The Best of 2013

One day after the release of a Robert Pollard album I know I just won't have time to absorb, here's my year-end list.

First, the notables from categories I'm not doing this year.

As always, I'm listening to a lot - perhaps primarily, reissues.  I'm not really keeping up with the release dates.  Who knows what came out this year, last year, maybe even 2011 for the fifth or sixth time.  I do know that the second set of Cleaners from Venus records came out this year.  I wanted to get the whole boxed set, but couldn't find it when I had my chance.  Therefore, just the beautifully-titled In The Golden Autumn which I can recommend highly thanks to tracks like "Renee" and "Marilyn on a Train."

Then of course there was Speed the Plough's The Plough and the Stars which I have discussed a lot on the link.  IT's an undefinable record excellent in all the things it is - a best-of, an archival live release, and a new EP, even if the last one is one side of an LP.

That section of the piece, entitled Tag Sale was not the only incredible EP to come out of new Jersey.  Ducktails' Wish Hotel was perhaps my favorite record of the year, any format and a huge improvement over the album he released earlier this year.

So now onto the main event.  The top 10 albums of 2013.  This year, more than ever, I think 10 was the correct number, though ranking them was even harder than most.

10.  Robert Pollard - Honey Locust Honky Tonk

With Pollard's suggestion that English Little League could be the final Guided by Voices record I knew that his next solo album was worth checking out after the last time it happened.  Luckily there are at least two more coming from his group, but this effort is a good one.  In a recent interview with Pollard he discussed the difference between the two projects and these songs coming from an individual 55 year-old man is an even bigger defining element than longer tracks, more keyboards, and less pop.  This maturity may be hear best on the closer "Airs," but Pollard's talent as evident on all the tracks with rocker "Flash Gordon Style" and "Her Eyes Play Tricks on the Camera" being some other top picks.

9.  Mikal Cronin - MCII

It took a recommendation to check this one out as I'm really not into that whole thing coming out of San Francisco these days, but this is a pretty cool guitar pop record.  The young Cronin has a good ear and it's interesting to see what he will do in the future when he gains some more maturity.  I think he falls into some of the retro traps his adopted city is full of, but on face value there is nothing wrong with channeling the greats of the past and songs like "Shout it Out" transcend all of those things.

8.  Surfer Blood - Pythons

One of the most overlooked records of the year (probably due to frontman John Paul Pitts' mental issues and the havoc the wrought), Surfer Blood's follow-up is probably an even better record than their 2010 debut.  This is in no small part due to veteran producer Gil Norton whose work makes opener "Demon Dance" shine as brightly as their other opening track.  The band, now down to a four-piece has just gotten better as well and Pitts' lyrics go even further into his dark psyche and past on songs like "Blair Witch" and "I Was Wrong."  If it doesn't hit the same heights as their debut, it is definitely more consistent and their influences have made them a truly unique voice distinguishing them from the 80s and 90s revivalists to whom they can be compared.  One more record like this and they will have outdone Weezer.  Easily.

7.  Bronko Lelich - The Wrong Stuff

This Bay Area transplant in Brooklyn named after a deceased doctor released this album at the same time as his old band No Big Deal's also strong album.  This one ended up being one of my favorites of the year.  The short lengths show his dedication to Guided by Voices, but the punk energy with transcendently catchy pop make him more along the lines of a non-violent Jay Reatard - best heard on "Pouring Rain."  His skill for concise lyrics may even outdo the pop hooks on songs like "Loveliest One" and "It's So Hard (The Self-Pity Anthem)" and with his perfect guitar tones on "Bad News" and opener "Hella Faced" makes this a perfect record for the rock future.  If you, for some reason haven't downloaded it yet, do that now here:  http://bronkolelich.bandcamp.com/

6.  Guided by Voices - English Little League

Pollard, Sprout, and the rest continue their rise back to the status of the best band on Earth with their fourth reunion album.  It may be the biggest jump in quality yet in terms of both consistency and standout tracks.  Of course Sprout is still shining even brighter with these albums his only current outlet and "Islands (She Talks In Rainbows)" has joined the upper echelon of his best work.  Pollard and his increasingly collaborative approach is also returning to form and the opening one-two punch of "Xeno Pariah" and "Know Me As Heavy," but hits his highest point with "Flunky Minnows."  This album may not be classic era, but no use in expecting more of those, and I would wager to say it beats almost all the professional era albums.  They even close it powerfully with "W/ Glass In Foot"!

5.  Yo La Tengo - Fade

Now over twenty years in their classic incarnation the Hoboken, New Jersey trio shows no signs of slowing down even if their hometown has completed its final death rattle.  Released in the very beginning of the year, it certainly got things moving with this exceptional album, especially opening with "Ohm" a song that captures what Yo La Tengo do best with the surprising lead of James McNew.  With no tracks over 7 minutes it's also one of their most concise and the shortest track of them all "Well You Better" is one of their best pop tracks of all time.  It's their best album in half a decade and if that doesn't say much just remember how great the last one was.  Either way, it's Yo La Tengo and noisy folk pop will always be one of the best things an album can be no matter what.

4.  My Bloody Valentine - m b v

The overhyped and, naturally, over-backlashed album of the year took enough time to absorb than most of those reactions are invalid.  Kevin Shields managed to get past the 22 years of pressure and produced another great record for the legendary band.  Of course, it was a little less collaborative than it had been in the past, but nothing changes the quality of the music.  Less song-oriented than ever before the textures on this album may even surpass those in the past without the overkill of Loveless which shows a more mature artist.  Rather than try to repeat their old masterpiece, they have a sound the picks up the evolution where they left off and the record has a charm all of its own, like all of the group's other records.  More ethereal Irish music from the heart and a new classic song to boot in "New You," one of their best of all time.

3.  The Flaming Lips - The Terror

I am only new beginning to absorb this album.  Perhaps it was the release date.  It's just not a very Spring album, is it?  I have a feeling it may end up a masterpiece in my mind, taking over the number one spot for this year and maybe the Lips' career.  The last few years have given us a whole lot of apocalyptic albums and this is one of the finest, in a was picking up where the other slow-burning Embryonic left off.  If you're not ready it's hard to sit through it and very hard to find a foothold, but the same could be said for much of Pink Floyd and this album proves more than any other that the Li[s are the heirs to that throne.  Once this album has its following it will be a real life changer as there is no doubt that each member of this band has found as cosmic channel to the truth you shouldn't need any more proof than titles like "Be Free, A Way" and "You Are Alone" should be enough.  If you've been scratching your head over this release it's time to listen to it again.  The bonus tracks are great too and "Sun Blows Up Today" should have been included on my mix for the year.

2.  Kurt Vile - Walkin' in a Pretty Daze

It took long enough, but I was finally won over by Kurt Vile at the South Street Seaport this summer.  Shortly after I picked up this album and it was in very heavy rotation for a while.  Prior to its release it would be hard to imagine Vile sounding any stonier (though on "Goldtone" he insists that's not the case), but the extended lengths of these songs managed to do it.  Even with many of these slow, psychedelic folk tunes pushing the 10-minute mark it never drags or even gets too jammy proving Vile and his Violators highly-skilled in getting to the essence of the music and it making it really count.  With one of the most perfect titles of all time, it's no surprise that the lyrics are one of the biggest strengtths as well, from the nebulous, yet blissed-out opener to the sentimental fantasy of "Girl Called Alex."  However, it is "Was All Talk" that defines the album best:  "Making music is easy.  Watch me!"

1.  Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of The City

When this came out, I - like so many others, still had a hard time liking Vampire Weekend.  This album though, was a huge step up, even as I've come to appreciate all their records.  As the cover suggests this is not just another snicker at the Northeast upper crust, but an honest look at the majesty of the city that gave birth to this unique group.  It could not have been timed any better and the opening "Obvious Bicycle" was enough to show a different side to the New Yorkers.  Though it contributes to what has put off so many people, the group's honesty is one of their virtues and the album takes it so far it gets both uncomfortable and transcendent as in the breakdown of "Finger Back."  Where there is an air of light preppy fun on the album, death is everywhere and the release of "Diane Young," which I still believe is the album's weakest track as lead single said all that could be said in that regard.  I also can't condone what they did to those Saab's, but its artistic reasons are good enough to overlook it.  This element of damnation and redemption that begins early on with "Unbelievers" spirals to a dramatic conclusion at the end with tracks like "Worship You," the eerie "Hudosn," and the gorgeous conclusion "Young Lion," which is even a little reminiscent of "You're Not An Airplane."  The record's production may actually be what it keeps it so on the edge, though with the rising superstar Ariel Rechtshaid adding pop sounds foreign to a person like me fitting in perfectly with Rostam Btmanlij's ear for classical embellishments, best heard on "Ya Hey."  A masterpiece, and maybe even more perfectly-titled than the Kurt Vile record.

Top 5 Songs of 2013:

5.  Vampire Weekend - "Obvious Bicycle"

4.  Surfer Blood - "Demon Dance"

3.  My Bloody Valentine - "New You"

2.  Ducktails - "Wish Hotel"

1.  Deerhunter - "The Missing"

Top 5 Sets I Attended in 2013:

5.  pow wow! at Living Bread, Brooklyn

4.  Flamin' Groovies, Maxwell's, Hoboken

3.  Feelies, Washington Street, Hoboken

2.  Will Stratton, Pete's Candy Shop, Brooklyn

1.  The Last Nights, Super River House, Los Angeles

So what's coming up for 2014?

A lot of good!  First of all, from New Jersey, of course.  As anyone who downloaded my best of 2013 mix would know the next Will Stratton album is going to kick ass.  There's a reason he's #2 on that live shows list.  That was one of the most emotionally-moving experiences of my life, beat only by the time he played before, but that set wasn't as long.  The other one would be the New Real Estate album.  Every little scrap I've heard from that so far is as great as Days.  I would't be surprised if we get more form Speed the Plough and their new lineup too.

Then of course there's Super River, and our upcoming album The Ball Python Manual.  It's taken a long time to complete, but it shouldn't be that much longer.  It's gonna be pretty different from This One Reminds Me The Most of Us, I think in a good way, so hopefully that will be finished and you can all hear it soon!

Also, I believe there should be some new releases from Twin Sister, the Apples In Stereo, and definitely some cool stuff coming out of Alameda, so that's promising.

Coming soon (probably tomorrow) the best band in the world for every year.