Top 100 Tracks of 2013 Part III
Here is the beautiful conclusion to my years end list of the 100 best Tracks of 2013. If you haven´t checked them out, start from the beginning. And check out my 50 best albums of 2013 here.
20. Eluvium - "Entendre" (from Nightmare Ending)
With the last twenty tracks, almost every time the chosen one is interchangeable with another one from the album. In this respect Nightmare Ending plays as one great whole and has Eluvium as strong as ever in his musical niche. "Entendre" gives you the insight to check out this great artist as it is the most subtle piano piece released this year.
Interchangeable with: "Don´t Get Any Closer"
19. Julia Holter - "Horns Surrounding Me" (from Loud City Songs)
Julia Holter is on a run. Her 2012 album Ekstasis was excellent and with Loud City Songs she brings a new side to her dramatic musical mindset. "Horns Surrounding Me" executes the name giving horn (brass) section wonderfully and just as the whole of Loud City Songs, let´s you travel with Holters affluent voice.
18. James Blake - "Digital Lion" (from Overgrown)
Overgrown was James Blake´s excellent sophomore album without anything close to repetition of his sound. Brian Eno joining on production on "Digital Lion" makes this one a clear standout with its ambient synths, fluttery vocal harmonies and energetic drums and bass.
17. Au4 - "So Just Hang On, Beautiful One" (from ...And Down Goes The Sky)
Au4 is a band you don´t come across very often musically. They don´t seem to blend electronic, indie or post-rock into one, their music is just intrinsically everything imaginable, no borders no cross sections. The male vocal parts could be from Maynard James Keenan and the operatic female on the beginning and end add to the already cinematic vibe.
Get their album for free here.
And enjoy one of the best videos this year:
16. Jon Hopkins - "Open Eye Signal" (from Immunity)
Jon Hopkins takes the top spot for the best electronic / techno track this year. My first listen of "Open Eye Signal" ended in the purchase of Immunity around the 7 minute mark. Hopkins here and on his entire project delivers the perfect balance of ambiance and immediacy.
15. Daughter - "Shallows" (from If You Leave)
This is the closer to Daughter´s moving debut If You Leave. Not many other releases that were as emotionally challenging and candid this year.
Daughter - Shallows from ~smoQueen~ on Vimeo.
14. Mogwai - "Hungry Face" (from Les Revenants)
The first xylophone notes and I´m immediately hooked. Les Revenants is the soundtrack for the french drama of the same name. The creators asked Mogwai to create the music without one day of filming done and only the script at hand. And them saying that the music was a great influence on the work itself, lies evident after you watch the opening of the series with "Hungry Face" over it. Mogwai continue to prove why they can be considered the kings of instrumental rock.
13. Torres - "Moon & Back" (from Self Titled)
This one is the sweetest and saddest narrative track of this year. The debut album of Torres is filled with raw emotion and and the mostly stripped down sound is a perfect fit for her strong voice. The story of giving away one´s child and writing a letter as a goodbye to be red years after is as pretty as it is heart wrenching.
12. Vondelpark - "Always Forever" (from Seabed)
The first surprise about Vondelpark was that they are actually a band and not one guy and his set of technology. On second thought this makes sense and their way of approaching what might be called dream pop feels more organic then any single act could achieve. "Always Forever" is a day-dream with it´s reggae beat and reverb drenched vocals.
Interchangeable with: "Dracula"
11. Tim Hecker - "Live Room" (from Virgins)
Virgins was my most anticipated album of the year (with Drake´s). Hecker´s Ravedeath is one of the most intense listens I´ve ever experienced and on his recent effort doesn´t fall short one bit. "Live Room" has the ghostly piano under the backdrop of noise and soundscape and conveys best what Virgins is all about.
Read a full length review here.
10. Houses - "The Beauty Surrounds" (from A Quiet Darkness)
A Quiet Darkness tells the story of love in a world that has become hopeless. In other words Houses try to convey a smile in the crying eye. "The Beauty Surrounds" however is a song about lost love and the highly metaphoric lyrics like "I'm following the wind and singing all my hymns in the dark" with their downbeat delivery do a great job at that.
09. Chance The Rapper - "Pusha Man / Paranoia" (from Acid Rap)
Chance is the man of the year in hip hop and there might not be any list he didn´t make someway or another. Acid Rap is the most creative side of hip hop to see the light of day this year and "Pusha Man" with it´s second part "Paranoia" has Chance going from the reggae like and somewhat upbeat dealer story to being depressed and socially aware of his dreadful surrounding.
Download Acid Rap for free here.
08. Queens Of The Stone Age - "Smooth Sailing" (from ...Like Clockwork)
The Queens Of The Stone Age finally returned and yet again proved that they can´t do no wrong. Josh Homme just deserves a award for his lifetime of work. "Smooth Sailing" is the sexy and groovy side that he does best and the swelling riff at the end of the song despite being only a few seconds long captivates hours after.
07. Inc. - "The Place" (from No World)
Inc.´s approach on R´n´b in the opinion of most, might seem outdated. There are no heavy beats nor any kind of suppressed longing and dark self-reflective edge. What they create is of the most sensual kind and like in the video for "The Place" aquatic and maritime might be a good association.
Interchangeable with: "5 Days"
06. Deafheaven - "Sunbather" (from Sunbather)
If it wasn´t for the instrumental interludes/sections on Deafheaven´s sophomore album Sunbather, I would have been rash to discard them as another death-metal band with unbearable vocals. But they deliver more then just the racket known by bands like this and have a much more technical approach and view for the overall picture. While "Irresistible" is my most favorite from the album, "Sunbather" shows their whole craft in the best way and seizes your aural capabilities the greatest.
Interchangeable with: "Irresistable"
05. Drake - "Furthest Thing" (from Nothing Was The Same)
After Take Care Drake gave us Nothing Was The Same as a even more refined project. The growth can be heard and even though I liked the two part songs being 7 minutes long, "Furthest Thing" doesn´t feel too short at all. It´s always the second song on his projects to have the best mixture of rapping and singing and the verse at the end of the song rounds up the general melancholy with Drake´s trademark bravado.
Interchangeable with: "Hold On We´re Going Home"
04. FKA Twigs - "Papi Pacify" (from EP2)
As of now FKA Twigs has released eight tracks, four each for every release. And there is not one that feels the same or reminiscent of the latter. While "Water Me" hat the more abstract beat and approach, "Papi Paficy" has you fully immersed in Twigs ardent and mysterious realm.
Interchangeable with: "Water Me"
The visuals complement the vibe especially.
03. Graveyard Lovers - "Manifesto" (from Dreamers)
"Manifesto" was originally released in 2011 and deserves it´s spot as number three in 2013 anyways. Graveyard Lover´s aren´t talked about very much, but they should. As garage-rock is almost extinct or irrelevant, they bring this kind of rock music with much energy and with more content then bands like The White Stripes ever did. The theme of living a system defying life and the workings of "the man" followed in "Manifesto" and Dreamers overall speaks to me and triples the value of their music.
Support them, fight the Man!
"I took out my pen and pad and set to write my manifesto
It was a one line poem said don´t let nothing ever get you low..."
02. Woman´s Hour - "Darkest Place" (from Darkest Place)
I hope for Woman´s Hour to have a big break in the new year. Their two singles show a band that while being minimalistic and toned down approaches music in a very thoughtful and detailed way. This also shows in how they direct their visuals and context and don´t seem to be in a rush to put out anything without quality. Still, having found a new home in the Secretly Canadian imprint, I hope they will grace the world with a full length soon.
Interchangeable with: "Our Love Has No Rhythm"
01. Oneohtrix Point Never - "Still Life" (from R Plus Seven)
Every listen of R Plus Seven comes close to epiphany in meditation for me. Daniel Lopatin is a genius and I can´t imagine how he comes to craft his aural landscapes. "Still Life" works well outside the whole of the album and it´s fusion of the artificial and what seem to be female vocals get under your skin. The almost rave music like crescendo followed by the children's choir blow my mental lid every time.
Also a great (but explicit) mix of imagery and narrative for the video:
Still Life (Betamale), Jon Rafman + Oneohtrix Point Never, 2013 from jonrafman on Vimeo.
Hope you enjoyed the list, check out and support the artists you like! Thank you.
20. Eluvium - "Entendre" (from Nightmare Ending)
With the last twenty tracks, almost every time the chosen one is interchangeable with another one from the album. In this respect Nightmare Ending plays as one great whole and has Eluvium as strong as ever in his musical niche. "Entendre" gives you the insight to check out this great artist as it is the most subtle piano piece released this year.
Interchangeable with: "Don´t Get Any Closer"
19. Julia Holter - "Horns Surrounding Me" (from Loud City Songs)
Julia Holter is on a run. Her 2012 album Ekstasis was excellent and with Loud City Songs she brings a new side to her dramatic musical mindset. "Horns Surrounding Me" executes the name giving horn (brass) section wonderfully and just as the whole of Loud City Songs, let´s you travel with Holters affluent voice.
18. James Blake - "Digital Lion" (from Overgrown)
Overgrown was James Blake´s excellent sophomore album without anything close to repetition of his sound. Brian Eno joining on production on "Digital Lion" makes this one a clear standout with its ambient synths, fluttery vocal harmonies and energetic drums and bass.
17. Au4 - "So Just Hang On, Beautiful One" (from ...And Down Goes The Sky)
Au4 is a band you don´t come across very often musically. They don´t seem to blend electronic, indie or post-rock into one, their music is just intrinsically everything imaginable, no borders no cross sections. The male vocal parts could be from Maynard James Keenan and the operatic female on the beginning and end add to the already cinematic vibe.
Get their album for free here.
And enjoy one of the best videos this year:
16. Jon Hopkins - "Open Eye Signal" (from Immunity)
Jon Hopkins takes the top spot for the best electronic / techno track this year. My first listen of "Open Eye Signal" ended in the purchase of Immunity around the 7 minute mark. Hopkins here and on his entire project delivers the perfect balance of ambiance and immediacy.
15. Daughter - "Shallows" (from If You Leave)
This is the closer to Daughter´s moving debut If You Leave. Not many other releases that were as emotionally challenging and candid this year.
Daughter - Shallows from ~smoQueen~ on Vimeo.
14. Mogwai - "Hungry Face" (from Les Revenants)
The first xylophone notes and I´m immediately hooked. Les Revenants is the soundtrack for the french drama of the same name. The creators asked Mogwai to create the music without one day of filming done and only the script at hand. And them saying that the music was a great influence on the work itself, lies evident after you watch the opening of the series with "Hungry Face" over it. Mogwai continue to prove why they can be considered the kings of instrumental rock.
13. Torres - "Moon & Back" (from Self Titled)
This one is the sweetest and saddest narrative track of this year. The debut album of Torres is filled with raw emotion and and the mostly stripped down sound is a perfect fit for her strong voice. The story of giving away one´s child and writing a letter as a goodbye to be red years after is as pretty as it is heart wrenching.
12. Vondelpark - "Always Forever" (from Seabed)
The first surprise about Vondelpark was that they are actually a band and not one guy and his set of technology. On second thought this makes sense and their way of approaching what might be called dream pop feels more organic then any single act could achieve. "Always Forever" is a day-dream with it´s reggae beat and reverb drenched vocals.
Interchangeable with: "Dracula"
11. Tim Hecker - "Live Room" (from Virgins)
Virgins was my most anticipated album of the year (with Drake´s). Hecker´s Ravedeath is one of the most intense listens I´ve ever experienced and on his recent effort doesn´t fall short one bit. "Live Room" has the ghostly piano under the backdrop of noise and soundscape and conveys best what Virgins is all about.
Read a full length review here.
10. Houses - "The Beauty Surrounds" (from A Quiet Darkness)
A Quiet Darkness tells the story of love in a world that has become hopeless. In other words Houses try to convey a smile in the crying eye. "The Beauty Surrounds" however is a song about lost love and the highly metaphoric lyrics like "I'm following the wind and singing all my hymns in the dark" with their downbeat delivery do a great job at that.
09. Chance The Rapper - "Pusha Man / Paranoia" (from Acid Rap)
Chance is the man of the year in hip hop and there might not be any list he didn´t make someway or another. Acid Rap is the most creative side of hip hop to see the light of day this year and "Pusha Man" with it´s second part "Paranoia" has Chance going from the reggae like and somewhat upbeat dealer story to being depressed and socially aware of his dreadful surrounding.
Download Acid Rap for free here.
08. Queens Of The Stone Age - "Smooth Sailing" (from ...Like Clockwork)
The Queens Of The Stone Age finally returned and yet again proved that they can´t do no wrong. Josh Homme just deserves a award for his lifetime of work. "Smooth Sailing" is the sexy and groovy side that he does best and the swelling riff at the end of the song despite being only a few seconds long captivates hours after.
07. Inc. - "The Place" (from No World)
Inc.´s approach on R´n´b in the opinion of most, might seem outdated. There are no heavy beats nor any kind of suppressed longing and dark self-reflective edge. What they create is of the most sensual kind and like in the video for "The Place" aquatic and maritime might be a good association.
Interchangeable with: "5 Days"
06. Deafheaven - "Sunbather" (from Sunbather)
If it wasn´t for the instrumental interludes/sections on Deafheaven´s sophomore album Sunbather, I would have been rash to discard them as another death-metal band with unbearable vocals. But they deliver more then just the racket known by bands like this and have a much more technical approach and view for the overall picture. While "Irresistible" is my most favorite from the album, "Sunbather" shows their whole craft in the best way and seizes your aural capabilities the greatest.
Interchangeable with: "Irresistable"
05. Drake - "Furthest Thing" (from Nothing Was The Same)
After Take Care Drake gave us Nothing Was The Same as a even more refined project. The growth can be heard and even though I liked the two part songs being 7 minutes long, "Furthest Thing" doesn´t feel too short at all. It´s always the second song on his projects to have the best mixture of rapping and singing and the verse at the end of the song rounds up the general melancholy with Drake´s trademark bravado.
Interchangeable with: "Hold On We´re Going Home"
04. FKA Twigs - "Papi Pacify" (from EP2)
As of now FKA Twigs has released eight tracks, four each for every release. And there is not one that feels the same or reminiscent of the latter. While "Water Me" hat the more abstract beat and approach, "Papi Paficy" has you fully immersed in Twigs ardent and mysterious realm.
Interchangeable with: "Water Me"
The visuals complement the vibe especially.
03. Graveyard Lovers - "Manifesto" (from Dreamers)
"Manifesto" was originally released in 2011 and deserves it´s spot as number three in 2013 anyways. Graveyard Lover´s aren´t talked about very much, but they should. As garage-rock is almost extinct or irrelevant, they bring this kind of rock music with much energy and with more content then bands like The White Stripes ever did. The theme of living a system defying life and the workings of "the man" followed in "Manifesto" and Dreamers overall speaks to me and triples the value of their music.
Support them, fight the Man!
"I took out my pen and pad and set to write my manifesto
It was a one line poem said don´t let nothing ever get you low..."
02. Woman´s Hour - "Darkest Place" (from Darkest Place)
I hope for Woman´s Hour to have a big break in the new year. Their two singles show a band that while being minimalistic and toned down approaches music in a very thoughtful and detailed way. This also shows in how they direct their visuals and context and don´t seem to be in a rush to put out anything without quality. Still, having found a new home in the Secretly Canadian imprint, I hope they will grace the world with a full length soon.
Interchangeable with: "Our Love Has No Rhythm"
01. Oneohtrix Point Never - "Still Life" (from R Plus Seven)
Every listen of R Plus Seven comes close to epiphany in meditation for me. Daniel Lopatin is a genius and I can´t imagine how he comes to craft his aural landscapes. "Still Life" works well outside the whole of the album and it´s fusion of the artificial and what seem to be female vocals get under your skin. The almost rave music like crescendo followed by the children's choir blow my mental lid every time.
Also a great (but explicit) mix of imagery and narrative for the video:
Still Life (Betamale), Jon Rafman + Oneohtrix Point Never, 2013 from jonrafman on Vimeo.
Hope you enjoyed the list, check out and support the artists you like! Thank you.
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