Another year, another one of my top 10 albums of the year!
If you’re reading this, I guess you sorta care about what kind of music I like, influences me and becomes the soundtrack to my life :D
My Background/Context: I enjoy all types of music but I think most of all, I am fascinated by the “groove” of a song. Sometimes that term can be a vague description of some sort of rhythmic feeling, but I personally see GROOVE as — the heart of a song. I really believe it is the musical linchpin that makes a song “catchy”. So therefore, I’m pretty much drawn to what makes a “pop song” become “popular”! Genres I’m very interested in include: Church Worship Music, Funk, R&B, Neo-Soul & Acoustic Pop.
So without further ado, IMHO, here is are my top 10 albums of 2013:
10. Ariana Grande - Yours Truly
Ok, don’t shoot me. I can’t help that this girl has PIPES! I know not a lot of people may not agree, but I think AG sounds the closest to a young Mariah Carey since well… Mariah Carey! Even Katy Perry says this girl is the BEST female vocalists out there TODAY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN-DYb0q1-M)… high praise indeed! With Babyface producing half this album, it’s no wonder this album is super catchy! Anyways, I like how Grande’s music sounds like an updated version of Mariah’s stuff, that’s why many of her songs are repeated on my iPhone playlists!
Standout Songs: Right There (feat. Big Sean), Baby I, Honeymoon Avenue, The Way (Feat. Mac Miller)
9. Austin Stone Worship - King of Love
I’m a little impartial, but after going to the conference “Verge13”, I’ve become VERY keen on this worship band out of Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX (http://austinstone.org). Attending this conference has become a highlight in my ministry learning and the music was a wonderful surprise! Aaron Ivey took over as worship leader after Chris Tomlin left to concentrate on Passion Conferences and Church and I think their musical worship is a good hands! They have an awesome blog and conference for worship leaders (http://www.austinstoneworship.com) and their music is a rich blend of old hymns and new choruses. I especially enjoy their update of Graham Kendrick’s worship song, “Knowing You”, now called “No Greater Aim”. Anyways, check out this great worship album and their past album is still REALLY good too!
Standout Songs: Jesus is Better, No Greater Aim, Redeemed To Redeem (Feat. Propaganda)
8. Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest
There is a reason so many of her songs have been played on the radio over and over and OVER again. Sara Bareilles is a fantastic artist and musician! The catchy piano and vocal arrangements on her songs stick in your mind long after they are over. Her lyrics have a fascinating perspective on relationships from a women’s perspective and I’m sure this helps her music relate to many! Anyways, on this new album, there is a lot more production and “digital beats and instruments” flair than her past albums. This doesn’t make it less appealing but to me, it seems like she’s trying to stay “up-to-date” with the current production trends. This album is an eclectic blend of a lot of pop/radio hits with deep, reflective songs which, I think, will cater to a wide audience.
Standout Songs: Brave, Chasing the Sun, Manhattan, Little Black Dress
7. Gungor - I Am Mountain
What can I say about Gungor? I’ve been following them back in the day when Michael Gungor was playing Doxology like Justin King! Moving from contemporary worship music to more eclectic musicianship, the now husband and wife duo (Lisa Gungor, who has her own fantastic jazzy album y'all should check out: http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4220690,00.html) have released this fascinating Americana, Country Western, Electronic Fusion album. First off, definitely this won’t be the “pop” album that the general public will like, but they are definitely trying to breakthrough the stereotype of Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) and have even released this album not as Christian Music album, but in the “Alternative” genre category! Anyways, listening to this album a few times has been therapeutic for me and has even made me write a song or two myself in their similar style. If you want to try something DIFFERENT, this album is IT. It has some “indie” vibe ala Mumford and Sons and even has John Mayer’s current drummer, Aaron Sterling, on the album. So if you dig that kind of music. CHECK THIS OUT.
Standout Songs: I Am Mountain, Long Way off, Let it Go, God and Country, Finally
6. Phil Wickham - The Ascension
You want my choice for best worship album of the year? This is it! Phil Wickham has a pretty sizeable following and for good reason! He sings super high and has a “goldie” voice that is pretty unique in the Worship Music scene. His songs always has raw emotion mixed with modern beats. In my opinion, his lyrics, albeit simple, are not simplistic. Most of the songs on this album could be sung corporately on a Sunday morning and picked up fast. Here is a taste of a wonderful chorus from the song “When My Heart is Torn Asunder”:
"There is hope beyond the suffering, Joy beyond the tears. Peace in every tragedy, love that conquers fear. I have found redemption in the blood of Christ… My body might be dying, but I’ll always be alive!"
Beautiful music with beautiful words, this is definitely the worship album to check out of 2013!
Standout Songs: The Ascension, Holy Light, This is Amazing Grace, When My Heart Is Torn Asunder, Mercy
I have followed Matt Wertz’s career since early university when I was going through a breakup of my own and his music was of GREAT consolation to me at the time. Fastforward 10 years, he now has many albums under his belt and a new album in 2013. I’ve always appreciated Wertz’s music and he has definitely taken a gamble, but a very FUN gamble with this album! This youtube video preview of the album says it all…
This is a THROWBACK album to the music I grew up on… the 80s! You can hear touches of Bryan Adams, Richard Marx, Michael Jackson and the soft rock of the 80s… It’s borderline cheese… but SOOOO GOOD! The Michael-Jackson-Black-or-White “Last Good Girl” is such a good rip-off! The vibe of the whole album just brings me back to the 80s as per Wertz’s goal! Lastly, if you check out the album, you have to listen carefully to the words of the song, “Thing About Freedom”… Probably the deepest song I’ve heard all year.
Standout songs: Get To You, Last Good Girl, Whenever You Love Somebod, Loved By You, Thing About Freedom
4. Jonny Lang - Fight For My Soul
Out of nowhere I came across Jonny Lang’s new album! Most people said since he’s become a Christian he’s “sold out” his blues roots and has become too religious to make anything good… but I disagree. I like the fusion of gospel music and blues rock that he brings, and this album is a true testament to his evolving sound! I’m glad this album is not too overtly “Christian music” and not just a jam-out session of blues riffs. It’s the RIGHT mix of both genres while keeping it “pop”. Teaming up with Tommy Sims (co-writer of Eric Clapton's song, "Change The World"), this album oozes gospel pop and I listen to it a lot! Anyways, check it out for yourself, lots of great blues riffs here and there, as well as a lot of introspective themes. You will not regret getting this album!
Standout songs: Breakin’ In, What You’re Looking For, River, Fight For My Soul, I’ll Always Be
3. Nathan Angelo - Out of the Blue
I heard about Nathan Angelo through the Nashville circuit of artists such as Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Andy Davis, Ben Rector, etc. I wasn’t THAT interested in his music until he started a Kickstarter to fund his next new album… an album COMPLETELY devoted to Motown music. At #3 on my list for 2013, you can probably tell this album did not disappoint! This throwback album oozes the Motown vibes and really tries its best to emulate the Funk Brothers, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, etc. Angelo himself has a unique voice that happens to work with this style and I’ve found myself listening to many of the songs on the album almost daily. Anyways, if you’re a Motown aficionado, you REALLY got to check out this attempt at bringing His listeners back in time… to listen to REAL music ;)
Standout songs: Out of the Blue, Get Back, You Could Be My Girl, ‘Til I’m Ninety-Nine
2. John Mayer - Paradise Valley
Probably one of my favourite artists of all time, JM made a quick album after his recovery from throat nodule surgery and it still sounds GREAT! Since this was basically a kind of follow-up to his last album, Born and Raised, Paradise Valley took to me faster than the former. Again, I’m not big on Americana/Country Music, but Mayer really has a gift for finding a good groove and a master musician/producer. Of course nothing can compare to his blues rock masterpiece “Continuum”, but this is still a fantastic album with its steady grooves and thoughtful lyrics. I was also worried when I first heard he was making a song with his on/off gf, Katy Perry, but to my utter delight, I think his gamble has TOTALLY paid off! The song “Who You Love” is, IMHO, gonna be an immediate CLASSIC song that people will play long after we’re all gone. Anyways, if you have not bought this album yet, you should. Even if you’re not “into” this style, there’s so much good music on this album and a lot that will surprise and delight you! (He even played and wrote one of the songs with the piano on one of the tracks)
Standout songs: Wildfire, Paper Doll, Dear Marie, Who You Love, I Will Be Found (Lost At Sea)
1. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
My favourite album of the year, is by the electronic artists who decided to make an album with less digital instruments and more acoustic/live instruments. While every other pop act is moving towards more electronic and digitally processed music, they have decided to do the opposite… and it is hands down… the best album of the year! Here is my track-by-track review:
1. Give Life Back To Music
My favourite track on the album. If this song does not get your head bobbin’, I dunno WHAT will? ;)
In this album, the two “robots” have become more “human” and this song shows a side I’ve never seen from them… talking about the tricky “game of love”! Anyways, check it out!
I’ve realized that I REALLY like Funk Rock which finds its roots in Disco and Electronic Music. Giorgio Moroder is known to be the pioneer of this genre and he tells his story in this song! Not only a short narrative, but this song is AWESOME! Listen for the beautiful shifts in instrumental arrangements!
4. Within (Feat. Gonzales)
Another lamenting song just like track two… s’alright.
5. Instant Crush (Feat. Julian Casablancas)
The song catches you pretty much immediately and builds up really nicely!
6. Lose Yourself To Dance (Feat. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers)
This song has quite the disco “boogie” to it that someone made a video taking an episode of soul train and putting it to this song! Enjoy!
7. Touch (Feat. Paul Williams)
Nice wah-wah guitar with an interesting voice… strange, but it jams into a cheerful 80s funny interlude! The songs starts off SUPER weird, but develops nicely.
8. Get Lucky (Feat. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers
The first radio single. One of the best grooves I’ve heard in a LONG time and the electric guitar rhythm part is not that easy to play… don’t believe me?… try it out!
Epic. Simply EPIC! Starts with a symphony of music… almost anime beginning credits-ish, and then it morphs into this funky groove and just keeps you jamming along.
This instrumental track has so many intricate parts to the whole! Have a listen to this collage of sounds and experience DP’s genius!
11. Fragments of Time (Feat. Todd Edwards)
This chill, laid back sound feels like a day at the beach! The voice of this Todd Edwards guy sounds like the lead singer of Jamiroquai. Anyways, a great break from all the epic-ness!
12. Doin’ It Right (Feat. Panda Bear)
I don’t know who Panda Bear is, but this song has such a mesmerizing groove and robotic vocals harmonized on top of each other… it’s just such a cool song!
13. Contact (Feat. DJ Falcon)
Supposed last song of the album… this song feels like it’s supposed to blast the listener into another galaxy! I really REALLY DON’T LIKE the end… lol! But it’s nevertheless a pretty interesting song all the way through until the lengthy blast off noise that annoys the HECK out of me! haha! Anyways, enjoy the pseudo end of the album!
14. Horizon (Bonus Track - Japan Album)
The hidden bonus track on their Japanese release, I didn’t find out about until a few days ago! Nothing epic here but this simple atmospheric music that you could probably put on repeat over and over in the background.
So that, my friends, is my top ten of 2013, may this list bring you new music to listen to which you may not have ever encountered before and may y’all have a GREAT NEW YEAR 2014!!! God bless us everyone! :D
Passion - Let The Future Begin
Matt Maher - Let The People Say Amen
Shane & Shane - Bring Your Nothing
Ben Rector - The Walking In Between
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