Music Monday: The Rest Of The Best 2013

With my Top Albums of 2013 list posted, I only included the ones I felt were the 10 best of the year. Obviously, there was so much more music released this year. So I decided to post my thoughts on other albums I enjoyed and deserved a mention or two here.

• KoRn “The Paradigm Shift”
  
  The best album of KoRn’s career since 2003’s “Take A Look In The Mirror” Of course, the main reason for this is the return of Brian “Head” Welch, after he left the band to be a Jesus freak. Thank fucking God he’s back. This album really is great, with most of the classic guitar sound back into just about every song. I really like “Love & Meth” and “Spike In My Veins” which showcase the band’s sound we all loved and headbanged to.
• Atlas Genius “When It Was Now”
  
  Hip music from a hip male duo. This album caught hold quick earlier this year with songs like “If So” “Trojans” and the latest single “Electric”, which opens this pop alternative album.
• Capital Cities “In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery”
  
  A favorite of several of those I follow on Twitter, the very catchy beats and synth sounds meld well together. The oddest track name goes to “I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo” Thank goodness there’s other tracks like “Safe and Sound” and “Origami” that normalize the mix.
• Queens Of The Stone Age “…Like Clockwork”
  
  “I Sat By The Ocean” is the lead single and the strongest song here, but I like the rest of the album as well. Great strong guitar with brooding vocals make this another QOTSA must own album.
• Pet Shop Boys “Electric”
  
  I’ve been a Pet Shop Boys fan since the beginning. This latest release has some old school synth feel to it, which you can hear on songs like “Bolshy” and “The Last to Die”. I admit to really liking the opening track “Axis” and putting “Fluorescent” on repeat.
• Alice In Chains “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here”
  
  The second release by this band once fronted by the late Layne Staley. New vocalist William DuVal has come into his own on these songs, aided by Jerry Cantrell’s familiar range of harmonizing. “Scapel” and “Choke” are true AIC songs, in every note, strum and voice.
• CHVRCHES “The Bones Of What You Believe”
  
  This album gained speed this year in every avenue of music. I admit to skipping past “The Mother We Share” every so often, but always play “Gun”, “By the Throat” and “We Sink” all the way through.
• Lorde “Pure Heroine”
  
  Such a young star with an incredible voice. I like this entire album. Not a dull song here. When I first heard it, I thought it was Lana Del Ray. Then I saw the track details on my XM radio and decided to listen more. The hit single “Royals” is good, but expand past it to hear “Team” and “Tennis Court”
• Daft Punk “Random Access Memories”
  
  I lost interest in this album when “Get Lucky” was the only thing I ever heard from it. It’s a good song, but very much overplayed. Rediscovering after a break, I found I much prefer “Doin’ It Right (feat. Panda Bear)” and “Give Life Back to Music” A nice return to the charts for this electronic group.

Ending

Of course, there’s so much more I could have put here. But I like my list and stand by my choices.