Music of 2013: Top 10 Albums

Favorite Albums of 2013

Let me start off by saying that as a fan of primarily rock and hip-hop, 2013 was shockingly dominated by pop.

Hip-hop saw its surge near the end after a mediocre beginning to the year and rock remained fairly stagnant, but pop completely took the year by storm to my surprise.

A plethora of new artists to my personal collection liter my top albums list and I couldn’t be more grateful. If I had to describe the year in music it’d be pretty simple: 2013 was the year of the “debut”. Whether it was new artists shining to the forefront of their scene, or veteran musicians rebirthing themselves as they expand their horizons, the year was engrossed with experimentation from beginning to end.

Honorable Mentions

Danny Brown – Old

Danny Brown’s third official album, but first to be sold at retailers, Old was a dramatic contrast to Brown’s back catalog. The album purposefully lacks the humorous lines and hooks that would be found all over Brown’s last album, XXX. 

It’s a double album and traditionally that’s spelled trouble for artists. But Brown had a specific vision for Old. The album progresses through his past life and then transitions to how he’s done with his old life and moving on with a new direction and sound. Old gets me excited to hear more from Brown in the future.

Sky Ferreira – Night Time, My Time

If Joan Jett did a pop album, it’d be this. I came across this a little late and if the year were extended by another month or so it might’ve made the cut but here’s where it will have to rest. 

Ferreira produces a mix of 80’s-heavy synth with a defiant attitude that echoes through her voice. Very solid album.

Lorde – Pure Heroine

The last hit single of the year was easily Royals and Australian teenage artist, Lorde, took the US pop charts by storm. Pure Heroine was a very strong debut for Lorde who possesses a very moody voice and eccentric persona. 

My only gripe with her is her pretentious scoffing of mainstream culture. But, that doesn’t come as a surprise since many can relate to having a similar view in their teen years.

The Top 10

10. Dessa – Parts Of Speech

The follow-up to Castor, the Twin, Dessa’s third studio album takes the poet/author/singer/rapper’s writing to another level. In my opinion Dessa’s one of the best writers in music, point blank. She’s a poet first and foremost and one of the only artists that stand out as a song writer before music even enters my mind. 

“A wick with no candle
A wheel with no axle
I ride with no saddle, no lift
Then I'm dragging the kite
A blade with no handle
A brick for your window
I'm fine but I'm single
A dime and I'm the same on both sides” 

-       Dessa – Warsaw

An album that dives into relationships, secrets and guilt may sound typical, but fused with the crafted pen and soothing voice of Dessa it’s a unique piece of work that might be her boldest yet.

Call Off Your Ghost

9. Chance the Rapper – Acid Rap

It seems every year there’s a rap project that creates insane buzz and whether you like it, or hate it, you’re talking about it. Acid Rap was that project this year. Chance the Rapper took soul and drugs and melded them together and, finally, threw his own eccentricity on the mic to give you a brilliantly creative mixtape. Not even sure if I can even call it a mixtape because when you take into account the quality features (Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Childish Gambino) and production value it’s almost an insult to not call this an album. He seems nonsensical at times and traditional hip-hop heads may not have an ear for his voice but nonetheless he’s one of the freshest breaths of air the genre has had in a while.

Also in one year he’s gone for virtual unknown to being featured on the latest Justin Bieber track. You find someone else with that kind of leap in 2013.

Juice

8. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels

Last year Killer Mike dropped R.A.P. Music produced by El-P which was regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums of the year. In 2013, the two collaborated again to debut their rap duo, Run the Jewels, and drop an album of the same title.

Both are already two of the biggest names in underground hip-hop so needless to say the album had extreme expectations from its initial announcement. Not only did it not disappoint, they had fun with it. In music it’s not every day that you can tell if artists are truly enjoying their time in the studio, but that was apparent with Run the Jewels.

The album’s premise is just them showing off their mic skills and how El-P’s production is as on-point as ever. The intense instrumentals are impacting enough to be memorable but still distant enough to let the swagger of himself and Killer Mike take over and pummel you with their commanding voices.

A Christmas F*cking Miracle

7. Justin Timberlake – 20/20 Experience

It’s been a long time since R&B had a big album. Justin Timberlake just kind of stopped by the music scene to drop off this beauty of an album and close the door to any artist trying to step foot near the throne. That’s high praise but how many albums can hold your attention despite having songs ranging from 6-8 minutes long throughout?

Every song transitions into something totally new and you might forget a few times that you’re still on one song. Lyrically it isn’t earth shattering, but with R&B it’s more about just that, the rhythm and blues. 

Strawberry Bubblegum

6. Wavves – Afraid of Heights

Nathan Williams has been around for a while but Afraid of Heights was my first run with his surf-punk band Wavves. I couldn’t have been more impressed especially because it was the band’s first hi-fi produced album. Best Coast, another surf-rock band, tried to dabble with hi-fi in their album The Only Place and it didn’t come out sounding as good. After going back to Wavves’ previous albums, I can say Afraid of Heights is my favorite. 

The hi-fi sound works with them and Williams’ purposeful apathetic vocals fit with their distorted instrumentals. The song writing is another plus as Williams continuously paints a cynical picture of the world around him, creating a very grey world that you long to explore more of.

Demon to Lean On

5. Drake – Nothing Was the Same

Following up what I thought was a really good album in Take Care; Drake had a lot to live up to with Nothing Was the Same. Drake’s stigma in the rap community is that he’s soft. Yeah we get it, “Drake’s the type of --insert phrase here--“. And those criticisms were reinforced with songs on Take Care like Marvin’s Room but this album has Drake sounding much more matured. 

His lines are more confident, his hooks are catchier and his subjects are more interesting. If there’s one thing that’s true, it’s that Drake can flat out write songs. Tuscan Leather is probably the best album opener of 2013 and Hold On, We’re Going Home is the hottest song of the year.  Showing that Drake can still put together an album that gives a little of everything.

Tuscan Leather

4. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories

I mentioned that this was the year of old artists debuting new sounds. Hard to think of an artist or group that had a bigger year than Daft Punk. Not only did Random Access Memories contain the summer’s hottest song, it was statement by the legendary electronic duo. What was the statement? No matter how much time passes, Daft Punk will stop it, and make us adjust accordingly.

Everyone was excited when Daft Punk announced their album, but everyone had the same question, how could the duo relate to today’s music scene? Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger simply isn’t a track that would climb today’s charts. Then they went out and grabbed Pharrell, Chic funk guitarist Nile Rodgers and a slew of other features to put together a near perfect album.

I didn’t think they could make an album as good as Discovery but they did. The album has an 80’s summer sound and it fits in today’s nostalgia-obsessed society. If I write anymore, I might convince myself to put it #1.

Instant Crush ft. Julian Casablancas

3. Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe

Ohhhhhh boy this was a joy to come across. Chvrches is a synthpop band from Glasgow, Scotland and one of big emergences of pop scene in 2013. The group has Iain and Martin, primarily, working the instrumentation and FX pads while Lauren Mayberry is the lead vocalist. The chemistry between the trio is fantastic. The instrumentation is catchy yet at times dark and although Mayberry’s vocals are soft, they’re just as enthralling. The album creates a very mystical picture much to Iain and Martin’s remarkable work on the instrumentals. 

As a Smashing Pumpkins fan I’m a huge proponent to metaphors and symbolism. Mayberry’s lyrics capture a lot of what I love about Billy Corgan’s song writing. In the song Gun she talks about being vengeful ex-lover, not to the point of using a literal gun but to where she will be a metaphoric one to use her own anger against her former flame.

“Hide, hide, I have burned your bridges.

I will be a gun, and it's you I'll come for.”

The song We Sink was brilliantly dissected by the AV Club. It’s a deadly accurate song about the harsh reality of love. Arguing and then eventually coming to terms that, as the song says, you’ll be a thorn in their side, till you die and for always.

Gun

2. Childish Gambino – Because the Internet

Very tough decision on the final two spots and for the longest time I thought Gambino’s album would be #1, but second is where it will have to finish. 

This album was a tough one for me. First listen I didn’t like it…at all. Second, third listen I understood it and it was growing on me. Last few listens and this might be my second favorite project of his (Behind his EP). Because the Internet isn’t the album Childish Gambino wanted to make. It’s the album Donald Glover wanted to make. Not Donald Glover the comedian. Not Donald Glover the actor. Donald Glover the person. Donald Glover the writer. The insecure, afraid and intimidated individual was traditionally known for being a funny, punch-line spitting rapper who was really, really corny and we loved him for it.

Looking back at his first album, Camp, I can honestly say it was pretty lackluster. The theme was there and the songs weren’t bad. But it didn’t feel genuine. Songs like Kids were overshadowed by contradicting subjects like in You See Me. It felt like an album that was unsure of what it wanted to be and maybe that’s a reflection of Gambino at the time. As someone who related to Gambino on a lot of levels, I grew a fondness to his early music. But his flip-flopping lyrics eventually wore thin.

Fast-forward to now.

This album just feels right. It doesn’t fall into conventional hip-hop structure, or even music structure. Its progression is sporadic and in some cases (Earth: The Oldest Computer) it’s just chaotic, but that’s OK. The story seems much more sincere because he isn’t pleading for the listener to relate or feel sorry for him. He’s just as insecure as ever but not trying to make it relatable, simply narrative, of himself.

It’s about not being satisfied with where you’re at and being confused about what should motivate you or apathy of even if you should risk anything at all. Being afraid of what’s next and at the same time, not wanting to be content. 

The entire saga Gambino’s put together started with his short film Clapping for the Wrong Reasons that highlighted what I mentioned above. Where the film ends, the album, and cooperative screenplay, begins.

Lyrically solid, but musically unique and narratively obscure, Because the Internet may not be likable on your first listen, second or maybe even at all. It’s not for everyone, but I thought it was brilliant.

II. Earth: The Oldest Computer ft. Azealia Banks

1. Haim – Days Are Gone

Number one! HAIM! Days Are Gone!

I’m going to leap 20 years into the future. When a teenager or young adult in 2034 asks me what the 2010s, specifically 2013, sounded like, instantly my mind will go to Haim. Spring sounds like Falling, summer sounds like Forever, fall sounds like The Wire and I could go on with many more song-scenario attachments.

Three infinitely talented sisters from California stole the hearts of many, and especially mine, this year. Their style is a sonically pleasing blend of folk, R&B, pop and indie rock all thrown into a brick wall of charisma and pummeled with the ever-clichéd “girl power”. 

The craziest thing about Haim is that despite having a look and feel traditional associated with indie bands; there is no reason why they shouldn’t be a mainstream success. Their songs are catchy and there is at least one song on the album that literally anyone can get into. Each sister has her own identity that, together, makes the ensemble iconic. Este is the “wild” one, Danielle is the “cool” one and Alana is young one.  Live I have yet to see them, but they’re gotten immense praise all over as being one of the top live acts of the year and a must see in the future. 

I’ve often compared their sound and feel to a modern-day Fleetwood Mac and as I’ve thought on it, it’s kind of unfair. Haim is Haim. There’s really no way to properly describe them so from now on I’m simply going to recommend a song whenever someone asks me what they sound like.

I know I’m not writing as much about Days Are Gone that I did about Because the Internet and that’s not a knock on how much I loved it. It’s clearly my #1 album of 2013 there just isn’t as much to dissect. The songs are pure fun and the sister act melds together many genres of music.

Falling

Notable Missing:

Kanye West – Yeezus

When I came up with my list of top 20 albums Yeezus was there. In the end I found myself only liking Yeezus and not loving it as much of the internet has seemed to.

Arcade Fire – Reflektor

I actually haven’t given this album the time it needs I think. I’m such a big Arcade Fire fan that I only heard it once and never went back to it again because there wasn’t time to just sit and listen. I was busy when it first came out and by the time I got stuff done, it was too late. 

Sigur Ros – Kveikur

I’m ashamed to say I forgot this came out…that’s it.

And on that note, for me, 2013 in music is a wrap!