Todd Terje - "Johnny and Mary"
Absolutely not too long at six and half minutes. The slowly constructed warmth of warbling keys, a breathily sung story, and cautious percussion eventually settle into an electro Chariots of Fire groove that is given about four and a half minutes to crest, crash, and sink away back into the sand.
Ariel Pink - "White Freckles"
This is the only song from Pom Pom that approaches former favorite album of 2010, Before Today. It's as weird as it is fun as it is musically confounding. Video game glam.
Ariana Grande - "Love Me Harder"
This is the kind of radio pop one often dismisses as an instant Forever 21 playlist classic. Yet, hear that chorus, hear those fluttering "Ooooos" and the space they give the song's perfectly stuttered synths to shine. Blissful pop, perfectly paced.
TV On the Radio - "Happy Idiot"
Even on imperfect albums, they always seem to put out at least one song to stand alongside such career highlights as "Wolf Like Me" and "Staring at the Sun".
