Top Five - Albums of the Year

Another year has passed and it's time for reflection. Despite the prolific amount of music I listened to via Spotify, sadly it was a slow year for me in regards to albums that became the 'soundtrack to my life'. Very few were the type that made me want to start it right over again as soon as it was finished. Am I getting more picky, or was it just an off year? Hard to say. I just counted up over 60 albums that made my heavy rotation playlist. I likely listened to over 250 new albums in full during the year via Spotify.

As usual, my top five albums choices are based solely on what I liked best. The albums don't necessarily need to have been released in 2013, but rather that I listened to them for the first time this year. My favorites for 2013 were:

Imagine Dragons - Night Visions

Hailing from Las Vegas, this foursome hit it big with their debut album, released in 2012. While nearly every song sounds nothing like the last, the album still carries a cohesive feel to it. My favorite track, Nothing Left to Say/Rocks is nearly nine minutes long, and has a long silent pause. Odd for a pop/rock album but it makes me glad they are so popular. Maybe the trend will continue? I'm looking forward to what they do next.




Sound City - Reel to Reel

Sound City Reel to Reel is the soundtrack to the documentary of the same name produced by Dave Grohl. Sound City Studios was located in the San Fernando Valley from 1969 to 2011. The little-known recording studio housed a unique analog Neve recording console and a reputation for recording drums. Artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty,and Nirvana recorded groundbreaking music at the studio. To celebrate the studio, Grohl organized the Sound City Players, consisting of a collaboration of Grohl with Krist Novoselic ex-Nirvana, Slipknot's Corey Taylor, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick, Rick Springfield, Stevie Nicks, Alain Johannes, Paul McCartney, and many more. New songs were recorded in ten 24-hour jam sessions. Wow. How this album flew under the radar is beyond me.



Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm Beside You (singles from the I'm With You sessions)

This LP compiles all seventeen songs from the band's I'm With You Sessions which were released in 2012-2013. In my opinion, the songs are the best from RHCP to date, and make up an incredible album. Only available as singles or together on limited edition vinyl, I'm sure thankful Spotify had 10 of the tracks available.






Fossil Collective - Tell Where I Lie

Fossil Collective is two former members of Vib Gyor, a UK band that looked poised for greatness but stalled and called it quits. These guys are so obscure I can't even find their names. They do have a website and were once slated to play Portland but the show was canceled. One has to wonder what goes on behind the scenes for these guys. The music is alternative pop, and the album is a solid string of soft rock, good for work or late night listening. 



Midlake - Antiphon

Midlake has established a pattern of waiting many years between album releases so I was stoked to see there was a new LP this year. Listening to the first track, something sounded different. The cautious and cradled vocals of Tim Smith were gone, and sure enough, the man driving the sound of Midlake had left the band. What was left was guitarist Eric Pulido on lead vocals and a new style that has more rock and less 'old tyme' flavor. At first I was opposed, but the more I listened, the more this album grew on me. Knowing Tim Smith was the one who in the past would shelve an entire album because it didn't please him, I'm happy the remaining band can carry on as they please. Pulido himself said “Antiphon is the most honest representation of the band as a whole, as opposed to one person’s vision that we were trying to facilitate.”

So there you have it! What group will grab my Album of the Year pick? I'm sure you and each of the bands are waiting with baited breath.