RJD's Best Albums of 2013

2013 had its ups (see the list below) and its downs (namely Megadeth's megaturd "Super Collider") when it comes to music.  Here is my "Best of 2013."  Na Zdrowie.


13. Kavinsky - "OutRun" (2/26/2013, Mercury [France])

For fans of Daft Punk, Justice, 80s Sega games

Premium cuts: Nightcall, Rampage, Testarossa Autodrive

12. Man Man - "On Oni Pond" (9/10/13, Anti- [USA])

For fans of Tim Fite, Tom Waits and circus folk

Premium cuts: Deep Cover, Head On, Paul's Grotesque

11. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "One Of Us Is The Killer" (5/14/2013, Party Smasher Inc. [USA])

For fans of Faith No More, Every Time I Die, Converge

Premium cuts: One Of Us Is The Killer, Nothing's Funny, Paranoid Shields

10. Tomahawk - "Oddfellows" (1/29/13, Ipecac [USA])

For fans of Mike Patton

Premium cuts: South Paw, Oddfellows, I.O.U.

9. Leprous - "Coal" (5/20/13, Inside Out [Norway])

For fans of Opeth, The Mars Volta, Muse

Premium cuts: The Valley, Chronic, The Cloak

8. Matt Elliott - "Only Myocardial Infarction Can Break Your Heart" (10/28/13, Ici d'ailleurs [UK/France])

For fans of Tindersticks, Gustavo Santaolalla, William Elliott Whitmore

Premium cuts: The Right To Cry, Again, Reap What You Sow

7. Parquet Courts - "Light Up Gold/Tally All The Things That You Broke" (1/15/2013,10/8/13, What's Your Rupture? [USA])

For fans of The Ramones, Chuck Mosley-era Faith No More, early Kings Of Leon

Premium cuts: Master Of My Craft, Borrowed Time, Disney P.T.

6. Earthless - "From The Ages" (10/8/13, Tee Pee Records [USA])

Isaiah Mitchell has been busy.  Last year, he helped create my second favorite song of the year; Howlin' Rain's 'Phantom In The Valley'.  This year he accomplished the same feat (see "Best Songs of 2013" list below) with his other band Earthless.  Touted as "California's loudest band", Earthless jam like they are the last rock group on the planet.  Mitchell seems to be channeling Jimi Hendrix on the tracks 'Violence Of The Red Sea' and 'From The Ages'.  Each song sounds as if it can't quit with the first two clocking in over 14 minutes and the final self-titled epic tracking 30+ minutes.  No vocals can be found on the record, but Mitchell makes his Fender Stratocaster sing. Classic, unadulterated rock.

For fans of Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, The Outlaws

Premium cuts: Violence Of The Red Sea, From The Ages, Uluru Rock

5. Gorguts - "Colored Sands" (9/3/12, Season In Mist [Canada])

An epic band name and one any gastroenterologist with a penchant for John Carpenter films would undoubtedly adore. The heaviest band in the world (or at least Canada) returns with their first album in 12 years.  Leading the charge, Luc Lemay has crafted a Death metal concept masterpiece about the struggle between Tibet and China.  "Colored Sands" has been getting an abundance of positive press and not only from the metal community [see The New York Times review from Sept. 2. The crossword puzzle is on the same page, 66 Across is 'fecalith'.]  Lemay has incorporated his classical music training to bring new life into music commonly associated with large hairy men and tattoo artists.  May Buddha shed his belly moshing to this terrorizing, face-melting METAL!

For fans of Death, Carcass, Voivod

Premium cuts: An Ocean Of Wisdom, Reduced To Silence, The Battle Of Chamdo

4. In Solitude - "Sister" (10/1/2013, Metal Blade [Sweden]) 

Pure evil; the best way to describe In Solitude and their sound.  "Sister" is the third album for the Swedish metal band.  Pelle Ahman and Co. find themselves expanding on the esthetic created with their self-titled album and 2011's master craft "The World. The Flesh. The Devil."  Comparisons to Mercyful Fate and Iron Maiden have been made in regards to their first two albums, but "Sister" continues to detail a howl entirely their own.  In Solitude have unfurled their black wings and found a niche within the metal community.  Occult themes are much more obscure and the music is less grandiose than on their previous releases, however, with the more straight forward songs like "Death Knows Where" and "Horses In The Ground" the music seems more accessible but far from safe.  Pray after listening.

For fans of Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden, Danzig
Premium cuts: Sister, Death Knows Where, Horses In The Ground

3. Purson - "The Circle & The Blue Door" (4/30/13, Metal Blade [UK])

Occult rock has quickly become a new trend in the metal/rock community over the past couple years.  Among the top of the pack is Purson.  Rosalie Cunningham is the heart and soul of the group and she brings a mysterious, seductive quality to this British rock quintet.  Drawing upon equal parts Coven, Fleetwood Mac and Jethro Tull, a nod to the 1970s London music scene is ever so present.  Despite these obvious comparisons, Purson are able to create there own sound, in part due to the gorgeous vocals by Ms. Cunningham and the stellar supporting cast including prominent Mellotron theatrics by Sam Shove.  Included in the throwback sound are danceable funk rhythms ('Spiderwood Farm') and folk picking ('Tempest And The Tide.') This is truly another blast from the past which should be served amongst mass quantities of incense and lava lamps.

For fans of Blood Ceremony, Fleetwood Mac, Electric Wizard
Premium cuts: Spiderwood Farm, Tragic Catastrophe, Leaning On A Bear

2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Push The Sky Away/Live from KCRW" (2/19/13, 11/29/13, Bad Seeds Ltd. [UK/Australia])

Nick Cave can do no wrong.  He is like a bottle of good barleywine, only getting better with age.  The Aussie has been making music since the late 70s, however his best material has been created over the past 10 years; Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus (2004), Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) and Grinderman 2 (2010).  The singer, songwriter, author, poet, screenwriter, showman, is the only performer who can put more smut into his lyrics and still come off sounding like a gentleman.  The man oozes badassery rivaling that of Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris and Snake Plissken (another John Carpenter reference) combined.  And his stage presence needs to be experienced by all music lovers.  "Push The Sky Away" continues his trajectory of creating unbelievable music as he lengthens in the tooth.  The music here is much more docile than his aforementioned albums but retains his trademark swagger.  With lyrics like "She was a catch, we were a match, I was the match that would fire up her snatch", he hasn't lost any of his Catholic appeal.  Sick bastard.  Brilliant album(s).

For fans of Tom Waits, Joy Division, Echo And The Bunnymen
Premium cuts: Jubilee Street, Wide Lovely Eyes, Mermaids

1. Sammal - "Sammal" (1/15/13, Svart Records [Finland])

I have never been a person who focuses on lyrics.  Honestly, I rarely know (or care) what the vocalist is actually saying.  For me, music has always been about the riff, the groove and the way it makes you feel.  Sammal sing entirely in their native Finnish tongue (Sammal translated means "moss") and the music is so good the words don't matter.  Bands such as Sigor Ros and Rammstein have proven a non-English album can succeed in the US.  That being said, Sammal has put together my favorite foreign language record… ever.  Sammal has a progressive rock sound which harks back to the days of Moby Grape and Genesis (Peter Gabriel era) but they also incorporate an early metal influence like that passed down from Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.  Huge atmospheric sound, wailing guitars and anthemic keyboards can be heard throughout the album and frequently within a single song.  No need for a Finnish to English manual as the mood will be set shortly after the play button is hit. Despite the lack of Finn vernacular, I guarantee you will be singing along to songs like 'Esox Lucius' and 'Kaikki Kortit' after only a couple spins.  Enjoy the trip.  Ladies and gentleman, the best album of 2013.

For fans of all things 70s ROCK.
Premium cuts: Esox Lucius, Kaikki Kortit, Lehtipuiden Alle

Best songs of 2013:

1. Matt Elliott - "The Right To Cry" (the best song of the past 5+ years!)
2. Earthless - "Violence Of The Red Sea" (easily the second best song of the past 5+ years. Rivaling only the #1 on this list!)

3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "Jubilee Street"
4. Ghost B.C. - "Ghuleh/Zombie Queen"
5. Sammal - "Esox Lucius"
6. Parquet Courts - "Master Of My Craft/Borrowed Time"

7. Man Man - "Head On"

8. Kurt Vile - "Wakin On A Pretty Day"

9. Purson - " Spiderwood Farm"

10. Tomahawk - "South Paw"

11. In Solitude - "Sister"

12. Jake Bugg - "What Doesn't Kill You"
13. Clutch - "D.C. Sound Attack!"