The moment Sharon Van Etten transcended the singer-songwriter trope.
19
tUnE-yArDs
“Time of Dark”
Merril Garbus does not disappoint in providing another ADD, adrenaline-fueled rush to the head on the best cut from her 2014 album.
18
Nick Jonas
“Jealous"
Not many pop songs were as great as "Jealous" in 2014.
17
Todd Terje
“Johnny & Mary” (feat. Bryan Ferry)
The year's best cover, breathing new life in an old relic.
16
St. Vincent
“Prince Johnny”
Annie Clark's smoothest, most refined take on pop yet. And it's glorious.
15
Drake
“0 to 100/The Catch Up”
Drake didn't have to release an album in 2014. He won't have to in 2015 either if he continues to release tracks as good as "0 to 100".
14
Run The Jewels
“Close Your Eyes (And Count to ****)” [ft. Zach De La Rocha]
Run The Jewels anarchist "Close Your Eyes" is a searing indictment of our police state. The revolution begins here.
13
How To Dress Well
“Repeat Pleasure”
EVEN BROKEN MY HEART WILL GO ON.
12
D'Angelo
“Sugah Daddy"
The return of a legend.
11
Perfume Genius
“Queen”
Perfume Genius embraces his glam side on the weaponized "Queen".
Ariel Pink gets as close to stadium-rock as he'll ever get on the anthemic "Picture Me Gone".
9
Taylor Swift
“Out of the Woods”
One of Taylor Swift's best songs to date, "Out of the Woods" flirts with danger. The final minute or so is home to one of the more urgent finales of 2014.
8
Lykke Li
“Gunshot"
Lykke Li's lovesick 2014 album was held together by this excellent single. Sometimes emotions can be as violent as a gunshot.
7
Spoon
“Inside Out"
It would be too easy to take Spoon for granted. For years now they've been at the top of indie-rock, and "Inside Out" is up there with "I Summon You" and "Black Like Me" as one of their most gorgeous songs to date.
6
Future Islands
“Seasons (Waiting on You)”
If Boyhood filmed a sequence for 2014, it would almost certainly be soundtracked by this impeccable single by the (finally) recognized Future Islands.
5
The War on Drugs
“Under the Pressure”
Adam Granduciel and the rest of The War on Drugs deliver the year's greatest rock song with the sprawling "Under the Pressure".
4
Future ft. Pusha T, Pharrell, & Casino
“Move That Dope"
2014 will be the year we wonder what would have happened if Pharrell stuck to rapping and not trying to recreate his unavoidable smash "Happy". Oh, well. We'll always have "Move that Dope".
3
Sia
“Chandelier”
Sia's written and been featured on many hit singles, but she finally gets the spotlight she deserves with her soaring 2014 single "Chandelier".
2
iLoveMakonnen ft. Drake
“Tuesday"
The year's best party song, aided in large part by Drake's incredible verse. So, yeah. It certainly is a product of 2014.
1
...
..
.
FKA twigs
“Two Weeks”
FKA twigs finds a way to make the year's most seductive single feel isolated, a way to make Top 40 pop substantial and challenging. She says she needs two weeks on the single, but really, all she needed was 4 minutes.
50. Azealia Banks, "Desperado"
49. Rustie/Danny Brown, "Attak"
48. Mas Ysa, "Shame"
47. Cloud Nothings, "I'm Not Part of Me"
46. Vince Staples, "Blue Suede"
45. Ariel Pink, "Black Ballerina"
44. Real Lies, "North Circular"
43. Röyksopp & Robyn, "Do It Again"
42. Tobias Jesso Jr., "True Love"
41. Mac DeMarco, "Pieces of Me"
40. Kevin Drew, "Good Sex"
39. Jessie Ware/Miguel, "Kind of... Sometimes... Maybe"
38. Angel Olsen, "White Fire"
37. Tinashe/ScHoolboy Q, "2 On"
36. Nicky Sparkles, "It's Your Life"
35. Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
34. ceo, "Wonderland"
33. How To Dress Well, "Words I Don't Remember"
32. Swans, "A Little God In My Hands"
31. Perfume Genius, "Fool"
30. Panda Bear, "Boys Latin"
29. Future/Andre 3000, "Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)"
28. Jeremih/YG, "Don't Tell 'Em"
27. Ariana Grande/Zedd, "Break Free"
26. Real Estate, "Crime"
25. Lana Del Rey, "Brooklyn Baby"
24. Mac DeMarco, "Chamber of Reflection"
23. Caribou, "Can't Do Without You"
22. Nicki Minaj/Beyoncé, "Feelin' Myself"
21. FKA twigs, "Pendulum"
20. Sharon Van Etten, "Your Love Is Killing Me"
19. tUnE-yArDs, "Time of Dark"
18. Nick Jonas, "Jealous"
17. Todd Terje/Bryan Ferry, "Johnny & Mary"
16. St. Vincent, "Prince Johnny"
15. Drake, "0 to 100/The Catch Up"
14. Run The Jewels/Zach de la Rocha, "Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fu*k)
13. How To Dress Well, "Repeat Pleasure"
12. D'Angelo, "Black Messiah"
11. Perfume Genius, "Queen"
10. Ariel Pink, "Picture Me Gone"
9. Taylor Swift, "Out of the Woods"
8. Lykke Li, "Gunshot"
7. Spoon, "Inside Out"
6. Future Islands, "Seasons (Waiting on You)"
5. The War on Drugs, "Under the Pressure"
4. Future/Pharrell Williams/Pusha T/Casino, "Move That Dope"
3. Sia, "Chandelier"
2. iLoveMakonnen/Drake, "Tuesday"
1. FKA twigs, "Two Weeks"