Tuesday, December 31, 2013

My 13 Favorite Albums of 2013!



2013 was another wonderful year for music! I've had the chance to discover a number of new artists this year. While I've spent a significant amount of time listening to music and attending concerts, it would have been impossible to review every release. I call this list my favorites because I'm certain that I haven't had the pleasure to hear some of the best albums of the year. I'm not a critic nor do I claim to be any sort of expert on taste. Music is a personal experience and to rank a particular record as better than something else is completely subjective.

I think it's interesting to see what people have enjoyed the most through their end of the year compilations; but when everyone's list starts looking the same, you have to question its authenticity. When I'm compiling my list, I allow my mind to go for the music that left a lasting impression on me in one way or another. There's usually a handful or two each year that are definite "best-of" material; then, it comes down to choosing between 50 or so other great albums to pick my final selections. It was a rather arduous task this year. I'm sure this list is full of oversights but here is my favorites...


13. Darkside, Psychic.
Released: October 2013
Best Tracks:
3) Heart
4) Paper Trails























12. Atlas Genius, When It Was Now.
Released: February 2013
Best Tracks:
4) Trojans
5) Through The Glass
11) Symptoms























11. Wampire, Curiosity.
Released: May 2013
Best Tracks:
2) Orchards
7) Trains
9) Magic Light























10. Arcade Fire, Reflektor.
Released: October 2013
Best Tracks:
1) Reflektor
1) Here Comes The Night Time II
3) It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)
5) Afterlife























9. Volcano Choir, Repave.
Released: August 2013
Best Tracks:
4) Byegone
5) Alaskans























8. Foxygen, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic.
Released: January 2013
Best Tracks:
2) No Destruction
3) On Blue Mountain
6) Shuggie
























7. Polica, Shulamith.
Released: October 2013
Best Tracks:
2) Smug
4) Warrior Lord
8) Tiff























6. A$AP Rocky, Long.Live.A$AP.
Released: January 2013
Best Tracks:
5) Hell
7) Fuckin' Problems
10) Fashion Killa
16) I Come Apart (ft. Florence Welch)




5. Portugal. The Man, Evil Friends.
Released: June 2013
Best Tracks:
1) Plastic Soldiers
4) Modern Jesus
11) Purple Yellow Red and Blue
12) Smile























4. Lorde, Pure Heroine.
Released: September 2013
Best Tracks:
3) Royals
4) Ribs
6) Team























3. The National, Trouble Will Find Me.
Released: May 2013
Best Tracks:
1) I Should Live In Salt
3) Don't Swallow the Cap
7) This Is The Last Time
12) Pink Rabbits























2. Rhye, Woman.
Released: March 2013
Best Tracks:
1) Open
2) The Fall
6) 3 Days























1. Woodkid, The Golden Age.
Released: March 2013
Best Tracks:
1) The Golden Age
4) Boat Song
5) I Love You
7) Ghost Lights
10) Conquest of Spaces

























Honorable Mentions:

  • Valerie June, Pushin' Against A Stone
  • Arctic Monkeys, AM
  • Devendra Banhart, Mala
  • Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
  • Daughn Gibson, Me Moan
  • James Blake, Overgrown
  • Mazzy Star, Seasons of Your Day
  • Kodaline, In a Perfect World
  • Drake, Nothing Was the Same
  • King Krule, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
  • Kurt Vile, Wakin On A Pretty Daze
  • Cage the Elephant, Melophobia
  • Jim James, Regions of Light and Sound of God













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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
I'm living life in beautiful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I hold a journalism degree from West Virginia University. I have worked in television news, fashion marketing, PR, and cosmetic sales. My love for writing and sharing with the world my various passions is strong. One of my many ambitions is to be published and continue creating in the fields of digital and print media, literature and film. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, going to concerts, reading, following Pittsburgh sports and traveling as often as possible. Some of my favorite things include beauty, style, architecture, books, tarot and astrology, thrifting and my shih-tzu, Ireland. I’m engaged to the love of my lifetimes and we look forward to starting our next chapter together. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you!