2013 was a year of unexpected surprises, including new material and tours from My Bloody Valentine, Sebadoh, The Postal Service, The Pixies, The Dismemberment Plan, NIN, Beck, Lucius Jackson, Neutral Milk Hotel, Deltron 3030, and more. Below is a sampling of my favorite surprises of 2013.

“We had this show all wrapped up last Friday. It was totally in the can! Then My Bloody Valentine dropped its highly anticipated new album over the weekend and threw our previously recorded show into total chaos! But hey, it was worth it. We (and all the other My Bloody Valentine fans out there) have been waiting more than 20 years for this!” via NPR: All Songs Considered

♩ My Bloody Valentine – She Found Now [from m b v]
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It’s been 13 years since Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Kid Koala joined forces as Deltron 3030 and released their debut album. Though I didn’t enjoy waiting for Event II, it was well worth it.

♩ Deltron 3030 – Look Across the Sky (ft. Mary Elizabeth Winstead) [from Event II]
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Defend Yourself is the 8th studio album (and 1st in 14 years) by Sebadoh. I don’t think i’ll ever get tired of “I Will,” which makes the perfect lead-off track for this rather eclectic album.

♩ Sebadoh – I Will [from Defend Yourself]
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Though we’ll probably never get a new album from The Postal Service, 2013 marked the 10th anniversary and deluxe reissue of the supergroup’s debut album Give Up. Along with a extensive “reunion” tour, the group released two brand new tracks, including this little gem.

♩ The Postal Service – A Tattered Line of String [from Give Up: Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition]
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Of all the surprises this past year, there was one definititive highlight. After 10 (long) years, the one and only David Bowie released his 24th studio album – The Next Day. This is my favorite album of the year and there really isn’t a bad track on it. But in my opinion, “Valentine’s Day” is the standout track. Right when you hear that first guitar riff you know, this is a David Bowie song…and it’s fantastic.

♩ David Bowie – Valentine’s Day [from The Next Day]
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