Beautiful poison honey synth pop for a mental retreat - "Premonitions" Vaults

"Premonitions" Vaults

I heard this song on a Pitchfork Spotify playlist and my mind melted - "Premonitions" is a smooth electro pop dream, a perfectly timed blend of ominous sexy synth, head bobbing bass snaps, the whirs of a vacuum, and moving vocals reminiscent of a sweeter Portishead. The song builds and drops in the perfect places, and at 1:52 unleashes an incredibly satisfying, incessant synth sound like a Siren releasing a tractor beam of light to abduct you into the song momentarily. And there is nothing more wonderful than some strings (2:51) - do it up Vaults. This song takes me away for three minutes, and that's what this is all about, right?

How you'll move: An intoxicating head bob.

When to play it: When you're feeling like a sexual serial killer, or while high, lying on your floor looking to escape.

Side note: Vaults is a British group who released some limited music in 2014 but recently had a track featured on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. I absolutely love their other tracks and highly recommend "Lifespans" and "Mend This Love."

Solange evil sister synth throwback - "Julia" SZA

"Julia" SZA

I don't normally like artists with a "za" in their name, but SZA can be my exception. She's a 20-something, Jersey-something, indie-pop-electronic -something, but this song is a... let's say it together.. A HIT. It makes me feel like a heartbroken teen from the 80s. The hard-hitting alternating synth is the very satisfying meat of the song, and her doo-wop "ooohs" and reverb vocals are catchy - they make the electronic burble gurgle glitter of the song relatable and singable, and that perfect storm gets me every time.

How you'll move: A cool, pop lock version of The Carlton.

When to play it: Mid-way through your summer, hipster rooftop party.

Side note: The rest of the tracks from her EP "Z" really aren't like this one - they're more like a modern, electronic take on soul and R&B. The track "Green Mile" is notable.

All that and the kitchen sink sound tsunami - "Overdone" Bombay Bicycle Club

"Overdone" Bombay Bicycle Club

This song is like 15 songs in one - I am obsessed. First, let me say that I don't know a thing about this band other than that they wrote one of my absolute favorite songs "How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep," a random gem from a Twilight soundtrack that has now been sewn into the fabric of me and about which I blogged in 2010 - huzzah! Blogs were a lot shorter then, guys. Anyways, this song eases into a wonderful alarming, shrill loop, picks up with some jingly jangly chimes, then goes full on hip hop drums with a side kick of wind instruments. The vocals are so fantastically nasally and resonant; this song makes me feel like I am in the eye of a musical tornado. Love it. There is also a satisfying electric guitar what-sounds-like-straight-up-cowbell break. I mean, this is like a buffet of glorious sounds. I'm full.

How you'll move: Love it when you call me Big Poppa head nod with some smooth shoulders.

When to play it: When you're hungry on the inside.

Side note: Bombay Bicycle Club is playing shows at Webster Hall May 8th and 9th. Just saying.

Luther Vandross' poppy sexy grandson - "Gust of Wind" Pharrell

"Gust of Wind" Pharrell

I gave the new Pharrell album the proper listen it deserved, didn't fall in love, but there are certainly gems. I thought my jam was "Brand New" featuring Justin Timberlake, but upon a secondary listen I realized I was under the JT spell (got me again), and my favorite track is "Gust of Wind." The twangy guitar and playful bass is truly reminiscent of an 80s Luther Vandross song (think "Never Too Much"), and the strings make the song exciting and frantic and fun. It makes me feel happy and in love, even though the winter has made me hate all living things and inanimate objects, and that is a serious feat.

How you'll move: Like Justin Timberlake when he's putting a spell on you.

When to play it: When spring comes to the city and you can stroll the streets in the sun without a coat and with a smile.

Effortless echo slow roll high - "Waking Light" Beck

"Waking Light" Beck

Beck's latest album, "Morning Phase," is just like "Modern Guilt" in quality and cohesion. To me the songs are so well written and produced, each one is like a little symphony. "Waking Light" falls in line with the rest of the album, lurching and subdued. The song starts to build around the 3 minute mark, you think you're in for a wild rush of musical explosion and BAM, you're back to a snail's pace of delicious rich rock golden sludge. The best surprise is an extremely satisfying guitar solo in the song's last 45 seconds. It's a fantastic song, intended to be listened to in great headphones with your eyes closed.

How you'll move: You might not.

When to play it: Lying in the park, running your fingers through long blades of green grass.

Side note: Other notable tracks include "Blue Moon" and "Don't Let It Go."

2013 Year in Review - "Celebrate " Empire of the Sun

"Celebrate" Empire of the Sun

Now I can't review the best songs of the year without digging back into early 2013 and remembering all the gems that made my brain melt. It's not top of mind anymore, but Empire of the Sun's "Ice on the Dune" was one of the best albums of the summer, if not the year. "Celebrate" is not definitively my favorite track, but it feels like getting awesomely punched in the face by a crazy rainbow dance unicorn. It sparkles, the bass drops, there are perfect moments for falsetto sing-a-longs, there's a smooth galactic break around 2:30. It makes me feel like I'm without a care on top of the dancing sun world.

How you'll move: Loads of shoulders, crazy feet, big smiles - this is a full body endeavor.

When to play it: Pool party dancing in your bikini while buzzed.

Side note: Other notable tracks include "Awakening" and "Old Flavours," the former being the hippy cousin and the latter the more mature, enduring big brother of all three tracks.

2013 Year in Review - "Hannah Hunt" Vampire Weekend

"Hannah Hunt" Vampire Weekend

What a beautiful departure for Vampire Weekend. "Hannah Hunt" is a simple sleepy, sweetly-sang track that feels like a 3-minute movie about young love. Like all Vampire Weekend, it makes me feel like I'm breathing fresh air and feeling warm sun on my skin. But here I don't want to bop and dance. This particular song drags and searches and feels like what it's about, a young couple's wandering cross country road trip. The break in this song feels like a screaming fight turn storming out of a room turn sniffly hand-holding nap. That guitar warble meets piano feels like 1,000 heartbreaks.

When to play it: Lazy summer lie on the hammock while trying to re-evaluate your love life; tanning on a boat in a blue calm lake.

Side note: Other fantastic tracks include "Ya Hey," "Diane Young," and "Everlasting Arms."