songs which start on an offbeat (or at least sound like they do) so your ears take a few seconds to align properly

I guess this is slightly different than the thing that some songs do (e.g. Drive My Car) where its not until another instrument comes in where you realise you were hearing things off-metre. Different because these are more about being mid-verse or mid-beat or something

XTC - Making Plans for Nigel
The Clash - This Is England
Robyn/Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat
Blur - I'm Just a Killer for Your Love

World Party - Is It Like Today?

Radiohead - Reckoner

The original 12-inch (non-Substance) version of “Blue Monday” has three quarter notes before the sixteenth notes instead of two. So throughout the whole intro you are kinda out of it. Pretty sure that was a mistake and not really their intention because I don’t think any of the re-releases of the song contain it.

The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go

I love these, I think we had a thread on them before, but there are tons.

"You Really Got Me" (at least the VH version) is another classic example

toni braxton "you're makin' me high"
elliott yamin "wait for you"

i like the rare occasions when my brain tricks me into thinking something's on the offbeat when it clearly isn't

"Hands off, she's mine" The Beat. Still gets me, that one.

I'm Free by The Who