Playlist track: Whenever You Want It
Genre: Singer/Songwriter
25. Eleanor Friedberger - Personal Record
Normally an eccentric and esoteric lyricist, Eleanor has taken a more direct, and yeah, personal approach. The results are often touching; still delivered with her uncanny sense of songwriting. Total babe.
Playlist track: I'll Never Be Happy Again
Genre: Singer/Songwriter
24. Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
Just a techno thrill.
Playlist track: Free Floating
Genre: Techno
23. Yo La Tengo - Fade
The old masters are back with a head to toe solid album. Reminds me of my favorite period of theirs, the Fakebook years. Classy.
Playlist track: Well You Better
Genre: Indie Rock
22. PORCHES. - Slow Dance in the Cosmos
Unexpectedly sucked into this one. The opening track stands as one of catchiest of the year--great fun to sing, but when you realize what you're singing things might get a bit awkward.
Playlist track: Headsgiving
Genre: Indie Rock/Post-Hardcore
21. The Debauchees - Big Machines and Peculiar Beings
Funky and weird with awesome baselines. Tons of fun and energy. These guys can play.
Playlist track: Jack
Genre: Indie Rock
20. Weekend - Jinx
Post-rock highway cruising. The soundtrack you'd want if you were a ski racer. Each song presents a new element, well constructed. Driving, if you will.
Playlist track: Just Drive
Genre: Post-Rock
19. Rhye - Woman
A bit of an uneven album. If every track was as strong as the first two, it would be the album of the year. Sensual, sophisticated Scandinavian.
Playlist track: The Fall
Genre: Pop
18. Sonny & The Sunsets - Antenna to the Afterworld
Forthright, endearing, absurd. Will chill you out and keep you entertained. Might even tug a heartstring while discussing alien robot love. Great guitar tones, earthy.
Playlist track: Green Blood
Genre: Garage
17. The Range - Nonfiction
A great ride. A nice concatenation of disparate elements.
Playlist track: Everything But
Genre: Electronic
16. The World Is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die - Whenever, If Ever
Some beautiful moments here. It was a grower. Heartfelt and soaring.
Playlist track: Heartbeat in the Rain
Genre: Indie Rock/Post-Hardcore/Post-Rock
15. Savages - Silence Yourself
Perhaps they lost of few spots with an excellently executed, but ultimately too polished a live performance--seemed to clash with their ascetic philosophy. But holy shit these women play some powerful rifts; not to mention baselines galore. And I shouldn't be too snooty about the live performance, the lead singer is one of the most charismatic performers I have ever witnessed.
Playlist track: Shut Up
Genre: Post-Punk
14. Bent Shapes - Feels Weird
Some smart indie rock that gives you a little taste of everything. Staying right about in my sweet spot for the whole album. Would love to see them live. One of my more heavily listened albums this year.
Playlist track: Indie Rock
Genre: Check My Vitals!!
13. Milo - Things that Happen at Day/Night
It was a bad year for rap. Not for the genre I'm sure, but a bad listening year for me. Maybe it has to do with my grinding-on-math-all-day lifestyle. Here's my only rap entry to the countdown. I'm cheating here a bit-- combining these two EP's into one and calling it an album. Milo has great lyrics. Not your typical rapper, if anything sometimes he gets annoyingly esoteric. If you ever get annoyed though, just listened to the great beats and production. Lots of nerd name dropping, but in the end more funny than irritating. Super refreshing rap angle. "Maybe if learned to sing raspy like Gongasufi, I wouldn't always feel so fuckin' poopy."
Playlist track: Almond Mile Paradise
Genre: Nerd Rap
12. Swearin' - Surfing Strange
Perhaps this should be moved higher but sister act Waxahatchee creates a natural force opposing further ascension. Anyways, great rock album with one of the best singles of the year. Good thick tones and some nice variety. Both of these sisters have voices that cut straight through.
Playlist track: Dust in the Gold Sack
Genre: Indie Rock
11. Bill Callahan - Dream River
Bill Callahan's back doing the thing only he can do. To tell you the truth I've only listened to this a handful of times, but it holds potential for further exploration. Like most Bill Callahan work: it is usually slow, always thoughtful, and emits strange rhythms.
Playlist track: The Sing
Genre: Folk
10. Fear of Men - Early Fragments
Another new favorite UK indie pop band following in the footsteps of Standard Fare and Allo' Darling. Landing in this genre we are assured delicate beauty of the girly voice variety, but there is subtlety here as well. This is well crafted pop that rewards repeated listens.
Playlist track: Born
Genre: Indie Rock
9. Chris Cappello - Could Be Bitter Forever
The pick that may de-legitimize this whole endeavor. I've grown increasingly curious with emo and post-hardcore. Knowing very little about emo, this was sort of an initial immersion. One may criticize this album for being whiny and overly emotional in a teenage first relationship sort of way, but it was cathartic for me. After all going to grad school and taking comps probably feels similar to a teenager with girl problems in that sometimes you just want to cry when you get home. I listened to this more than most everything on this list.
Playlist track: Could Be Bitter Forever
Genre: Emo
8. Laura Marling - Once I Was an Eagle
Once Laura starts singing she's got your attention. The sternness in her voice and sophistication in her songwriting combined with her 23 years produces an enthralling experience for this guy.
Playlist track: Saved These Words
Genre: Folk
7. DJ Koze - Amygdala
Every song here is a journey. Layers upon layers ripe for exploration. With some nice speakers or headphones, some concentration, and perhaps a strong coffee you will be rewarded for your efforts. Over the holiday, I just sat in my parent's basement staring at the speakers for an hour mesmerized by all the strange sounds arranged in pleasurable order.
Playlist track: Magical Boy
Genre: Deep House
6. Chastity Belt - No Regerts
At times clearly outrageous, talking about nip slips and wide vaginas, but you'll hear no complaints from me. Just my type of sacrilege. Guitar tones are amazing. Super chill, good for a wide range of energy levels and moods.
Playlist track: Black Sail
Genre: Garage
5. Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
You might expect some ridiculousness here, and you wouldn't be completely wrong, but defying expectations this album holds some of my most inspirational moments of 2013.
Playlist track: Separations
Genre: Garage
4. The Future Dead - The Future Dead
Catchiest album of the year, best attitude of the year, a fresh take on garage pop/rock that I didn't see coming. Maybe this should be my number one, but I'm too much of a prick to put something poppy at the top spot.
Playlist track: Nearest Shop
Genre: Garage Pop
3. Waxahatchee - Cerulean Salt
Jagged, disjointed. Love this woman's voice. Beautiful tones and a handful of my more poignant moments of the year.
Playlist track: Swan Dive
Genre: Indie Rock
2. The Drones - I See Seaweed
Two years ago my favorite album was Destroyer's Kaputt, last year Spiritualized's Sweet Heart, Sweet Light. Both albums were able to create a new, strange world for you to explore. This is album is along those same lines. The evidence suggests I reserve my highest esteem for this form. Step in, absorb the mood, and live with it for a while (might get a little dark).
Playlist track: Why Write a Letter That You'll Never Send
Genre: Garage
1. Bored Nothing - Bored Nothing
This was the album that I couldn't get away from this year. I am simply obsessed with the guitar tones here. There's no fear of switching directions here, but these gritty yet beaming tones weave the piece together to create a dull bright world that I want to live in.
Playlist track: Bliss
Genre: Indie Rock
Playlist
DOWNLOAD
- Bored Nothing - Bliss
- The Drones - Why Write a Letter That You'll Never Send
- Waxahatchee - Swan Dive
- The Future Dead - Nearest Shop
- Diarrhea Planet - Separations
- Chastity Belt - Black Sail
- DJ Koze - Magical Boy
- Laura Marling - Saved These Words
- Chris Cappello - Could Be Bitter Forever
- Fear of Men - Born
- Bill Callahan - The Sing
- Swearin’ - Dust in the Gold Sack
- Milo - Almond Milk Paradise (ft. Safari Al)
- Bent Shapes - Check My Vitals!!
- Savages - Shut Up
- The World Is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die - Heartbeat in the Brain
- The Range - Everything But
- Sonny & The Sunsets - Green Blood
- Rhye - The Fall
- Weekend - Just Drive
- The Debauchees - Jack
- PORCHES. - Headsgiving
- Yo La Tengo - Well You Better
- Daniel Avery - Free Floating
- Eleanor Friedberger - I'll Never Be Happy Again
- Clare Maguire - Whenever You Want It
