2012 Favorite Songs - Numbers 80-61

Continuing my list of 2012 Favorite Songs, here are numbers 80-61:

80. Azealia Banks - "Aquababe"



Proving over and over she is not just a flash in the pan, Banks put out a mixtape featuring this slamming track produced by Machinedrum.

79. Killsonik - "Bloodlust"



Blisteringly heavy dubstep track featuring a killer drop.

78. Liars - "Brats"



You never know what Liars are going to do each album. For their latest they dusted off their synthesizers and made a dark electronic album. "Brats" is the most danceable and most structured song, but of course, being Liars, it is full of manipulated vocals that are twisted and turned throughout the run of the track.

77. AlunaGeorge - "Just A Touch"



While we still await a full-length from the London duo, they still tease us with singles here and there, like this slinky modernized take on 90s R&B.

76. Marina and the Diamonds - "Bubblegum Bitch"



Pure pop perfection.

75. Light Asylum - "Heart of Dust"



In describing this duo, I usually say "they're like La Roux, fronted by Grace Jones." It gets the point across. This is an amazing aggro-electro track.

74. Lower Dens - "Propagation"



Dreamy, drugged out shoegaze track that is haunting in its simplicity.

73. Fiona Apple - "Werewolf"



One of the more straightforward tracks off her latest album, which still retains her oddball charm.

72. Mount Eerie - "The Place I Live"



One of the gorgeous highlights off his album Clear Moon, "The Place I Live" is most humanely intimate and also universally expansive.

71. PS I Love You - "Don't Go"



Just a tightly coiled rock song with a fabulous sense of drama.

70. Hospitality - "Sleepover"



Gorgeous, jangly indie guitar pop with some lovely, melancholy lyrics.

69. Karin Park - "Tiger Dreams"



Although she will never lose the comparisons to Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife/Fever Ray, this is still a killer track.

68. Solange - "Locked In Closets"



Finding her own voice finally, Solange crafted this slinky, slick R&B track that showcased her new found strength as a songwriter.

67. Errors - "Magna Encarta"



Even though the Scottish trio has added more vocals to their mix, the focus is still their odd take on dancey synth pop, which was gloriously represented on their latest record by this fantastic track.

66. Paul Banks - "Summertime Is Coming"



Showing that he is still the heart and soul of Interpol, Paul Banks' new record is full of his interesting take on relationships with "Summertime Is Coming" closing things off in his own wry way.

65. A Place To Bury Strangers - "Dissolved"



Foregoing sheer noise for more subtlety, "Dissolved" moves from atmospheric shoegaze ballad to forceful motorik intensity in 5+ minutes of masterful songwriting.

64. Cloud Nothings - "Our Plans"



Clearly having Steve Albini come in and provide focus to Cloud Nothings was a good thing. There were almost too many great tracks on their new album to choose from. This is one amazing indie-rock track.

63. The Walkmen - "Heaven"



Until the release of this record, The Walkmen have always been "could have beens" with me, never quite living up to the promise of their earlier work. Somehow their new record Heaven seemed to click on almost every level with me. The title song to the record is a homage to the years this band has been together and how they continue on despite setbacks and wanting to give up at times. The music is familiar but warm, and is just a kick ass rock song.

62. Lana Del Ray - "Born To Die"



All backlash against her aside, you can't dismiss Lana Del Rey. Her debut album is wildly inconsistent but it sticks so well to its aesthetic you are eventually won over to its charm. The title track is both languid and bold, sassy and understated, and ultimately her signature song.

61. Beyonce - "I Miss You"



I panned Beyonce's album 4 back when it came out; lifeless, soulless, and reeking of corporate hands all over it. One song completely stood out among the dreck, this lovingly penned track from Frank Ocean that contains more emotion it its 3 minutes than the whole of the album combined.