The 25 Best Singles of 2012 (5-1)

5. St. Vincent -- Cheerleader

Annie Clark -- known by the stage name St. Vincent -- regularly churns out fascinating music, but she really hit a new high with this track. Its frank declaration of independence is matched only by its lush, languid instrumentation.



4. Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra -- The Killing Type

The force of nature that is Amanda Palmer returned in 2012 with a record financed through a massive Kickstarter campaign. The result was everything fans could have hoped for: it was fierce, fiery, a true breath of fresh air in the pop music world. The first single from it showcased everything that makes Amanda Amanda.



3. Skrillex -- Bangarang

Nobody came into 2012 with more to prove than Skrillex. He had a lot of hype to live up to but he managed it in spades with this explosive track, one that slammed you in the chest with the monstrous beats he's famous for. With this, he proved handily that he's the king of dubstep and maybe of electronic dance in general.



2. Frank Ocean -- Thinking About You

Frank Ocean made headlines in 2012 when he admitted to having had feelings for a man. Is he gay? Is he bi? Is he just experimental? It hardly matters. The bottom line is that as a musician, few are his equal these days. Channel ORANGE was a benchmark in modern soul and hip-hop, and this song was an absolute knockout.



1. Dead Sara -- Weatherman

Dear God, does this song kick your ass all over the room. With the opening guitar crunch and the Joplin-esque howl of Emily Armstrong, Dead Sara ferociously declared themselves to be the new gods of rock. There simply aren't words to describe what a chill-inducing punch to the gut this song was the first time you heard it -- and I guarantee it hasn't relented every time you've heard it since. It was hands-down the best track of the year, single or otherwise.

The 25 Best Singles of 2012 (10-6)

10. Sky Ferreira -- Everything Is Embarrassing

It would be easy to dismiss Sky Ferreira as another bleach-blonde American Apparel model and object of Terry Richardson's lascivious desires turned wanna-be L.A. singer, but to do so is to miss out on a pretty damn good electro-pop talent. Her Ghost EP was so pitch-perfect that it really did leave you wanting more -- and this single was the ultimate infectious ear candy.



9. Alabama Shakes -- Hold On

Alabama Shakes are everything the Kings of Leon pretend to be. Their debut record deserved every bit of acclaim it received this year -- and this song in particular was just all kinds of growling, gorgeous American perfection.



8. Zedd f/Matthew Koma -- Spectrum

The best electronic dance tracks are the ones that are actually good songs -- that make you want to sing along as well as move your body. With that in mind, German DJ Zedd accomplished the most impressive feat of the year because of songs like this one. Spectrum was bold, beautiful and utterly unforgettable.



7. Tame Impala -- Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

A couple of years back they nailed the late-60s Nazz-style sound in a way that was almost otherworldly. This year, they honed that even further. Yes, Tame Impala only go backwards when it comes to their sound, but the result is something strangely, wonderfully original.



6. The Lumineers -- Ho Hey

Sometimes a simple little folk song is exactly what you need to lift your spirits. This song did it on a worldwide scale.

Tomorrow: 5-1

The 25 Best Singles of 2012 (15-11)

15. Deadmau5 f/Gerard Way -- Professional Griefers

This was the year that electronic dance music finally achieved its true potential in the states and came to dominate pop music and pop culture, with its stars transcending cult status to become musical icons. Yeah, Joel Zimmerman -- AKA Deadmau5 -- was huge before, but with the first single from his 2012 release, Album Title Goes Here, he struck with the authoritative might of somebody who knew he was on top of the world.



14. The xx -- Angels

It seemed impossible to pare down their late-night, post-coital sound any further, but the kids from the xx did just that, and turned out one of the simplest and most beautiful love songs of this or any other year.



13. fun. -- Some Nights

They were everywhere in 2012 -- and with good reason. This song was just impossible to resist.



12. Japandroids -- The House That Heaven Built

Their album was called Celebration Rock and never has there been a more fitting title. In 2012, this Canadian duo brought the joyous thunder back to alt rock.



11. The Gaslight Anthem -- National Anthem

Simple and stunning, word has it this song was written in less than a half-hour, which would prove that it came right from the place it sounds like: the heart. Melancholy permeates every note and the end result is something as wondrous as it is emotionally devastating.

Tomorrow: 10-6

The 25 Best Singles of 2012 (20-16)

20. Grizzly Bear -- Sleeping Ute

Hailing from Brooklyn, of course, Grizzly Bear had been quietly redefining psychedelic folk rock and transcending their hipster cred for quite some time, but in 2012 they truly hit their stride with this entrancing and mysterious track.



19. Grimes -- Oblivion

24-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Claire Boucher, who goes by the stage name Grimes, became the queen of electronic quirk with her latest album, Visions. The first single from the record summed up her overall approach: dreamy and a little silly, but thoroughly irresistible.



18. Odd Future -- Oldie

It was a good year for the seemingly endless and undefinable hip-hop collective Odd Future; they dominated more than a few forms of media and rose up out of the underground to create a metric ton of mainstream buzz, and with good reason. Nobody owns the alternative rap genre like these guys and this track was proof positive why.



17. Santigold -- Disparate Youth

The LES couldn't keep Santigold contained -- everyone knew that from the beginning. But in 2012, she truly reached her full potential with songs like this one.



16. Chvrches -- Lies

It takes a special kind of musical authority to come from out of nowhere and release a track that immediately sends millions scrambling to find a place to download it from. Glasgow's Chvrches did it with this. Dancefloor-ready and almost indescribably catchy, it was one of the best pop songs of the year.

Tomorrow: 15-11

The 25 Best Singles of 2012

25. Muse -- Madness

With a seductive electronic purr, Muse unleashed their best single since the Absolution days.



24. El-P -- The Full Retard

Brooklyn hip-hop savante Jaime Meline, otherwise known as El-P, did what he does best in 2012 -- laying down a barrage of incendiary beats that pretty much shook your eardrums until they broke.



23. Real Estate -- Easy

The title says it all. The first single from Real Estate's Days album, released at the very start of 2012, was a breezy, catchy bit of wonderfulness.



22. DIIV -- Doused

A lot of bands were still doing the propulsive 80s indie thing in 2012, but DIIV (pronounced "dive") did it better than just about anybody else. This single proves it.



21. Cat Power -- Cherokee

God bless Cat Power. That is all.

Tomorrow: 20-16