I was asked today for a shortlist of songs I like, by someone who wants to expand their music listening beyond pop. Below is what I gave him. Maybe someone else will find this useful:

Arcade Fire – No Cars Go
Beirut – Nantes
Bishop Allen – True or False
Black Lips – Bad Kids
Broken Social Scene – Texico Bitches
The Dodos – Fools
Dr Dog – Shadow People
The Drums – Lets Go Surfing
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home
Fanfarlo – The Walls Are Coming Down
Freelance Whales – Hannah
Gogol Bordello – Start Wearing Purple
Harlem – Friendly Ghost
The Magnetic Fields – I Think I Need a New Heart
Manu Chau – Clandestino
Mates of State – Goods
Matt & Kim – Yeah Yeah
MGMT – Time to Pretend
Noah and the Whale – 5 Years Time
The Octopus Project – Truck
Of Montreal – Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games
Phoenix – 1901
Ra Ra Riot – Can You Tell
Rabbit – Magic
Rogue Wave – Lake Michigan
The Sandwitches – Back to the Sea
Shout Out Louds – Tonight I Have To Leave It
Small Black – Despicable Dogs
Stars – The First Five Times
Tennis – Marathon
The Thermals – Now We Can See
Titus Andronicus – Titus Andronicus
Vampire Weekend – M79
Yeasayer – Rome