14. "My Girls" by Animal Collective (2009) / "Bros" by Panda Bear (2007)

Noah Lennox is largely responsible for some of the most forward-thinking, in-the-zeitgeist music of the decade. As one of the members of Animal Collective, Lennox created indie albums like Sung Tongs, Strawberry Jam, and Merriweather Post Pavillion, each with head-turning musical moments. And as Panda Bear, Lennox's Person Pitch sent up layered smoke signals to the sun-soaked deities of pop.

"My Girls" may be the most avante-garde dance record of all time. Its subtle builds, harmonies, and layered, now-you-hear-it, now-you-don't electronica are pure brain candy. And with its submerged vocals, "Bros" sounds like it was smothered in sand the Beach Boys played in and then dedicated to the worship of pop's greatest titans.




Why listen? Seems like a rhetorical question. Pop music this inventive comes along only a few times every decade.
Something else? "Fireworks," "Peacebone," "For Reverend Green," "Summertime Clothes," "Comfy in Nautica."