Chairlift, ‘Something’ – Top Albums of 2012

A strange thing happened in February 2012: The best dance album of 1989 was released by two 20-somethings from Brooklyn. ‘Something,’ the cutesy-obtuse title of the second album by Chairlift, spins with synths and honesty. The duo's collaboration sounds like Madonna and New Order getting together for a bubble bath, especially on the toothache inducing ‘I Belong on Your Arms.’

But the band spends most of the album in understated urban cool: The slow, curling ballad ‘Cool as a Fire’ simmers and slithers, Polachek pirouetting over icy keyboards. Bouncing between being elated and aloof, 'Something' is one of the year's most subtly complex, and obviously awesome, dance-pop albums.