Albums of the year 2013, part II

Let's move on to the second and final part of this list.

#10 AM
Arctic Monkeys

Long gone are the southern-ish experiments of Humbug, Arctic Monkeys are now striving to become everyone's favourite rock'n'roll band. While Suck It And See saw the band stranded somewhere in between, AM seems to be the album to get them all the way there. I have to admit this is the most enjoyable Monkeys' record in a while, and Knee Socks is one of the most fun tracks of the year.

#9 Trouble Will Find Me
The National

You should already know what to expect from The National come their sixth studio album, and you should also know they will take your breath away regardless of what you expect. Trouble Will Find Me is deeply atmospheric, painfully beautiful and seductive, expanding upon their past efforts in every way.

#8 Waking On a Pretty Daze
Kurt Ville

The feel-good album of the year. The semi-title track almost hits the ten minute mark, but don't let it discourage you, it's an absolute joy all the way through. Luckily enough, the rest of the record doesn't fall behind, and the word "mellow" gets a whole new meaning in its context.

#7 Damage
Jimmy Eat World

Constantly releasing good albums is a nice habit. And no one does it better than Jim Adkins & Co., bringing joy to all the emo souls out there for a good two decades. Saying that this was the most anticipated release of 2013 for me would be an understatement, but Jimmy Eat World proved times and times again they have little difficulty living up to the challenge. Damage is sort of a return to roots for the band, who tossed away the glitz of modern day studio production and took a surprisingly raw approach. The result is an album that could go down in history as one of their career highlights. Just wait till you see those songs played live.

#6 Opposites
Biffy Clyro

If Biffy wanted to step up from their previous effort, Only Revolution, releasing a double album was the only logical way. It was a bold move, but it proved to be the right one. Bigger in every sense, Opposites keeps rushing forward, never losing itself in meaningless self-indulgence, making up for those four years without any new material. Oh, and the songs make for a killer live show, too. Overall, Biffy Clyro are easily one of the best rock bands in the world today. (My review)

#5  Reflektor
Arcade Fire

Released to huge expectations by the end of October, Reflektor still leaves me puzzled two months later. It is perhaps due to the dancier nature that I haven't been able to connect with it on the same level as with the more guitar-driven Suburbs three years ago. However, it's definitely a grower, and it has its stellar moments, especially in the second half, that can compare with the band's most glorious achievements (Hey Orpheus, Afterlife).

#4 Rewind the Film
Manic Street Preachers

They may get older, but their music doesn't, and it certainly doesn't lose its punch, even in its mellow and quiet form. Or is it just a calm before the storm? (My review)

#3  Heartthrob
Tegan and Sara

In January, Tegan and Sara released their first full-on pop record, but to this day, many people still haven't come to terms with the change of style. Personally, I couldn't get enough of it. I was saying it then and I'm still saying it, this is the best album the twins have ever made.

#2 Bloodsports
Suede

Suede, one of those bands I always knew I should check out but never really got to it, until their first album in eleven years offered an opportunity I couldn't pass. I'm always eager for some good britpop, and, well, it doesn't get much better than this. It's the first three tracks that really shine, but fortunately, the rest of the album doesn't lag far behind. Suede manage to sell it with confidence, elagance and energy that bands half their age could envy.

#1 Random Access Memories
Daft Punk

Ever since RAM was released, I kinda knew it would end up seizing the top spot. For me, this album will probably symbolize "the perfect record" in the years to come. Perfected to the point of near absurdity, encompassing four decades of popular music while also looking forward, overflowing with ideas and compelling details, this is the closest albums come to being timeless. Get Lucky might be one of the biggest singles of the year, but the greatest accomplishment of RAM lies in utilizing the album format to its full potential, in a contrast to the single-oriented music world. It may seem cold on surface, but there's a warm, beating heart underneath. (My review)

Honorary mention: Conventional Weapons
My Chemical Romance

Though not a proper album, it's a rewarding parting gift and the last goodbye from a band that used to mean a great deal to me. (My lament)

Random Access Memories

Well, well, well. What have we got here?

I am really swamped these days, so I don't have much time to update the blog. Nonetheless, the release of Random Access Memories is a such a big event, that I've decided to be up-to-date at least this one time. Here's my post from under the AP.net review. It doesn't quite embrace the essence of the album, but for now, it's all I can do.

First of all, I don't like electronic/dance music at all. I don't even like Discovery. These things just aren't for me. However, I loved Tron: Legacy soundtrack (I do listen to a lot of film music) and I still spin it fairly often. I even enjoyed the electronic freak-outs such as Derezzed...

...and I have to say, Random Access Memories is a fantastic and groundbreaking record. It's jazzy sometimes, on other occasions it sounds like Dark Side of the Moon, the clean production reminds of Rumours and other great records from the seventies, but at the same it's very contemporary, even futuristic, and yet personal. Though it may seem distant at first, it certainly doesn't lack heart. And if there was one single word to describe the whole album, it would be "timeless".

For me, it's this year's Hurry Up We're Dreaming or The Suburbs, highly accomplished piece of work made with great ambition and incredible (inhuman?) precision. Nevertheless, it took me several  listens getting into, but it was definitely worth it. Favourite songs? I really can't pick a few. Although there is one that stands above them all. Giorgio by Moroder is probably the defining and most quintessential track on the album. 

My copy of Random Access Memories is already on its way from Amazon. That's how much I like it. Honestly, I didn't see this coming, like, at all. Do yourself a favour, don't hesitate a moment and dive right in.

StarWaves

Joe Kosinski's first feature film Tron: Legacy was released in 2010. I went to see it in theatre immediately and it blew me away. Even till this day, I immensely enjoy the stunning visuals blended with perfectly fitting score by the French electronic duo Daft Punk, which has gone gold since then, and practically redefined movie music.

While Tron wasn't a huge hit at the box office, it still made enough money to allow Kosinski to direct his dream project and another big budget sci-fi movie, Oblivion, that will star Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko, among others. The film hits theatres on April 19 and the trailers look rather fantastic so far, once again promising lectures on design and architecture. I am stoked.

More interestingly, though, Kosinski recruited yet another high profile and well-respected act for work on the film's soundtrack. Just like Daft Punk, M83, fronted by Anthony Gonzales, seems like a logical choice, and an excellent one, too. M83's last album was a huge critical and commercial success, almost topping my AOTY list of 2011 and spawning the hit single Midnight City. I honestly have no doubts this will turn out great.

Anthony Gonzales (left) and Joe Kosinski

Just yesterday, Rolling Stone premiered a new song from the soundtrack, called StarWaves, and you can stream it on their website. Seriously, studios and directors need to hire more people like Gonzales to show the way for others and stir the still waters of blockbuster music, largely dominated by Hans Zimmer and his crew of sound-alikes. (I still sort of can't get over the fact, that Jack White backed off from Verbinski's The Lone Ranger and was replaced by, shockingly, Zimmer. With White on board, it might have been my most anticipated movie of the summer.)

Anyway, I expect no small things from the soundtrack. Your thoughts?

"I kept dreaming of a world I thought I'd never see. And then, one day... I got in."

It certainly won't fit everyone but I honestly think that Tron: Legacy is a great movie. The most remarkable thing about it is the combination of dazzling visuals and perfectly fitting music. It's definitely hard to say which of those two elements is dominant here. Daft Punk blended orchestral and electronic music in order to create a unique movie score and delivered one of the most captivating listens in 2010.

The Grid

The Game Has Changed

Tron: Legacy (End Titles)

 
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