Bunch of Nonsense
Music, Books and Life in the SpiritArchive for feeding the lions EP
best music of 2013
1. Ghost On Ghost by Iron and Wine
A lot of critics didn’t really love this record and claimed Iron & Wine’s best days were behind it (him?), but I don’t get their complaints and just played this a ton, with by my count at least six five star songs (and the rest aren’t clunkers either), starting off with the wonderful ‘Baby Center Stage’ and ending forty minutes later with ‘The Desert Babbler.’ Sam is playing around with all kinds of stuff here, touches of jazz, folk, country… and the harmonies are killer. I’m sold. Best Song: “Baby Center Stage.”
2. Pythons by Surfer Blood
Again, not loved by critics and some fans, but I don’t know what they are listening to, maybe dreaming of past glories or wishing the band would be someone they are not. I suppose some of this is similar to past songs, but when the songs are this good, who cares? All I know is this is classic Surfer Blood music (kind of a mash of prom music and 90’s noise) with plenty of the goods, i.e. great songs and hooks all day long. Best Song: “Gravity.”
3. Antiphon by Midlake
All Midlake fans were fairly shocked when word came that principle songwriter and lead vocalist Tim Smith had left the band. I was probably not alone in thinking ‘well that was that.’ That is, until today with the release of Antiphon! Shocking. Amazing. Stunning. And really really great. Imagine if Caravan mixed Byrds harmonies and XTC and then stretched it all out into a late night “Low Spark” era Traffic vibe. All I can say is, wow! Best Song: Antiphon
4. Falling Bough Wisdom Teeth by Kiev
a tasty brew of funk jazz rock which sounds like a terrible idea in 2013, but these guys make it work with taste, great vocals and just the right dose of all-of-the-above. Best song: Ariah Being
Forty years down the road, this is a stunning work of intelligence, bite and power. “I found a haystack in a needle.” Best Song Forward in Reverse
A cool mess of Beach Boys, Raspberries and 90’s distortion, which again kind of sounds like a bad idea, but Mikal pulls it off and then some with great songs. Best Song: Weight
9. All The Times We Had by Ivan & Alyosha
Sweet vocals layered over looping guitars. It’s a familiar formula right now, but Ivan & Alyosha rise above the pack with superior songs. Best Song: The Fold
10. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO by The Besnard Lakes
This Canadian Beach Boy obsessed band really knows how to stack up piles of sweet noise. Imagine Pet Sounds, plus Phil Specter times 20 meets My Bloody Valentine. Best Song: The Specter
11. Pacific Gold EP by Pacific Gold
Actual a kickstarter little mini release with their full album coming in March. These guys mix heavenly Beach Boys vocals with old hymns (and Lou Reed) and the result is consistently great. Best Song: Father Winter
12. Feed The Lions Ep by ProleteR
This French hip hop sampler takes old records (a lot of Duke Ellington, wise choice) and re-works them in a funky stew. Moby did this back in the 90’s but its still very good when it works. Best Song: It Don’t Mean A Thing
13. The Wilderness by K.S. Roads
Rhoads doesn’t record very often, but when he does he goes BIG. This can only be described as epic-pop, he throws in everything but the kitchen sink, (strings? yes, background-singers? yes choir? yes) but somehow it isn’t over worked, the arrangements are truly classic pop, just bigger than most. This isn’t as good as his best parts of his last album, but its very very good. The Wilderness, If You Want Love, Invincible Fortress and Harvest are great songs. For fans of Paul Simon and maybe Phil Spector. Best Song: “The Wilderness.”
14. Happies by Kid Mountain
This is what I call playful lo-fi (similar artist would be Mutual Benefit and Sleep Good), but the best songs here (Laughing All Your Laughs Out, Vermont, Kinda Strange, Parashootin) are really great and ones I’ve all but worn out this year. Clearly this is the very antithesis of KS Rhoads. Best Song: “Parashootin.”
15. Eight by Radar Bros
These guys are building quite a great catalog, this being their eighth album of California-soul hippy pop-rock. When it all comes together with the right song, I just love their cool vibe. For fans of Mother Hips, Beulah, Grandaddy, Earlimart. Best Song: “Angler’s Life.”
16. Debris by Roman Candle
Okay the obvious, this has its moments, but is definitely not up to the level of their last release, 2009’s ‘Oh Tall Tree in the Ear’ which was a modern masterpiece and my favorite album of that year by a landslide. This is definitely an attempt to do something different and that can sometimes be good and should never be discouraged, but some of this works better than others. End of the Street and Small Time are great songs in fact I see that I played ‘Small Time’ more than any song this year. Best Song: “Small Time.”
17. Internal Sounds by The Sadies
The Sadies are just so cool. A very consistent band which doesn’t stray too far from what they do but when what they do is this great, who’s complaining? Just another great album of Sadies music by the Sadies and their massive guitars. There’s no one quite like them and yet their influences, particularly to the late great Byrds is huge. For fans of late period Byrds, Mother Hips, Johnny Cash. Best Song: “Story 19.”
18. Denison Witmer by Denison Witmer
A very solid set of tunes from this gentle acoustic artist who has such a nice light touch. For fans of Innocence Mission, Don Peris. Best Song: “Keep Moving Brother, Keep Moving Sister”
19. B Room by Dr. Dog
This release is kind of spotty and definitely not up to their past great heights, but the high points here are quite good, The Truth, Too Weak To Ramble, Long Way Down, Broken Heart… and good Dr. Dog is always a good thing and always welcome in my book. Best Song: “The Truth”
20. You’re Always On My Mind by A Great Big Pile of Leaves
Okay if these guys couldn’t get on the radio, then there’s no hope, it’s all hopeless and corrupt. I mean ‘Snack Attack’ is a hit single waiting to happen. Sweet rich vocals, great songs, big full arrangements, expertly put together. Best Song: “Ambiversion.”
Other Favorite Tracks:
- I’ll Always Be in Your Heart by Blum
- Difference A Day Makes by Jim Guthrie
- The Dream’s In The Ditch by Deer Tick
- Lost It To Trying by Son Lux
- Don’t Call Me by Kratos Himself
- 62 Moments Ft Ettin & Manu by Kill Emil
- Leave The Light On by Broken Anchor
- Chameleons by Photo Ops
- Talking In Your Sleep by Tony Dekker
- Dilla Esq by Kevin Hayden Trio
- Devoted to You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy
- Humdrum Blues by The Growlers
- One Less Bird by Silver Trees
- American Dream by On and On
- Before We Run by Yo La Tengo
- 1904 by Tallest Man On Earth
- Obsidian by Steve Dawson
- Wanted You in August by Night Beds
- Sunchasers by IceWater
- Don’t Give Up by Washed Out
Bunch of Nonsense 