Top Music Records For 2013

Was 2013 a good year for you musically, that is? Were you mostly listening to Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, & Katie Perry records? I hope not!!  The end of the year is the best time to catch up on all the great music you missed this past year.  Even if you have Robin Thicke on your iPod, you can explore other musical talents that are out there as well. Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Spin, NPR Music, Under The Radar, Magnet, Time Out Chicago and even Amazon have already listed their top 50 records of the year on their websites.  

Here you can read the reviews and then decided if this is a record you want to explore. Many of the websites will sample the music as well.  I liked NPR Music’s Top 50 list for their diverse picks in music.  They covered everyone from L.A. girl band Haim to jazz artists, Spanish rappers, to the Latvian Radio Choir!! It appears Vampire Weekend’s ‘Modern Vampires Of The City’ and Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus” made the top 10 on several of the music sites.  Neither of those artists made my list of fave 2013 records. I think Vampire Weekend’s record was good but not great (don’t really get all the hype surrounding that band), and never listened to Kanye Wests  (just not into his hip hop, soul, genius rap business).

Here are my top 12 for 2013, in no particular order:

The Veils – Time Stays We Go – just discovered this British band, their indie Brit sound is inviting, their song “Birds”, is by far, the best song I heard this year.

Yo La Tengo – Fade – I always thought they were an odd quirky indie band, but his record told me not to think that any more. It is by far their most accessible record yet, pleasant and comfortable on all levels.

The National – Trouble Will Find Me – baritone singer Matt Berninger always sounds so wounded and troubled on his songs, which always makes me want to listen more. This is the band’s 6th release and they keep their sound down low which I love.

Kurt Vile – Wakin’ On a Pretty Daze – this is Kurt’s 5th record and he sounds mature yet a little lost on these songs but in a good way. There doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency with this songs, they are laid back, kind of in slacker way. He seems to be a modern hippie boy comfortably floating by.

Jake Bugg – this self-titled record was releases in March (he released a second record in November called Shangra La). He is a 19 year old Brit who’s sounds takes you back to the days of Buddy Holly, Everly Brothers and even the a folky Bob Dylan. You would never think a 19 year old kid is singing these soul searching songs.

Neko Case – The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I love You. There is no mistaking Neko Case’s clear transcending voice on this record.  I am drawn to every story telling song and every word she sings, she is beyond enthralling, she is simply magical.

Josh Ritter – Beast In Its Tracks – I never listened to Josh Ritter much before and I have to stop and ask myself, why not?? He captures a wonderful alt country, folk, indie rock sound on this record.  His songs of break up and loss are not defeating songs, but songs of hope and laughter.

Depeche Mode – Delta Machine – after 12 records, Depeche have not lost their step, this is a doom gloom goth record and that’s the way I prefer them, they certainly are the purveyors of electronic dance music and you will hear that on this record, but they still can entice you with their songs of sin and redemption.

Arcade Fire – Reflektor – producer LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy is all over this record with dance beats some subtle some not so subtle.  The band certainly evolves on this record, it may take 3 or 4 listens to appreciate this record and know that they are no longer your favorite indie band, they are now everyone’s favorite arena band.

Local Nativees – Hummingbird – a few tracks off their last record is all I know of this band so this record was a pleasant surprise to me. They sounds so full, transcendent, ambitious on this record. Opening track ‘You & I’ just makes you stop and listen, that’s how much it captures you and takes you through the rest of the record so effortlessly.

Wild Belle – Isles – local Chicagoans did well with their debut record.  They capture several genres on this record with reggae, soul, pop, indie rock sound. I think I even heard a little Amy Winehouse influence in Natalie Bergman’s vocals, all good.

Email musical comments and thoughts to radioruta@ameritech.net.

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