Bestests of 2013

It always seems to happen.  Around the beginning of November someone asks me what my favourite albums are this year.  It's panic inducing, really.  I can usually only think of 4 or 5 albums that I'd put on a list, and more often than not the one I'm playing instore when the question is asked is one of them.  But then as the end of December creeps up and I dive in to list making proper, I'm amazed at how much good music there actually was to choose from.  Narrowing it down to 50 choices turns out to be the biggest chore.  So below you'll see I've gone simply alphabetical this year... preferring not to judge things so varied stylistically against each other.  If you click the link in the album label it will take you to a video for a song off of each album.  So hopefully you might discover something new you'll take into 2014 with you.  I know that as I gleaned all the other lists there were dozens I still have to track down and give a listen.  Ask me mid February and I'll probably have another 50 choices to go with these.  Enjoy.

(Ensemble Pearl) - (Ensemble Pearl) (Drag City)

Arcade Fire - Reflektor (Merge)

Arnold Dreyblatt & Megafaun - Appalachian Excitation (Northern Spy)

Baptist Generals - Jackleg Devotional to the Heart (Sub Pop)

Barn Owl - V (Thrill Jockey)

The Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO (Jagjaguwar)

 
Bill Callahan - Dream River (Drag City)

Califone - Stitches (Dead Oceans)

Case Studies - This Is Another Life (Sacred Bones)

Cass McCombs – Big Wheel & Others (Domino)

Clouds - USB Islands (Ramp)

Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light (Constellation)

Dawn of Midi - Dysnomia (Thirsty Ear)

Deerhunter - Monomania (4AD)

Dirty Beaches — Drifters/Love Is the Devil (Zoo Music)

Eluvium - Nightmare Ending (Temporary Residence) 

Esmerine - Dalmak (Constellation)

 
Folly and the Hunter - Tragic Care (Outside)

Grouper - The Man Who Died In His Boat (Kranky)

Grumbling Fur - Glynnaestra (Thrill Jockey)

The Haxan Cloak - Excavation (Tri Angle)

Iron and Wine - Ghost on Ghost (Nonesuch)

James Blake - Overgrown (Republic)

Jasper TX - An Index Of Failure (Handmade Birds)

Jenny Hval – Innocence is Kinky (Rune Grammofon)

Joel R L Phelps & The Downer Trio - Gala (Triple Crown)

King Krule - Six Feet Beneath the Moon (XL)

Kurt Vile - Wakin On a Pretty Daze (Matador)

Locrian - Return to Annihilation (Relapse)

Mark Kozelek/ Jimmy LaValle - Perils from the Sea (Caldo Verde)

The Men - Campfire Songs (Sacred Bones)

Mountains - Centralia (Thrill Jockey)

My Bloody Valentine - mbv (self-released)

Nightlands - Oak Island (Secretly Canadian)

 
No Joy - Wait to Pleasure (Mexican Summer)

Phosphorescent - Muchacho (Dead Oceans)

Pure Bathing Culture - Moon Tides (Memphis/Partisan)

Sam Amidon - Bright Sunny South (Nonesuch)

Savages - Silence Yourself (Matador)

Shotgun Jimmie - Everything Everything (You've Changed)

Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana (Carpark)

Superchunk - I Hate Music (Merge)

Tim Hecker -Virgins (Paper Bag)

Toro Y Moi - Anything in Return (Carpark)

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (XL)

Volcano Choir - Repave (Jagjaguwar)

Waxahatchee - Cerulean Salt (Don Giovanni)

Windhand - Soma (Relapse)

Yo La Tengo - Fade (Matador)

Young Echo - Nexus (Ramp)