Favourite Albums of 2013
2013 was a much better music year than 2012 in my humble opinion. Lets check out who made it so good.
3. The Bronx IV
Energetic and full of action, there are few moments where this album lets you lose attention. The first single “Rib Cage” is great to sing along to. The Bronx provided us with a good start to 2013.
2. Franz Ferdinand – Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action
This album was a big surprise for me. FF’s self titled album has always been gold to me, but other than that there was little Franz in my library. I wasn’t hanging out for this new album, it was only after hearing a couple of songs on Triple J that I decided to give it a go. And I love it. This album is full of awesome, fun tracks. Bullet rocks and Love Illumination gets me dancing every time.
1. Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
Little surprise here. An album that has been anticipated for years was finally given to us. And in all honestly, I don’t think many expected what we got. I must admit, upon first listen I was screaming at slow, soft points in “Kalopsia”, “The Vampyre of Time and Memory” and “…Like Clockwork”, begging Homme and co to just rock out. However, the other tracks on their own would still be enough to give this album the top spot. “I Appear Missing” is now up with my favourite songs of all time. It is one of the very few songs that I was mesmerised by on the first listen. The opener “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” is the perfect throwback to the old Queens to begin the transition. Its dark, evil, intense, mystical and goddamn addictive. I could go on about each track, each completely different and brilliant in their own ways. Even those slower songs grew on me and I love the lot now. “…Like Clockwork” reminds me of “The Great Gig in the Sky” (Floyd), the guitar solo in it is perfect. I still fail to see how any current band sounds better than QotSA. They just do it right.
Disappointments
Arctic Monkeys – AM
AM is a good album, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think its fantastic as everybody says it is. “Do I Wanna Know?” set the bar high, but no other tracks were as good as it (apart from “R U Mine?”, but this was released and loved last year). “Arabella” was a highlight, but everything else just seems to be “good” without being “great”. AM just doesn’t take it to the next level.
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt and Kings of Leon – Mechanical Bull
To be honest I didn’t even really have many repeat listens of these, but I guess that just says it all. Pearl Jam’s “Mind Your Manners” got me excited for their album, but I wouldn’t be able to remember any other song off it now. 2 bands unfortunately well past their best.
