I don't think I'm breaking a lot of new ground with this list but hopefully there is an album or two that you missed. To be honest this year wasn't quite as strong for new music as last year based on my recollection of constructing last year's list but I'm confident in the top ten I was able to come up with below.
10) Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe
This isn't a make up pick but if I had heard the debut album from Blood Orange entitled
Coastal Grooves when it was released in 2011 it almost certainly would've made my top ten list. Lucky for me, I didn't have to wait long for the latest effort
Cupid Deluxe which is equally unique and pleasing to the ear.
9) Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
Modern Vampires of the City is a great album. Don't take my word for it. In the past few weeks it's been named album of the year by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NPR listeners and many others. It doesn't have the same energy as the self titled debut but it is much more refined and has a terrific combination of melody and lyrics.
8) Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
The first studio album from Daft Punk since 2005 was a hit in every sense of the word. It received nearly universal acclaim from critics, has been nominated for an Album of the Year Grammy and the single 'Get Lucky' which was arguably the song of the year has sold over 7 million copies. All that being said, what's popular isn't always good but in this case they go hand in hand.
7) Russian Circles - Memorial
This late release almost slid under the radar as I gave it a listen or two when it was released in late October but coming back to it recently I was blown away by the tone, precision and heavy riffs on
Memorial. It's the 5th album from the Chicago based instrumental rock band and it might be the best they've ever made.
6) Haim - Days Are Gone
Three sisters from Los Angeles fronting a band might sound like a gimmick but Haim's music is anything but. Haim started gaining traction last year with the release of a couple singles and their debut album
Days Are Gone is chock-full of catchy tunes that propelled them onto Saturday Night Live and mainstream radio.
5) Queens of the Stone Age - Like Clockwork
Like Clockwork is the first album from Queens of the Stone Age in six years was worth the wait. It's the best pure rock album of the year and good from beginning to end.
4) Arcade Fire - Reflektor
After winning Album of the Year at The Grammys for
The Suburbs it would've been easy for Arcade Fire to rest on their laurels but they certainly haven't done that. Whether you love
Reflektor or hate it, you can't say it wasn't a departure. I happen to fall into the camp that loves it but that was thanks in part to a secret show at The Hollywood Palladium right after the album's release in which played almost the entire record. It's been in constant rotation ever since that show.
3) Typhoon - White Lighter
This was my favorite discovery of the year. Somehow, I stumbled upon the tremendous track 'Young Fathers' and it wasn't until a couple months later that I went back to listen to the entire record which blew my away. It was something very different but at the same time sounded like something I've been hearing for years.
2) Volcano Choir - Repave
Like most right thinking music fans, I'm eagerly anticipating the next Bon Iver album but Justin Vernon has been keeping himself very busy with several other projects, most notably Volcano Choir. He appeared on albums by Kanye West, Polica, The Shouting Matches and The Blind Boys of Alabama but it was the sophomore effort from Volcano Choir that stood out. It's difficult to describe the genre of music other than just calling it great.
1) The National - Trouble Will Find Me
The National has been a favorite of mine since I discovered them in 2007 after the release of their critically acclaimed album
Boxer. This marks the third consecutive album of theirs to make my best of list but the first to come in at number one. I fell in love with
Trouble Will Find Me after the first listen and after seeing them live at the Greek Theatre in August, my appreciation for the album only grew.
Trouble Will Find Me doesn't have a single bad track and many of them are phenomenal.
Honorable Mention:
CHVRCHES - The Bones Of What You Believe
Daughter - If You Leave
Har Mar Superstar - Bye Bye 17
Junip - Junip
Kanye West - Yeezus
M83 - Oblivion (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks
Pelican - Forever Becoming
Rhye - Woman
Youth Lagoon - Wondrous Bughouse
Belated mention (my favorite album from 2012 that I discovered in 2013):
Caspian - Waking Season
