With only 7 weeks to go until the end of the year I think we can safely presume that most worthy albums destined for 2013 will have been released by now.

So what's been spinning your wheels this year? Over the years I've got some great tips on this site to music I'd never heard before - the great country rock of Israel Nash Gripka is one example.

So here's my list. I've kept it to new albums, not reissues or live albums! I thought it was a great year for music and it was hard to cram everything down to a top 10. Some particularly fabulous albums came out that I think will go on to define music in this decade, what ever it is called (the teens?). Daft Punk, love 'em or loathe made a towering dance album that seem to magically unite young and old.

Some old heroes came back with strong albums - David Bowie, Roy Harper, Elvis Costello.

Anyway, be great to see your lists.

Top 10

1. Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare
Absolutely stunning album of dreamy rock from up and coming musician/producer. If you like mid-70s Pink Floyd, David Crosby's If Only I Could Remember My Name, Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue, Frank Zappa as well as acoustic psychedelia then you'll love this.

2. Primal Scream - More Light
Probably the Scream's best album since Screamadelica. Takes you on a real journey.

3. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Probably the best dance album since Thriller. Great songs, great production and more than anything, it just gets you clicking your fingers and wanting to shake your bootie.

4. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Loved this band's first album then thought they'd lost their way a bit with Neon Bible and The Suburbs. The latest one though is a magnificent return to form. Kind of like a cross between Talking Head's Fear Of Music and Scary Monsters era Bowie.

5. John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts
Fabulous songwriter who's songs veer from self-loathing pathos to fabulously funny black humour. This album is driven by an electro sound but don't let that put you off. It's done in great taste and with really strong, catchy melodies.

6. Bill Callahan - Dream River
Hard to describe this guy's music. It's a kind of cinematic Americana singer/songwriter style that is totally unique. Lots of songs have strange sonic washes with odd sounds going on in the background.

7. David Bowie - The Next Day
This was a total surprise when it arrived back in March. Quite a few people said the fanfare would be short lived but I think it's held up well and bears repeated listening. It's easily the best thing he's done since the Let's Dance.

8. Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle
One of the brightest young talents within the new folk singer/songwriter arena. She's only 23 but with a real broad head on her shoulders. If ever anyone could be called the new Joni then it's Laura Marliong.

9. Israel Nash Gripka - Israel Nash's Rain Plans
The band's first album sounded like they'd locked themselves away with Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street to come up with the kind of album the Stones would clean up with if they rediscovered their country rock past.
On this one the blueprint is obviopusly Neil Young and in particular the Harvest album. Nothing wrong with that. Great country rockin' tunes.

10. Atoms For Peace - AMOK
Totally new sounding music - a little bit like an organic drum and bass produced by real musicians but sometimes sounding like it was computer generated. If Miles Davis was still alive he'd be digging this.

So that's the top 10. There were plenty of others that I enjoyed this year.

Here's my bubbling under list:
VV Brown - Samson and Delilah
Prefab Sprout - Devil Came A-Calling
Roy Harper - Man and Myth
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell - Old Yellow Moon
Elvis Costello and The Roots - Wake Up Ghost and Other Stories
Moby - Innocents
Depeche Mode - Delta Machine
Billy Bragg - Tooth and Nail
Julian Cope - Revolutionary Suicide
MGMT - MGMT



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013-11-16 22:59 by Silver Dagger.

20. Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
19. Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks
18. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (Vol 1 & 2)
17. Haim - Days are Gone
16. Primal Scream - More Light
15. Depeche Mode - Delta Machine
14. Valerie June - Pushin' Against The Stone
13. Guy Clark - My Favorite Picture Of You
12. Vince Gill/Paul Franklin - Bakersfield
11. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park
10. George Strait - Love Is Everything
9. David Bowie - The Next Day
8. Kanye West - Yeezus
7. John Legend - Love in the Future
6. The Rolling Stones - Hyde Park Live
5. Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose
4. Paul McCartney - New
3. Elton John - The Diving Board
2. Pistol Annies - Annie Up
1. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. 10

Disappointment of the Year: John Fogerty (Wrote a song for Everyone).

Nice to hear new material from Fleetwood Mac again.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-11-16 15:52 by BowieStone.

How anyone can like Arcade Fire is a mystery to me.

LP of the year - Jason Isbell, Southeastern.

Which ALL proves that rock is dead

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michaelsavage
Which ALL proves that rock is dead

How's it dead Michael? Loads of good rock out there. Depends how you define rock, I guess.

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michaelsavage
Which ALL proves that rock is dead

Rock sucks, so hopefully your comment is true.

What all proves rock is dead?

Disappointment of the year: John Fogerty - beg to differ on that, as I think it's really good.

Primal Scream: More Light - fantastic album.

North Miss Allstars: World Boogie Is Coming - absolute corker.

Usually, I could contribute to such a thread, but this year I just haven't been buying much or paying attention to what new releases are out there. I've been downloading compilations and odd tracks from iTunes, but haven't, I don't think, purchased a new studio-release by anyone. Etta James and Dinah Washington comps don't count and nor does the Stones' Hyde Park release. I'll probably purchase the new Manic Street Preachers and Babyshambles albums at some point, though. Hopefully before the year is out!

The best rock album of the year is

Aaron Neville - My true Story
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away

The best country album of the year:

Steve Earle - Low Highway

the best punk rock/ alternative rock album of the year:

Iggy & The Stooges - Ready To die

The best blues album of the year:

Valerie June - Pushin' Against The Stone

The best heavy metal album of the year:

Motorhead - Aftershock

The best hip hop album of the year:

Tricky - False Idol

The best archive release of the year:

Bob Dylan - Bootleg series 10
Nirvana - In Utero Deluxe Edition.

The best live album of the year

Rolling Stones - Hyde Park

The Most Overrated Album Of The Year" ( AKA "Happy To See You're Back, But You're New Album Is Nothing But Media Hype And Boring As Divorce Trial To Listen To" album Of The Year:

David Bowie - The Next Day

Here's some nicer ones: Disclosure - Settle, and something completely different Deafheaven - Sunbather

Only two:

Bowie and Depeche Mode

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GasLightStreet
How anyone can like Arcade Fire is a mystery to me.

And how anyone can not respect someone else's taste is a mystery to me.

I vote for Bowie...Great album/Come back...

2 1 2 0

Best album - Bowie The Next Day
Best live album - Ry Cooder live in San Francisco
Best archive release - Dylan - Another Self Portrait

The ultimate best album of the year 2013 is for me:

"Hail To The King" by Avenged Sevenfold

Listen here and convince yourself!!

Albums of the year--do deluxe reissues count?

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Ladykiller
The ultimate best album of the year 2013 is for me:

"Hail To The King" by Avenged Sevenfold

Listen here and convince yourself!!

Nice. If you like that you should also listen to Power Trip - Manifest Decimation.
A similar record. You heard it all before, but still it's really really nice to hear it again.

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Whale

Quote
Ladykiller
The ultimate best album of the year 2013 is for me:

"Hail To The King" by Avenged Sevenfold

Listen here and convince yourself!!

Nice. If you like that you should also listen to Power Trip - Manifest Decimation.
A similar record. You heard it all before, but still it's really really nice to hear it again.

I've just listen to that album a little bit on YouTube, the backup sound of Power Trip sounds good, but the singer (or I should say screamer) has a terrible voice.

i have my list somewhere. i'll load it later but david bowie, black sabbath and tom keifer are pretty high

Motörhead Aftershock
Bowie the next day
Black Sabbath 13
Dylan Another self portrait

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michaelsavage
Which ALL proves that rock is dead

It's not dead, it's only resting.

Quote
GasLightStreet
How anyone can like Arcade Fire is a mystery to me.

LP of the year - Jason Isbell, Southeastern.

Quote
stonehearted
Albums of the year--do deluxe reissues count?

I had in mind new music but hey, put whatever's floating your boat.

Yeezus was the only album I truly loved this year. All the rock releases were good for a few songs but ultimately lacking for a full album. Winery Dogs was ok but not as good as everyone said. Tom Keifer's new album had a few good tracks, but the album in full fell flat for me. I really haven't warmed up to Pearl Jam's new album yet and honestly don't think I will. Monster Truck had a widely praised album that, again with most bands these days, I got bored with halfway through because it really does all sound the same. Heaven's Basement album was ok but really had 5 great songs and thats it. I liked Bowie but didn't love it. Still digesting. Buckcherry had a decent album but not up to the standards of their last few. Again, all started to sound the same.

I don't mean to shit on the music these days but I find it really hard to find good new stuff. And people have really failed to convince me otherwise. I ask and they always say you need to look, but anything they offer up usually isn't anything that great. I just said to someone today "why can't we have someone with a Led Zeppelin debut type album." Like that just doesn't happen anymore. These bands have 2 or 3 good songs at most, but the albums are really nothing special. This was the first year in awhile I really loved nothing, except of all things 1 rap release. People will disagree, but I thought 2013 was extremely disappointing for music.

New - Paul McCartney and The Beatles On Air Live At The BBC

The only contenders.

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BlackHat
New - Paul McCartney and The Beatles On Air Live At The BBC

The only contenders.

so 50 year old beatles material is the best new stuff out there. thats pretty scary

Johnny Marr - The Messenger

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MingSubu
Johnny Marr - The Messenger

I've been meaning to check this one out. Thanks for the post.

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keefriffhard4life

Quote
BlackHat
New - Paul McCartney and The Beatles On Air Live At The BBC

The only contenders.

so 50 year old beatles material is the best new stuff out there. thats pretty scary

Not scary really...especially not if it was the best music ever made.