Our lovely Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Shannen Gaffney, also writes for Liquid Courage Media. This is their list of the top albums of 2013, co-written with Isabel Imperatore (in alphabetical order).
Allison Weiss – Say What You Mean Allison Weiss’ No Sleep Records release, Say What You Mean, was an uplifting take on the more depressing moments of being a teenager-to-twenty-something. The first track, “Making It Up,” outlined the uncertainties of defining a relationship. Our favorite is the breakup pop tune “How to Be Alone”.
Beyoncé – BEYONCÉ BEYONCE released a self-titled “exclusive visual album” on iTunes in the middle of the night without any previous announcement or promotion. Do I need to say anything else? Videos/tracks to check out: ”XO” and “Blue” (and the entire album).
Blood Orange – Cupid Deluxe If we can use the word ‘groovy,’ Blood Orange released one of the grooviest records this year. “You’re Not Good Enough” encompasses everything you’ve ever wanted to say to your ex, and has been stuck in our heads ever since its recent release.
Brick + Mortar – Bangs It’s hard to categorize and describe Brick + Mortar, which is a duo comprised of Brandon Asraf and John Tacon. They combine elements of alternative, electronic, indie, drum and bass, noise-pop, hip-hop, and punk. It’s aggressive, anthemic and catchy. The intense drum and bass parts are overlapped with Brandon’s distinct vocals and instrumentation like synths and guitar. Listen to “Bangs” and “Locked In A Cage” and you’ll understand.
Charli XCX – True Romance Charli XCX was definitely a breakout artist of 2013, and True Romance was one of the best dance pop albums of the year. Her obvious best track was “You – Ha Ha Ha,” but “Take My Hand” and “What I Like” were also equally addictive pop gems.
1 OF MONTREAL Lousy With Sylvianbriar
2 DR. DOG B-Room
3 DEER TICK Negativity
4 YUCK Glow And Behold
5 KING KRULE 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
6 PARQUET COURTS Tally All The Things That You Broke [EP]
7 KEVIN DEVINE Bubblegum
8 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN The Third Eye Centre
9 THOSE DARLINS Blur The Line
10 FUZZ Fuzz
11 SLEIGH BELLS Bitter Rivals
12 POLICA Shulamith
13 DALE EARNHARDT JR. JR. The Speed Of Things
14 HAIM Days Are Gone
15 MAN MAN On Oni Pond
16 FRANKIE ROSE Herein Wild
17 PHANTOGRAM Phantogram [EP]
18 THE BLOW The Blow
19 BEST COAST Fade Away
20 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Blue Record [EP]
21 CHVRCHES The Bones Of What You Believe
22 HEAD AND THE HEART Let’s Be Still
23 RUBBLEBUCKET Save Charlie [EP]
24 OBITS Bed And Bugs
25 MAZZY STAR Seasons Of Your Day
26 CHELSEA WOLFE Pain Is Beauty
27 DISMEMBERMENT PLAN Uncanney Valley
28 COURTNEY BARNETT The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas
29 ALBERT HAMMOND JR. AHJ
30 VOLCANO CHOIR Repave
1 OF MONTREAL Lousy With Sylvianbriar
2 DEER TICK Negativity
3 YUCK Glow And Behold
4 DR. DOG B-Room
5 KING KRULE 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
6 PARQUET COURTS Tally All The Things That You Broke [EP]
7 SLEIGH BELLS Bitter Rivals
8 FRANKIE ROSE Herein Wild
9 THOSE DARLINS Blur The Line
10 KEVIN DEVINE Bubblegum
11 MAN MAN On Oni Pond
12 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Blue Record [EP]
13 OBITS Bed And Bugs
14 FLATLINERS Dead Language
15 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN The Third Eye Centre
16 BEST COAST Fade Away
17 CHVRCHES The Bones Of What You Believe
18 THE BLOW The Blow
19 RUBBLEBUCKET Save Charlie [EP]
20 CHELSEA WOLFE Pain Is Beauty
21 ELF POWER Sunlight On The Moon
22 NO AGE An Object
23 RJD2 More Is Than Isn’t
24 ST. LUCIA When The Night
25 MGMT MGMT
26 CRYSTAL STILTS Nature Noir
27 SUPERCHUNK I Hate Music
28 TIM KASHER Adult Film
29 TOUCHE AMORE Is Survived By
30 WASHED OUT Paracosm
1 DR. DOG B-Room
2 DEER TICK Negativity
3 OF MONTREAL Lousy With Sylvianbriar
4 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Blue Record [EP]
5 FLATLINERS Dead Language
6 YUCK Glow And Behold
7 MAN MAN On Oni Pond
8 HAIM Days Are Gone
9 THOSE DARLINS Blur The Line
10 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN The Third Eye Centre
11 NO AGE An Object
12 CHVRCHES The Bones Of What You Believe
13 SLEIGH BELLS Bitter Rivals
14 KING KRULE 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
15 RJD2 More Is Than Isn’t
16 OBITS Bed And Bugs
17 SUPERCHUNK I Hate Music
18 SEBADOH Defend Yourself
19 RUBBLEBUCKET Save Charlie [EP]
20 HUNX AND HIS PUNX Street Punk
21 DIARRHEA PLANET I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dream
22 FOOTBALL, ETC. Audible
23 WASHED OUT Paracosm
24 MODERAT II Mute
25 VOLCANO CHOIR Repave
26 ISLANDS Ski Mask
27 PORCELAIN RAFT Permanent Signal
28 CROCODILES Crimes Of Passion
29 BEST COAST Fade Away
30 JAGWAR MA Howlin’
1 DEER TICK Negativity (Partisan)
2 MAN MAN On Oni Pond (Anti)
3 DR. DOG B-Room (Anti)
4 NO AGE An Object (SUB POP)
5 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN The Third Eye Centre (Matador)
6 SUPERCHUNK I Hate Music (Merge)
7 CROCODILES Crimes Of Passion (Frenchkiss)
8 PORCELAIN RAFT Permanent Signal (Secretly Canadian)
9 FLATLINERS Dead Language (Fat Wreck Chords)
10 PAPER KITES States (Nettwerk)
11 HUNX AND HIS PUNX Street Punk (Hardly Art)
12 FOOTBALL, ETC. Audible (Count Your Lucky Stars)
13 TY SEGALL Sleeper (Drag City)
14 YUCK Glow And Behold (Fat Possum)
15 DIARRHEA PLANET I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams (Infinity Cat)
16 OBITS Bed And Bugs (SUB POP)
17 ALUNAGEORGE Body Music (Vagrant)
18 WASHED OUT Paracosm (SUB POP)
19 VOLCANO CHOIR Repave (Jagjaguwar)
20 DIANA Perpetual Surrender (Jagjaguwar)
21 MGMT MGMT (Columbia)
22 NIGHTMARES ON WAX Feelin’ Good (Warp)
23 LEMURIA The Distance Is So Big (Bridge Nine)
24 WEEKEND Jinx (Slumberland)
25 ISLANDS Ski Mask (Manque)
26 RUBBLEBUCKET Save Charlie [EP] (Communion)
27 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Blue Record [EP] (Jagjaguwar)
28 JAGWAR MA Howlin’ (Mom And Pop)
29 MINKS Tides End (Captured Tracks)
30 ELF POWER Sunlight On The Moon (Orange Twin)
Over the past few months, I’ve been watching an amazing slew local shows being announced for the fall with frustration. You see, dear reader, while Philadelphia is about to have one of the best concert seasons in recent memory, I will be in Istanbul, enjoying the requisite college rite of passage that is study abroad (please, shower me with pity). Despite my infuriating inability to attend any of the following concerts, I have compiled a personal list of must-see shows for this fall.
Truthfully, I haven’t really given a good listen to Kishi Bashi’s only album, 151a. However, I did have the opportunity to catch him at the Church Basement as part of a WKDU Presents event, and it was stellar. Kishi Bashi creates little string ensembles with a lone violin and a loop pedal, which are combined with soaring vocals and occasional beatboxed vocals (it’s way less obnoxious than it sounds, I promise) to great effect. Throw in some whimsical stage decorations and a charmingly intimate venue, and I expect this to be a great experience.
Okay, confession: I’m a huge V-Dubs fanboy. Huge. I’ve seen them five or six times, and Modern Vampires of the City is my album of the year right now. This being said, they’re a very tight, consistent band, and I’m very curious to see how much of their new material translates live. There’s really no gimmick here—just excellent songcraft and musicianship (and a steadily increasing touring budget, I suppose).
A fortuitous pairing, to say the least. I’ve never really associated the psych stalwarts with the fresh faced up-and-comers, but I think the two bands will complement each other quite nicely. While the legendary nature of the Lips’ shows is already well-documented (they do seem to be adding some strange, disturbing elements to go with their dark new album, The Terror), Tame Impala proved to be a pretty excellent live band at their recent Electric Factory gig. I’m already a huge fan of both bands’ material, but I can guarantee that this will be a very entertaining show.
The new Fuck Buttons album, Slow Focus, is a slice of dark, menacing, bass-heavy goodness. I really want to hear this thing pouring out of some overpowered subwoofers. Paired with Voyeur (possibly the most worthwhile nightclub in Philadelphia) and the fine folks at Making Time, I expect this to be a very, very good time. Be prepared to move.
This one’s already sold out, but it feels worth mentioning. Deacon’s manic energy, channeled through performing in the middle of the crowd, is not something to miss. I guarantee that you will dance, and you will love it. Animal Collective is notoriously spotty in their live performances, often receiving the complaint that their concerts are more about writing new songs live than performing old ones. That being said, apparently they’ve been playing more older stuff lately (they absolutely killed Peacebone when I saw them at the Mann a few months back), and I think the energy is going to be incredible. A second date has been announced sans Dan Deacon, which should also be cool, but if you can somehow manage to get into this show…do it.
Oh my god. Go to this. Go to this. I can only imagine what kind of hijinks Man Man have planned for back-to-back hometown Halloween shows. The band has put on some of the most entertaining live performances I have ever seen, and I fully expect this to surpass any previous shows of theirs. This one will be special.
I first encountered Basia as an opening act for Beirut at the Electric Factory last year. She’s an incredibly charming and talented folk artist who plays a variety of instruments, including a weird autoharp thing. It’s cool. Anyway, if you’re looking for an excuse to check out R5’s newest venue, this would definitely be it—warm music to provide respite from November’s cold.
All this being said, I’m just thankful that I’ll be here for Neutral Milk Hotel.
On Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 I caught up with Honus Honus, lead singer of Philadelphia band Man Man. This was just before their first ever show at the newly opened Union Transfer, and just about eight months after the release of their fourth album, Life Fantastic.
We would end up talking about everything from Man Man’s creative process to the wild circumstances surrounding the creation of their 2006 masterpiece Six Demon Bag to the impending Mayan Apocalypse. You can read the entire interview below:
