Trev’s Best 10 of 2013

I don’t what it was about 2013, it seems that a few of the albums which I wanted to put on this list were released in 2012 (Passenger’s All the Little Lights, The Heist by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to name a couple), but 2013 had some definitely great music, it wasn’t a banner year like in years past, this was a list that when I was honest with myself, had to look the way it does, these were the albums which soothed my ears  and consistently found their way back onto my playlist.  I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.   Here Goes….

1. Pure Heroine – Lorde

lorde-pure-heroine-410

Unequivocally, this is my favorite album of 2013.  When I heard the breakthrough hit “Royals” for the first time a few months ago I was intrigued, and that intrigue continued to grow once it came out that this girl was only 16 and hailed from New Zealand (and not the UK where I would have assumed she was from).   Fortunately Lorde’s debut full length was as strong (if not stronger) than her signature single and the album fused itself to my playlist and hasn’t budged.  The tracks I recommend checking out are “Still Sane”, “Buzzcut Season” and “White Teeth Teens”.

 

 

 

2. Paradise Valley – John Mayer

mayer

Who knew Katy Perry had a purpose beyond her neon hued vapidity?  Apparently her world of rainbows and lollipops has help turn John Mayer from grumpy curmudgeon into a warmly affable human being.  This is the album which could have been the soundtrack for summer, but wasn’t released until late August.  This is an album that honestly sounds like a late summer afternoon sitting on the patio after having a couple of beer, pleasantly mellow and at peace with the world.    This is another album which has been a staple of my playlist the past couple of months.   Tunes you should check out: “On the Way Home”, “Wildfire” and “I Will be Found (Lost at Sea)”.

 

 

 

3. Save Rock and Roll – Fall Out Boy

Folder

After a much needed hiatus Fall Out Boy opted to stage their return in 2013, and while it was an idea that I initially scoffed at, but I was hooked upon hearing their lead single “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light em Up)”.   This is an album which is the musical equivalent of a summer blockbuster, it’s fun, loud and allows you to flip your brain off for a bit.  After really thinking about what I was listening to through 2013, Save Rock and Roll got a lot of air play, and the FOB tracks: “The Phoenix”, “My Songs Know What You Did….” and “Young Volcanos” were great additions to my running playlists.  It might not be the smartest album on the list, but it’s certainly one of the most fun.  The band made the right decision to let Patrick take the lead and to let Pete handle things behind the scenes.

 

 

4. I Love You – The Neighbourhood

neighbourhood

For a pair of singles (“Female Robbery” and “Sweater Weather”) which debuted in 2012, they sure did garner a great deal of buzz for California based band The Neighbourhood.  Needless to say when their debut full length dropped, fans were clamoring for it, and for good reason, this moody atmospheric alt rock disc churned out a couple other singles and continued to ride high on the quality of the previously released pair of tunes.  This is a disc which is worth listening to, check out “Afraid”, “Let it Go” and “Flawless”.

 

 

 

5. Reflektor – Arcade Fire

arcadefire

Once the hipster decoder ring was employed, and the riddle which Reflektor was cracked, the album made a great deal of sense and revealed its sheer awesomeness.  The first few spins of the latest release from Montreal’s Arcade Fire were met with disdain and some incredulousness  over the sheer ambition and audacity of this release.  It eschewed the accessibility of their previous release The Suburbs and adopted the opposite mentality and made this instantly inaccessible, but with some effort, the album blossoms, you just have to persevere though the first handful of listens.   It is as good as The Suburbs in every way.   Check out “We exist”, “It’s Never Over (Oh Orpheus)” and “Afterlife”.

 

http://youtu.be/F0tBeMS8cMU

 

 

6. Us Alone – Hayden

hayden

The reclusive singer songwriter Hayden (Desser) made a triumphant return in 2013 with his sleepy Us Alone, an album that will be beloved by a few and lost on many.   There weren’t a handful of singles stacked up on Billboard’s top 100, but this collection of 8 delightfully warm and mellow tracks doesn’t need a lead single for commercial radio to pound into the ground, instead this as complete as an album can be.   As such, it finds itself on my best of 2013 list.   The notable tracks are “Blurry Nights”, “Rainy Saturday” and “Motel”

 

 

 

7. Artpop – Lady Gaga

gaga

Say what you will about her antics, her outrageous outfits, or the legions of  “Little Monsters” who worship Ms. Germanotta, the bottom line she is making pop music which is interesting and thought provoking.   Artpop may only be Gaga’s third studio effort, but this is the first where you get glimpses of a talented chanteuse beneath all of the production, make no mistake Lady Gaga can sing and Artpop showcases this fact.   While Katy Perry is off making music to kill brain cells with, Gaga has made a pop album for the adults in the room who want a little thought with their pop music.   Have a listen to “Donatella”, “Gypsy” or “Do What U Want (feat. R Kelly)”.

 

 

 

8. Flying Colours – Shad

shad

Shad bears the distinction of being my favorite emcee of 2013 (just edging out Kanye, Killer Mike and Childish Gambino).  What makes this album special is that Shad’s vocabulary is massive and his flow is silky smooth, but for the most part his tracks are like aural paintings which tell these wonderfully articulate stories, and isn’t interested in becoming the Master of the Universe like a certain emcee, but is interested in crafting quality rhymes and seems like a decent chap to boot.  Tracks to peep: “He Say She Say”, “Stylin”, “Love Means”

 

 

 

9. Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam

pearljam

With the last couple of Pearl Jam albums, you know you’re getting a handful of well crafted rock n roll tunes, and a couple of great power ballads.  It’s a great blast of bombast with a serious hit of nostalgia in most cases, but the only difference is that Eddie Vedder and co. keep adding to an already impressive catalogue of songs.  The latest from these Seattle lads doesn’t break away from that formula, you get the raucous blast up front and then the album mellows.  This is an album that’s grown on me with each listen and would be a great collection of tunes to see live.  Check out “Sirens”, “Infallible” and “Pendulum”.

 

 

 

10.  One Big Happy Family – Mike Trask and the Precious Memories

Last but not least, this album is a local blast of fantastic retro tinged folky blues rock which bears an old-timey magnetism which draws you back in time and again.  When it’s right, it’s right, and this is an album which deserves your attention. Local musician Mike Trask and co. have recorded a gem with One Big Happy Family, have a listen to “Hat & Coat”, “Stuck in Stockholm” and title track “One Big Happy Family”.

 

 

About the author

Trev

A proud and over-caffeinated husband, father, runner and writer. I've written for the local weekly The Coast for over a decade and have since taken to creating and writing for HAFILAX for even longer. I hope you enjoy the musings of a guy who has loved music for the better part of 4 decades, and has an album of concert tickets to show for it.

Instagram