The Top 30 MTL Songs of 2014

Tops. Photo by Kendall Stephenson

5. “Joy Division” by Toast Dawg feat. Loud Lary Ajust

The Blue Volvo rappers hang tough with the Payz Player’s bananas Brazilian Revisited beat.
 

 
4. “Even the Darkness Has Arms” by the Barr Brothers

The Barr Brothers, managed by David Letterman and Paul Shaffer.
 

 
3. “Wailin” by Andru

This one really clicked when a DJ who wasn’t Andru played it at First Kontakt. A SoundCloud page had come to life.
 

 
2.  “Habit” by Ought

Hard to pick just one from More Than Any Other Day or their EP, but “Habit” follows the Ought arc perfectly: starts off awkward and quiet, builds up, then ends loudly and purposefully.
 

 
1. “Way to Be Loved” by TOPS

TOPS are taut. There’s never a note out of place. This song breathes the way a classic pop song should, and the way many of today’s overextended hits don’t.