Jonny Cash - ‘Hurt’: Written by Nine Inch Nail’s Trent Reznor and covered by the late and great Mr Cash, the track is a piercingly open and honest piece of music, everything about it feeling completely tailored for the man in black. “You can have it all, my empire of dirt,” Cash groans over ominous acoustic guitar and melancholy piano.

Radiohead - 'Let Down': From start to finish, this meditation on the daily grind and mass apathy strikes far too close to home. Reaching its bridge, the track collapses under the weight of itself and is jaw droppingly moving. "Let down and hanging around. Crushed like a bug in the ground" is a wonderfully simply and powerful chorus as well.

Arcade Fire - 'Wake Up': Have Arcade Fire reached such visceral and hard hitting heights since their debut album, Funeral? The sheer power of 'Wake Up' is enough to electrify the soul of even the most bitter Bukowksi-esk individuals. The collective shouts, piercing violins, distorted guitars and every other imaginable sound combine to lift you up, and that’s before the final funky breakdown.

The Shins - 'Sleeping Lessons': The victorious opening to James Mercer and co's third studio album is simply brilliant. Gradually building with Mercer's altered voice whisping over dreamy synths and scratching guitars, a slick drum roll brings forth the mightiest of drops and a wall of rousing sound. When Mercer's voice returns, the track is in full swing and his writing is poetically precise and poignant.

Sigur Rós - 'Untitled #8 (Popplagio)' : Taken from the Icelandic post-rock band's third album ( ), this track is coated with thick atmosphere, JOnsi's distinct vocal style hovering over truly breathtaking, otherworldy instrumentation. Building over the course of ten minutes like any post-rock song worth it's salt should, the track lays the groundwork for its crashing conclusion after six minutes and reaches a dramatically dark, swampy end.

The Antlers - 'Two': Who knew a ukulele led track could pack such a heartbreaking punch? Drawing a bleak picture of isolation and the deterioration of a relationship, this track reaches roaring piques of spine tingling greatness throughout. "Two different voices coming out of your mouth / Well I’m too cold too care and too sick to shout." One Reddit User summed up the band’s LP Hospice perfectly. "That whole album is just gut wrenchingly sad."

Explosions In The Sky - 'First Breath After a Coma': Another rousing post-rock track from one of the genre's heavyweight acts. Explosions In The Sy are masters of building richly layered, cinematic instrumental songs. If the drop at 3:18 doesn't hit that sweet spot for you, we strongly advise you to stop reading immediately, go forth and seek professional help from some kind of musical shaman counsellor…human. They probably exist, somewhere.

Bright Eyes - 'Road To Joy': Closing I’m Wide Awake, It's Morning in glorious fashion, Conor Oberst deploys a swarm of horns and other marching band instrumentation to wonderful effect. "I could have been a famous singer, If I had someone else’s voice / but failure’s always sounded better, let's fuck it up boys, make some noise!" The preceding chaos will send you into a spiral of musical ecstasy.

Gary Jules - 'Mad World': Reaching the masses after appearing on the soundtrack to Jake Gyllenhall's wonderfully bizarre performance in the cult hit, Donnie Darko, this unforgettable Gary Jules track is haunting and truly beautiful. The tentative, delicate piano keys that run throughout the isolated track, as well as the hazy production for the chilling line of "mad world" stays with you long after the track is over.

Imogen Heap - 'Hide And Seek': Is it the stunning lyrics, the almost robotic, sweet melodies or the overall starkness of the track thats hits the hardest? You decide. Either way, this song is sure to stir up a whirlwind of emotions every time you dare to listen.