Top Ten of 2013
Top Ten Records:
1. The 1975 - The 1975 Listened to it more times that I can count, and it's the only record where, after hearing one track (see: Chocolate), I was immediately pre-ordering. This band made me excited about a record in a way I haven't been in a long, long time. Delicious articulation in the vocals, so much so that often it sounds like non-English (don't pay attention to my car singalongs; I'm literally singing non-words). So many excellent tracks that it's almost impossible to pick stand outs. I like "Robbers" for the slow build, "Heart Out" for the vibe, and "Sex" because it's jaw drop amazing. Listen, listen, listen and love.
2. Daughter - If You Leave Haunting, moving, and spoke more to me personally than anything else on this list, though I can't say much for replayability unless I want to be thinking Deep Dark Thoughts all the time. Definitely has its way of getting you in a specific, not all together positive, headspace. It doesn't suffer from this, though. It's evocative, which is increasingly rare as music becomes less about substance or more about style (see: GaGa's ARTPOP).
4. Fall Out Boy - Save Rock and Roll The triumphant return. It's not perfect, no, and it's not a Take This To Your Grave reboot, but it makes FOB relevant, which most bands from the early-2000 pop punk wave never achieve again. The writing, while still baring that trademark Pete Wentz cynicism and self-deprecation, isn't as on point or honest as it has been in the past, which is why this charts so low for me. Come back after half a decade, and my expectations are going to be through the roof. "Alone Together" and "Young Volcanoes" are it for me on this record. Will either go down in history as my favorite FOB songs of all time? No, because the depth of emotion isn't there. And that's okay; I'd rather have either of these tracks (or anything else on the record) than the entirety of the abysmal Folie à Deux. Welcome back, gentleman.
5. The Story So Far - What You Don't See Everything we wanted more of in 2011's Under Soil and Dirt comes back from round two. Parker's mostly un-annoying vocals strike me as monotone, but are easy to shout back at a show, which is part of their appeal. (There's nothing like seeing this band with a room full of sweatshirt wearing mid-20s bros screaming their asses off.) If I had to analyze this record compared to the last: it's a little more technical, a little angrier. There's a certain poppiness I miss about the last record (see: Mt. Diablo and Roam [what a great fucking song]), but it still manages to be energetic in a darker, more injured kind of way.
6. Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band - Bubblegum The first time I heard "Private First Class" I was already sold. Jesse (Fucking) Lacey produced, which is reason enough to love, love, love. It's almost like having a new Brand New record! I've never liked Kevin Devine until now--something about his vocals and sleepy, hokey pokey acoustic music (which is why "Bulldozer" isn't also listed, though it was a dual release)--but this is pure adrenaline. Gritty, political, and angry. Yes and more yes.
7. Lorde - Pure Heroine "Royals" is perfect; I don't care how much they play it out. To think she was only sixteen at the time of this release is mind-blowing. The entire record plays like the soundtrack to Spring Breakers or The Bling Ring--a certain sleazy insouciance that speaks of lazy days smoking bowls and riding around in your parents' Lexus. It reminds me of L.A. and the 101 at 10pm. Just lights, colors, and the power that comes with feeling like an untouchable youth.
8. Have Mercy - The Earth Pushed Back Where the hell has this band been hiding? EMO REVIVAL. If you like this brand of "emo" without the uber whiny vocals, do yourself a favor and listen to "Let's Talk About Your Hair." Enough twinkly guitars and devastating drums to draw comparisons to Further Seems Forever and The Appleseed Cast, and that growl… that beautiful, aching scream of his. God, I barely know anything about this band, but that song alone is worth a listen.
9. The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation I want to love this band. So many people I know live and die by TWY lyrics. And while I identify with them, I'm so much more musically motivated by compelling melodies, which I think TWY lack. That's not to say this isn't an amazing, worthwhile record--it is--I just want so much more than this band ever gives me. And that's ok. Taking this, The Upsides, and Suburbia all together? What an impressive oeuvre. Congrats, Dan Campbell. (Footnote: I read the AP.net interview with him this year, and I'd say I'm more a fan of him and his personal thought process than what actually comes across in the music. So many great ideas, Dan. So much worth expressing.)
10. Panic! at the Disco - Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die Has some jams, but not as many as I expected. A little dancier, much more in the vein of the new FOB record. Thanks, Butch Walker? As if we needed any more reminding that P!atD is FOB's more theatrical counterpart. On the whole, I think it's comparable to 2011's "Vices and Virtues," maybe even complementary. Brendon's vocals never get old, though, that's for sure. Remarkable range.
Honorable Mentions:
Artist Vs Poet - Keep Your Secrets
Heard of the band and didn't care much until Joe was on The Voice. His vocals make me happy in unmentionable places.
Mansions - Doom Loop
Got this at the tail end of 2013, and it's a little darker in the first half than I typically like, but it's a valiant effort. I don't think it touches the previous two records, though. It's like Brand New's younger, greener kid brother.
Someone Please Explain The Hype:
Balance and Composure - The Things We Think We're Missing
First heard of them on a split EP a couple years ago with Tigers Jaw. Uninteresting lyrics and bland, uninspired vocals. The music is okay? Is that it? Why is everyone in love with this band?
The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die - Whenever, If Ever
Don't get me wrong, I love this emo revival just as much as the next swoopy bangs motherfucker, but really? The level of whine in the vocals can and is done so much better by other bands.
Biggest Letdowns:
Britney Spears - Britney Jean
What the actual fuck is this? Uninteresting, void of excitement. I've put her at the top of my list a couple years in a row, but this? It's practically unlistenable.
Paramore - Paramore
I think "Still Into You" is an amazing, fun song--definitely one of the best of the year--but the rest of the record? Underwhelming. Hayley has become a caricature of herself (which, I know, is a polarizing statement). Her voice is amazing--why the show? Why cosplay Leeloo from The Fifth Element all the time? I don't get this new direction musically, creatively, etc. Sooooo disappointed.
Top Ten Films:
1. The Wolf of Wall Street Scorsese and DiCaprio have done it again (see: The Departed). Fresh, exciting, visually stimulating, and full of an incredible performance on Leo's part. Yes there are drugs, sex, and the word "cocksucker" more times than I can count, but these add to the nihilism and pulse-racing rollercoaster that epitomizes this (true!) story.
2. American Hustle Ladies and Gentleman: JENNIFER FUCKING LAWRENCE. Smart dialogue, believable characters, and just the right amount of asshole pizzaz to make the entire thing enjoyable.
3. The Place Beyond The Pines I'm like 85% sure I saw this in 2012, but IMDB tells me it was released in 2013. That said, it doesn't matter what year it is, this film is incredible. It feels like a three act play of total devastation. I don't particularly like Bradley Cooper, but he does an excellent job as a straight-laced foil against Ryan Gosling's charming bank robbing. Dane DeHaan makes an appearance in the third act, and he's so, so good. I want to see him play a young Leo DiCaprio one day. 4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire What can I say? I'm a sucker for YA film adaptations. Everyone has stepped up their acting game. And Finnick Odair.
5. Pacific Rim Fantastic casting, exciting plot. I love excellent ensemble casts (the Star Trek reboot deserves a mention here, though I favor the first film to the sequel), which this film does so well. Undeclared Lloyd is nice to look at, though I feel like his character suffered from a lack of well-written lines. On the whole, I think this movie was seriously under-touted.
6. Warm Bodies Hilarious and creepy with just the right amount of kitschy indie cred and star-crossed romance to keep me interested. Plus, the chick is hot.
7. The World's End I don't typically like "funny" movies, but the Pegg/Frost team is unreal. I've liked every single thing they've done.
8. The Great Gatsby Ostentatious, but gorgeous, and with a killer, perfectly orchestrated soundtrack.
9. Gangster Squad Underrated. Great acting on Penn's behalf, and I just like movies about L.A. staring Ryan Gosling (see: Drive).
10. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug I don't like the new Elf Bitch, but I definitely enjoyed this film more than the first.
Potential List Makers I Didn't See:
12 Years a Slave
Inside Llewyn Davis
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Kill Your Darlings
Don Jon
Dallas Buyers Club
Her
Honorable Mentions:
Man of Steel because it looks absolutely gorgeous despite having an unactable script.
Evil Dead because it's the best scary movie reboot I've ever seen.
Frozen because the songs are mostly cute. The first half is better than the second half; I was waiting for one more big musical number that never came.
The Bling Ring/Spring Breakers because I feel like these are teen flicks done right. Yes, your teenagers are that vapid and self-obsessed. Yes, celebrity and party culture has eaten them alive. Content-wise they might not be the most high-brow films, but the spirit is there.
Biggest Letdown:
The Host
What the actual fuck? You get the opportunity to make a killing off the next Stephenie Meyer book, and you make this piece of shit? Saorise Ronan is a better actress than you can garner from this film. Her performance suffers from a cheesy, amateurish script with wooden performances from practically everyone else in the film (including attractive supermodel turned actor Boyd Holbrook).
Annnnd, that's it. Followers, I want to see your lists, too!
On a personal note: good riddance, 2013. You were better to me than the last couple years, and for that I'm thankful, but heartache is heartache, regardless of its amount. Here's to another year of no regrets, loving hard, and living hard.
