My Favorite Records of 2013

Stereophile · Dec 14, 2013

<img class="story_image" src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Jenny_guitar_600.jpg" />
Here’s a list of my 50 favorite albums of 2013. This is by no means a definitive list. These aren’t “the best” or “the most important” records of the year. They’re simply the 50 records that, for one reason or another, managed to capture my attention, spark my imagination, excite and inspire me. They also often drove me into fits of loud song, wild dance, and happy laughter. I love these records, I’m grateful for them, and I want to share them with you. Many of these you will already know. Others will be new to you. I hope you enjoy them all as much as I do, but I will, of course, understand if you don’t. Please feel free to share your own favorites in the Comments section.
Note: I’ve linked to sites where you can learn more about the music, sample the music, enjoy it in its entirety, and/or purchase it. The formats listed are simply those that I happen to own; in most (if not all) cases, other formats are also available. (Usually, I just buy the first format I can find and/or afford.)
Random observation: Lots of black-and-white album art this year.
1) Jenny Hval: Innocence Is Kinky (CD/LP, <a href="http://jennyhval.com/music/innocence-is-kinky-album-2013">Rune Grammofon</a> RCD/LP3142)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/JennyHval_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

2) Daft Punk: Random Access Memories (CD/LP, <a href="http://www.randomaccessmemories.com/">Columbia</a> 88883716862)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/DaftPunk_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

3) Kanye West: Yeezus (CD, <a href="http://www.kanyewest.com/">Def Jam</a> B0018653-02)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/KanyeWest_art.jpg" width="600" height="593" border="0" />

4) Aidan Baker: Already Drowning (LP, <a href="http://aidanbaker.bandcamp.com/album/already-drowning">Gizeh Records</a> GZH43LP)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/AidanBaker_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

Note: Already Drowning was Stereophile's "<a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/recording-june-2013-ialready-drowningi">Recording of the Month</a>" for June 2013. And, at the end of May, I interviewed <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/aidan-baker-music-sound-and-ialready-drowningi">Aidan Baker</a>.
5) Julia Holter: Loud City Song (LP, <a href="http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/albums/01-07-13/loud-city-song">Domino Recording Company</a> WIGLP306)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/JuliaHolter_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

6) Oneohtrix Point Never: R Plus Seven (LP, <a href="http://www.pointnever.com/">Warp Records</a> WARP240)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/OPN_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

7) Circuit des Yeux: Overdue (LP, <a href="http://www.circuitdesyeux.net/">Lewis + Lynn Records/Ba Da Bing</a> 92)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/CircuitDesYeux_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

8) Blood Orange: Cupid Deluxe (LP, <a href="http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/albums/30-09-13/cupid-deluxe">Domino Recording Company</a> WIGLP322)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/BloodOrange_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

9) Sigur Ros: Kveikur (CD, <a href="http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/kveikur/">XL Recordings</a> XLCD606)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Kveikur_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

10) Tim Hecker: Virgins (LP, <a href="http://www.sunblind.net/">Kranky</a> KRANK 183)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Virgins_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />

11) Laurel Halo: Chance of Rain (LP, <a href="http://www.laurelhalo.com/">Hyperdub</a> HDBLP021)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/LaurelHalo_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
12) Darkside: Psychic (LP, <a href="http://www.darksideusa.com/">Matador</a> OLE-1035)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Darkside_art.jpg" width="600" height="598" border="0" />
13) La Luz: It’s Alive (LP, <a href="http://www.hardlyart.com/laluz.html">Hardly Art</a> HAR-076)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/LaLuz_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
14) L. Pierre: The Island Come True (LP, <a href="http://www.melodic.co.uk/theislandcometrue/">Melodic</a> MELO 081)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/LPierre_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
15) The Asphodells: Ruled by Passion, Destroyed by Lust (DL, <a href="http://www.rottersgolfclub.co.uk/#home">Rotters Golf Club</a> BRC-347)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Asphodells_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
16) Fuck Buttons: Slow Focus (LP, <a href="http://fuckbuttons.com/">ATP Recordings</a> ATPRLP49)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/SlowFocus_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
17) The Knife: Shaking the Habitual (LP, <a href="http://theknife.net/shaking-the-habitual/">Mute</a> 9556-1)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/TheKnife_art2.png" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
18) Beacon: The Ways We Separate (CD, <a href="http://ghostly.com/releases/the-ways-we-separate">Ghostly International</a> GI-180)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Beacon_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
19) Moderat: II (CD, <a href="http://www.monkeytownrecords.com/releases/view/82/monkeytown035-36-ii">Monkeytown</a> 9571-2)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Moderat_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
20) King Krule: 6 Feet beneath the Moon (LP, <a href="http://www.truepanther.com/#/artists/king-krule">True Panther Sounds</a> TRUE-101-1)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/KingKrule_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
21) Willis Earl Beale: Nobody Knows (LP, <a href="http://www.willisearlbeal.com/">HXC Recordings</a> 6 34904 07011 3)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/WillisEarlBeale_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
22) The Memories: Love is the Law (LP, <a href="http://burgerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-is-the-law">Burger Records</a> BRGR301)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/TheMemories_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
23) Dean Blunt: The Redeemer (LP, <a href="http://hipposintanks.net/artists/dean-blunt/">Hippos In Tanks</a> HIT025LP)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/DeanBlunt_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
24) Ulrich Schnauss: A Long Way to Fall (LP, <a href="http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/albums/02-11-12/a-long-way-to-fall">Domino Recording Group</a> LPDNO318)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/UlrichSchnauss_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
25) The Haxan Cloak: Excavation (LP, <a href="http://haxancloak.tumblr.com/">Tri Angle Records</a> TRIANGLE18)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/HaxanCloak_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
26) David Lang: Death Speaks (LP, <a href="http://davidlangmusic.com/music/death-speaks">Cantaloupe Music</a> CA21092)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/DavidLang_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
27) Falty DL: Hardcourage (LP, <a href="http://ninjatune.net/release/faltydl/hardcourage-2">Ninja Tune</a> ZEN192)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/FaltyDL_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
28) Marina Rosenfeld: P.A./Hardlove (LP, <a href="http://emporium.room40.org/products/516601-marina-rosenfeld-p-a-hard-love">Room 40</a> RM452)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/MarinaRosenfeld_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
29) William Winant: Five American Percussion Pieces (LP, <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/looking-forward-william-winants-ifive-american-percussion-piecesi">Poon Village</a> PV007)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/WilliamWinant_art.jpg" width="600" height="593" border="0" />
30) Matmos: The Marriage of True Minds (LP, <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/The%20Marriage%20of%20True%20Minds">Thrill Jockey</a> THRILL 316)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Matmos_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
31) Four Tet: Beautiful Rewind (LP, <a href="http://www.fourtet.net/index.php/blog/entry/beautiful_rewind/">Text</a> TEXT025)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/FourTet_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
32) James Blake: Overgrown (LP, <a href="http://jamesblakemusic.com/">Polydor</a> B0018305-01)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/JamesBlake_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
33) Zomby: With Love (LP, <a href="http://4ad.com/artists/zomby">4AD</a> CAD3305)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Zomby_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
34) The Underachievers: Indigoism (DL, <a href="http://www.brainfeedersite.com/2013/01/31/the-underachievers-indigoism/">Brainfeeder</a>)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Underachievers_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
35) The Stranger: Watching Dead Empires in Decay (LP, <a href="http://www.brainwashed.com/vvm/">Modern Love</a> LOVE
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/TheStranger_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
36) Lucrecia Dalt: Syzygy (LP, <a href="http://www.lucreciadalt.com/dalt/syzygy-stream/">Human Ear Music</a> HEMK0032)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/LucreciaDalt_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
37) Lee Ranaldo and the Dust: Last Night On Earth (LP, <a href="http://www.leeranaldo.com/">Matador Records</a> OLE-1041)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/LeeRanaldo_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
38) Standish/Carlyon: Deleted Scenes (CD, <a href="http://felte.bandcamp.com/album/deleted-scenes">Felte</a>)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/StandishCarlyon_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
39) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Push the Sky Away (LP, <a href="http://www.nickcave.com/music/nickcaveandthebadseeds/push-the-sky-away/">Bad Seeds, Ltd.</a>)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/NickCave_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
40) Wale: The Gifted (CD, <a href="http://www.walemusic.com/?frontpage=true">Atlantic Records</a>)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Wale_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
41) Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience (LP, <a href="http://twentytwenty.justintimberlake.com/">RCA</a> 88765-47850-1)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/JustinTimberlake_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
42) A$AP Rocky: Long.Live.A$AP (CD, <a href="http://www.asapmob.com/">Polo Grounds Music/RCA</a>)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/AsapRocky_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
43) Locust: You’ll Be Safe Forever (LP, <a href="http://editionsmego.com/release/eMEGO-162">Editions Mego</a> 162)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Locust_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
44) Miles: Faint Hearted (LP, <a href="http://www.modern-love.co.uk/releases/miles-faint-hearted">Modern Love</a> LOVE081)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Miles_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
45) Lawrence English: Lonely Women’s Club (LP, <a href="http://www.importantrecords.com/imprec/imprec367">Important Records</a> IMPREC367)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/LawrenceEnglish_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
46) Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile (CD, <a href="http://cstrecords.com/cst098/">Constellation Records</a> CST098)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/MatanaRoberts_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
47) Savages: Silence Yourself (CD, <a href="http://savagesband.com/lyrics">Matador Records</a> OLE-1036)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Savages_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
48) Mohammad: Som Sakrifis (LP, <a href="http://www.pan-act.com/pages/releases/pan37.html">Pan</a> 37)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/Mohammed_art.jpg" width="600" height="600" border="0" />
49) Ashley Paul: Line the Clouds (LP, <a href="http://relrecords.net/catalog/1/REL20++">REL Records</a> REL20)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/AshleyPaul_art.jpg" width="600" height="599" border="0" />
50) Mary Lattimore: The Withdrawing Room (LP, <a href="http://marylattimore.net/">Desire Path Recordings</a> PATHWAY006)
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/MaryLattimore_art.jpg" width="600" height="603" border="0" />
***
<a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/what-wonderful-world-my-favorite-records-2010">My Favorite Records of 2010</a>.
<a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/my-favorite-records-2011">My Favorite Records of 2011</a>.
<a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/my-favorite-records-2012">My Favorite Records of 2012</a>.

[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/my-favorite-records-2013]

NorthStar · Dec 14, 2013

Just looking at all those album covers is like a fast lane city street night acid trip!

My Favorite Records of 2013

Stereophile

New member

NorthStar

New member