Best Albums of 2013

Ok. Here's the cliche blog post for the end of December. You've all seen it before. I'm just going to dive right in and we'll see how many picks I actually end up with.


1. Foy Vance - Joy of Nothing
This is the best album of 2013. I can't say enough about it...except I already did in a separate blog post...so go read that. It's intelligent, beautiful and has the perfect amount of soul. There isn't a single flaw on this album and it's going to be one of my favorites for many many years. The gem of 2013 for sure. Go buy it already!

2. Lorde - Pure Heroine
Another album I've already yammered on about. It's brilliant. If you want to talk about the controversy surrounding Lorde as a person and musician, I don't want to hear it. This album is creative and fresh and has such a great sound. That's all you need to care about.

3. Arctic Monkeys - AM
This was probably my most anticipated album of 2013. It delivered. I think all of Arctic Monkeys' albums are stellar, and this one, like the others, doesn't disappoint. It took me a couple listens to really get into it but I think it's a really stand-out addition to their old stuff. They never really change their sound but somehow always build on whatever they've put out in the past.

4. Disclosure - Settle
Let's be honest, EDM was sort-of a joke this year. I'm still listening to my favorites from 2012 and nothing really compares to Luxury Problems by Andy Stott (will it ever?). I did, however, really enjoy this album by Disclosure. It's upbeat, creative, and throws together some really nice collabs and mixes. Impressive to say the least.

5. The Neighbourhood - I Love You.
This album really hooked me in. I've noticed it being played on the radio (with a subtle pop dance beat added...OF COURSE) and it makes me annoyed. Listen to the rest of the album. It's angsty, a bit rock, a bit pop, a bit everything. I love it.

6. Jay-Z - Magna Carta, Holy Grail
A lot of people are putting Yeezus on their list of best albums but I'm going to mix it up and put MC|HG on there. I think it's brilliant. Since I basically worship Hova I'd probably say anything he put out was brilliant but I just keep listening to this album and every song on there sounds a bit different. It's truly a diverse album while still keeping the classic Jay-Z sound. He grabbed about 8 trillion Grammy noms so we'll see what happens with that.

7. Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
Frank Turner put out yet another stellar album. There isn't much to say about this except it screams "Frank Turner". Insanely clever lyrics and driving sound. It's all there.

8. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
I was looking forward to this album like none other. I've been a massive Arcade Fire fan for years and the hype surrounding this release was crazy. With the neon animal parties and the sparkles and the whatever else I knew it was going to be good...and it is. I really was disappointed at first, but then I found myself singing the title-track Reflektor randomly at work and jiving around. It gets stuck in and you realize how truly catchy the whole album is. ALSO, I get to finally see them live in 2014. Someone pinch me.

9. Beyoncé - Beyoncé OR Katy Perry- PRISM
In terms of pop godesses I can't decide. Miley and Britney are for sure out. They released just piece of crap garbage albums that I wish never existed. Katy Perry shocked me. Prism is a really incredible pop album with an insane amount of diversity. Dark Horse hooked me in and then I just listened to the whole thing...over and over and over and over again. Do I need to say anything about Beyoncé? Her self-titled album is amazing and the way she released it deserves an award alone.

10. Little Green Cars - Absolute Zero
After seeing them live this album really opened up to me. I was always a fan of their work but when I saw how incredibly raw and talented they are live, I really started listening to this all the way through and it's such a fresh and awesome sound. They really deserve a lot more credit than they've gotten this year. Amazing vocals.

Well look at that, I actually ended up with 10. It's like I planned it or something (I actually didn't). Of course there are plenty of songs that I want to include but not everybody can be a winner. These are truly my stand-out albums of 2013 and I think they are all complete choices with multiple good tracks on each album. They all have a very distinct idea and concept behind the albums and deserve recognition as we end the year.

Happy New Year xx

"The Best Album I've Heard In Five Years"?

So when you have hype like this attached to your album, I'm going to have high hopes when I listen. Blah blah blah if you don't feel like reading the whole blog post, it doesn't disappoint. Spoiler alert? I'm not one to say what's the best or worst album I've heard, especially in five years time, but I know for sure it's damn good. DAMN good.

Now, on to the actual review....

Like many others, I heard of Foy Vance from Ed Sheeran and had the privilege of seeing him live in Los Angeles opening for Ed in February. He blew my socks off. Is that an expression people still use? All I know is I was wearing socks, and then I wasn't. The guy has an incredible voice that wraps you up in rasp and then makes you cry and then your mouth hits the floor and then you pass out and then you wake up in heaven. I mean, what? I don't even know. Although I heard of Foy from Ed, their styles are quite different. Since they are associated acts, and Ed Sheeran features on a track on Foy's album (Guiding Light...check it out...it's amazing), they do get put in the same boat a lot of time. Although they both have extremely poignant lyrics and a wonderful guitar-based sound, Foy has a stronger blues component to his music and his own unique style.

Foy Vance - Los Angeles, CA - Feb 2013

"Joy of Nothing" is Foy's first album in six years. It's stellar. You can hear the blues, folk, rock and everything in-between all mashed together in a gorgeous sound. With whatever sound on whatever track, the lyrics are commonly dripping with soul, strength, and a bit of grit. I can't help but think of some old blues and rock albums my dad introduced to me when I was young coupled with something much more modern.

Some of the stand out tracks on the album, for me, are the title track "Joy of Nothing", "Janey" and "At Least My Heart Was Open" although they really are all worth a listen. I'm really looking forward to seeing Foy live again in October. I'd advise seeing if he's playing somewhere near you...chances are, he probably is. Link! And let me just say, he does this thing where he uses a string bow on his guitar that is worth the ticket price alone.

So, basically, give "Joy of Nothing" a listen...then purchase this baby on iTunes, or if you're like me, go old school and get a physical copy because why the hell not. I already checked with my local record store. They're carrying it. ALRIGHT.

Top Tracks (2)

Here we are again. Discussing my "top tracks" from Spotify. What a great tradition we've created here.

Here they are.
Can I just say, the amount of times in my life I've had to Google "how to take a screenshot on a mac" is astounding.

1. Be the Song - Foy Vance
This song is gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. Back in my days of religiously watching Grey's Anatomy I first discovered Foy Vance. But, because I'm an idiot, I haven't listened to anything by him in the past couple years. I'm going to be seeing him (opening for Ed Sheeran) in February so I thought I'd give his music another whirl and boy, that was a good idea. The Melrose EP is so calming and soulful.

2. X-French Tee Shirt - Shudder to Think
Holy shit I about lost my mind when I rediscovered this song. I probably first heard this when I was seven years old and it all came flooding back to me when it was played on the radio last week. There's something about the dissonance in this song that I'm completely obsessed with. There's literally no possible way you can hear this chorus 400 times in a row and not rock the fuck out to it. Brilliant.

3. One Day / Reckoning Song -Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
I know nothing about this song, group, remix, anything. It's completely addicting though. This is one of those songs where you end up listening to it about ten billion times without any recollection of having it happen.

4. Miss Cigarette - Rizzle Kicks
Rizzle Kicks are of those groups that I just sit there listening to, obsessed with figuring out what the samples are that they use. Whosampled.com is probably my favorite website in existence. Am I the only one that can sit on there for hours clicking through samples further and further back down a deep dark spiral? Anyway, my millions of subscribers, I can't figure out the sample in Miss Cigarette so let's try solving this mystery. *crickets*

5. New Born - Muse
Origin of Symmetry is my favorite Muse album. This is my favorite song on Origin of Symmetry. So, here we are.

6. You Make Me Sick - P!nk
Hello childhood me. Do you still remember this? Yes? You do? Every lyric? Perfect.
Moment of silence for this P!nk that we all remember and miss....

7. C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies
Another favorite middle school song. Apparently I was feeling nostalgic this week...(see numbers 9 and 10 for proof).

8. Swimming Pools (Drank) - Kendrick Lamar
THIS IS THE BEST HIP HOP ALBUM/SONG/EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME OUT IN YEARS. Sorry about the excessive CAPS but I feel very passionate about this. Everyone always gives modern hip-hop such a bad rap (pun completely intended) but all I would have to do is give them a copy of good kid, M.A.A.D. city and they would instantly retract that opinion. I've listened to this song hundreds of times since October and I'm not even slightly sick of it. In fact, my alter rap ego knows every word and has gotten pretty boss at performing it.

9. No Scrubs (With Rap) - TLC
Best song ever written in the history of music. *drops mic*

10. Ready or Not - The Fugees
I'm pretty confident that the last time I heard this song was in 1996 so I'm not sure how it made this list but I'm not complaining. I love a good Lauryn Hill moment. We can all agree The Score was a flawless album, right?


Speaking of Lauryn Hill and nostalgia I'm going to go listen to Doo Wop (That Thing) and dust off my Umbro shorts (I still remember the conversation..."but moooommm, Mel C wears them). Peace out home skizzles.