*Retrospect on the past year*
*Talking about some good music, bad music*
*Namedrop a few bands*
Okay, that's my intro, let's do this:
11. J. Cole - Born Sinner
I still listen to hip-hop a lot, but it won't really crack any lists for me. Mainstream, especially, has taken a huge hit for me. I find it a barren wasteland of bad production, repetitive lyrics, and a general apathy in the delivery. So, naturally, I had that inhibition of J. Cole when I first listened to him back in 2011, and to be honest I wasn't a big fan of his debut album. So, I just ignored him until this year, when I heard "Power Trip" with Miguel. It was pretty good, but not spectacular; however, I heard many good things about sophomore album Born Sinner and decided to give it a shot.
I was very surprised by what I heard. It's a very diverse album with some noteworthy tracks. I was a huge fan of "Crooked Smile," and by looking at the pop charts so do most people. It's lyrically fantastic, giving multiple definitions to the metaphor crooked smile. "Power Trip" has grown on me, mostly because of the very old-school style beat. The same goes for "Let Nas Down" and "Born Sinner," the title track. Both are strong tracks that stand out, especially the title track. The beat is so tantalizing, but so relaxing. The subtle horns in the background, as well as the strong chorus really make this song a gem. Overall, a big improvement for J. Cole in album 2, and I expect big things for his junior record.
Notable Tracks: "Power Trip (featuring Miguel)," "Crooked Smile (featuring TLC)," "Let Nas Down," "Born Sinner (featuring James Fauntleroy)"
10. Fall Out Boy - Save Rock & Roll
You either love them or hate them. I've been on both ends of the spectrum; I used to hate them due to their MTV-like status. They were riding a very obnoxious wave and it really turned me off to some good music. To this day, they're one of the few bands that have successfully pulled off a good Michael Jackson cover ("Beat It" with John Mayer). They're also a pretty eclectic sound, combining elements of pop-punk, alternative, and hip-hop in their sound.
I was looking forward to this album, and it really didn't disappoint. The record starts out with a bang with "The Phoenix," then a more subtle but harder hitting "My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark." Those two songs alone made this album worth listening to, but there so many great moments here. In particular, the dance-oriented "Where Did the Party Go" is probably the catchiest song released this year, and "Save Rock & Roll" with Elton John serves as a fantastic closer. Also, being a Courtney Love fan, "Rat a Tat" was an extremely fun listen. It was so Courtney, and her chemistry with Patrick Stump is quite entertaining.
Notable Tracks: "The Phoenix," "My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark," "Where Did the Party Go," "Rat a Tat"
9. Killswitch Engage - Disarm the Descent
They're my favorite band, I'm obliged to put them on here. End of story. That being said, there was some concern around the vocals change when Jesse Leach, the original vocalist, replaced Howard Jones after nearly a decade of work. When Leach left, Killswitch Engage took off into the mainstream conscious, leaving its mark in the metal community. It would be a tough job being the new "it guy" for a band so popular and having its reputation hinged on a new guy.
Fortunately for everyone, Killswitch Engage released what is probably their best album to date. Jesse sounds much more natural to me than Howard Jones. Don't get me wrong, Jones is a fantastic vocalist, but you can really see the chemistry with the band when Leach performs. Jones through the end of his run started losing that touch a little bit, in my opinion. All that aside, "In Due Time" is one of their best songs ever released. The guitar riff at the beginning is so catchy, as well as the vocals supplied are even better. Opener "The Hell in Me" starts off chaotically, working to the band's strength. Overall, it was a pretty amazing album, and I'm so glad to have Leach back.
Notable Tracks: "The Hell in Me," "The New Awakening," "In Due Time," "Tribute to the Fallen"
8. Hands Like Houses - Unimagine
The Aussie-sextet has been gaining some steam lately, mostly for their very unique sound. Synths and keys comprise much of their sound, but are mainly used as effect rather than lead. In a genre dominated by snyth leads, it was refreshing to see a band not constantly doing that. In addition, they have a plethora of musical skill, which enables them to write a diverse song set.
This held true once again with their sophomore album, Unimagine, which was released only one year after their critically-acclaimed debut, Ground Dweller. Not much changed in terms of sound itself, but you saw a maturation that not a lot of bands can make in the span of a year. It was impressive to see how they really tightened their focus in songwriting, to the point where every instrument was noticeable. That is something that you don't see too much nowadays, as songs are either dominated by vocals or synth. Having a band that has genuine equal production out of everyone is refreshing, and a welcome change. Listen to opener "Developments" to see what I'm talking about; guitar leads take the opener, bass and keys take the verse, vocals take the chorus, drums take the bridge... It was pretty much like that the entire album. I'd guarantee this is to pretty much anyone, as its accessibility is actually quite high.
Notable Tracks: "Developments," "Introduced Species," "Shapeshifters," "A Fire on a Hill"
7. A Lot Like Birds - No Place
I made "Next to Ungodliness" song of the year in another entry, so you can read my entire diatribe on that song there. Chaos isn't A Lot Like Birds specialty, though, it's the intricate songwriting that makes this band so great. Every note has importance to it, and like the Hands Like Houses album, each instrument is given equal importance. The difference here is that the music is (redundantly put) intricate. Their sound didn't change a whole lot from their first album, Conversation Piece, but again more of a maturation change.
Again, like I said, part of what makes this band so crazy-sounding at times is the odd sound they have. It's hard to describe, really, but it all comes together really well. In No Place each song is so much different from the last, but they gel together very well. It's the sort of diversity that shows how talented these songwriters are. It really is a fantastic album.
Notable Tracks: "No Nature," "Next to Ungodliness," "Connector"
6. The Story so Far - What You Don't See
My favorite pop-punk band, and my favorite pop-punk album of the year. They really stepped their game up when it was do or die; in such a cluttered genre you cannot afford to have a bad album. Otherwise, your career is down the drain, and The Story so Far knew that going in. They were going to have to make something different, yet consistent with their down. The result was a fantastic album that made many end-year lists.
Not everyone likes this band, and that's understandable. The reason this stood out for me was Parker Cannon's vocals, which have improved greatly. In "Things I Can't Change," he exhibits a great consistency, and on "Empty Space" shows off his improved range hitting high notes. "Right Here" has some great guitar work, and "The Glass" has become a live staple for them.
Notable Tracks: "Things I Can't Change," "Right Here," "The Glass"
5. Tilian - Material Me
I'm a Tilian Pearson fan, and this list is obviously going to reflect that. He's my favorite vocalist right now, honestly because there is no one like him. No one can hit the notes he does, no one can have the range, consistency, or control that he has right now, especially in his genre of post-hardcore. It makes total sense to do a solo album then.
Here's the catch: Material Me is a dance-pop album. It was weird to hear it at first, but it quickly grew on me as something special. Every track is distinguishable, and each different sound is just as good as the next. I thought I had a favorite song from the album, but I really don't; there are some that I like more than others but that's like giving a 9.5 over a 9 out of 10. It's a minute difference at best. The theme for this album is that most of the songs have a dance beat, rather than the heavier beats he's used to, and his voice fits that style of music perfectly. Songs like "Chemicals" show that cohesion between vocalist and genre perfectly, and it made sense when he decided to go through this project. I honestly want him to write more solo material, but we'll see.
Notable Tracks: "Someday," "Chemicals," "Up in the Air," "Favor the Gods"
4. Dance Gavin Dance - Acceptance Speech
Another Tilian appearance. What a shock. I'll just say that on Acceptance Speech, he is perfect on every song. Every note is hit with absolute precision and there are no errors. Now that that's out of the way, let's discuss the rest of the band:
Jon Mess is an amazing screamer who deserves more than his share of the credit ("Jesus H. Macy" shows his screaming capabilities quite well). Will Swan is the glue that makes this band stick together, creating innovative and original guitar riffs and leads (A good example of this is "The Jiggler"). Josh Benton is a relatively new member, but does a great job providing the rhythm to Swan's leads. Matt Mingus is an incredible drummer, and brings something unexpected on every track.
There, just by hearing about each band member it should give you an idea why I like this band so much. Acceptance Speech is without a doubt their best album. Nothing comes close to it, and for a band we all thought was dead, it's quite remarkable the comeback they've made.
Notable Tracks: "Jesus H. Macy," "Acceptance Speech," "The Jiggler," "Turn Off the Lights. I'm Watching Back to the Future (Part II)"
3. Defeater - Letters Home
I only heard this album recently, so this may just be because it's a hot listen for me. Honestly, though, Defeater has always been under the radar. I had great respect for them, but I never gave them the thorough listen they deserved. That was, until I decided to listen to their latest album Letters Home in its entirety.
What we're essentially getting is an album with no filler. Keep the energy alive, even when the track slows down. It's very quick paced, but it's also very controlled. Opening track and lead single "Bastards" exemplifies this; it knows when to fade out instruments and when to be aggressive. "Hopeless Again" does this as well, and what it does for the listener is that it allows them to be interested the entire time. The album always stays fresh, and therefore has staying power. This was a very underrated release for 2013, and would highly recommend it.
Notable Tracks: "Bastards," "Hopeless Again," "Rabbit Foot"
2. Dead Celebrity Status - The Throwaway Kids
Ten years ago, I was introduced to Canadian hip-hop trio Dead Celebrity Status. Their constant mocking of US politics and Hollywood life caught my attention, as I was a big fan of their satire of mainstream life. They would incite questions, they would tackle mundane topics in an interesting light, and would often use celebrities as a target. It wasn't anything new, but it was definitely entertaining. Their first album, Blood Music, was a great album and still remains a favorite of mine to this day.
Flash forward to 2013, and they finally release their sophomore album, The Throwaway Kids. It was worth the wait, because every song this time carries meaning to it. While Blood Music was an interesting approach on hip-hop, The Throwaway Kids perfected this approach. Even "The Prelude," which is usually a throwaway track (no pun intended), serves a great introduction with its great rhyming poetic nature. The beats are perfect, and never overpower the two rappers at any time.
It's a very politically-charged album, so there's the chance you'll hate it if you don't agree with it. It is a very anti-establishment stance, again something not new. Their execution, however, is amazing. The title track and "Dancing on the Sun" are both amazing tracks that really show this attitude off. Every song feels like an anthem, like it has purpose. There is absolutely no filler on this album, and really gets you to think.
Notable Tracks: "Them (A Prelude)," "Throwaway Kids," "Dancing on the Sun," "Shut it Down"
1. Deaf Havana - Old Souls
This was no contest, really. Deaf Havana has, since my first listen of them, been a favorite of mine. Every album they've made has been memorable, especially their re-release of Fools and Worthless Liars, which featured alternative versions of each of the original tracks on that album. It was folk-heavy, and such a cool take on songs that were of an alternative-punk nature.
This year, they came out with some brand new material, in the form of Old Souls. What Deaf Havana does better than any other band is their ability to blend different genres, but never force it. Sometimes artists, in an attempt to expand their arsenal, with try to combine genres and just not sound natural. This band, however, is a master of doing this, as seen with bluesy nature of "Subterranean Bullshit Blues." Of course, their forte is in alternative-punk, as seen with lead single "Boston Square." Like with their preceding albums, the lyrical content continues to be great, and worth reading online somewhere.
Old Soul is a perfect album, there are literally no flaws in my eyes. I normally can't stand acoustic tracks, but even that they made so good for me. There isn't a single thing I can criticize this band for; their extreme gain in popularity in the past year is well-deserved. I see huge things for Deaf Havana in the future, and this album should catapult them to the top.
Notable Tracks: All of it. Seriously, it's that good.
I feel good about this list; sometimes in the course of things you want to change things, but I don't think I'll be doing that here. I've had a lot of time to ponder what I wanted to do with this list, and I really feel that Old Souls by Deaf Havana was the best album of the year, heck it's the best album I've heard in years. It's honest-to-God that good. The other albums I've mentioned are really as good as I made them out to be, too. If you haven't heard of these artists, definitely check them out, because their material deserves to reach more people. Let's just hope that 2014 can be as good a year as 2013, but I doubt it; 2013 was an incredible year for music, the best in a long time. But then again, I said in 2012 that 2013 wasn't going to be as good, and I was wrong. I really hope I'm wrong here, let 2014 be even more amazing!
*Talking about some good music, bad music*
*Namedrop a few bands*
Okay, that's my intro, let's do this:
11. J. Cole - Born Sinner
I still listen to hip-hop a lot, but it won't really crack any lists for me. Mainstream, especially, has taken a huge hit for me. I find it a barren wasteland of bad production, repetitive lyrics, and a general apathy in the delivery. So, naturally, I had that inhibition of J. Cole when I first listened to him back in 2011, and to be honest I wasn't a big fan of his debut album. So, I just ignored him until this year, when I heard "Power Trip" with Miguel. It was pretty good, but not spectacular; however, I heard many good things about sophomore album Born Sinner and decided to give it a shot.
I was very surprised by what I heard. It's a very diverse album with some noteworthy tracks. I was a huge fan of "Crooked Smile," and by looking at the pop charts so do most people. It's lyrically fantastic, giving multiple definitions to the metaphor crooked smile. "Power Trip" has grown on me, mostly because of the very old-school style beat. The same goes for "Let Nas Down" and "Born Sinner," the title track. Both are strong tracks that stand out, especially the title track. The beat is so tantalizing, but so relaxing. The subtle horns in the background, as well as the strong chorus really make this song a gem. Overall, a big improvement for J. Cole in album 2, and I expect big things for his junior record.
Notable Tracks: "Power Trip (featuring Miguel)," "Crooked Smile (featuring TLC)," "Let Nas Down," "Born Sinner (featuring James Fauntleroy)"
10. Fall Out Boy - Save Rock & Roll
You either love them or hate them. I've been on both ends of the spectrum; I used to hate them due to their MTV-like status. They were riding a very obnoxious wave and it really turned me off to some good music. To this day, they're one of the few bands that have successfully pulled off a good Michael Jackson cover ("Beat It" with John Mayer). They're also a pretty eclectic sound, combining elements of pop-punk, alternative, and hip-hop in their sound.
I was looking forward to this album, and it really didn't disappoint. The record starts out with a bang with "The Phoenix," then a more subtle but harder hitting "My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark." Those two songs alone made this album worth listening to, but there so many great moments here. In particular, the dance-oriented "Where Did the Party Go" is probably the catchiest song released this year, and "Save Rock & Roll" with Elton John serves as a fantastic closer. Also, being a Courtney Love fan, "Rat a Tat" was an extremely fun listen. It was so Courtney, and her chemistry with Patrick Stump is quite entertaining.
Notable Tracks: "The Phoenix," "My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark," "Where Did the Party Go," "Rat a Tat"
9. Killswitch Engage - Disarm the Descent
They're my favorite band, I'm obliged to put them on here. End of story. That being said, there was some concern around the vocals change when Jesse Leach, the original vocalist, replaced Howard Jones after nearly a decade of work. When Leach left, Killswitch Engage took off into the mainstream conscious, leaving its mark in the metal community. It would be a tough job being the new "it guy" for a band so popular and having its reputation hinged on a new guy.
Fortunately for everyone, Killswitch Engage released what is probably their best album to date. Jesse sounds much more natural to me than Howard Jones. Don't get me wrong, Jones is a fantastic vocalist, but you can really see the chemistry with the band when Leach performs. Jones through the end of his run started losing that touch a little bit, in my opinion. All that aside, "In Due Time" is one of their best songs ever released. The guitar riff at the beginning is so catchy, as well as the vocals supplied are even better. Opener "The Hell in Me" starts off chaotically, working to the band's strength. Overall, it was a pretty amazing album, and I'm so glad to have Leach back.
Notable Tracks: "The Hell in Me," "The New Awakening," "In Due Time," "Tribute to the Fallen"
8. Hands Like Houses - Unimagine
The Aussie-sextet has been gaining some steam lately, mostly for their very unique sound. Synths and keys comprise much of their sound, but are mainly used as effect rather than lead. In a genre dominated by snyth leads, it was refreshing to see a band not constantly doing that. In addition, they have a plethora of musical skill, which enables them to write a diverse song set.
This held true once again with their sophomore album, Unimagine, which was released only one year after their critically-acclaimed debut, Ground Dweller. Not much changed in terms of sound itself, but you saw a maturation that not a lot of bands can make in the span of a year. It was impressive to see how they really tightened their focus in songwriting, to the point where every instrument was noticeable. That is something that you don't see too much nowadays, as songs are either dominated by vocals or synth. Having a band that has genuine equal production out of everyone is refreshing, and a welcome change. Listen to opener "Developments" to see what I'm talking about; guitar leads take the opener, bass and keys take the verse, vocals take the chorus, drums take the bridge... It was pretty much like that the entire album. I'd guarantee this is to pretty much anyone, as its accessibility is actually quite high.
Notable Tracks: "Developments," "Introduced Species," "Shapeshifters," "A Fire on a Hill"
7. A Lot Like Birds - No Place
I made "Next to Ungodliness" song of the year in another entry, so you can read my entire diatribe on that song there. Chaos isn't A Lot Like Birds specialty, though, it's the intricate songwriting that makes this band so great. Every note has importance to it, and like the Hands Like Houses album, each instrument is given equal importance. The difference here is that the music is (redundantly put) intricate. Their sound didn't change a whole lot from their first album, Conversation Piece, but again more of a maturation change.
Again, like I said, part of what makes this band so crazy-sounding at times is the odd sound they have. It's hard to describe, really, but it all comes together really well. In No Place each song is so much different from the last, but they gel together very well. It's the sort of diversity that shows how talented these songwriters are. It really is a fantastic album.
Notable Tracks: "No Nature," "Next to Ungodliness," "Connector"
6. The Story so Far - What You Don't See
My favorite pop-punk band, and my favorite pop-punk album of the year. They really stepped their game up when it was do or die; in such a cluttered genre you cannot afford to have a bad album. Otherwise, your career is down the drain, and The Story so Far knew that going in. They were going to have to make something different, yet consistent with their down. The result was a fantastic album that made many end-year lists.
Not everyone likes this band, and that's understandable. The reason this stood out for me was Parker Cannon's vocals, which have improved greatly. In "Things I Can't Change," he exhibits a great consistency, and on "Empty Space" shows off his improved range hitting high notes. "Right Here" has some great guitar work, and "The Glass" has become a live staple for them.
Notable Tracks: "Things I Can't Change," "Right Here," "The Glass"
5. Tilian - Material Me
I'm a Tilian Pearson fan, and this list is obviously going to reflect that. He's my favorite vocalist right now, honestly because there is no one like him. No one can hit the notes he does, no one can have the range, consistency, or control that he has right now, especially in his genre of post-hardcore. It makes total sense to do a solo album then.
Here's the catch: Material Me is a dance-pop album. It was weird to hear it at first, but it quickly grew on me as something special. Every track is distinguishable, and each different sound is just as good as the next. I thought I had a favorite song from the album, but I really don't; there are some that I like more than others but that's like giving a 9.5 over a 9 out of 10. It's a minute difference at best. The theme for this album is that most of the songs have a dance beat, rather than the heavier beats he's used to, and his voice fits that style of music perfectly. Songs like "Chemicals" show that cohesion between vocalist and genre perfectly, and it made sense when he decided to go through this project. I honestly want him to write more solo material, but we'll see.
Notable Tracks: "Someday," "Chemicals," "Up in the Air," "Favor the Gods"
4. Dance Gavin Dance - Acceptance Speech
Another Tilian appearance. What a shock. I'll just say that on Acceptance Speech, he is perfect on every song. Every note is hit with absolute precision and there are no errors. Now that that's out of the way, let's discuss the rest of the band:
Jon Mess is an amazing screamer who deserves more than his share of the credit ("Jesus H. Macy" shows his screaming capabilities quite well). Will Swan is the glue that makes this band stick together, creating innovative and original guitar riffs and leads (A good example of this is "The Jiggler"). Josh Benton is a relatively new member, but does a great job providing the rhythm to Swan's leads. Matt Mingus is an incredible drummer, and brings something unexpected on every track.
There, just by hearing about each band member it should give you an idea why I like this band so much. Acceptance Speech is without a doubt their best album. Nothing comes close to it, and for a band we all thought was dead, it's quite remarkable the comeback they've made.
Notable Tracks: "Jesus H. Macy," "Acceptance Speech," "The Jiggler," "Turn Off the Lights. I'm Watching Back to the Future (Part II)"
3. Defeater - Letters Home
I only heard this album recently, so this may just be because it's a hot listen for me. Honestly, though, Defeater has always been under the radar. I had great respect for them, but I never gave them the thorough listen they deserved. That was, until I decided to listen to their latest album Letters Home in its entirety.
What we're essentially getting is an album with no filler. Keep the energy alive, even when the track slows down. It's very quick paced, but it's also very controlled. Opening track and lead single "Bastards" exemplifies this; it knows when to fade out instruments and when to be aggressive. "Hopeless Again" does this as well, and what it does for the listener is that it allows them to be interested the entire time. The album always stays fresh, and therefore has staying power. This was a very underrated release for 2013, and would highly recommend it.
Notable Tracks: "Bastards," "Hopeless Again," "Rabbit Foot"
2. Dead Celebrity Status - The Throwaway Kids
Ten years ago, I was introduced to Canadian hip-hop trio Dead Celebrity Status. Their constant mocking of US politics and Hollywood life caught my attention, as I was a big fan of their satire of mainstream life. They would incite questions, they would tackle mundane topics in an interesting light, and would often use celebrities as a target. It wasn't anything new, but it was definitely entertaining. Their first album, Blood Music, was a great album and still remains a favorite of mine to this day.
Flash forward to 2013, and they finally release their sophomore album, The Throwaway Kids. It was worth the wait, because every song this time carries meaning to it. While Blood Music was an interesting approach on hip-hop, The Throwaway Kids perfected this approach. Even "The Prelude," which is usually a throwaway track (no pun intended), serves a great introduction with its great rhyming poetic nature. The beats are perfect, and never overpower the two rappers at any time.
It's a very politically-charged album, so there's the chance you'll hate it if you don't agree with it. It is a very anti-establishment stance, again something not new. Their execution, however, is amazing. The title track and "Dancing on the Sun" are both amazing tracks that really show this attitude off. Every song feels like an anthem, like it has purpose. There is absolutely no filler on this album, and really gets you to think.
Notable Tracks: "Them (A Prelude)," "Throwaway Kids," "Dancing on the Sun," "Shut it Down"
1. Deaf Havana - Old Souls
This was no contest, really. Deaf Havana has, since my first listen of them, been a favorite of mine. Every album they've made has been memorable, especially their re-release of Fools and Worthless Liars, which featured alternative versions of each of the original tracks on that album. It was folk-heavy, and such a cool take on songs that were of an alternative-punk nature.
This year, they came out with some brand new material, in the form of Old Souls. What Deaf Havana does better than any other band is their ability to blend different genres, but never force it. Sometimes artists, in an attempt to expand their arsenal, with try to combine genres and just not sound natural. This band, however, is a master of doing this, as seen with bluesy nature of "Subterranean Bullshit Blues." Of course, their forte is in alternative-punk, as seen with lead single "Boston Square." Like with their preceding albums, the lyrical content continues to be great, and worth reading online somewhere.
Old Soul is a perfect album, there are literally no flaws in my eyes. I normally can't stand acoustic tracks, but even that they made so good for me. There isn't a single thing I can criticize this band for; their extreme gain in popularity in the past year is well-deserved. I see huge things for Deaf Havana in the future, and this album should catapult them to the top.
Notable Tracks: All of it. Seriously, it's that good.
I feel good about this list; sometimes in the course of things you want to change things, but I don't think I'll be doing that here. I've had a lot of time to ponder what I wanted to do with this list, and I really feel that Old Souls by Deaf Havana was the best album of the year, heck it's the best album I've heard in years. It's honest-to-God that good. The other albums I've mentioned are really as good as I made them out to be, too. If you haven't heard of these artists, definitely check them out, because their material deserves to reach more people. Let's just hope that 2014 can be as good a year as 2013, but I doubt it; 2013 was an incredible year for music, the best in a long time. But then again, I said in 2012 that 2013 wasn't going to be as good, and I was wrong. I really hope I'm wrong here, let 2014 be even more amazing!
