Best of 2013 so far

The first half of 2013 is coming to an end, so I think it's time for a little recap. I've never kept exact statistics of how many records I heard each year, but I'm pretty confident when I say, that this year would surpass all of them. I don't really know where this eagerness to check out new music suddenly came from, but the fact is, I've already listened to 50+ new albums in the past six months, and that's almost as much as in the entire last year.

There have been much anticipated releases from Biffy Clyro, Tegan and Sara, She & Him, The National and, of course, Jimmy Eat World, which I've covered a lot on the blog, and I've also praised the new albums from Christopher Owens and especially Daft Punk, but there are literally dozens of other great records which I haven't had the time to write about yet. So here's at least a brief summary.

Britpop came back with Suede's first album in eleven years. Although it was pretty much my first encounter with the band, I loved it instantly. The same story happened with Frank Turner's sweeping personal epic Tape Deck Heart, Kurt Vile's fifth solo album, the Swedish psych rockers Junip and the new indie rock sensation Foxygen.

Foals released released their third studio album, and it was the first time I truly got into them. Holy Fire received lots of praise from critics and fans alike, and I couldn't help but to agree. In a similar vein, last week saw another career peek of the Icelandic post-rock now trio Sigur Rós. Their newest effort Kveikur is perhaps the most straightforward and mainstream they'll ever get, but the fact doesn't hurt it one bit. If you ever doubted whether you could become a fan of their enigmatic ambient soundscapes, now is the perfect time to finally find out.

Unfortunately, apart from a few songs, Fall Out Boy's highly anticipated comeback fell a little flat with me. David Bowie's, on the other hand, surprised positively almost everyone, including myself, and so did Comedown Machine by The Strokes. I am not quite sure yet what to think about the new QotSA album, but one thing is certain, ...Like Clockwork is definitely the most accessible album of their entire career.

 

On a heavier note, Bring Me the Horizon released another critically acclaimed and largely enjoyable album. Who would've guessed after Suicide Season? Funeral for a Friend continued the journey to their hardcore roots, but unfortunately, Conduit, while not bad by any means, didn't end up being as memorable as their previous efforts. Frank Carter, formerly of Gallows, went exactly the opposite way, releasing a surprisingly poppy album under the moniker Pure Love. Another notable albums were released by the indie acts Cold War Kids, Dawes, Mikal Cronin and Camera Obscura, and let's not forget the last ever album of My Chemical Romance, released over the span of five months from November to March.

Overall, this has been an amazing year in music, and there's still lots of releases to look forward to. Placebo, Travis, MGMT, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire and many more will be releasing new records later this year. Which albums have rocked your world in 2013 and which ones that are yet to come out are you most excited about?

What did you expect from a track-by-track guide?

Justin Long, the Vaccines' frontman, recently gave NME a track-by-track guide to the band's new album. You can read it below.

"Wreckin' Bar ( Ra ra ra)

It's about being attracted to trouble, about being out of your depth and thinking you can deal with something when in reality you probably can't. I'm fascinated by the concept of power struggles in relationships. I'm not really sure who is on top in this one. It's supposed to be positive, though.

If You Wanna

As with a lot of the lyrics on the record, I've tried to be as direct as possible. Sometimes when you want to say something it's best to not be too clever about it. The lyrics are pretty defeatist, maybe even slightly pathetic. But we've all been there. I wanted us to have a song with really downbeat lyrics juxtaposed with a poppy and upbeat melody.

A Lack Of Understanding

When you break up with someone you assume their life has changed for the better and that they're off having fun with new friends in new places. Most of the time, though, they're feeling just like you.

Blow It Up

This is about as angry as I'm willing to show people I'm capable of getting. Again, it's pretty direct. It's about someone taking himself too seriously and how that wound me up. It's me saying, "let it go".

Wetsuit

I'm petrified about getting old and I'm incredibly nostalgic. Sometimes I feel like I'm waiting for me life to begin and I always regret not making the most of things. Have any of us really had the kind of summer they experience in American high school films? This is a song about wanting to be young, making the most of it, doing silly things.

Norgaard

I wrote this about a girl I'd only met once (model, Amanda Norgaard). She was beautiful but she kissed my friend. It didn't affect me as much as the song might suggest it did but I thought it would an interesting experiment to write a song about something that wasn't beating me up. I'd only ever written about things I was obsessing over, it made a nice change and came pretty easy.

Post Break-Up Sex

I think people can work out this one! Hopefully it's interpreted as frank rather than crass. I like the term 'gloriously dumb'. We've all felt like this, but I'd never heard a song that dealt with it.

Under Your Thumb
This song talks about the idea of starting something new and being under someone's thumb, funnily enough. It was the first one I wrote for the album.

All In White

This is about jealousy and about victimising yourself. In retrospect, though, it says more about me than it does about other people.

Wolf Pack

I find talking to new people really hard. Sometimes living in London and playing music you feel like people size you up when you're talking to them. They want to know what they can take from you and I hate that. I've never really liked people who try to hold court in social situations either, especially when I haven't had a chance to get to know them. Maybe it's because I'd rather it was me. Whatever the reason, this is an ode to my good friends.

Family Friend
This song is about being lied to by someone you didn't expect to lie. It's in two parts. The first is sweet, the second bitter. So a bit like life, I guess."

Well, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes did the same. Head over here to read his track-by-track guide to the band's new album, Angles. On a related note, The Strokes revealed today, that they've already began working on a follow-up. That was quick.

And by the way, if you haven't checked The Strokes' new record yet, you can stream it in its entirety on their official website.