A month into 2014, some of the board members reminisced about their favorite songs and albums from the last year. Here are their picks!
Cole Frank: top 10 tracks of 2013 and associated adjectives/adverbs (in no particular order)
So Good at Being in Trouble – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
casually morose
The Only Shrine I’ve Seen – Darkside
processionally apocalyptic
Black Skinhead – Kanye West
relentlessly relentless
El canto del canario – Los Mil Jinetes
smartly tidal
Hold On We’re Going Home – Drake
precisely luscious
Childhood’s End – Majical Cloudz
absentmindedly foreboding
My Hands – Grey Reverend
disarmingly earnest
Metal Swing – The Range
mechanically fresh
Ljoss – Forest Swords
darkly primal
Instant Crush – Daft Punk
strangely cool
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Mary Reagan Harvey: Top 10 stuck in my head songs of 2013
Partition – Beyonce
Reflektor – Arcade Fire
Obsidian Currents – of Montreal
Lies – CHVRCHES
Body Party – Ciara
Love Club – Lorde
Retrograde – James Blake
Dropla – Youth Lagoon
Cola – Toro y Moi
Summertime – The Head and the Heart
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Sam Keyes: top 10 favorite songs of 2013
Bleep bloop category:
Nabiha – Mind the Gap (Lenno Remix)
From the 2 Swedish members of Miike Snow (a.k.a. Bloodshy & Avant) that produced Britney’s “Toxic” to one of the biggest rising powerhouse duos, Lemaitre, Scandinavian electronic groups have always had a huge territory in the electronic/dance music game. Lenno is an 18 year old dude from Finland, joining in a recent uproar of Scandinavian artists in what is usually a region of funky electronic music dominated by France – putting out a lot of really superb remixes of groups like St. Lucia and The Wombats.
Lemaitre – Cut to Black (Instrumental)
Did someone say Lemaitre? They just signed to Astralwerks a week ago. Expect reeeeally big things.
CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share
Erupting out of almost nowhere back in the spring, CHVRCHES tossed out a few really slick tracks to precede their Recover EP. And then they released the EP. And then they released the album. And now they’re one of the funnest vibes in synthpop.
Boards of Canada – Reach for the Dead
In a year when electronic music superstars of yesteryear and yesterdecade make moves like no other time I can remember, Boards of Canada arrive with something prolific. And this track is particularly well built.
Super hot horns category:
Har Mar Superstar – Prisoner
Fifteen seconds in and you’re sold, 100%. Har Mar’s Bye Bye 17 completely revitalized his career.
The Cat Empire – Steal the Light
This band has every style you could ever want – but in an otherwise average album, they wrote a few super standout tracks like this one.
Iron & Wine – Lovers’ Revolution
This song is so advanced that I have no idea what to make of it. But man, it kicked off January with a fire.
The rest? category:
Run the Jewels – Sea Legs
Andy Nelson had hyped this album to me so much, I really didn’t know what to do when it landed on my to-listen list. To summarize the hype best, check out their Pitchfork Festival performance of this track. It’s killer.
Sigur Ros – Brennisteinn
I might argue that Sigur Ros could be my favorite band, so perhaps I was a bit biased to include something from Kveikur on my list. I think the album as a whole isn’t their best – but the way they were able to see a different, heavier direction with songs like this one was fresh.
Volcano Choir – Byegone
This was my windows-down sing-a-long song when driving to work this summer. SET SAAAAAAAIL
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Sophie Kissin: top 10 (in no particular order)
Miley Cyrus – We Can’t Stop
How could this song be left off of a Best of 2013 list? I don’t care what you say, this song is irresistible.
Daft Punk – Get Lucky
Dance anthem of the year without a doubt in anyone’s mind.
Vampire Weekend – Ya Hey
My friends and I drove around all summer listening to this album and fist pumping out the windows– TAKE ME BACK.
Arctic Monkeys – Fireside
Terrible band name and all, these guys are still one of my very favorite groups (I’ve been a super fan since the beginning. This song was not one of the hits from their 2013 album, but I think its the best.
James Blake – Retrograde
So hauntingly beautiful and edgy– how’d he manage to make it so catchy too
Foxygen – San Francisco
Very psychedelic retro song– when my mom heard me listening to this she scoffed at my generation’s desire for the coolness of hers: LOL.
Irene – Twin Peaks
Okay, maybe you’ve heard me blabber about Twin Peaks on KRLX or in person, but allow me to reiterate: I LOVE TWIN PEAKS. I first heard them when they opened for Foxygen at First Ave this summer, just before Foxygen’s front man fell off the stage and broke his leg to cancel the show. It was worth it for this Chicago-based band of nineteen year-olds.
Kurt Vile – Shame Chamber
This song is the epitome of an American summer– listen to it and I guarantee you will feel rays of the sun stream from your sound system.
Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell – Blurred Lines
Despite this song’s questionable content and music video, I cannot help but waggle my butt when I hear this tune, and I consider myself a feminist.
Rhye – Open
The duo blew everyone out of the water with this seductive opening track on their debut album last winter– you just feel so sexy when you sing along.
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Alex Klein: what I listened to in 2013
Ducktails – Flower Lane and Wish Hotel
—–The song Planet Phrom comes from Peter Gutteridge’s Pure, which is also really good experimental New Zealand rock from the ‘80s a la Tall Dwarfs or the Clean, whom he played with for a little.
Silver Jews – American Water and The Natural Bridge
—–“When the sun sets on the ghetto all the broken stuff gets cold.” David Berman is a very beautiful man.
Jai Paul
—–all I dance to anymore. 100% hot slaps
Gregory Isaacs
—– great singer, plays with the most consistently groovy backing band out of any reggae singer.
Culture – Two Sevens Clash
—–“And sometimes I ride on bus X-82, say what?” Great fucking line.
Jacob Miller – “Tenement Yard”
—–such a jam, great scatting. Listened to it a lot with a group of generous Rastas in Zanzibar. They were always just giving us weed and hash.
Avey Tare and Kria Brekken – “Opis Helpus”
—–“Don’t pull your hair out, pull it all out. Shake it like a kolkachina.” This song is my lullabye.
Count Bass D – Pre-Life Crisis and Begborrowsteal
—–Found out about this guy from his feature on MF Doom’s “Potholderz,” in which he spits the fattest verse. Halfway between rapper and R&B singer. Dope.
Clipse; Pusha T – My Name is My Name
—–One word: YUCK
Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Daze
—–I’m a big Neil Young fan and KV is the closest thing to a modern day Neil Young, besides the modern day Neil Young, but I’d still rather have KV than modern day Neil Young.
Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats
—–what I’m listening to right now. Street music from Brazil. Simple, childish beats that go really hard and just bump.
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Zoe Levin: songs I
have laughed at, danced to, and listened to live
1. Janelle Monáe – “Q.U.E.E.N.” – (feat. Erykah Badu)
2. Caroline Smith – Half About Being a Woman
3. Arcade Fire – Reflektor
4. Beyoncé – Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
5. Angel Haze – Battle Cry (feat. Sia)
6. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
7. Pharrell Williams – Happy
8. Little Green Cars – Harper Lee
9. Awkwafina – NYC Bitche$
10. Vampire Weekend – Diane Young
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Ian Mercer: top 10 tracks
Kanye West – On Sight
The single greatest beat to any rap that I have ever heard. The gospel sample in the middle is the best moment in the history of Kanye’s music.
Todd Terje – Strandbar
No one understands how to build a dance track quite like Terje. I love the density and pace of this piece.
Deafheaven – Dream House
The opening to this piece is the 2nd greatest moment of the year behind “On Sight’s” gospel sample.
My Bloody Valentine – Only Tomorrow
MBV writes some of the most creative chord progressions in the game! The drum beat on this track gets me GOING.
Pusha T – Numbers On The Boards
Exceptional lyricism and a real ear for dope-ass and unique-ass beats, Pusha T created a real gem with this single off of MNIMN.
Locrian – Eternal Return
#1 guitar riff of the year, hands down.
Tim Hecker – Prism
Distorted and disgusting, “Prism” hits you right in the gut. Visceral and beautiful music.
F*** Buttons – The Red Wing
I consider this to be the great F Buttons track! Great groove, great synths, great samples.
No Joy – Second Spine
The Devo drum pattern and the beautiful vocal harmonies won me over immediately.
Russian Circles – 1777
The best-recorded snare drum sound to be released this year. 1777 is more crisp than a winter morning.
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John Stromme: top 10 songs
From the Sun – UMO
Blood On The Leaves/New Slaves – Kanye West
BTSTU – Jai Paul
Retrograde – James Blake
Raspberry Cane – Youth Lagoon
Tweakin’ – Vic Mensa
You Caught The Light – CHVRCHES
Neptune Estate – King Krule
Latch – Disclosure
Gold Soul Theory – Underachievers
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Jon Ver Steegh: top 10 records
1. The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake
2. Nostalchic – Lapalux
3. Random Access Memories – Daft Punk
4. Light Up Gold – Parquet Courts
5. The Rumpus Room – Max Thunderdome
6. Yeezus – Kanye West
7. Monomania – Deerhunter
8. Doris – Earl Sweatshirt
9. mbv – My Bloody Valentine
10. Long. Live. A$AP – A$AP Rocky