1. Janelle Monáe – “Q.U.E.E.N.”
It wasn’t even close. The music itself was fantastic, but the story telling is powerful. I’m not one for lyrics. In fact, I often consider them a distraction dragging down a song. But when words sung cross several tiers of meaning, and are genuine, I pay attention. You can’t help but think that she is addressing four topics all with a single message: the state of pop music, the soulessness of corporatized record labels, the unfair stigma of women who act original and really are unique, and the unfair bias against homosexual women artists. (Though Janelle playfully buffs questions as to whether this album was a statement about her sexuality, the undertones of “Q.U.E.E.N.” and other singles powerfully speak to the topic.) Incredible.
It didn’t hurt that the music video was well done or that the ending of the song is as powerful as Oscar-worthy dramas.
Janelle is who should be pushed upon little girls everywhere. Not the Nikki Manaj’s or Rhianna’s or Lady Gaga’s, et al. She is authentic and genuine, cuts across musical categories, speaks about matters that are important. Youth could do few better as a musical role model than Janelle Monáe.
2. Ducktails – “Under Cover”
Every year I look forward to an album that will stick with me indefinitely. Ducktail’s January release was just that. “Under Cover” was the best song among many excellent tracks. Both the song and the music video shows Matt Mondanile’s unique ability to blend seriously artful music with light air silliness.
3. Hood Internet – “You Know You Like Gas (Sage The Gemini x Iamsu! x AlunaGeorge)”
I’m a huge Girl Talk fan. Gregg Gillis hasn’t published any new work lately, so I was delighted to stumble upon Hood Internet earlier this year. Hood is a duo who take Girl Talk’s stylistic torch and adventure into new territory. They are slightly more focused on prominently premiering the rap/hip hop song and relegating the 70s/80s/90s/2000s song selection to the rear. But their sound can be just as fun, and this “You Know You LIke Gas” remix illustrates why. It was easily my favorite party song of the year. You’ll have to excuse the lyrics, yet if you’re a hip-hop genre fan, how can you not like them?
4. Julian Lynch – “Lines”
Long-time music friends of mine know that I’m a huge fan of Julian Lynch. The New Jersey native has been getting his PhD. at UW-Madison for a few years now, but has still found time to put out several incredible albums. This year’s release, also titled Lines, was not quite as good as his previous two to my tastes. The title track, however, is his best single to date. I seriously hope he continues to make music!
5. Kurt Vile – “Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze”
I’m a shoe-gaze fan. I don’t care. I don’t get why shoe-gaze and chillwave sub genres are picked upon by music pundits and fans alike. Kurt Vile is on the Mount Rushmore of modern shoe-gaze curators, and when he isn’t making some of the best 60s-era recreations under the War on Drugs name, he’s producing fun solo work. “Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze” was the track I found myself returning to the most this year—with the exception of anything from Ducktails—because of the looseness of it. At 9 and a half minutes, it’s a guitar lover’s dream.
6. David Bowie – “Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA)”
For those unfamiliar, James Murphy is the guy behind LCD Soundsystem. Any year without music from Murphy is a bum year, so with him officially retiring the LCD project some time ago, we were poised for a year without James Murphy. No one wants that. Thank goodness he came out of nowhere with this David Bowie remix.
7. Tame Impala – “Mind Mischief (Ducktails Remix)”
Sorry for all the Ducktails love this year, but seriously, Matt Mondanile is really good at this music thing. Tame Impala published two remixes of “Mind Mischief” this year, one by Ducktails and one by The Field. Friends should know that I’m a huge The Field fan too, so as you can imagine my head promptly exploded when I got this A/B side vinyl this summer. I liked Ducktails’ remake slightly more. For reference, this was Rena’s favorite song of the year.
8. Foxygen – “No Destruction”
Foxygen has some of the closest Bob Dylan sound I’ve ever heard. “No Destruction” was an exceedingly fun song to throw on all through summer and autumn. The album wasn’t so bad itself.
9. Justin Timberlake – “Suit & Tie”
I prefer to avoid pop music, but can sympathize with those who enjoy it. But boy am I a JT apologist. The double-release album itself was pretty terrible, but “Suit & Tie” was my guilty pleasure pop song of the year. I think JT transcends the common denominator pumped out by the pop music scene. It’s a pity the album was so bad overall, because if it was as strong as this single, I think in a few years we’d be talking about how he is the next Michael Jackson. He’s that magnetic and talented.
10. Beacon – “Bring You Back”
Loved this find. I’m a sucker for synth drum machines, and the tonal style Beacon expertly crafts in “Bring You Back” is one of my favorite musical approaches.
More Music!
2012 was a weak year to me. I think 2013 rebounded nicely. To show my excitement, I’m including another 10 songs to round out a top 20 in singles. There was just too much good music not to share!
11. Boards of Canada – “Reach For The Dead”
The album was good, but “Reach For The Dead” competes as one of their best singles to date.
12. Big Black Delta – “Side Of The Road”
This is probably the moment of the list where the word “hipster” could get thrown around. I hate that label, which in its current iteration is the defacto term used to denote a culture that is different and uncomfortable than what one is comfortable with.
There will always be a sub culture of individuals who self select out whatever is mainstream, regardless of medium, ad infinitum. There are those who enjoy certain sports that aren’t the NFL. Or those who enjoy foreign films or anime instead of Super Hero Remake 17. Or those who seek out authentic Japanese cuisine instead of going to Applebees. Or those who watch obscure BBC TV programs instead of Two And A Half Men. Or those who wear obscure sweaters instead of clothes found at Mayfair Mall. The list goes on.
Music is no different.
In casual observance of Big Black Delta on the Internet, I’ve seen more “hipster music” trolling thrown on this band than any other I’ve been exposed to this year. That is unfortunate. Music is music, and you enjoy the taste properties you personally identify with. When I see “hipster” lobbed as a criticism, I see a vocabulary term being leveraged as an abstraction for anything the individual finds different than they identify with. Yes—the other person or thing is different than you, but by degrading the difference with a critical term from society’s lexicon meant to elevate yourself, I shake my head in silence.
So, anyways, Big Black Delta everybody!
13. Suuns – “Sunspot”
Heard these guys for the first time on WMSE, Milwaukee School of Engineering’s radio station. I’m now a full-time convert to this awesome station when driving. It is an example of what’s good about music.
14. Four Tet – “Parallel Jalebi”
I’m still a huge Kieren Hebden fan, but the last few albums have been a bit of a let down for my tastes. I guess that’s to be expected since his 2010 release, There Is Love In You, I still regard as my favorite album of all time. “Parallel Jalebi” was his best song produced this year—a year in which he released a vinyl-only collection of 90s tracks he made, had several remixes, several more DJ sets, produced several other albums, and finished up with an all-new album release which this track featured on.
15. Evenings – “Friend (Lover)”
Really glad these guys were introduced to me this year. “Friend (Lover)” was the best track on a fantastic album top to bottom.
16. Jim James – “A New Life”
I love My Morning Jacket so I was excited for Jim’s solo album. It wasn’t as good as I anticipated, but I loved this single. I chose to share his live rendition on the Jimmy Fallon show because it’s a good reminder of how elevated his live shows are—even if just on late night TV—compared to the studio work.
17. Caveman – “In The City”
Really enjoyed Caveman’s first album, so it was a delight to unexpectedly find a self-titled release this year. “In The City” was the best single, and worthy of a spot here. This is a live version that shows how great of chemistry the band has together.
18. Holden – “Renata”
James Holden is one of the more underrated British artists at the moment. I’m glad that The Inheritors is getting the press he deserves. “Renata” is a loud, powerful electronic ballad.
19. Fuck Buttons – “The Red Wing”
It seems like Fuck Button’s 2013 release had mixed reviews. You really need to be a fan of their style to appreciate what they do. I felt the album itself had several clunkers preventing it from being a classic, but “The Red Wing” was a banging single. Get ready to get loud.
20. Wild Nothing – “The Body In Rainfall”
Rounding out my top 20 list is the best song from the Wild Nothing EP Empty Estate, which was one of the top albums I returned to over and over again. It’s pretty close to perfect indie pop that has a twinge of experimentation to throw off your scent.