It’s that time. Mistletoe, holiday parties, punch bowls. And best albums of 2013 lists. Here’s mine.
6. Kelala, Cut 4 Me: This takes me back to the early nineties when my momz would be all up in the kitchen listening to Whitney Houston-inspired R&B, cooking chicken marsala, until finally, Ducktales would end and it would be time to eat. Thanks Kelala.
5. Blood Orange, Cupid Deluxe: A variety of vocalists and instruments shows the symphonic variety of this album. I hear echoes of Prince, Destroyer, and dare I say, Annie Lenox here? Honest, intimate, refreshing: This young producer as someone to watch out for and this album shows that he wants everyone to take notice. He’s poised to become a star.
4. Kanye West, Yeezus: Kanye’s a dick. But I can’t ignore what he’s done for pop culture. This album, abrasive, minimalistic and the inspiration behind the Bound 3 video, is something everyone should listen to, at least to be aware of what direction hip-hop and possibly music, is taking.
3. Disclosure, Settle: Dance, electro-pop, whatever you want to call it, I could throw this on and start cleaning the house, or invite a bunch of friends over and talk shit for an hour straight. Either way, I will listen to this set of cuts for a while.
2. Arcade Fire, Reflektor: Skeptical of what it means to be the Arcade Fire in 2013, this album offers a comfortable, unironical self-consciousness that is apropos to our current moment. I’m sure it will continue to grow on me as I listen to it more and more. Overall a very, very good album.
1. Kurt Vile, Wakin on a Pretty Day: I saw Kurt at the Apple Store in Soho perform some tracks from this album and I never felt the same way again. In a couple of albums, as my Aussie friend Aaron said, Kurt could become the next Bruce Springsteen. Wakin follows on the success of Smoke Ring for My Halo by offering a more personal introspection, without any apparent difficulty for Kurt accepting that he’s a rock star. I have listened to it and heard it get better and better; I have told people who are not doing so to do please do the same. Never Run Away? The title track? Pure Pain? I hope they follow my advice.
There you have it folks, my best albums of 2013. What are yours?
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