Top 10s For 2013

First of all, check out my radio station's top ten albums at ACRN.com. I work with some great people with very diverse and lovely music tastes. Keep an eye out for some other cool stuff we experienced this year that will be popping up. 

Personally, I think I preferred 2012 when it came to albums from artists that I already adored, but cheers to 2013 for being a year of new discoveries, side projects and artists on the rise. Here's a rundown of my favorite music that was released this year:

www.explodinginsoundrecords.com

Ovlov - am [Exploding In Sound]: I am so thankful to have stumbled upon this band in my late night, tired-eyed hunts for new music. Ovlov is the very best of buzzing rock delivered from some homies from Connecticut. The sound is unique, original (while influences are still clear) and intriguing. It’s the type of record I’ve been waiting for all of my life, and I didn’t even know I was longing for it. It is elating. Favorite Tracks: "Milk," "Blue Baby," "The Great Alligator," "Nü Punk," "Grapes" 

deafheavens.bandcamp.com

Deafheaven - Sunbather [Deathwish]: Super emotional, chilling and probably the best driving music ever. It stimulates the imagination, mine in particular. It became a very visual record, evoking fantasies and foggy memories that I’m not sure are real. Deafheaven’s screaming is delicate and fragile while still inflicting incredible power and pain. Favorite Tracks: "Dream House," "The Pecan Tree," "Please Remember"

www.pitchfork.com

King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon [True Panther Sounds]: Check out my post dedicated strictly to the King. This guy has it going on. Favorite Tracks: "Neptune Estate," "Baby Blue," "Out Getting Ribs," "Ocean Bed," "Easy Easy"

www.brooklynvegan.com

Their / They’re / There - Their / They’re / There [Polyvinyl]: For a band that’s just a side project for some really talented, established guys, I’m really surprised at how well this came together. But not really, because I’m pretty sure anything these guys do will sound good. This record is just as fun as I’m sure they all had making it. It’s what Evan Weiss, Mike Kinsella and Matthew Frank are good at, thrown together into one catchy-ass album. Favorite Tracks: "Their / They're / Therapy," "Concession Speech Writer," "Apocalypse"

petalpa.bandcamp.com

Petal - Scout EP [Run For Cover]: RFC just signed this little cutie from Pennsylvania in November and I am head-over-heels. The EP is too short and I’m looking very forward to anything else she comes out with. It kind of reminds me of Lemuria, except I never really got into that band, so I would say this is much, much better. Kiley Lotz’s high notes rule and I’m looking forward to having this on repeat well into 2014 and beyond. Favorite Tracks: "Comeback," "Left A Mark," "I'm Sorry"

crashofrhinos.bandcamp.com

Crash Of Rhinos - Knots [Topshelf]: Crash Of Rhinos’ 2011 release Distal is energetic and upbeat, and Knots follows suit, except with more diversity. The band slows its tracks down and adds a grungy component for a very well-rounded, exciting piece of work. Favorite Tracks: "Interiors," "Luck Has A Name," "Speeds Of Ocean Greyhounds," "The Reason I Took So Long"

www.pitchfork.com

Julianna Barwick - Nepenthe [Dead Oceans]: Julianna Barwick creates dreamy soundscapes perfect for a scenic film with snowy mountains contrasting clear blue skies. Her flawless voice loops around and around as various instruments build around it. Perfect background music to heighten any mediocre situation, or to fall asleep to as a soundtrack for a striking dream sequence. Reminds me of Hallow's Bastion in Kingdom Hearts II or a flying shot through Middle Earth. I'm a freakin' nerd. Favorite Tracks: "Pyrrhic", "The Harbinger," "One Half"

datpiff.com

SZA - S EP [TDE]: Absolutely incredible. What I would consider a mix of the best of hip hop and the best of ambient, with a mouth-watering R&B voice at the front. SZA was just signed by TDE and is a little different from her counterparts Ab-Soul and Kendrick Lamar, but just as big and just as booming. Favorite Tracks: "Ice Moon," "Castles," "Terror Dome"

www.metalinjection.net

True Widow - Circumabulation [Relapse]: It isn’t True Widow’s self-titled, but it’s still awesome. Dark, doomy tracks for the laziest of days and sleepiest of mornings. The kind of album you just listen to all the way through.

altpress.com

Balance and Composure- The Things We Think We’re Missing [No Sleep]: I’m not sure if it was freshman blues or whatever, but this record really hit me. I was not into the band before this album, but I over-played it like crazy after it was pushed on me by a friend. It will always be known as the record that I drove down to OU listening to on move-in day. (They made a documentary about the creation of the album, check it out) Favorite Tracks: "Keepsake," "I'm Swimming," "Parachutes," "Notice Me," "Tiny Raindrop"

~honorable mentionz~

Cloakroom - Infinity, Beach Fossils - Clash The Truth, Gucci Mane - Trap God 2, Local Natives - Hummingbird, Pity Sex - Feast Of Love, Into It. Over It. - Intersections,  Native - Orthodox, Iron Chic - The Constant One, Waka Flocka Flame - From Roaches To Rollies, Pet Symmetry - Two Songs About Cars. Two Songs With Long Titles., Kelela - CUT 4 ME, Kanye West - Yeezus, My Bloody Valentine - m b v

Tracks From Those Albums Among Other Jams:

“Vivid Dreams” - Owen: Mike Kinsella conjures up all pain and longing and soothes it in a way that only he knows how.

“Bank Head" - Kelela: A catchy, sexy party song. Not something to get everyone on the dance floor but enough to nod your head, sing a long and drink to. 

“Drawstring” - Pity Sex: Short and sweet, fuzzy and youthful. 

“I’m In It” - Kanye West: Dirty as hell. Extremely uncomfortable. I couldn’t stop listening.

“No Amount Of Sound” - Into It. Over It.: Sad. Slow. Pretty.

“Dream Journal” - Cloakroom: I did a whole lot of nothing this summer except stare at the ceiling. This song made that much more of an experience than it should have been. 

“No We're Not Actually” - Dads: The power in this song lie in the lyrics, and the build up, and I just love Dads. I'm a weirdo and I really like the complexity of hospitals and this song captures the beauty and pain lodged into every room.

“Anxiety’s Door” - Merchandise: A friend put this on a mix for me over the summer and I can’t get over how '80s it is. Very Meat Is Murder-esque: everything I am about.

“Lose My Breath” - Yuck: Yeah, it's not old Yuck. But this is a jam.

“Receiving Line” - Title Fight: As long as these guys keep putting out releases, I’m always going to find at least one song to overplay. 

"Love In A Cold World" - Beastmilk: Reminds me of Danzig. Into it.

"Curtain Call" - They're / Their / There

I'm sure there's stuff that I'm missing. Thanks for taking interest in my interests. Love ya. Sorry I never post, Sarah. I'm very lazy. 

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By: Marlena Scott