1. My Bloody Valentine - mbv

This is difficult for me. To actually put to words my deep love and appreciation for their music is something I have never done before. If we can just backtrack here for a little bit, I was four when Loveless came out. I never even heard about these guys until I was about twenty. All I knew was, when I got into music, I needed to own Loveless, regardless of whether I actually turned out liking it or not. So I picked it up, and yeah, it was as great as everyone said it was. I grabbed the rest of their discography before the year was over. This just needed to be said, to understand where I'm at in my life. I'm not here to write about Loveless. Yes, it is without even trying in my top five of all time. Yes, it is monumental. Yes it is so critically acclaimed and widely loved all around the world. Yes, it is most likely THE definitive shoegaze album, spawning tons of imitators. However, it is not so much that mbv pales in comparison. In fact, if you listened to mbv with that in mind, you probably missed it. You were probably one of those assholes. So let's backtrack again so we can move forward. As a guy in my late twenties I have been around the shoegaze block. I know what you"re supposed to know about the who's who and the what not's (probably more than you're supposed to because I am a total geek.) My Bloody Valentine, over the span of a couple of years, are not just "some shoegaze band," they are now simply one of my favorite bands. So I am just going about my business last year and the news finds its way to me, "Kevin Shields: We have finished mastering the new album." Hold up. What? And then one fateful Saturday in February my twitter just blew. the. fuck. up. It's on everyone's review of this album, or best of recap, but it is, because, it is important. Where were you when MBV dropped the bomb that they would release their new album later that night? This was an event, and I was a part in it.

You know what happened next. The enormous amount of traffic caused their webpage to completely melt down. I think I sat there for about two hours after the said "release" constantly hitting refresh, just hoping maybe I would be one of the lucky ones that got in. I awoke the next morning EARLY. The website was fixed late in the night. The whole world had already heard it. The individual tracks were already on Youtube. People were saying it was either amazing or it sucked. I'm not kidding. It was either amazing... or it sucked? People are such assholes sometimes. I'm reminded of that Louis C.K. joke about the guy on the airplane who is excited about having WiFi on his flight for the first time, as this was a very new thing the airline was offering. As the flight progresses, they have some difficulties with it and the WiFi ends up getting turned off. And Louis hears the guy say, "Well this is fuckin' bullshit!" How can you be upset about something you didn't even know existed a few hours ago? And here we are, almost a year later. As March came around, I swear it seemed like everyone had forgotten about it. I am totally guilty of this, like, I am not excluding myself from this, but it is horrifying, our attention spans, how the void of new music is filled and no matter how filling it is we are never, ever satisfied. It is immediately old news now because it is no longer new. But not mbv, at least for me. I was caught in it. I would obsess over a certain song for a while, trying to get every last drop from it. I would listen with headphones, without headphones, making sure there wasn't a noise I missed. All I can say is that it is so unbelievably good. It is everything I wanted in a new MBV album and more. It's pointless to delve deep into each song and the reasons why I like it so much, because this is an album's album. This is something I listen to front to back each time because there is not a wasted second. I say all that to say this, I didn't know how much I needed new music from My Bloody Valentine until they decided they needed to release new music. It's one of those things that, they could have easily gotten away with. Sure, new music is nice, but why risk it when you're on top, to have a million nerds critique every second of it and constantly compare it to your finest work? I mean, the reuniting and new tour was nice enough, you know?

I never thought I would get to write about a new My Bloody Valentine album. I believe it stands tall and proud next to the rest of their discography and even outshines its predecessor at times. This album is even more important and more special to me, because after almost thirty years of MBV, I have an album that I can truly call my own.

2. Friendzone - DX

This is no secret that I love Friendzone; their music has shown up on here a few times now. I first discovered them when I just had to know who was behind my favorite track off of Main Attrakionz' 808's and Dark Grapes II which was, at the time, "Chutch." I had never heard beats so full of life, and it did not surprise me how well the tracks held up on their own (last year's Collection 1 is a favorite of mine that I am always returning to.) If I could describe Friendzone in one word, it would have to be giving. Not only is all of their music absolutely free, it also has more heart than a lot of singer/songwriters I know. Not only that, but these guys are seriously hard working, releasing it seems about two to three projects/albums a year. It was earlier this year that they released the third installment of their Kuchibiru Network series. It was naturally much more ambitious than its predecessors, plus it featured a ton of collaborators, .L.W.H., Keyboard Kid, Finally Boys (I am most anticipating what Finally Boys does next), to name a few. KN3 was a great release, and I still listen to it today. But the thing is, all this year they had been talking about releasing a proper debut album of all new music. By the time DX had been released in October, a handful of tracks from it had already been shared, but it didn't matter, I was already sold.

In an interview with the duo behind Friendzone, they talked about how, "If Collection 1 was body music, than DX has got to be head music." This rings so true, however I would say there is also much heart here as well. The music on DX is much more alive than than their previous releases. The instrumentation is much more diverse. The production is once again great. Friendzone continue to draw from such influences and inspiration as j-pop, console RPG's, and I even wanna say math rock tendencies sometimes. This makes for one of the most original and overlooked albums this year. With DX, Friendzone prove they are not merely beat makers but incredible song writers.

3. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator

Majical Cloudz have crafted one of the most honest and personal albums of the year, and a brilliant and understated debut at that. I was lucky enough to see them earlier this year. It was just a few weeks before the release of Impersonator, so other than "Childhood's End," most of the music was brand new. I stood there in the front just in awe. For what little real estate the duo had on stage, the Cloudz surprisingly garnered our attention. The music was sparse, slow moving and ever layering synths and vocal sounds. The lead singer's voice was commanding and sincere. For a second there on "I Do Sing For You" I forgot there were people next to me, that I was at a show at all. A few weeks passed and Impersonator was finally released and upon listening I was immediately taken back to the show. Even the production sounded as if he was singing just for the listener. Everything on this album is great, from the opener and title track where he sings, "I'm a liar, I say I make music..." to the return of "Turns Turns Turns," which I think is impossible to tire of, and to the closing moments of "Bugs Don't Buzz," "This might end with a smile..."

4. Julia Holter - Loud City Song

Julia Holter's Exstasis was my favorite album of 2012. I had never heard something so beautiful. The album was just too weird and wonderful... So what did I do? I didn't include it in my year end list, not because it wasn't deserving or that I messed up and forgot about it, but because I didn't know how to write about it. Truth be told, I still don't. I would find myself just staring at a blank screen. I could not put into words my love for this album. It just made its way into my heart: the beautiful music, her wonderful voice. But it also tapped into something deeper. Exstasis felt timeless, like it was caught in between worlds. I was caught in it, and I still am, her alluring web. Needless to say, but I was thrilled to see that she would release a follow up in 2013, the near perfect Loud City Song. What makes Loud City Song so great is its diversity. I love the way the stunning opener, "World," blossoms into "Maxim's 1." The instrumentation on here is straight gorgeous. "Horns Surrounding Me" picks up the pace as the Julia sounds as if she actually running from horns as they begin to close in on her. Also, it was this song where I began to piece together the theatre elements found throughout Loud City Song. "In The Green Wild" is one of my favorite songs this year and the way she deconstructs Barbara Lewis' "Hello Stranger" is mesmerizing. Without ruining it, the rest of the album is just as beautiful as the first half. LCS is a cinematic gem. Julia Holter is truly one of the greatest artists today and her new album is amazing. Exstasis was an album of such heavenly beauty, its music seemed to float above me. With Loud City Song, Julia Holter touches earth.

5. Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap

Acid Rap is my favorite hip hop album of 2013. Released as a free download back in April, it quickly became a regular in my rotation. Chance could be cool and confident, like on "Everything's Good: Good Ass Intro" - "This is your favorite fucking album, it ain't even fucking done..." He could be crude and mean, for instance, in "NaNa" he says, "Swallow my mucus, Hope your pussy get herpes and yo' ass get lupus..." He could also be incredibly likable, when on "Everybody's Something," he sings this nice sentiment, "Everybody's somebody's everything. Nobody's nothing at all..." and on "That's Love," he relates, "What's better than yelling is hollering love....is dialing up your darling just for calling her up, there ain't nothing better than falling in love..." So, Chance is all over the place, although I think diverse is a much better word. And if you were doing all these drugs, it would make a dent in your ability to focus, too. Throughout the album he explores themes of love and loss, drugs and more drugs, regret and remorse because of all the fucking drugs and coming full circle to a spiritual rebirth on "Acid Rain," after, "Still asking God to show his face..." he says, "I am a new man, I am sanctified, I am holy, I have been baptized, I have been born again..." Chance is surprisingly human on Acid Rain, and I found myself cheering for him. He's also very talented and has a great ear for beats, some of my favorites being on "Good Ass Intro and Outro," "Cocoa Butter Kisses" and "Chain Smoker."

6. The Field - Cupid's Head

Axel Willner is back and Cupid's Head is my favorite The Field album since the perfect From Here We Go Sublime. Taking a loop and adding such subtle layers may sound boring to you but I swear, the way he can build a beat is like no other. Repetition is not a stumbling block here; it's the glue that holds everything together, the key that unlocks everything. This is electronic crack. This is music that makes its way comfortably into your brain and never outstays its welcome. I mean, his last album was called Looping State Of Mind!

Cupid's Head might suggest to be a lot darker than his previous works (I mean that album art had me expecting...) but it has so much light shining through it. I love the vocal sample on the title track, how it just seems to be crashing over itself, as the fourth note is just hammered into your skull. I love how the opener "They Won't See Me," sounds so much bigger than previous tracks. "A Guided Tour" is great, I love how on "No. No..." he harkens back to his first album and "20 Seconds Of Affection" is such an outstanding closer. I was instantly hooked the first time I heard the pulsating, "Over The Ice," back in 2007. Cupid's Head is yet another brilliant release from The Field.

7. Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back

Pull My Hair Back is the debut album from Canadian artist Jessy Lanza off Hyperdub records. When I first heard her first single, "Kathy Lee," I was immediately hooked, plus that vid was awesome. The music on here is done by Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys, and it's fantastic. I mean, if you are a JB fan you need to hear this. He gets into some really great pop and r&b grooves on here, leaving those signature JB attributes all over the place. Then there is Jessy Lanza herself. Everything about her screams sex: her lyrics, her hushed vocals, her breathy, "Huhs" and "Ohs," the title of her album, songs, etc. I blush when I think about it. There's not a dud on here, and I like it more and more as I listen to it. This is probably my favorite new artist of 2013.

8. Hallelujah The Hills - Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Trashcan

This year I discovered Hallelujah The Hills. Seriously, it's amazing the things you find when you fuck around on the internet. You can follow someone on twitter and a simple retweet can have you literally shouting, "Hallelujah!" This actually happened. By mere accident, or divine intervention, I was taken to a certain Bandcamp page for the latest HTH album, Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Trashcan. (Thanks, Captains Dead.) I am so glad it happened this way, because the album is an odds and sods collection of old and new music, so I was able to kind of hear a band where they had been, and where they might be going. I would say the most remarkable thing about Portrait... is how maddeningly and sickeningly consistent the thing is. It never once loses steam. And now let's get into content. Some of my favorite tracks I've heard all year are on this one: "Meet Me In The Car," "The Three Minute Mark," (Amazing song.) "Some Of Them We Lost,"(Do you hear Neutral Milk Hotel or at least Elephant 6 influences?) and "Nurses 5 Float Past," stacked back-to-back-to-back. In the middle end half you have tracks like, "(You Better Hope You) Die Before Me" a live track that makes me wish I was there, the super anthem "Amateurs" and my personal favorite, "Introductory Saints." The back end is equally great, some of my favorites being, "The Girls Are Here," "Cataloging Candy's Demise," and the title track. At twenty one tracks, and given all the singles, b-sides, and simply how damn good this is, I am reminded of The Smiths' Louder Than Bombs, because as my first introduction to their music, it remains my favorite. I'm so glad I discovered Hallelujah The Hills this year because they actually made my year a lot better. I am also glad to have contributed to the making of their new album via their Kickstarter. I hope 2014 sees these guys well.

9. Tim Hecker - Virgins

Tim Hecker's Virgins is a must hear album of the year. I know a lot of people compared his last album, Ravedeath 1972, to the that album art of the piano on the rooftop, just before it falls, which... I don't know. There may be some truth to that, but I found at least some hope in Ravedeath. With Virgins though, there is no hope. The usual suspects are here, sparse noise-drone pieces with flickering piano here and there. However, Virgins feels more immediate, like there's more to say. And I don't know about you, but what I hear is hurt. Like, a deep hurt. But this is Tim Hecker. While this album is darker, it is done with so much vigor. Nothing on here is boring and you would find it difficult to find another album this year that breathes as Virgins does.

10. Yo La Tengo - Fade

I am so excited to finally have Yo La Tengo on this list. 2013 might as well have been the year of 90's comebacks. I mean, first Yo La Tengo, then My Bloody Valentine, then Daft Punk and Boards of Canada... It was all very exciting and some of these artists hit home runs while others missed the mark. With Fade, Yo La Tengo craft yet another beautiful album. Only YLT could make an opening song of one chord so interesting and memorable and "Is That Enough" should be on their Greatest Hits I'm convinced. I love how generally this is a much quieter album than their last few and there are much more sweet and sadder songs on here, especially on the back end. This second half of the album also contains some truly great Yo La Tengo tracks such as, "I'll Be Around," "Cornelia and Jane," "The Point Of It," and the brilliant closer, "Before We Run." Yo La Tengo are one of my favorite bands and I think it is so awesome how long they have been around and consistently delivered album after album of great songs. They are truly one of a kind.

Top 25 Songs of 2013

25. The Dodos - Confidence

At the rate The Dodos are going, their next album will probably be on this very year end list. "Confidence" is a total barn burner on an altogether pretty great album. I mean, it really takes off there towards the end.

24. Thee Oh Sees - Toe Cutter (Thumb Buster)

"Toe Cutter Thumb Buster" is just straight awesome. I love the way it sounds: everything's distorted here. It's abrasive. When you listen to it loud, it's like nails on a chalk board. The verses are playful, but there is an underlying sinisterness to them. And man oh man, that music video... They nailed it.

23. The Men - Bird Song

The Men continue to disappoint me. Last year's Open Your Heart was a pretty large departure from the still awesome Leave Home. I mean, when I first heard Leave Home, nothing felt so urgent, so raw, so current. And then you go back even further to Immaculada and find them even more so. But still, I enjoy their music, and for the most part I am down for them refining their sound into something more "bar rock" than blistering punk rock (check out my entry on Leave Home; it is so much more than punk rock.) So this year sees The Men making their first t.v. appearance and surprisingly playing my favorite song on the new album, "Bird Song." I realize that I will probably never hear another "Think" or "Problems/Burning Up" but it is hard to stay mad at these guys when they are still making great music, ever evolving their sound. And did I mention they are now rocking slide guitars, pianos and even harmonicas?

22. Vondelpark - Dracula

I barely got through the new James Blake record. It bored me to tears. I don't even really care about him all that much; it's just, "The Willhelm Scream." That song is incredible. Whatever he tapped into in that one song, Vondelpark manage to capture in an entire album. And they do it with such subtle pop and r&b flourishes, they take whatever that sound is and make it new and exciting. "Dracula" is just one shining example.

21. Ducktails - The Flower Lane

My favorite track off of The Flower Lane. Everything I love about Real Estate now with lovely synths. This is nostalgia music. This is one of those rare examples of a band doing something really great with an older sound, like what Destroyer did with Kaputt. They channeled Fleetwood or something. This is lazy day music. This is rainy day music. This is sad. This is beautiful.

20.Mutual Benefit - Advanced Falconry

This song is a blanket. The opening notes bring up images of the sun rising and like those stop motion videos of flowers blooming over time. I can't even begin to describe the sense of longing in this music. You should give this to someone you love.

19. Moonface - Everyone Is Noah, Everyone Is The Ark

Listening to the new Moonface album is like listening to Spencer Krug play just for you. It's reallllly intimate. But this is a good thing because it is very affecting. The themes on Julia With Blue Jeans On are weighty and very heart-on-your-sleeve. On "Every One Is Noah, Everyone Is The Ark" when he sings, "I don't know if I can call this home..." over and over, you not only believe him, you start to question yourself.

18. Queens Of The Stone Age - Kalopsia

Never a big QOTSA fan, I really enjoyed Like Clockwork. There's just something about the loud/soft dynamic that I love in this song. It has this 3/4 ballad thing going on then those guitars come in all unapologetically grunge. So good.

17. Phoenix - Trying To Be Cool

Bankrupt! was just way too over the top. It was like a parody album, and they were making fun of themselves. While I found most of the album to be cheesy, or hammy or whatever other overindulgent, excessive adjective, what have you, "Trying To Be Cool" was just that one song out of the bunch that was too poppy, too catchy, too fun. Maybe all is forgiven, because hey, they're just trying to be cool.

16. Shad - Love Means (feat. Eternia)

I LOVE Shad. His personality is so contagious. He just seems like the guy you want to hang out with. There has to be something said about a hip hop artist that is so gifted, so incredibly talented, and chooses to have such a positive message in his music. He is almost never vulgar, and it never comes across as a gimmick, or lame. His words and music lift your spirits up. They build and edify, rather than destroy. "Love Means" has such a beautiful beat and an even more beautiful message. We need more music like this. We need more Shads.

15. Beach Fossils - In Vertigo

Beach Fossils slightly refine their sound on Clashing The Truth. I thought their first album was so one note that you couldn't even tell a difference between the songs, but there is enough subtle but purposeful differences on here to keep me coming back, because I AM into guitar driven lo-fi. It is interesting on "In Vertigo" how they make a really easy lead line the main hook and it comes off as much more than it actually is.

14. Jessy Lanza - As If

This is my favorite track off of Pull My Hair Back. I blush when I think about her vocals. It gives me goosebumps. Maybe this is a crush. Maybe it's love.

13. Blue Hawaii - Daisy

Untogether is a tough listen. It's just not a very inviting album. Those that stick with it are rewarded tho. "Daisy" is a killer track on the back end of the album. If you were into Liars' WIXIW , this might be just for you.

12. My Bloody Valentine - She Found Now

"She Found Now" was just what I needed. I never doubted that the album would be nothing short of brilliant, but there was just that element of expectation. All of these questions of, "What will it sound like?" and, "What direction will they go?" were put to rest with the stunning opener. The guitars swirled and gathered layers like snowfall on my head. The barely there vocals calmed me, pushed me to the ground. I was overwhelmed with feelings. Everything shut down around me. Darkness. I was finally here. And nothing was better.

11. Friendzone - Rok Bottom

I'm still in love with beats, and in my opinion, Friendzone are *still* making the best out there. Taken from Kuchibiru Network 3, "Rok Bottom" is essential. This was one of my favorite albums/mixtapes/beat tapes that I have heard all year, and then they went and dropped DX and everything is different now.

10. The National - Sea Of Love

Oh, The National. You have exhausted every possible four chord song structure in the book. You are still all doom and gloom. And yet you still put out another great collection of songs. You can't possibly do this again. (sighs. They probably will.)

9. Deerhunter - Monomania

When I first heard "Monomania," the title track of the new Deerhunter album, I was convinced they had done it again. Somehow they broke all pre-conceived notions about their music and managed to redefine their sound. This time around Mr. Bradford Cox is obsessed with punk rock, or at least the idea of it. I loved about half of this album to be honest. There was just a slight disconnect with Monomania as a whole than with how strongly I feel about all of their previous releases. "Monomania" still destroys tho, and am very excited to see what's next for these guys rather than totally bummed at this slight misstep.

8. Julia Holter - In The Green Wild

I"m making it up to you this year, Julia. I will do my best. Thank you for another fantastic album. "In The Green Wild" is my favorite off Loud City Song.

7. Lower Plenty - Nullarbor

That line, "Do what you must, 'cause soon you'll be dust..." gets me every time.

6. The Strokes - Tap Out

By now, you've either accepted The Strokes new sound or completely written them off, ever clinging to Is This It. I thought Comedown Machine was a decent effort that amused me for a few weeks, but I'll be damned if "Tap Out" isn't one of the best songs The Strokes have ever written.

5. Mark Kozelek and Desertshore - Mariette

I have loved Mark Kozelek for years. Post-Ghosts of the Great Highway is difficult to navigate, because I do believe that that was MK at his best, yes, even better RHP era Songs... There is almost always, tho, something of interest with each release. Earlier this year he released a surprise collaboration with Jimmy Lavelle of Album Leaf, the Perils From the Sea album, which aside from one or two tracks, I didn't really care for. I mean, I like coconut, and I like peanut butter, but the two together is kinda weird. More recently he released the self titled Mark Kozelek and Desertshore, which was actually pretty great. Mariette is at once something so Kozelek and yet sounds nothing like anything he's ever done. It has this 3/4 shuffle, kind of, and I always love when he shows his sweeter side.

4. Deafheaven - Dreamhouse

Everything you have heard about Sunbather is true. How these guys made an album so universally accepted is beyond me. I don't listen to metal, but I listen to Sunbather. I DO NOT, in general, listen to bands whose drummers are fond of the double-kick. But I listen to Sunbather. I never go to "these types" of shows: I would be extremely uncomfortable, much outside my element. But earlier this year I found myself at one of their shows. I just had to experience it. Much to my surprise their audience was a pretty mixed bunch. (Again, there's that universal appeal.) The show was beyond epic. It was fucking amazing. They opened with "Dreamhouse" and I swear, in just the beginning moments, before the drums kick in, they deliver more emotions in guitar chords than most can find in an album's worth of material. It's nine and a half minutes of sonic, blistering, bliss.

3. Chance The Rapper - Everything's Good (Good Ass Outro)

What a closer. Chance chats with his manager, thanks him for,"...everything...the computer, the t'shirts...everything..." You can hear in his voice the sincerity of it all. And then with the same sincerity and smart-ass charm, he tells his manager that he loves him. The manager pauses, before ending with, "I love you too. Take care." It sounds authentic. Maybe that's why it is so very touching. It closes an album full of Chance's hopes and fears and shenanigans as if to say, "Hey, thanks for putting up with me." And that's just the first thirty seconds or so. His vocals on this track are some of the most playful and dynamic and straight up best I've heard all year. I have rarely smiled as I do than when I hear the line But I knew it was fly when I was just a CATT-uh-PILL-uhhhhhh, That I'd make it even if I never make a MILL-uhhhhhhhh, When I meet my Maker He's gonna make sure that we CHILLL-uhhhh... And everything's good.

2. Yo La Tengo - Before We Run

Yo La Tengo never fails me. They are one of the most beloved, reliable and consistent indie rock bands of all time. With Fade they have crafted another truly wonderful album, probably my favorite latter half career album since 2006's I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass. "Before We Run" was the first single I believe I heard back last December and remains one of my absolute favorite songs this year.

1. Majical Cloudz - Turns Turns Turns

This was released in December 2012 right about the time I wrapped up last year's list. I immediately just fell in love with it. It was my favorite song in January. It was my favorite song, again, in May, with the release of Impersonator. This was my favorite song as September rolled around. And now it is December and I am sitting here writing about this song as I listen to it once more. There are no words for this one. *Presses play, again.*

The Year In Review - 2013

And here we are again, reader. 2013 has brought about a ton of mixed feelings from me. Just about every album I eagerly anticipated this year fell flat, and almost every album that made this year's list was a total surprise for me. I want to stress that I really take my time when making these lists, and this was another extremely difficult year to put together. But what is done is done, and I am very happy with it and the music here in. That being said, HOLY SHIT! Wow, what a year. Can we remember, for a second, all of the HUGE releases this year? Can we remember, for a second, Yo La Tengo quietly ushering in the new year with a new album and My Bloody Valentine dropping MBV OUT OF NOWHERE?! (Well, kind of; we were expecting it sometime in the past ten years, give or take.) Can we remember, for a second, how the summer brought new Daft Punk, Deerhunter, The National, Boards of Canada (another just, completely out of nowhere it seemed) and culminated with the return of Yeez(us)y himself? And finally, can we just for a second, remember just the past few months and the rush of too many albums to even keep up with? Where does one begin to start? Who even cares? Why spend so much time writing about music? Will anyone ever read this? It doesn't matter. I love this. I love music. I love writing and talking about music. I'm invested. I realize by now you can see some patterns here. I am slightly biased. This blog has been around long enough that I have used some artists more than once. I know this, and I assure you; I try to keep this thing as fresh and new as possible. I try not to reuse bands because this whole blog exists to point people to good music. New music. But, you know, it happens. Just let it be a testament, that if you see an artist on here more than once, you should probably (definitely) check them out. OK. DO YOU FEEL GOOD? I feel good. Let's do this.