Best Of 2014: Songs

After you listen to this song your life will forever be fragmented into two distinct segments. Life before GRADES' "Crocodile Tears" and life post. You will mourn the fact that this song wasn’t around for all your important life moments – your first kiss, your first breakup, your high school graduation. You will be reminding yourself for eternity that all those fleeting nostalgic flashes would have been amplified tenfold by this absolutely brilliant song. -Brent

Don’t really know what’s left to say about “Stay With Me.” Sam Smith is a legend with an unreal voice. Oh yeah, this wins best harmonies as well. -Robbie

So many singers have attempted the vibey, hazy, R&B soaked this year, but none have done it like Sophia Black. Where so many artists get lost in weaving vocal runs, Sophia delivers pointed inflections and effortless hooks. And in a genre where beats usually outshine songcraft, it’s more than refreshing to have a grade A melodist in the fray. My eyes are hearts every time I hear "OVR AGN." -Stephen

Russ Chimes has always been a favorite of mine. Flawless productions that easily blend genres and deliver floor disintegrating levels of energy—it’s hard to imagine he’s not one of the biggest DJs in the world right now. “Baiona” is his most recent single and is the perfect late-night beach party/Ibizia track. It’s slightly tropical, slightly deep and completely epic, by far some of his best work yet. -Caleb