2013's Most Impressive Albums People Should Be Talking About Part 3

Now, it's almost time for the late first quarter of 2013.

Band: Kavinsky 
Album:  Outrun

How can I have an end of the year list and not include Kavinsky?  You don't need a funky Delorean to go back in time.  You can just put on Outrun by Kavinsky and you're halfway there.   He definitely didn't slow down with his heavy 80's synth on this new album.  I thought after all the hype from the film Drive, this album would get so much more attention.

Band: Post War Years
Albums:  Galapagos

Where's all the love for Post War Years?  This is one of the freshest most innovative bands coming out of England right now, yet there's not that much coverage going on.  There's something so unique and advanced about their sound. Their videos are also fantastic with their weird visuals and underlining stories.  This album would easily be in my top 5 of the year list but it's kind of a cheat because some of the better songs from this release were out a year back on EP's.  Either way, this is one fantastic electro-rock album with little similarity to most bands out there. If you don't own their previous two EP releases, do yourself a favor and download or buy the CD.

Band: We Are Worlse
Album:  La Mort Pop Club

This album has crept up on my list of favorites for 2013.  Although it came out in the first quarter of 2013, I have found myself listening to this more in the last part of the year.   La Mort Pop Club has got a sound that's hard to nail done.   It's psychedelic-indie-electro rock with a pop twist.  The entire album holds together seamlessly.  You can barely tell when one song starts and another starts.  The songs are all tight, short and sweet.

Band:  Bastille
Album:  Bad Blood

Again, this feels totally like a cheat.  Bastille has had countless singles dropping in the last 3 years.  All these singles can be found on Bad Blood.   From "Laura Palmer" to "Weight Of Living,"  they were put out during the last few years while the band perfected that pitch perfect pop sound.  This was definitely not an overnight success story.  I'm really happy for the band and all their success.  This is a great compilation from a band's body of work over a 3 year span.  Infectious indie-electro music at it's best.

Band:  Hurts
Albums:  Exile

From most other bands out there, Exile would sound extremely heavy handed and over produced but for some reason it all sounds just right coming from Hurts.  These guys really know how to make an epic electro-ballad.  Just look up "Help" for the proof to that statement.  This is the kind of music that would make Depeche Mode take notice.  Very easily one of my personal favorite albums of 2013.

I'm surprised by their lack of impact in the US.  That came to mind because of the success Bastille is enjoying here but not Hurts.  All it takes is one really good film trailer to use a Hurts song.

2013's Most Impressive Albums People Should Be Talking About Part 2

Here's the next 5 albums of the year. Again, I'm going more by time they were released than how much I liked them.  No point in quantifying it. 

Band: The Joy Formidable

Album:  Wolf's Law

It's funny how you sort of forget what was released this year with albums that come out way early in the year.  The Joy Formidable dropped Wolf's Law back in January and is most definitely one of the year's most compelling albums.  The lyrics have great weight and the music just rocks.  I liked their previous album but this one just knocked it out of the park.  Their entire album is on The Joy Formidable YouTube channel.  

Band:  On An On

Album:  Give In

On An On created one of the year's best pitch perfect debut albums.  I'm actually surprised Give In wasn't a bigger album with their two melodic singles "The Hunter" and "Ghosts."  It is puzzling why this album hasn't gotten more love.   This album reminded me a bit of Band of Horses but more upbeat.   

Band:  Palma Violets

Album:  180

180 is one of those albums that just ages well.   Palma Violets have a more raw rock sound that just takes away any generalization about their sound or time frame of this album's release date.  I don't watch Grey's Anatomy but it seems like "Best Of Friends" played on that show.  Hopefully, that will bring more exposure their way because this album is rock solid as they come. 

Band:  Foals

Album:  Holy Fire

I spoke highly about Holy Fire earlier in the year and by this point these guys have become a success story.  Glad they got some recognition and play time on the indie radio stations in 2013.  They were complete unknowns until the release of this album here in the States.  

This album has it all.  Fantastic musicianship meets catchy songs like "My Number" to create one of the year's must own albums.  I'm really disappointed I couldn't catch them live and changing that on their next tour.  "Bad Habit" was my personal favorite song from Holy Fire. 

Band:  Strange Talk

Album:  Cast Away

Cast Away is a must own for any indie dance music fan.   Strange Talk pack this album with some of the year's best dance music.   If their song "Wanted" doesn't get your out of your seat, then I can't help you, man.  You can definitely hear the "Thriller" vibe in the backbone of this song but who cares, it's great.  I wanted to post "Wanted" below but the version off YouTube sounds pretty horrible.  "Climbing Walls" is their latest single from the album and on their YouTube channel.  Meaning, great sound quality and a solid song from Cast Away.

2013's Most Impressive Albums People Should Be Talking About Part 1

This was an interesting year in music.  It was great to see so many young indie bands blowing up the radio.  I can't remember a better year for smaller bands in over a decade.  From Capital Cities to Chvrches, the folk explosion made some room for the indie electronica wave.  What a crazy year?  Hearing Ben Nicols from Lucero singing the song for the Governor montage on The Walking Dead and Bastille's "Pompeii" being used in the Mr. Peabody & Sherman trailer.

Anyhow, let's get to some music.  It's been a hit or miss year but definitely some great standouts that I think will withstand the test of time.  Here's a list of albums that you should definitely put in your collection to bookmark 2013.  Going to try to start from the beginning of 2013 to the most recent releases. I don't believe anyone should quantify music in ranking. Other than sales, can we really judge how good art is? Even in the court of opinion, it's damn lame.

Here's the first 5 albums of 2013 people should be talking about. We got a nice journey to take. This is just the start, folks.

Band:  Sing Fang
Album: Flowers 

I think you realize how good an album really is by the lasting impression it has.  When you get the craving to listen to it 10 months later, it definitely has staying power.  Sing Fang created a fantastic debut with his album Flowers.  I still play this album that was released back in February quite a bit.  It's extremely puzzling how this album didn't get any recognition or more mentions.  The layered melodies and the perfectly flowing vocals make this one of the most easy to listen to albums of the year.  Music ready made for commercials and film trailers.

Band: Parenthetical Girls
Album: Privilaged

The lack of play on YouTube and their insane below radar level puzzles me about Parenthetical Girls.  They have a similar sound and vibe to Of Montreal but might even be more experimental and interesting.  This is a band that needs support because of their insane potential.  My personal favorite song from their album is "A Note To Self."  Love where this song goes and how it ends.  Epic stuff.

Band: SPC ECO 
Album: Sirens & Satellites

If you haven't heard this album, think SPC ECO as Portishead but with less jazz vibes more noise. I can not get enough of this album and how well it's produced from top to bottom.  Again, I'm just puzzled in what people hype in magazines and airwaves.  They belong in any year end list of best electronica.  Just check out the song "Fallen Stars" and if you're not sold then I can't help you man.

Band: Everything Everything
Album:  Arc

I talked about this album in early 2013 and I'm going to say this album is still rocking 11 months later. This album falls somewhere between the sound of Alt-J and Foals.  Arc has a lot of standout singles like "Kemosabe" and "Cough Cough" but I have to say my favorite from this album was "Duet."  Everything Everything create a lush musical landscape on Arc no track on this album showcases it more than "Duet."

Band: Free Energy
Album: Electric Fever

The most fun I had listening to an album front to back in 2013 was during "Electric Fever" by Free Energy.  There's nothing pretentious or hard to get on this album.  It's just rock for the sake of rock.  The songs are short and sweet with perfectly crafted melodies.   Where's all the love for this album?  I hope these guys continue to make this unfiltered fun American rock.  I missed them when they were the resident band at The Echo in Los Angeles.

Eraas creates some fantastically dark and moody synth on Initiation

I was just writing about the dark and moody synth music of I Break Horses and now I'm going even darker.   Eraas creates some great dark landscapes on their new album Initiation. This time the moody music comes from Brooklyn, NY.   You can get really lost in this album.  It's the kind of music you can close your eyes and travel with your mind.  It won't take you to the happiest places of your mind you.  Just a warning.

"Looking Glass/Pettibon" is in my opinion the standout track from Initiation.  I really dig the dark driving beat with the slow building guitar riff.  The vocals are subtle and muddled just the way they should be on this cinematic track.   I like their use of space through out the song and how the second half of the song transforms into something else.

I'm sure a lot of people know nothing about this band so maybe it's best to leave you with their earlier release "Ghost."  This is a fantastically haunting song and the video does it justice.   Their music reminds me a bit of Cold Cave but maybe even more sludgy and dark.  This ain't for everyone folks.  And you definitely have to be in the mood to go down this rabbit hole before you put some Eraas on.

Talking about Cold Cave put me in a mood to listen to their last EP.  Here's a little "People Are Poison" by Cold Cave to put you in a right sour state.  I need to put up some happier music on my next entry. Holiday music for everyone. Enjoy.

I Break Horses song "Faith" has me ready for their new album

I Break Horses put out their new song "Faith" about a month ago and I've been watching and listening to that video more than a few times.  I'm a sucker for dark synth and moody lyrics that are sort of muddy.  This song might be my favorite so far from this Swedish band.  Ah, Sweden, keep on making music good people of Sweden.  You guys have my full attention.  What is in the water in that country?

Anyhow, their new album comes out early next year. Keep an eye out for it because this track is great.  Their first album Hearts is out now.  It's pretty solid debut if you haven't heard it.  "Winter Beats" was their first single off that album.  Something about their new song is a bit darker and I enjoy it more but Hearts has a good amount to like.

States mix up the music nicely on their new album Paradigm

Time to get over that turkey haze and start listening to some new music.  This one sort of came out of nowhere. It was actually streaming on Alt Press website.   I was surprised how much I dug their stuff. Never heard of States, so this was truly a blind listen.  At times, States reminds me of Joy Formidable but that's just a few times mind you.   There's a lot of range on this album and I think any alt pop fan will enjoy their album Paradigm.  Go to the link for a full listen of the album while it's up.

"Fever" is my personal favorite track off the album.  There's a lot going on in this song.  Some might say it sounds over produced, but I'd happily disagree.  Some pop needs a bit of layering.  I really enjoy the breaks in the song. I think Mindy White owns the vocals through the entire thing.

Now, I know I mentioned at times States sound a bit like The Joy Formidable.  "I Hope You Stay Gone" is the song that strikes that familiar sound.  And there's only a slight similarity.  A touch of Mindy's vocals and the guitar riff really hit that Formidable sound.

"Erase It All" and "The Night" are some of the albums other bright spots.  Honestly, it's a well made album and worth picking up if this sound strikes your fancy.  It's rather pop for some but I think it's just the right amount of pop.  This band has some serious mass appeal.  The album is available on December 3rd.  You can hear it on YouTube or on the Alt Press link in full for free.  Here's Mindy White covering the song "Suit and Tie."