No Diggity by Chet Faker: 

Absolutely edgy production, the song has a blend of electronic/ sampled sounds as well as organic (electric piano, bass and drums) sounds. The balance is rich with neither overpowering the other but flowing together seamlessly. The use of effects is minimal and breathtaking. 

Peaches by In the Valley Below:

Straight-up happy-go-lucky pop songwriting and a modern alternative arrangement gives this song a special place in my heart. Catchy guitar hooks and very clever use of synth sounds added to wonderful vocal harmony makes this song stand out.

Eyesdown by Bonobo featuring Andreya Triana:

Andreya Triana has a unique voice which is not commonly heard in mainstream music and she sounds like she was born to sing this song. There is a wide range of sounds, from oriental instruments to modern synths, drum and bass, contributing to the listening experience sparsely but with a lot of efficiency.

I Wanna Be Yours by Arctic Monkeys: 

This song reworks John Cooper Clarke’s poem by the same name. It uses a lot of repetitions with words like “I wanna be yours” and “let me be”; such simple phrases actually get the job done beautifully. The emotion of being in love with a woman and wanting to be hers if only given a chance expresses itself with total conviction.  

Grapevine Fires by Death Cab for Cutie:

The drum groove of the song immediately puts you in the vibe of the song. It mixes seamlessly with the vocals and every other instrument adds just enough to make the song as smooth as silk. Very deep, meaningful lyrics, not an ounce of overly produced sounds, the song sounds real and organic. 

Inhaler by Foals:

Although Foals were known for playing math rock in their earlier records, this song from their new album Holy Fire is straight-up alternative rock mixed with elements of grunge and dance music. It makes for a powerful mix that is bound to get one hooked to them.

Beautiful War by Kings of Leon:

This song is an ambient mid-tempo ballad with sterling confident vocals, beautifully arranged harmony lines and an understated power in the soundscape with minimal use of the in-your-face guitar sounds that the band is usually known for. It is destined to be a classic for years to come.

Chocolate by The 1975:

The unmistakable guitar intro sets the mood for a contemporary pop rock song right from the word go. With some influences of funk and disco in their soundscape, this one is rightfully a certified gold single in the US. 

Take Me Somewhere Nice by Mogwai:

Mogwai’s style has easily identifiable connections to genres like shoegazing, math rock and art rock. The tranquil guitar sounds, lush symphonic orchestration, melodic bass guitars and spaced out drums aid in seamlessly shifting moods throughout the song. 

Cavalier by James Vincent McMorrow:

Great songwriting, beautiful voicings characterised by controlled falsetto and a stripped-down arrangement. Inclusion of horn sections makes the soundscape all the more interesting.

Anagram by Young The Giant:

The song is on a time signature of 7/8 but the drummer plays a straight 4/4 on it until the outro when the 7/8 groove takes over and makes you realise that you’ve been listening to a song on 7/8. Great guitar lines, intelligent use of keyboards and stellar singing make this song one of a kind.

Loaded by Primal Scream:

Opening this list with a dance song. If nightclubs played songs like this, the world would be a better place.

1517 by Whitest Boy Alive:

An infectious groove, neat lyrics and complementing guitar and piano parts make this a song you can’t hate. This is what they should be playing at nightclubs.

Your Favourite Music by Clem Snide:

Eef Barzelay is a brilliant yet relatively unknown songwriter. This gentle tune is a lullaby till the last minute, where things take a very different turn.

Sleep on the Left Side by Cornershop:

Everyone’s heard Brimful of Asha. Tjinder Singh and his band incorporate Indian classical music elements with western sensibilities, making this the right song to start your day with. A criminally underrated band.

Brand New Start by Little Joy: This is what you get when the drummer of The Strokes and guitar player of Los Hermanos decide to form a band together. A jangling pop song that reminds you of vacations on picturesque Mediterranean islands. The kind you most likely will never experience, but hey we’ve got this song, right?

Weights and Measures by Dry The River: The choir-like harmonies and explosive build-up make you want to sing along and that’s exactly what happened a couple of years ago at the Delhi NH7 Weekender. This tune will stick in your head long after you’ve heard all the alternative/folk songs on their debut album, Shallow Bed.

Talking Backwards by Real Estate: If you like jangly, surf pop this is the song for you. The bassline is contagious and so is that guitar riff. Real Estate’s latest album, Atlas, is the perfect driving companion. 

Shoot You Down by The Stone Roses:

Off their 1989 self-titled album, this tune will make you want to dance and sit down at the same time. Great lyrics and John Squire on guitar make this the ultimate “chill song” long before people started calling music that. The band had just two albums, but it goes to show you don’t need a heavy discography to influence bands like Oasis.

Ultimate Painting by Ultimate Painting:

Not the greatest band name, but this song will remind you of Velvet Underground as well as Jesus and the Mary Chain. It’s like riding a scooter in Goa.

Pulling On A Line by Great Lake Swimmers:

This tune from the little-known Canadian folk band is haunting mainly because of the singer’s distinctive vocals. His lyrics are unsophisticated yet smart and will remind you of Hank Williams at some point. If not, don’t blame me.