Top 50 Music List of 2013, Mixtape 3
Down the stretch comes the final mixtape of the best music of 2013! Click away.
1. It Hugs Back, “Sa-Sa-Sa-Sails”
The first time I heard this song–which opens IHB’s 2013 album Recommended Record–it felt like a year-old lab puppy had just jumped into my lap and smothered me with affection, totally unaware of its own gloriously clumsy and over-the-top power. This song is a tidal wave of awesome. http://ithugsback.bigcartel.com/
2. The Men “Without A Face”
Obviously wearing a Neil Young influence elsewhere on their album New Moon, this particular song sports that influence a bit while still nicely recalling their noisier previous efforts. http://wearethemen.blogspot.com/
3. Emiliana Torrini, “Speed Of Dark”
This is here because Glenn Boothe tweeted about how good her record was last week, and I’ve been listening in a fairly obsessive endless loop since. Slinky and dark and sleek yet not without some rough edges, this Icelandic singer/songwriter album Tookah would be a for sure entrance in a year end top ten albums list, if I still did such things. http://emilianatorrini.com/
4. Superchunk, “Trees Of Barcelona”
Don’t call it a comeback. Superchunk’s second record after a hiatus continues the standards of excellence they’ve always had. One thing that people who write about Superchunk never seem to play up enough to my mind is just how well-built your typical Superchunk song is. This track, for instance is a genius exemplar of how you put verses, choruses, vocal clusters, bridges, and fadeouts together into a near-perfect whole. http://www.superchunk.com/
5. Temples, “Keep In The Dark”
Here in America we try, we really do. American bands try hard to look like rock stars before they’ve sold a record, try hard to get that 70s feel just right…but we’ve never, not ever done that as well as the Brits. Take Temples, for example, with the Bolan curls and gold lame pants and leather shirts…THESE guys are rock stars. This is a teaser single for a 2014 album that looks like it’ll be an absolute monster. Even better, it deserves to be. This is how you write a fantastic pop single. Dig those harps! http://templestheband.com/music
6. Guided By Voices, “Islands (She Talks In Rainbows)”
Well, WELCOME BACK, TOBIN SPROUT! Holy crap, what a song this is. You know how cool and lush and amazing the song that ends the first GBV album ever–“Captains Dead”–sounds? This is that, again, and it feels like some amazing transmission from an alternate guitar rock universe. I know a lot of folks who were stoked that the old GBV lineup were recording again. This is why. From the album English Little League, http://rockathonrecords.com/guided_by_voices.html
7. Leisure Society, “All I Have Seen”
Let’s put something to rest: The Leisure Society aren’t a folk band. On their 2013 album, Alone Before The Ark, they both pare down their instrumentation a bit while filling out their sound. It’s a rock record with forays into folk, punk (no really!), and even–like here–a bit of blue-eyed soul. Wanna know why they’re Ray Davies’ favorite band? Give this a listen and then ask yourself if any other band could pull off a song this graceful, soulful, muscular and yet delicate. http://www.theleisuresociety.co.uk/
8. Euros Childs, “Holiday From Myself”
No idea what it is, but something about Euros’s beautiful, winsome voice makes me instantly nostalgic and happy. It conveys a sense of longing and whimsy and sadness somehow all rolled into one. This is music the adjective “lovely” was created to describe. From the 2013 album Situation Comedy, website is here: http://euroschilds.co.uk/
9. Mikal Cronin, “Shout It Out”
We live in wonderful times, times where a beautifully constructed hook like the one here captures the hearts of hipsters and cranky old men like me alike. Mikal Cronin at this point in his career seems to be tapping into a talent without boundaries. This song, from the sort of latin-guitar opening to the handclaps and noise closing, is just amazing. From the album MCII, available here: http://www.mergerecords.com/mcii
10. The Martha’s Vineyard Ferries, “She’s A Fucking Angel (From Fucking Heaven)”
Not sure what’s more amazing, the song title (which is clearly the song title of the year) or that the music actually lives up to it. This has a bit of a 90s indie noise punch married to a postpunk whirr of guitars and bass and a song that totally succeeds at making that title pay off. From the 2013 album Mass. Grave, check it here: http://kiamrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mass-grave
11. Eleanor Friedberger, “Stare At The Sun”
The excellence of her solo album, Personal Record, has me thinking about going back to listen to Fiery Furnaces and seeing if that band retcons. There’s none of the affected preciousness I’ve always associated with FF here, just a meaty, wonderfully executed song and album. Check it here: http://www.eleanorfriedberger.com/
12. Polvo, “Light Raking”
How great is this song? I mean it comes off sounding like the most pop thing Polvo’s ever done…and then after that first chorus they remind us “Hey, you’re listening Polvo, cheese.” Love the way this songs subverts expectations constanstly throughout, with those Don Henley synths on the chorus to the way they deconstruct and rebuild it all again. From the 2013 album Siberia, check it here: http://www.mergerecords.com/polvo
13. Brendan Benson, “Oh My Love”
Benson’s consistency became almost (don’t tell anyone I said this) dull in the past few years. In 2013, he released a single each month, and the unique approach seems to have fueled a new creative spark in his work. This song is like a swaying, swinging Pachelbel’s Canon with clever lyrics and brilliant execution. Benson collected all his 2013 singles onto an album at year’s end called You Were Right. Check it out here: http://www.brendanbenson.com/
14. The Parquet Courts, “Borrowed Time”
Yes, I know. You’ve heard this song dozens of times over the last year. So what? When a group of young NYC area rockers gets together and perfectly distills the things I loved so much 20 years ago in Big Dipper and Hypnolovewheel and this time the whole world notices…well we’re taking that for a victory lap here. http://parquetcourts.wordpress.com/
15. Dragoon, “Be In My Movie”
After waiting for a couple of years for the first Dragoon album, this one just sort of seemed to spontaneously appear last winter. Astonishingly, the album–The Galaxy Is But A Nursery–is better than the debut. This song is emblematic–loud, raucous, hook-filled, and clever. Check it out: http://dragoongalaxy.bandcamp.com/
16. Franz Ferdinand, “Right Action”
We promised you hits, hits you get. Yes, this song is all over cooler radio stations–but with good reason. This is how you write an outstanding, butt-shaking, anthemic post punk anthem…and we’ll ignore that it completely rips off That Petrol Emotions “Big Decision” for now. http://www.franzferdinand.com/
17. My Bloody Valentine, “In Another Way”
Of all the tracks on My Bloody Valentine’s surprising return to the land of the living sort of self-title album MBV, none sounded so much like a continuation of themes from Loveless than this track. Interestingly though, this song also best shows the way to a future MBV sound and future records, if they feel like it. A beautiful, sensual assault. http://www.mybloodyvalentine.org/Catalogue.aspx
18. The Elephant Stone, “The Sacred Sound”
The Elephant Stone’s self-titled 2013 album might be one of the best two or three records that came out in 2013, and what makes it striking is how often it both hews close to a formula before then breaking away from such constraints. For instance, this song is all feedback and noise that gives way to woozy strings and Rishi Dhir’s echoed voice closing out our look at the past year with one of the most gorgeous songs that came out in the last 12 months. http://www.elephantstonemusic.com/
That’s it, we’re done! Thanks for reading or listening or tolerating. Have a lovely 2014, y’all.
Top 50 Music List of 2013, Mixtape 2
Time to flip the tape from 2013 to 2014, and then roll another 17 songs into this mix! (As in, click me.)
1. Sean Nelson, “The World Owes Me A Living (And I Intend To Collect)”
If Sean’s name or voice sounds familiar, it’s because he was the frontman of the underrated Harvey Danger, and occasional sideman to his buddy John Roderick in The Long Winters. Here, Sean steps out with a wonderfully pissy, tuneful, and brilliant solo record (that features help from a who’s who of luminaries from around the industry) that plays up his strengths as a songcrafter. From the album Make Good Decisions, check it out here: http://reallyrecords.bigcartel.com/product/sean-nelson-make-good-choices
2. Light Heat “Dance The Cosmos Light”
Light Heat is the new music project of former Mazarin frontman Quentin Stolzfus. While I liked the idea of his previous band, for whatever reason Light Heat’s updated take on dreampop totally rings my bells a whole lot harder. The album is self-titled, and Light Heat’s homes are here: http://www.ribbonmusic.com/label/artists/light-heat/ and here: http://www.light-heat.com/
3. Bottomless Pit, “Incurable Feeling”
Bottomless Pit is Andy and Tim from Silkworm, who wisely decided not to carry on under that moniker after the senseless death of drummer Michael Dahlquist. This is the third full Bottomless Pit album, and I think it’s the most full-sounding longplayer they’ve done under this incarnation. This is taken from the album Shade Perennial, and the band’s website with listens and links to buy is here: http://www.bottomlesspit.us/music.php Also, the excellent documentary about Silkworm, Couldn’t You Wait, is available here: http://buy.couldntyouwait.com/
4. The Go, “Voices Rant On”
The Go are a Detroit band long championed by Jack White his own self. They may have originally been all raw and garage-y, but here and throughout their 2013 album Fiesta they just effortlessly trip through a joyous variety of heavy 60s and 70s awesomeness. Check out more here: http://listentothego.bandcamp.com/album/fiesta
5. Charles Bradley, “Where Do We Go From Here”
Once again ably backed by the Menahan Street Band and other Daptone folks, Bradley continues his career renaissance with the excellent album Victim Of Love. This particular song has a delicious, almost garage-rock feel to it with the dirty guitar sound and beats. Check out more here at Bradley’s site here: http://thecharlesbradley.com/
6. Boogarins, “Lucifernandis”
Leave it to a band of Brazilian kids to take that Os Mutantes sound and update it and make it sound just as interesting and new. I love the way the guitar and drums seem to chase one another around with too many notes and beats all over this. Ingenious. This is from their debut, As Plantas Que Curam. Check out the band’s US/English language label/hub: http://www.othermusicrecordingco.com/collections/boogarins
7. Kurt Vile, “KV Crimes”
While I’ve always liked Kurt Vile well enough, it was on the 2013 album Wakin On A Pretty Daze that his amalgam of indie rock and 70s icon influences coalesced into a completely brilliant whole. I mean, dig that fat, greasy guitar riff here, and you’re definitely going to want ALL that cowbell. All of it. I don’t do records of the year anymore, but this one would be a strong contender if I did. Kurt’s homepage can be found right here: http://kurtvile.com/
8. Cheap Time, “8:05”
God bless Jeffrey Novak for carving out his own niche in a crowded indie scene in Tennessee years ago, and then sticking with it and growing it. Here on “8:05” and throughout the rest of their 2013 album Exit Smiles, Novak and his cohorts twirl glam and punk through their slamming, collapsing raw rock and it’s one of the most invigorating sounds anyone made on record this past year. Stream and buy here: http://www.spin.com/articles/cheap-time-exit-smiles-album-stream/
9. The Blakes, “Chernobyl”
It took me a few albums to figure out exactly where The Blakes were headed, but “Chernobyl” wonderfully evokes everything they’re on about. Imagine if you took some of the best 1980s UK postpunk pop songs from folks like New Order or Talk Talk or The Chameleons or Echo & The Bunnymen and played it raw and rippy, and distorted and rocked the hell out of it. That’s what the Blakes do here and all over their 2013 record Junko. The band’s excellent website is here: http://www.theblakesband.com/store/
10. Vampire Weekend, “Step”
Remember how I said there was some great music that moved a lot of units in 2013? That’s absolutely the case with Vampire Weekend, who–doubters be damned–continue to write brilliant songs and offer them up with fascinating arrangements. I know this band has doubters and haters galore, but here’s the thing: when I listen to a song like “Step”, I hear an absolute obvious connection to a group of scruffs like The Blakes and Cheap Time, and I will fight you over that. From the 2013 album Modern Vampires Of The City, the band’s website is here: http://www.vampireweekend.com/
11. Be, “Adventurine”
Be is the band helmed by songwriter/guitarist David Hawkins. They’re a band I’d not heard of until Rob Galgano, the guy who runs All Over The Place Radio mentioned them a month ago. This song is indicative of the gorgeous and evocative melodies and craftsmanship to be found on Be’s self-titled 2013 debut. Reminds me a great deal of what you’d get if Thin White Rope’s Guy Kyser was (plaintively and beautifully) singing for Calexico, and everyone involved was from some northern prairie state. Band’s webpage is here: http://www.beband.net/index.html
12. Bleached, “Dreaming Without You”
Bleached is the Clavin sisters, Jennifer and Jessica, doing a wonderful update of what you might get if the Shangri Las had heard a couple of Throwing Muses records at some point, which isn’t to say they’re not writing brilliant songs of their own (For instance dig the way they toss in a little bridge on this before heading into a massive stomp on the chorus into a final coda.) This is from their debut, Ride Your Heart. The band’s hub is right this way: http://hellobleached.tumblr.com/
13. Yuck, “Lose My Breath”
Ok, if you’re going to shoegaze and then lift verbatim a song title from My Bloody Valentine, the song better be freaking fantastic. That’s absolutely the case here. I figured Yuck’s 90s revivalism was all over when Daniel Blumberg left the band after their debut, but they picked up the pieces, got much more swirly in a Lush or Ride kinda way. Wanna know why this is great? Dig that last time through the chorus, where the vocals sing the same melody, but the guitars and bass and drums do something entirely new in the same key. That’s how you bring something new to the table, folks. Their 2013 record Glow And Behold is absolutely fantastic. Band’s website is here: http://yuckband.com/
14. Lubec, “Local Celebrity”
While I’ve seen Lubec (named, I guess, for the easternmost town in the contiguous United States in Maine) described as also being in the shoegaze camp, to these ears that know they have more in common with the C86 and anorak twee-pop of folks like The Pastels or The Charlottes. Especially love the the way the vocals call and response either to one another, or in the verses to that great guitar riff hook. This song is a teaser single for the band’s 2014 record, and you can find it and their other releases right here: http://lubec.bandcamp.com/
15. Joanna Gruesome, “Do You Really Wanna Know Why Yr Still In Love With Me?”
Speaking of C86, these Welsh noise poppers delivered what might be one of my favorite start-to-finish delights of 2013 on their album Weird Sister. Alternating sweet songs and songs about…let’s just say darker themes, this track is a perfect mashup of those themes–it would be too sweet by half, except there’s a swaggering, sexy confidence here. I loved the Flatmates in 1988. This absolutely, massively scratches that same itch. Nice hub for their music right here: http://joannagruesome.bandcamp.com/releases
16. The Bevis Frond, “This One”
I was a fan of Nick Saloman–a/k/a The Bevis Frond–going back over 20 years now, but sort of lost track of him as his releases became more and more oblique to my ears. His 2013 double-lp White Numbers is his first new record in 7 years, and a pretty amazing return to the sounds I once loved from The Frond back when: lovely guitar arpeggios, heavy arrangements, and Saloman’s hangdog-but-wonderful vocals. Webhub here: http://bevisfrond.bandcamp.com/
17. The Ne’er Dowells, “I Won’t”
This song right here–this one. This is why rock and roll is so great. The Ne’er Dowells are teenagers from the NYC area, and the apparent influences on them is pretty clearly music created about the time each band member was being conceived in the early 1990s. Doesn’t matter. They know a great music vibe when they hear it, and on the epic, sprawling, amazing, “I Won’t”, they make a beautiful racket that gives me chills. This is from their excellent 2013 album Are You Still Down. Check them out here: http://youneredowells.bandcamp.com/album/are-you-still-down
Tomorrow’s final mixtape is all my favorite songs from The National.
Popnarcotic 