2013 Songs: 21-40

40. "Under the Earth" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (from Mosquito)

"Twelve times / put a hex on you"

The heavy use of dub/reverb makes this the first of two remaining artists to remind us strongly of Sandinista-era Clash. "Sacrilege" is pretty great as well (unlike the creepy-as-hell, Garbage Pail Kids inspired album cover).

39. "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" by Kishi Bashi (from 7" Singles EP)
<Talking Heads cover>

A straightforward, stripped down cover, but we are talking about, for our money, one of the greatest songs of our lifetime and quite possibly the most genuinely romantic (the "naive" subtitle refers to the melody, not the lyrics).  So an excellent new version by an emerging new artist (#92 on last year's list) is welcome. 

38. "Restless Leg" by Har Mar Superstar (from Bye Bye 17)

"Shake shake shake shake shake the leg oh oh"

We hadn't heard of Har Mar Superstar before hearing a few classic R&B sounding tracks from his 5th album, Bye Bye 17.  Pitchfork thought little enough of the guy to give his second album a 2.0 and his third album a 1.9. For context, both of those would have been the second lowest score they gave out over the past year. Of course, 4 of their 25 lowest scored albums of 2013 made this list, so maybe we shouldn't be surprised. 

37. "Demon to Lean On" by Wavves (from Afraid of Heights)
"Holding a gun to my head / so send me an angel"

The mid-90s punk that Wavves recalls is now as removed from today's music as the original punk wave was from the 90s.  So we look forward to the 4th wave around 2030.

36. "A New Life" by Jim James (from Regions Of Light And Sound Of God)
"Babe / open the door / and start your new life"

Takes a while to get going, but patience pays off with a nice old fashioned build.  While we've been disappointed with My Morning Jacket's recent output, at least James is keeping busy with interesting side projects. 

35. "There Can Be Only One" by Cass McCombs (from Big Wheel and Others)
"If love is either all or none / who owns my heart?"

Very much roll-the-window-down-and-cruise music. Very Lou Reed (RIP) as well. 

34. "Wild Country" by Wake Owl (from Wild Country EP)
"If I want to leave / I will"

Based on the last several tracks, this list is in danger of becoming unbearably pleasant.

33. "I Remember You" by Rilo Kiley (from Rkives)
"And may old acquaintance be forgot / but I remember you"

The male voice here is full cheeseball but Jenny Lewis sounds great and we like the borrowed riff from "Marquee Moon" enough to overlook it. 

32. "Lightning Bolt" by Jake Bugg (from Jake Bugg)
"Everyone I see just wants to walk with gritted teeth"

The comparison to Dylan is an easy one, and one that is not sustainable over the course of a full album, but the 19-year old certainly pulls it off for two and a half minutes.

31. "This Evening So Soon" by Bob Dylan (from Another Self Portrait: The Bootleg Series Vol. 10)
<Bob Gibson cover>

The man himself, in an unreleased track from the Self Portrait sessions.  This concludes the unintentional flashback portion of the top 100 list, with new/"new" music from favorite acts from the 60s (Dylan), 70s (Bowie, #53), 80s (Clash, #100) and 90s (Pearl Jam, #58).

30. "Heaven" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (from Little Moments EP)

<no idea what Alec is saying>

We can't think of another band where the perceived decline in quality fails to match what we hear.  CYHSY's debut was pretty universally praised, but its follow-up (which featured our #1 song of 2007) was quickly forgotten and few people noticed/cared when they broke up and got back together. Even friends who swear by the debut don't care much for the recent output. (bandcamp link)

29. "Before We Run" by Yo La Tengo (from Fade)

"Take me out beyond the stress / speak to me in words we can't erase / take me out / it's only us"

One of the things lost in the translation to digital music is the art of track listing.  "Before We Run", like "Moonlight Mile"on Sticky Fingers or "I Believe" from Talking Book, could only be a closing track. 

28. "Needle" by Born Ruffians (from Birthmarks)

"Lost / but in my place"

At the 0:50 mark, the yelping pop goodness that made Red, Yellow and Blue one of our favorite albums of 2008 is back.

27. "You" by Bibio (from Silver Wilkinson)

"Find somebody else / just like you"

Anthemic, even with only 13 words in the song. 

26. "Walkin On a Pretty Day" by Kurt Vile (from Wakin On a Pretty Daze)

"Phone ringing off the shelf / I guess it wanted to kill himself"

We just realized that the album title and the song title are not the same. Huh. 

25. "Spinning Signs" by Painted Palms (from Forever)

"I'm just talking to the things inside my head"

Tame Impala got a lot of love last year (consensus #3 album of 2012 according to Metacritic's compilation of top 10 lists) for a very good album of trippy psych-rock.  The advance single from Painted Palm's debut (due Jan 14) would be right at home on that album, and would instantly be the best song.  

24. "Becoming the Gunship" by Islands (from Ski Mask)

"When it was dark / I was a question mark"

Not sure if anyone has more eclectic a run of recent album highlights than Islands, from "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" off their debut, to "Creeper" to "Disarming the Car Bomb" to "Hallways" (our #2 song of 2012) to "Becoming the Gunship". Great band. 

23. "Dance Apocalyptic" by Janelle Monáe  (from The Electric Lady)

"But I'm allergic to the house pets"

Quite the little retro kick over the last few tracks.

22. "Hurricane (Chvrches remix)" by MS MR (single)

"Keep my eyes open / my lips sealed / my heart closed / and my eyes peeled "

Chvrches early single "the Mother We Share" cracked the top 50 last year but their full length debut couldn't do better than the honorable mention list in 2013. Similarly, Ms Mr's 2013 debut of "noir&B" (a perfect descriptor, and fun to say) was a good listen, but wasn't likely to crack the list either. Instead, Chvrches complete 80'sfication of album favorite "Hurricane" represents a surprising high point for both acts. (soundcloud link)

21. "Cayucos" by Cayucas (from Bigfoot)

"oh way oh way oh / come on come on come on come on"

We'd like think that the masculine/feminine going on in the song title and band name has some meaning. Wikipedia informs that Cayucos is a little hamlet on the California coast (past Morro Bay, as the song says) and that it is Chumash for Kayak. So probably not. 

2013 Songs: 41-60

60. "The Quotidian Beasts" by Phosphorescent (from The Muchacho)

"Yeah the beast came upon me / I guess it wasn't so bad"

Quotidian means something that occurs every day, so apparently this is a 7-minutes shambolic rock song about an online news magazine. No one saw that coming, Matt. "Song For Zula", the strongest track on Muchacho, cracked the top 20 last year as an advance single.

59. "XXX 88" by MØ (from Bikini Daze EP)
"'Cause life is cynical / despite your heart of gold"

Karen Marie Ørsted covers a lot of territory on her debut EP, from this Diplo-produced rave-up of to the doo-wop croon of "Never Want to Know".  

58. "Sirens" by Pearl Jam (from Lightning Bolt)
"The slightest bit of light and I can see you clear"

A friend with occasionally questionable music taste (who is likely reading this in December 2014) seemed certain on the release of Lightning Bolt that "Sirens" would make this list. Our original impression of the song was "what's the point?", but it has grown on us considerably. Hard to believe these guys have been around over 20 years. 

57. "Feel the Love" by Rudimental (from Home)
<nothing from this song avoids looking dumb in quotes>

It is a toss-up between the original version and the VIP mix featuring Childish Gambino (whose guest verses there, with Chance the Rapper, and with Jhene Aiko topped anything we heard on Because the Internet).

56. "Amsterdam" by Gregory Alan Isakov (from The Weatherman)
"She's easy on the eyes"

Hushed vocals that remind us of the best of Damien Jurado or M. Ward.

55. "Midland" by The Mountain Goats (from All Hail West Texas -- Reissue)
"For three years I lived next to the airport / so nothing you can say to me can get on my nerves"

For the first time since 2007, there was no new music from Darnielle in 2013.  We did, however, get a handful of outtakes from All Hail West Texas (our #1 MG album) on its 10th anniversary. 

54. "Coming Through" by Willis Earl Beat feat. Cat Power(from Nobody Knows)
"Identify yourselves by stating your name / Willis / Earl / Beal"

Nobody Knows starts off very strong with "Wavering Lines" and "Coming Through" but then tapers off quickly. Chan Marshall, not surprisingly, makes a hell of a backup singer.

53. "The Next Day" by David Bowie (from The Next Day)
"Here I am / not quite dead"

Bowie released a highly praised album of new material this year, and yet the video for the title track (Gary Oldman!) got 90% fewer views than a cover of "Space Oddity". Love the album cover. 

52. "Evil Eye" by Franz Ferdinand (from Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action)
"I don't believe in god / but I believe in this shit"

A hint of "Backstreet's back, allright!" going on in the chorus, right? We don't really feel great about that.

51. "Old Love / New Love" by Twin Shadow (from Grand Theft Auto V)

"I couldn't speak / you said, I'm listening"

Songs from video games are close to outpacing movie soundtracks on this list.

50. (tie) "Your Life Your Call " by Junip (from Junip) and "Step Out" by José González (from Secret Life of Walter Mitty)

"Stand up or enjoy your fall"

Two very different tracks from José González under two different monikers.  While list rules (which must be followed!) prohibit multiple tracks from the same artist, how do we treat Junip vs. solo work? Let's call it a tie, even if "Step Out" has a bit of that desperate striving-for-epic thing that makes Of Monsters and Men sort of lame.  

49. "Now I'm All Messed Up" by Tegan and Sara (from Heartthrob)

"Go if you want / I can't stop you"

While newcomers Chvrches and Haim got a lot of press this year for releasing good, female-led, synth-heavy pop albums, veterans Tegan and Sara probably released the strongest overall album of the group.

48. "All Eyes on You" by St. Lucia (from St Lucia EP)

"I hope / you'll never have to back / what's said in the night"

A bit of a cheat here, as St Lucia released their debut LP in 2013 with "All Eyes on You" on it, but we prefer the original version from the 2012 eponymous EP.  We also prefer using the word "eponymous" where possible.

47. "Slow it Down" by The Dream (from IV Play)

"pants on her / slim fit / lights in the room / dim lit"

As stated last year, Slow Jam R&B is a horrible music genre. Like, the worst. Objectively, no idea why we are making an exception here, just look at those lyrics above. And the album title ... embarrassing. And yet, here we are.

46. "I Will" by Sebadoh (from Defend Yourself)

"And this will be / the hardest thing I've ever done "

We've never given much thought to Sebadoh.  Bakesale is in the collection and is probably the 2nd best album of the early 90's that features a naked baby on the cover. "Brand New Love" is a decent song. So we had modest expectations about Lou Barlow getting the band back together (proper use!) after a decade-plus apart. And yet, "I Will" is a great little lost-in-time nostalgia generator.  

45. "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk (from Random Access Memories)

"we're up all night to get lucky" (not a good quote but it is said LITERALLY over 50 times in the song, so...)

A little under the radar pick for readers looking for some deep cuts from 2013.

44. "Rasberry Cane" by Youth Lagoon (from Wondrous Bughouse)

"Pour the ashes into the cup / mix with wine / here's to sleep /drink up"

The most disappointing album of 2013. Most tracks from The Year of Hibernation would have cracked the top 40 of the 2011 list (Montana ended up at #8). Yes, those tracks were formula driven (muddled vocals -> swirling instrumental -> muddled vocals over swirling instrumental) but it was great formula! Bughouse was just a muddle, with the notable exception of this track and maybe "Dropla" or"Mute".  

43. "Time Rolls On" by Free Energy (from Love Sign)

"Don't wanna talk now / you'd need another dude"

So damned cheesy, but in the best possible ways. If the Kung Fury guys are successful with their Kickstarter campaign maybe this can be the theme song.

42. "The Wire" by Haim (from Days are Gone)

"I didn't go and try to change my mind / not intentionally"

With the number of advance singles Haim released over the past 18 months ("Don't Save Me" was #37 on last year's list) it was a pleasant surprise to hear how many good songs debuted on the album proper. If "Evil Eye" had some Backstreet in it, Haim owes a debt to Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" for this.

41. "Caribou Hyperbole" by Windmill (from Above Duffle Farm)

"If you had stayed / you would not have stayed for me"

Windmill is not for everyone. Matthew Dillon's makes other singers described as "nasal" seem like baritones. If you don't buy-in, it is brutal. But the man can compose a song and, frequently, turn the emotion conveyed in his voice into a positive. Puddle City Racing Lights was our #28 album of the 2000s and while Epcot Starfields and Above Duffle Farm aren't as consistently strong, their best songs match that album's high points. (bandcamp link)

2013 Songs: 61-80

 

80. "Seven Days, Seven Nights" by The Fratellis (from We Need Medicine) 

"I see all of my dreams ragged and torn"

After "Flathead" and "Chelsea Dagger" appeared in half the commercials of 2007, Fratellis returned with an unloved sophomore album and then disappeared for a while. We Need Medicine shows that their own ragged and torn approach is still in fine form.  

79. "Somebody to Love" by Valerie June (from Pushin' Against a Stone)
"Did they tell you / there are plenty of fish in the sea / but you're drowning and cold / and you're feelin' empty"

The Black Keys didn't release any new music this year, but Dan Auerbach kept busy producing a handful of solid albums, including Tuareg guitarist Bombino, Hanni el Khatib (whose "Penny" just missed the list) and Valerie June's pseudo debut, a strong collection of rootsy blues songs. "The Hour" could have easily taken this spot as well.

78. "Backyard Skulls" by Frightened Rabbit (from Pedestrian Verse)
"Not deep enough to never be found"

This band from the fatherland remains one of the more consistent acts out there.

77. "Disappoint Your Teacher" by The Derevolutions (from Living in the Pop World)
"We don't care about the cold war"

So that happened. (youtube link)

76. "25 Bucks" by Danny Brown (from Old)
"Now I'm trapped in the trap  / and the devil ain't forgettin'"

With a little help from Purity Ring (more on her shortly), the heir to ODB's throne as rap's court jester seems secure, even if other tracks from Old like "Lonely" hint that there is more there there.

75. "I Won't Be Long" by Beck (single)
"We're covered in a secret"

Presumably an advance single off of the upcoming "companion piece" to career highlight Sea Change. The track also bears some similarities to 2012's awesome "Cities", which appeared only in the video game SoundShapes, causing us to miss it the first time around (it would have been top 3o).  

74. "Grammy" by Purity Ring (single)
<Soulja Boy cover>

Purity Ring put out a well-received album last year and hit number 99 on our list. She mostly took this year off and shows up twice, and her vocals on Jon Hopkins' "Breather This Air" didn't miss by much. (youtube link)

73. "For Once" by Ra Ra Riot (from Beta Love)
"And if I want to have it /  I could have gone and had it"

Catchy, but not a lot there from a band that once crafted a gem of a pop song about death. 

72. "Warm in Winter" by Glass Candy (from After Dark 2)
"I'm crazy like a monkey / happy like a new year"

Initially released in 2011 on a Glass Candy EP, the song received more attention when a revised mix appeared on the Italians Do It Better After Dark compilation. Great on a late night drive home (to relieve the babysitter).

71. "Cold Blooded" by Kid Cudi (from Indicud)

"Standing in a monsoon of cool / karma is my armor / was only scared of my father / beyond that I'm / cold"

After the rock mess that was WZRD, Cudi is back on more comfortable ground, even if his mixtape work with borrowed beats("All Talk", "Cudderisback", "All Summer", etc.) has generally been stronger than his album work.  

70. "Tiger Kit" by Sleigh Bells (from Bitter Rivals)

"Oh how sorry life is / like a Hollywood sequel"

You know what you get with Sleigh Bells, and it is all there on the cover of Bitter Rivals (maybe add a little blood on the shoes from the last album).

69. "Dream the Dare" by Pure Bathing Culture (from Moon Tides)

"Speak the words that read in your mind"

PBC's full-length debut delivered on the dreamy promise of last year's EP.  

68. "When a Fire Starts to Burn" by Disclosure (from Settle)

"Right?"

Our suggestion to use Disclosure's (consistently used) facial outline style on the 2013 family holiday card ... not viewed as constructive.

67. "Won't You Come Over" by Devendra Banhart (from Mala)

"Words unforgotten ‘til we sing again / start at the bottom, and then we descend"

This was our favorite Devendra Banhart song of the year, but "Hatchet Wound" had the far better chorus ("yeah, hatchet wound is driving me crazy / and a hatchet wound is truly amazing"). 

66. "Feel the Chill" by Blitzen Trapper (from VII)

"My lover lies down the hill/ she won't get up and she won't say nothing / but baby I fell the chill"

Blitzen Trapper: exactly the right amount of shit-kickery.

65. "To You" by Young Wonder (from Show Your Teeth EP)

"See you / see you in the next life"

As their SoundCloud page points out, these UK natives sound more like Scandinavian electropop than anything else, though with more bagpipes.

64. "#Beautiful" by Mariah Carey w/ Miguel (single)

"And I can't pretend that that doesn't mean a thing to me"

First, the hashtag in the title is incredibly lame and, thankfully, didn't seem to catch on as a thing. Next, we are as surprised as anyone to see Mariah Carey on this list. But the music is the music, and retro soul is a soft spot.

63. "At the Cashier's Station" by Jumbling Towers (from Jungle's Going to Be On My Mind)

"And would have had you pleading for / the renter's insurance that you shoved in Dustin's face"

A very serious-sounding song about walking all the way to the store but forgetting your wallet, featuring an even more random (and fairly lengthy) interlude about kicking Dustin out of the apartment because he doesn't like the countertops. Because why not?

62. "Like a Dream" by Francis and Lights (from Like a Dream EP)

"'Cause I'm ready for the big time / is it ready for me"

It is hard to hear the song without thinking of the sunlight drenched video also used for the album cover. If one has to Riverdance, we suppose doing perpetually at sunset through crops is a solid choice.

61. "I Need My Girl" by The National (from Trouble Will Find Me)

"I was a 45 percenter then"

It's hard to see The National this low on the list (Boxer was our #5 album of the last decade) but it says something when our favorite song by them this decade ("Exile Vilify") is from a video game.