Simply The Best

A look at some of the top music released in 2013

No one gets to hear all of the music released in any given year. The sheer size of it would mean you’d do nothing but listen to music, and no one is that lucky. But every year I try to listen to my fair share, and my favorites are reflected below.

It’s only the best of what I heard, though, which means it’s somewhat limited. I like what I like, and sometimes that makes for similarsounding tunes.

Still, I thought 2013 was a good year for new music. If you care to offer your picks, head toward NWATunedin.

com, where we’ll have a message board to talk about the best music of the year.

Monday, I’ll also post a list of my favorite concerts of 2013 there.

The list, in descending order:

10) “MCII” by Mikal Cronin - The breezy surf rock of Mikal Cronin is not without emotion and passion. Endlessly catchy and effortlessly fun at the same time, Cronin’s second album shines via songs such as “Shout It Out” and “I’m Done Running From You.”

9) “The Bones of What You Believe” by Chvrches - Densely layered synth rock paired with the vocal urgings of Lauren Mayberry make for a fine time in “The Bones of What You Believe,” the debut from the Scottish trio Chvrches. Led by the single “The Mother We Share,” Chvrches’ debut record pulses with beats and pop energy.

8) “Heartthrob” by Tegan & Sara - “Heartthrob” completes the Canadian sister act’s transition from folk rockers to full-on pop. But thebest elements of their early days - smart lyrics, sister harmony and a strong sense of melody - remain. It made for their best album in years.

The crossover hit “Closer” got the most attention, but tracks such as “How Come You Don’t Want Me” and “I Was a Fool” are just as radio ready.

Dawn” by The Mowgli’s - I don’t see this album on a lot (or any) of best-of-the-year lists. But I rarely had so much fun listening to an album in 2013. The Mowgli’s are a sunnier version of neo-folk acts such as Of Monsters and Men, and about a half dozen songs on this album arejolly singalongs.

6) “Junip” by Junip - Songwriter Jose Gonzales returned to a past project, Junip, for a melodic, contemplative album. A folk record at heart, it also possesses an underbelly of electronica. A singable, hummable blend that gives a little weight to his minimalist folk approach in solo contexts, “Junip” is simply a pretty album.

5) “Modern Vampires of the City” by Vampire Weekend - At times both their most accessible and most densely layered album, Ivy League rockers Vampire Weekend’s only fallacy with their 2013 release “Modern Vampires of the City” was its terrible name. The band’s endearing weirdness and obscure lyrical ideas are stamped all over these songs, but they are just as heavily slathered with pop sensibilities. Song such as “Diane Young” and “Unbelievers” satisfy on all levels.

4) “Same Trailer Different Park” by Kacey Musgraves - The Texas born, Nashville-based songwriter penned some of the best songs of 2013 - and not just for herself. A track she co-wrote, Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart,” climbed to No. 2 this year. She didn’t do that well for herself, but perhaps she should have - songs such as “Blowin’ Smoke” and “Follow Your Arrow” are slice-of-life county musings with an edge rarely found in Nashville.

3) “Wyoming” by Water Liars - From start to finish, “Wyoming” is a startlingly minimalist record. Sometimes sad, sometimes downright depressing, the album slings reverb-heavy guitar on top of a steady backbeat.

It’ssurprisingly simple at times and just as dense at others, often on the same song, such as “Linens,” which discusses both sizzling bacon and the English poet John Milton. The album might be a minimalist work, but it weighed heavily with me all year.

2) “Trouble Will Find Me” by The National - The brooding, orchestral rumblings of The National got no major updates between their last excellent album and their newest one. And there is little need when it all comes charging at you. Perhaps a touch less somber - or outright depressing - than previous recordings, “Trouble Will Find Me” also includes some of the best individual additions to the band’s catalog, such as “Graceless,” “Pink Rabbits” and “I Need My Girl.”

1) “Southeastern” by Jason Isbell - When this album was released in June, I told a friend it would probably be my favorite album of the year.

Nothing changed that initial notice. No album contains the heartbreak, triumph, confessions and quiet joy of “Southeastern,” Isbell’s best album as a solo artist.

He showed long ago he was capable of songwriting magic via his former membership in The Drive-By Truckers.

His renewed focus on craftsmanship elevated this one to new heights.

Honorable Mentions: Foal’s “Holy Fire,” Jake Bugg’s selftitled album, Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories,” Arctic Monkey’s “A.M.,” “Savages, “Silence Yourself.” KEVIN KINDER IS ASSOCIATE

EDITOR OF WHAT’S UP, ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR FOR NWA MEDIA AND THE BLOGGER BEHIND NWATUNEDIN.COM.

Whats Up, Pages 23 on 12/27/2013

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