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.*