Year-End Critics' Polls 2013

Wire list is the only one I save to savour in print form, so will bail from this thread

It looks shit in print tbh, not sure why they make the album covers so small on the page

fRoots albums

1. Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita Clychau Dibon (Astar Mwldan)
2. Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba Jama Ko (OutHere)
3. Lisa Knapp Hidden Seam (Navigator)
4. Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer Child Ballads (Wilderland)
5. Martin Simpson Vagrant Stanzas (Topic)
6.= Tamikrest Chatma (Glitterbeat)
The Full English The Full English (Topic)
Linda Thompson Won’t Be Long Now (Topic)
9. Çiğdem Aslan Mortissa (Asphalt Tango)
10. Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan Kula Kulluk Yakisir Mi (ECM)
11. The Garifuna Collective Ayo (Cumbancha)
12. Mulatu Astatke Sketches Of Ethiopia Jazz Village
13.= Bombino Nomad (Nonesuch)
Fanfara Tirana Meets Transglobal Underground Kabatronics (World Village)
Bella Hardy Battleplan (Noe)
June Tabor, Ian Ballamy & Huw Warren Quercus (ECM)
17.= Gavin Davenport The Bone Orchard (Haystack)
Jupiter & Okwess International Hotel Univers (OutHere)
Melrose Quartet Fifty Verses (Melrose Quartet)
Rant Rant (Own label)
Tal National Kaani (Fatcat)
Rokia Traoré Beautiful Africa (Nonesuch)
Chris Wood None The Wiser (RUF)

xps

My Rashad Becker prediction was *almost* there, should have placed an each-way bet. Nothing particularly surprising in that list, though I hadn't heard of Richard Dawson before and I'll definitely check him out.

I didn't really get into the John Wizards album, it sounds too much like an appropriative ILM strawman for me to embrace it completely.

I liked the last Julia Holter a lot more than this one, which I couldn't find a way into at all. Also I'm starting to find her vocal mannerisms extremely irritating.

the last one probably has a bit more to it, but i liked the sound she went for on the recent one.

Wire Archive Releases of the Year:

1. William Parker - Wood Flute Songs
2. Peter Jeffries - The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World
3. Robbie Basho - Visions of the Country
4. Alastair Galbraith - Cry
5. David Tudor - The Art of David Tudor 1963-1992
6. I Am The Center: Private Press New Age Music in America 1950-1990
7. Ákos Rózmann - Images of the Dream and Death
8. Miles Davis Quintet - Live in Europe 1969
9. Laraaji - Celestial Music 1978-2011
10. Devo - Hardcore
11. Eduard Artemiev - Solaris OST
12. William Onyeabor - Who is William Onyeabor?
13. Bernard Parmegiani - De Natura Sonorum
14. Trevor Jackson Presents Metal Dance 2: Industrial New Wave EBM Classics and Rarities 1979-1988
15. Greek Rhapsody: Instrumental Music from Greece 1905-1956
16. Craig Leon - Nommos
17. Patrick Cowley - School Daze
18. Mammane Sani et Son Orgue - La Musique Electronique du Niger
19. Longing For The Past: The 78rpm Era in Southeast Asia
20. Robert Wyatt - '68
21. John Martyn - The Island Years
22. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat 45th Anniversary Edition
23. Roky Erickson - The Evil One
24. Arthur Russell - Another Thought
25. Hailu Mergia - Hailu Mergia and his Classical Instrument: Shemonuanaye
26. Scott Walker - The Collection 1967-1970
27. Idea Fire Company & BRRR - The Terrible Comet Salt
28. Theo Parrish - Black Jazz Signature
29. Leven Signs - Hemp is Here
30. Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information/Wings of Love
31. Adam Bohman - Music and Words
32. Charles Cohen - The Middle Distance
33. Cabaret Voltaire - Red Mecca
34. Eliane Radigue - Adnos I-III
35. Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol 10: Another Self Portrait 1969-1971
36. Henry Flynt - Graduation
37. Jacqueline Humbert and David Rosenboom - Daytime Viewing 1979-80
38. Saada Bonaire - Saada Bonaire
39. Vox Populi - Half Dead Ganja Music
40. Public Image Limited - First Issue
41. Marcos Valle - Vento Sul
42. Skullflower - Kino I-IV
43. Scattered Melodies: Korean Kayagum Sanjo From 78rpm Records
44. Harry Nilsson - The RCA Albums Collection
45. Bea Benjamin - African Songbird
46. London is the Place For Me Vols 5 & 6
47. Mike Ratledge - Riddles of the Sphinx
48. The Young Tradition - Oberlin Live 1969
49. Traxbox: The Trax Records Box Set
50. Dan Bikoff - Celestial Explosion: Composia for 6 String Guitar

American Songwriter Albums of the Year
http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/12/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-2013/5/

1. Jason Isbell- Southeastern
2. Patty Griffin- American Kid
3. Phosphorescent- Muchacho
4. Guy Clark- My Favorite Picture of You
5. John Murry- Graceless Age
6. The National- Trouble Will Find Me
7. Kacey Musgraves- Same Trailer, Different Park
8. Paul McCartney- New
9. Elvis Costello & the Roots- Wise Up Ghost
10. Sarah Jarosz- Build Me Up From Bones

Wire list is the only one I save to savour in print form, so will bail from this thread

I hope you're British otherwise we won't see you 'til January! I see the Grumbling Fur just squeaked in. I'm going back and forth with John Wizards. Loved it on first impression, then it sort of goes out of focus and sounds like a mess. I think it'll make my list somewhere, need more time. Been listening to Juana Molina, Endless Boogie (growing more lately), Forest Swords (meh), Autechre, etc.

First Holter is the one that got me... it just seemed more... crunchy? Whereas she's getting smoother? I don't know, she's probably not peanut butter.

I'd rank them Ekstasis > Tragedy > Loud City Song

John Wizards album is uneven-- one cut sounds like Bon Iver discovering South African beats while others just have too much instrumental noodling, but much good stuff also.

Tal National on Folk Roots (fRoots) list yay--

To me it feels as though it's been a really strong year for Wire-style music. That top ten is really really in line with my own EOY list. The Laurel Halo album is just so satisfying in the half-awake, twitchy way she seems to be able to do. The Rashad Becker album is like nothing int his wide world but so immersive and strangely (given the surface content) evocative. Still don't understand Tim Hecker but I'm sure it'll click one day. Same with Oneohtrix, always had trouble with him but the album's growing on me, especially since watching the film 'Le Ravissement de Frank N Stein' from where the album cover's taken from. RP Boo? Well as any fule'kno I'm a big footwork fan but I think DJ Rashad was making bigger waves in that genre this year and Double Cup is a really succinct record compared to this, but it's not without its moments. Wolf Eyes is Wolf Eyes, but more structured, almost song-based. THe Lambkin / Lescalleet albumn I've only just discovered and it's great - mostly made up of field recordings and interviews but hugely emotional for some reason. The Knife's is my AOTY.

First Holter is the one that got me... it just seemed more... crunchy? Whereas she's getting smoother? I don't know, she's probably not peanut butter.

yeah this makes sense. i guess that's what i meant by saying the latest record has a bit less to it. it was more instant for me but maybe not as many ideas.

i found her basically impenetrable previously. i don't deny that her bending towards slightly pop hooks on the latest is why i like it better

Which is weird because I found the last one way hookier, this one just seems kind of airy and unsubstantial.

The first one is the only one I've really listened to. I really love the song 'The Falling Age'.

This one feels both poppier (in terms of hooks), and earthier (in the jazzy brass), and more ethereal (in the textures) than Ekstasis, which I thought was a little overlong and dense, albeit wonderful.

Will I eat a piece of cheese?

it's definitely poppier. it reminded me a bit of julee cruise in places which is p much always a winner for me.

Julee Cruise, yeah OTM.

Agree with Matt DC - Ekstasis is the one you can sing along to.

pazz and jop ballots out

"I'm thinking of getting the Lambkin / Lescalleet album for someone for Chrimbo but I'm a bit confused about the many many formats. Anyone more fmailiar with it than I am? Sounds like there's something like 8 different ways you can buy it. And not many places seem to sell it either?"

curious what you mean by this, as I run the label that released it, and there is only one way to buy it currently, as a somewhat pricy, elaborately packaged double CD (no vinyl, no legal DLs).

oh hi jon - okay, i only had a quick look online and there looked like there were loads of formats? where can i buy it?

beef, send me an e-mail at erstr✧✧✧@a✧✧.c✧✧ and let me know where it's shipping to and I'll get you a price, thanks!!

I guess that is for my protection, let's try it this way: e r s t r e c s @ a o l . c o m

Have just twigged what Call Back The Giants is. Graham Lambkin and Tim Goss both on the Wire list -> the secret ascendancy of the Shadow Ring.

xpost - cheers

Re that American Songwriters list - I tried with Jason Isbell a bunch of times but it never clicked for me. On the other hand in glad to see the Josh Ritter album show up somewhere on one of these lists (it shows up in the 30s). It's his beat album and seems to have been ignored all year long.

To me it feels as though it's been a really strong year for Wire-style music. That top ten is really really in line with my own EOY list. The Laurel Halo album is just so satisfying in the half-awake, twitchy way she seems to be able to do. The Rashad Becker album is like nothing int his wide world but so immersive and strangely (given the surface content) evocative. Still don't understand Tim Hecker but I'm sure it'll click one day. Same with Oneohtrix, always had trouble with him but the album's growing on me, especially since watching the film 'Le Ravissement de Frank N Stein' from where the album cover's taken from. RP Boo? Well as any fule'kno I'm a big footwork fan but I think DJ Rashad was making bigger waves in that genre this year and Double Cup is a really succinct record compared to this, but it's not without its moments. Wolf Eyes is Wolf Eyes, but more structured, almost song-based. THe Lambkin / Lescalleet albumn I've only just discovered and it's great - mostly made up of field recordings and interviews but hugely emotional for some reason. The Knife's is my AOTY.

― a beef supreme (dog latin), Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

For Hecker - listen as loud as possible. Also I like Virgins a lot but within Hecker's discography I'd rank it below Harmony in Ultraviolet and Ravedeath 1972.

good to see plenty of overlap between the wire list and my own personal list -- i wasn't so crazy about the holter album, though.

seen quite a few people saying they were surprised (and perhaps a little disappointed) to see so many things they were already familiar in the wire list. is this cos the wire are getting less militantly avant or cos we're all better informed or what?

pazz and jop ballots out

― katherine, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 10:17 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Always nice to see that I'm still on the mailing list.

I tried giving Ravedeath another listen today but really all I hear are sustained random piano chords fed through way too much digital distortion. It belies the ascribed genius of Tim Hecker and sounds like something I feel like I could make quite easily with home software. Still waiting for it to click really but I'm not getting any emotion or resonance, it just sounds like mess, tossed off.

Dummy - Best Albums
http://www.dummymag.com/lists/the-20-best-albums-of-2013

1. GLASSER - 'INTERIORS' [True Panther]
2. DANIEL AVERY - 'DRONE LOGIC' [Phantasy Sound]
3. KANYE WEST - 'YEEZUS' [Def Jam]
4. THE KNIFE - 'SHAKING THE HABITUAL' [Brille]
5. JAMES BLAKE - 'OVERGROWN' [Polydor]
6. DEAN BLUNT - THE REDEEMER [Hippos In Tanks]
7. ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER - 'R PLUS SEVEN' [Warp]
8. KA - 'THE NIGHT'S GAMBIT' [Iron Works]
9. E.M.M.A - 'BLUE GARDENS' [Keysound]
10. AUTRE NE VEUT - 'ANXIETY' [Software]

I liked some stuff on the wire list okay, a lot I haven't heard though.

Reading about Tim Hecker's process for making that album, 'tossed off' is probably about as far away from the reality as you could get.

Where's that whiney piece?

Nick - I subscribed to the Wire for the first time this year. Think my threshold for the kind of music they cover was really affected by Scott Walker, Laurel Halo, Neneh Cherry and Engine Kang releases from last year, but I've always liked 'new' music to an extent yet previously found Wire ' s coverage just a bit too obscure until now. So I don't know, is it a bit of both? I def have more time for' conceptual' music than I did before. It's also the Year I got into jazz.

here you go: http://www.spin.com/articles/tim-hecker-virgins-attack-of-the-drones-interview/

gotta catch a bus or otherwise i'd excerpt some bits but it's worth a read xp

Re: Hecker, I mean that's it, I always hear about how much effort he puts into his compositions but they always sound so cackhanded, like he just fed a bunch of notes through a distortion pedal and pressed record.

LOL @ "Engine Kang"

autocorrect, I know :)

one of the things about the Tim Hecker that I really loved was the layering of all those sounds, some of it's exquisitely detailed imo. sure it's sometimes surrounded by fog but it's all in there!

seen quite a few people saying they were surprised (and perhaps a little disappointed) to see so many things they were already familiar in the wire list. is this cos the wire are getting less militantly avant or cos we're all better informed or what?

― diego floorplan (NickB), Wednesday, December 11, 2013 5:53 PM (24 minutes ago)

Bit of both I think, though my claim that the Wire got noticeably more populist over the last several years is somewhat shot down by some of the covers from just before I started reading it. I think I started during a 'militantly avant' phase, though. We covered this in a different thread somewhere.

Engine Kang sounds like a vintage Japanese video game.

There's no way on earth that Glasser album is the best of the year.

Bit of both I think, though my claim that the Wire got noticeably more populist over the last several years is somewhat shot down by some of the covers from just before I started reading it. I think I started during a 'militantly avant' phase, though. We covered this in a different thread somewhere.

With both this year's Quietus and Wire lists I felt not nearly as... alienated+frustrated by year-end round-ups as I typically am

(still alienated and frustrated tho that goes w/out saying, just that "wow that's a lot of records I actually love")