The middle of December always seems like a strange time to put out a record, but that being said, if a release is good enough then people will find it and love it regardless. Everything Between Paint and a Wall is definitely good enough, and although it won’t make any end of year lists because… Read More Grandview – Everything Between Paint and a Wall (Review)
This will be my final end of year list, and it’s counting down my favourite tracks of 2013. I’ve only chosen one per artist because if I hadn’t Have Mercy would’ve occupied almost half of this list. I’ve also left YouTube links beside each (where available) so you can check them out if interested. 25)… Read More Top 25 Songs of 2013
I’ve counted down my favourite albums of 2013, so here’s my favourite EPs, splits and mini-albums of the year. Full lengths have definitely taking a priority this year, but some of the shorter releases have been equally excellent. Some of these are free to download via Bandcamp, so I’ve left links if you’re interested. The rest… Read More Top 25 EPs / Splits / Mini-albums of 2013
Released: May Genre: Rock / Emo Metacritic Rating: N/A I’ve made a lot of tough decisions this year, but choosing my favourite record of 2013 was blissfully easy. In a year in which I finished college and found myself at a troubling crossroads in my life The Earth Pushed Back was… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 1: Have Mercy – The Earth Pushed Back
Released: June Genre: You Decide Metacritic Rating: 92% I’m not entirely sure what’s happening on Sunbather most of the time, but I know that it sounds incredible. There’s something very special about Deafheaven’s second full-length, which is as mesmerizing as it is menacing. Sunbather is one of the deepest, most striking… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 2: Deafheaven – Sunbather
Released: November Genre: Emo / Indie Metacritic Rating: N/A It may have only been released last month but I’ve already listened to The Albatross more than a lot of the albums on this list, and for good reason. With their debut album Foxing penned a work of art that could well… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 3: Foxing – The Albatross
Released: September Genre: Hip Hop / Rap Metacritic Rating: N/A Blame Miss Barclay is the best British hip hop album I’ve heard since A Grand Don’t Come For Free (I don’t listen to much of the genre so that statement isn’t as bold or complimentary as it initially sounds). There’s a… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 4: Mikill Pane – Blame Miss Barclay
Released: September Genre: Synth Pop Metacritic Rating: 81% The Bones Of What You Believe is one of the most accessible records I’ve heard this year. I know people who like Converge, Deafheaven, Blink 182, The Story So Far, The Gaslight Anthem etcetera who’d say they love it as much… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 5: Chvrches – The Bones Of What You Believe
Released: May Genre: Punk / Rock Metacritic Rating: N/A There’s a reason why On The Impossible Past by The Menzingers was by far my favourite album last year, and that was because it invited a listener in. It took me on a journey more than anything, and there was nothing I… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 6: Captain, We’re Sinking – The Future Is Cancelled
Released: October Genre: Rock / Instrumental Metacritic Rating: 88% Over the years there’ve been very few non-electronic instrumental albums that have held my attention. The main three that spring to mind are This Will Destroy You’s S/T, The Collective by Scale The Summit and Russian Circles’ 2011 releases Empros, which I… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 7: Russian Circles – Memorial
Released: August Genre: Metalcore Metacritic rating: 85% There’s no denying that Norma Jean are very good at what they do, which you’d expect after ten years and six albums, despite a number of personnel changes preceding Wrongdoers. Instead of the changes presenting an issue, the bands sixth studio album showed exactly… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 8: Norma Jean – Wrongdoers
Released: August Genre: Indie Rock / Emo Metacritic Rating: N/A These Are Good People is up there for me as one of the most criminally overlooked albums of the year. It would have passed me by as well if not for Drew Beringer of Apsolute Punk recommending it on a daily… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 9: Little Big League – These Are Good People
Released: September Genre: Indie / Pop / Rock Metacritic Rating: 67% Having existed for a few years now under a number of names The 1975 was the band’s first major attempt at mainstream success and they pulled it off brilliantly. What followed the UK number 1 album was sold out UK… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 10: The 1975 – The 1975
Released: October Genre: Pop-punk Metacritic Rating: 90% The Finer Things was the album that pop-punk needed in 2013. With the genre constantly losing credibility State Champs served up a feel-good slice of upbeat sunshine paired with teenage angst and staying power. It may not bring anything revolutionary but The Finer Things… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 11: State Champs – The Finer Things
Released: July Genre: Post-hardcore Metacritic Rating: 86% It’s impossible for me to talk about The Blackest Beautiful and not slate its production. It was a gripe I made perfectly clear in my initial review and one that still pains me to this day. I understand completely how publications like Rocksound… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 12: letlive. – The Blackest Beautiful
Released: July Genre: Electronic Metacritic Rating: 80% Topping Surf Solar was always going to be difficult, and Fuck Buttons didn’t. Instead, after a four year gap they went for a much darker brooding sound which, although not necessarily bettering its predecessor, proved a claustrophobic and intense listen different from a lot… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 13: Fuck Buttons – Slow Focus
Released: July Genre: Indie / Rock Metacritic Rating: 72% There’s something very blissful about the Brooklyn bands second album, and it’s a result of a very mellow tone created via meandering melodic guitars, catchy bass and relaxed vocals. It’s a record I’ve played most often after a long day, when I… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 14: A Great Big Pile Of Leaves – You’re Always On My Mind
Released: May Genre: Pop-punk Metacritic Rating: 96% The Wonder Years were always going to deliver a brilliant record to close their trilogy of albums that started with The Upsides and ended with The Greatest Generation, and they did. I think it’s fair to say that their fourth studio album surpassed a… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 15: The Wonder Years – The Greatest Generation
Released: October Genre: Electronic / Dance Metacritic Rating: N/A, but I gave it 90% Calamari Tuesday was exactly the album I expected Jon Gooch to bring out. I also expected it be fantastic, which it was. Gooch has been one of the most intriguing producers in electronic music for a while… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 16: Feed Me – Calamari Tuesday
Released: August Genre: Singer Songwriter Metacritic Score: N/A, but I gave it 95% It may be the least adventurous and most traditional on my list but there’s something irresistibly charming about Foy Vance’s second studio album, released after a six year gap following debut ‘Hope’. It would have completely passed… Read More Top 20 of 2013, Number 17: Foy Vance – Joy Of Nothing
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