As a person who thoroughly enjoys binging on albums for hours on end, I'm finding it hard to really attach myself to an album these last few days as I've been going through and listening to everything I've missed this year. I listen to an album, and then feel an overwhelming urge to listen to something else so that I can catch up, even if I'd rather just put the album on repeat. I keep trying to listen to new things while also trying to reconnect with albums I haven't listened to since the first half of this year. Really a jarring experience.
2013 Album of the Year Voting Thread - Voting ends Sunday 1/19
- Thread starter Servbot24
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teruterubozu
Member
This is why I've been listening to streaming radio lately - Pandora, Itunes, SomFM, etc. I got fed up with playlists, album collections, recommendations, etc. Listening to music shouldn't be so laborious.
I'm not a big fan of playlists or radio. I like listening to albums. I feel like it gives you the full experience of an artist. These people who only listen to singles are whatever are missing out on so much it's not even funny.
teruterubozu
Member
I like albums too - since back in the 70s. But the consumption model has somehow made it very secondary as a listening medium. Still, I've kept up with modern music, unlike most folks my age. I just don't find many artists to be album-oriented these days.
I hear ya. I've been trying to listen to as many on my list as possible, both things that made a good impression but I hadn't had time for and things that I know are going on the list and I'm just trying to figure out my spot. It's hard because I have this urge to keep going and listening to other stuff because maybe just maybe another album will click really well or I'll find something I passed over.
Now I have this urge to keep listening to The Safety Fire's "Mouth of Swords," but I know I have so much else to check up on!
Agreed wholeheartedly. The journey of a whole album can't be beat. There are so many gems that probably would never make it to singles that people are missing.
jstevenson
Sailor Stevenson
01 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor
02 | Phosphorescent | Muchacho
03 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
04 | CHVRCHES | The Bones of What You Believe
05 | Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampires of the City
06 | The National | Trouble Will Find Me
07 | Kanye West | Yeezus
08 | Explosions In The Sky | Prince Avalanche
09 | David Bowie | The Next Day
10 | Bastille | Bad Blood
02 | Phosphorescent | Muchacho
03 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
04 | CHVRCHES | The Bones of What You Believe
05 | Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampires of the City
06 | The National | Trouble Will Find Me
07 | Kanye West | Yeezus
08 | Explosions In The Sky | Prince Avalanche
09 | David Bowie | The Next Day
10 | Bastille | Bad Blood
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
You are, effectively, trying to 'keep up with the Joneses.'
It's the end of the year and there are things other people have heard that you haven't yet, so you want to listen to everything just in case something "needs" to be on your list that isn't already. Honestly, with the extreme accessibility and borderline disposable nature of music, this is the worst time of year to attempt to find any significant connection with new material.
Compulsive list-making doesn't really play to people who want to form an emotional connection to their music. I just love sound, and I want to hear a wide variety of it. There are only 5-10 records every year that I truly form any sort of bond with, and those don't even necessarily place highly on my list.
equippedwithtowel
Member
There's some serious truth in this. My list is weighted to May-September releases for this reason and I don't really care enough to do a second pass. It's the albums that were the soundtrack to my 2013 and not just 25 things I listened to.
Oh, wow, this year was good for music. It's not every year that my #6 album and my #26 album are neck-to-neck in quality.
The two (yes, two) albums I've figured out so far. Titles go to streams of each album:
1. Typhoon - White Lighter
Typhoon is my favorite band, so I had sky-high expectations for this album and it didn't let me down. It deals with death, growing up, heartbreak and heartache -- all universal themes -- but there's so much detail and thought put into every song that every person is going to feel something different listening. Kyle Morton, who fronts the band, is writing some of the best lyrics in folk music today. If there's one album from 2013 I want everybody to listen to, it's this one.
Recommended tracks: "Artificial Light," "The Lake"
2. Dorena - Nuet
Playful, creative and beautiful post-rock. I love the sunshine, the willingness to play with textures instead of always going all-out, the way each song just blooms and fades in such a relaxed manner. I've listened to it over a dozen times (it's my go-to album for naps and walks at this point) and find new things to love every time.
Recommended tracks: "Her Comforting Touch," "Young Hearts of Summer"
Will continue to check up on this thread and see what people have enjoyed
DUDE, Tyhpoon!? That's awesome! I'm old friends with Tyler from the band. NICEST dude. Used to work with him at a game store no less. Awesome to see!
While I agree with you, I've already found several things that I want to include on my list, one of which I think will rank fairly high. Things like William Tyler (thanks Servbot), Daniel Avery and Holden could all very well end up on my list. If anything, I'm glad to just have found them as I ignored all 3 releases when they originally came out for whatever reason.
Overall though, I know my list will probably end up being a wash in a few weeks anyways. Music is all about the right time and place for me, and something I was really connected to 6 months ago may not get me excited any more. It's just the way it goes sometimes. I can look back on my favorite albums from the past couple of years, and usually the album I thought was my favorite from the year hasn't stuck with me. Last year I picked Lotus Plaza's Spooky Action at a Distance, with Chromatics Kill for Love coming in second, and yet this year, I find myself coming back to Kill for Love over and over again.
Kill For Love <3 that was my favourite album last year. I love everything put out by Italians Do It Better.
Really hope we get Body Work by Glass Candy soon. It's supposedly done or close to it. Same goes for Desire's next album.
Probably inaccurate but whatever. Also add Starkey's REALLY LATE 2012 release to my top 5 for this year. Really enjoy that harsh, harsh record.
25. Holden - The Inheritors
24. Outfit - Performance
23. Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Daze
22. CHVRCHES - The Bones Of...
21. AlunaGeorge - Body Music
20. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator
19. Machinedrum - Vapor City
18. Octo Octa - Between Two Selves
17. Colin Stetson - New History of Warfare Vol. 3
16. Dirty Beaches - Drifters
15. Jon Hopkins - Immunity
14. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual
13. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
12. The Range - Nonfiction
11. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
10. Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back
9. Kanye West - Yeezus
8. Death Grips - Government Plates
7. Baths - Obsidian
6. Solar Bears - Super Immigration
5. Indians - Somewhere Else
4. Gesaffelstein - Aleph
3. The Field - Cupid's Head
2. Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus
1. Disclosure - Settle
25. Holden - The Inheritors
24. Outfit - Performance
23. Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Daze
22. CHVRCHES - The Bones Of...
21. AlunaGeorge - Body Music
20. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator
19. Machinedrum - Vapor City
18. Octo Octa - Between Two Selves
17. Colin Stetson - New History of Warfare Vol. 3
16. Dirty Beaches - Drifters
15. Jon Hopkins - Immunity
14. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual
13. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
12. The Range - Nonfiction
11. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
10. Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back
9. Kanye West - Yeezus
8. Death Grips - Government Plates
7. Baths - Obsidian
6. Solar Bears - Super Immigration
5. Indians - Somewhere Else
4. Gesaffelstein - Aleph
3. The Field - Cupid's Head
2. Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus
1. Disclosure - Settle
Hurray for my first ever post!
20. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual
19. Trouble - Natalia Kills
18. CHVRCHES - The Bones of What You Believe
17. Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
16. Arcade Fire- Reflektor
15. Fuck Button - Slow Focus
14. Rhye - Woman
13. James Blake - Overgrown
12. Ghostface Killah - 12 Reasons to Die
11. Alunageorge - Body Music
10. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
9. Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back
8. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires in the City
7. Janet Devlin - Hide and Seek
6. Kanye West - Yeezus
5. Killer Mike & EP - Run The Jewels
4. Milo - Things That Happen at Day/Things That Happen at Night
3. Pusha-T - My Name is My Name
2. Haim - Days Are Gone
1. Daughter - If You Leave
20. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual
19. Trouble - Natalia Kills
18. CHVRCHES - The Bones of What You Believe
17. Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
16. Arcade Fire- Reflektor
15. Fuck Button - Slow Focus
14. Rhye - Woman
13. James Blake - Overgrown
12. Ghostface Killah - 12 Reasons to Die
11. Alunageorge - Body Music
10. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
9. Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back
8. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires in the City
7. Janet Devlin - Hide and Seek
6. Kanye West - Yeezus
5. Killer Mike & EP - Run The Jewels
4. Milo - Things That Happen at Day/Things That Happen at Night
3. Pusha-T - My Name is My Name
2. Haim - Days Are Gone
1. Daughter - If You Leave
I just laughed my ass off.
If this were real, it'd almost certainly be my album of forever.
If you use iTunes, a good way to keep everything together is to create a smart playlist for the year 2013 and it should show everything as long as you tag your albums correctly.
Seriously, this William Tyler album is fucking great. I'm so mad because I knew about this album months ago before it even came out and completely ignored it!
it's here! my top 50 for 2013. embrace. (n.b. counting parquet courts as 2012, or it would be 4th)
1. Shannon Wright - In Film Sound
2. No Joy - Here Tarot Lies
3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
4. Disappears - Era
5. Haxan Cloak - Excavation
6. Rhye - Woman
7. Bill Callahan - Dream River
8. Yvette - Process
9. Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana
10. Weekend - Jinx
11. Cass McCombs - Big Wheel and Others
12. Julia Holter - Loud City Song
13. Colleen Green - Sock It To Me
14. Wrekmeister Harmonies - You've Always Mean So Much To Me
15. Superchunk - I Hate Music
16. Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
17. Savages - Silence Yourself
18. Pharmakon - Abandon
19. Girls Names - The New Life
20. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get...
21. iceage - You're Nothing
22. Scout Niblett - It's Up To Emma
23. Marnie Stern - The Chronicles of Marnia
24. John Vanderslice - Dagger Beach
25. Dirty Beaches - Drifters/ Love Is The Devil
26. Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin
27. Kanye West - Yeezus
28. Holograms - Forever
29. Tindersticks - Across Six Leap Years
30. Wild Nothing - Empty Estate
31. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
32. True Widow - Circumambulation
33. Obits - Bed & Bugs
34. Circuit Des Yeux - Overdue
35. Autre Ne Veut - Gonna Die
36. Frida Hyvonen - To The Soul
37. Noveller - No Dreams
38. Hausu - Total
39. Low - The Invisible Way
40. TV Ghost - Disconnect
41. Lust For Youth - Perfect View
42. The Stranger - Watching Dead Empires In Decay
43. Hunx & His Punx - Street Punk
44. Umberto - Confrontations
45. Bleached - Ride Your Heart
46. Zola Jesus - Versions
47. Wax Idols - Discipline & Desire
48. Blouse - Imperium
49. Minks - Tides End
50. Fuzz - S/T
And a spotify playlist that has my favorite song for most of these albums:
http://open.spotify.com/user/swoon37/playlist/69klaLXQaIjEexlfvE4o0W
1. Shannon Wright - In Film Sound
2. No Joy - Here Tarot Lies
3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
4. Disappears - Era
5. Haxan Cloak - Excavation
6. Rhye - Woman
7. Bill Callahan - Dream River
8. Yvette - Process
9. Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana
10. Weekend - Jinx
11. Cass McCombs - Big Wheel and Others
12. Julia Holter - Loud City Song
13. Colleen Green - Sock It To Me
14. Wrekmeister Harmonies - You've Always Mean So Much To Me
15. Superchunk - I Hate Music
16. Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
17. Savages - Silence Yourself
18. Pharmakon - Abandon
19. Girls Names - The New Life
20. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get...
21. iceage - You're Nothing
22. Scout Niblett - It's Up To Emma
23. Marnie Stern - The Chronicles of Marnia
24. John Vanderslice - Dagger Beach
25. Dirty Beaches - Drifters/ Love Is The Devil
26. Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin
27. Kanye West - Yeezus
28. Holograms - Forever
29. Tindersticks - Across Six Leap Years
30. Wild Nothing - Empty Estate
31. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
32. True Widow - Circumambulation
33. Obits - Bed & Bugs
34. Circuit Des Yeux - Overdue
35. Autre Ne Veut - Gonna Die
36. Frida Hyvonen - To The Soul
37. Noveller - No Dreams
38. Hausu - Total
39. Low - The Invisible Way
40. TV Ghost - Disconnect
41. Lust For Youth - Perfect View
42. The Stranger - Watching Dead Empires In Decay
43. Hunx & His Punx - Street Punk
44. Umberto - Confrontations
45. Bleached - Ride Your Heart
46. Zola Jesus - Versions
47. Wax Idols - Discipline & Desire
48. Blouse - Imperium
49. Minks - Tides End
50. Fuzz - S/T
And a spotify playlist that has my favorite song for most of these albums:
http://open.spotify.com/user/swoon37/playlist/69klaLXQaIjEexlfvE4o0W
Your picks remind me of your taste in films. A good bit of it is stuff I know, but then there's a lot I've never heard of.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
Heh, someone posted it in HiRes' plug.dj room the other night and we all died.
at least you didn't give me snowy's backhanded compliment "idiosyncratic"
Oh, I thought mine was backhanded :\
And a quality first post there sir. Welcome!
I appreciate the list. After hearing a local band recently, I was just thinking I'd like to hear more of this type of music but I don't know where to start. Your list is filled with similar stuff.
Now if someone can help out with where to hear more stuff like this i'd really appreciate it.
i certainly like it a lot less than her other three, but i think her songwriting is getting better even if the production is weird on this one.
sounds like erase errata/pink and brown and the sadly departed 5rc records brand of post-fall/le tigre spazz punk.
who was the local band?
awesome, i'll check em out.
The local band was Warehouse
Edit: just to add, i'm lovin' Pink and Brown.
I feel the same way, still my favourite album of the year despite being her weakest.
I'd go In Advance>This is it>Marnie Stern>Chronicles
Johnlenham
Member
I get more annoyed seeing people posting lists of stuff that has been talked about in electronic music Gaf and Ive never seen them in there in my life!
Get ready for my list then!
01 | The Black Dahlia Murder | Everblack
"Every Rope a Noose"
02 | Karnivool | Asymmetry
"Sky Machine"
03 | Ghost | Infestissumam
"Ghuleh / Zombie Queen"
04 | IAMX | The Unified Field
"Walk with the Noise"
05 | Arcane Roots | Blood & Chemistry
"Second Breath"
06 | The Dillinger Escape Plan | One of Us is the Killer
"Crossburner"
07 | Arsis | Unwelcome
"Scornstar"
08 | Within the Ruins | Elite
"Solace"
09 | Protest the Hero | Volition
"Clarity"
10 | In Vain | Ænigma
"Floating on the Murmuring Tide"
11 | Tesseract | Altered State
"Of Matter - Retrospect"
12 | Mintzkov | Sky Hits Ground
"Day One"
13 | Kanye West | Yeezus
"Black Skinhead"
14 | Fleshgod Apocalypse | Labyrinth
"Warpledge"
15 | Unhuman | Unhuman
"Douces Pensées..."
"Every Rope a Noose"
02 | Karnivool | Asymmetry
"Sky Machine"
03 | Ghost | Infestissumam
"Ghuleh / Zombie Queen"
04 | IAMX | The Unified Field
"Walk with the Noise"
05 | Arcane Roots | Blood & Chemistry
"Second Breath"
06 | The Dillinger Escape Plan | One of Us is the Killer
"Crossburner"
07 | Arsis | Unwelcome
"Scornstar"
08 | Within the Ruins | Elite
"Solace"
09 | Protest the Hero | Volition
"Clarity"
10 | In Vain | Ænigma
"Floating on the Murmuring Tide"
11 | Tesseract | Altered State
"Of Matter - Retrospect"
12 | Mintzkov | Sky Hits Ground
"Day One"
13 | Kanye West | Yeezus
"Black Skinhead"
14 | Fleshgod Apocalypse | Labyrinth
"Warpledge"
15 | Unhuman | Unhuman
"Douces Pensées..."
I really love Night Drive and Kill For Love. Like I said, I've really enjoyed everything from IDIB. Johnny Jewel is an amazing producer.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
Dude just needs somebody around who will rein him in a little. Almost everything Johnny touches suffers from unnecessary bloat.
I completely agree on Night Drive, but I think Kill for Love is perfect.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
Huh, was thinking of that one as the worst offender.
I think both Night Drive and Kill For Love are near perfect :lol though I'm a bit of a fanboy and maybe the long wait between IDIB releases clouds my judgment a bit. But I've struggled to find fault with any of their releases.
Also almost forgot that Farah's album is supposedly due soon. Tough to know if that's serious with Johnny, "soon" could still mean a year and a half from now, but we'll see.
Also almost forgot that Farah's album is supposedly due soon. Tough to know if that's serious with Johnny, "soon" could still mean a year and a half from now, but we'll see.
01 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor
02 | Darkside | Psychic
03 | Atoms For Peace | AMOK
04 | Jon Hopkins | Immunity
05 | Unknown Mortal Orchestra | II
06 | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | Push the Sky Away
07 | Moderat | II
08 | Mutual Benefit | Love's Crushing Diamond
09 | Suuns | Images du Futur
10 | Foxygen | We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
11 | Arctic Monkeys | AM
12 | Queens of the Stone Age | ...Like Clockwork
13 | Disclosure | Settle
14 | Holden | The Inheritors
15 | Paul McCartney | NEW
16 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
02 | Darkside | Psychic
03 | Atoms For Peace | AMOK
04 | Jon Hopkins | Immunity
05 | Unknown Mortal Orchestra | II
06 | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | Push the Sky Away
07 | Moderat | II
08 | Mutual Benefit | Love's Crushing Diamond
09 | Suuns | Images du Futur
10 | Foxygen | We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
11 | Arctic Monkeys | AM
12 | Queens of the Stone Age | ...Like Clockwork
13 | Disclosure | Settle
14 | Holden | The Inheritors
15 | Paul McCartney | NEW
16 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
I don't think there are any wasteful songs at all on the album. It all flows together perfectly, and it fits together to make an "album" in every sense of the word. I always found Night Drive to be especially long winded in the second half, which is full of instrumental tracks. I feel that Kill for Love has a perfect mix of moody downtime tracks and the wonderful synth / dream pop Chromatics are known for.
I don't think that's true at all. part of the appeal of Kill For Love is that it's this sprawling mess. I didn't listen to all 80ish minutes every time, but when I could I felt it was a very rewarding experience. the After Dark comps are long but don't really have filler, and they're comps anyway. Night Drive/Desire LP are both concise albums (if you exclude that long outro from Night Drive). I just don't see this bloat.
tekumseh
a mass of phermones, hormones and adrenaline just waiting to explode
1 American Kid - Patty Griffin
2 Wrote a Song For Everyone - John Fogerty
3 New - Paul McCartney
4 My Favorite Picture of You - Guy Clark
5 Old Yellow Moon - Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
6 The Diving Board - Elton John
7 Victim of Love - Charles Bradley
8 Southeastern - Jason Isbell
9 Fade - Yo La Tengo
10 The Jazz Age - The Bryan Ferry Orchestra
11 Wise Up Ghost - Elvis Costello & the Roots
12 Tooth & Nail - Billy Bragg
13 The Next Day - David Bowie
14 Honky Tonk - Sun Volt
15 ...Like Clockwork - Queens of the Stone Age
2 Wrote a Song For Everyone - John Fogerty
3 New - Paul McCartney
4 My Favorite Picture of You - Guy Clark
5 Old Yellow Moon - Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
6 The Diving Board - Elton John
7 Victim of Love - Charles Bradley
8 Southeastern - Jason Isbell
9 Fade - Yo La Tengo
10 The Jazz Age - The Bryan Ferry Orchestra
11 Wise Up Ghost - Elvis Costello & the Roots
12 Tooth & Nail - Billy Bragg
13 The Next Day - David Bowie
14 Honky Tonk - Sun Volt
15 ...Like Clockwork - Queens of the Stone Age
Only going to comment on top 10 as I'm lazy.
01 | Blue Hawaii | Untogether
This was the only album in 2013 to come out of nowhere and make my jaw drop. It's sort of hard to describe; a macabre dream-pop? It doesn't sound happy but it's not depressing either. Soothing vocals and floating melodies make this really relaxing but also a rewarding listen. The bass on some tracks puts a grin on my face. Quite easily my album of the year.
02 | Washed Out | Paracosm
CHILLWAVE IS ALIVE. Even if it's not strictly chillwave anymore (closer to balearic pop with 80s overtones), this album still made my summer. I think I listened to it about 150 times. Enough to rack up about ~1500 scrobbles, either way. It's hazy, it's relaxing, and the improved production gives this album legs.
03 | Aosoth | Arrow In Heart
Last year was pretty good for metal releases but this year has it beat, hands down. Aosoth leads the pack for me - there's something about France and producing top quality metal, lately. It's fast, it's brutal, and the mastering won't give you a headache (if you like metal, that is). The instruments stand out and pack extreme power, and the layering of guitars creates a really great atmosphere. Superb album.
04 | Oneohtrix Point Never | R Plus Seven
I thought this album was set in stone to be #1 when I listened to it, but it seems not. It's still stellar though. It's also not really music. As per usual for 0PN, there's no real song structure by any classical definition. It's a cacophony of synths and out of place instruments that meld together to make something really special. Listening to this album on a good pair of headphones is quite an experience. It's experimental to hell and back but I would highly recommend it if you like anything vaguely electronic.
05 | きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ [Kyary Pamyu Pamyu] | Nanda Collection
FUN. Fun fun fun. It's J-Pop, and I typically find 99.99% of J-Pop samey and tiresome; this album managed to stay fun, refreshing and interesting for a long time. Quirky and catchy, it'll probably get stuck in your head for a long while. Not a whole lot of depth to it, but I doubt anyone is in the mood for rich and complex music 24/7. Listen to it.
06 | Nails | Abandon All Life
This is, hands down, the most intense metal album I've heard that still manages to sound cohesive and have good production quality. Raw anger and hatred in music form. The average track length is probably less than a minute, and it's one neck-breaking journey for the whole ~20 minutes of the album. If you like to get angry with your music occasionally, listen to this. You'll be hard pressed to find anything better this year.
07 | Russian Circles | Memorial
After two weak-ish albums from Russian Circles, they come out with this. It's easily just as good (if not better, depending on my mood), as their first two albums. Stellar post-rock/metal that has a great soundscape and atmosphere. Some really great song-writing and a nice collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe make this album incredibly enjoyable.
08 | Bill Callahan | Dream River
I don't typically enjoy country music of any kind, but this album blew me away. Bill is an artist with his lyrics and the instrumentals really flesh out the album. Some real emotion behind this, and it's great to experience it. Goes really well with rainy afternoons.
09 | oOoOO | Without Your Love
\/\/1†cH H0US3. I don't really know what else to say apart from that. Listen to the above link and if you enjoy it, get the album. Really great debut LP from oOoOoOooooOooO.
10 | Kvelertak | Meir
This jams hard. High energy, rock solid production and catchy riffs that will be stuck in your head for days. A really tasty blend of black metal, hardcore punk and rock'n'roll.
11 | Regarde Les Hommes Tomber | Regarde Les Hommes Tomber
12 | Nils Frahm | Spaces
13 | Julianna Barwick | Nepenthe
14 | Le Matos | Join Us
15 | Juana Molina | Wed 21
16 | Kylesa | Ultraviolet
17 | Chelsea Wolfe | Pain is Beauty
18 | Savages | Silence Yourself
19 | Rhye | Woman
20 | Saint Pepsi | Hit Vibes
21 | Small Black | Limits of Desire
22 | Daughter | If You Leave
23 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
24 | Nero Di Marte | Nero Di Marte
25 | Death Grips | Government Plates
01 | Blue Hawaii | Untogether
This was the only album in 2013 to come out of nowhere and make my jaw drop. It's sort of hard to describe; a macabre dream-pop? It doesn't sound happy but it's not depressing either. Soothing vocals and floating melodies make this really relaxing but also a rewarding listen. The bass on some tracks puts a grin on my face. Quite easily my album of the year.
02 | Washed Out | Paracosm
CHILLWAVE IS ALIVE. Even if it's not strictly chillwave anymore (closer to balearic pop with 80s overtones), this album still made my summer. I think I listened to it about 150 times. Enough to rack up about ~1500 scrobbles, either way. It's hazy, it's relaxing, and the improved production gives this album legs.
03 | Aosoth | Arrow In Heart
Last year was pretty good for metal releases but this year has it beat, hands down. Aosoth leads the pack for me - there's something about France and producing top quality metal, lately. It's fast, it's brutal, and the mastering won't give you a headache (if you like metal, that is). The instruments stand out and pack extreme power, and the layering of guitars creates a really great atmosphere. Superb album.
04 | Oneohtrix Point Never | R Plus Seven
I thought this album was set in stone to be #1 when I listened to it, but it seems not. It's still stellar though. It's also not really music. As per usual for 0PN, there's no real song structure by any classical definition. It's a cacophony of synths and out of place instruments that meld together to make something really special. Listening to this album on a good pair of headphones is quite an experience. It's experimental to hell and back but I would highly recommend it if you like anything vaguely electronic.
05 | きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ [Kyary Pamyu Pamyu] | Nanda Collection
FUN. Fun fun fun. It's J-Pop, and I typically find 99.99% of J-Pop samey and tiresome; this album managed to stay fun, refreshing and interesting for a long time. Quirky and catchy, it'll probably get stuck in your head for a long while. Not a whole lot of depth to it, but I doubt anyone is in the mood for rich and complex music 24/7. Listen to it.
06 | Nails | Abandon All Life
This is, hands down, the most intense metal album I've heard that still manages to sound cohesive and have good production quality. Raw anger and hatred in music form. The average track length is probably less than a minute, and it's one neck-breaking journey for the whole ~20 minutes of the album. If you like to get angry with your music occasionally, listen to this. You'll be hard pressed to find anything better this year.
07 | Russian Circles | Memorial
After two weak-ish albums from Russian Circles, they come out with this. It's easily just as good (if not better, depending on my mood), as their first two albums. Stellar post-rock/metal that has a great soundscape and atmosphere. Some really great song-writing and a nice collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe make this album incredibly enjoyable.
08 | Bill Callahan | Dream River
I don't typically enjoy country music of any kind, but this album blew me away. Bill is an artist with his lyrics and the instrumentals really flesh out the album. Some real emotion behind this, and it's great to experience it. Goes really well with rainy afternoons.
09 | oOoOO | Without Your Love
\/\/1†cH H0US3. I don't really know what else to say apart from that. Listen to the above link and if you enjoy it, get the album. Really great debut LP from oOoOoOooooOooO.
10 | Kvelertak | Meir
This jams hard. High energy, rock solid production and catchy riffs that will be stuck in your head for days. A really tasty blend of black metal, hardcore punk and rock'n'roll.
11 | Regarde Les Hommes Tomber | Regarde Les Hommes Tomber
12 | Nils Frahm | Spaces
13 | Julianna Barwick | Nepenthe
14 | Le Matos | Join Us
15 | Juana Molina | Wed 21
16 | Kylesa | Ultraviolet
17 | Chelsea Wolfe | Pain is Beauty
18 | Savages | Silence Yourself
19 | Rhye | Woman
20 | Saint Pepsi | Hit Vibes
21 | Small Black | Limits of Desire
22 | Daughter | If You Leave
23 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
24 | Nero Di Marte | Nero Di Marte
25 | Death Grips | Government Plates
- Status