This is part two of my 11-part series recapping some of the songs I enjoyed this year, month by month. See the January edition here.

Ada - "The Red Shoes" (from Blondie, 2004, Areal): A colorful and amusing little burst of techno pop. From Pitchfork: ""The Red Shoes" features a distorted animal cry, which-- along with a thumping bass line and shimmying dot-matrix squelches-- pins the song nearer Boards of Canada than Luomo. The track even delivers a chorus-- a set of pulsing, "Drop It Like It's Hot"-style synth changes that explode out of the bare, steely beat." Read more about this album on Discogs.

New Order - "Krafty" (from Waiting for the Sirens' Call, 2005, Warner Brothers): As with almost all great New Order songs, "Krafty" has Barney's silly lyrics, a massive sing-along chorus, and Hooky's brilliant bass playing. I'll admit to a degree of myopia when it comes to judging new music from bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, The Cure, etc. These were among the groups I cut my "indie" teeth on back in the day, so I'm more willing like just about anything they do. So is "Krafty" a genius song or is just me? I'll stand by my genius assertion.

Andrew Bird - "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left" (from Andrew Bird and The Mysterious Production of Eggs, 2005, Righteous Babe). Download a live version (MP3) of "Nervous Tic" from Andrew's appearance on KXCI FM, Tucson.

Engineers - "Come in Come Out of the Rain" (from Engineers, 2005, The Echo Label): Listening to Engineers' entire album at once makes me crave a few shrill blasts from a naked guitar. There is such a thing as too much soft-focus atmosphere. However, on "Come In Come Out of the Rain" the swirls of layered vocals, distant muted drums, and drizzling synthesizers build to a distinct and focused emotional climax. Download MP3 from Insound.

Super Furry Animals - "Golden Retriever" (from Phantom Power, 2003, XL)

The Beatles - "Something" (from Abbey Road, 1969, Capitol): Probably my favorite song from my favorite Beatles album. "Something" devastates me every time with its simplicity and honesty.

The Waterboys - "This is the Sea" (from This is the Sea, 1985, Ensign): From Melody Maker's review of This is the Sea in 1985: "[Mike] Scott has gathered together the unrelated and unrecognized strands of past glories and weaved them into a definitive whole, creating, at will, calming panoramas of tranquility or stormy crescendos of nightmare. This is the sea and this is the one."

Cocteau Twins - "Pearly Dewdrops Drops" (from Stars and Topsoil: A Collection 1982-1990, 2000, 4AD): This song first appeared on The Spangle Maker, a four-song EP tucked between the classic Treasure and its less successful follow-up Victorialand.  On "Pearly Dewdrops Drops" Liz Fraser's multi-tracked vocals pirouette from one breathtaking peak to another. Impossibly ethereal.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "The Train Song" (from B-sides & Rarities, 2005, Mute): A b-side to the epochal "The Ship Song" from 1990's The Good Son.

Dalek - "Hold Tight" (from Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots, 2002, Ipecac): From Boomkat: "A fully loaded self assured missile headed straight at yo head from the middle of yo speakers. Imagine a rock fuelled El-P attack with a blunted slowed down vocal and you're on right track. One for the brave hip hop heads and for those not afraid to headbang in the comfort of their own home. Raw-ace and well recommended." Download "Trampled Brethren" (MP3) from Deadverse, Dalek's official site.