It’s time for my annual list of my favorite music from the past year. All of the following were singles released in the calendar year 2009 — not necessarily in the U.S., either. I’ve picked my top 10 and included a brief explanation of each, with the remainder of the top tracks listed randomly thereafter.
1. Dragonette “Pick Up the Phone” – With a simple chorus and irresistible retro-synth grooves, I’m surprised that this amazing rock track didn’t blow up this year. Perhaps the most underrated band on the planet. Wake up, America!
2. Hurts “Wonderful Life” – The up-and-coming electro-pop act is still under the radar, but the word is spreading fast about U.K. duo Hurts. This moody mid-tempo track succeeds thanks to ultra-new wave beats and a haunting vocal that would make Depeche Mode jealous.
3. Frankmusik “Better Off As Two” – It was tough for me to pick my top Frankmusik single from this year — they were all brilliant in their own way. The hyper, huge chorus helped me select “Better Off As Two,” a sickly-sweet ode to a rocky romance.
4. Ra Ra Riot “Can You Tell” – Pining for that special someone, perhaps someone out of reach, is the subject of this superb single from the New York-based indie band. The gorgeous strings only enhance the familiar feeling of longing conveyed by the heart-breaking lyrics.
5. Royksopp ft. Robyn “The Girl and the Robot” – Robyn may be taking her sweet time with her next record, but thankfully she lent her emotive pipes to this electronic gem. The robot voice certainly added a futuristic flair to Royksopp’s dramatic duet.
6. White Lies “To Lose My Life” – I’m a sucker for goth-friendly indie rock, and White Lies certainly delivered with this death-obsessed love letter, hands down the best track from the band’s debut U.K. No. 1 disc.
7. Lily Allen “22″ – Leave it to Ms. Allen to bring a dancehall-flavored song to my list. The divisive single received mixed reviews thanks to its subject matter — a woman approaching 30 experiencing a quarter-life crisis — but it definitely strikes a nerve in her clever-Lily way.
8. Girls “Lust for Life” – I love the queer-friendly lyrics in this amazing single from the San Francisco-based indie-folk act. Wanting a pizza and a bottle of wine and musing about being fucked in the head — that’s right up my alley!
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Heads Will Roll” – Sometimes Karen O and company are a little out 
there, but they reeled in the crazy on this dance-floor filler with a macabre twist. Notable also for several killer remixes and a fantastic video.
10. Britney Spears “If U Seek Amy” – Only Britney could sneak the F-word onto mainstream radio, which is why I had to include this fab song in the top 10. The killer hook certainly helped the sexy dance-pop track succeed in clubs and in the bedroom. Dirty girl.
Check out the rest of the top 40 after the jump!
Related posts:
Top 40 Singles of 2008
Top 40 of 2007
