Nice topic. My top 5, in no particular order:

Grouplove - "Itchin' on a Photograph"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCLek4aSpbo

Calexico - "Splitter"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwgjMfi1YF8

Jack White - "Freedom at 21"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s92smjLq_38

Band of Horses - "Knock Knock"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh8OTO4wSMs

Of Monsters and Men - "Little Talks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I

Honorable mentions: "Let's Go" by Matt & Kim, "Same Love" by Macklemore

I could have just as easily picked Jack White's entire album. Great stuff.

Lofticries by Purity Ring. Far and away my #1

More to come later. 5 is too few.

God I love music.

I don't think I can say for certain right now this is my top 5, but it's gotta be close.

Spiritualized - "So Long You Pretty Thing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VesyhH8zams

Chromatics - "Kill for Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhP2bonHRGU

Frank Ocean - "Pyramids"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfyWQ2AEBic

Of Monsters and Men - "Little Talks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I
(2WL already put this one on his list, but it's really so good that I can't leave it out)

Beach House - "Wild"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRSDzmAy-X8
(really hard to pick just one off this album)

And of course, I feel bad for leaving so many good artists and songs off my list...

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody.
David Bowie - Space Oddity.
10cc - I'm not in love.
Status Quo - Down down.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp.

And the year was 1975 - a very good year.

Yep, 1975 was a very good year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYMCLz5PQVw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2BavhwpIJg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNPJuJSVmNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U9ntM-Nih0 (sadly, the original has been pulled from youtube so you get this one.0)

STA, you missed the best 1975 song:
Acadian Driftwood - the Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7KW4K-00E

Laura - Bat For Lashes

That's the only one that comes to mind. the whole album is good, though.

LC - Ok, I listened to it, and ... we're going to have to disagree about that.

Fair enough. I'm glad you listened to it though :-) I should check out that 10cc song. I didn't know Stat quo was rapping in '75..........

I think Muse's new album was pretty good.

1975 was a good year in music but I'm going to say that we probaby disagree in the top 5.
Blood on the fucking Tracks came out in 75 (not to mention The Band's basement tapes) and no Dylan makes it on your list?! Shenanigans. Still Crazy After All These Years! Wow, that really was a good year in music.

Lando, that Purity Ring song is pretty fantastic. Definitely been a good year for music North of The Border.

Most of the songs from basement tapes had been released previously. Plus, it was not an official release. It may be the best album of all time, though. 2006 me thought so anyway.

No anywhere I can get it on record?

No idea but that'd be an awesome pick up.

It took me almost a year to track down the Waltz. FYI - there's a guy at the St. Jacob's farmer's market who is pretty helpful at tracking things down. I guess I should check with him.

Chromatics - Kill for Love album was good.

In no particular order…

Nuclear Family • Green Day
Save Me • Muse
We Come Running • Youngblood Hawke
Little Black Submarines • Black Keys
Burn It Down • Linkin Park

Honorable:
The A Team • Ed Sheeran
Diamonds • Rihanna

Stretch:
Don't You Worry Child • Swedish House Mafia

Little Black Submarines is a great tune but El Camino was Dec 2011. Doesn't quite make the cut for this year!

Really? The single on Spotify is from 2012.

Ohh, you're all so indycool and non-mainstream. Billboard Hot 100, baby!

1. Psy - Gangnam Style
2. Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
3. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
4. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
5. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

Billboard 100?
That assumes we still use radios, old man. ; )

not much good music these days, other than techno. lol

I back Gotye, that song is my number 2 for the year.

No, Psy is not the best singer of the year.

"Little Talks" is a great song.
I'd add "Skyfall" by Adele--the best Bond song in decades.
And "Babylon" by Mumford and Sons. But I love everything by them.

And your view is so much more valid. Who actually likes Green Day?

"Skyfall" is a great Bond song, but I also like "You Know My Name", and "The World Is Not Enough" all less than 20 years old.

I like Green Day. I had tix to see them at the beginning of the month, but they canceled due to Billy Joe's I Heart Radio meltdown and subsequent rehab.

Billboard's not just about radio, Yonni.

It's sad when indie kids don't listen to indie radio stations. That's why they are shutting down and clear channel is taking over.

I was saying the radio comment more tongue in cheek but it's true that I don't really listen to much radio. At work most of the sites are blocked and I don't want to stream it to my phone and go over my data plan. At home I mostly listen to mine or my housemates' d/led music or records so I don't get as much exposure to new music - hence my statement in the OP.

For that matter though, do you have a suggestion for a radio station?

Also, I'm not sure if you were just trying to get a rise out of me or not but describing people as 'indie kids' seems like you're trying to make some kind of point. Not sure what, tbh. Aside: I'm not sure what really makes something an 'indie' album but I'm pretty sure Dr. Dog and Jack White's latest releases don't count.