Our very first post! Today I am revealing the top 20 albums of 2013, but each day going forward will have its own theme that we will loosely keep to. Regarding the list, I hope that you agree with some of my choices, disagree with some of my choices and discover bands you haven't heard of. Let me know what you think.
20. Pure Bathing Culture -- Moon Tides
Yeah, this album is a lot of what is out there right now and also the continued trend of having bizarre band names that seem a little lazy, but I really liked this album. Its so easy to the listen to. It can be put in the background while studying or while you’re driving late at night. Fans of Cocteau Twins will enjoy it. Highlights are “Golden Girl” and “Ever Greener”
Airy vocals that are layered in the background with Cure-esque guitar riffs but less sunny is the best that I can describe them for this album versus the more lo fi 60’s/70’s sound they had in their previous album “Dead to Me”. Highlights are “Occultation” “A Second Skin”
18. The Moth & the Flame -- & EP TV Girl -- Lonely Women EP
Alright I bundled two EP’s into one because they aren’t necessarily an album and I loved both of these EP’s. They would be higher if they were actually albums. Its harder to create a complete album with no duds then it is a 5 song EP. The reason for these EPs, however, is to get people jazzed about their full length album that will come out within the year. These two accomplish their goal marvelously. TMTF made me fan from their live shows in my hometown of Provo, so its hard to meet the expectations in an album after an awesome live experience. They are a band that is going to make some noise in 2014 and beyond. Can’t wait for the full length. Highlights are “Silver Tongue” and “Sorry”. TV Girl was a surprise, found this EP toward the end of the year and couldn’t stop listening to it. I can’t put my finger on it but its a fantastically upbeat piece of indie pop. Each songs lyrics are a bit depressing on paper but you can’t help but enjoy them when put to such catchy pop beats. Hoping for a full length that is equally as good. Highlights are “She smokes in bed” and “Laura”
The Moth & The Flame -- "Sorry"
TV Girl -- "She Smokes in Bed"
17. Mikal Cronin -- MCII
The garage noise rocker turns to a cleaner, poppier sounding rock this time, although the fuzzy guitars and vocals are still there around. I was expecting the album to be more along the lines of his previous albums with Ty Segall (which I love) but was pleasantly surprised. Highlights are “Weight” and “Shout It Out”.
16. Arcade Fire -- Reflektor
Everyone has reviewed this album and there really isn’t a lot left to be said beyond that it is a great album. I have to say they are best 'main stream' band out there by far. They are approaching Radiohead status in the ears of their fans. The undisputed highlight and great song is “Afterlife” followed by “Reflektor”.
"Afterlife"
15. Thee Oh Sees -- Floating Coffin
Thee Oh Sees joins the likes of Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin in the garage fuzz rock arms race. This album has plenty of fuzz distorted guitar riffs that are fast and slow paced. Its a fun album to listen to. The kind you want to crank in your car and tap your finger on the steering wheel or in the case of the video, kill a bunch of people to. Highlights are “I Come From The Mountain”, “Toe Cutter - Thumb Blaster” and “Maze Fancier”
14. Small Black -- Limits of Desire
This album had some expectations to meet after their previous album “New Chain”. But I think they’ve put together a more consistent album. Their second album has a more polished synth based sound. Their album cover is a bit weird, but the music is not. Highlights are “No Stranger”, “Outskirts”
13. No Joy -- Wait To Pleasure
Although this album is considered more of a shoe gaze type album, it reminded me a lot of the Riot Grrl bands of the 90’s. Since I was a fan of that music and shoe gaze, I immediately loved this album. I probably listened to “Wrack Attack” 30 times in a row when I first found the song. Heavy fuzz guitars mixed with poppy clean guitar hooks weaved together with the voices of Jasamine White-Gluz and Laura Lloyd’s diaphaneous cooing you can’t go wrong. Highlights “Wrack Attack” “Hare Tarot Lies”
12. Crocodiles -- Crimes of Passion
I can’t help but like this album. It definitely has more hits than 2012’s “Endless Flowers” and is more consistent. This album is heavy on the Jesus and Mary Chain and Echo and the Bunnymen influence with even a splash of the Stone Roses which you really can’t go wrong with. Highlights are “Teardrop Guitar” and “She Splits Me Up”.
11. Frankie Rose -- Herein Wild
Frankie Rose’s third effort Herein Wild is about on par with her previous album Interstellar which I thought was one of the better albums of 2012. Both albums are pretty similar, although the previous had stronger singles. The current album as a whole is much more complete. Like Interstellar, the record contains plenty of lush keyboard guided indie pop to keep one’s foot tapping which is really hard to get too much of. Fans of The Cure will enjoy this. Highlights include “Sorrow”, “Question/Reason” and “Minor Times”
10. Part Time -- PDA
This band might be one of my favorite that I discovered this year. Although I liked their previous album “What would you say?” a bit more, this second effort is nothing to sneeze at. Their lo fi 70's romatic-synth pop is a little odd but extremely catchy. There is a lot of comparison to Ariel Pink which I can see, but also some Cars, some Cure as well. Highlights are “I Want to Go”, “Living in the USA” and “Night Drive”
9. Ducktails -- The Flower Lane
This polished album from Real Estate’s own Matthew Mondanile has come a long way from the mostly solo efforts of the previous albums that were a tad disjointed but had some occasional songs that clicked together. This album is chalked full of rich sublime guitar pop and 70’s soft rock thats full and clean. Completely different than the previous and in a very good way. This is another album that has rarely left my IPOD. Highlights are “Ivy Covered House” and “the Flower Lane”
8. Alpine -- A is for Alpine
This Austrailian electro pop six piece creates such a fun album full of dancey disco beats with some dream pop vocals to help it along. I expect big things to come from them in the future. Each song seems to start off at a slow pace and crescendo into a louder dancey chorus. This is an album that can easily be listened on a dancefloor or an all night cram session for a test. Highlights are “Gasoline”, “Seeing Red” and “Lovers 1 and 2”
7. FIDLAR - FIDLAR
This irreverant and brutely honest collection of ‘short and to the point’ punk songs is one of the more fun albums that I’ve listened to in a long time. I’m generally not a huge punk fan but I can’t help but have a big grin on my face everytime I listen to this. The semi-yelled lyrics speak of surfing, skating, doing drugs, drinking beer and having no money, all of which are laced with hilarious profanity. I saw these guys at SXSW this year and the singer started out by punching himself in the face before starting. I knew from that moment that it was going to be a good show. Highlights are “Cheap Beer”, “Stoked and Broke” and “No Waves”
6. Darwin Deez -- Songs for Imaginative People
The first album was full of lo fi guitars riffs and effects but this second album is more full, clean and has something that I didn’t expect…..some mean guitar solos. Coming off the first album which continues to be one of my favorite indie pop albums in the last 5 years, this album had some expectations. The new album doesn’t have the catchiness in it but has the maturity in it….at least as much as you could ask for. The lyrics are fun to sing to and are well strung together….speaking of strings my favorite line is “don’t silly string me along”. Saw them twice last year and would see them again. Highlights are “(800) HUMAN”, “You Can’t Be My Girl” and “All in the Wrist”.
5. Local Natives -- Hummingbird
When I saw Local Natives for free in LA when they were the resident band at a local venue I never thought they’d be this big. It wasn’t because I thought they weren’t very good because they put on a great show….they just seemed to blow up overnight. But with albums likes Hummingbird you can see why. Its just a beautiful album. Whoever they are influenced by (The National, Broken Social Scene, Grizzly Bear) they sound like they are mature beyond their years. Highlights are “You and I”, “Ceilings” and “Breakers”.
4. On an On -- Give In
I saw ON an ON play at SXSW and was a little distracted and didn't get to fully listen to them. I started to listen to their album afterward and was blown away. A great mix of everything (guitar, bass, keys, vocals) but each songs seems to feature one over the other. I can hear a little Arcade Fire in this album as well as a little Broken Social Scene. I was able to see them again in Provo almost six months later and it only fortified my love of the album. Highlights are “War Is Gone” and “The Hunter”.
3. Cayucas -- Bigfoot
Although I had heard the first two songs from this album a couple years before when they were known as “Oregon Bike Trails”, they leave off where they started and released some super catchy tunes with their airy vocals, catchy lyrics and strummy guitar hooks. There is not a bad song on this album….I’d say there isn’t even an average song. Its hard to point out the highlights because half of the songs would be on there, but I’ll note the two songs that got my attention a couple years ago. “Cayucos” and “High School Lover”.
2. Washed Out -- Paracosm
Their first album/EP whatever you want to call it, “Life of Leisure” came out at the beginning of the sytholution (just made that up). Chill Wave came on with a vengence after that. Their second effort was more along those lines, which to me didn't stick out. I played it a few times and that was that. With this third effort they've switch it up a little and its refreshing I must say. He’s added a 70’s flair to the sound and evolved the sound instead of keeping it safe and the same. This album has stayed on my Ipod ever since it came out. It’s had plenty of chances to be replaced but it sticks around and doesn’t get old. Highlights are “Don’t Give Up” “Paracosm” and “It All Feels Right”.
1. Ski Lodge -- Big Heart
Ok, when I first heard the single “Just to be like you” I was a little skeptical. I wasn’t sure if they could replicate that caliber of song throughout an entire album. They did just that, with vocals like Morrisey and jangly feather guitar riffs like Johnny Marr, this foursome has put out my favorite album of the year. It will make you think its summer outside even the dead of winter. Highlights are “Just to be like you “Does it Bring You Down” and “Down On this Southern Tip”
Honorable Mentions:
Millionyoung -- Variable
Charles Bradley -- Victim of Love
Millionyoung -- Variable
Charles Bradley -- Victim of Love
Blouse -- Imperium
Lucius -- Wildewoman
French Films -- White Orchid
Hockey-- Wyeth Is
Eleanor Friedberger -- Personal Record
Of Montreal -- Lousy with sylvianbriar
The National -- Trouble Will Find Me
Shannon and The Clams -- Dreams in the Rat House
The National -- Trouble Will Find Me
Shannon and The Clams -- Dreams in the Rat House
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