Top 10 Non Metal Albums of 2013
I've also dug a lot of rap this year, which is wild because I haven't listened to much since I was 14 and trying to be cool. But those will likely appear elsewhere on a more specific list. For reference, Danny Brown, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, Earl Sweatshirt and Pusha T have blown my mind in 2013. Who knew. I super love metal; it's what I talk about most often and what I listen to 90% of the time. The rest of the time, I like to listen to pop music, and electronic music and a little bit of country and soul. So, this list is kind of a cheat in order to expand my main 25 and include a lot of other things that 2013 has brought to my ears. I'm not sorry.
James Blake - Overgrown
ATLAS Records
James Blake's sophomore record is one that expands upon his blissed out sound yet it somehow still retains the inherent sadness that ran through his self-titled debut. Overgrown is a record that is both delicate and powerful.
Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
Dunham Records
Charles Bradley's sound is straight out of the golden age of soul yet his voice is altogether timeless. Having released his debut in 2011 at the age of 62, Bradley soon became a prominent figure on the modern soul scene and the follow-up, Victim of Love, is a record that surpasses any other this year for pure emotional punch. Plus, his Record Store Day cover of Black Sabbath's "Changes" is enough to break your heart.
CHRVCHES - The Bones of What You Believe
Vigin Records
Scottish trio CHVRCHES have deftly melded the elements of pop and synth and their debut is one that touches the heart and weaves into the corners of the soul with a wonderful ease.
Forest Swords - Engravings
Tri Angle Records
Liverpool based Matthew Barnes - Forest Swords - is a producer who is unafraid to explore the soundscapes of the mind. Engravings is a work that is expansive and intricate and the record is one that demands close listening.
Valerie June - Pushin' Against a Stone
Sunday Best Recordings
Valerie June's mix of folky bluegrass and country is one that engages and showcases a young and natural talent. June's voice is remarkable and her songs are littered with a clever honesty. Grab a whiskey and let her lull you to sleep.
Lady Gaga - ARTPOP
Interscope Records
ARTPOP has been a long time coming and despite taking some time out for a gruelling recovery from a hip operation, Lady Gaga has been almost omnipresent over the last year and with teasers and inkling of what her third record would sound like, no one was quite prepared for this. The album runs from all out pop, to electro swagger to hip hop and rock and back again. While she isn't breaking down any genre walls, it's clear that Gaga has a vision.
London Grammar - If You Wait
Columbia Records
The first thing you notice about London Grammar is the gorgeous tone and depth of vocalist Hannah Reid and it's her soul that brings If You Wait to tortured life. Sultry and embracing, the trio have here a debut that has been the slow burner of the year. First coming to most people's attention via a guest appearance on Disclosure's Settle (a record that just missed out on a spot here), many noted Reid's beautiful voice and the wait for London Grammar's full length became like torture. Stunning.
The National - Trouble Will Find Me
4AD
The National's gloomy resonance took on a whole new aspect on Trouble Will Find Me which feels like the most devastatingly personal record of the year. With waves of darkness and glimpses of the light at the end only coming through in short bursts, The National have created a work that while making them more accessible to those unfamiliar with them, still punishes the heart and mind.
Vatican Shadow - Remember Your Black Day
Hospital Productions
Dominick Fernow of Prurient has been dabbling in industrial/techno for some time now and Vatican Shadow's debut full length was certainly worth the extended wait. Cold, harsh and more than a little in debt to the current Middle East situation, Remember Your Black Day is a record that troubles, shocks and provokes. Doing all that without barely uttering anything in the way of words is quite a feat and long may Fernow contine.
VNV Nation - Transational
Anachron Sounds
VNV Nation have been around for a long, long time yet they keep delivering albums and live shows that would put most younger bands to shame. Their brand of electronic music lies a little further away from their initial beginnings in EBM and industrial but the futurepop sound they embrace now is one that flows with a euphoria that is hard to find without more....chemical means.
