st. tropez Albums of the Year 2013

These days I know I don't make it around as much as I once did. Work keeps me pretty busy, but I still manage to check the site and read the posts from time to time, even if I am unable to contribute on the message boards or in the updating of new posts. However, as has become customary over the last few years, I still compile a EOTY list of my favorite albums. Being the member of n-a-r that has quite an eclectic taste in music, mostly stuff few people have heard of, I look forward to sharing with you yearly. Below you will find my top 20, with a more detailed message for the top 10. Enjoy.

EPs of the year: American Authors S/T EP, Magic Man You Are Here EP, Sir Sly Gold EP, Bear's Den Without/Within EP, Smallpools S/T EP, and Little Children Falling EP.

20. James Blake "Overgrown" (electronic downtempo singer)
19. Jason Isbell "Southeastern" (blues americana, former lead singer of drive-by truckers)
18. CHVRCHES "Bones of What You Believe" (electropop from Ireland)
17. Tunde Baiyewu "Diamond in a Rock" (singer/songwriter adult alternative from England. Imagine Aloe Blacc meets Tracy Chapman)
16. Air Review "Low Wishes" (indie rock)
15. Bastille "Bad Blood" (alternative/indie rock)
14. Andrew Belle "Black Bear" (singer/songwriter with moments of intertwined electronic sounds)
13. Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience" (mainly part I)
12. Sleeping at Last "Atlas" (indie singer/songwriter)
11. Kacey Musgraves "Same Trailer Different Park (country/grammy winner)

10. Penny & Sparrow "Tenboom"

Easy listening folk duo from Texas. Reminds me of The Swell Season minus the accent, but deep, honest, and hurting lyrics. Great listen, and a band that is on the rise within the industry. 

9. Green River Ordinance "Chasing Down the Wind"

Americana, almost borderline country with some of their tunes, GRO is a band i've been fans of for some time, and as their sound keeps evolving, I continue to be infatuated with their sound. Nothing amazing about this album, just very well written and an album I can turn on during most any mood and connect with. 

8. John Mayer "Paradise Valley"

Mayer is Mayer. I love everything he puts out, and while i'm still waiting for another album to hold a light to the powers of Continuum, I welcome the grassroots change he's brought about. You look at musicians he admires like Clapton, and you see the growth and change during their career, and Mayer is experiencing that now. Before long, I think we all will get a revisit from the Mayer that made him great. 

7. J. Cole "Born Sinner"

I never claim to be a rap connoisseur, but I can usually listen to a rap album and tell if it's good or not in the context of flow/lyrics/etc. Born Sinner blew me away, mainly with the first track "Villuminati". All around, I thought this was the best rap album of the year.

6. Vampire Weekend "Modern Vampires of the City"

This album got a ton of love this year from everyone, and I agree with the love. I never touted myself as a VW fan, not really understanding the hype of the first albums, but I understood it with this. Infectious indie pop rock with hooks that are just great. Enjoyable album, and I think I am buying into the bands hype now. 

5. There Will Be Fireworks "The Dark, Dark Bright"

The bands first album was a top 10 album for me a few years back, and the sophomore album did not disappoint. From the second I heard the song/saw the video for "Youngblood", I knew this album was going to hit me just as well as the first album.

4. Gabrielle Aplin "English Rain"

Again, nothing special here. English singer/songwriter who broke out this year, touring with John Mayer and the likes . Infectious songwriter with crazy well written pop songs. This album came along to me at the right time and at the right place. Can't argue with fate. 

3. Volcano Choir "Repave"

I never really was a huge Bon Iver fan, but I enjoyed the first VC album. Not enough to become a huge fan, but enough to be excited about Repave. My excitement was blown away by this album, and I personally think it's better than anything Bon Iver ever released. Call me a cynic, or just call me someone who thinks Justin Vernon is great at his craft, but better when I can actually understand what the hell he is singing and saying.

New band on the block

2. The 1975 "S/T"

New band on the block, and I was absolutely blown away by the album. I'd been following their progression from EP to EP, but put them all together with a more polished sound and you hit a wonderfully mastered disc. "Success is brittle." Wise words spoken from a young man who, at the age of 18, was addicted to cocaine. The battle of life, love, drugs, rock & roll, and teenage angst shine through in the bands debut S/T, the band was given tour dates with Bastille and were even hand-selected to open some dates for The Rolling Stones. For a group of youngsters, that is a huge thing -- and for their overly enjoyable brand of pop rock, it's something that will take them a long way. 

1. Foy Vance "Joy of Nothing"

I realized this year that I pretty much love everything Glassnote Records puts out. From Mumford and Phoenix, to Two Door Cinema Club and CHRVCHES. Foy is another. Irish singer/songwriter just hit it out of the park in my opinion with this release. I caught wind of the first single, "Joy of Nothing" probably in March, and since that day I became obsessed with it. Once the album as a whole was released, I realized how much heart and soul this album had. Lots of outlets have been getting behind Foy and pushing him as the next big thing, with iTunes declaiming him of the best albums of the year for his genre, to websites saying he is a "must watch" in 2014. The album didn't really take off upon release, but thanks to songs appearing in movies and TV shows (namely "Feel for Me"), he continues to slowly climb the charts. Eerily similar to the road that The Fray took when they first launched their major label debut, and how it wasn't until 4-5 months after the release that they just blew up everywhere. 

That is all for now. I hope you enjoyed this little rundown, and I hope you check out some new music. Best to you all in 2014.

Albums of the year 2013, part I

First of all, happy new year to everyone!

Since every respectable magazine has already revealed its end of the year lists long ago, it's my turn now. Looking at the last year's list, it got me thinking, which albums of those twenty stood the best the test of time? Which ones did I come back to this year? Well, as far as can I remember, I did spin Lonerism and Battle Born a couple times, but due to the sheer quantity and quality of the new releases, and due to my ongoing obsession with the 1960s, I haven't had the time nor the opportunity to go back to any other older albums. But I'm not complaining.

This year turned out to be very competitive, many great bands graced us with many fanstastic records. I guess it goes without saying that I haven't heard nearly as many of them as I would like to, and I haven't spent enough time with those that deserved it. Hopefully, there are still many waiting for me to discover. For example, I haven't listened to Donald Glover's or Chvrches' new albums yet...

Without further ado, here's the first part of my albums-of-the-year list, I hope You'll enjoy reading it and that You'll find it at least somewhat relevant, despite the fact that *SPOILERS* neither Beyoncé nor Kanye made the cut.

#40 Burials AFI
#39 Loud Like Love Placebo
#38 Comedown Machine The Strokes
#37 BE Beady Eye
#36 Sequel to the Prequel Babyshambles
#35 Real to Reel Sound City
#34 Anthems Pure Love
#33 Pythons Surfer Blood
#32 Static Cults
#31 Dear Miss Lonelyhearts Cold War Kids
#30 Conduit Funeral for a Friend
#29 Sempitermal Bring Me the Horizon
#28 Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action Franz Ferdinand
#27 MGMT MGMT
#26 Volume 3 She and Him
#25 Days Are Gone HAIM
#24 Desire Lines Camera Obscura
#23 New Paul McCartney
#22 Where You Stand Travis
#21 The Next Day David Bowie

#20 MCII
Mikal Cronin

These are some catchy tunes. Mikal Cronin churns out pretty melodies and heavily distorted riffs, creating an irresistible wall of sound on an album, that is over too soon and leaves you craving for more.

#19 Lysandre
Christopher Owens

I was spinning this album non-stop for a good few weeks during February and March. Running just shy of 30 minutes, it is the shortest concept album I might've ever heard. Powered by a beautiful central melody, it could just as well be a soundtrack to any Wes Anderson movie. (My review)

#18 Junip
Junip

This swedish band was completely unbeknownst to me prior to the release of their sophomore album. Then I heard the song Line of Fire, and today, they are one of those few psychedelic indie rockers I will keep a close eye on in the years to come. The self-titled album is a rewarding listen, refreshing in its subtlety, with songs that take time to truly unfold.

#17 Bankrupt!
Phoenix

To be honest, Phoenix's follow-up to the highly succesful Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix wasn't among my anticipated albums and it left me quite cold upon its release. The first time I got into it was after watching Now You See Me, which had the leading single Entertainment featured in its closing credits. I loved the movie and fell in love with the song as well, and it eventually made me appreciate the whole album. What a ride.

#16 ...Like Clockwork
Queens of the Stone Age

You know it's been a competetive year when QotSA are all the way down at #16. I always had an ambivalent relationship with the band's music. While I loved half of their songs, the other half was just "meh", and the albums as a whole were therefore pretty much disqualified from repeated listens. ...Like Clockwork is not the case, though. For me, it works on every level, it's their first record I like front to back.

#15 Modern Vampires of the City
Vampire Weekend

All these years, I had no idea what the fuss over Vampire Weekend was all about. Then the band released their newest record and it finally hit me. This was the kind of revelation Some Nights had been a year ago. It's pure pop, but it's not dull. It actually couldn't be further from that. And it's really fun.

#14 Holy Fire
Foals

Yeah, I didn't understand the appeal of Foals either until their latest album dropped on the shelves. Thankfully, they finally ditched that math-rock thing and moved to a more accessible sound, while still managing to maintain their indie credibility. Anyway, just listen to Inhaler, that song alone should win the album a spot on any list this year.

#13 Kveikur
Sigur Rós

...and I could say pretty much the same thing about Sigur Rós. Compared to their previous efforts, Kveikur is a lot less ambient, a lot more melodic, and an open arms invitation for any new fan who couldn't get involved the last time around (or the last six times for that matter).

#12 Tape Deck Heart
Frank Turner

Fantastic album. My favourite music to mow the lawn to. I know that doesn't say much, but it's kind of a big deal for me.

#11 We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
Foxygen

Every year, there's at least a handfull of bands trying to win the Beatles comparisons. This year, none has been more succesfull at that than Foxygen. Of course, it would be useless if the songs themselves weren't any good. Which, luckily, they are. If you're not sure enough whether to check them out, just start with the incredibly addictive San Francisco. If that doesn't win you over, than I don't know what will.