Nothing here measures up to last year's classics from Cloud Nothings, Bob Mould or Neil Young but 2013 provided a healthy amount of good/great music! Here are my favorites...
1. Superchunk - "I Hate Music"
Original indie rock faves issue a follow-up to the amazing "Majesty Shredding". Addresses mortality, loss and middle-age in fine rocking form. So good to have these guys (and girl) back!
2. Wavves - "Afraid of Heights"
Slackmeister-in-Chief, Nathan Williams continues to grow with each release. Between layers of gnarly guitar fuzz and stretching syllables like chewing gum in a vocal haze we ride the crest of the best Wavves yet!
4. Nick Piunti - "13 in my Head"
A new name to me and he arrives loaded with hooks, harmonies and melodies galore. The best Power Pop album of the year!
5. Best Coast - "Fade Away"
This killer EP with 7 tunes is not outstaying it's welcome anytime soon. Leslie Gore (Bethany Consentino) meets Dick Dale (Bobb Bruno) and suddenly it's a sunny summer day every day of the year!
6. Phosphorescent - "Muchacho"
The latest laid back southern grooves from Matthew Houck go down smooth. The album unfurls beautifully and "The Quotidian Beasts" is epic!
Original indie rock faves issue a follow-up to the amazing "Majesty Shredding". Addresses mortality, loss and middle-age in fine rocking form. So good to have these guys (and girl) back!
Slackmeister-in-Chief, Nathan Williams continues to grow with each release. Between layers of gnarly guitar fuzz and stretching syllables like chewing gum in a vocal haze we ride the crest of the best Wavves yet!
3. Mikal Cronin - "MCII"
Singing and playing almost every instrument Cronin amazes and shows that Ty Segall's loss is our gain. Fantastic songwriting and guitars fill every tune. Play it LOUD!
A new name to me and he arrives loaded with hooks, harmonies and melodies galore. The best Power Pop album of the year!
5. Best Coast - "Fade Away"
This killer EP with 7 tunes is not outstaying it's welcome anytime soon. Leslie Gore (Bethany Consentino) meets Dick Dale (Bobb Bruno) and suddenly it's a sunny summer day every day of the year!
The latest laid back southern grooves from Matthew Houck go down smooth. The album unfurls beautifully and "The Quotidian Beasts" is epic!
7. Wooden Shjips - "Back to Land"
Hawkwind + Neil Young & Crazy Horse + unintelligible lyrics = some serious psych/rock awesomeness! May be a bit one-dimensional for some but I like this dimension :)
8. Yo La Tengo - "Fade"
Ira Kaplan & Co. continue to create uniquely challenging music of equal parts beauty and power. This is a mellower and more focused album that grows with each listen.
9. Deerhunter - "Monomania"
The ever unpredictable and multi-talented Bradford Cox returns with a collection of lo-fi gems. Excellent vocals and cool guitar sounds abound!
10. The Sundelles - "No Milk"
A free download from a new band that surprised me with catchy, upbeat, reverbed guitar/vocal goodness. The price is right and so are the tunes!
Honorable Mention - Johnny Marr - "The Messenger", Minor Alps - "Get There", Veronica Falls - "Waiting for Something to Happen", Jake Bugg - "Shangri La", Red Jacket Mine - "Someone Else's Cake", The History of Apple Pie - Out of View", Joy Formidable - "Wolf's Law"
