So to try to get a list of albums that I've liked most this year I set up an iTunes smart list with 2013 as release date. I know that is not infallible, but it is a good starting point. What really surprised me was the number of albums I had not played, or, more likely, I hadn't played some tracks. A New Year Resolution will be to play more of the music that I actually have already. So, in no particular order other than alphabetical, the 25 albums I have played most this year are below. I've missed out compilations and live recordings of previously released material. If I had included compilations Eliza Carthy's Wayward Child would be here, for example.
@greg, @BT, you've both got interesting lists with a lot of stuff I am not seeing on the other published ones...why not write them up as MiG posts? As Craig demonstrated, mastery of complete sentences is not even a prerequisite :-)
I have one on the NPR list (Dawn of Midi) and have now bookmarked the Latvian Radio Choir. Funny, I keep seeing Tim Hecker on these lists and I have most of his other albums, but for some reason after streaming a little of it when it came out I've developed an inner resistance to giving time to this one. It might just be a general resistance to "keeping up".
It might just be a general resistance to "keeping up".
Oooh, that succinctly describes a (previously) indescribable reluctance I've had lately to doing music-related things that, for all intents and purposes, I typically enjoy greatly.
@Craig - yes I'll try to listen to it on Spotify first, thanks
@GP - mine is quite an idiosyncratic list, and is actually those albums that I have played most during the year, so recent purchases are less reflected than those bought earlier in the year. It also ignores all the plays of a couple of 2013 CDs in my car, for example, so both got added, or also some Spotify plays. What it has made me realise are the following
- My emusic downloads are heavily influenced by Jonah's weekly Jazz Picks - only one of the jazz albums on the list didn't come from Jonah, and he probably coverd it anyway (Nat Birchall). I estimate at least 40% of my annual downloads come from this route.
- My other source of finding music to download comes from Bright Young Folk and the Guardian's Friday Review section
- I am exploring emusic far less than I used to, I use recommendations elsewhere
- Amazon weekly offers on new releases make up a high proportion of my non-emusic downloads
- There are actually albums out there that I would actually prefer to some of those I do download (ie those not on the list) but my emusic membership skews the music I acquire. An example is Laura Mvula. If that had been on emusic it would have been downloaded and played a lot I am sure. But the comparative cost puts me off.
...said the author of every best of 2013 list if they are being half way honest. Even the records that sold 2 million copies, that's less than a third of a per cent of the US population.
but my emusic membership skews the music I acquire.
since going on hold at emusic I feel freer to buy things elsewhere that may not be on emusic, so I suspect that's true of me too.
None for me in these lists, but am enjoying Melt Yourself Down, discovered on one of them. @BT, look below the photos - the text updates as you scroll through the pictures.
@BN - I enjoyed the new BoC. There is a sparseness to their music which made many people dismiss this latest release, but if you are a fan of the more classic days of IDM it works quite well.
re: Time Out London.
Am I missing something or do we have to guess top ten from some photos ?
10. Tech Support Allowed Into Disused Lot At Back Of Office
9. Quasi-Post-Ironic Liberace Tribute Act
8. University Challenge (knocked out in first round)
7. Failed Superman Audition
6. That Kid You Always See Hanging Around Near Burger King
5. Wrote Controversial Autobiography
4. Photo Explains Why She Broke Up With Him
3. International Man of Mystery (semi-finalist)
2. Catalogue Models' Works Outing
1. Heartwarming But Ultimately Tragic Indie Film
That Times Jazz selection has a couple inspired choices, most notably the Radio String Quartet Vienna, who is two-for-two with their last two releases. No way should they be included in the best of 2013 list, but at the same time, their music is such that I can see it making a reviewer swoon and include it. I have zero qualms about that. I don't think Jamal's album should be up there either, but at the same time, I dunno, I don't have a problem with that either. Hard to explain. Saturday Morning had a quality, some intangible that set it out from the crowd. Also, good to see Lockheart in there. That one might make my Top 30 of 2013 list, but if it doesn't, it'll just barely miss. I was relistening to it last week as I made my list, and I still enjoy it. A couple of the other albums on that list have no business being in there, but whatever. It does seem like whoever(s) put that list together had a respectably varied listening habit.
Comments
My favorite stereotypes are the ultra specific ones ripping on music magazines:
and
Both slayed me.
Craig
Kano mbif
Wait...no...that's completely accurate.
Craig
I've got:
CALEB BURHANS
DAVID LANG
THE FLAMING LIPS (Finally !)
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS
TIM HECKER
- And in case anyone should be interested, KANYE WEST is there too.
Craig
- Gorgeous !
Oooh, that succinctly describes a (previously) indescribable reluctance I've had lately to doing music-related things that, for all intents and purposes, I typically enjoy greatly.
@GP - mine is quite an idiosyncratic list, and is actually those albums that I have played most during the year, so recent purchases are less reflected than those bought earlier in the year. It also ignores all the plays of a couple of 2013 CDs in my car, for example, so both got added, or also some Spotify plays. What it has made me realise are the following
- My emusic downloads are heavily influenced by Jonah's weekly Jazz Picks - only one of the jazz albums on the list didn't come from Jonah, and he probably coverd it anyway (Nat Birchall). I estimate at least 40% of my annual downloads come from this route.
- My other source of finding music to download comes from Bright Young Folk and the Guardian's Friday Review section
- I am exploring emusic far less than I used to, I use recommendations elsewhere
- Amazon weekly offers on new releases make up a high proportion of my non-emusic downloads
- There are actually albums out there that I would actually prefer to some of those I do download (ie those not on the list) but my emusic membership skews the music I acquire. An example is Laura Mvula. If that had been on emusic it would have been downloaded and played a lot I am sure. But the comparative cost puts me off.
I'll see if I can get something together for MiG
since going on hold at emusic I feel freer to buy things elsewhere that may not be on emusic, so I suspect that's true of me too.
Seems like Gregory Porter is kind of winning the jazz lists this year.
I only have one album on the Sunday Times list that Doofy posted.
21 for me there.
0 on The Times.
Craig
Time Out London. What, no Kanye number 1, must be some kind of mistake.
The two albums I've had in my wishlist for a while that's on NPR's list are Bill Callahan and Valerie June.
Haven't checked AllMusic's list yet.
Am I missing something or do we have to guess top ten from some photos ?
- It seems that most of the lists has Boards Of Canada.
Does anyone have comments on this ? I was a big fan back in the good old IDM days.
@BT, look below the photos - the text updates as you scroll through the pictures.
10. Tech Support Allowed Into Disused Lot At Back Of Office
9. Quasi-Post-Ironic Liberace Tribute Act
8. University Challenge (knocked out in first round)
7. Failed Superman Audition
6. That Kid You Always See Hanging Around Near Burger King
5. Wrote Controversial Autobiography
4. Photo Explains Why She Broke Up With Him
3. International Man of Mystery (semi-finalist)
2. Catalogue Models' Works Outing
1. Heartwarming But Ultimately Tragic Indie Film
Craig
That Times Jazz selection has a couple inspired choices, most notably the Radio String Quartet Vienna, who is two-for-two with their last two releases. No way should they be included in the best of 2013 list, but at the same time, their music is such that I can see it making a reviewer swoon and include it. I have zero qualms about that. I don't think Jamal's album should be up there either, but at the same time, I dunno, I don't have a problem with that either. Hard to explain. Saturday Morning had a quality, some intangible that set it out from the crowd. Also, good to see Lockheart in there. That one might make my Top 30 of 2013 list, but if it doesn't, it'll just barely miss. I was relistening to it last week as I made my list, and I still enjoy it. A couple of the other albums on that list have no business being in there, but whatever. It does seem like whoever(s) put that list together had a respectably varied listening habit.
Cheers.
Would love to post someone else's best of list!
Craig