By Randy Jarosz
Another year down. 2013 was a great year in music. We saw some classic artists make a return, like David Bowie, who released “The Next Day,” to critical acclaim. Arcade Fire released a double disc, “Reflektor,” living up to their previous success. Kings of Leon made an energetic return with “Mechanical Bull.” Newcomers Haim made a splash with their debut album “Days Are Gone.”
Here is a list of my favorite albums of 2013. Tunes that will likely stand the test of time in my iPod. My list includes “Leap,” from Cabinet. A band that that has been making major noise in the bluegrass/jam world. This album was a love at first hear for me. These guys are music’s best kept secret. It’s just a matter of time before they are selling out large venues all over the country. Another favorite is “Trouble Will Find Me,” by The National. The indie band The National have been around for years but are still gaining new fans with every new album and tour. I discovered these guys preparing for Bonnaroo 2013, which includes listening to just about every band on the line up. The album features “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” and “Demons.” Another heavily rotated album of 2013 for me was “Hummingbird,” by Local Natives. The album was produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner. This album was a stray from 2009’s “Gorilla Manor,” with a more serious, darker feel. “Nomad,” by Bombino is a tremendous album that may get overlooked because of the language barrier. The guitar riffs alone from Omara Moctar, a native of Agadez, Niger are worth taking a listen to. Next on my list is “Mechanical Bull,” by Kings of Leon. This is one band that I can listen to just about every song they have ever made and enjoy it. There was no exception with songs like “Supersoaker,” and “Temple.” “Modern Vampires of the City,” by Vampire Weekend was released in May 2013 but just recently hit my rotation. Luckily for me I didn’t let this gem slip by.
