Category Archives: best of 2013

2013, 31 days of good, best of 2013, music

(31) Days of 2013: 12.8.13

December 8, 2013 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

Mapei’s new album will be released at some point next year via Downtown Records. In the meantime, enjoy her latest offering – “Don’t Wait”. I love this track and it’s been on heavy rotation for the last month or so. I’m super excited to hear more from this talented young lady.

♩ Mapei – Don’t Wait [single]
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J. Cole is one of my favorite hip hop artists these days, but it’s Amber Coffman’s vocals and the sampling of Cults‘ “Bad Things” that make this track stand out.

♩ J. Cole – She Knows [from Born Sinner]
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Jamie xx performed this gem during his Night + Day set in Berlin. I’m really hoping this means some new solo offerings from Jamie are on the way.

♩ Jamie xx – Untitled (Unreleased)
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2013, 31 days of good, best of 2013, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.7.13

December 7, 2013 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

“There’s a line in that song that just slays me. It says, “Wisdom’s a gift but you trade it for youth. Age is an honor, but it’s still not the truth.” I just love that. I don’t know where you were when you wrote that line, but good lord.” via Bob Boilen, NPR: All Songs Considered

♩ Vampire Weekend – Step [from Modern Vampires of the City]
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I’ve been gushing about Sleigh Bells since I started this here blog back in 2009. Since then, the NY noise-pop duo have released 3 full-length albums, and i’ve loved them all. Bitter Rivals was released this year (not even a year after 2012’s Reign of Terror) and packed full of the duo’s signature pop hooks and epic guitar riffs I love so much. I’m not sure if Sleigh Bells will ever be able to top their debut album, Treats, but if they keep releasing tracks like “Sugarcane”, I won’t complain one bit.

♩ Sleigh Bells – Sugarcane [from Bitter Rivals]
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“’Don’t Swallow the Cap’ (maybe a reference to Tennessee Williams’ unfortunate demise) slowly builds into an anthemic ending, combining lush string arrangements with eery distortion and Bryan Davendorf’s cyclical drum work. It’s an odd melding of styles – Davendorf drums like he’s in Can; the Dessner brothers play delicate, sly melodies; Matt sings with an intimate intensity – but it works, and I’m not sure it ever won’t.” via Pretty Much Amazing

♩ The National – Don’t Swallow the Cap [from Trouble Will Find Me]
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Cults’ self-titled debut was my favorite album of 2011, so needless to say, I was super excited for their sophomore effort. Like Sleigh Bells above, I don’t think Cults will top their debut, but Static did not disappoint one bit. There are a handful of worthwhile tracks, but “We’ve Got It” really showcases the duo’s signature sound of experimental pop and doo-wop vocals.

♩ Cults – We’ve Got It [from Static]
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2013, 31 days of good, best of 2013, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.6.13

December 6, 2013 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

If you’re not hooked on this track after 10 seconds in, you should get your hearing checked. This track is off the fantastic self-titled EP the NY duo dropped not too long ago, which should (briefly) tide you over until their next full length, Voices, is released, which is supposedly right around the corner…

♩ Phantogram – Black Out Days [from Phantogram EP]
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Son Lux blew me away this year. He’s got such a cool sound and his latest album, Lanterns, doesn’t disappoint one bit. Hands down one of my favorite albums of 2013 and i’ll never get tired of this track.

♩ Son Lux – Lost It To Trying [from Lanterns]
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In late 2012, this Portland five-some almost threw in the towel, but they carried on and their perseverance definitely paid off. I can’t wait to hear more from Wild Ones, I believe they have a bright future ahead of them. In the meantime, enjoy my personal favorite track (“Curse Over Me”) from their fantastic debut album, Keep It Safe (along with a little bonus remix of “Rivals”, courtesy of Trails and Ways).

♩ Wild Ones – Curse Over Me [from Keep It Safe]
♩ Wild Ones – Rivals (Trails and Ways remix)
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What is (31) Days of Good?

2013, 31 days of good, best of 2013, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.5.13

December 5, 2013 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

“Flight Facilities have dipped down from the heavens to gently drop this smokey gem of funkified gold. Mickey Green’s vocals polish this stone cold groover to perfection as the song twists and winds around FF’s slowly building beats.” via The Burning Ear

♩ Flight Facilities – Stand Still (feat. Mickey Greene) [from Stand Still EP]
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“London’s own Ebony Bones, born Ebony Thomas, just uploaded the new single ‘I See I Say’ from her upcoming two-part album Behold, a Pale Horse, and it punched me in my face. From the arresting titular vocal loop that drives the song from start to finish to the swelling orchestral strings that add some sinister sonic depth, this genre-eluding electronic ballad pulses with ominous energy.” via Indie Shuffle

♩ Ebony Bones! – I See I Say [from Behold, a Pale Horse]
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“RAC is pretty much unstoppable at this point. He recruited Bloc Party vocalist Kele and MNDR (the voice on Tokimonsta’s excellent ‘Go With It’) for ‘Let Go’. This song has been on repeat for a week now. I can’t get enough of it.” via Rachel Reynolds, KCRW Music Blog

♩ RAC – Let Go (feat. Kele & MNDR) [from Don’t Talk To EP]
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What is (31) Days of Good?

2013, 31 days of good, best of 2013, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.4.13

December 4, 2013 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

A few of my favorite Summer 2013 jams…

James Murphy co-produced this track and even though it didn’t make the final cut for the band’s 2013 LP (Dynamics) it’s still a must listen. In my opinion, the track is so good, it deserved it’s own separate release.

♩ Holy Ghost! – Teenagers in Heat [single]
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Ever wonder how to make a good track great? Have The Weeknd remix it is one way. I really wish Kavinsky and The Weeknd will team up for a full length. Make it happen boys.

♩ Kavinsky – Odd Look (ft. The Weeknd) [from OddLook EP]
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“Get Lucky” gets all the love, and it’s a great track as well, but I don’t think i’ll ever get tired of this particular track, which features Panda Bear (Animal Collective) on vocals.

♩ Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (feat. Panda Bear) [from Random Access Memories]
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Probably my favorite cover of 2013. Personally, I find Soulja Boy’s original uninspired, but this track is anything but. The production and vocals are spot on. Honestly, Purity Ring could cover One Direction and I’d love it.

♩ Purity Ring – Grammy (Soulja Boy cover) [single]
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The average age of this foursome is 18.5, but don’t let that fool you. These Chicago rockers carried a well deserved buzz from 2012 into a breakout 2013. I first heard this song on NPR: All Songs Considered, while in the middle relocating from Southern to Northern California. There’s really nothing good about an 8 hour drive, but this song definitely made it better. No joke, I probably listened to this track at least 20 times in a row on that trip.

♩ The Orwells – Who Needs You [from Who Needs You EP]
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