2009 - "Love etc." - Pet Shop Boys

Just another big and bouncy mid-tempo slice of synth-pop to brighten up the world.

Just another brilliant day at the office from the masters of clever pop. 

Other favourites from 2009: 

"Did You See Me Coming?" - Pet Shop Boys

"Gold Guns Girls" - Metric

"Sweet Disposition" - The Temper Trap

"This Momentary" - Delphic

"Fireflies" – Owl City

2008 - "We Are The People" - Empire of the Sun

That time I almost got thrown out of the house for playing this 15 times on a loop. 

It was like meeting an old friend after years apart. Widescreen and epic, takes us back to the future, fusing 70s psychedelic rock and 80s style and production. Acoustic verses effortlessly blend into a sweeping falsetto chorus. 

The electro-pop dance-rock of Empire of the Sun's "We Are the People" is David Bowie meets Star Wars. But wait, there's two Bowies.

Seriously, this chorus is one of the best I've ever heard. But more importantly and more relevant these day, this is a message about hope. 

I played this track at least 15 times straight with my new girlfriend at the time; and she didn't throw me out. 

Other favourites from 2008: 

"Walking on a Dream" – Empire of the Sun

"I Remember" - Deadmau5 

"Kim & Jessie" - M83

"No Sex for Ben" - The Rapture

"Being Here" - The Stills

"Mirror" - Supreme Beings of Leisure

2007 - "Someone Great" - LCD Soundsystem

Although initially cold-sounding, this is a very human song and a grower, written about the death of James Murphy’s therapist. The hypnotic synths are offset by the hearts on sleeve lyrics and a bittersweet melody. Best use ever of xylophone in a pop song. 

A throwback to the early 80s, like tossing Bowie, New Order & The Human League in a blender. 

Other favourites from 2007: 

"Shut Up and Drive" – Rihanna

"Rollercoaster" – Major Maker

"North American Scum" - LCD Soundsystem

2006 - "Sorry" - Madonna

Sorry for taking so long to share music from the material girl. I was just too into the groove, then frozen and hung up on which track to pick.

Surprisingly melancholy for such a fast song, Madonna shows off her multilingual skills  expressing that she's sorry.

Other favourites from 2006: 

"Boy From School" – Hot Chip

"When I Go" – Emancipator 

"Acceptable in the 80s" – Calvin Harris 

"When You Were Young" – The Killers 

"Young Folks" – Peter Bjorn and John

2005 - "Suicidewinder" - Ridley Bent

2005 top track: Ridley Bent's debut album Blam! is a 'hick-hop' masterpiece, the improbable fusion of country and hip-hop. 

Halifax's genre-bending, guitar-slingin' demon takes us along on his benders with the wrong side of the law. "Suicidewinder" is a tour de force of gritty story-telling with a badass singalong chorus. 

Shout-out to Johnny M in North Van (not on FB) for this find. 

Other favourites from 2005: 

"Dayvan Cowboy" – Boards of Canada

"Tribulations" – LCD Soundsystem

"Feel Good Inc." – Gorillaz

"Here It Goes Again" – OK Go

"Another Nite Another Love" - Jay Jay Johanson