentals and tremendous energy channeled through the crowd, this has to be the one concert I wish I had the fortune of attending the most.

26. Thievery Corporation - Lebanese Blonde

Before we leave the Middle East, this track that I discovered from the movie Garden State (with its excellent soundtrack) introduced me to the wonder that is Thievery Corporation (who are, for the record, an American duo based out of DC). Always good for a chill song or five, the sitar work here sets up the mood beautifully as we layer on Pam Brinker’s silky vocals.

I remember having a conversation with a friend in college lamenting about the absence of brass from a lot of modern music; while it’s good for adding energy to some songs (as Balkan Beat Box does... a lot), Thievery Corporation uses it here to bracket the perfect evening tune.

25. Freedom Fry - For You

Finally we get to a song with just a few thousand views – but rather than boast about my hipster cred, can we take a moment to appreciate this duo naming themselves over the joke name applied to french fries during the George W era? Good times. But this song is no joke; rather, it’s just about the sweetest, cutest little duet I can think of to capture a couple’s love. The simple ukelele-led instrumentals here, too, are “everything you need.” Indeed.

24. The Strokes - Machu Picchu

Musicality comes in spades from this song, giving me a faceful of the goodness that can come from a properly talented post-punk band in the form of The Strokes. Those punctuated guitar lines and riffs aren’t backed up by the most complex bass line, but they don’t need to be when you have Julian Casablancas hitting every note dead on in this song (okay, admittedly I've linked a studio recording here). But the result is certainly memorable, with enough poetry to the lyrics to make this a thinking-person’s song.

23. Heatbeat - Caledonia

I normally give composers and producers a hard time when they rely on the piano too much, but for this Argentinian trance duo it has perhaps become one of their best tools. There’s nothing overly complex about this track, but simplicity is king in this original mix as it manages to deconstruct the ethereal from the energetic as the basic, even repetitive piano line lifts your spirits out from the rainy mists. “Caledonia” being the ancient (Roman) name for Scotland, of course.

22. DLD - Reencuentro

For a real spiritual journey though, this excellent song from Mexican rock band DLD is beyond compare. Addressing the feeling of reuniting with a loved one after death, the rousing chorus warms the heart even as the subject matter has a layer of darkness about it. Another way that the rock genre shows its versatility, highlighted by an incredible group of musicians from the Latin world.

21. Bajofondo - El Mareo

We started this tier with tango, so we close this tier with tango. Bajofondo – more of a collaborative group of superstar musicians from the Río de la Plata region, than a band in the traditional sense – has carried the torch admirably, not going super electronic with their style, but certainly pushing the boundaries enough to perhaps earn the label “neotango.”

They certainly know how to put on a spectacle with some earth-shatteringly brilliant music, presented here with “El Mareo” (“dizziness”) featuring Argentinian rock legend Gustavo Cerati (of Soda Stereo fame). Those cascading piano lines to kick things off certainly live up to the song’s name, before launching into Bajofondo’s musical tour de force, violin and bandoneon dipping and diving amongst the rest.

Honorable Mention: “Pa' Bailar (Siempre Quiero Más)” (“to dance [always want more]”) – Another strong contender with some modern dance floor elements forming an electronic interplay with a more traditional tango sound in the original version of this song; here they are overlaid with vocals by another Latin superstar in Mexican singer Julieta Venegas.

A Tier: Songs 20 to 11

20. Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Grammy mashup)

Ageless robot wonders Daft Punk really delivered a catchy disco tune in “Get Lucky,” thanks to a dream collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. A hit that caught my ear the first time I heard it on the radio (which I haven’t listened to much in my life – how lucky to catch it when I did), my mashup-loving self just melted when I stumbled across this performance (or the rehearsal version linked here) on YouTube.

Roping in the legendary Stevie Wonder to share vocal and keyboard duties, the live instrumentals turn the smooth original tune into an increasingly rowdy yet classy affair. Daft Punk coming in with a callout to “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” Nile Rodgers getting his own Chic tribute with a few lines from “Le Freak,” and transitioning beautifully to “Another Star” to give Stevie Wonder a moment to shine, this performance is just pure magic.

19. SIAMÉS - The Wolf

I’m not sure what it is about Argentina that keeps me coming back for musical inspiration no matter the genre, but English-speaking rock band SIAMÉS delivered a sound that I would consider among the best I heard in 2019. A refreshing level of fidelity in the instrumentals, with the guitars getting higher as the bass gets lower, with pinpoint harmonization to complement Guille Stöltzing’s vocals (which I’d seen compared to Coldplay’s Chris Martin – definitely a stretch, by high praise for sure).

The formula here makes the entire Bounce into the Music album serve as great night driving music, but when I tried to look up live performances from these guys, I discovered that as individual musicians they unfortunately aren’t the most talented. Perhaps that makes the mixing and editing work here even more remarkable, as is the fact that such good music can still come from them.

18. Röyksopp - This Space

Masters of the electronic space Röyksopp, the Norwegian duo hailing from Tromsø, have been so prolific and innovative over the years, I was really surprised to have so much trouble finding this track. Perhaps because it’s even more of a minimalist vibe than the better-known “Eple,” but keeping things simple transform this walking-pace beat into something that can still move you. As it develops toward those synth string lines and the beat momentarily drops out, you go from ponderous to inspired and, well, it all comes together so well, every layer placed just right.

Honorable Mention: “Alpha Male” – It feels better to include a more energetic track too (which is just as deserving of this spot in its own right), and this one pulls together some deep riffs and that meandering, descending melody that shines a light through the darkness of the soundscape. I love that Röyksopp tries to tweak their songs every time they perform them live, and this particular version is complemented by a wonderful time lapse video thanks to the YouTube user who uploaded it.

17. Kodaline - Ready to Change

Doubling down on descending chords, this particularly mellow selection from Irish rock band Kodaline really hits the spot. With house-style syncopation permeated by some really moving lyrics and guitar lines, there’s something to their sound that makes it rewarding to listen to, even as it manages to be perhaps the most “easy-listening” band to listen to of those I discovered in 2019.

This song aside, most of their work is uplifting enough that I find comparisons to the more mellow Coldplay not entirely accurate, but my goodness are the melodies truly memorable.

Honorable Mention: “Head Held High” – Case in point, the nifty vocal-effect intro to this song gets off to a whimsical start, yet delivers a cheerful mood that manages to be sensitive to whatever the listener may be going through. While hardly an unknown in the pop rock world, if anything I’m still surprised they’re not more popular.

16. Belle and Sebastian - Perfect Couples

Glasgow-based hipster mainstay Belle and Sebastian may have been a “thing” even before being a “hipster” was a thing, but this song shows they haven’t missed a beat over the years. While they’ve adapted their sound to include some nice electronic touches like the cool little ramp-ups that play throughout the song, the cyclic nature of neat, prim instrumentals backdropped by bongos frames the scene quite well.

And well, the subject matter many of us could probably relate to. Especially as the harmonization in the refrain throws us back to something like a fifties vintage, which, along with an gloriously choreographed one-take music video, shows these guys really still are masters of the genre.

15. Zoé - Luna

If you’re not familiar with Zoé, well, it’s a band that does well to carry the mantle of the Mexican indie rock genre. Some intensely creative lyrics paired with thoughtful instrumental treatment, at times verging on psychedelic while other times leaning more traditional, their MTV Unplugged concert really taps into the latter to bring out the immense musicality of a talented group of artists.

No song in the set, to me, is more beautiful than “Luna,” sung with tremendous grace by guest star Denise Gutierrez of Hello Seahorse! (another player in the tight Mexican indie rock circle). The depths plumbed by the cello contrast so well with her spot-on soprano, but it’s the swells of emotion that come from the duet sections that’ll bring a tear to your eye.

Honorable Mention: “Labios Rotos” (Empire of the Sun mashup) – I really wish I knew who put this astonishing track together but splicing the backing instrumentals together with alternating verses of Empire of the Sun’s We Are the People stands out as a stroke of musical genius. With little more than some slight processing trickery in the tempo and perhaps a dash of mixing magic, the two songs fit each other like a glove.

14. Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

Finally, a classic rock standout gets the place it deserves in my list. Masterfully mixing in just the right about of sprechgesang (speak-singing) with some real touch in the light rock instrumentals, every chord and drum transition feels good, like it was meant to always be there. Yet the rustic quality of the song wouldn’t just come to define the band over the years, but shines just as brightly here as it organically gives the guitar work plenty of space to breathe.

13. The Revivalists - Wish I Knew You

Continuing the theme of a classic sound, maybe that’s what New Orleans-based The Revivalists were going for, given their name. They really nail the little guitar riffs that etch a thoughful quality to the song, but it’s the little cadence from the sax section that ties it all together neatly with a bow.

The drum and bass work have some room to incorporate a little bit more complexity, but there is a lot to be said about the simplicity of the song and the message it gets across just fine, and I certainly didn’t find the song lacking when I just wanted to keep the feeling of that sound in my life.

12. Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten

This list may lack as much of the harder flavors of rock than I would’ve liked, but Kasabian has put together a true epic quality with just that style, not needing much more than your traditional four-piece band, their voices, and just enough electronic trickery for the finishing touches.

“Days Are Forgotten” really feels like a journey, right from intro opening into a little march towards the inevitable buildup. The little “ahhs” provide sufficient anticipation as you get the cadence of hanging guitar riffs billowing into the distance, offset by the drums switching to that simple low-low-high pattern. The effect is quite something, every chord and background line providing plenty of texture to give the listener that feeling of something truly long-lost.

Honorable Mention: “Re-Wired” – While just a half-notch lower on the epic-ness spectrum, I have to include this song if for no reason other than the brilliant bass line coming back in at the end, earning its keep as its own beast (over the background strings). The drum work is hard to beat here as well (no pun intended), providing a crisp yet solid backdrop for it all.

11. HÆLOS - Dust

While we’re on the topic of drums, I remember a comment marveling at HÆLOS from first impression just because they employed two drum kits. There’s a truly unique quality to the sound here. Lotti Benardout’s dialed in vocals with excellent backing naturally fuse with the ethereal synths hovering around the song and capturing that feel of what this song represents. But it really is in the percussion where you notice the attention to detail, not always waiting a full eight bars to change, but playing with so many sounds that you’ll hear something different with every listen.

There’s a journey to be taken here, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t be both musical and spiritual.

S Tier: Songs 10 to 1

10. Ott - Rogue Bagel

It’s almost unfair that the artists that came before have to now come up against Ott at the top of his game. While I struggled to enjoy some of the less-easy-listening psy-dub tracks he produced later in his career, some of his work on the Skylon album (yes, those Soviet-era trijets in the album art sure caught my eye) manages to stay accessible to the fully lucid, even as it pushes the boundaries of what can be done with music.

Sure, on the surface it may sound like little more than a clever assemblage of samples. But seamlessly put together, these samples come to life as a natural song that brings out a proper South Asian feel with a twist. From the percussion, sitar line, and the Punjabi male vocals to set things up, to the Hindustani female vocals for that amazing buildup and interplay with the bass line, you then hear in the background... is that a reggae beat I hear? Why, yes, yes it is. All the more wonderful when you come to the flute piece at the end to cap it all off with the distorted sitar and strings. It’s all incredibly immersive, this song.

Honorable Mention: “The Queen of All Everything” – Perhaps what Ott would call his true masterpiece (produced when he met his now-wife), the calm, nature-loving first section giving way to the cascading wave and eventual cadence really benefits from the live performance here (artsy drugged-up crowd shenanigans notwithstanding). Processing vocals in real time and complemented by high fidelity instrumentals, this song is even more transformative in many ways.

9. Eminem - Lose Yourself

There’s a part of me that feels bad for underrepresenting rap and hip hop on my list, and for leaving Eminem as the sole torchbearer. But I doubt I’ll get much argument about “Lose Yourself” being one of the best pieces of music ever made. For me, it really hit home just how lyrical a rap song could be, and his trademark “rhyme everything” approach here to the lyrics shows more than a hint of genius.

The sense of power behind the rap here, infused with just a little bit of tune when needed and lightly but beautifully instrumented with the thoughtful piano and synth orchestra hits of the era, makes for a song that screams determination in your face. There’s little that you can’t feel motivated to do after listening to this.

8. Arcade Fire - Everything Now

Uplifting too but in a different way, as the capstone to the eponymous album, “Everything Now” paints an image of positivity while acknowledging the long path to get there. From the opening pianos to the string overlay on top of the more traditional rock instrumentation, the flute sampled from Cameroonian artist Francis Bebey’s “The Coffee Cola Song,” culminating in the joyous chorus of voices, Canadian-based Arcade Fire really delivers energy when you need it most.

This is one of those songs where, once you’ve heard it, you realize that there isn’t quite another song in the world like it.

7. Siddhartha - Ser Parte

Former Zoé drummer Siddhartha may have topped his old band on my list, with his mellow vocals and unparalleled musicality in his songwriting (and always strong melodic lines) that always put me in a pensive but relaxed mood. This live performance of “Ser Parte” (“to be a part of [you]”) not only brings that triple time signature to life, but takes you for a ride with those sweet lyrics before the guitar solo emerges and lets the emotional swell hit home.

6. Doves - Kingdom of Rust

We’re getting into the territory where any of the songs in this tier can sit at any ranking within the tier, but “Kingdom of Rust” keeps that mellow theme of this list going strong. The darkness that the song starts with, padded with some light strings, part momentarily in the refrain with the wonderfully-placed hemiola (triplets juxtaposed against normal-time notes) by the piano. The simple bass-hi-hat offset of the drums just makes it a thoughtful moment in the song.

But if the emotional hit there isn’t enough on its own, then just wait for that guitar to rip. The really tasteful use of unconventional chords strikes a great balance between a dark mood, and one that shines a few glimmers of light through the clouds.

5. Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk - Sirocco

Ever since I first heard “Sirocco” in an episode of Top Gear, as the soundtrack to a beautiful car (I forget which) making its way through a beautiful stretch of road (I forget where), it has held one of the top spots on my playlist. It even served as my wake-up alarm for a spell before I realized I’d let it run so that I could listen to it, negating its effectiveness in getting me out of bed.

Ulrich Schnauss's mastery of the shoegaze genre is paired with Jonas Munk’s excellent guitar work here, producing a song that moves more than your typical ambient track, and is imbued with an overwhelmingly positive vibe of wonder. Layering on thick chords halfway through the piece, starting and stopping at the right moments, and transitioning very gently to the more primal hollow metallic drums by the end, the journey taken is best captured by the video I found paired with it here.

4. Fruit Bats - Humbug Mountain Song

Coming back to some folk rock roots here with my favorite offering from Chicago-based Fruit Bats, the punchy energy that emanates right from the first bar never slackens as that 2/4 time just carries the listener through it all. The tune effortly thrown in by the banjo sets off the matter-of-fact lyrics nicely, and, well, I can never say no to the light tambourine jingle in any form. The percussion work really makes this song.

At the end of the day, the effect is like strong coffee, perhaps best consumed in some back woods or in out in the American wilderness. It’ll perk you right up. Then make you wistfully think about time lost.

3. Silversun Pickups - Dots and Dashes

Darker tones permeate this well-crafted song from LA alternative rock standout Silversun Pickups. Passion pokes straight through even as you get all the mellowness in the world from the lyrics, clinically delivered by lead Brian Aubert, backed up with a monotone but lyrical harmony from bassist Nikki Monninger. Speaking of that bass, it may be a trademark of this band, but it still gets me every time, grooving away to give the music a full body.

The chord work is excellent, even if I don't agree with every single choice for the guitar, but when you come the refrain I end up falling for the song as –you guessed it – we tumble slowly down the descending line it sets up. Every time you build back up with that insistent drum, the energy never slackens, and certainly captures the feeling of tension that those “dots and dashes on the wall” represent.

2. Roosevelt - Colours

This song from synth-pop artist Roosevelt, hailing from the NRW region in Germany, takes top honors in the catchiness department for 2019. Seamlessly assembling easy-listening but immensely danceable synth beats with some more traditional instrumentation, I still have to hand him props for the doing the vocals himself despite not being the most talented in the area. The piano chords may feel repetitive, and we dip into that tambourine again, but it comes together so neatly that I could play this song on repeat and never tire of it.

Perhaps it’s because the piano line keeps the anticipation strong, only resolved when you hit the bass chords in the refrain, punctuated by some simple but effective guitar riffs. The effect works, but it also never gives you quite enough, keeping you coming back for more.

Honorable Mention: “Fever” – And yet, Roosevelt manages to nail the vocals here in another excellent song from his self-titled album, with a special live version incorporating that brilliant beginning synth throughout. But the trademark Roosevelt sound is all there, from the easy leads and beats all the way to the effective deployment of traditional electric bass and drumkit.

1. Wilco - Impossible Germany

It takes a little commitment to listen to the full six minutes of my #1 song from 2019, but my goodness, where has Wilco been all my life? Hailing from my hometown Chicago, Jeff Tweedy & co. deliver musicality all over. Thoughtful lyrics, expertly crafted instrumentals providing that soft bed upon which the song rests, those wandering guitars keeping us pacing along. It’s a sad love song on the surface, but the hope and feeling is all there, and hits hard throughout.

Then you get to that Nels Cline guitar solo and have to let your jaw drop. It’s mesmerizing, but then the second guitar joins in for a duet, measuring up, then getting into some brilliant alternating counterpoint and harmony as they lock arms and dance around like it’s effortless. How far I’ve come since the days when I felt intimidated by rock music for simple hits of energy and lyrics I couldn’t decipher. At the end of the day, when the chips are down for music to be the universal language, I couldn’t be happier about discovering all of this and standing in awe.

Honorable Mentions

Classical

Given my background, it pains me to have to exclude anything, but especially my roots in “classical” music, particularly the later romantic and impressionist periods. Here’s what I would have liked to include if I didn’t want to use my list purely to ring in only what comprises my new era of music appreciation:

• Debussy - Clair de Lune: For an impressionist piece, Clair de Lune eschews the most ephemeral sounds of the era in favor of a bright, crisp solo piano that does truly evoke moonlight.
• Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade: This Russian interpretation of the classic Arabian tale brings the best of romantic-era symphonic storytelling, particularly the tumultuous second movement opening with a violin solo, building up to the tension-filled climax, before the cellos lay it on thick with the orchestral equivalent of a beat drop.
• Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2: This masterpiece of a concerto converted me from a symphonic elitist (if there is such a thing) to a more open-minded listener realizing that you don’ have to pick between soloist virtuousity and orchestral excellence; the romance oozes from this piece with exotic callout piano chords met by sensual string and wind work in the first movement, grandiose expression in the second movement, and a return to wistful epicness in the third movement with that sweet cello theme elaborated on further by the piano.
• Tchaikovsky - Waltz of the Flowers: This classic waltz from The Nutcracker always touches my heart when it hits the beautiful cello segment (perhaps that’s the classical music equivalent of a tambourine jingle for me).
• Smetana - The Moldau: It’s hard to top Bedřich Smetana’s musical painting of the Vltava River meandering through his homeland in terms of sheer acoustic-visual association, each phrase bringing to life a specific quality of a section of river (perhaps that’s why I chose this over any specific work by Czech countryman Antonín Dvořák, whose body of work I prefer overall).

Everything Else

Despite working with fifty spots, even after excluding classical music, I had to make some tough calls on really good artists and songs. Here’s a selection of another fast fifteen that I still feel are worth a mention:

• Nujabes - Counting Stars: We lost this Japanese father of the “chillhop” genre back in 2010, but his spirit lives on in the dozens of relaxing tracks I feel fortunate to have added to my playlist for all occasions; this song really shows the incredible versatility of a hip hop beat and the beauty that Nujabes was able to spin out of it.
• Simon and Garfunkel - Sound of Silence: Forever associated with The Graduate this really is one of the original songs perfect to mellow out to.
• The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun: I would be remiss to exclude my favorite Beatles song; timeless and there for you when you just want to feel better!
• The Allman Brothers - Jessica: Probably the first song that Top Gear introduced me to thanks to its arrangement of this theme, but goodness that is the Allman Brothers will never subside.
• Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah - Lake Shore Drive: A proper callout to my hometown; they’ll always deny the connection to the drug, but this is a proper tribute to a nighttime drive along LSD.
• James Brown - Get Up: With funk taken to the max in this classic, this is what I always turn back to if I need to get my move on.
• Capital Cities - Vowels: “Safe and Sound” may be better known, but the lyrics here and top-notch synth-pop quality ebbing and flowing from this song earn top honors (well, of the mention variety at least) from me.
• The Black Keys - Gold on the Ceiling: Proof that the popularity of rock ’n roll is far from dead – an always reliable standby from a great band.
• Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. A sad omission from the list about, Gorillaz certainly ticks all the boxes of a truly innovative band, with the blasé mood of this song striking just the right note when you need it most.
• Massive Attack - Teardrop: Another properly tuned mood, this song by trip hop legends Massive Attack really illuminate the soul, with that slow backdrop crystalizing an electronic visualization (a tessellation or fractal, perhaps) in audio form.
• Modest Mouse - Dashboard: Taking us to the frenetic, controlled chaos of Modest Mouse is a blood-pumping song which, in proper indie fashion, comes with matching lyrics that you could dig into for days.
• Electric Guest - Troubleman: Another indie find that deserves more than a casual mention, this nearly nine minute song tells a story with a very lyrical, soulful treatment, with a magical moment halfway through where a tempo change kicks off part two (it’s certainly worth more than a couple of listens!).
• B.o.B - Airplanes, Part II: Giving rap its due with this installment from the underappreciated B.o.B but also featuring powerhouses Hayley Williams (bringing her incredible vocal range from Paramore) and Eminem, this a properly deep track that hits your emotions hard; sadly, it’s almost too accurate a representation of B.o.B’s career.
• Simply Red - Sunrise (Extended Mix): This pop-y soul track, likely sourced through a Shazam find, hits a spot that few songs on this page could; every time the refrain comes in with those piano and guitar chords providing some relaxing relief, that “could be me” line does hit hard enough for you to feel it.
• Los Amigos Invisibles feat. Natalia Lafourcade - Viviré para ti: Venezuelan genre-busters Los Amigos Invisibles pair with the unflappable Natalia Lafourcade here to provide a song that lives up to every bit of its title, roughly translated “I will live for you,” with energetic vocals all around against cheery Latin jazz beats and complementary instrumentals pieced together from strings and other regional influences in a wonderfully tasteful track that, well, easily could’ve made the Top 50 had the wind been blowing differently when I made the list.