Top 10 Best Songs by Editors

A heavy, dragging song with an enormous bassline. It sounds like a love song, but the lyrics are ambiguous and dark. "It breaks my heart to love you." The mood is oppressive and intense. The song builds into a wall of sound. Live, this is a favorite because of the pure power it radiates.

An epic, cinematic song. The drumbeat drives it forward, while the lyrics conjure images of an apocalyptic city. "Standing on the edge of the cliff." The chorus is grand and melodic. The production is rich and full. It shows the band's ambition to make music bigger than life.

From their debut album. Raw, fast and nervous. The guitars are sharp and staccato, typical of the early Editors sound. Tom Smith sings with an urgency as if being chased. "Blood runs through your veins, that's where our similarity ends." It's energetic indie rock that fills the dance floor.

Editors at their most accessible and electronic. Rachel Goswell from Slowdive sings in the background. It's a hopeful song that sounds like a night drive through the city. The piano and synthesizers complement each other perfectly. It proves they can make great songs without heavy guitars.

The title track of their second album. It's about the cycle of life and death, and starting over. The riff is catchy and upbeat. The lyrics are heavy: "You came on your own, that's how you'll leave." The contrast between happy music and existential lyrics is their trademark. An instant classic.

A tribute to Echo & The Bunnymen and U2. It's grand, bombastic and made for stadiums. The "Ooh-ooh" choruses are irresistible. Tom Smith sings with enormous passion. "Desire!" It's a song full of bravado and confidence. Rock with a capital R.

The version that made history. Originally a soundtrack song, but playing it live on the piano became magical. The lyrics are about survival and protecting a child in a ruined world. The fragility of Smith and the singing audience create goosebumps. An absolute number one hit in the Low Countries.

The breakthrough. The guitar riff is angular, robotic and brilliant. The drums are tight and mechanical. "People are fragile things, you should know by now." It set the tone for the post-punk revival. It's danceable, dark and energetic. The song that put Editors on the map.

The radical shift to synthesizers. This is a dark techno stomp disguised as a rock song. The energy is unprecedented. "It kicks like a sleep twitch!" Live, this song turns into a rave. The bassline pumps through your body. It's euphoric, sweaty and absolutely irresistible.

Their magnum opus. It starts with a lonely guitar and builds to an explosive, orchestral finale. It's about illness, despair and escape. The lyrics are poetic and mysterious. The climax, where drums and guitars come together, is of unprecedented grandeur. It's epic, emotional and grand. Editors at their very best.