Derrick Rossignol
Editor in Chief
We’re almost out of the window where it’s acceptable to publish a “best of 2013” list: Well, it’s probably come and gone by now. But I am going to crack it back open so I can highlight 10 of my favorite 2013 releases that may not have made their way to your iTunes. So, in no particular order:
Run The Jewels, “Run The Jewels”
Prior to last year, I had only a tentative interest in hip-hop. Then, something clicked, the floodgates opened and, although I’m still selective about my rap, I fell in love. If it wasn’t for Kanye, this collaborative album by Killer Mike and El-P would have been my favorite rap release of the year. Rapper Killer Mike and producer/rapper El-P have worked together extensively over the past couple years, and Killer Mike makes his admiration for his new go-to producer clear in a fantastic lyric from album highlight “Banana Clipper”: “Producer gave me a beat / said it’s the beat of the year / I said, ‘El-P didn’t do it / so get the f— out of here.’”
R.A. The Rugged Man, “Legends Never Die”
R.A. has been active since the late ’80s, although he’s flown largely under the radar and cannot emphasize that he’s unlike mainstream rappers and stays true to the underground. “Legends Never Die,” his third album since his first in 2004, boasts old-school-inspired beats and clever, funny and rapid-fire lyrics. For example, from lead single “The People’s Champ”: “You other rappers I’m obliterating / My flow is the Michelangelo Sistine Chapel / You ain’t even fingerpainting.”
Dan Croll, various songs
Although he has yet to release a proper album, English newcomer Dan Croll has been making noise: His song “Compliment Your Soul” was featured in the video game “FIFA 14” and a remix of the title track from his debut EP, “From Nowhere,” is on the soundtrack of “Grand Theft Auto V.” The original version of that song and newer single “In/Out” are gorgeous slices of summery, innocent indie pop that hopefully foreshadow a great debut full-length release, which has been recorded and Croll speculates will be out in mid-February.
Toro y Moi, “Anything In Return”
One of the torch-holders of hazy, groove-setting electronic music, Toro y Moi returned with a fantastic effort, headlined by “Rose Quartz,” a psychedelic chill-out that’s as easily to fall asleep to as it is to run a mile to. The music video for the song is also a must-see, made up of what appears to be individually-painted frames of impressionist beauty that’s a nice spin on the traditional show-the-band-performing-the-song video
Omar Souleyman, “Wenu Wenu”
How’s this for a back story: Since 1994, Syria-native Souleyman has been working primarily as a wedding-singer, but had gained enough popularity where bootleg recordings of his performances were widely traded across the country. American indie labels took notice in the 2000s and last year, the first compilation of professionally recorded hits made a splash in certain circles. His music, an modernized version of dabke, a traditional Syrian wedding music, is upbeat, electronic and frenetically kinetic.
Yung Lean, “Unknown Death 2002”
Speaking of oddball releases, here’s another bizarre origin tale: Yung Lean is a 16-year-old Swedish bedroom rapper who rhymes about Arizona Iced Tea, vintage Nintendo games, doing drugs and being sad over beats produced by his friends. The results can be initially off-putting, but if given a chance, are surprisingly addictive, sonically sound and filled with lazy rapping bookended by catchy hooks.
Lady GaGa, “ARTPOP”
This album may seem like it doesn’t belong on a list of obscurities, but it’s included here because while pop singles blow up, it seems like pop albums don’t always get the same attention. GaGa’s singles have always shown that she’s intensely creative, but her albums tracks expand on that point even further. Opening track “Aura” sets that tone early, opening with a Spaghetti Western-inspired intro before exploding into off-kilter pop that will impress readers of both Teen Vogue and Pitchfork.
Nathaniel Noton-Freeman, “Seabirds”
Maine has a strong, well-supported music scene, one of the best parts of which being Noton-Freeman. Most of his work is achingly beautiful instrumental acoustic guitar compositions, but he decided to get a little electric on “Seabirds” and what he ended up with is akin to a more ambient variety of pretty post-rock bands like Explosions in the Sky and Japancakes. A piece of good news for both us and Noton-Freeman is that he is currently working on a new album, which should be released at some point this year.
Julie’s Haircut, “Ashram Equinox”
This group has long been legendary in Italy, earning five-star review after five-star review since their debut in 1999. For the first time on “Ashram Equinox,” Julie’s Haircut decided to go completely instrumental for a psych trip that Roger Waters and David Gilmour would both be proud of.
Hayden, “Us Alone”
Often compared to Neil Young, the Canadian singer came out with “Us Alone” in 2013, a record that could not have been constructed any better. The slow-churned, head-bobbing opener “Motel” sets the tone perfectly for an album where the Young comparisons are often just, most evidently so in “Blurry Nights,” a male/female duet that lifts its grungy guitar sound directly from “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.”