Here are a few lists of my favorite music of 2013. Since I now get most of my new music from Spotify, there are no sound samples this year, so I've embedded links and videos. But if you do have Spotify, you can listen to an extended playlist here:
A passionate soul singer who usually accompanies himself on violin, he's breathtaking live. This debut album showcases plenty of his immense talent, and points to greater things to come.
Sensuous yet light on its feet, this album of intimate, lo-fi love songs is the sonic equivalent of gentle caresses and tender kisses.
An elder statesman of indie rock with a smooth baritone demonstrates how much power and meaning can emerge from the most laconic and minimalist rock.
This band, who reached #5 on my 2010 list, makes dance music and slow-jams for adults. Bonus, their video below is one of the year’s most fun.
I knew within moments that this bouncy and energetic pop album would be one of my favorites of the year. A lot of the songs sound kind of similar, but when you like something this much, you just want more.
Her previous album, the country-pop gem Charlatans At The Gate, landed the top spot on my 2011 list. This new album heads more in a pop direction, but her melodies and sass are as charming as ever.
One of my favorite bands of all time, produced by one of my favorite producers of all time (James Murphy of LCD Soundsystems). I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of them already.
I probably would never have discovered this band without Spotify. I’ll call this “art rock” but a lot catchier and more intimate than that might sound.
Sure, there’s something that’s not entirely original about their retro-rock sound, but their voices are distinctive, their songs are catchy and their energy is infectious.
Another Spotify find (assisted by a few intriguing magazine articles), Lucius play a cheerful pop with a jaunty twang.
One of my favorite singers of all time, I’ve been eagerly anticipating this album since finding her debut album in the “dollar bin” five years ago. Amazing songwriting matched with a powerful voice and a tight band, this is a triumphant comeback.
Another Spotify discovery, Grant’s smooth baritone and hyper-confessional lyrics are like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I rarely get that deep into lyrics, but some of his phrases have been ringing in my ears this fall. This album is a novelistic mini-masterpiece, sometime hilarious, often insightful, and simultaneously infused with melancholy and hopefulness.
