20. T.I., “Whatever You Like” (especially the DiscoTech remix)

19. The Very Best, “Dinosaur on the Ark”

18. No Age, “Eraser”

17. The BPA, “Toe Jam” (feat. David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal)

16. The Notwist, “Boneless” (Panda Bear remix)

15. Okkervil River, “Singer Songwriter”

14. White Denim, “Sitting”

13. Wale, “The Kramer”

12. Vampire Weekend, “M79”

11. El Guincho, “Palmitos Park”

10. Fleet Foxes, “White Winter Hymnal”
It seemed this year that everyone either loved or hated Fleet Foxes. I myself was on the fence about them. I saw them live and enjoyed the heck out of it, but man, I just can’t listen to an entire album of that quiet, harmony-filled, 70s-obsessed music over and over. Of all their songs, though, this one is pretty undeniable. I found myself walking down the halls of work humming it constantly.

9. Chairlift, “Bruises”
You may not recognize this band or song, but if you’ve seen an iPod commercial lately, you’ve heard it. It’s that Casio-fueled bit of sugar substitute that was in the Nano commercials. And well, it’s just so darn sweet and cute, and there’s not enough quality music like that these days.

8. Usher, “Love in This Club” (MSTRKRFT remix)
Ah, the song you couldn’t escape from this year.  Every club, every top-40 radio station, every party where drunk girls at some point went “Whoooooo!” in unison , you could hear this song at all those places. Less heard, more than likely, is the amazing MSTRKRFT remix, which improves on an already great song by being a straight out banger. Plus there’s a sample of the piano part from “Layla.” You can’t beat that.

7. Foals, “Red Socks Pugie”
Precision post-punk almost goes math-rock in this terrific track from the Oxford quintet. Their entire album is filled with such things, but there’s something about the tension and eventual release in this song that really makes it stand out.

6. Deastro, “The Shaded Forest”
Randolph Chabot may not be old enough to get into most clubs, but man, he can make one heck of a dance song. Released exclusively on eMusic, the wunderkind’s album Keepers is aptly named, especially this track that just has joy exploding off it like only someone so young and carefree could create. As the chorus repeats, “Whom shall I fear? We’re gonna make it!” With that kind of attitude, this kid will be ruling indie electronica very soon.

5. The Helio Sequence, “Keep Your Eyes Ahead”
This Portland two-piece manages to make a huge soundscape in this song. The drums are damn near perfect, and the guitars loop end over end creating an almost post-rock crescendo that’s amazing to behold. Factor in the fact that since their last album singer Brandon Summers severely damaged his vocal chords and had to re-learn how to sing (!), changing the band’s entire sound, and you have an awesome story to go along with the song.

4. Be Your Own Pet, “Becky”
When BYOP released what turned out to be their last album **Get Awkward** this year, three songs were mysteriously missing, having been pulled by Universal for being “too violent.” While censorship is always appalling, to try and deny people this level of goodness is just disgusting. The song is an astute glimpse at just how ridiculous and over-blown things can get between kids in high school as the young Jemina Pearl squeals and shrieks her confession of killing her ex-BFF’s new BFF. “If only what you wrote in my yearbook was true/I wouldn’t be stuck in fucking cell block 2!”  It still isn’t as crazy as Mean Girls was, though.

3. M83, “Kim & Jessie”
On the opposite end of high school girls and their relationships with each other, this track off the impeccable **Saturdays = Youth** is about two friends going out in the woods and taking drugs. The song is ambient pop bliss, taking you on the same trip as the titular heroines, even including that little tinge of danger (“Somebody lurks in the shadows/somebody whispers”).

2. Grizzly Bear, “While You Wait for the Others” (live on KCRW)
OK, OK. This wasn’t actually officially released on any album this year. It will most likely end up on Grizzly Bear’s new album coming out early next year. However, I think it’s pretty safe to say that this one made its way around the blogosphere and back again so I think it counts. Plus, as far as live versions go, this one, recorded for the fabulous Morning Becomes Eclectic, sounds fantastic. Dan Rossen may have created a great album this year with Department of Eagles, but this song blows them all away (plus it has Ed Droste’s amazing “woh-oh-ohs” during the bridge that are shiver-worthy).

1. Passion Pit, “Sleepyhead”
When Michael Angelakos made his girlfriend a CD of songs he wrote for her for Valentine’s Day, he didn’t know that the songs would eventually rocket him to the spotlight of the indie electro world. It makes complete sense, though. It has all the elements of what’s going on in indie rock music right now. Some slight but effective sampling a la Air France, more synthesizers than Matt & Kim, hooks as catchy as Los Campesinos, and, of course, a good dollop of hand claps. Add Angelakos’ own affected, high-pitched warbling, and you’ve got the hit of the year.