End of the year already. Interesting year for music. More of the coffee shop emo drab on every station, in every movie, everyone is feeling very melancholy these days I guess. Alot of the synth electro music continues to take on new and new levels of excitement as the weekend raves and live shows are becoming increasingly popular and organized. I am still a sucker for music with instruments and voices. People that write their own music, don't lip-sing, don't have a gimmick and are actually saying something. The year for me was very much capped on the day that Pearl Jam, Avetts and Head and the Heart released albums on the same day. Lot of great music to listen to! 2013 was slightly better than average in my opinion as some of my favorites released music, doesn't seem to be many other highlights besides starbucks music and I am good on that. These are in no particular order
David Bowie: Next Day
Finally Bowie emerged! He came out with a great album that encompassed why Bowie is David Fucking Bowie. Very creative.
Chance the Rapper: Acid Rap
I am always looking for good hip hop as it evolved very quickly to shit in the mid 2000's. Lately there have been a stream of creative artists including Odd Future, Jay Electronica and Kendrick Lamar. This guy, Chance the Rapper, is awesome. Its the first album I have heard that can be dubbed "Acid Rap". Some of it is clearly lost on Acid but some of it has meaning and creativity, actually saying SOMETHING!
Arcade Fire: Reflektor
Got on to this band late after their first record and have grown to love what they do. Their new album continues in that fashion of sound that blows my ears away.
Lady Gaga: Artpop
You probably know her, love her or hate her, but I dig her and her music. The only pop artist in my opinion worth anything. She writes her own music and is insanely daring and creative, what separates it though is she has real fucking talent! If you doubt it, you don't know music. New album didnt do very well sales wise but she will make it up with her insane tours.
Head and the Heart: Let's be Still
Loved this band the moment I heard them in 2010. Second albums are tough and this one had it. All the groves are there and evolving and much like the first album, its a good listen all the way through.
Avett Brothers: Magpie and the Dandelion
This has to be their 10th album or something and they still have music like this. One of the best and most underated bands of their time. I recently read that Marcus Mumford played Avetts songs to develop his own style, everyone knows Mumfords, but these are the originals right here in Carolina. Latest album, Magpie and the Dandelion in my opinion is top two favorties of theirs all time. Deep soulful music. Love vanity!
Pearl Jam: Lightning Bolt
I keep waiting to hear a record of theirs that I am not in love with. This new record fucking slams. It also has the older band slowing down with epic tracks like Sirens and Future Days. Cant say enough about how good this album is. I hope they never stop.
Phish: Wingsuit
One of the most creative bands of all time decided to do the ballsiest thing in music I have ever seen. Without any rumors, no noise, noone had a clue, they came out on their biggest night of their touring year (Halloween) and their second set (roughly 1:40:00 in the video) was them for the first time playing any of the songs live, debuted a new full album, live! Holy Shit! That takes balls for 4 hippies from Vermont. No press, no hype, fans could love it, could hate it, they could fuck up, it was absolutely awesome and probably the most daring thing I have watched in music. Check out 2:24:00 for the Abe Vigoda
