Hey music fans, I just thought I’d through in my ten cents on my favorite albums of 2013. I know, I know, I’m alittle late, but now that the dust has settled (aka the holidays), I’ve been able to sit down, and crack my top 5 albums of last year. I’ve been actually listening to alot of albums that have been released in 2012, that some how I missed (Beach House, Metz, Grimes, Zeus, The Raveonettes), so it’s been rather distracting to listen to the latest albums of 2013. Damn you albums! But, I’ve been able to pin down everything, right here and right now… dun dun dun…

#10. Dropkick Murphys, Signed And Sealed In Blood … good, fun & wholesome, get drunk PUNK!
#09. Still Life Still, Mourning Trance … lazy summer afternoon, drown yourself into, indie rock.
#08. Toro Y Moi, Anything In Return … easily the grooviest album of the year.
#07. Queens Of The Stone Age, …Like Clockwork … spooky, eerie, sexy, it can only be QOTSA.
#06. Washed Out, Paracosm … nicely packaged, dream-like, elevator music.

And for the best part…

@ #5. it’s… Wavves, Afraid Of Heights

Say what you want about this album… it’s alittle wishy washy, the lyrics are pretty juvenile. But you know what? It’s a pretty awesome release by Wavves. There’s so much going on, mixing styles from straight up punk, noise rock, & 90’s alternative. It seems that every song has it’s own thing going for it, and at the same time stays into this very familar territory that makes this album flow quite good. And it’s also quite accessible. For me, it’s a lot of fun, for those times when you just like to get some energy out, and feel alittle silly, it’s all there. Nothing serious, just some good fun.

Must hear tracks: Sail To The Sun, Dog, & That’s On Me
 

#4. Chvrches, The Bones Of What You Believe

The album that has favourably made it on my list. This band kinda came out of left-field for me. And after single, upon single, upon full length album this band, and their music has really made an impact on music listening ears. I’m gonna leave you with a little teaser of the song here, and if you like, you can check out my review of the album here.

Must hear tracks: Gun, Night Sky, & By The Throat
 

#3. Diana, Perpetual Surrender

This was one album I wasn’t sold on at first, you know, I totally digged the first single, “Born Again”, and really didn’t think too much for the rest of the album. But there was just something about the music that kept me coming back. Maybe it was the sunset, beach feeling that I was experiencing, or the vocals that I was falling in love with, from lead singer, Carmen Elle. And now, that I listen to the album, I just think to myself, “man, if only this album clocked over a half-hour of music, I want more!”.

Must hear tracks: That Feeling, Perpetual Surrender, & Born Again.
 

#2. Arcade Fire, Reflektor

http://youtu.be/BJNBexnDS9Y

I think the idea of this album began sometime around when they were doing the instrumentation for the song, “Sprawl II – Mountains Beyond Mountain”. It was such a fun, and playful song that brought out a different side of Arcade Fire, which I think is the surrounding theme for their latest double EP entitled, Reflektor. This is one album that the somewhat lead vocalist, Régine Chassagne can whimsically dance to, with her accordion. It has this clever, pseudo feel that starts off pretty jangly, and by the end of the 2nd disc you feel like you are going into some deep territory. It’s the story of David Bowie’s life, in all of 2 discs.

Must hear tracks: Reflektor, We Exist (aka, Madonna’s “Like A Virgin”), & You Already Know, fuck it… most of them are worth mentioning.
 

#1. Braids, Flourish // Perish

http://youtu.be/-2bcADHSCyI

Hands down, my favorite album of the year, if this album didn’t come out, I’d be absolutely in a daze on making this entire list. Yes, saying that, this list wouldn’t be complete. This album, I’d figure, wouldn’t make it on many peoples lists. But it did make it on mine and Jeff’s list, so hey, we know what we are talking about here. It sucks that a lot of Canadian artists don’t get exposure outside of the country, I mean this album is just simply amazing. It just takes you somewhere, and the magnitude of it is awesome. I love the vocals (maybe not the strongest lyrically), but the melody, and beats are just so badass.

To fully describe this album, I did a review of this album once before, right here.

Must hear tracks: All of them, specifically Victoria, December, & Together.