As promised, I have put together the 30 songs I enjoyed posting most this year in (rough) order. It was very challenging to do it and I would probably make a different list tomorrow. However, it is a good reflection of the music that moved me most last year.
As ever for me, it is a mixed list. Some old, some new and some things that I both discovered and re-discovered in 2013. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you had any big tunes that I missed.
Top 30 of 2013
1) Andrew Ashong and Theo Parrish – Flowers Based: London and Detroit Released: 2012 In a nutshell: Languid and hypnotic
3) Chance the Rapper – Juice Chicago | 2013 | Hip Hop with a fresh, funky slant
5) Slow Machete – The Ghost Bride Pittsburgh and Haiti | 2012 | Haitian choirs and US beats collide in stunning fashion
6) Donnie and Joe Emerson – Baby Fruitland, Washington | 1979 | A haunting soul ballad
7) The Underachievers – The Mahdi Brooklyn, New York | 2013 | Relentless, youthful hip hop with a old school video
8) Mazzy Star – Cry, Cry Santa Monica, California | 1996 | A re-discovered 90’s classic with wonderfully rich sound
9) Delegation – Oh Honey UK | 1978 | Silky smooth disco dreamland
10) Hugh Masekela and Letta Mbula – Mahlalela South Africa | 1966 | An incendiary call to arms
11) Jah Youssouf – M’Ami Mali | 2011 | A subtle and pure African love song
12) Action Bronson and Roc Marciano – Pouches of Tuna New York | 2012 | Simple hook and playful rhymes
13) The Valentinos – Sweeter than the day before Cleveland, Ohio | 1966 | A classic slice of northern soul
14) The Majestic Arrows – I’ll never cry for another boy ? | ? | What it lacks in polish it makes up for in pure magic
15) Clear Soul Forces – Get no better Detroit | 2012 | Serene beat matched with some impressive lyrical dexterity
16) Tape Waves – Ready Now Charleston, South Carolina | 2013 | Lo-fi, washed out sound
17) Joey Bada$$ – Snakes featuring T’nah Brooklyn, New York | 2012 | Laid back rhymes over a classic J Dilla Beat
18) Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers – Why do fools fall in love? Harlem, New York | 1956 | Joyous Doo Wop
19) Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba – Falani Mali | 2010 | Otherworldly and enthralling
20) Memoryhouse – To the lighthouse Ontario, Canada | 2010 | A charming “nostalgic bedroom project”
21) Them – Don’t look back Belfast | 1964 | A youthful Van Morrison in top form covering John Lee Hooker
22) Liza Flume – Poison Dublin, Ireland | 2013 | A fragile, looping sound creates something rather compelling
23) King Krule – Easy, Easy London | 2013 | A voice and message more powerful that his boyish looks would suggest
24) Laura Welsh – Unravel London | 2013 | A stripped back and simple pop song
25) Shy Girls – Under Attack Portland, Oregon | 2013 | 90’s R’nB influenced sound
26) Prince – Controversy Minnesota | 1981 | Prince is the funkiest man on the planet
27) How to dress well – Lover’s Start Brooklyn, New York | 2010 | Just the ticket to calm a racing mind
28) Fela Kuti – Water No Get Enemy Nigeria | 1975 | Classic Afrobeat from a member of world music royalty
29) Ciara – Body Party Atlanta, Georgia | 2013 | I found myself inexplicably drawn to this classic pop tune. Solange for 2013?
30) James Vincent McMorrow – Cavalier Dublin, Ireland | 2013 | Smouldering yet earthy
I also added a YouTube playlist here so you can listen to all 30 in row. Do let me know what you think…
/RjK