The Best of Music - a 2013 Memoir
Hello! Welcome to The Best of Music - a 2013 memoir (like a time machine, it is now 2013 again and not 2014). Please be aware to listen along you will need Spotify. Get it free here! Destroying the music industry yet hopefully helping you discover new artists you’ll support. Click the link below for the playlist that will countdown and play alongside the writing with the two best songs from each album on the list. Best of Music 2013 Playlist Memoir If you’re reading this, thank you. Thanks to the few people that told me to finish it and try to share some good things. Especially Ben P., who told me to make it more like a memoir instead of just an awkward 6 month late best of list. It’s all a frame of mind, right? Like everything in life, it’s perspective driven. How do you want to frame the things that matter to you to ensure they get done and mean something to you? Sometimes it’s not only about the music as it is the experience and memories curated around what is happening at the time of discovery. That was the case this year. The memories, moods, stories, and energy the music adds to the experience. Here are mine. I hope you’ll discover a new artist, song, or album and support them. I also hope you enjoy the listen and the read. Please share with me the great music you discovered that I missed and the story that goes along with it. I know no one really gives a shit anymore about best of lists from last year (except for me and hopefully you). Please be aware that these albums and these songs were chosen for fun and I didn’t look to balance genres or add diversity for diversities sake. So when you wonder why there’s no Kanye, it’s because I didn’t really listen to it, and there are a million other places out there talking about that stuff. Instead, this is simply the best music from what one person has discovered throughout the past year and a half. Without further ado, here are the best artists and albums and songs and good things I discovered in a variety of ways in 2013. Handpicked by ear and heart and ready to share with you. Sit back, relax, or get up and do something; whatever - just put these songs on and enjoy an almost-full work days worth of the best of music. Love and rock, Jeff P.S. In case you skimmed above, to listen to the playlist, please click this link to follow along with the upcoming songs: Best of Music 2013 Playlist Memoir Son Lux - Lanterns
Part of the benefit of not finishing something until after it’s already the new year is that you get to discover incredible artists well past deadline. Ryan Lott, a.k.a Son Lux is one of the craziest, most exciting and innovative songwriters around. And after saying that, I’ll compare him to somebody: this sounds like that more recent Sufjan Stevens electronic release - albeit more focused - whom Son Lux is friends with — they perform together in a rap side project called Sisyphus. Lott’s music plays out like an insane, yet perfectly choreographed dance. He actually does choreograph dances on the side. Listening to this is almost too much -- like when you watched that movie Avatar in 3D the first time and almost threw up. Except, not really. I can’t get enough. Back to the music…multiple percussions, strings, choirs, synths, and horns are all in harmony all slyly vying for your attention. It’s perfectly paced, always leaving you wanting more while always showing you something new at the same time. The intro to "Lost It To Trying" nonetheless gives me chills, while I imagine being at some festival somewhere jumping up and down in slow motion with neon lights, glow-sticks, and lots of random drugs you shouldn’t take. Because if you’re listening to music this good, you won’t need them. Listen to: "Lost It To Trying" and "No Crimes” Big Scary - Not Art
Another epic album discovered well into 2014, this is the perfect way to start. I found it kind of strange to have an album begin with the artist telling you everything they are not. But maybe it isn't, when that album is titled, Not Art. Brave. However, it sets the stage and makes you question the things that you are and are not while you nod your head and sing along. Bold. Beautiful. Here are the incredible lyrics off of “Hello, My Name Is” (not to be confused with Eminem’s “My Name Is”): "I’m not a faceless, not a racist, not a fracture I’m not a whore, wanting more, I’m not a fraction I’m not your teacher, not your preacher, not your hometown I’m not an able on your table, not your background I’m not obtuse, or some excuse, I’m not an open door I’m not your killer, got my filler, now I want some more I’m not a lover to another, not a stereotype I’m not a rock through your window on a cold night I’m not a book, I’m not a hopeless, not an artist I’m not a painter, not a poet, I’m just short words They try to get you, try to keep you, try to pin you down Another gun under the table and a long walk home." Big Scary are a male/female duo from Australia. They are akin to artists like The White Stripes, Little Hurricane, Wye Oak and others; yet to me Big Scary are far more enthralling and ethereal more than they are ecstatic. That’s a good thing. The drum beats will vary from complex to layered and simple. Walking and arpeggiated pianos and synths swell in and out like an ocean under muffled mid-range guitars and rare but far seeking bass notes. Lovely male and female harmonies and lead vocals. Big Scary will have you in their trance from start to finish. I love this album. Listen to: "Hello, My Name Is" and “Luck Now" Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Fly By Wire
The midwest *better-than-Weezer nerd rock favorites Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are back after their amazing 2010 release, Let It Sway. While not quite reaching those lofty heights of sonic geekdom, this album is still casually wonderful. SSLYBY mix indie garage rock, disco soul, and tongue-tyingly simple acoustic anthems here to perfect effect on the two songs you should… Listen to: “Nightwater Girlfriend” and “Bright Leaves” * My opinion The New Amsterdams - Outroduction
If you didn’t listen to The Get Up Kids in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, you probably won’t understand this. And you’re missing out. Anyway - their lead-singer, Matt Pryor, started a solo side project of sad, but beautiful folk songs under the moniker The New Amsterdams. Then, in-between Get Up Kids releases, his bandmate and wife divorced. Additionally, The Get Up Kids broke up. The resulting albums Pryor put out under The New Amsterdams are metaphors to what his bandmate went through, and some parables to the breakup of The Get Up Kids and now The New Amsterdams. He chronicled an audible precision what it felt like to be in such positions. Yet while the lyrics were heartbreaking, he managed to shroud it in upbeat, happy-go-lucky songs. That continues on here with the final New Amsterdams album, Outroduction. You should really listen to every one of their albums because they are truly phenomenal. At the Foot of My Rival is the perfect precursor to this last record, Outroduction. If you have empathy, you’ll really feel what they went through - and hopefully help you try to keep a positive spin on life if the same thing ever happens to you. From the bottom of my heart, I bid the new The New Amsterdams a loving farewell. We’ll miss you, but we’ll still have many classic albums to play again and again in your absence. Just like a good ex-lover. Listen to: “Too Many of a Good Thing” and "Dear Lover" San Fermin - San Fermin
Beware the high school music nerds. Beware. San Fermin are a stage full of relative youngsters, but you cannot tell muscially. They produce one of the most innovative and exhilarating musical performances I’ve ever experienced. It’s a full on epic production. From the deep male baritone of one-half of their lead signer’s Ellis Ludwig-Leon vocals that are starkly reminiscent of The National, and the soaring female operatic vocals of the other half, Rae Cassidy (who recently left the band to pursue a solo career) leave crowds breathless, and wanting more. The self-titled album deftly swoops between the aforementioned brooding similarities of The National to wry, strange, chill-inciting indie rock as Ludwig-Leon and Cassidy’s songs trade the spotlight back and forth throughout the album. It's almost like listening to completely separate artists, or albums, and they are both incredible. On stage, there are about eight musicians, from the dual singers to dual horns, violins, pianos, etc etc…it comes together to kick you in the stomach both musically and emotionally. They play with a confidence not like rockstars, yet with the quiet confidence of being the very best at their respective instruments, and they then tastefully meld all their talents together. What you hear on the album is exactly what you hear live, and then some extra flavor added in. San Fermin were one of the few bands I saw at South By Southwest this year, and one of the only anyone should have tried to see. Maybe I say that since I missed out on so much. No worries - they blew the crowd away with their emotive, unique, exhilarating performance. They’ll be the band soon selling out shows worldwide; so if you get the chance, check them out before it happens, or before they all break off into solo projects. Listen to: “Renaissance!” and “Crueler Kind” Tera Melos - X’ed Out
Skateboard flipping, Freddy Krueger loving, mind-bending-party-math-rock grows up ever so slightly to make pretty vocal harmonies before putting your brain in this universe’s happiest guitar driven microwave . Bart Simpson is hanging out somewhere. Listen to: "Snake Lake" and "Until Lufthansa” Explosions In The Sky and David Wingo - Prince Avalanche Soundtrack
Neither over-bearing nor staggeringly epic, the Explosions In The Sky and David Wingo instrumental score collaboration for the wonderfully simple yet affecting film Prince Avalanche is thematic and emotional. The soundtrack is equally fitting to accompany our modern-day-average lives along with showcasing the hopes and dreams of each individual ride and the moments they are comprised of. Whether they end up similar or antonym, we all have our own stories to tell along the way. That mass of bundled emotion really hits its stride in the latter half through “Dear Alvin”, “The Lines On the Road That Lead You Back Home”,“An Old Peasant Like Me”, and “Join Me On My Avalanche.” Listen to: "Join Me On My Avalanche" and "Send Off" The Dodos - Carrier
I remember when The Dodos first came onto the music scene, random folk were saying they’d be the next Beatles. Who says that? Anyway, I had to listen to decide for myself. I don’t know if I heard it right away, but I knew I loved their music. I started believing that just maybe…they could possibly be right. Then, somewhere along the way, this amazing two-piece consisting of a drummer and guitarist started stripping away layers of music instead of adding them. I know, crazy for a two piece. Yet still, they continue to perfect the simple finger picking gone electric guitar and pounding drums they became known for and focused on interesting stories inside of their songs. They still find ways to add in horns here or there, but the simplicity of how they present their intricate and complex music is nothing short of astounding. Listen to: “Confidence" and “Relief" Water Liars - Water Liars
What the fuck is a Water Liar? I don’t know. However, their music can be described as nothing less than ‘slow burning.’ Which, I think is one of the coolest, most exuberant ways of presenting a song possible. The build, the build, the build and the release in the final act’s climax. This formula is wonderfully presented again and again on their self-titled debut. One listen to "Tolling Bells" shredding, feeding back, distorted guitar at the end will sell you. It will remind you of Dawes, maybe some Springsteen, some Petty. Yet it’s got a heart all its own…which then is kickstarted on the poppy, "Ray Charles Dream." You’ll feel like you’re Ringo, Paul, and John on one of those black and white TV shows they performed on - bopping around. Then, when the solo steals the stage, you’ll become as rock and rollin’ as The Rolling Stones because you simply don’t give a fuck. From other songs not featured on the playlist like “I Want Blood” to “Pulp” to “Last Escape”, Water Liars debut is laden with incredible songs. This is one of my favorite albums of the year and dare sneak it higher…and higher... Listen to: "Tolling Bells" and "Ray Charles Dream" (Shit. I just found out this was released in 2014. Ah, well. This sure is awkward. My reporting punctuality and integrity is shot to shit!) Camera Obscura - Desire Lines
There is something about Camera Obscura when you listen to them; it half feels like going through the saddest breakup ever that you’ll never get over, while simultaneously feeling like you're driving down the coast with the windows down on the happiest road trip dream that you could never forget. It’s a beautiful thing, a very unique feeling, and is worth it’s weight in gold. Or, at least it's worth every last bit of their too-cute, self-depricating, and honest musical wonder. Listen to: “Do It Again” and “I Missed Your Party" Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse
The male counterpoint to Camera Obscura - longstanding self-depricating drunken Scottish heroes Frightened Rabbit are back. They joyfully (and depressingly, lyrically) keep upping the layers sonically after starting off originally as a three piece with no bass guitar, they now find themselves with many more members jointing the fray, while continuing anthems to their soulful putdowns of self-pity and shitty relationships. It’s masterful. It’s relatable. Here is a sample of the lyrics that are the least depressing from the leading track, “Acts Of Man.” “I am that dickhead in the kitchen Giving wine to your best girl’s glass I am the amateur pornographer Unpleasant publisher by hand Not here, not here, heroic acts of man Let’s promise every girl we marry we’ll always love them When we probably won’t While a knight in shitty armor Rips a drunk out of her dress One man tears into another Hides a cowards heart in a lions chest I have never wanted more, to be your man And build a house around you I am just like all the rest of them Sorry, selfish, trying to improve I’m here, I’m here, not heroic but I try" Listen to: “Acts Of Man” and “Holy” Buke & Gase - General Dome
Experimental rock. Whatever you can sub-genre or attempt to classify it as. I love it. People trying to take music to new heights and you, the listener, to new places. Buke & Gase do just that. In a similarly poppy fashion to Florence and the Machine when we first heard her album in 2009, or, better yet; Mr. Gnome - another band you need to listen to. General Dome is a lofty, hard hitting, absolutely stunningly beautiful orchestration from two people playing instruments they invented themselves that they named their band after. (A buke - something of an electrified 6 string ukelele. Then there’s the gass - somewhat of a cross between a bass and guitar. ) How about that for experimental? It fucking works. Holy shit does it fucking work. Listen to the first track, “Houdini Crush” and try to not feel repeated waves of chills from the beauty being pummeled into your body. I can’t wait to see them live. Listen to: “Houdini Crush” and “Hard Times” Phosphorescent - Muchacho
The latest album from Phosphorescent - Muchacho is a folk up-and comer and it plays out like a vacation to heaven; a resistance, a refuge from whatever day-to-day trials and tribulations came before its existence. It feels like a fresh breeze through an open window on a lazy summer day surrounded by those you love. Play it on repeat, play it in the background; but play it you should. Listen to: “Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, An Introduction)” and “Song For Zula” A Wilhelm Scream - Partycrasher
One of two bands on this list I can proudly say I played with once, is thankfully still at it. In top form. Speed-pop-punk-math rock at it’s finest. The best and most genuine you’ll find. The cure or curse for your child’s A.D.D. A Wilhelm Scream are unmistakably technical while still managing to keep the catchiness, the happy-smart-tough-guy sound fully in place. Still loud, still fun, still cool as fuck. Listen to: “The Last Laugh“ and “Sassaquin“ Mum - Smilewound
The other ambient post rock band from Iceland. You know who I’m talking about. But Mum are equally as enjoyable on a sunny or rainy day - driving, flying, crashing on your floor after work. Utterly beautiful. That piano! The singing! The harmonies! The soaring synthesizers! Listen to: “Underwater Snow” and “Sweet Impressions” Junip - Junip
Listen to: 'Line of Fire' and 'Walking Lightly' if you can’t get enough of things that sound as peaceful and groovy and introspective as Iron and Wine. Let’s be honest, how could you ever have enough of Iron and Wine? Even though his 2013 album isn’t on this list…maybe I should go listen to it. Or maybe you should! Deer Tick - Negativity
Deer Tick and John McCauley have always had a sort of garagey, distorted and dirty rock sound to their alternative country tunes. They clean things up a bit on Negativity, adding pianos, organs, and horns and some producer magic found on “The Rock". It works wonderfully, possibly taking hints from Diamond Rugs; one of their many successful side projects. Hell, “The Dream’s In The Ditch” is a straight up happy-go-lucky pop song. Almost. Listen to: “The Rock“ and “The Dream’s In The Ditch“ Beach Day - Trip Trap Attack
You need to be in Florida while listening to this band. On the beach. In February. With your best friends. Eating lobster reubens. Just look at that gawt damn alligator on the cover and not want to jump in. There’s a fucking diamond in his mouth. A diamond! Think of them as the musical (vegan?) ham between a Best Coast and Camera Obscura sandwich. Listen to: “Walking on the Streets” and “Stay” The National - Trouble Will Find Me
It’s The National! I don’t know how it’s possible to get so excited about music that is so brooding and dreary like a Wednesday in February in some midwest town. However, Trouble Will Find Me is The National’s sixth studio album and it is deliberate and anthemic in it’s own right; and, as always, is something to get excited about. Speaking of that midwest town, Cincinnati, Ohio's masterful storytellers and songwriters are back and ready to make you feel something whether you want to or not. You should know them better than that. Listen to: “Graceless” and “I Should Live In Salt” The Joy of Painting - Tender Age
Bedroom rock. Just look at the cover of this album. Whether The Joy of Painting’s Tender Age is bedroom rock or not, I don’t know. But what I do know is that this album rivals all stadium rock of all stadium rock. These are just damn good songs a’la the feeling you got when you first heard The Strokes. “Goddamn, these songs are good” you’d think to yourself. The perfect backdrop in a Tex-Mex restaurant, a record store, a weightlifting gym, a drunken club, a high school dance, a super bowl halftime performance, your car…or yeah, a bedroom. These songs would fit in and you will smile, bop your head a little bit, and probably sing and air-drum along. From start to finish it’s a character-rich and dynamically crafted good ol’ rock n’ roll listen. Listen to: “Dontchu Wanna” and “Back to Romance” John Vanderslice - Dagger Beach
Have you ever felt deeply connected to someone yet you didn’t know why? You don’t even know that person! Never talked, shook hands, exchanged an email (yet). Small, distant similarities that have no real reason to connect you, yet you feel like you are on the same energy wavelength. Well, that’s how I feel with John Vanderslice. An eccentric, true audophile. A lover of music, of sound, of good energy, impeccable quality, an ambassador of rock and roll and music in general. This is showcased on his phenomenal (like all of em) album, Dagger Beach. Just see the video for ‘ ‘ where he showcases everyone that works at his epic studio Tiny Telephone in San Francisco. His records are truly works of art. The techniques used, the analog gear, the skills behind it all. Every song is a painting of sound. No one else sounds like this. Albeit, some might say John’s voice sounds like The Decemberists (who he’s recorded before) but imagine The Decemberists but 100x more interesting and as a one man show, not a full fledged orchestrated production. When I saw him perform as a two piece in Austin, TX at Holy Mountain, it was just him and a drummer, and they sounded like an orchestra. It was lovely, it enveloped you with a warm, calming sense of connected. So onto these connections. He mentioned his eccentric nature and how sounds drive him absolutely crazy or in love. He disconnected an ice machine at The Frequency in Madison, Wisconsin, in the green room of the club my band used to play all the time. He said it was an awful green room but a cool place and show. It made me feel so happy being so far away from home hearing a connection like that. The next connection was his use of the Ibanez AD-202 delay on stage. I had that delay for awhile and loved it. I always wondered what it would sound like live, and he showed me without me asking. It’s also all over this record. It’s mind-twirling, tongue-tyingly beautiful delay. Now onto connection three, another band featured on this list, Pickwick, was discovered by yours truly via Mr. Vanderslice’s twitter of him saying simply, “I love you guys!” I checked out their album, and then subsequently saw them twice live, and was blown away by it all. You will be too. And you heard it here first, compliments of John spreading the word through us audio geeks worldwide, one at a time. The final few connections are disperate, but meaningful to me. He is probably 40-50 now and has blue/pink hair. Someone that is rapturously in love with music and others that are in love with music. He was mentioning how difficult it is to be an artist driving through the swamps of Flordia to get to a show and hope people will be there at all. He mentioned how wonderful the show in Austin was, and how nights like that make it all worthwhile. I agreed. He then played acoustically without mics in the crowd with everyone singing along. He then talked to everyone in line buying merch. He killed it that night, and I hope he made so much money, because everyone believes in this guy so much. He really just cares about music, audio, fans, the art, the striving effort in being a musician, artist, producer, supporter of music. That’s pretty much all I want to be in life, no matter how close or far I am from it all. I breathe it, and you can tell he does too, more so than most I’ve seen or heard. And I want to support that, and I want you to as well. This is a fanboy tirade on deaf ears, I know. But its honest and it’s from the heart. I didn’t go up and talk to him after the show because he looked exhausted from all the people he was talking to, and I can relate to that too. I regret that. But I still keep him and his music in my thoughts. I hope he gets around to reading this someday. And I hope I get to visit his badass studio Tiny Telephone someday soon too. When someone someday in the future goes digging up records from this decade for an album that is fantastic quality, sporting actual new ideas, and great songs, I hope they stumble upon Dagger Beach. Hopefully they’ll feel connected on a level they can’t explain. You’ve never heard an album recorded like this, but I hope you do. Long story short, listen to John Vanderslice. Listen to: “Interlude #1” (which wins honors of best instrumental interlude of the year) and “Sleep It Off” Rogue Wave - Nightingale Floors
If you’ve ever wondered what the dream-like sound of Northern California is, listen no further than Rogue Wave. No awkward tie-in to their name, this is (or should be) the Bay Area's current age anthem. They have been perfecting a pop-indie-rock-psychedelic sound over the past 10 years. From where I picked up on them in 2005 with the all across the board dynamic, poppy, and cartoon weird yet fully wonderful album Descended Like Vultures to the more focused yet still-brilliant and randomly far out Asleep At Heaven’s Gate in 2007 as we round up to the pop-centered but still entertaining and fun Permalight in 2010. The marriage of these albums and styles come back around in 2013 as the combined amalgamation (had to sneak that word in) of Nightingale Floors. It’s almost strange having 40 year old dudes nail college nostalgia on the almost too-happy sounding pop song “College” but they may as well still be popping their last remaining pimples and calling home for food (beer) money. Listening to it feels like being at the best school dance ever where you discover you’re almost an adult but not really while somehow you're dancing with all of the pretty girls all at once. Stressful. Yet you don’t realize you only will have this moment right now, once in your life. Endless choice, endless possibilities, endless roads you can venture down. You try to savor it in the moment but can’t and now look back and wonder, “Did that really ever even happen to me? Can I go back? Please?" Even better, Rogue Wave still nail the dreamy, staccato, crescendo intensity they’ve trademarked on “Siren’s Song.” Rogue Wave. Yes. Listen to: “Siren’s Song” and “College” The Wild Feathers - The Wild Feathers
I discovered this band last South By Southwest when wandering around looking for free shows during the day. My first visit to the semi-famous and now missing Lustre Pearl on Rainey Street, they were playing around 2 in the afternoon to about 15 people drinking melting $2 tall boys while checking their cell-phones too much. The Wild Feathers have three lead singers and killer three-part harmonies. It felt unfair this band was playing when they were to the amount of people that were there. Yet it was the perfect happy discovery for all involved and The Wild Feathers still performed like it was the Super Bowl and they were kicking in camera lenses broadcasting to billions of people all at once. It’s a beautiful thing watching each member take center stage and either shred on guitar or sing their heart out like it’s a game of show-off. Originally via Austin and now hailing from Nashville (…), they are trying with every last ounce of their being to capture the adoration from musicians and music lovers alike, and absolutely accomplish it live; though the album doesn’t quite do them justice, or it is simply something that can’t be captured unless you’re singing along with them live like its an episode of that TV show Nashville. Listen to: “Backwoods Company” and “American“ 65daysofstatic - Wild Light
You probably won’t understand from reading this why 65daysofstatic are one of the best bands in the world. Yes, the world. You might not understand from listening to Wild Light why 65daysofstatic are one of the best bands in the world. I’ll repeat myself. You can only really, fully understand and appreciate why 65daysofstatic are one of the best bands in the world by seeing them live. Unfortunately for most, they are from England and don’t hop the pond too often. I have been fortunate enough to see them twice in the past 7 years and each time I’m left reeling, giddy, smiling, hair-on-the-back-of-my-neck-standing, in love with the fact that music and performances can be this good. Frequently selling out arenas internationally, they are an instrumentally tight, techno-influenced, epic-post rock rock band that are so unbelievable in how they curate and mix songs, it’s like Bob Ross and the happy happy trees. You can see what he’s doing and how it simply builds yet we are still left in awe of the final product and while knowing how we got there yet you still can’t understand how it’s just so damn good. Each passage and vignette of audio is a soundscape of beauty you stand back and enjoy with your mouth hanging open in awe. 65daysofstatic are of the highest, highest, most interesting fidelity music of our generation. They also have one of the most exciting live shows to back it up. Listen to: "Prisms” and "Sleepwalk City” Hot Water Music - Live in Chicago
The release of this live album by Hot Water Music is one of my proudest punk rock or “realizing you might now be an old punk” or “not as cool as you think you are" moments. However, I got tickets to the Hot Water Music (first, and I thought only) reunion show in Chicago on Friday, February 1st, 2008. It was one of the most exciting shows of my life seeing a favorite band from my childhood reunite. I lost my mind head banging while at it, and almost fell off the balcony when they started playing out of pure joy and excitement. I had no idea that show was recorded, nor that it would be released in 2013. I took a vacation to San Francisco this summer and found the vinyl of the show at some small record shop in the Mission, and wore my badge of honor with a huge glow on my vacation; while of course, the demure college girl behind the counter with chain piercings and dyed hair didn’t give a shit about my nerdy story or excitement, and made us go to the gas station for cash. Everything about the experience was a throwback to the good old days of no one ever really fitting in and still fitting in and not knowing it and not giving a fuck all over again. It was worth it. Times a million. Again and again. “Since love is everlasting when love is on the road. I’m told. We are but wayfarers with the wish to stay alive for a cause and for a dream. There’s much to move in a moving sea." Listen to: “Wayfarer” and "Trusty Chords” (On further review I discovered this was actually released in 2012 - but I decided to leave this in. Who’s reading or listing anyway? Shhh, I won’t tell.) Circus Fires - All Living Things
Imagine taking a walk with your best friend through the woods on a midwestern fall day. Football is on somewhere; the leaves crunch below your feet, you smell those leaves burning away, with hints of frost tapping on your nose, letting you know moments like these will soon be replaced by hibernating through the winter until you can come outside and play again. Circus Fires’ debut album All Living Things is an emotional and dynamic rock album that is a new-school trip down a really good memory lane. Like a forest fire started from a depleted cigarette, the album starts and slowly burns from silence and builds through a guitar line that repeats around Eric Doucette’s unique, poignant, and commanding vocals. Searching, building, falling through those changing seasons while reminding us you’re not alone if you often feel loneliest when you’re not alone. "A Gentleman’s Curse" has incredible, intricate lead guitar followed by pummeling drums. It harkens to quirky, dark, poppy Brand New from the mid-2000’s. They are a rock band that reminds us why those cornerstone bands like Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day, and Appleseed Cast are so good but also proves that there is room for another band that is on their ranks in similarities but something entirely wonderful on their own. "These Synapses Fire Blanks” is a casual stroll through a pop-punk paradise of love. I love the guitar solo, hand-clap build up to the epic conclusion of a high school reunion and gang vocals outro. It’s a perfect crescendo, and scenario painted in your eardrums. The recording quality is spot-on, the pacing of the album weaves and bends wonderfully like that stroll through the seasons. It’ll always remind you of a few specific things, like close friends you'll always have near and dear to your heart. Don’t miss Circus Fires' debut album and don’t miss them live. Listen to: “A Gentleman’s Curse” and “These Synapses Fire Blanks" The Besnard Lakes - Until Excess, Imperceptible UFO
All I can say is this sounds to me like a beautiful amalgamation (I love that word, I use it wherever and whenever I can) of so many wonderful bands. I know bands hate other band comparisons, but here I go. There are hints of Hall and Oats, Jeff Buckley, Fleetwood Mac, The Antlers, The Dears, Arcade Fire, Built To Spill, Beach House, and probably a few others I haven’t picked out yet. The thing is, all those artists are blended into The Besnard Lakes so perfectly and distinctly it’s like receiving a mash-up or greatest hits of all those musicians without even noticing. It’s simple. Epic. Dreamy. Lovely. It’s like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on freshly made bread. You can’t go wrong. Listen to "Colour Yr Lights In" for a step-by-step guide on how to write a perfect pop-rock song. Those falsettos in the verse. The thick, richer than Mr. Buffet (not Jimmy, Warren, ya financial dummy!) choruses. Wow. Listen to: "At Midnight" and “Colour Yr Lights In” Foals - Holy Fire
Imagine if Bloc Party, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Phoenix and Daft Punk all got together. And they danced, drank, partied, and rocked. Equal parts. This is the one album more than any other this year while playing it random people would turn their heads and ask unbiasedly, “Who is this? They are so fucking good.” I want this to go on karaoke somewhere so I can make a drunken ass of myself singing and dancing to it. I’m doing it right now. I don’t care, it’s too good. Listen to: “Inhaler” and “My Number” Volcano Choir - Repave
Justin Vernon, a.k.a Bon Iver, a proud Wisconsinite like myself; is a true homebody, mountain man, and creative genius (or simple hard-worker). Someone who just wants to be at home with his friends, family, and make music. He does just that, and all else can go to hell. One of his many side projects, Volcano Choir is actually in a very similar vein as Bon Iver as everything just stated comes together on the track “Byegone". Soaring indie rock featuring his commanding baritone and heavenly falsetto. You can never tell if he’s a tortured soul, pothead, or preacher. Probably all of the above. Regardless, him and his friends and equally talented musicians and producers surrounding each other have a knack for creating endlessly dynamic, interesting and beautiful songs that are crafted with the care of something that is meant to last for many years and be cherished for all of them and then some. Listen to the effects on “Dancepack” when Vernon implores, “Take note, there’s still a hole in your heart.” He might be singing that, while simultaneously contradicting this statement with how beautiful everything is sonically. It will fill you up. Listen to: “Byegone” and “Dancepack” Laura Veirs - Warp and Weft
I love this woman so much. I’ve never met her or seen her live but she connects you to herself, her music, and her larger and smaller than life ideas portrayed so magnificently in her songs. She led another “expected” (read: it depressed her) life before letting that life fuel into this life of music. It’s never too late to start. I couldn’t be any happier for her for following her heart and following a beautiful path with beautiful music and beautiful love following behind and all around her. Do not miss the beauty that is Laura Veirs. Listen to: “America” and “Finster Saw the Angels” The Heligoats - Back To The Ache
Getting the opportunity to listen through the eyes and heart of whom I believe to be a tortured artist is a beautiful thing indeed. Seeing Chris Otepka of The Heligoats live is an endearing, intelligent, emotional, funny, if not slightly unsettling if you don't know what to expect (Link to the NPR video (Thanks Sarah!) I surmised my assumption from: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/131963244/the-heligoats-tiny-desk-concert). That is the beauty of it all. Of him, his songs, his poetry - spoken and sung more like a rapper or out of stream-of-consciousness lyrics can connect and disconnect you to disparate ideas, pictures, feelings, and back again in just a few crooning lines. It's a rare immediate connection that the audience gets to feel while being bestowed with an artist that is truly in a class of their own - just radiating music, beauty, sadness, simple joy, and affection for them without Chris asking for it from his audience, his energy demands it. Now, onto his 2013 release 'Back To The Ache' which is actually comprised of a full band this time around. It's just as wonderful as his solo act, but now often backed by distorted guitars, bass, and drums. It's keen to listening to Weezer's Blue Album for the first time. One listen to "Dark" and your head will be bobbing, swaying, reeling in the instantly-relatable lyrics and catchy choruses: and if I ever come in for a landing and if I ever stop dreaming in cartoon and if my mind stops spinning in pinwheels I'd see the face in the surface of the moon and I'd know just cause its dark don't mean its doom no, just cause its dark don't mean its doom Chris' erratic, lofty, running lyrics remind me of the lovely Nathan Asher and the Infantry or even Bright Eyes. From "Right Then and There": Since the talk we had about getting lost had come back to haunt us Because I'm not where I thought I was Bad decisions made with ambiguous maps Color-coded and soaking wet and staining my hands See anything you like Any dream you like is just inside a chain-smoking, melatonin, everythings moving in slow motion Head like glass block, heart like folded socks, eyes popped out like a couple cuckoo clocks He goes on in this song to mention Big Bird repeatedly. Strange, quirky, sometimes unsettling subjects one would never think to talk about let alone write a song about but they are all ideas we can relate to in some form or another. 'Back to the Ache' bounces about emphatically from his solo acoustic songs to full blown rock affairs all the while being equally deep, connecting, emotional, and thought-provoking all at once. I can only recommend you jump into this pool. The water is murky, it's past history troubled, yet it's here, it's now, it's forever moving and looking forward. Chris and The Heligoats are inviting you into something special if you just give them a chance. Listen to: “Dark” and "Right Then and There" Free Energy - Love Sign
Sarah and I couldn’t lie to save our lives. Yet for whatever reason (good reasons) we wanted to get into the Rolling Stone South By Southwest party without a SXSW wristband, badge, or reservation. This party featured Lord Huron, Free Energy, and Prince. Yes, the Artist himself. We failed at lying pretending to have a reservation. Yet we still got in due to pity of the nice bouncer watching our failed attempts to find our email reservation. We entered to a hot March day and were treated to free bratwurst and booze. Free booze and meat. Yes. And…Free Energy. Lord Huron were great, they all looked like Los Angeles Dodgers or former Bachelors from the ABC reality show. The music was so happy and fun and peaceful. They could become the next Fleet Foxes or on the other end, Dave Matthews Band. Then, the final openers before Prince came on…Free Energy. They looked too-skinny and performed simple, undeniably fun and dorky, 4/4, mid-tempo, cool-ass-stoked-and-stoned AC/DC-esque classic pop-rock. To it’s finest. Tank tops all around. The crowd was drunk, the crowd was happy, the crowd was jumping along with the band. Lots of cow-bell. Lots of power chords. Lots of fist pumping. Happy 80'ish metal solos. Everyone felt ok. Everyone felt alright. I gave the lead singer thumbs up. He smiled and gave me thumbs up. Lots of smiles going around. You really can’t ask for anything more from a fun, sweaty, drunken rock show. It was the amount of fun they try to portray in a movie yet cant quite convey in a real life scenario and have it feel genuine. Yet this was just that. Live life, be happy, have fun with those you love, and meet some strangers along the way. It’ll be alright. And that day was more than alright, it was a dream. Prince followed shortly thereafter, but you needed a Samsung phone to get in. As showcased before, music isn’t about restrictions, it’s about acceptance, it’s about fun. Who knows if his show was anywhere near as fun Free Energy. Honestly, I doubt it. Listen to: "Backscratcher” and "True Love” Minor Alps - Get There
Maybe this was the Nada Surf album I was waiting for. My favorite band of all-time, I still love every album they make, but the most recent two fell short of my self-branding of “instant classic” status when first devouring the releases. Now working on a few side-projects, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf teamed up with Juliana Hatfield of Blake Baby. To me, their first release together, Get There is just right. Exactly what I was hoping for coming from my favorite artist Caws. Catchy, simple, male-female duo indie-pop. It makes your brain feel better. It makes whatever your problems are feel surmountable. A lot of the songs are straightforward, verse-chorus- etc; where both Caws and Hatfield sing together almost constantly. However, its the perfect mix of each voice that invites singing along with the entire album. It’s been a long time since any record has made me want to do that. Listen to: “I Don’t Know What To Do With My Hands” and “Lonely Low” Eluvium - Nightmare Ending
As I grow older I realize I either never dug out lyrics well or usually don’t care that much about what someone is singing about. I don’t know. Anyway, there is peace and beauty in ambiance, and it’s important to curate that ambiance around you whenever possible in your life. I think that’s why this kind of music by Matthew Cooper is (many things, but sometimes) called ambient; not because you can easily zone it out, but because this kind of music actually creates an atmosphere for you to exist in. Whenever or wherever you are. It is joy, it is sadness, it is questioning, it is comfort, it is discovery. Like life, it is whatever you make it be. With that being said, Eluvium - Nightmare Ending is one of the best. So simple it could be completely ignored, yet if listened to, really listened to - it is absolutely exhilarating to your inner core, and worlds better than almost all of today’s compositions collectively. Big words, I know, but music and an artist this wonderful need to enrich as many lives and ears and be a part of as many perfect ambiances as possible. Listen to: “Don’t Get Any Closer“ and “Unknown Variation“ Harrison Hudson - Curious
“And I’m never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever going to call you again” Harrison Hudson croons on the oldies branded and exquisitely honest "Fire and Fizzle Part One." It’s refreshing in this day and age of staunch feminism and equality to have a guy stand up and say it like it (sometimes) is from a honest males beer-drinking, shitty beard-growing, motorcyle-tinkering, xbox-playing, part-time slaving, mid-millennial perspective. Harrison Hudson plays both sides of the emotional coin, sometimes playing the victim "You Don’t Love Me at All", while sometimes he’s simply looking for the aforementioned one-night stand. It’s beautiful to see a modern artist explore both sides so poignantly, and with such perfect pop-centric panache. Yeah, I said it. Curious is an album from a tight, three-piece (!) Nashville artist but it’s delivered like a Strokes album sounded from the early 2000’s. New York Subway pop with the expected perfect songwriting chops from Tennessee. “Girls from Nyc” is portrayed from every guys slightly creepy love of all women from afar but it sounds like it could be used in the next big car commercial. It comes across without any pretense other than trying to write great songs. It’s a passion and fervor not seen or heard in many of today’s artists. I love it. You will too, sooner or later. Hopefully sooner, as this album is absolutely 1000% a blast to listen to. Listen to: “Fire and Fizzle Part One” and “Love Will Leave” A Great Big Pile of Leaves - You’re Always On My Mind
One of my favorite songs of all time is a song about nothing more than a fruit fly, aptly titled “Fruit Fly” by Nada Surf. That song proved to my newfound delight that not all songs have to be about matters of great import to really be memorable. A Great Big Pile of Leaves happily follow suit with that idea a decade later. Just look at that album cover. It’s one of my favorites. It’s a happy harken back to the unknowingly teenage to mid-twenties male dream of friends, skateboards, pizza, burgers, beer (ok, fine, it was mostly our realities). Ladies, don’t worry about it. You and you and “you and I just didn’t work out quite right.” you can hear being crooned on the opener "Snack Attack." No big deal. No spilled tears on either side. We’ll both move on. I just want to hang out with my friends and enjoy my time here to the maximum. The catchiest song is “Pet Mouse” a similar interaction to Nada Surf’s between a songwriter and a house nuisance. Great lead riff, catchy chorus, perfect build, engaging and cute lyrics permeate the pop-centric 60’s throwback greaser/sock-hop tinged punk tune. “Back To School” laments every last human beings thought of “Where did the summer go?” while “Egocentrism” and “Fun In The Sun” carry on the casual dynamics in different tempos, emotions, and relatable situations. Huge shout-out to the closer track titled “Pizzanomics.” I am deeply vested in the interest of pizza economics and will absolutely steal that word with love. I remember getting a chance to see A Great Big Pile of Leaves in 2012 at the Mellow Mushroom Pizza Pub during South By Southwest where they first played “Pet Mouse.” I had no idea what the album would shape up to be or how fitting their album cover would symbolize that moment for me. The locale was set in said college strip pizza pub. I remember them playing inside next to the window with all the glass removed. A pleasant breeze blew in while pizza baked and I sipped a beer and chatted with the bands and strangers. There couldn’t have been more than 25 people there but it was a picturesque evening moment filled with casual happiness and uncontrollable enjoyment. People weren’t there expecting to see the next big thing, they were simply there experiencing a simple great moment, thing, evening. That’s exactly, perfectly on point with what this album evokes. I can’t recommend it enough. Listen to: “Pet Mouse, Back To School, Egocentricsm And So I Watch You From Afar - All Hail Bright Futures
“The sun, the sun, the sun, is in our eyes.” Some of the only lyrics on this record, those words carry the titles positive theme throughout And So I Watch You From Afar’s third full-length album, All Hail Bright Futures. Not much more needs to be said along the way because those words comprise the wonderful feeling that will embrace you throughout your listen. First things first, this is tied for best album cover and title of the year. The last album I talk about is also tied. But no album cover besides these two evoke such different and strong feelings all at once. Perfectly titled with all the hope in the world. The depth, the scale, the beauty! Especially considering ASIWYFA hail from dreary Belfast, Ireland. “Big Thinks Do Remarkable” makes you want to grab your friends and both start a choir and head banging worthy band all at once. Exquisite gang vocals over heavy-ass-jump-worthy bass led breakdowns. One of the loudest, craziest, and ecstatic bands you’ll ever hear, they are still instantly accessible. Try to get into your friends car with “Ambulance” playing and not comment: “What is this? This is awesome.” After it hits that 2:20 mark. It’s like a cocktail of caffeine and cocaine and ecstasy all at once. Not that I’ve ever tried it, but you can imagine. Speaking of imagining, listening to this music is akin to being inside of your favorite video game with God-mode turned on, where you always, always save the girl at the end on “Trails”. I think every time I see this band I say it’s the greatest show of my life. Only to then be replaced when I see 2012’s best album winners Caspian play. Only to be stolen back whenever I see Ireland’s best, brightest, most hopeful band And So I Watch You From Afar play again to steal it back. One line chants permeate and carry the listener blissfully along, like on “The Stay Golden” where they chant “We know, we know, thats not the way out” before a huge horn led ensemble and snare drum with never-ending reverb builds a cathedral to climax before taking you on a beach island resort getaway conclusion in “Rats On Rock.” Things get crazy when “Things Amazing” plays. It is indescribable other than all things good. It’s every sound you’ve ever wanted to hear together and didn’t know it. They put most notable heavy bands to shame with the Bonus Track “Spiderbox”, an affable tutorial on how to melt ones brain with happy rock n’ roll. No other band pushes audio creativity and excitement and positivity through speakers this year or any year quite like And So I Watch You From Afar manage to do on every album, but specifically, All Hail Bright Futures. Listen to: “Big Thinks Do Remarkable” and "The Stay Golden" Pickwick - Can’t Talk Medicine
Pickwick first came to my attention earlier this year from another artist you’ll find on this best of list named John Vanderslice. I follow him on Twitter, and found a simple tweet from John to this band called Pickwick saying, “I love you guys!” Or something to that effect. I listened immediately. And yes, I too was blown away by their crooning soul R&B, pop-rock, indie vibe. I couldn’t wait for their full-length, or to get to see them live. Thankfully, I got a chance for both. Neither let me down. First off, you really have to see them live just to truly understand how good a voice frontman Galen Disston has. Otherworldly. I have some videos of the show I saw them at in the luckily not-too-crowded noon show at Lamberts BBQ during South By Southwest 2013 that is so damn exciting and hopeful for their future. This band is destined to be something huge. Feel good, introspective, dynamic, songs. Their debut album ‘Cant Talk Medicine’ is great, but after seeing them live, it’s close! But it’s not quite the same. See them live and you’ll be hooked. Voices this good just don’t come around that often with equally excellent songs to back them up. Listen to: “Lady Luck (Feat. Sharon Van Etten),” and “Letterbox” Mylets - Retcon
Soon, the whole world will know of Henry, or his alter ego, Mylets. He went internationally on his first tour. He’s played all the US bars shortly therafter. He’ll be playing festivals. Alone. At age 18, Henry stands as a towering, slightly awkward yet incredible achievement of solo musical accomplishment. Equal parts math-rock insanity a la Tera Melos as he is a young Jimmy Hendrix (see him live) or a Andrew Bird/Yellow Ostrich solo-looping phenomenon. Revered by other seminal math-rock bands like This Town Needs Guns and And So I Watch You From Afar, he is here to show the modern age how a young man can infuse bedroom rock with analog and digital complexities into an enjoyable, head-banging, head-scratching, ever-smiling musical affair. I hope "Hungover Tehran" is the new soundtrack to everything. It’s like listening to Nirvana mixed with MGMT and a lot of Teen Spirit. Including the best voice-squeak you’ve never heard but wished you had your own loop pedal to hear it again and again. “Being good just feels right. When you’re sitting awake at night.” It sounds like that’s how he perfected his one man show while other kids were worrying about stupid average high school shit. He’s the modern day American Dream. Capitalism at it’s finest in the most punk-rock of ways. Expect the catchy main loop of this song to be remixed from some intelligent hip-hopper somewhere. Watch the fuck out for Henry and his solo act Mylets. He’s going to be everywhere and you’re going to love it, head-banging right along with Henry, his guitar, drum machine, and loop pedals. Listen to: “Hungover Tehran” and “Solid Gold Modesty Machine” The Appleseed Cast - Illumination Ritual
There are few bands churning out as rich and diverse yet expectedly good albums as The Appleseed Cast have over the past decade. They are one of those underground gems that somehow never caught on to the main mainstream (or least they haven’t yet) whatever that is. They might possibly remain a fond reminisce for 20-30 year old’s of “Oh, I remember that band - they’re emo, right?” Yet The Appleseed Cast are the real American independent rock n’ roll deal. Instantly relatable and interesting and exciting yet calm and comforting at the same time, they yet again create an audible recipe for good. True, American, hardworking good. Good that’s so good it’s great. How about great? Fuck that, it’s so powerful it creates it’s own scene for each and every backdrop of life to sync up with and does it with aplomb. I know I say that in some fashion about almost every album…but come on. That is what truly great albums should be graded upon. Every time I listen I feel like I felt the first time I discovered a band like Bush or The Smashing Pumpkins when I was 10. Loud, dense, warm textures of sound repeat and crescendo in such blissful harmony it’s like the taste of adding the frosting fudge over the top of your already chocolatey brownie. It’s so rich you don’t think there’s anyway you’re going to be able to enjoy that whole thing. Yet you do, every damn time. And you love it more and more, every time is better than the last. Because we are here and now and we need to do everything in our power here and now to enjoy every last moment. It’s immediate, and it’s positive energy is global. That is what this music conveys. Listen to: "Adriatic to Black Sea" and “North Star Ordination" White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade
Some people have soul - true soul - and some people don’t. The same can be said for musicians and bands. White Denim are one of those bands that have endless soul. They exude soul. They are dripping, swimming in it. For music so technical, they appear to do it so casually. From the moment the first note of a White Denim song hits your ears, you will believe in their soul possibly more than your own. Call me crazy, but White Denim are one of the reasons I moved to Austin, Texas. That soul the band exudes appeared to me once 5 years ago as a Wisconsin native. White Denim’s albums and live performance seemed to be wrapped up with the Texas flavor I imagined and hoped for. Sultry heat, t-shirts, dirty jeans, barbecues with friends, cheap beer, beautiful and friendly women, kittens roaming about, lots of things going on and lots of nothing going on all at once. Everyone being really happy, with local flavor and businesses being displayed with a healthy helping of christmas lights, misting fans, random trinkets. It turns out my analysis and hope from their music really did correctly identify Austin for me and I’m glad I made the move. White Denim are peerless in their creative technicalities and quality songwriting. They sound almost like every classic rock band you’ve ever loved and like no band you’ve ever heard all at once, while also combining indie and pop rock sensibilities. 5 years after first seeing them, they have simultaneously refined and broadened their scope and skills. It shows - they are taking off and selling out shows around the world. Hands down, White Denim are one of the greatest bands of this decade. Pick up Corsicana Lemonade in stores today and don’t miss the chance to see them live, it just might change your life too. Listen to: “Pretty Green” and “Cheer Up / Blues Ending” Akron/Family - Sub Verses
It’s sometimes hard to describe how one band can encompass a specific thing so fully for one person. Be it a breakup or a happy moment, that artist is the same artist they hold near and dear for those moments. For me, it’s been my entire year and Akron/Family is that band. I have had the opportunity to enjoy them four times this year in vastly different environments, each one giving me ever-so-slightly more insight into the life and choices of constantly creating and touring musicians. It is a beautiful, if not slightly troubling revelation; one that must be true on some level for any professional artist and musician. My first encounter with Akron/Family was on the first day of South By Southwest. I had no idea who they were. I wanted to see the band Lord Huron and got there about four hours early. The thing is, the show was at Clive Bar, an outside bar that could comfortably hold about 100 people. There were about 300 packed into the audience and I didn’t want to move or leave as everyone in the crowd was statues, not wanting to miss a thing. So, I started mingling with the people around me. I met two ladies that worked in DC/Austin as librarians and documentary producers. They kept buying me beer as long as I held their spot. I met two college kids from Baylor that would turn around and offer me weed. When I remarked I had no idea who Akron/Family was - I just kept thinking of the rapper/singer Akon - they simply said, “They are really good. You’ll like them.” Something in me wanted to dismiss the stereotypical Texas stoner private college school advice yet something in me knew they would be right. And right they were. A mix of normal looking but slightly intimidating gentlemen took a quick apology for the length of their setup. Soon everyone was knocked back by a band that was playing about 2x louder than anyone else that day. The sounds were experimental yet accessible, intentionally off key, intense, demanding of the crowd, and sublimely beautiful. I’ve never heard anything like it. I’ve never seen a band get so upset by a lame crowd staring at them in awe. It made me grin. You could tell that Miles, the bass player/vocalist was the smartest guy in the room (or outside festival bar) just by his demeanor and how he spoke. When he sang in the Austin heat - “We held fast, and we held strong. We helllllllllddddddddd oooonnnnnnn,” his mighty baritone carried a sense of beauty, nuance, strength, and regret that you most assuredly would not be hearing out of many of the other hype bands you’d be seeing throughout the week. I have had that line stuck in my head ever since and enjoy singing it in a weak attempt to replicate the passion Miles has. Seth, the guitarist and vocalist looked like he didn’t give a fuck - and he didn’t. He was singing a pop song off key with weird rhythms over an indie space backbone of a song anthem on “Way Up,” the second song off of this 2013 release - ‘Sub Verses’. You have to hear it to believe it. You might hate it, but you have to listen to the whole thing - it’s so perfectly constructed, you won’t forget it and you’ll want to listen again and again. (This band has challenged the conventional norms for the past decade. Listen to their previous albums and you’ll see how wonderfully they have changed from album to album) My favorite moment of South By Southwest 2013 was the next song, Until The Morning.” So beautiful and haunting. So happy yet sad. I watched Seth stop playing guitar and find a long lost friend on the side of the stage as he hugged the guy that popped up to say hello. They were normal men doing something extraordinary and not giving a damn about the rest. The song washed over me, and a had a stark realization. What a wonderful moment this was. The strangers I had met and offer me conversation and, well, drugs. Yes, I was stoned. However - I knew what was going on. I tapped my new friends on the shoulder and shouted “This will be the best song of the week! This is my favorite moment! Right here, right now!” They awkwardly smiled and made that face along the lines of “Yeahhhhh…this guys stoned and stupid.” But I didn’t give a damn. Just like Akron/Family didn’t. To this day, I was right. The most important song of my 2013 and I had little a clue of who they were and what song this was - but damn it was beautiful. After that set, the next day came along and the 2nd of 4 shows this year. I realized Akron/Family had been around for a decade, and my girlfriend and friends had all heard of them and love them. I was astonished. I had never heard of this band and it was such a new sound to me and everyone seemed to know who they were. We ran across the city to catch their second performance at old Emo’s. Alright! This time they played about 10x louder than everyone. It was almost painful, but this time I had earplugs. You could feel everything. They seemed almost grumpier, and even more demanding of the crowd. It was wonderful. They cared so much and were doing everything they could to get the crowd to care as well. I don’t know if they were successful or not. My girlfriend loved it though. Whew! The ones that matter. She loved Seth and Miles singing and the impassioned craziness of it all. After the show we ran into both of those guys in the street and we told them how much we enjoyed the show. They were so thankful and friendly, yet weary and worn down. I’ll never forget them mentioning about South By, “We wonder if this is ever really worth it. “ Well, I believe it is because I discovered them. Whatever thats worth. Any show you can play and garner new fans willing to spread the word and buy your music is huge. The amount of shit and stress and time constraints and logistics a band has to navigate to play all the shows at SXSW is daunting though. Literally about a month later, Akron/Family returned to Austin to Red 7 to play a headlining show. I was excited to see what a non-South by show would be like. M. Geddes Gengras - their 4th new member from L.A. opened with a solo set. He is Mozart of modular synthesizers. Amazing. Outstanding. So cool getting to see him do his thing and his Akron/Family thing. Great addition. This show was a little strange because I drank a little too much whiskey I got there early. It was great, by the end of their 2 hour set, it was literally like a cult of fanatics losing their minds dancing around a campfire, ready for dinner. It was beautiful. Their albums are so diverse from folk to electronic to experimental to pop and this show meandered around all of that, but was still incredible. Where they really seemed to shine most this year was the 4th time I got to catch them live. In Monterey, California at the inaugural First City Festival. They were on a side small stage and joked, “So these festival ground are where Jimmy Hendrix lit his guitar on fire. It was this stage, right?” Once again, they were yelling at people to stand up and come closer - and gave my girlfriend and I a humorous look for being the only two idiots in the fenced off VIP section instead of the free space literally feet from being in front of them on stage. But this performance was the performance to top them all. Dynamic, gripping, engaging, I can’t think of the words to describe the performance they gave across all of their albums from their 10 year career. They commanded the crowd in a masterful way - orchestrating ear piercing highs and whispering lows and inviting the crowd to join. It was lovely. It could be seen and heard that they stepped up their game for the festival - maybe they are a festival band or maybe they had to show off for their friends, I don’t know - but it was perfect. That album resides here not just on the strengths of it’s own merits - but by their immense and diverse back catalog and impassioned meaning their four shows and different perspectives I was able to obtain throughout the year. Sub Verses is a harsh, obtuse, yet instantly listenable and lovable album. They are probably the only band you will hear this year that sound like absolutely no one else (at least that I’ve found). They are some of the few artists doing something different. Genuinely different. This album might be slightly too dissonant at times for some - but for me it’s a prolonged and precise epic. So many beautiful moments throughout - they are a band that needs to be experienced on album and live by any means necessary. Join the cult. Believe the mystery. Support their journey and they will share meaning with yours. Listen to: “Way Up” and “Until the Morning” Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band - Bubblegum
I was watching a video of a band I love - Do Make Say Think - and one of the members was commenting on how not all art is good and not all art is responsible. How it's ok to sing about bubblegum but that they can't do that. I'm happy to both agree and disagree with that man. It's hard to sum this up simply, yet simply, no other album and artist was as good as Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band with their 2013 release Bubblegum. Produced by the underground rock icon Jessey Lacey of Brand New, he and Kevin are longtime close friends. They curated an album and subsequent live performance (Also comprised of bandmates Harrison Hudson, who’s album is so damn good and also very high on this best of list - and a member of the band Manchester Orchestra) that is a mixture of Bruce Springsteen epicness and American feel-good (and bad) nostalgia as well as it is intellectual old school Ramones/Beatles-esque pop perfection. It feels like finding your siblings hidden Nirvana album at the age of 10. These are songs that are garage punk pop in tone yet performed in arena-ready fashion and written with thought provoking, brooding lyrics equal parts American disgust parried with imperial internal optimism. Kevin Devine is a man who can play for three hours and outlast his enthusiastic crowd. He can even out last his talented band. He is the next true musical American hero. Audibly and contextually. Bubblegum embodies the want and wish for more than our suburban rural country big city advertised existence. He keeps it small and tangible yet grandiose larger-than-life all at once. It is pitch perfected distorted not give a fuck honesty that has good and true and free energy that carries past any commercial bullshit or even everyday life bullshit. It's passion. It's love. It's everything we want to feel all the time and are often too afraid to go out and reach. Kevin Devine lives and performs in the present while lamenting the past and looking forward to the future. Easier said than done. This man embodies the real true American spirit, the American dream. His music and message can be summed up with none other than one word: hope. It’s the one album that, from start to finish, no matter what, makes me feel exactly what an artist is singing about. He places you firmly in his shoes, looking at the world through his eyes. There’s no bullshit. I don't even need to call out any specific song or sound because this is a truly landmark album that is so undeniably good. On the other hand - an extra special call out needs to be given in honor and sadness towards pvt. Chelesea manning of the wikileaks fiasco in Private First Class. And how “Redbird” starts off as though you won’t enjoy it. However, it builds, and moves, and yearns an epic song you can’t help but be caught singing along while equally being moved by its dramatic tension. And “Bloodhound” and "Sick Of Words.” The choruses of “Bubblegum,” and “Nobel Prize,” and annoying verses to build a perfect chorus payoff in "Fiscal Cliff.” The wry cynicism on “I Don’t Care About Your Band." Dammit, I went against my word of not calling out specific song but called out pretty much every song. Anyway, you need to listen to every song in it's entirety to fully understand and really…feel our current generation. On top of that, Kevin Devine released an entirely separate and almost-as great 2nd solo album titled Bulldozer. Long after the dust has settled, internet communications are down, hype is gone, the historians will come looking for exciting and relevant artistic commentary on the state of our now. They will find it here. You will find it here, along with an album stocked with wonderful, undeniably catchy and fun songs. I would be so bold as to say that’s all we’ll need. The best album of 2013 is by far and away Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band with Bubblegum. (This also might be my favorite album cover of the year. I can’t decide.) Listen to: "Bubblegum" and "Nobel Prize" and "Fiscal Cliff"
If you've made it this far to be surprised by a crazy man holding 2013's best record above his head in the middle of the night in the middle of the street, thank you.
