We are about to enter a very special time. The first day of October not only signals the fact that we're close to the end of the year, Christmas, and overall magic, but this magic extends to music as well. Such is the time known as Q4. Here is a quick summary of why Q4 is so amazing and to honor this magnificent time where tastemakers make Best Of Lists, I have decided to put up my Best Of 2013 list for Songs! Unlike my Best Albums of 2013, I will be posting 5 songs in descending order for the next 10 days until October 1st. Hope you enjoy!
50. "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
Daft Punk finally got a major hit after working so hard and this also began Pharrell's takeover at the end of 2013. It may have been higher up on the list if the radio hadn't overplayed it to death. But that guitar riff tho? A+
49. "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell & T.I.
Despite the huge amount of anti-feminism and douchebaggerie of this song, Robin Thicke did claim the Summer Song of 2013 with this breezy throwback jam. In all honesty, it was just Pharrell doing all the work again, seeing as how Robin's new album wasn't exactly a success #nojusticeforPaula
48. "Pompeii" by Bastille
For all the basics out there, this song was in fact released last year and immediately put Bastille as my favorite semi-indie band of 2013. "Pompeii" was an excellent debut single that showed innovation and guts really. I mean, a gregorian chant in a pop song? Had to make the top 50.
47. "The Apple" by V V Brown
Now don't run away just yet. V V Brown made an incredible return to pop music thanks to her reinvention as a gritty, dark pop princess of the night. "The Apple" evokes all shades of Grace Jones and needs a couple of listens to truly understand the colossal heights this song builds up to. The French version is also rather spectacular, because as Diana Vickers can attest, everything sounds better in French.
46. "Roar" by Katy Perry
Once again, this song may have been higher on the list if the radio didn't play it to oblivion. Still, it's a classic Katy Perry empowerment anthem that displays just how consistent of a popstar Katy can be. A little Bonnie Mckee didn't hurt either though right? Right.
2013 was a great year for music, with a lot of old pop divas coming for their thrones and newish artists finally get their first LP out in the open. We saw Miley's Wrecking Ball and Britney Jean's Work Bitch slaying the charts but both those albums failed to really amount to anything (my opinion alone, don't kill me). So now I've compiled the best albums of 2013 in order of amazingness, and keep following the blog for Track by Track Throwbacks where I go deep into each track with my thoughts!
18. Summer Camp by Summer Camp
Just by their name, you can tell that Summer Camp have your vacation in my mind with their fun and effervescent brand of pop. So roll down your windows and play this album as you're driving along the coast and think about a fun 60's summer adventure.
17. Night Time, My Time by Sky Ferreira
It's takenSky Ferreira a long time to get it together but she finally released her debut album in 2013. Dropping her bubbly electropop persona for a scuzzy pop-rock alternative, the album suprisingly doesn't run dry on pop hooks despite the Kurt Cobain-esque styling. Good job Sky!
16. Woman by Rhye
Rhye came on the scene in 2012 with the excellent "The Fall" and their new album lives up to all the hype. A collection of blissed out cuts that wrap around you like a cashmere sweater made of clouds.
15. Beyonce by Beyonce
Katy Perry's gold truck has nothing on Queen Beyonce's surprise release of last year. While we were all freaking out and trying to comprehend how this was even possible, the music was also pretty good! So all I have left to say is, Bow Down Bitches.
14. Settle by Disclosure
With the 90's house revival in full swing, we can thank Disclosure for getting our inner 90's kid out with their debut album. Though a little repetitive at points, this record sounds scattered and chaotic, in the best way possible.
13. Body Music by Alunageorge
Electro R&B is the new genre we never knew we needed. Thanks to Alunageorge and their first album we can now jam to sum of the weirdest and funkiest music of the 2010's.
12. Trouble by Natalia Kills
Everything about Natalia Kills' return to music was amazing. After ditching the goth Lady Gaga persona, Natalia finally releases music that sounds inexplicably like her: powerful, witty, and epic.
11. The Bones Of What You Believe by CHVRCHES
The year's smartest electropop comes from the Glasgow formed CHVRCHES. An exciting and captivating adventure from beginning to end, this is a strong debut on what is sure to be a long and successful career for the band.
10. Days Are Gone by Haim
The BBC Sound of 2013 winners deliver an excellent record that blends the California rock scene with the best of 80's pop. The Haim sisters are the coolest band in whatever country you're in and would make Fleetwood Mac proud.
9. This Is... Icona Pop by Icona Pop
The baddest bitches of Sweden Icona Pop broke the soundwaves of America in 2013 and their first album stateside is a nonstop stream of shouty bangers. Though the Swedish release has a lot more substance to it, any album with "I Love It" deserves to be in the top 10.
8. The Beat Becomes A Sound by Late Night Alumni
This Kaskade side project returns to the chilled out breezy trance music that made their second album so spectacular. Late Night Alumni's mix of acoustic guitars and dance beats was ahead of its time and the angelic vocal is a great bonus.
7. Skyer by Postiljonen
The most majestic music this year comes from Sweden (obviously) as Postiljonen warms you up with lush production and beautiful electronica. The M83-esque release innocently calls for your attention and is worth every moment of listening.
6. Samson & Delilah by V V Brown
Grace Jones has got some competition as V V Brown reincarnates herself as a dark princess of edgy pop-noir. Making the biggest 180 of 2013, V V manages to pull of one of the year's most avant-garde and exciting releases in recent memory.
5. ARTPOP by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga may be flailing around a bit with this whole ARTPOP schtick but the album really is pretty great. A typical Lady Gaga album, you've got everything from pop to EDM to hip/hop to Middle Eastern trance music. You can always count on Mother Monster to deliver some of the weirdest and often times brilliant songs in music today.
4. Music To Make Boys Cry by Diana Vickers
The X Factor alumni's sophomore album is a work of art. Thanks to some help from master songwriter Miranda Cooper, Diana Vickers has never sounded so comfortable with each song reflecting the bubbly personality and wide-eyed romanticism that made us fall in love with Vickers to start with.
3. Nocturnes by Little Boots
With a promise to create the music she had always wanted to make, electropop mistress Little Boots returned to us with Nocturnes, a collection of moody night time electronica. The most cohesive album on the list, Boots doesn't mess around with getting us to cry on the dancefloor and many vogue houses would play this record nonstop.
2. Heartthrob by Tegan & Sara
Who knew that these Canadian twins had it in them to create one of the best pop albums of the decade? Certainly not me. One of the first releases of 2013, Tegan & Sara made sure that their debut into electropop would leave a mark and luckily, they achieved that with spectacular results.
1. True Romance by Charli XCX
It's hard to believe that Charli XCX's first album was released over a year ago and she is still releasing new music. After teasing the public with the occasional amazing single and brilliant mixtape, Charli's lovestruck (or love struck down) album is a magical testament to Charli's skill as a songwriter and there is not a single dud track amongst all the dark pop odes to romance.
There you go, the best albums from last year. Overall, I think music was the real winner. Let me know if I missed out on anything and stay tuned for further reviews of each amazing album!
