This year, my favorite tracks of 2014 satisfy a need for nostalgia. Vance Joy and Johnnyswim both have a folk sound that’s been coming back the past few years, but in different ways.

1) Riptide – Vance Joy

Riptide builds a little slower before roaring into the hook, but retains a more controlled energy.

2) Home – Johnnyswim

Home comes out of the gate with beats and hand claps that make you want to stomp your feet all the way through.

3) Take me to Church – Hozier

Take Me to Church is a powerful, seductive, and haunting song. Part rock ballad, part gospel song, all awesome. And that video…whoa. If you haven’t seen it, watch it, but be warned, it’s intense.

4) Do I Wanna Know – Arctic Monkeys

Do I Wanna Know is kind of a cheat, since it technically came out at the end of 2013, but I’m counting it since I didn’t hear it until early this year.

It’s an old school rock song, with a deep groove and a guitar riff that’s up there with so many other classics, not saying it’s in that class, but it’s super catchy.

5) The Walker – Fitz and the Tantrums

The Walker throws it back to old school soul jams, but with an updated sound.

No guitars, a pulsing synth sound and a driving beat makes one just want to get up and dance, or run, or do housework, whatever requires a bunch of energy.

Another great video too, because who doesn’t fantasize about flipping out in line at the DMV and just dancing off?