30. Earl Sweatshirt - "Hive (ft. Vince Staples and Casey Veggies)"Who is Earl Sweatshirt? Once Odd Future creeped their way into a more mainstream audience, Earl Sweatshirt, who by that time became of household name, seemed to have vanished in thin air. His absence was truly something that encouraged a lot of people to keep listening to the rap group. Last year marked the return of the near mythical prodigy of a young rapper, and people couldn't have been more in awe. Earl dropped his debut album this year Doris, and it's all-around lurky, shadow-dwelling persona couldn't have been better captured on his single "Hive". Vince Staples also surprised listeners with one of the best guest verses all year. On "Hive", both Earl and Vince completely rap circles around each other, which has now become one of Earl's staples. Doris wasn't ground breaking in any means, but it sure shows promise in the dark, prolific MC.
29. Disclosure - "White Noise (ft. AlunaGeorge)"I have a pretty funny story to go with this song. Earlier this year, I lived in a dorm at the university I currently attend. Our dorm typically held events for students to get to know each other, and one event we held was a blacklight party. Our floor's community adviser asked me to DJ a little bit of the party, and I somewhat reluctantly accepted. As I was trying to put together a mix, I found the song "White Noise" by Disclosure. Listening to it a few times, I decided to put it on the mix as well. Once I went to the party, they were already blasting some of Taylor Swift's most recent radio hits of the time. I came in to set up my laptop and started playing the mix, and "White Noise" was the first song on the mix. There was a sudden sense of unfamiliarity when the song came on, but everyone quickly just kept dancing without missing a beat. It was a pretty rewarding experience. And it further proves the craft and genius of Disclosure; if you don't know the song the first time listening to it, you definitely will the next time around
28. Haim - "Falling"The pop sensibility that this year showed was astounding. It's almost like people finally realized we can expand our familiarity and cognitive response to music while still having a hook you can't get out of your head. Haim is no different in this case. There has been a lot of hype over this band, I remember watching a Nardwaur interview with this band without hearing anything by them. Once I finally gave them a chance, I listened to "Falling" and was blown away. The production professionalism shown in this single is show stopping. It's definitely a type of sound a lot of older listeners can relate to acts like Fleetwood Mac and maybe even a little Peter Gabriel. "Don't stop, no, I'll never give up" leading Haim sister sings with such percussive vocal expression you'll forever sing it with a really funny looking facial expression. Then after that hook is introduced again, the song explodes into a chorus to end all choruses. Overall, it's a very familiar message to live by: "Never look back and never give up."
California's own Foxygen has had a very interesting past couple years. Last year, they quietly released an amazing American rock album titled Take The Kids Off Broadway that did not gather them a lot of attention. However, this year they released a less solid release titled We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic. While they did win best album title of the year, the standout tracks weren't exactly matched by some tracks that acted a lot like filler songs. But, those tracks that did stand out, were amazing. On Blue Mountain was the first Foxygen song I simply couldn't get enough of. It floats through different movements without any second guessing while singer Sam France perfectly emulates your favorite art rock singers of the late 60's. To conclude the song, they go on a two minute drone-like refrain of "On Blue Mountain God will save us, put the pieces back together." It's all an encryption, or a mystery of sorts, but it's also unavoidable. Though they may not have changed rock music in any way, they proved that the rock 'n' roll blood flows through all their veins.
26. The Replacements - "I'm Not Sayin"This took me by complete surprise. The prolific American rock band The Replacements released an EP this year to benefit their guitarist Slim Dunlap who suffered from a stroke last year. The EP may not have been the return that Replacements fans were asking for, but one song stood out to me as one of their strongest statements yet. "I'm Not Sayin" is an original song by Nico, who is mostly well known for her iconic vocal collaboration with The Velvet Underground on their debut release (RIP Lou Reed). The Replacements added to the list of times where bands cover songs and knock the original arrangement out of the ballpark. It just further shows that this great American band has still got it after all these years.
To me, James Blake seems to have this small, cult-like following, similar to the Grateful Dead effect. I will ask people if they're into James Blake and they either respond with not really, or a ten minute long manifesto on the greatness of the British electronic producer. With his 2013 release of Overgrown, he has matured more as a song writer and has become less experimental. Many people might be turned off by this, but to me it shows growth, or as you could say, Overgrowth. "Take a Fall for Me" was the track that really showed the true talent and ear that James Blake has for his songs. Featuring RZA on this track was truly a stroke of genius as well, or as RZA would put it, "a stroke of life".
24. CHVRCHES - "Gun"2013 saw a wave of many electro-pop acts, and it's really easy to fall in the mix of everyone else. CHVRCHES followed suite of many different acts like The Knife, Kate Boy, Passion Pit, and many others. But something stuck out for the group to me, and I think it's the pitch perfect vocal delivery of Lauren Mayberry. The band gained some attention this year for the female vocalist attacking back some of the male oppressors and sexual harassment she received over the internet, and listening to the lyrics of "Gun", it starts to make a lot of sense. "I will be a gun, and it's you I'll come for", Lauren sings during the chorus that is so huge, it's hard not to take her seriously. So watch out guys, because you're picking up some crosshairs.
23. Waxahatchee - "Peace and Quiet"Singer song-writer Katie Crutchfield has gained a lot of attention over the past couple years. And I think it's pretty obvious. I recently saw her live performance at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago, and considering the crowd that gathered to see her live band perform, there was definitely more on her plate than she desired to bite. Obviously, Katie is more used to the setting of playing safe and sound basement or garage shows in an acoustic setting, and that's partially the beauty of "Peace and Quiet", it can more or less be a commentary of her own status. "But you can run, you can hide, you're a giant", Crutchfield sings triumphantly in the chorus. Now she's the giant, trying to run and hide in a more familiar spotlight.
22. Daft Punk - "Doin' it Right (ft. Panda Bear)"Daft Punk's 2013 release Random Access Memories feels huge. I mean huge. And it most certainly was huge. As everyone knows, their biggest single ever, "Get Lucky", fit nice and snug in the middle of this huge album. But nothing prepared us for that extra level of hugeness that is showcased on "Doin' it Right". On paper, it's the simplest song ever. There are only three different melodies in the entire song. But they flawlessly flow from each melody into the other, changing its form and color in different shades of light. It's instantly classic and instantly engraved in your memory. The astonishing thing about the track is how less is more. This is definitely the most minimal track on the album, but easily has the biggest payoff. Daft Punk shows how easy it is, and proves that they always and forever will be doin' it right.
