2013 Favorite Songs (50-41)

Once again, and how quickly it seemed to come this year, it is time for my picks for top songs and records for the past year. This week I will focus on my favorite songs and then follow up next week with top albums. I limited my picks to 50, with only one song from each artist. Starting off the countdown, here are my picks from Number 50 to Number 41:

50. Charli XCX - "What I Like"



Although UK singer/songwriter Charli XCX is probably best known for writing for others, including a credit on Icona Pop's global smash single "I Love It," however, her own output is equally impressive. Her debut record True Romance never really took off here in the States, which is shame, because it is packed full of pure pop goodness. One of my favorite singles from the record is "What I Like," a blissfully chilled out take on the first steps of a relationship.

49. M.I.A. - "Exodus"



Matangi is the first M.I.A. record I just couldn't get behind, though it does feature some of her best work. "Exodus," which rides along on a sample from The Weeknd and tight production from Switch, is a stunner. Over pounding drums and mourning synth strings, M.I.A. laments a world obsessed with material things, asking over and over "Baby you can have it all/Tell me what for?"

48. Low - "Just Make It Stop"



Quietly insistent, this track from Low builds almost unbearable tension. Gorgeous harmonies carry over a gorgeous bed of piano, guitar, and drums, while the lyrics are a haunting exploration of how the weight of living in this world can almost be too much to take.

47. Raleigh Ritchie - "Stay Inside"



UK singer Raleigh Ritchie sings longingly of wanting to stay in and not have to face the cruel harsh world in his single "Stay Inside." Over a minimalist backing, merely clapped percussion and a simple synth hook, the song slowly insinuates itself in your head.

46. Katy Perry ft. Juicy J - "Dark Horse"



While many accused Katy Perry of jumping on the trap bandwagon with this single, it is actually a pretty edgy track in its own right, and Perry holds her on against Juicy J. Completely addictive.

45. Purple - "The Club"



Part of the mysterious Weddit collective, London producer Purple makes club music for clubs you probably don't want to visit. Dark, sinister, and filled with dread, "The Club" mixes warped vocals, muted trap-beats, and ghostly synths to haunting effect.

44. Tegan and Sara - "Guilty As Charged"



A bonus track on their infectious pop record Heartthrob, "Guilty As Charged" is a neon-bright synth-pop track that is irresistible.

43. Son Lux - "Alternate World"



Fragile vocals propel this stunning track from Son Lux, which deftly combines the electronic and organic.

42. Atoms for Peace - "Before Your Very Eyes"



No one does on-the-edge quite like Thom Yorke, especially on his solo work and in his collective Atoms For Peace. "Before Your Very Eyes," the opening track on their debut record Amok, runs over skittering percussion, brittle guitars, and a surprisingly melodic bassline. Yorke's vocals run from edgy to hauntingly tender throughout, never quite comforting you completely, but allowing for a sliver of warmth to sneak in.

41. Beacon - "Bring You Back"



2013 seemed to be a year for minimalism in electronic music, at least for me. Brooklyn duo Beacon brought an elegant perfection to their brand of minimalist synthpop on their debut record The Ways We Separate. "Bring You Back" is perhaps the finest example from their record, a beautiful mix of chilly keyboards, muted programming, and Thomas Mullarney's aching croon.