ENTHUSIAST OF ALL

#10: Kali Uchis and Peso Puma/ “Igual Que Un Angel”

The loungey bassline thumps and the synth shimmers as Uchis and Puma alternate verses between Spanish and English lyrics, culminating into a pristine hook on this dance floor pop gem.

#9: MJ Lenderman/ “She’s Leaving You”

MJ Lenderman had a big year (he may not be done on this list), and the centerpiece from his career-topping effort Manning Fireworks builds upon a simple escalating guitar riff that delivers a simultaneously melancholy and empowering encapsulation of midlife crisis as he bellows “It falls apart/ we all got work to do/ It gets dark/ we all got work to do.” Backing vocals courtesy of Wednesday bandmate Karly Hartzman add extra impact.

#8: The Smile/ “Read The Room”

You’d be hard pressed to find a jam in Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood catalog that demonstrates an equal amount of swagger. Greenwood’s haunting and confidently abrasive riff combines with Yorke’s patented falsetto in this highlight from the first of two albums from The Smile in ’24.

#7: Helado Negro/ “Best For You And Me”

Light and airy, the standout track from Helado Negro’s career topping Phasor drifts along nonchalantly and effortlessly behind its subtle horns and piano keys. Beach walk, anyone?

#6: Johnny Blue Skies/ “If The Sun Never Rises”

A country music superstar releasing music under a pseudonym takes a more rock-oriented approach. Blasting these balanced, soothing lead guitar lines while driving through wine country: A crowd pleaser.

#5: Cindy Lee/ “Kingdom Come”

Choosing a single track from former Women frontman Patrick Flegel’s magnum opus Diamond Jubilee as alter-ego Cindy Lee is a nearly impossible task, but this one best exemplifies all of its best elements at once. Atmospheric at its core, this alternates between playful, effortless guitar jabs and sentimental, lo-fi nostalgia.

#4 Charli XCX/ “Von Dutch”

No track better exemplified the bravado and infinite swagger of Brat, an album that was impossible to avoid as it dominated the summer and early part of the fall. This instant classic pop banger is relentless with its energy as Charli taunts “It’s so obvious I’m your number one/ I’m your number one/ I’m your number one” into eternity.

#3: Vampire Weekend/ “Hope”

Is this Vampire Weekend all grown up? The epic 8-minute closer to Only God Was Above Us builds and swells behind its indelible piano riff, eventually evolving into fuzzy guitar lines. Poignant, weighty and ominous while standing in complete contrast to the rest of their catalog, this may be the greatest song they have ever written.

#2 Phosphorescent/ “Revelator”

Matthew Houck described the opener and title track to his criminally underrated new album as “the best song I’ve ever written.” Reasonable minds can disagree (“Song For Zula” anyone?), but as Houck’s voice cracks with vulnerability and shifts behind a twangy country guitar line that picks up piano keys through its glorious finish, it’s certainly in the running.

#1: Waxahatchee (feat. MJ Lenderman)/ “Right Back To It”

Nothing like a good old country love song for your Song of the Year! Katie Crutchfield has stepped up her game since leaning more fully into the genre, and reaches a new pinnacle here thanks to a crisp melody and the addition of Lenderman, whose vocal harmonies add a stunning dimension.