As always this list is based on my own personal favorite albums, and contains albums, released in 2013, that I have played the most over the last year.
It was such a good year for new albums, that I couldn't keep it to 5 albums this time, and i couldn't leave out any of the albums below.
Here they are, in random order... (kinda)
Disclosure - Settle
I believe this has been everyone's favorite over the last year, and it was definitely my most played album of the year. And the best one... I guess.
I'm a big fan of their sound, the deep house basslines, their catchy tunes and it is all so well-produced.
Respect to these 2 guys who have gotten world-famous in only 18 months.
Disclosure - Album Launch Party at Boiler Room
Elvis Costello and the Roots
One of the strangest combinations of the year... Costello's recognizable 60s voice with The Roots' 70s backup behind it. It works for me. Weird but nice...
Interesting that The Roots are in my Albumlist again... It is the 3rd time that they appear in my annual Top-5 list, out of the 5 lists i have made so far. Earlier they scored with Betty Wright and Jon Legend, I wonder what they come up with in the next years...
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
The most anticipated and most hyped album of the year did not disappoint me, although there are a few tracks on this album that i'd rather skip sometimes.
Nevertheless, the first single-releases were so great that they made up for the rest.
But what would you expect, with a line-up like that: Moroder, Todd Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams and many more... It's true that the big budget helped to make this album as big as it got, but don't underestimate Daft Punk's excellent production-skillz on this one...
Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
The first single (and video) were probably the biggest summer-hit of the year, but the full album was actually pretty nice too... Funky, soulful... just what i like.
It might be a bit too smooth for you all, but find that out for yourself.
David Bowie
Bowie's latest (24th) studio-album, long-awaited and brilliant as ever. Nuff said...
David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (1)
We had to wait 6½ year for a new Justin Timberlake album and this year it was finally released.
Justin's voice is still in great shape, he still has an excellent timing, and sounds soulful and funky...
I love the long versions on the album, the producers probably had a lot of fun creating these masterpieces with some very weird and unconventional tempo-changes.
The Horrorist - Fire Funmania
...it's funny when you re-discover an artist that you danced to in the 90s at rave-parties, and then finding out 20 years later that he is still making music, plus that he shares the same interests as you.
He also blogs about synthesizers (even longer then me) and i believe he is even a 'fan' of my PatchPierre blog :-)
This album has really taught me something about producing albums just for the fun of it.
Too many albums i hear lately are 'overproduced' and this one definitely not.
I like the raw, dark, bold atmosphere in some tracks, and the pure energy in others...
Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady
Not as good as her debut 'The Archandroid', but after a couple of times listening this album really grows on you. I love how versatile her voice is, and the production behind it always keeps amazing me...
Greco-Roman - We Make Colourful Music Because We Dance In The Dark
One of my favorite British dance-labels have released their first official compilation album this year, and it features almost all the masterpieces that they released so far.
It's a very dance-able album, just like their first 'un-official' first compilation 'Gods against Men' that was on this list 2 years ago...
You can listen to the tracks at the ResidentAdvisor website
Knife Party - Haunted House EP
Whoohoo!
I love the sound of Knife Party on this EP... play this loud and enjoy!
EDM Death Machine is one of my favorite tracks of the year...
More...? :
Tamar Braxton - Love and War ...Toni's youngest sister and former member of the Braxtons delivered an excellent album that is almost as good as Toni Braxton's early albums... Another great voice but now with a more up-to-date sound
Teena Marie - Beautiful ...Teena Marie, mainly known for her work with funk-legend Rick James, passed away late 2012, right after she (almost) finished her last album. With a little vocal and productional help of her daughter this album got released early this year and is still pretty amazing. A worthy tribute to a true legend.
LL Cool J - Authentic ...my favorite HipHop album of 2013. Maybe just because i like oldschool HipHop and this album just sounds 'authentic'.
Atoms for Peace - Amok ...Thom Yorke's side-project released another exciting album this year. I've always been a fan of Radiohead and Thom's solo-project and this is again very experimental and exciting with Thom's unique way of singing.
Stromae - Racine ...hmmm... I like French songs and a few of Stromae's #overhyped singles, but this is just not my cup of tea... but you may disagree.
Charlie Wilson - Love, Charlie ...one of the most disappointing albums of the year; I like comeback albums from soul-legends, but not if they get the autotune treatment on almost every track #fail
Disclosure - Settle
I believe this has been everyone's favorite over the last year, and it was definitely my most played album of the year. And the best one... I guess.
I'm a big fan of their sound, the deep house basslines, their catchy tunes and it is all so well-produced.
Respect to these 2 guys who have gotten world-famous in only 18 months.
Disclosure - Album Launch Party at Boiler Room
Elvis Costello and the Roots
One of the strangest combinations of the year... Costello's recognizable 60s voice with The Roots' 70s backup behind it. It works for me. Weird but nice...
Interesting that The Roots are in my Albumlist again... It is the 3rd time that they appear in my annual Top-5 list, out of the 5 lists i have made so far. Earlier they scored with Betty Wright and Jon Legend, I wonder what they come up with in the next years...
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
The most anticipated and most hyped album of the year did not disappoint me, although there are a few tracks on this album that i'd rather skip sometimes.
Nevertheless, the first single-releases were so great that they made up for the rest.
But what would you expect, with a line-up like that: Moroder, Todd Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams and many more... It's true that the big budget helped to make this album as big as it got, but don't underestimate Daft Punk's excellent production-skillz on this one...
Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
The first single (and video) were probably the biggest summer-hit of the year, but the full album was actually pretty nice too... Funky, soulful... just what i like.
It might be a bit too smooth for you all, but find that out for yourself.
David Bowie
Bowie's latest (24th) studio-album, long-awaited and brilliant as ever. Nuff said...
David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (1)
We had to wait 6½ year for a new Justin Timberlake album and this year it was finally released.
Justin's voice is still in great shape, he still has an excellent timing, and sounds soulful and funky...
I love the long versions on the album, the producers probably had a lot of fun creating these masterpieces with some very weird and unconventional tempo-changes.
The Horrorist - Fire Funmania
...it's funny when you re-discover an artist that you danced to in the 90s at rave-parties, and then finding out 20 years later that he is still making music, plus that he shares the same interests as you.
He also blogs about synthesizers (even longer then me) and i believe he is even a 'fan' of my PatchPierre blog :-)
This album has really taught me something about producing albums just for the fun of it.
Too many albums i hear lately are 'overproduced' and this one definitely not.
I like the raw, dark, bold atmosphere in some tracks, and the pure energy in others...
Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady
Not as good as her debut 'The Archandroid', but after a couple of times listening this album really grows on you. I love how versatile her voice is, and the production behind it always keeps amazing me...
Greco-Roman - We Make Colourful Music Because We Dance In The Dark
One of my favorite British dance-labels have released their first official compilation album this year, and it features almost all the masterpieces that they released so far.
It's a very dance-able album, just like their first 'un-official' first compilation 'Gods against Men' that was on this list 2 years ago...
You can listen to the tracks at the ResidentAdvisor website
Knife Party - Haunted House EP
Whoohoo!
I love the sound of Knife Party on this EP... play this loud and enjoy!
EDM Death Machine is one of my favorite tracks of the year...
More...? :
Tamar Braxton - Love and War ...Toni's youngest sister and former member of the Braxtons delivered an excellent album that is almost as good as Toni Braxton's early albums... Another great voice but now with a more up-to-date sound
Teena Marie - Beautiful ...Teena Marie, mainly known for her work with funk-legend Rick James, passed away late 2012, right after she (almost) finished her last album. With a little vocal and productional help of her daughter this album got released early this year and is still pretty amazing. A worthy tribute to a true legend.
LL Cool J - Authentic ...my favorite HipHop album of 2013. Maybe just because i like oldschool HipHop and this album just sounds 'authentic'.
Atoms for Peace - Amok ...Thom Yorke's side-project released another exciting album this year. I've always been a fan of Radiohead and Thom's solo-project and this is again very experimental and exciting with Thom's unique way of singing.
Stromae - Racine ...hmmm... I like French songs and a few of Stromae's #overhyped singles, but this is just not my cup of tea... but you may disagree.
Charlie Wilson - Love, Charlie ...one of the most disappointing albums of the year; I like comeback albums from soul-legends, but not if they get the autotune treatment on almost every track #fail
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