Best Of 2013

Anything music related. Latest songs, good new bands, and blasts from the past.

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numbersix
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by numbersix »

Had a chance to listen to a few of the picks today. I'll try not to be as critical as y'all were on my picks, you philistines (sniff)...

Surf, you've obviously the closest taste to mine, with a few crossovers. Didn't like Phosphorescent (liked the vocals, hated the music. When will he ever record an album that sounds like his live performances, where the loops his vocals to create a haunting effect?). Never heard of California X, but their shoegaze sound was pleasant. I should really get that Vampire Weekend album. Their last one didn't really impress me, but everyone's raving about this one, and I've liked what I heard. The QUOTSA song was nice, but I think I'm better off getting their earlier records first. Mikal Cronin intrigued me due to the Ty Segall link. Again, the music was nice but just didn't leap out at me (and I listened to a few more songs from the record). So overall, nothing I hated, a lot that didn't grab me, but at worst it was all decent.

Leetsu, Grouplove are a strange blend of pretty much every guitar act of the 90s, from grunge to indie to Wheatus-like pop. My favourite was Raspberry, but only because it reminded me of the Pixies. Elsewhere, I really liked the Bo Ningen tune, it rocked my world, and I know The Drones but didn't realise they had a new record out. Liked that a lot too.

Brock, oh Brock, we do come from different universes, don't we? ;) What you see as weird I see as exciting and innovative, and what you see as good I see as tired, familiar, and a little insincere. All perceptions, of course, not absolutes. I admit I didn't listen to everything. I despise Jared Leto's band, and John Mayer bored me. However, I do like The National (even though I think their new record is their weakest), and found some of The White Buffalo stuff to be nice. So it's not completely mutually exclusive.

John, your selection sent me deep into an existential crises about who I am and what I know. What the hell is Alt-country? If Steve Earle is it, then how does one distinguish between mainstream and alt? I don't even remember my name anymore!

After a breather I actually listened to the tracks. Again, nothing blew me away but perhaps that's because I haven't been in a country mood as of late. What I did appreciate is the variety on offer in those three tracks, Pocket Full of Rain being the one I enjoyed the most.

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JohnErle
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by JohnErle »

numbersix wrote: John, your selection sent me deep into an existential crises about who I am and what I know. What the hell is Alt-country? If Steve Earle is it, then how does one distinguish between mainstream and alt? I don't even remember my name anymore!
Try to think of it as Post-Country and it'll all start to make sense to you.

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

JohnErle wrote:
numbersix wrote: John, your selection sent me deep into an existential crises about who I am and what I know. What the hell is Alt-country? If Steve Earle is it, then how does one distinguish between mainstream and alt? I don't even remember my name anymore!
Try to think of it as Post-Country and it'll all start to make sense to you.
I can't express in words how much I loved this post.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

Just in time for the new year, I'm ready to kick off my top 10 albums of 2013. It wasn't easy to compile, and I've listened to more music over the past couple weeks than I have all year trying to get my favorites sorted out and narrowed down to ten, but here we are. Get ready for a trip down the Punk Rock yellow brick road of 2013, as brought to you by your favorite Geezer.

Coming in at number 10, is the latest from one of my long time favorite bands, a band I saw perform this year. It's not their best album, hell its not even in their top 3, but it was a solid enough album, headlined by the first two tracks, which made for powerhouse singles, to make this year's top ten. I give you Alkaline Trio's "My Shame Is True"

10. Alkaline Trio - “My Shame is True”

Image

1.She Lied to the FBI – 5 stars
2.I Wanna Be a Warhol – 5 stars
3.I'm Only Here to Disappoint – 4 stars
4.Kiss You To Death – 3 stars
5.The Temptation of St. Anthony – 3 stars
6.I, Pessimist – 3 stars
7.Only Love – 3 stars
8.The Torture Doctor – 4 stars
9.Midnight Blue – 3 stars
10.One Last Dance – 3 stars
11.Young Lovers – 3 stars
12.Until Death Do Us Part – 4 stars

"She Lied to the FBI"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L611BmxKNhU

"I Wanna Be a Warhol"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7trRQX0XP9k
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

Coming in at number 9 on my list, a band I discovered recently and just fell in love with. They combine gruff vocals with sweet pop-punk melodies and meaningful lyrics in a way that you wouldn't imagine it would work, but it absolutely does, and this album is a triumph of it. I present you with Red City Radio's "Titles."

9. Red City Radio - "Titles"
Image


1.Two Notes Shy of an Octave – 5 stars
2.A Version of Events – 3 stars
3.Show Me On the Doll Where the Music Touched You – 5 stars
4.Joy Comes With the Morning – 4 stars
5.A Joke With No Words – 4 stars
6.Don't Be a Hero, Find a Friend – 3 stars
7.Purple Heart Paperweight – 4 stars
8.I'll Take a Mile – 4 stars
9.We Know Who We Are – 3 stars
10.The Silence Between – 4 stars

"Show Me On the Doll Where the Music Touched You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT4smSRyqnM
"Two Notes Shy of an Octave"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37axERck8OQ
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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BrocksterDuex
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by BrocksterDuex »

Way off topic, but I want to thank you for your avatar Geezer...thank you.

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

Anything I can do to help ;)

Yours isn't bad either. My favorite line from Spaceballs.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

Coming in at number 8 is another band that I discovered very recently but am damn glad I did. Can't wait to explore more of their catalog, because if this record is any indication, I'll be more than satisfied. One of the best new bands I've heard in a while. Here's Iron Chic with "The Constant One."

8. Iron Chic - "The Constant One"
Image

1.The End – 3 stars
2.Bogus Journey – 5 stars
3.(Castle) Numbskull – 4 stars
4.Wolf Dix Rd. - 5 stars
5.Prototype – 3 stars
6.Spooky Action at a Distance – 4 stars
7.Sounds Like a Pretty Brutal Murder – 5 stars
8.A Serious House on Serious Earth – 4 stars
9.True Miserable Experience – 4 stars
10.Don't Drive Angry – 3 stars
11.Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? - 4 stars

Here's the whole album on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnEtgv01lg4
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

At number SEVEN comes a band featured on my top 100. Their album, "The Receiving End of it All" came in at number 56 on that list, and while this is not quite as good, it still holds its own quite nicely. Unfortunately, it is the band's swan song, as they broke up shortly after making the record, and going on a farewell tour (that I really wish I could have caught). Here's Streetlight Manifesto with "The Hands That Thieve"

7. Streetlight Manifesto - "The Hands That Thieve"
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1.The Three of Us – 5 stars
2.Ungrateful – 3 stars
3.The Littlest Things – 3 stars
4.The Hands That Thieve – 4 stars
5.With Any Sort of Certainty – 5 stars
6.If Only for the Memories – 4 stars
7.They Broke Him Down – 4 stars
8.Toe to Toe – 3 stars
9.Oh Me, Oh My – 5 stars
10.Your Day Will Come – 4 stars

Whole Album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4QeP0jf6SY
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

At number SIX on my list is a bit of a change of pace from my other selections, from a man who is quickly becoming a legend of the genre. The only thing that prevents this album from being higher on the list is the simple fact that its too long, and loaded with a lot of filler. If this album has 10 songs on it, it's probably my number 3. The highs are so high. The album's opener is in the running for song of the year for me. Here is Frank Turner with "Tape Deck Heart."

6. Frank Turner - "Tape Deck Heart"
Image

1.Recovery – 5 stars
2.Losing Days – 4 stars
3.The Way I Tend to Be – 4 stars
4.Plain Sailing Weather – 5 stars
5.Good & Gone – 4 stars
6.Tell Tale Signs – 3 stars
7.Four Simple Words – 5 stars
8.Polaroid Picture – 3 stars
9.The Fisher King Blues – 3 stars
10.Anymore – 2 stars
11.Oh Brother – 3 stars
12.Broken Piano – 2 stars
13.We Shall Not Overcome – 4 stars
14.Wherefore Art Thou Gene Simmons – 3 stars
15.Tattoos – 3 stars
16.Time Machine – 3 stars

"Recovery"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1L5zJ2afLs

"Plain Sailing Weather"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ1yZFHhf7w
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

My number FIVE album from 2013 came out in the very first week of 2013. It has held up the entire year round. Got to see an awesome show from them this year (my third time seeing them) too. One of my favorite bands with another hit. Here's Dropkick Murphys with "Signed and Sealed in Blood"

5. Dropkick Murphys - "Signed and Sealed in Blood"
Image

1.The Boys Are Back – 5 stars
2.Prisoner's Song – 4 stars
3.Rose Tattoo – 5 stars
4.Burn – 3 stars
5.Jimmy Collin's Wake – 4 stars
6.The Season's Upon Us – 5 stars
7.The Battle Rages On – 3 stars
8.Don't Tear Us Apart – 3 stars
9.My Hero – 5 stars
10.Out on the Town – 3 stars
11.Out of Our Heads – 4 stars
12.End of the Night – 4 stars

Whole Album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QIXzPGlAJs
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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transformers2
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by transformers2 »

New Murphys album did nothing for me. Way too many slow songs and the faster songs seemed kind of forced and just weren't very fun or catchy. I do agree that Rose Tattoo is an excellent song though.
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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

It's certainly not on the level of Warrior's Code (9 on my all time list) or Blackout (22), but I still think it was a very worthy effort. I enjoy the slower songs too. It's the first album on this list with a shot of cracking my top 100, but it wouldn't be higher than the 90's. This next album would obviously come in higher.

Coming in at number FOUR on my list, is a band I discovered when they opened a 4 band show headlined by The Menzingers back in May, which turned out to be one of the most amazing shows I've ever been to. These guys blew me away, and after picking up this album it only strengthened my opinion. Their song "Montreal" is one of the best songs of the year. This is Captain, We're Sinking with "The Future is Cancelled."

4. Captain, We're Sinking - "The Future is Cancelled"
Image

1.Adultery – 3 stars
2.Brother – 4 stars
3.Annina We Will Miss You – 4 stars
4.The Future is Cancelled – 3 stars
5.Montreal – 5 stars
6.More Tequila, Less Joe – 4 stars
7.Beer Can – 5 stars
8.You Have Flaws – 4 stars
9.Lake – 3 stars
10.Here's to Forver – 4 stars
11.A Bitter Divorce – 5 stars
12.Shoddy Workmanship – 4 stars

Album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF7zd5-xoj4
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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transformers2
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by transformers2 »

Now that's an album I can get behind! I heard a lot about Captain, We're Sinking from various spots on the internet so I checked out The Future is Canceled and was pretty impressed. Nice combo of pop and old-school punk with some really great hooks and emotional songs.
BRING BRENDAN FRASER BACK TO THE BIG SCREEN DAMN IT
Check out my blog http://maitlandsmadness.blogspot.com/
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Geezer
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Re: Best Of 2013

Post by Geezer »

Good to hear! You'll like my number 2 as well.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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