Thursday, January 9, 2014

Top 25 Albums of 2013 5 - Numbers 5 to 1

Here we are at the pointy end of the countdown.

4 selections by critics and fans, 1 selection by critics and sales.


Rank Artist Album Source

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

5 Daft Punk Random Access Memories Critics + Sales
One of my personal favourites this year. What's not to like about Daft Punk + Nile Rogers? Fun to dance to. Fun to listen to. Unlike much dance music it stands up well to repeated close listening.


The National - Trouble Will Find Me

4 The National  Trouble Will Find Me  Critics + Fans
It's nicely produced, atmospheric, etc. But I don't feel like it's advancing the state of the art as laid down by Nick Cave or Joy Division or some other confessional singer/songwriters. Certainly listenable and enjoyable - but I was kinda hoping for more.


Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away

3 Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds  Push the Sky Away  Critics + Fans



...speaking of which. The real deal. 120 years on and still going strong.


Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

2 Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City Critics + Fans
This one is growing on me slowly. Dense arty indie pop rock.


My Bloody Valentine - m b v

1 My Bloody Valentine m b v  Critics + Fans
What is it with shoegaze this year? Another album that just missed out on the list was the industrial shoegaze Sunbather by Deafheaven.

Amazing that this is #1 on the list when it isn't on iTunes or Spotify. You need to buy it from the artist's site. I appreciate the immersive and experiential nature of shoegaze - and this is probably as good a contemporary example as you'll find anywhere. I would have said it's not for everybody - but clearly a lot of critics and fans have made the effort to track it down and vote for it. 

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