My Year in Music (2013)
This was another year of, maybe not disappointments, but albums that were good, but not great, from bands that I like. There were a few surprises, but very little from left field and there's just not a lot that is memorable. Still, there were some gems that I hope to keep listening to for years.
Forbidden Friends - Tiny Hands/Totally Low
Just as I'm getting sick of The Thermals and their low tempo, punk-ish, pop songs, Hutch goes and records a few acoustic singles that make me look at those guys again. These are four very poppy "love" songs that remind me of the Hutch and Kathy stuff. They are catchy and clever and the four tracks don't overstay their welcome.
Direct Hit! - Domesplitter
This band kicked my ass this year. I listened to them once and immediately got everything from them that I could and listened to it all the time for months. Non-stop, full of energy punk rock. It's a little like Lillingtons with horror/violent lyrics, but done in a way where you sing along at the top of your voice the entire time. Recently found out that the singer/guitarist was in The Box Social, which I also love, but the music of the two bands is very different.
Our Lips Are Sealed - A Tribute to The Go-Go's
Not much to say about this album: great songs covered by good bands. It makes the songs sound fresh, but they are mostly straight up covers and it makes me want to listen to the original versions by the end.
Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady
Janelle Monáe is back with another great album. It didn't come out of nowhere and shock me like Arch-Android, but her rockers are still great (Q.U.E.E.N. might be the best thing she has ever done) and the ballads are more interesting than on her last album. Even better, the songs are better ordered, not front loading the first half and leaving a downer of a second half. She plays with different styles and sings songs about empowerment. Danceable and smart. There is nothing else you could want.
Superchunk - I Hate Music
This is a more contemplative album than Majesty Shredding, but the songs are still interesting and catchy. To be honest, a bit more of the same and wouldn't have made my top 10 in a better year, but there's nothing bad on the album
The Vindictives - "Triskaideckaphobia" Halloween for Vincent Price: JERK-O-LANTERN
The Vindictives put out a 13:13 long medley of cover songs and it is so much better than the EP from 2012. I always loved their cover songs. They take many different types of songs and make them all sound like their own while keeping the spirit of the originals alive. This medley is all Halloween/horror songs and it's solid all the way through, whether they are covering Casper the Friendly Ghost theme song or Micheal Jackson. I'm a little saddened that I like this more than their recent original work, but...
Cleveland Bound Death Sentence
This is a bunch of songs by a band Paddy was in between touring with D4 in the late 90's. It's 30 minutes of music that sounds like early D4 with some new vocals showing up (there's a lady!). It's short. It's great. Again, not sure if it would break my top 10 in a more interesting year, but it does what it does and I like it.
toyGuitar
This is an EP from a new band made of punk rock veterans. It has a lot of energy even though the guys have been around for a long time and I like this a lot better than the bands they are originally from (One Man Army and Swingin' Utters). Can't wait to hear a full length from this band.
Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe
A lot of bands this year did throwbacks this year, mostly to the 80's. This was one of my favorites, mostly 'cause it reminds me of New Order, but updated for 2013. Not too surprising with the band coming out of Glasgow. I don't really have a lot to say about the album: it's catchy pop music of the type that hits my buttons.
Lorde - Pure Heroine
This album was a surprise for me. I gave it a listen and heard down beat pop/club music, totally not my thing, but couldn't stop thinking about it. I gave in and bought the album and it's the thing I've listened to the most this last month, probably my favorite thing after Domesplitter this year. All the songs are like anti-Top 40 songs with slow melodies and songs about not being materialistic, but they are also complex and interesting to listen to. I'm glad it snuck in under the wire.
Forbidden Friends - Tiny Hands/Totally Low
Just as I'm getting sick of The Thermals and their low tempo, punk-ish, pop songs, Hutch goes and records a few acoustic singles that make me look at those guys again. These are four very poppy "love" songs that remind me of the Hutch and Kathy stuff. They are catchy and clever and the four tracks don't overstay their welcome.
Direct Hit! - Domesplitter
This band kicked my ass this year. I listened to them once and immediately got everything from them that I could and listened to it all the time for months. Non-stop, full of energy punk rock. It's a little like Lillingtons with horror/violent lyrics, but done in a way where you sing along at the top of your voice the entire time. Recently found out that the singer/guitarist was in The Box Social, which I also love, but the music of the two bands is very different.
Our Lips Are Sealed - A Tribute to The Go-Go's
Not much to say about this album: great songs covered by good bands. It makes the songs sound fresh, but they are mostly straight up covers and it makes me want to listen to the original versions by the end.
Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady
Janelle Monáe is back with another great album. It didn't come out of nowhere and shock me like Arch-Android, but her rockers are still great (Q.U.E.E.N. might be the best thing she has ever done) and the ballads are more interesting than on her last album. Even better, the songs are better ordered, not front loading the first half and leaving a downer of a second half. She plays with different styles and sings songs about empowerment. Danceable and smart. There is nothing else you could want.
Superchunk - I Hate Music
This is a more contemplative album than Majesty Shredding, but the songs are still interesting and catchy. To be honest, a bit more of the same and wouldn't have made my top 10 in a better year, but there's nothing bad on the album
The Vindictives - "Triskaideckaphobia" Halloween for Vincent Price: JERK-O-LANTERN
The Vindictives put out a 13:13 long medley of cover songs and it is so much better than the EP from 2012. I always loved their cover songs. They take many different types of songs and make them all sound like their own while keeping the spirit of the originals alive. This medley is all Halloween/horror songs and it's solid all the way through, whether they are covering Casper the Friendly Ghost theme song or Micheal Jackson. I'm a little saddened that I like this more than their recent original work, but...
Cleveland Bound Death Sentence
This is a bunch of songs by a band Paddy was in between touring with D4 in the late 90's. It's 30 minutes of music that sounds like early D4 with some new vocals showing up (there's a lady!). It's short. It's great. Again, not sure if it would break my top 10 in a more interesting year, but it does what it does and I like it.
toyGuitar
This is an EP from a new band made of punk rock veterans. It has a lot of energy even though the guys have been around for a long time and I like this a lot better than the bands they are originally from (One Man Army and Swingin' Utters). Can't wait to hear a full length from this band.
Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe
A lot of bands this year did throwbacks this year, mostly to the 80's. This was one of my favorites, mostly 'cause it reminds me of New Order, but updated for 2013. Not too surprising with the band coming out of Glasgow. I don't really have a lot to say about the album: it's catchy pop music of the type that hits my buttons.
Lorde - Pure Heroine
This album was a surprise for me. I gave it a listen and heard down beat pop/club music, totally not my thing, but couldn't stop thinking about it. I gave in and bought the album and it's the thing I've listened to the most this last month, probably my favorite thing after Domesplitter this year. All the songs are like anti-Top 40 songs with slow melodies and songs about not being materialistic, but they are also complex and interesting to listen to. I'm glad it snuck in under the wire.
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