It’s that time of year again when every blog under the sun makes a year-end list of the best songs/albums/artists of the year. We’ve got our own twist (reader poll results!) as a site, but I’ve also got a short and sweet list of my top five songs of the year, in no particular order:

The Tallest Man On Earth – “King of Spain”

With the release of his triumphant sophomore album, The Wild Hunt, Kristian Matsson quickly grew into a live indie phenom, with “King of Spain” as his most jubilant and crowd-pleasing song. With an infectious rhythm, storytelling lyrics, and even a sneaky line paying homage to Bob Dylan, this song was one of the hits of my year.

 

 

 

The Morning Benders – “Excuses”

Like everyone else on this list, The Morning Benders released a standout album this year, including the romantic sing-a-long “Excuses.” The song manages to combine an old-school sway, hints of doo-wop, and modern songwriting charm courtesy of frontman Chris Chu.

 

Local Natives – “World News”

My biggest band discovery of 2009, Local Natives burst onto the scene early this year with Gorilla Manor and an awesome live reputation. Second single “World News” was the perfect encapsulation of the band’s crisp sound and tight harmonies.

 

Beach House – “Zebra”

The mellow guitar plucks of this richly layered song evoke just the kind of images you would think of from a band called Beach House. Sit back, relax, and let Victoria LeGrand’s voice take you to your happy place.

 

Sufjan Stevens – “Too Much”

This year marked the return of the prodigal son of indie music, and he came back with no less than a bang. With his new album came an intriguing and, of course, sort of genius foray into electronica. “Too Much” is one of the album’s catchiest incarnations of his new genre-bending style.

 

What is your Top Five for 2010?