Jagwar Ma – Way Too Indie

Coachella 2014 Lineup Revealed

Dustin Jansick — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:34:39 +0000

The official lineup poster for the 2014 Coachella Music Festival was released last night. The highly rumored (and recently reunited) OutKast finds a spot as one of the headliners, along with Arcade Fire and Muse. The festival will continue to operate on two consecutive weekends in April, this year the dates are April 11-13 and April 18-20.

Other notable artists are Beck, Neutral Milk Hotel, Calvin Harris, Lana Del Ray, Chromeo, Jagwar Ma, Pharrell Williams, Skrillex, MGMT, Empire of the Sun, Foster The People, Strfkr (Starfucker) and many more. See the full lineup poster below.

Way Too Indie’s Top 20 Albums of 2013

Max Freedman — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 14:21:31 +0000

Yeezus. Reflektor. Random Access Memories. mbv. If you feel like you’ve heard these names far too often recently, you’re probably not alone. These seemingly ubiquitous names have appeared towards the top of many “Best Albums of 2013” lists, but many, if not all of them, rank so highly only due to critical hype. Way Too Indie’s Top 20 Albums of 2013 list cuts through critical buzz and picks out twenty thoroughly enjoyable, moving, infinitely replayable albums released this year…well, somewhat. Even after clearing the critical fog, frequent picks Settle, Days Are Gone, Modern Vampires of the City, and The Bones of What You Believe remained compelling enough to place on this list. Despite the appearance of these albums, there should be some surprises that lie ahead, some wonderful albums that went relatively unappreciated this year. Let’s begin.

Also check out our Top 20 Songs of 2013

Way Too Indie’s Top 20 Albums of 2013

#20 – Moderat: II

Moderat, the collaborative project of Modeselektor and Apparat, employs a pretty predictable approach on this album’s eleven songs. Ominous, nocturnal synths and combative, shuffling percussion establish a bleak sonic sphere on each and every track. The album essentially amounts to a perfect example of electronic music in the post-Untrue era; its use of computer-altered vocal samples as instruments rather than lyrical vehicles is, when combined with the already eerie instrumentation, proof of Burial’s unmistakable influence. However, rather than blatantly copying their progenitor, Moderat increases the dynamics and emphasizes weight rather than emptiness, and this modification is their key to success.

The dreary nature of II is best observed on tracks such as “Versions” and “Ilona,” movingly dark pieces that affect with each synthetic spike. Of course, Moderat is somewhat aware that this formulation will eventually turn stale if repeated to precision on each track, so they occasionally invite in a guest vocalist to mildly brighten the mood. The flicker of hope in the vocals of tracks “Damage Done” and “Bad Kingdom” ever so slightly disguise the thoroughly desolate instrumentals below them.

More vocal bits might have helped Moderat craft a better album, actually. Only four songs contain guest vocals, and, although each of the remaining tracks is perfectly enjoyable, it can be easy to confuse one with the other (“Therapy” and “This Time” are almost interchangeable). Luckily, Moderat seems to understand the similarities running through their songs, as evidenced by their decision to stick the brilliant ten minutes of “Milk” close to its center. “Milk” is the track that transforms II from a great album to an excellent one. Its repeated synths fluctuate in and out of focus, and the clicking drums haunt just as thoroughly as the thinly veiled vocal samples comprising the song’s perimeter. It’s mildly more upbeat than the rest of the album, striking a balance with its thorough darkness; this balance allows II to succeed in spite of its notable flaws.

#19 – Saint Pepsi: Hit Vibes

Saint Pepsi might be 2013’s Bandcamp hero. Although Ryan DeRobertis’ musical alias has yet to receive the amount of attention it deserves, Hit Vibes, one of Bandcamp’s most popular albums this year, highlights him as a unique talent in electronic music. Constructing disco-worshipping grooves from computer-generated synths and what are probably vocal samples rather than DeRobertis’ own voice, Saint Pepsi makes songs that balance the many ambitions of humor, retrospect, and composition.

Indeed, DeRobertis is a pretty funny guy. Check out the dialogue that begins the album: opener “Hit Vibes” starts with a seemingly arbitrary bit of dialogue before spending just under a minute fleshing out a brazenly funk-indebted track. The next track, “Have Faith,” boldly announces, “It’s Saint Pepsi, bitch!” and then releases a slew of mid-70s dance sounds, as though the first track weren’t already fully devoted to this era.

Really, Hit Vibes is a modern take on the disco and funk themes of 70s music. Album highlight “Better” mixes brass and bass to maximize the level of retro-worship, resulting in a fast-paced dance anthem; “Skylar Spence” is as outright an embrace of funk as is the much-better known Daft Punk song “Fragments of Time”; “Together” echoes the era’s slow jams, embellishing the music with soul influences to fully achieve this effect. Even when Saint Pepsi includes more modern sounds, he sounds like the past: although the heavily processed vocals on “Strawberry Lemonade” are altered to fit the tradition of instrumental hip-hop, the instrumentation belongs to, again, the 70s. Forget being a champion of the internet in 2013; Saint Pepsi is happily anchored forty years in the past.

#18 – Boxed Wine: Cheap, Fun

If you’ve heard of Boxed Wine, I’m proud of you. If not, don’t fret — this New Jersey band isn’t well-known yet by any stretch of the term, but their perfect pop rock formula will undoubtedly take them far. Their polished, adrenaline-filled, purely fun sound can’t be denied; on Cheap, Fun, the moment the catchy guitars that introduce “Into the Nite” first establish their presence, it’s obvious that Boxed Wine has a preternatural gift for excellent pop songwriting. A major factor in their lovable, familiar sound is their use of two guitar parts in their music; a technique frequently associated with The Strokes in this day and age, Boxed Wine instead uses it to construct pop perfection rather than garage rock swagger (best exemplified on “Cannibal” and “Overboard”).

This group’s upbeat, foot-shuffling sound echoes Matt & Kim, albeit with a greater polish. For a band with such limited resources and exposure, “First Time” features a surprisingly professional sheen, enhancing the already ecstatic themes of the music. Indeed, Boxed Wine writes songs that border on dangerously high-key; if they keep at it, their presence in the world of music may match that in their songs.

#17 – Jagwar Ma: Howlin’

Slowly walking the tightrope between dance and psychedelia, Jagwar Ma strike a curious pose on their debut Howlin’. For the most part, this trio inescapably matches the force of their gigantic synths with that of their bouncy guitars; vocalist Gabriel Winterfield contributes his unnaturally flexible voice to the sound palette, which also hosts a great number of well-disguised background vocal harmonies. Check “That Loneliness” for all of the above: bassy, glitchy synths initiate the verses’ every line, after which Jono Ma flashes his guitar, and vocal harmonies softly permeate the background. There’s a great interplay between the elements featured here, as on many of the songs on Howlin’: the guitars overtake the subtly receding synths in the song’s chorus. Such changes in instrumental emphasis are abundant on this album; in fact, next track “Come Save Me” swaps guitars for synths in its chorus.

In theory, the description of Jagwar Ma’s style reads like that of so many other groups, yet the band’s success lies in their unparalleled exuberance. These three simply sound happy to be making music, and their delight is infectious. Even on songs as lyrically upsetting (although commonplace) as “Man I Need”, Jagwar Ma threaten to fully absorb listeners with their hookiness. But nowhere do they compel as greatly as on third track “The Throw”, which thrusts forward over seven unforgettable minutes. It’s an early statement of Jagwar Ma’s greatest powers; the rest of Howlin’ follows in suit.

#16 – Mister Lies: Mowgli

Nick Zanca, also known as Mister Lies, doesn’t understand why others label him as merely a Burial acolyte (I wonder what these people would think if they listened to II). One good listen to Mowgli provides a basis for Zanca’s confusion. Okay, so a couple of the tracks’ skittish percussion hearkens back to William Bevan’s early days, and a brooding vocal sample is occasionally slipped in; the comparison ends there. Mowgli is a unique statement from a still-growing musician, not just a reflection of his influences.

Opener “Ashore”, a thinly dim affair, starts Mowgli unassumingly, but by the arrival of third track “Align”, clearly the most house-influenced track here, it’s no longer plausible to apply the word “tiny” to this album. “Lupine” continues the ice of past tracks, its paranoid synth screeches accentuating the subdued horror; the Exitmusic-featuring “Hounded” cries soulfully, its ethereal vocals providing a disconcerting yet gorgeous contrast to the cold instrumentation. A generally dismal work of art indeed, Mowgli‘s bare nature enchants from its opening moments rather than merely emulating its predecessors.

#15 – Glasser: Interiors

Glasser’s second album dutifully explores the theme of introversion suggested by its moniker. Interiors is a study of being primarily concerned with one’s own mind, of being content on one’s own. Check the lyrics of opener “Shape”, which includes lyrics like “My home has no shape/nothing to sustain me/but it keeps me safe/from imagined pain” and “I know I’ll stay/can’t ever get away.” Although this is familiar territory lyrically, Glasser (real name Cameron Mesirow) succeeds at expanding these thoughts over an album because it just sounds so good.

Yet even though the actual sounds heard on Interiors skillfully balance dread and beauty, nothing on this album is particularly new. Interiors inevitably draws comparison to Björk’s music because, well, it sounds exactly like the space between Homogenic and Vespertine, two of the Icelandic goddess’ best works. Whereas many musicians might bore by so transparently emulating their idols, Mesirow instead so boldly wears her influences on her sleeve that her gorgeous songs never get lost in pure reverence.

For instance, the frozen synths and flickering percussion opening “Design” provide a thrilling segway into an even more chilling track; the minimalist opening notes of “Exposure” allow its huge chorus to blindside listeners, sweeping them with emotion; the short segments of “Forge” that consist only of Mesirow’s singing are nothing short of harrowing. Glasser excites without truly innnovating: although Interiors exists in the shadow of its progenitor, it sparkles gorgeously.

#14 – Boards of Canada: Tomorrow’s Harvest

Generally, Boards of Canada’s music works best as whole-album experiences rather than as standalone songs. Tomorrow’s Harvest, their fourth album in fifteen years, best exemplifies this trait. Many of its tracks, when taken out of the album’s context, pale in comparison to past work. Yet, taken as a whole, Tomorrow’s Harvest is nearly as moving as anything the brothers Sandison have put out to date (despite this album’s greatness, it’s no Music Has the Right to Children or Geogaddi).

The dreariness of first track “Gemini” sweeps into “Reach for the Dead”, a bleak picture of desolation; the emptiness continues over the entirety of Tomorrow’s Harvest, each track adding more to the theme. Indeed, Boards of Canada haven’t lost their talent for extending an idea across a whole album; in fact, moreso than ever before, they’ve released a work that, in its hour-long runtime, conveys one mood so precisely. Although a couple of standout tracks do exist (“Jacquard Causeway” and “Nothing Is Real”), Tomorrow’s Harvest succeeds wonderfully as the sum of all its parts.

#13 – AlunaGeorge: Body Music

Given the buzz that introduced them to the world, AlunaGeorge made virtually no waves in the blogosphere with their debut. Critical disappointment sank Body Music, but this aversion didn’t stop listeners from embracing it. The album perfectly matches expectations, but does nothing more. However, with a voice as wonderful as Aluna Francis’, and production as smooth as George Reid’s, this duo only had to do exactly that to produce a solid debut.

Generally, AlunaGeorge’s music is “future soul”: Francis’ delicate croon permeates warbled electronic beats, delivering what could be mistaken for 90s radio R&B sent to the 2030s for plastic surgery. Francis and Reid explore the more aggressive side of this style with upbeat, radio-ready tracks such as “Attracting Flies” and “Superstar”: exuding typical pop song structure, these tracks wouldn’t sound horrendously out of place on commercial radio if not for their futuristic, atypical synths. Elsewhere, the music exudes sensuality and intimacy: “Outlines” and “Your Drums, Your Love” soften the heavy blow of Body Music‘s many in-your-face pop tracks, delivering sensitive love tunes with familiar themes.

If anything, Body Music only falters for how familiar it feels. Even on this album’s best tracks, formulaic approaches can be pinpointed. For example, “Kaleidoscope Love” changes key for its final chorus, a technique that might come off cheesy if this duo weren’t so damn good. Lyrically, it’s firmly precedented: themes of love and lust are no fresher than a McDonald’s salad. Sure, Body Music have flaws, but AlunaGeorge are excellent architects of sound, and it’s tough not to enjoy their music, even with its faults.

#12 – Phoenix: Bankrupt

Prior to the release of their fifth album, Bankrupt!, Phoenix declared it their most experimental work. While this statement doesn’t quite describe the album, it does hint at how strange these songs are, coming from a previously guitar-based rock band. The synths comprising the distant perimeter of previous album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, an album beloved by all corners of the world, have now transformed into the center of attention. No, the instrumentation of past works hasn’t been completely sacrificed, but never before has this band so firmly adopted New Wave tendencies.

It’s not like Phoenix have never focused on synths before. “1901”, their best-known song, backs its verses with absolutely monstrous keyboards; however, for its incredibly distinct, catchy chorus, guitars lead the charge. On Bankrupt!, though, the synths control everything. The album’s most cathartic moments — the rushing post-chorus of “Entertainment”, the bright flourishes of “S.O.S. in Bel Air”, the mid-song transition in “Drakkar Noir” — ever so slightly elevate the synths above the guitars, to the point where distinguishing the two proves somewhat challenging. The increase in synthetic elements dictates the sound of Bankrupt!, which isn’t as outrightly sunny as the bright-skies-over-everything Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Not to fret, though; the glory days of upbeat, positively exuberant Phoenix are not yet over. For now, though, they’re disguised by somewhat darker shades, an exciting switch-up from a band so well-respected for their skyward enthusiasm.

#11 – Disclosure: Settle

The fire burns right from the start of this album, literally and figuratively. Settle is the most scorching dance album to come around in a while, which is clear as soon as the percussive stomp of “When a Fire Starts to Burn” makes itself known. An outrightly thumping, hilarious number, “Fire” lays bare the stylistic influences that inform Settle over its remaining twelve tracks.

Truth be told, the fourteen tracks on Settle can be difficult to power through in one sitting, but the album’s saving grace is how enthralling each track is on its own. “F For You” is a front-foot-forward, handclap-driven jam that’s relatively low-key for something that bumps so heavily. “White Noise” broadcasts the precious voice of Aluna Francis (yes, the same one from AlunaGeorge) and berserk clicks of icy synths. “Stimulation” pounds forward on giant percussion, thick, computer-generated murk, and sampled vocal snippets. “You & Me” fuses Eliza Doolittle’s soulful, pleading voice with percussive shuffle and moody yet quick synths. “Confess to Me”, perhaps the most exciting of all the guest-featuring tracks here, uses Jessie Ware’s breathy vocals to great effect, establishing a longing ache in the verses before exploding into dancefloor mania in its chorus.

Amongst all the guest features and straightforward compositional techniques, the tracks on Settle hit surprisingly hard. There’s not a weak track to be found here, and each song has a moody underbelly hidden beneath the dancing drums and high-paced synth attacks. What a deceiving name for an album: on their debut, Disclosure’s fire never Settles.

#10 – Baths: Obsidian

The first sounds on Will Wiesenfeld’s second album as Baths are disquieting and uncomfortable, an immediate warning of the feelings that Obsidian will encompass over its ten tracks. Dealing with topics as sensitive as alienation, lust without love, and self-loathing, neither Wiesenfeld’s lyrics nor his compositions have previously expressed such anguish. To borrow a word from one of the album’s song titles, a Miasma of melancholy pervades the music.

It’s ultimately tragic that Wiesenfeld’s despair makes for such chilling music. Wiesenfeld discusses his absolute lack of respect for his current live-in boyfriend on “Incompatible”, a hapless situation indeed, yet the bare instrumentation and harrowing percussive click of the chorus inevitably strikes an emotional chord. It’s even easier to resonate with the statement that initiates the comedown from the chorus: “You don’t do anything with your life/fascinating, terrible, your stupid idling mind/I could prod your hurt all night.” Although the particular situations Wiesenfeld finds himself in may not be commonplace, his sentiments ring home.

Further compounding the themes of “Incompatible” is “No Eyes”, perhaps Obsidian‘s best instance of giving equal emotional weight to the music and the lyrics. A desperate tale of loveless sex, it bravely commands, “come and fuck me!” during its quavering, uneasy chorus. The lyrics are as uncomfortable as the instrumentation, which feels glaringly obvious during the disturbing, minimal interlude following the second chorus. Barely a synth tone flickers in unison with some sort of metal objects making contact in the distance, until a massive, unexpected, three-second glitch burst disrupts the quiet. Or, rather, it disrupts the disquiet; on Obsidian, the two are equal. When the darkness of the lyrics and the music are also equal, which occurs frequently and alarmingly, Obsidian succeeds as a bold statement from an artist who, despite finding his place musically, still has many more issues to sort out.

#9 – Fuck Buttons: Slow Focus

The militaristic percussive bombast initiating Slow Focus instantly determines that Fuck Buttons’ third album will be no Tarot Sport, not another hyperactive rave-noise mesh from this British electronic pair. “Brainfreeze” introduces Slow Focus as a horrifying, wretched affair, a backdrop which later tracks “Sentients” and “Stalker” confirm.

Naturally, Fuck Buttons being Fuck Buttons, Slow Focus doesn’t eliminate its rave and noise precedents entirely. Lead single “The Red Wing” closely approaches the transcendent, sky-reaching roar of Tarot Sport, although final track “Hidden XS” does so even more obviously. However, the twosome’s newfound horror-house sound makes for intense listening over this album’s seven, mostly-longer-than-six-minute tracks, even when the music approaches the Buttons’ prior optimism.

No, these guys conscious decision to restrict the soaring brightness of past works does not bore. In fact, moreso than ever, the music is driving and forceful; rarely over the course of these lengthy songs does the weight of the album fail to demand attention. Fearsome though it is, Slow Focus enthralls throughout its fifty-two minutes, and is one of the year’s best instrumental experiments.

#8 – The Virgins: Strike Gently

As suggested by its title, The Virgins’ sophomore effort sees the band taking a much calmer approach to their songwriting than on their debut. It took them five years to release the album, and judging by that huge time gap and the changed sound on Strike Gently, this change didn’t come easily. The Virgins would prove such tensions true by breaking up a mere eight months after releasing this album, but they left fans with a sparkling, cautiously joyful record that longs for the past.

There’s a retrospective haze clouding Strike Gently‘s instrumentation, manifesting particularly strongly in its guitars and vocals. Many other acts have attempted similar styles and felt forced rather than natural, but The Virgins approach past sounds wonderfully (although these past sounds belong to other artists and not themselves — no “Rich Girls” will be found here). The relatively soft, almost-ballad “Figure on the Ice” instantly brings to mind the sparkle of 70s high school proms and the associated slow dancing, but never sounds cheesy; “Wheel of Fortune” takes on a comically lackadaisical vocal attitude to emulate the personality of the era’s performers, resulting in a wonderfully moving composition; “What Good is Moonlight” extends the band’s retro-reverence into quasi-arena rock, and is the album’s most outrightly fun number.

In the interspace between these tracks lies “Flashbacks, Memories, and Dreams”, the track that best demonstrates how The Virgins’ backwards-looking approach succeeds when it could so easily fail. It’s tough not to at least crack a smile when first hearing the tone the song’s vocal takes, although the glam guitars opening the song are already amusing enough. “I think that cool kid broke my jaw!” begins the second verse, a line that instantly recalls the glory days of the Brat Pack. “Flashbacks” takes a striking pose, although it does so gently, clinching the album’s mission statement.

#7 – Savages: Silence Yourself

Rock music’s most outrightly aggressive album this year, Silence Yourself declares its presence furiously. Even after their many published manifestos, including the one on their album cover, it’s still a bit vague what exactly it is that Savages are angry about. It could be one thing, or it could be many, but that becomes irrelevant when faced with how overwhelming these women are on merely their debut album.

A rolling, ominous bassline tends to dominate the direction of these tracks’ verses, with stadium-sized guitars overtaking the choruses. Even when massive distortion rips these songs open, the guitars somehow manage to recede into the background by the arrival of the first verse, giving priority to the bass. “I Am Here”, “City’s Full”, “Strife”, and “She Will” all use this exact same approach. Rather than cursing the songs with staleness, though, this formula enthralls. Perhaps, though, this success is only due to the saving grace that is the Siouxsie-esque voice of vocalist Jehnny Beth. Equally capable of both breathy pleading and unhinged terror, Beth’s distinct voice empowers Savages with an absolutely undeniable force.

Although the fear induced by Beth’s voice holds the key to “She Will”‘s riotous, triumphant outro, the comfort it induces on tracks like “Marshal Dear” also deserves a mention. Ending the album, this track stands alone from the rest: rather than just post-punk instrumentation, it also brings pianos and what might be horns into the mix. It boldly states just how flexible Beth’s voice is, and makes it clear that, despite how gigantic the rest of the band sounds, this element is what drives the band to such great heights so early in their career.

#6 – CHVRCHES: The Bones of What You Believe

CHVRCHES first introduced themselves to the world in late 2012 with their first single, “The Mother We Share.” It’s also the track that introduces their debut, The Bones of What You Believe, released a full year later. It’s a good starting point for this Scottish trio, as it clearly states their mission: to make cathartic, high-stakes synthpop intended to carry listeners on its ascending, towering sounds. They succeed dutifully on their debut, the year’s best purely electronic album.

“We Sink” follows “The Mother We Share”, and further hints at the vast, skyward sounds the album will achieve. “I’ll be a thorn at your side/’til you die/I’ll be a thorn at your side/for always” coos Lauren Mayberry during the chorus, and these lyrics stick not due to their sentiments, but rather due to the impact of their surrounding synths. Like “We Sink”, “Lies” and “Recover”, probably the two best tracks on the album, also burn lyrically due to the instrumentation enveloping the words rather than their inherent meaning. On the former track, “I can sell you lies!/You can’t get enough!” scalds listeners rather than just passing them by as some sort of love-lost metaphor; the much more transparent “and if I recover/will you be my comfort?/or it can be over/and we can just leave it here” feels important and desperate when wrapped in the latter track’s humongous, optimistic synths.

There’s a definite relation between composition and lyricism in CHVRCHES music’, and it’s the interplay between the two that makes The Bones of What You Believe such an enjoyable listen. “I am gonna come for you/with all that I have,” threatens Mayberry during the first verse of third track “Gun”‘s chorus, and it’s a good summary of what CHVRCHES do best. Using all their possible instrumental and verbal talent, CHVRCHES have brewed an incredibly potent album, one whose unrestricted buoyancy provides an incredible, addicting release each and every time.

#5 – Haim: Days Are Gone

“Hey you! Remember me?” Danielle Haim asks on her eponymous band’s song “Forever”, the song that first attracted the internet to their sound and the second track on their much-awaited debut, Days Are Gone. It’s a pretty appropriate question for these three sisters to ask: in a blogosphere occupied with higher intellectual ideals, it’s easy to forget that straightforward pop music can carry lots of honest emotion and addicting hooks. Little about Days Are Gone is innovative or pretentious, and although other bands might sound commonplace or dull when lacking a new spark, Haim succeed merely by combining already established, but often distinct, styles.

Take the title track, for instance: the subdued, bluesy guitars recall Fleetwood Mac (really, everything this band does recalls Fleetwood Mac, but just roll with this example), while the pleading vocals of the chorus might not sound terribly out of place in a 90s R&B jam. Elsewhere, “My Song 5” advances on both computerized arena rock percussive stomp and similarly thick, bluesy guitars, and “If I Could Change Your Mind” employs Danielle Haim’s soul crooning in combination with affecting guitar flicker. Haim thrills by fusing their influences with tradition, a surprisingly valid approach.

Perhaps the best example of how Haim boldly balance admiration for the classics with modern pop structures is their best known song, “The Wire.” Opening on a power chord and an arena rock drum pattern straight out of a Billy Squier tune, the song quickly rolls into a verse dominated by palm-muted guitar riffing, fluid but subtle bass, and deep, breathy vocals courtesy of Danielle Haim. Its chorus sparkles only mildly in comparison to the verses, yet it sounds impossibly larger than the verses surrounding it. After the first chorus, the song plays a trick on unfocused listeners: Danielle hands lead vocal duties to her younger sister Alana for the first half of the verse, and then to older sister Este for the verse’s second half. Each sister’s voice bears a notable amount of soul and attitude; confidence appears to be a genetic trait, as does infectious pop songwriting.

#4 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Mosquito

Ignore the album cover. Mosquito isn’t an ugly, gross affair; rather, it’s a stark, honest look into lead vocalist Karen O’s fragility. Detractors will cite this album’s inability to settle on one style as a fatal flaw, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have proven themselves capable of tackling disparate genres plenty of times. Recall that this is the same band responsible for both the yelping, urgent garage-rock anthem Fever to Tell and the dance-punk diamond It’s Blitz. Stylistic variance isn’t new territory for this trio, but never before has their sound fluctuated so wildly over the course of just one anthem.

Very few other bands, if any, could make such an indecisive album a success; really, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are getting away with murder. But this trio have a certain magic to their songwriting regardless of what shape it takes: the brutally tenuous “Subway” stings just as harshly as does its following track, the searing, frivolous “Mosquito.” The latter track contains one of the most useless, outrightly stupid sets of lyrics to ever appear in this band’s catalog (and this is coming from a band responsible for the words of “Black Tongue”); rather than bringing this song down, though, its simplicity lets the bonkers instrumentation shine. It’s a similar approach to some of the music on M.I.A.’s Matangi: let’s make the music thrilling enough for the possibly vapid lyrics to take second fiddle.

Of course, this approach is bound to fail at some point, as it does on the inane, worthless “Buried Alive.” But when you’ve also got lyrics as gorgeous and affecting as “Despair”, “Subway”, and “Sacrilege”, it’s easy to forgive the occasional slip-up. These songs all encompass dramatically different musical palettes, yet each burns with longing and passion. The victories on this album completely negate its weaker moments, and although Mosquito is no Show Your Bones or It’s Blitz (really, how many other bands write near-perfect albums in two distinct genres?), it’s still just as potent.

#3 – Foxygen: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic

Jonathan Rado and Sam France don’t simply wear their influences on their sleeves; rather, their influences are their sleeves. In 2013, it’s nice to hear a band embody the classics so transparently. The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and The Velvet Underground are undeniable, obvious models for Foxygen’s sublime, unpretentious music. However, despite their blatant forebears, Foxygen have a songwriting chemistry that’s entirely their own.

Take “No Destruction” as an example of how Foxygen distinguish their art from that of their musical parents’. The lightweight, giddy sound achieved here settles in some unexplored gap between The Rolling Stones and The Velvet Underground, fleshing out this space with Sam France’s narrative storytelling. His voice varies from half-assed and uninspired to borderline broken (this latter state mimics Mick Jagger to near perfection), and the fusion of barely overdriven guitars and faint pianos recall the late 60s all too well. Of course, it’s impossible to discuss this song without mentioning the stellar jab, “There’s no need to be an asshole/You’re not in Brooklyn anymore”; France’s wicked, characteristic sense of humor pervades his words and their delivery constantly on Ambassadors, and “No Destruction” is only the duo’s most notorious example.

The precious way France sings the opening lyrics of “San Francisco” is bound to incite at least a chuckle from the attentive listener, as is the chorus: “I left my love in San Francisco” is followed by a high-pitched, distantly mocking “That’s okay, I was born in L.A.” Oddly laughable lyrics outline “Shuggie” as well: “I met your daughter the other day/well, that was weird/She had rhinoceros-shaped earrings in her ears,” France sing-speaks as nonchalantly as the surrounding guitars and strings slump forward. The lyricism originates from predecessor Lou Reed, whose recent passing makes his influence on this album even more apparent than it already was. Indeed, even when employing their own unique sense of humor, Foxygen recalls prior greats; their backwards gaze provides an amazing template for the success of Ambassadors, an album that’s simultaneously clever and trifling, and as reverent as it is irreverent.

#2 – Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City

An inevitable entry on 2013 lists, Modern Vampires of the City‘s lyrical themes are already well-established, since critics have all but examined each and every letter of its words. Rather than gushing about this album’s sentiments (which, honestly, are great and relatable, but you’ve heard enough of this, right?), I’m going to talk about how this album sounds, and why it sounds good.

From the opening moments of “Obvious Bicycle”, it’s evident that Modern Vampires of the City is far more restricted in its dynamics than past albums…well, for the most part. “Diane Young”, “Finger Back”, and “Worship You” are boisterous, energetic standouts that show the band hasn’t entirely left their frenzied, wild past, and while these tracks all strike as diligently as the rest of the album, it’s the stark, depressing tracks that chill most strongly. “Unbelievers” contains Vampire Weekend’s signature instrumental flourishes, although they’re far more moderate than ever before. The intertwinement of the track’s organ-esque keyboards (I saw them live, I can assure you it’s not a real organ) and pushing percussion screams Vampire Weekend, yet these parts sound far bleaker than ever before, and thus more afflicting.

“Step”, “Everlasting Arms”, and “Ya Hey” also flourish on this same trick: these songs don’t sound like any other band could have created them, yet their darkness is newfound for this foursome, and their tone startlingly resonant coming from a band who once sang about Decembers spent looking psychotic in a balaclava. In general, the songs on this album are undeniably evocative and bone-chilling, but it’s impossible to discuss MVOTC without mentioning the brutal, heart-shattering “Hannah Hunt.” Critics and fans alike agree that this song is the best Vampire Weekend has yet released; from the opening whir of washed-out bass and faded human chatter, it’s instantly clear that something greater is at work here. Almost three minutes in, a cathartic, emotionally destructive climax emerges, fulfilling the song’s disquieting tension with a tragic, painful swell of pianos and Ezra Koenig’s aching, pleading vocals.

Throughout Modern Vampires of the City, one might be as likely to cry as to jump in excitement. Although it sounds soft when compared to past work, it strikes a blow so massive that it makes this band’s already excellent previous work seem like child’s play. Even if this album doesn’t feel right at first, give it a few more listens; if you have a heart, the human core of this album will eventually overtake you, and you’ll never look back.

#1 – Youth Lagoon: Wondrous Bughouse

A lot of people hate Trevor Powers, aka Youth Lagoon, and their reasons aren’t entirely invalid. For one, Powers lacks any sort of a traditionally “good” voice; furthermore, his music is so enveloped in filters and oddball sounds that it’s easy to initially ignore. No, from a technical standpoint, Powers isn’t that great; see him live for proof. Regardless, the explosive psychedelic approach he takes on his second album, Wondrous Bughouse, grasps the ears too strongly to resist. Although these sounds are veiled in effect after effect after effect, somehow the machinery enhances the paranoia and anxiety that Powers’ vague lyrics encompass. Throughout the album, the instrumentation is equally as frenzied as its lyrics and its vocals, and, although this album certainly isn’t for everyone, if it hits you, it hits you hard.

Turning a deaf ear to such soaring guitar fills as the ones driving “Mute”, “Attic Doctor”, and “Pelican Man” must take some sort of supernatural skill. As devastating as they are kooky, the sounds on Wondrous Bughouse might at first feel confusing and trifling, but Powers’ mental troubles are entangled with his compositions. When faced with the prospect of losing someone he cares about, he writes “Dropla”, driven by its doubtful claims of “you’ll never die” and its nostalgic sentiment. “Raspberry Cane” also contains the repetition of a straightforward statement likely not believed by its speaker: “Everybody cares,” Powers tries to reassure himself, only to quickly admit, “They say love exists/but what happened to it?” The bare instrumentation surrounding these thoughts soon ascends into a hallucinogenic, childlike array of alien-sounding synths that’s oddly irresistible.

In general, the songs on Wondrous Bughouse are trippy and juvenile, but it’s this very description that also accounts for how striking they are. On “Attic Doctor”, for example, Powers introduces haunted mansion synths and MGMT-like psychedelic gait, a bit funny in their silliness, but also deeply keen and acute. “Third Dystopia” is trapped underwater, but its affecting guitars and longing chorus thrill and invigorate. “Sleep Paralysis” actually sounds like a dream for a while, but when it picks up the pace, it truly sounds like a nightmare.

Naturally, the inane basis of these songs’ instrumentation can be easily perceived as rubbish; its oddball, off-kilter tone isn’t for everyone. For listeners able to connect to Powers’ eerie songwriting, though, Wondrous Bughouse is a thrilling ride, often fun in its instrumentation, but always depraved in its sentiments. A psychedelic playground, but only for those willing to spend some time on the monkey bars.

Way Too Indie’s Top 20 Songs of 2013

Max Freedman — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 15:00:26 +0000

As Christmas approaches, so do the lists. Yes, it’s holiday season, but it’s also ranking season; each and every year, bloggers, music critics, and your Average Joe music listener all compile lists of their favorite musical works of the year. Typically, there’s a preface included, which reads something along the lines of “this was a great year for music, so choosing these picks was extremely difficult!” This introduction is about as guaranteed as the mere existence of the list itself, because, well, those who devote time and effort to discovering (and hopefully enjoying) new music know that it’s rare that, at any point in time, a dearth of it exists.

In light of this wonderful wealth of music, don’t fret if some of your favorite songs of the year don’t wind up on this list; there exists a perpetual abundance of art, far too much for any one human being to perfectly and fully absorb, so it’s wholly possible that great works won’t achieve the appreciation that many believe they merit. That said, notoriously popular picks such as “Get Lucky” might not be found here, although such omissions stem from indifference rather than malice. Also, lists convey opinions rather than objective fact, and, as Sly Stone once said, “Different strokes for different folks.” Anyway, without further ado, let’s reflect on this year and twenty of the many great songs it brought us.

Also check out our Best Albums of 2013 list

Way Too Indie’s Top 20 Songs of 2013

#20 – Lemonade: “Skyballer”

You’re not to be blamed if your first reaction to seeing this song here was, “These guys are still around?” A buzz band five years ago, Lemonade has slowly lost the attention of the blogosphere since then. Given their release of the single “Skyballer” this year, it’s tough to figure out why they’ve faded from the spotlight. One of the year’s mostly outrightly sweet songs, “Skyballer” is as thin as a string pulled from a summer t-shirt, and sounds exactly like its single’s artwork looks. Its luxuriant synths and ethereal vocals unspool over the course of six glimmering minutes, each of which is as likely to electrify as it is to tranquilize.

Listen to Lemonade: “Skyballer”

#19 – Haim: “If I Could Change Your Mind”

Listeners and critics alike warn of the young, center-of-attention artist’s mediocre debut album, grounded by amazing singles but completely void of spark elsewhere. With four singles preceding the release of their first full-length, Haim seemed destined to fall into this trap; “If I Could Change Your Mind”, not one of these singles, testifies to their avoidance of this supposedly common error. Flushed by intimately pretty guitars, Danielle Haim’s seductive voice delivers with full compassion. Granted, this is a pop song in the strictest sense; a typical intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-outro structure forms its backbone. Yet “If I Could Change Your Mind” comes off soothing and irresistible, a reminder that, despite the critical extolment of experimentation and uniqueness, a straightforward pop song can strike just as firmly.

Listen to Haim: “If I Could Change Your Mind”

#18 – Jagwar Ma: “The Throw”

Let’s look back over the past five or six years and extract some of the biggest names in neo-psychedelia: Tame Impala, Yeasayer, Animal Collective. Facets of all these acts’ music soar through Jagwar Ma’s “The Throw,” an understated masterpiece of the ever-evolving genre. Animal Collective donates the Beach Boys-esque harmonies that faintly back the chorus; Tame Impala contribute the distant guitar bounce forming the track’s first minute or so; Yeasayer inspire the cathartic dance percussion unleashed in the song’s latter half. “The Throw” begins unassumingly, and ends with the force of all its forebears, sounding believable the entire way through. Soon enough, Jagwar Ma might be up there with the very names that inspired them.

Listen to Jagwar Ma: “The Throw”

#17 – Foxygen: “On Blue Mountain”

It’s unlikely that Lou Reed (R.I.P. to one of the most influential musical figures of modern times) spent his final months listening to Foxygen, of all bands, but he’d certainly be proud of this duo if he ever heard their songs. “On Blue Mountain”, the third track on their phenomenal sophomore album We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, runs with the swagger of some of the Velvet Underground’s greatest moments, yet remains a wholly individual work. Initially centered on vocalist Sam France’s near-breaking, not-quite-sung vocals, the song quickly ascends into a piano- and overdriven-guitar-dominated shuffle. After its first chorus, it settles somewhat again only to ascend back to its prior state as a frantic, glorious mess. This mess expands into a classic call and response bit, and develops wonderfully into six minutes of retrospective glamour. Who says rock ‘n’ roll is dead?

Listen to Foxygen: “On Blue Mountain”

#16 – Boards of Canada: “Nothing Is Real”

Over their sporadic 15-year career, Boards of Canada (who are not, in fact, Canadian; rather, they’re Scottish) have proven time and time again that music can convey heavy emotions with little to no words. Critics have identified their music as emphasizing the themes of nostalgia and longing in particular; “Nothing Is Real”, the most affecting track on fourth album Tomorrow’s Harvest, may be the duo’s greatest refinement of these feelings. Driven by an incredibly bleak, hazy piano line that repeats over its entirety, “Nothing Is Real” aches chillingly and dismally. Even more harrowing than the cyclic sounds are the blurred vocal samples that slowly rise about halfway through the track. Backed by the eerie, sparse pianos defining the song, the words spoken feel disturbingly familiar despite their near-unintelligibility. After only forty seconds, the voices fade into silence, and, in an instant, it truly feels like nothing is real.

Listen to Boards of Canada: “Nothing Is Real”

#15 – Glasser: “Exposure”

For a song titled “Exposure”, this track by Glasser, real name Cameron Mesirow, doesn’t reveal too much about its creator. Rather than clearly distinguishing its writer, the song marks its singer’s metamorphosis (“a modern trouble,” according to this song) into a new-era Björk. Mesirow has readily admitted many times before that Björk is one of her formative influences, but never before has she echoed her progenitor so clearly. While other musicians might falter for so boldly mimicking their forebears, Mesirow’s blatant borrowing of sounds and themes (wintry synths, mechanical percussion, mysterious lyricism) from Homogenic– and Vespertine-era Björk make this track her most exciting yet.

Listen to Glasser: “Exposure”

#14 – Saint Pepsi: “Better”

Saint Pepsi, on the other hand, is someone who could use some Exposure. Although Stereogum ran a “Band to Watch” feature on Ryan DeRobertis’ pet project this summer, his music has yet to circulate much farther than Bandcamp electronic circles (although a slew of recent NYC shows should certainly help to expand his fanbase). What makes DeRobertis a standout amongst similar underground electronic musicians is the massive disco and 70’s influences that fill his music, and on no song is this more evident or catchy than on “Better.” Funky brass samples and bass guide this song through a intro not too far removed from something Toro Y Moi would write, and lead into a modern disco song guided by a sample that passionately sings, “Girl, I can make it better for you!” Luckily for DeRobertis, though, not much can make this song better.

Listen to Saint Pepsi: “Better”

#13 – Disclosure: “When a Fire Starts to Burn”

Disclosure’s music hasn’t infiltrated pop radio in any way, yet in 2013, “When a Fire Starts to Burn” was as ubiquitous as “Get Lucky”; frankly, it’s a far better dance song. Whereas “Get Lucky” merely rehashes ground already covered by its creators, “When a Fire Starts to Burn” has no back-catalog to be compared to; it’s the first song on Disclosure’s summer debut Settle (“Intro” is a spoken word prelude to this track). Rather than retreading their own short past, on “Fire”, Disclosure turn to the works of others: the track immediately states the duo’s UK garage and Chicago house influences. The song’s thick synths and snarling vocal samples deliver a thoroughly maniacal, club-ready anthem that would be just as huge thirty years ago as it is today.

Listen to Disclosure: “When a Fire Starts to Burn”

#12 – Speedy Ortiz: “Tiger Tank”

Speedy Ortiz are far from the first DIY group to combine witty, uncompromising lyricism with slamming guitars and punk ethos (anyone remember PJ Harvey?). However, few acts of the modern garage rock generation have crafted a piece as purely visceral as “Tiger Tank.” The feedback that opens the song instantly develops into a furiously pounding, broodingly sluggish guitar riff that dies down a bit in the verses to accommodate vocalist Sadie DuPuis’ self-deprecating lyricism. Suspiciously clean guitars underpin lyrics as clever and irreverent as “My mouth is a factory for every toxic part of speech I spew” until the chorus reestablishes the muddy, distorted guitars of the intro, whose riff pops up again after every chorus. A moody, cynical tension runs through “Tiger Tank,” exploding forward as frequently as it quietly recedes; the balance between the two make it a viciously addicting gem.

Listen to Speedy Ortiz: “Tiger Tank”

#11 – Darkside: “Paper Trails”

I’ll admit that when I first saw this band name, I thought of Star Wars rather than Pink Floyd. What a mistake to make: this duo’s sound is entirely indebted to the latter entity. This fact is more obvious on songs from their debut, Psychic, that aren’t “Paper Trails”, yet it’s this song that represents their best moment. Although there’s still plenty of David Gilmour to be heard in the song’s loose guitar fills, the center of attention is Nicolas Jaar, one of 2011’s biggest buzz boys as well as one half of Darkside. The sexy, deep, moody electronic music Jaar has cultivated in his solo career manifests touchingly here, emerging in the form of subtle synthetic bubbles and the characteristic sensuality of Jaar’s thick, Smog-like voice. Surrounded by Dave Harrington’s lucid yet weightless guitars, these elements coalesce into a beautiful, inescapable soundscape that’s more than likely to draw listeners in to the dark side.

Listen to Darkside: “Paper Trails”

#10 – CHVRCHES: “Lies”

After a year of immense hype, CHVRCHES dropped a debut, The Bones of What You Believe, that contained about as many single-worthy tracks as there are fingers on most peoples’ two hands. Almost every song on the album is absolutely outstanding and addicting, but “Lies” best represents why CHVRCHES merit the buzz surrounding them. Massive drums and subtly apocalyptic synths blow the song open, and never recede thereafter, even when vocalist Lauren Mayberry’s high-pitched, soaring, striking voice enters in the verse. The chorus increases the dynamics to an even more ridiculous degree, its earth-shattering percussion providing the proper stomp to Mayberry’s mountainous vocals. “Lies” continually smacks listeners square in the face over its four minutes, but its true force is best felt when, as the short, calm interlude after the second chorus quickly draws to a close, the humongous, gargantuan percussion, synths, and vocals all slam back into place, returning with a force that proves this trio isn’t just some blog sensation.

Listen to CHVRCHES: “Lies”

#9 – The Virgins: “Flashbacks, Memories, and Dreams”

It wasn’t meant to last. It took The Virgins five years to follow-up their 1970s-disco-inspired, dance-punk self-titled debut, and when they did, only eight months passed before the band broke up. Thankfully, their final document, Strike Gently, left fans with a plethora of amazing 70s-inspired psychedelic/lounge/indie rock, yet the album went dreadfully overlooked by all corners of the music community. Probably the best of the CD’s many gems is “Flashbacks, Memories, and Dreams”, a track that Ariel Pink could have included on his 2010 album Before Today without anybody blinking an eye. Minus the avant-garde tendencies, “Flashbacks” is Ariel Pink retro-worship in full swing: it sees the Virgins using sexy, lucid guitars and a somewhat lackluster vocal drawl to hail the 1970s. It sounds like a smoky lounge depicted in some classic movie, and provides sheer joy in its musical nostalgia. Hopefully, the band’s own flashbacks and memories on their days together will feel as good as this song does.

Listen to The Virgins: “Flashbacks, Memories, and Dreams”

#8 – Vampire Weekend: “Hannah Hunt”

In September, about four months after Vampire Weekend released their incredible third album Modern Vampires of the City, a friend of mine mentioned that “Hannah Hunt” is one of his favorite poems. This sentiment at first surprised me, since many sets of lyrics often reduce poetry to a trivial slew of commonplace words and mediocre imagery. But my friend was right: “Hannah Hunt”, like so many of Ezra Koenig’s writings, reads like a tragic poem, its heartbreaking words held together by the bleakest instrumentation to date in Vampire Weekend’s previously bright, upbeat catalog. As Koenig laments his travels with Hannah, a barren, desolate soundscape of crying pianos, faint bass, subtle synthetic elements, and nearly lifeless percussion envelop his and co-genius Rostam Batmanglij’s sorrowful voices. The song creeps forward ever so-slowly, suggesting an upcoming release of energy, a giant burst of catharsis; this promise is fulfilled with just over a minute left in the song, when the drums explode forward, the pianos reemerge as the center of attention, and guitars finally emerge as a hazy, squealing, pleading force. “If I can’t trust you, then damn it, Hannah!/There’s no future, there’s no answer,” Koenig soon shouts through a few vocal filters, and the aching in his voice is enough to liquefy the most solid of souls. It’s a moment so powerful that it sells the whole damn song, which many fans, including myself, agree is their best yet.

Listen to Vampire Weekend: “Hannah Hunt”

#7 – Savages: “She Will”

To label “She Will” the most immediate song on Savages’ fierce, overblown debut might be a bit deceiving, since every song on Silence Yourself is immediate. Yet “She Will” clearly stands out as the album’s finest moment, and one of post-punk’s most thrilling tracks in years. Its first few seconds perfectly establish the roaring, demonic instrumentation that encompasses the rest of the track. Arena-sized percussion, towering guitars, and violent, angry bass underlie Jehnny Beth’s afflicted vocals, which take a fragile tone in the verses only to explode with fire during the choruses. Ultimately, though, it’s the last thirty-five seconds that seal the deal: the bass swells in volume, Beth’s voice transforms into a demonic plea, and the repeated “She will!” slowly loses itself amongst coalescing percussion and guitars, ending in the most visceral shriek to be heard on record in far too long. Never mind the odd lyrics about “forcing the slut out” — with “She Will,” Savages have expunged a being far more devilish.

Listen to Savages: “She Will”

#6 – Arcade Fire: “Reflektor”

Fans knew they’d get their first taste of new Arcade Fire music far before it landed. Arcade Fire announced the date on which the first song from their new album would arrive months in advance, far before the whole Reflektor graffiti campaign kicked off. Upon its title track’s formal release September 9 (it leaked two days earlier, unsurprising given the modern state of affairs), a massive album promotion trail took flight, but the one song already released would prove far more gigantic than anything else on the album.

Even in light of Reflektor‘s often pale musings, its title track stands as one of Arcade Fire’s greatest accomplishments to date. It continues the band’s embrace of disco as hinted by The Suburbs‘ “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” — actually, it expands this theme much farther than most listeners would have reasonably expected. Marching forward upon “deep African voodoo rhythms that are the language in Haiti,” as vocalist/songwriter Win Butler describes the percussion, “Reflektor” perfectly melds the dance-leanings of producer James Murphy with the cathartic, carrying song structures Arcade Fire perfected on their first three albums. The grandiose instrumentation also present on these albums is restricted to a backing template here, as strings and brass merely paint an outline for these nearly eight minutes of life-sized splendor. It’s Arcade Fire’s longest song to date, and over its course, there are many moments when dancing is as understandable a response as is being too awestruck to move at all.

Listen to Arcade Fire: “Reflektor”

#5 – Kurt Vile: “Wakin’ On a Pretty Day”

When Kurt Vile released “Wakin’ on a Pretty Day” in early 2013, it at first seemed intimidating. Coming from Vile, a ten-minute song not only surprised many people, but also felt impossible. How could Vile possibly extend his signature stoner lethargy over the course of ten minutes without descending into boring drivel? Although he doesn’t completely avoid such gibberish (“Wakin’ at the dawn of day/I gotta think about what I want to say/phone ringing off the shelf/I guess he wanted to kill himself” is one of the most apparently nonsensical verses I’ve ever heard), on “Wakin'”, Vile makes excellent use of his time.

From this song’s opening moments, it’s clear that Vile’s lush guitar tones and Americana-influenced soloing make for pure psychedelic bliss. After an already appealing first four minutes filled with this variation on his typical complacent, chill psych-folk, a brief pause transitions into the song’s second half, the true winner here. The first appearance of what might be the year’s best guitar riff emerges just about thirty seconds into this section: washed in lush, hazy tones, plucked guitar notes bathe the listener in a listless euphoria. There’s nothing exceptional about the riff itself — these notes have been used before, these scales are thoroughly abundant in guitar-based music — but its delivery is riveting. Vile repeats this riff constantly over the course of five minutes, adding minor variations here and there, yet it affects just as strongly each and every time. Nothing to be afraid of here — just sit back and float away.

Listen to Kurt Vile: “Wakin’ On a Pretty Day”

#4 – Moderat: “Milk”

Electronic instrumentalists have absolutely nailed the art of repetition. Think about it: Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Autechre — these vastly influential acts have perfected the use of cyclic repetition of the same sounds over the course of song. Although this might sound boring in concept, in execution it often pans out as beautiful, possibly more human than the voices heard in the majority of independent music.

With “Milk,” Moderat can be added to the list of electronic musicians with a steady hand over repetition. “Milk” lasts ten minutes, yet feels much shorter. Perhaps this pseudo-brevity, both a blessing and a curse, stems from how great the song’s repeating bit remains from its first to its last iteration. The clatter of icy percussion, the rise and fall of cold walls of synths, the blurring and refocusing of sampled oohs and aahs: really, these three phrases describe the entirety of the song. Although each featured is layered and de-layered countless times during “Milk”‘s blessed ten minutes, the song never stagnates despite its inherently perpetual nature. Amidst all the repetition, it’s one of the most moving pieces released this year.

Listen to Moderat: “Milk”

#3 – Jon Hopkins: “Open Eye Signal”

It’s no coincidence that two long electronic instrumentals wound up back to back on this list. “Open Eye Signal”, the early peak of Jon Hopkins’ latest album Immunity, begins with merely a synthetic whisper, but by its close it takes the form of a paranoid, haunting house track. The ebb and flow of subtly rave-pierced synths dominate the song’s first six minutes, slowly growing in presence until the music simply cannot contain them any longer. Never during this time does the instrumentation lose the eerie catharsis it so inventively deploys, but after these six minutes pass, Hopkins unleashes an entirely more terrifying beast. Slowly pulling the song’s bass out from its bottom, Hopkins reverses “Open Eye Signal” entirely, centering synths with such a strangely slathered tone that they border on incomprehensible. These synths clash with brittle, heavy percussion in the most exciting way possible, providing the track with even more substance than its first six minutes already contained. And seeing how much substance that is, that’s saying a lot.

Listen to Jon Hopkins: “Open Eye Signal”

#2 – Youth Lagoon: “Pelican Man”

It’s been clear since the very moment Tame Impala released Lonerism, 2012’s best album by miles and miles and miles, that no modern act would ever replicate its psychedelic brilliance (in regards to “replication,” I’m well aware that Lonerism is essentially Sgt. Pepper’s given a 2010s makeover). Although Youth Lagoon’s Wondrous Bughouse as a whole did not accomplish this in 2013, fifth track “Pelican Man” comes daringly close. Just under a minute of fuzzy, warbled dream pop ambience ascends into bobbing pianos and distantly crunching guitars, paving the way for a soaring, skyward guitar line that would fit in perfectly on Lonerism. Vocalist Trevor Powers douses himself in filters as his quavering, imperfect voice tells an ambiguous tale lacking an immediately recognizable theme, although the pianos and guitars mentioned earlier quickly return to put his voice to sleep. Hell, even without the context of past psychedelic works to paint this picture, the bonkers sonic palette formed here is inescapable and electrifying. To love “Pelican Man” isn’t to settle for second-best; rather, it’s to succumb to psychedelic purity.

Listen to Youth Lagoon: “Pelican Man”

#1 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs: “Sacrilege”

I’ve got an unfortunate feeling that most readers’ reaction to seeing this song atop this list will be a cocktail of anger, confusion, disappointment, and maybe even a loss of respect towards this writer. Mosquito, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ fourth album, was one of this year’s most unnecessarily hated-on albums, so it’s certainly possible that people haven’t even given “Sacrilege” a chance, and that they’ll continue not to. Even long-time YYY fans have had difficulty accepting this album, and sometimes this song, as a great piece of art, but it is genuinely my favorite song of 2013. Here’s why.

From the song’s relatively minimal opening moments, it’s clear that Karen O hasn’t lost her ability to alternate between the vilest and purest states of her voice. “Halo! ‘Round his head!” perfectly covers the former terrain, while “Falling for a guy/who fell down from the sky” embraces the latter. Once the percussion picks up and provides the bass (a rare instrument in this trio’s music) with a greater context, Nick Zinner doesn’t take long to throw in a flashy guitar riff similar to the ones for which he’s so well-liked. Zinner brings some murkiness and general mystery to the tone of the chorus; this feeling slowly spreads throughout the remainder of the song (although it had been there since the beginning), culminating in, of all things surprising, the addition of a 24-piece gospel choir.

This gospel choir could have easily felt out of place, but the band instead uses it to initiate the song’s triumphant emotional peak. As Karen O pleads and prays, the choir follows her lead, eventually themselves becoming the leaders when nearly all other instrumentation drops out. It’s a reminder of just how powerful human voices can be, especially in unison, and achieves a victorious feeling that seemingly resolves the tension the song employed in the first place. Sure, it’s a change in direction, but when it’s this resonant, who cares?

Listen to Yeah Yeah Yeahs: “Sacrilege”