It’s not hard to see this list as a reaction of the year that was. Let’s hope 2021 and especially 2022 are heavier on happy, bouncy tunes.
1. “Ayeyayaya” – The Shredders
2. “Get Up Get Out” – Born Dirty
3. “Top Knot Turn Up” – Madame Ghandi
4. “50 Foot Woman” – Hannah Williams & The Affirmations
5. “Time Spent in Los Angeles” – Dawes
6. “For the First Time” – Best Coast
7. “Fuck Up the Friendship” – Leah Kate
8. “You’re Not Alone” – Semisonic
9. “March March” – The Chicks
10. “Malibu” – Kim Petras
11. “Looking for America” – Lana Del Rey
12. “I Would Die 4 U” – Mariachi El Bronx
13. “You Can’t Rule Me” – Lucinda Williams
14. “Loteria” – Mariachi El Bronx
15. “Take the Money and Run” – Run-DMC
16. “California” – Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers
17. “Black Steel” – Tricky
18. “I Wanna Be Like You” – Ukulena
19. “Antifa Dance” – Ana Tijoux
20. “House of Bamboo” – The Hi-Tide Orchestra
21. “Signal” – Automatic
22. “Making Love to the Dead” – Beginners
23. “Different Light” – Best Coast
24. “Goonda Gold” – Cartel Madras
25. “Monday” – Filous & Ashe
26. “A Hero’s Death” – Fontaines D.C.
27. “New Mood” – LPX
28. “Take What You Can Carry” – Mia Doi Todd
29. “Lonely Heather” – The Nude Party
30. “I Am America” – Shea Diamond
31. “Dystopian Boy” – Sólveig Matthildur
32. “Worry” – Songhoy Blues
33. “I’m a Man” – Spencer Davis Group
34. “Moral of the Story” – Ashe
35. “Running to Chad” – Baba Stilz
36. “Everything has Changed” – Best Coast
37. “Coming of Age” – Blondes
38. “Lay Me Down” – Dirty Heads
39. “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
40. “Little Bit of Love” – Kesha
41. “I’m Sayin'” – Longshot
42. “Fortunate Son” – Sleater-Kinney
43. “South Gotta Change” – Adia Victoria
44. “Angola Rodeo” – The Black Lips
45. “Rise” – Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles
46. “Grounds” – Idles
47. “Lockdown” – Koffee
48. “Here Come the Warm Dreads” – Lee “Scratch” Perry
49. “Gypsy Woman” – Muddy Waters
50. “Bang!” – AJR
51. “Valens” – Graveyard Club
52. “Peaceful Easy Feeling” – Jim “Kimo” West
53. “Asleep on the Shore” – The Swingin’ Palms
54. “Give Us Justice” – Thee Sacred Souls
55. “(I Blame) Society” – Titus Andronicus
56. “Malibu” – Trixie Mattel
57. “Ball and Biscuit” – The White Stripes
58. “Sunglasses” – Black Country, New Road
59. “Stay High” – Brittany Howard
60. “Working” – Cartel Madras
61. “Supermoon” – Charly Bliss
62. “Steel Guitar Rag” – The Greasy Gills
63. “Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar” – The Hi-Tide Orchestra
64. “The Perfect Wave” – The MelTones
65. “Santeria” – Metalachi
66. “Justice Never Dies” – Quetzal
67. “Stay Away” – Randy Newman
68. “Sing Along” – Sturgil Simpson
69. “Over the Moon” – The Swingin’ Palms
70. “Kalua” – Arthur Lyman
71. “Hear It” – Bad Religion
72. “N.B.T.” – Black Market Brass
73. “Voodoo Bamboos” – Chaino
74. “Mystique” – Cosmique Hypnotique
75. “Rome” – Dojo Cuts
76. “Leisure Time” – Eyesore & The Jinx
77. “Swamp Meet” – The Greasy Gills
78. “Jaws” – Greg Townson
79. “Lockdown” – The Hi-Tide Orchestra
80. “All Eyes” – Mariachi El Bronx
81. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Mariachi El Bronx
82. “Moonlight Wahine” – Network Music Ensemble
83. “All I Want” – The Offspring
84. “Trouble in Paradise” – Rufus Wainwright
85. “Old Man” – Stella Donnelly
86. “Entrada” – The Swingin’ Palms
87. “Ten in 2010” – Bad Religion
88. “Pipeline” – The Chantays
89. “Waterfalls” – Death Cab for Cutie
90. “Mr. Rebel” – The Greasy Gills
91. “Tiki Diva” – Kenny Sasaki & The Tiki Boys
92. “Pearly Shells (P?p? A’o ‘Ewa)” – Maile Serenaders
93. “Wind of Change” – The Scorpions
94. “Makaha” – The Tikyaki Orchestra
95. “Brown Eyed Lover” – Allen Stone
96. “Rollercoaster” – Best Coast
97. “War Room” – Black Market Brass
98. “Shark Tank” – Bloodshot Bill
99. “Keep On” – Courtney Barnett
100. “U.F.S.” – The Greasy Gills
Previous top 100 lists: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
