Friday, December 20, 2013

Burn the Bowery Favorite 20 Albums of 2013


So many great albums in 2013, a truly fantastic year for music in my opinion. Usually something I agonize over for weeks, this was one of the easiest year end lists I've made to date.
This year I'll be bringing you my top 5 albums list plus my best of the rest.
As always thanks for stopping in throughout the year it's much appreciated. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!!

THE TOP  5:

#5 THE DODOS- CARRIER
A somber yet beautifully retrospective disc that deals with the death of their former bandmate Christopher Reimer. Same melodic qualities you would expect from the SF band with heavier themes this go round. One of their best.
Favorite track- "Confidence"
Other standouts- "Substance" "Holidays" and "The Current"











#4 NIGHT BEDS- COUNTRY SLEEP
Young and incredibly talented, Nashville's Winston Yellen released one of the years finest debut LP's. With a wild vocal range and heartfelt sentimental lyrics, this album is stacked from top to bottom with heartbreaking numbers.
Favorite track- "Lost Springs"
Other standouts- "22" "Even if We try" and "Cherry Blossoms"

 

#3 GAMBLES- TRUST
Tackling intensely personal subjects like divorce and miscarriage doesn't make Trust an easy listen.  But it's done so purely and so raw, just a voice and a guitar, that it's one of the most powerful things you'll hear this year.
Favorite track- "So I Cry Out"
Other standouts- "Animal" "Your Are the Truth" and "Angel"









#2 TYPHOON- WHITE LIGHTER
This big 11 piece orchestral collective out of Portland released their sophomore full length in 2013. A big, bold and joyful effort that juxtaposes singer Kyle Morton's songs about sickness, death and lost childhood.
Favorite track- "Young Fathers"
Other standouts- "Hunger and Thirst" "Common Sentiments" and "Dreams of Cannibalism"


#1 THE NATIONAL- TROUBLE WILL FIND ME
If you know me I'm sure this comes as no surprise at all. I don't hide the fact that The National are my favorite band. As obscure as their lyrics can sometimes be there's always been something that speaks to me in Berninger's anxiety filled stories. As nerve wracking as it can be when a favorite artist releases something new,  Trouble Will Find Me did not disappoint in any way shape or form. It's way too early to judge if it's their best album to date, but it does see the group hitting their stride and sounding as confident and tight as ever.
Favorite track- "Don't Swallow the Cap"
Other standouts- "Pink Rabbits" "Heavenfaced" and "I Should Live in Salt"


THE BEST OF THE REST (in alphabetical order):

CAVEMAN- SELF TITLED


CHVRCHES- THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE


DAUGHTER- IF YOU LEAVE


FRIGHTENED RABBIT- PEDESTRIAN VERSE


GENERATIONALS- HEZA


HAYDEN- US ALONE


LOCAL NATIVES- HUMMINGBIRD


MODERN KIN- SELF TITLED


PARQUET COURTS- LIGHT UP GOLD


PHOSPHERESCENT- MUCHACHO


PICKWICK- CANT TALK MEDICINE


VAMPIRE WEEKEND- MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY


WATER LIARS- WYOMING


WAXAHATCHEE- CERULEAN SALT


JESSE WOODS- GET YOUR BURDENS LIFTED



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2013 Highlights: Elvis Depressedly: "Pepsi/Coke Suicide"

The project of Mat Cothran, Elvis Depressedly released an EP Holo Pleasures this April that featured the warm and fuzzy track, "Pepsi/Coke Suicide." One of my most played songs in 2013.

http://elvisdepressedly.bandcamp.com

Thursday, December 19, 2013

2013 Highlights: Deer Tick- "The Rock"

Been highlighting some tracks that meant a lot to me during 2013 that I never had a chance to post about. Providence Rhode Island band Deer Tick released their 5th album in 2013, and although I must be honest it wasn't my favorite disc of theirs, it did feature the standout track, "The Rock" which was one of 2013's finest Rock tracks.

http://deertickmusic.com

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

2013 Highlights: Lightning Dust- "Diamond"

One of my absolute favorite tracks of 2013 came from the Vancouver duo Amber Webber and Josh Wells, known as Lightning Dust. The group is a side project when their not working under their other band Black Mountain, and the duo's 3rd LP Fantasy came out this year. It features this gorgeous synth laden track "Diamond" that you can watch the video for below.  

https://www.facebook.com/lightningdustofficial

Friday, December 13, 2013

2013 Highlights: Brazos-"How the Ranks Was Won"

Putting the spotlight on some tracks or Artists that maybe I was never able to get around to talking about during the year, but yet still played a major part in my music listening habits during 2013.

This former Austin band is now based in Brooklyn and they released their second full length in 2013 titled, Saltwater. It features the slow building jam "How The Ranks Was Won" that found me breaking out the air drums on many occasions.

http://www.brazosbrazos.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

New Music: Water Liars- "I Want Blood"

Mississippi band Water Liars sure don't waste any time. Although their stellar 2nd LP Wyoming came out just this past March, the group are already rolling out plans for their third album. The self titled disc gets released February 4th via Fat Possum Records, and you can stream the first single from the album titled "I Want Blood" below.

http://waterliarsmusic.com

James Vincent McMorrow-"Red Dust"

With 2013 coming to a close soon, it's that time of year where we start to look ahead to the New Year and all it has to offer. One of the things I am most looking forward to is this new album from James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical. It's his sophomore effort and he just offered up the second sneak peak off the disc with the new song, "Red Dust."
Post Tropical comes out this Jan. 14th on Vagrant Records..

http://jamesvmcmorrow.com

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Augustines- "Nothing to Lose But Your Head"

Yesterday Augustines released the second piece of music off their forthcoming sophomore LP. We heard "Cruel City"(listen here) a month or so ago, now comes the new track "Nothing to Lose But Your Head."
The as of yet untitled album is scheduled for release this February 4th.

http://www.weareaugustines.com

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

New Music: The War on Drugs- "Red Eyes"

Philly's Adam Granduciel, better known as The War On Drugs just announced plans for his 3rd LP, Lost in The Dream. It comes out this March 18th on Secretly Canadian and it features this sweeping first single called "Red Eyes."

http://www.thewarondrugs.net

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Jose Gonzalez- "Step Out" (from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty soundtrack)

I'm such a sucker for big climactic soaring songs like this one. But I love it even more knowing that it comes from the usually hush and mellow Jose Gonzalez. "Step Out" appears on the soundtrack for the upcoming Ben Stiller film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Watch the trailer for the movie HERE.



No Ceremony- "Awayfromhere" (ft. James Vincent McMorrow)

Although I've heard a few No Ceremony tracks this year, this one the Manchester band did featuring the brilliant James Vincent McMorrow on lead vocals seemed to escape me. Luckily it just got the video treatment and came to my attention via the good folks over at Stereofox.
Watch out for JVM's new LP Post Tropical which comes out this January 14th.
http://jamesvmcmorrow.com
http://www.noceremony.com