Hurts burst into the mainstream with 2010 debut Happiness, a record on which the Manchester duo expertly mixed melancholy and hope with urbane, ‘80s-led synth-pop. “Wonderful Life"—a story of a desperate man being saved by love at first sight—perfectly encapsulates their sound. Wistful vocals meet bracing electronic beats before a slick chorus explodes in a surge of positivity. The band cemented their reputation with follow-ups Exile and Surrender, and this list is a perfect primer as the pensive, atmospheric pop of "Blood, Tears & Gold" sits alongside the darker, synth-led strains of "Mercy".