I basically waited until the very end of the year to post my top albums of 2013 for no reason whatsoever, because I now realize I could've easily posted this list months back. Reflecting on this year's music releases, I certainly feel like there were a bit more disappointments than delightful surprises, but that's not to say that there weren't many musical blessings bestowed. Here's my thirteen favorite of 2013...
13 - Protest The Hero ~ "Volition"
To be honest, I wasn't all that familiar with this band before hearing this record so I wouldn't have professed that I was a huge Protest The Hero fan, but this record certainly did its job in making me become one. The style displayed on this album is one of my favorites: blisteringly quick technical guitar driven progressive metal. Upon hearing the first track "Clarity" I was more than hooked. Some serious skill is shown here, and it shouldn't be ignored or dismissed. 8.3/10
12 - Deltron 3030 ~ "Event 2"
Pretty much every hip-hop/rap aficionado I know or talked to declared this album a disappointment. Was I delusional for liking it as much as I do, or just easily amused? Well, I listened to it in its entirety more than four times and literally just listened to it again before I put together this list; color me confused or mislead, I like the record a lot. I know people had supremely high expectations because of the last classic staple Deltron 3030 release, but the production on this was superb for me. Admittedly, it's a bit lacking for Del in the lyrical department maybe, but the beats, the cameos, the choruses, the features, and the entire flow I enjoyed. "What Is This Lonliness" featuring Damon Albarn of Blur/Gorillaz might be one of my twenty favorite songs of the year, along with "Nobody Can" and "Do You Remember" following very close. If I'm a fool for liking Event 2 as much as I did, then so be it. A fool I'll gladly be. 8.4/10
11 - Necro & Kool G Rap ~ "Once Upon A Crime"
Now here's a rare example in 2013 in which I had very high expectations for a record and wasn't displeased at all. Necro will always be one of my favorites, and Kool G Rap is an undeniable known god. A few years in the making and this CD shows they work very well off each other, and some great songs are contained herein. A solid release. 8.5/10
10 - Deafheaven ~ "Sunbather"
This brutal but beautiful band basically consists of two very talented men (vocalist George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy) leading the way with unique, yet respectable black metal. It's wonderful in a way with which I would easily suggest this record to anyone that might not be too keen or privy with black metal in general. Sunbather was included on many best-of lists I read this year, and it's no wonder why; it's something special. 8.6/10
9 - Depeche Mode ~ "Delta Machine"
This very well might be where people stop reading this list and that's fine. I reviewed this album earlier in the year (see past blog) and I didn't expect it would remain on my favorites of 2013, yet here it is. I can't help but compare the songs I really did enjoy on this album to those on several other releases that just didn't do it for me. It stood the test of time. Then again, I'm just a sucker for Dave Gahan's voice and the grooves of Depeche, so feel free to hate on me for that. 8.7/10
8 - Tesseract ~ "Altered State"
If you haven't heard this beautiful and equally cerebral release from England, I strongly urge you to do so. Altered State is broken into four parts: Of Matter, Of Mind, Of Reality and Of Energy. Some of the best vocal accompaniments paired with such surging and strong instrumentation, I couldn't dare deny it once I first heard it much earlier in the year. 8.8/10
7 - Ghost B.C. ~ "Infestissumum"
I firmly believe these Swedish satanists will be a household name in metal soon enough, and they're basically there as it is. Call it gimmicky or cheap, these enigmatic personas couple with some sinful songs to make effort in music that hardly any are respectably rivaling. I consider Ghost close to that of a satanic Blue Oyster Cult, but that's just me. They certainly have that late 70's vibe, only with Lucifer and Beelzebub references thrown about. Infestissumum is no different. 8.8/10
6 - Ill Bill ~ "The Grimy Awards"
Yet another stellar record I reviewed earlier in the year, but this time it's one I knew would be included on this list. Death metal-loving Brooklyn beast Ill Bill is brutal with the bars and this album has some of my favorite songs of the year contained on it. Listen to Exploding Octopus, Paul Baloff, 120% Darkside Justice feat. Jedi Mind Tricks and Severed Heads of State with El-P (my favorite) and tell me you really expected me not to include this musical gem on my favorites of 2013. Case closed. Thanks, Bill. 8.8/10
5 - The Ocean ~ "Pelagial"
This post-metal German/Switzerland musical outfit is breathtaking. These aren't songs on this wonderful record, they're mini-movies in musical form. Again, various instrumentations to behold here. There's tunes contained on Pelagial that I played for people that instantly fell in love with, having never heard of the band. It's that good. Great album, even greater band. 8.9/10
4 - El-P & Killer Mike ~ "Run The Jewels"
On basically every greatest of 2013 list this year I've seen, Run The Jewels is a thing of beauty: Hip hop at its finest. My god, El-P, and Killer Mike fashioned a classic that everyone has been noticing, and if you haven't yet noticed it you sincerely should. This is a record I see metal heads, indie rock lovers and others proudly bumping, and there's a reason for that. It's incredibly infectious and this team is tremendous. 9.1/10
3 - Sadistik ~ "Flowers For My Father"
If you would've told me in the beginning of 2013 that Run The Jewels wouldn't be my favorite hip hop record of the year, I would've scoffed at you. Low and behold, Sadistik comes with not only one of the greatest albums of 2013, but probably one of the most fluid and fantastic rap albums I've ever heard. Listen to this record. This is what inspires me to write. This is what inspires me to pick up a pen or put together verses in my head. These beats are the epitome of beauty, and he displays lyricism and cadence that floor me. Many just spit on a beat; Sadistik has created paintings with these remarkable flows. I can't say enough about this release, and how hard it hits. 9.2/10
2 - Killswitch Engage ~ "Disarm The Descent"
I literally can't count how many times I've listened to this phenomenal record this year, and I don't see the habit ending any time soon. What I mentioned earlier with Protest The Hero, Killswitch has bested here. A lead singer that can both carry choruses with an outstanding bravado and tone and belt brutal screams is what I desire most in a metal frontman. I knew Disarm The Descent would be on my top five when I reviewed it earlier in 2013, and I'm very much happy that I wasn't wrong in that belief. This is almost perfection for me. 9.5/10
1 - Queens Of The Stone Age ~ "...Like Clockwork"
This phenomenal masterpiece of music came in two forms for me: First hearing half of the songs around friends with an early leak of videos, and then hearing the whole record and almost automatically being reassured it was the best collection of music this year. QOTSA is a top ten band for me, and has been since I first heard them -- however long ago that might have been. Though I feel this record really starts on the third track, every song thereafter is astonishing up until the final bullet has been shot. I'm more than grateful to have this to listen to, and hopefully you feel the same way. This record set the bar so high this year and left all others below it, in my opinion. 9.7/10
Biggest disappointments:
Cage - "Kill The Architect"
NIN - "Hesitation Marks"
Pearl Jam - "Lightning Bolt"
Kanye West - "Yeezus"
Other notable releases:
Czarface - (self-titled)
Dour Candy - "Billy Woods"
Kylesa - "Ultraviolet"
Nails - "Abandon All Hope"
And there you have it. Thanks to anyone for reading, and go listen to some good music, people... Cheers.
- Castle.
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