Year-End Critics' Polls 2013

i know everyone hates idolator still (and websites that are narrowly focused on this brand of pop) but here it is anyway

Idolator: 2013's Best Albums

10. M.I.A. - Matangi
9. Selena Gomez - Stars Dance
8. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park
7. Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
6. Charli XCX - True Romance
5. Pet Shop Boys - Electric
4. Kanye West - Yeezus
3. Lorde - Pure Heroine
2. Haim - Days Are Gone
1. Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time

Ha -- about five of those albums will appear on my list.

I don't hate that list at all (except for Lorde, perhaps). nu-Idolator still makes me bitter, though.

Some bizarre page layout on this one...

Washington Post - Best (& worst) albums
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2013/12/06/best-music-of-2013/

― rp boo bryson (NickB), Friday, December 6, 2013 12:11 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

props to chris richards for putting that lonnie holley album in as big of a publication as the washington post, that's rad

We may hate Idolator since the revamp (honestly had forgotten that they existed until just now) but aren't we all about this brand of pop?

And 3 of these records are definitely list-bound for me, and I haven't even had time to listen to Matangi yet.

is that idolator list so much about a genre as just, like, the mainstream? selena gomez is an odd one to rep for. and yeah people hate nu-idolator because of its idiocy not because of its taste

7. Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob

My most recent CD purchase. "I Couldn't Be Your Friend" is the highlight so far.

I've enjoyed the Tegan & Sara album a lot this year. Half of that Idolator list could well be in my top 10 when it comes to voting in the ILM end of year poll.

man peopleshut-ins keep trotting out the click-through zing as if that was anything i'm in any position to have control over with the exception of going full ott and just quitting

― tuostprophets (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, December 6, 2013 11:00 AM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ew @ calling the music on 'pure heroine' sexy

w.w.k.d. there ahem

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/12/06/the-best-pop-singles-of-2013/

beautiful number 1

not that it matters, but "Blurred Lines" WAS in the top 10 roughly twice as long as the "Lady Marmalade" cover /chartpedant

ew @ calling the music on 'pure heroine' sexy - hahaha jesus christ

the "lady marmalade" cover prob would have been improved had it ACTUALLY had cowbell removed, but of course it didn't /generalpedant

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/12/06/the-best-pop-singles-of-2013/

beautiful number 1

― prolego, Friday, 6 December 2013 23:36 (Yesterday) Bookmark

cool list. should i have been aware of chris richards before now?

he's written good stuff about kacey musgraves and brandy clark this year, i've been rather taken by his lists (and phrasing) too

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2013/12/06/best-music-of-2013/

yeah this is excellently adept

TimeOut best albums:
http://www.timeout.com/london/music/the-40-best-albums-of-2013

^ at last some love for the Pantha du Prince record

And MYD at 10!

Another vote for Sleaford Mods from this critic

Forgot to mention earlier during Paramore discussion that there's a good cover story/interview with Hayley Williams in Bust.

http://www.bust.com/components/images/myblog/62/528a5a5669df5.jpg

Weird seeing three NZ albums within four places in that TimeOut list - had no idea Connan Mockasin had traction in the UK aside from that Erol Alkan remix, but I suppose "tractable Ariel Pink" as a niche was inevitable.

Is it me or Janelle Monae is mostly absent from the EOY lists?

Janelle's in Q, Paste and Spin and I wouldn't be surprised to see her in the Guardian's Top 10.

I bet Janelle will be top ten at PopMatters.

Best jazz recordings of 2013
December 06, 2013|Howard Reich

For recorded jazz, 2013 was a very good year, with significant contributions in multiple styles, plus a surprising burst of fine singing:

Amir ElSaffar, "Alchemy" (Pi Recordings). Cultures converge to exquisite effect in trumpeter ElSaffar's indelible recording. His ensemble transforms Middle Eastern musical syntax with jazz technique, producing some of the most shimmering, subtle work of ElSaffar's career.

Patricia Barber, "Smash" (Concord Jazz). The wit and wisdom of Barber's songwriting would be pleasure enough, but they're enhanced by her luscious vocals, sleek pianism and atmospheric arrangements.

Nicholas Payton,: "Sketches of Spain" (BMF Records). Payton and the Sinfonieorchester Basel revive the Miles Davis/Gil Evans orchestral masterpiece, Payton producing colors, tones and expressively bent pitches that are uniquely his.

Gregory Porter, "Liquid Spirit" (Blue Note). With this tour de force of luxuriant vocals and original songwriting, Porter affirms his position as the leading male jazz vocalist under 50.

Matthew Shipp, "Piano Sutras" (Thirsty Ear). Shipp's solo piano excursions venture far from the mainstream but show a deep knowledge of it as well, his essays by turns craggy, lyrical, explosive and harmonically complex.

Paul Marinaro, "Without a Song" (122 Myrtle Records). Singer Marinaro's stunning debut album showcases not only his singular baritone but the moving story of his father's musical legacy.

Marty Ehrlich Large Ensemble, "A Trumpet in the Morning" (New World Records). Ehrlich presides over a magnificent gathering of musicians in bracing, original orchestral scores that urgently embrace jazz, classical, blues, poetry and other forms of expression.

Yusef Lateef, Roscoe Mitchell, Adam Rudolph and Douglas Ewart, "Voice Prints" (Meta Records). A vast array of saxophones, flutes, percussion and vocal chant intertwine in this evocative, Impressionistic suite of free-flowing improvisations.

Marcus Roberts Trio, "From Rags to Rhythm" (J-Master Records). The eminent musician takes on long-form composition here, his glistening pianism enriched by nimble work from drummer Jason Marsalis and bassist Rodney Jordan.

Fat Babies, "18th & Racine" (Delmark Records). Few ensembles today play early-period jazz as authentically and exuberantly as the Fat Babies, who prove it once again.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-12-06/entertainment/chi-best-jazz-recordings-2013-20131206_1_fat-babies-best-jazz-recordings-jazz-technique

Jody Rosen's top 10 albums (for New York):

1. Brandy Clark - 12 Stories
2. Kanye West - Yeezus
3. Haim - Days Are Gone
4. Ka - The Night's Gambit
5. A$AP Ferg - Trap Lord
6. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
7. The Mavericks - In Time
8. Fidlar - Fidlar
9. Fantasia - Side Effects of You
10. Willy Moon - Here's Willy Moon

http://www.vulture.com/2013/12/10-best-pop-albums-of-the-year.html

The Mavericks! Probably on my list too.

Great to see Fidlar show up on one of these!

Great to see Fantasia show up on one of those!

The Fidlar album is so great. Came out mid-January, though ... combine that with what they do, and they had no shot at making noise on these lists.

And by that I mean: They're certainly going to wear out their welcome a lot quicker than 11 months with a lot of folks. It's not exactly a grower.

Okay, some of the big ones are starting to come through...

Blues Rock Review - Top Albums of 2013
http://bluesrockreview.com/2013/12/top-20-albums-of-2013.html

Once again it has been a great year for blues rock. With several fantastic releases to choose from, the staff of Blues Rock Review narrowed down our favorites from the year.

20. Black Joe Lewis: Electric Slave
19. Spin Doctors: If The River Was Whiskey
18. Evan Watson: Midnight Oil
17. The Rides: Can’t Get Enough
16. Dan Patlansky: Wooden Thoughts
15. Dana Fuchs: Bliss Avenue
14. Devon Allman: Turquoise
13. The Winery Dogs: The Winery Dogs
12. Unwed Mothers: Unwed Mothers
11. The Temperance Movement:The Temperance Movement
10. Jake Chisholm: Diamond In A Coalmine
9. Henrik Freischlader: Night Train To Budapest
8. Aynsley Lister: Home
7. Gov’t Mule: Shout!
6. Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown: Wild Child)
5. Robert Randolph and the Family Band: Lickety Split
4. Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind
3. King King: Standing In The Shadows
2. Jack Berry: Heathen Heart
1. Buddy Guy: Rhythm & Blues

This band has one foot stuck in the blues with the other stomping through Iggy Pop’s parents’ garage

The Mavericks? Truly America is another country.

While we're celebrating the significant lists, here's mine - http://sickmouthy.com/2013/12/05/albums-of-2013/

And its sister list - http://sickmouthy.com/2013/12/08/not-albums-of-2013/

Really pleased that Jody chose Willy Moon. I like that record, with reservations, but it appeared to sink without trace. That's the second time I've seen a mention of Ka, who I'd never heard of before, so I should investigate.

not enough blues rock. that necks album is great though! xp

I Think a not albums of 2013 would make a nice thread i.e. what else other than new releases has been informing your listening this year?

Tea.

culture, alienation, boredom and despair

drinks

Cats. Wife. Cycling. 5-a-side football. Officemates.

great to see brandy clark show up in jody rosen's list, though he said as much before the album was even released. funny that he didn't put kacey in!

and yes, excellent to see fantasia get her props.

culture, alienation, boredom and despair

i forgot bourbon, yep, good shout.

Dummy - best tracks
http://www.dummymag.com/lists/the-20-best-tracks-of-2013

lex'll be rhde i bet

I loved Black Joe Lewis' last two albums, but Electric Slave sucked. Too blown-out and "garage rock" (read: noisy one-chord riffs, shouting, zero groove). He wants to play arenas opening for the Black Keys, I guess.

FACT - Best albums of 2013
http://www.factmag.com/2013/12/09/the-50-best-albums-of-2013/