It’s part three of our best of 2013 coverage and we’re now in the top 20 albums of 2013, kicking off with a band who impressed with their sophomore effort Not Art, Melbourne duo Big Scary. Click here to look back at parts ONE and TWO of our best albums of 2013 coverage…
Chloe Webb: An dream-scape album that embedded itself under my skin and seeped deep into my mind since its June release… shaping and depicting the intricately wonderful year that was 2013.
Paul McBride: A slow-burning masterpiece of grandiose, exquisite song-writing and perfectly poised execution from the Melbourne duo make this my album of 2013. It just keeps getting better with every listen.
Jayden Wilson: Absolutely beautiful storytelling and instrumentation. One of the most refreshing alternatives to mainstream music.
Justine McNamara: I never liked Laura Marling until Splendour in the Grass. Something about her haunting voice won me over, and I listened to this album on repeat for months after. This album shows undeniable talent in her voice and songwriting alike.
Nicholas Langley: A guilty pleasure of an album, JT’s return to the music world (we’ll forgive him for Friends With Benefits) was for all intents and purposes a pop masterpiece. Each track flowed seamlessly between ostensibly highly contrasted movements, and the variety of grooves throughout the album leaves plenty of room for replays.
Carina Nilma: JT is back, bolder and funkier than ever. There’s something a little dark and broody going on here but he manages to keep the grooves going.
What We Said: Overall, Reflektor is a lot of sounds, ideas and concepts all mixed together. When these elements get confused with each other – and they sometimes do – it can feel like they’re trying too hard. But when they get it right, it’s perfection at its finest. – Justine McNamara (Original Review Score: 8.8 out of 10)
Julian Ramundi: James Blake finally came into his own with this record, creating amazing soundscapes while still crafting great songs.
Sosefina Fuamoli: Hands down one of the most, if not THE most, heavily played album that is currently sitting in my iTunes from 2013. What’s not to like about Hungry Ghost? The shift in tone shows progression from the Brisbane boys (“OK Cathedral”, “Hungry Ghost”, “Fur Eyes”), while “Covered In Chrome” is quintessential Violent Soho brilliance. An anthem for a live show culture that Violent Soho and comrades have established through the year, “Covered In Chrome” is sure to be THE song of many’s year. Rightly so, too.
Lauren Connelly: Violent Soho are Australia’s greatest well-known secret. With a ferocious delivery, Violent Soho have come into their own as songwriters. Littered with crowd chants and restrained emotions, ‘Hungry Ghost’ is a complete all-rounder. Hell fuck yeah.
Isabella Fowler: Sexy Scottish synth-pop at its finest!
Michael Lean: The slow drip feed of killer singles built a genuine sense of anticipation for Chvrches debut album. Fortunately they didn’t disappoint, The Bones of What You Believe shows off whip smart production, glowing vocal samples and a genuine ear for a great hook.
Clare Armstrong: Vampire Weekend built success out of a deliciously preppy indie-pop formula that could easily have served them for many albums to come. Instead for Modern Vampires of the City the band completely rewrote this method from the ground up, resulting in a fantastically darker and more sophisticated album. The melodies are stripped back and there are truly some brilliantly insightful lyrics delivered by singer Ezra Koenig.
Meredith McLean: Hardly a dull moment with this scrumptious album. These brits know how to make public transport pleasurable.
Nicholas Langley: Sigur Ros reinvented themselves yet again, following a more pop-centric accessible release or two, they came back with this dark and industrial offering. It’s tighter than some of their other albums, making sure that there’s all killer and no filler.
Leonardo Silvestrini: With Kveiker, Sigur Ros lost a member and gained a new lease on life. Their ‘heaviest’ record, it’s also their most accessible, and now the go-to album when trying to curious listeners just what makes them unique.
Shasha Gong: Thought they would go down the mainstream road even further after High Violet but there are some really great tracks here.
Dan Turner: The National have gone from strength to strength and this is their finest album yet. Seeing them at Red Rocks this year cemented this in my mind and can’t wait for them to play in Australia next year. There are many standout tracks on this album but my favourites have to be “Sea of Love”, “Graceless” and “This is the Last Time”. A sublimely beautiful, melancholic album.
Keep checking back for our top ten albums of 2013! In the meantime, look back at parts ONE and TWO of our best albums of 2013 coverage…
