The 50 Best Songs of 2015

As we polish off the final hours of 2015, what better way to look back than with a four-hour playlist of the songs that helped define it? Below we've compiled a selection of some of the finest cuts of the past 12 months, an eclectic mix that includes the heavy hitters--Kendrick, Carly Rae, the unstoppable diva single-handedly "saving the music industry"--as well as artists who are mastering more experimental fare: shadowy electro jazz (#50), gusty baroque pop (#18), droll slacker rock with lyrics that read like poetry (#34).

There are songs about sex, drugs, real estate, global warming, coffee, and death. There's also a dance track that features a sample of a legendary Bollywood singer running on loop for about the length of your favorite sitcom (#41). A tough sell? Maybe. But block out the world and let it wash over you, and it may be the most transcendent 20 minutes you've experienced sober this year. And if not, there are probably around 45 songs here involving modern life's most universal obsessions: love and phones.

50. "Silhouettes (I, II, III)" - Floating Points
49. "4 Degrees" - ANOHNI
48. "bodyache" - Purity Ring
47. "Leave a Trace" - CHVRCHES
46. "Can't Keep Checking My Phone" - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
45. "XTC" - DJ Koze
44. "Them Changes"- Thundercat (feat. Flying Lotus & Kamasi Washington)
43. "Ryderz" - Hudson Mohawke
42. "Something Soon" - Car Seat Headrest
41. "Morning Side" - Four Tet
40. "The Traveller" - Beach House
39. "Anything" - TOPS
38. "Rewind" - Kelela
37. "Don't Wanna Fight" - Alabama Shakes
36. "Run Away With Me" - Carly Rae Jepsen
35. "Your Heart Still Beating" - Lower Dens
34. "Pedestrian at Best" - Courtney Barnett
33. "Alright" - Kendrick Lamar
32. "No Sleeep" - Janet Jackson
31. "Coffee" - Miguel (feat. Wale)
30. "Where Are U Now" (with Justin Bieber) - Jack U (Skrillex, Diplo)
29. "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" - Jamie xx (feat. Young Thug and Popcaan)
28. "Unputdownable" - Roisin Murphy
27. "Time, As a Symptom" - Joanna Newsom
26. "I'm a Ruin" - Marina and the Diamonds
25. "PPP" - Beach House
24. "Kill V. Maim" - Grimes
23. "Night Song" - Julia Holter
22. "Hello" - Adele
21. "Without You" - Tobias Jesso Jr.
20. "leaves" - Miguel
19. "Breaker" - Deerhunter
18. "Feel You" - Julia Holter
17. "Gosh" - Jamie xx
16. "Hello" - Erykah Badu (feat. Andre 3000)
15. "Let It Happen" - Tame Impala
14. "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" - Father John Misty
13. "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around" - Chromatics
12. "Flesh without Blood" - Grimes
11. "Fourth of July" - Sufjan Stevens
10. "Can't Feel My Face" - The Weeknd
9. "Loud Places" - Jamie xx (feat. Romy)
8. "When You're Smiling and Astride Me" - Father John Misty
7. "Eventually" - Tame Impala
6. "My Baby Don't Understand Me" - Natalie Prass
5. "Should Have Known Better" - Sufjan Stevens
4. "Depreston" - Courtney Barnett
3. "Stonemilker" - Bjork
2. "Hotline Bling" - Drake
1. "REALiTi (Demo)" - Grimes

Click to listen to our year-end soundtrack on Spotify.