Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

Qualifiers: Now most of the tracks will be pulled from albums released in 2010, but exceptional singles released in 2010 from 2009 LPs will also be included. This year I've kept the title broad as I will dip between the key tracks of the year and the best songs of the year, so my apologies if you'd prefer an either or, but you are being treated to both.

So let's get this show on the road.

"We're Not Joking, Just Joking, We are Joking, Just Joking, We're Not Joking" well it turns out Das Racist are definitely joking on the gorgeously laid back "Hahahahaha jk". The facetious stoner rap band wagon just won't stop rolling and Das Racist are a fine addition to the 2010 crop and this track best summaries their carefree flow. "Hahahaha jk" is full of punchlines and obvious, but not too obvious, references perfect for watching life pass you by on hazy summer evening.

The Roots beefed up Duffy's sound with a biting and funky arrangement and Duffy followed suit, upping her game and delivering a sharp, energetic and snappy verse. The star of the show was of course Duffy's long notes and the delicious snap in her voice as she delivered a frankly inescapable chorus. Classy pop.

98. "Round & Round" - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffetti

Before Today was an album of staggering breadth; Ariel Pink hoped sub genres at will creating gorgeous psychedelia dream pop at every turn. Picking just one track to represent such a sublime album is no mean feat but "Round and Round" was that record's moment of pure pop immediacy with gorgeous harmonies that wash gently over the listener building to the moving plea of "Just Hold On".

"Alejandro" may sound more than a little reminiscent of Ace Of Base but it's still utterly brilliant. Pageantry, pantomime and excessive campness; "Alejandro" is the kind of beautiful silliness that only pop can produce. Like all Gaga's best work "Alejandro" possesses a great driving propulsive quality that keeps even the most cynical of heads nodding while Gaga lays on the theatrics.

Laura Marling's superb sophomore LP I Speak Because I Can launched the folkster from quirky outskirts to the top of NME's Cool List. Whether that placement turns out to be a curse or a blessing remains to be seen (after all it didn't serve Beth Ditto all to well). Regardless, Folk is always best when it has a real stomp; dignified delivery suppressing feral emotion, and with "Devil's Spoke" Laura Marling captured a untamed carnal energy perfectly.

The "Blame Game" marked the emotional low point of Kanye West's Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It saw Kanye's huge ego struggling to deal with the most basic issues of rejection. Using auto-tune and studio wizardry he created multiple internal narratives, from the meek to the violent, that were woven together to create a spell binding narrative. One of the best and most emotional powerful tracks of the year.

The Klaxons return ended in disappointed, as their once fervent fanbase had moved on and been replaced by a sweeping sense of apathy. It didn't help of course that Surfing The Void was a mediocre effort. Amid the growing pains were some genuinely irresistible singles including the riotous "Flash Over" a track that sent this summer's festival fields into rampant sweaty ecstasy.

Ah summer brings the worst out in us doesn't it? More wars happen in summer than in any other season and more musical war crimes take place too (well maybe with the exception of Christmas). However behind all this awfulness, there are certain tracks that are so simplistic and so much fun that they become genuine anthems. Tiao Cruz's "Dynamite" is just such a track, shameless, simple, fun; sometimes that's all you need.

Brandon Flowers' Crossfire was largely derivative and patronizing but it did have some genuinely touching moments including the silky smooth pop of "Hard Enough". Keep It Simple Stupid, when Brandon Flowers' adheres to this guide line he tends to get it right, flamboyance isn't his thing, nor is urban story telling, he's not Eno and he's not Springsteen but he is a damn fine popstar. And when his vacant tones blended with Jenny Lewis strained coos they forged a small piece of pop perfection.

Whisper it...Katy Perry is actually starting to get quite good. She seemed to forget herself this year; she used to be the girl who wrote amazing singles and terrible albums, this year she wrote a surprisingly decent LP and some pretty regrettable singles. Now, there was one exception of course; "Teenage Dream" was a blast of driving pop that was infectious without being vapid, and for Perry, that was a major triumph.