I must admit that, in 2013, my music-listening activities focused more on albums from years past than on 2013 releases. Consequently, my list of best albums of 2013 is sparser than Rube's. Still, 2013 yielded plenty of musical gold that made its way into heavy rotation on my iPod. Here are the albums that made the deepest impressions.
6. HOLY GHOST! — DYNAMICS
I'm a sucker for new wave synthesizers underlaid by disco-fied beats. And few combine these ingredients more deliciously than Holy Ghost! — an '80s revival outfit whose impeccable taste and sure sense of melody yield copious servings of delectable ear candy. For those who loved their self-titled debut, get ready for a second serving that's every bit as exquisite as the first.
Best of the lot: "Dumb Disco Ideas," "Cheap Shots," "Dance a Little Closer"
5. SMALL BLACK — LIMITS OF DESIRE
Along with bands like Neon Indian, Small Black helped define the chillwave genre— summery melodies soaked in layers of processed synthesized sound; basically, the aural equivalent of a humid July day. On its newest album, Small Black cleans up its sound, intensifies the rhythms, and tightens the arrangements but retains its mastery of intoxicating melodies and empathetic tone. The dreamy neo-New Wave on display is of the first order and is ideal for those moments when you're looking to take things down a notch.
Best of the lot: "No Stranger," "Free at Dawn," "Canoe"
4. CHVRCHES — THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE
Another batch of '80s-inspired, synth-based New Wave featuring bold, irresistible melodies (detecting a trend here?). But what truly lifts this collection of songs to the next level are Lauren Mayberry's lead vocals. Her emotionally direct and vulnerable singing style ensure that the beating of a human heart can be heard amidst the synthesized proceedings.
Best of the lot: "The Mother We Share," "Night Sky," "We Sink"
3. THE JOY FORMIDABLE — WOLF'S LAW
The Joy Formidable sure knows how to make glorious noise. Led by the diminutive Ritzy Bryan — she of the blonde flapper bob hairstyle — the band packs its songs with wonderfully cacophonous guitars, athletic drumwork, and anthemic choruses that rise to the rafters. And Ritzy's vocals brim with passion and conviction throughout album. This follow-up to the excellent The Big Roar (2011) demonstrates that The Joy Formidable is a band with staying power. So let's cross our fingers and hope TJF will be pushing audio levels into the red for years to come.
Best of the lot: "This Ladder is Ours," "The Hurdle," "Forest Serenade"
2. FRENCH FILMS — WHITE ORCHID
Surely a band named French Films is a moody, pretentious outfit with laboriously self-serious songs, right? Wrong. And not just sort of wrong; completely, totally, and emphatically wrong. This Finnish band plays the type of spunky, punky ditties that get one's pulse racing and toes tapping. The guitars churn out deliriously tuneful riffs and the choruses soar to stratospheric heights. Clearly influenced by the Jesus and Mary Chain and Joy Division, among others, French Films draws inspiration from its forebears without ever sounding derivative. This is music tailor-made for listening in the car with the windows down. So if you're stuck in the wintertime blues, plop this album on for a little taste of summertime.
Best of the lot: "White Orchid," "99," "Latter Days"
1. MELODY'S ECHO CHAMBER — (SELF-TITLED)
Although this came out in 2012, it's late-in-the-year release meant that it technically debuted in Fiscal Year 2013. And that's enough for me to claim Melody's Echo Chamber's phenomenal debut as my favorite of 2013. The album combines multifarious influences — early '60s pop, psychedelia, lo-fi, and French pop — to create a stunning whole, with Melody Prochet's angelic vocals grounding the proceedings, ensuring that none of album's flights of fancy spin too far out of control. The instrumentation is fantastic: retro, space-agey synthesizers; nimble basslines; sturdy guitar work; and trip-hoppy drum beats. And the song-writing is consistently excellent, even in its weirder moments. But again, what propels the album forward and constantly keeps it on course is Prochet's voice — a dreamy, understated force of nature. Don't miss out on this one.
Best of the Lot: "Mount Hopeless," "I Follow You," "Crystallized," "Bisou Magique"
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