Anteater's 25 Favorite Albums of 2013

Anteater · 01-04-2014, 11:52 AM

^ Your welcome bud! It was a month long endeavor, so I'm glad I got some of my favorite records exposed to others.

But it's not quite over yet folks...remember those runner ups I mentioned? Here they come!

13 Albums That Nearly Made The Cut

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
The dynamic duo topped charts, filled up dance floors and made a full blown transition into a smoove late 70's funk/disco groove that, while not everyone's cup of tea, deserves kudos for atleast being interesting. Could have done without the 17-minute long Giorgio Moroder monologue, though even that grew on me with repeated listens.

Ereb Altor - Fire Meets Ice
The best album late 80's/early 90's Bathory never made. Black metal normally isn't beautiful in any sort of traditional musical sense, but this one bloody well qualifies.

Francis Dunnery - Frankenstein Monster
Former It Bites frontman and lead guitarist goes 70's rawk n roll and makes everyone else look limp and uninspired in comparison. The dude is an acquired taste musically, but this album is so good that in another year it might have made my top 5.

Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Jerry Cantrell may never do another paradigm shifting record like Dirt was back in the early 90's, but when you put out an album as corrosively catchy and layered as The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here in 2013, you don't really care if it will change the world. William DuVall really comes into his own here and the results speak for themselves.

David Bowie - The Next Day
From out of the void, the Thin White Duke returns...and he's kinda pissed off. Or maybe just bewildered at the world as it is today. It still hasn't quite rubbed off on me to the extent where it would have snagged a spot my top 25 anyway, but how can you not dig Bowie actually sounding creative AND vital again in studio? We'll probably have to wait 10 years to see what the next day will actually bring, but this will hold us over until then...

Makoto - Producer 08
The coolest cat on Good Looking Records by two country miles, Makoto-kun specializes in crafting immaculate Drum n' Bass records that sound like they were plucked right out of the mid 90's. His latest here is particularly good though, a curious concoction of atmospheric jungle with jazz-funk and orchestral pop. Another one that could have made my top 25 pretty easy in a slightly less competitive year.

In Solitude - Sister
Back when I reviewed this heavy metal outfit's 2008 self titled on another site awhile ago, I thought they had the potential to go very, very far if they could shed the "Mercyful Fate worship" some people accused them of. And whaddya know, they broke through this year with a helluva headbanger in Sister, a fantastically sinister recording that doesn't sound like anyone else at all.

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
You know when you get prog messiah Steven Wilson together with people like Alan Parsons and guitar legend Guthrie Govan that something magical is going to happen, and that's what we got early in 2013 with The Raven That Refused To Sing. Stellar songwriting reigns throughout this haunting collection, and it only didn't make my top 25 by coincidence rather than design.

Extol - Extol
Christian progressive death metal done right...very very right. Other publications have described it as Yes circa 1974 meets a better produced At The Gates in places, and they wouldn't be off the mark.

Midlake - Antiphon
One of the best groups in Texas gets groovier and more psychedelic despite a lineup overhaul and other normally disruptive factors that inhibit bands. Plus they're that rare "indie" accredited band who truly become the era they emulate (in this case the late 60's) with an ease that's frightening.

Primitive Man - Scorn
40 minutes of relentless sludge, death and noise that's rolling its big, fat body around in somebody grave and reducing their bones to oatmeal. I don't know whose basement these guys recorded this in, but I bet it smells terrible.

Eureka Machines - Remain In Hope
A wonderful, wonderful band that have pledged their souls, drug stashes and future children to the cause of bringing early 90's power pop back to life. And hey, this time it's heavier, catchier and has three arms!

Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
General opinion on QOTSA: overrated band. And yes, that includes Songs For The Deaf. But I gotta hand it to Josh Homme: when he's on fire, he's REALLY on fire. It's a riff heavy album that sits a little closer to Kyuss than past material, so that bodes well for its shelf life as far as I'm concerned.

Engine · 01-14-2014, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Primitive Man - Scorn
40 minutes of relentless sludge, death and noise that's rolling its big, fat body around in somebody grave and reducing their bones to oatmeal. I don't know whose basement these guys recorded this in, but I bet it smells terrible.

Quote:

Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
General opinion on QOTSA: overrated band. And yes, that includes Songs For The Deaf. But I gotta hand it to Josh Homme: when he's on fire, he's REALLY on fire. It's a riff heavy album that sits a little closer to Kyuss than past material, so that bodes well for its shelf life as far as I'm concerned.

Interesting. I had given up on QOTSA in a big way but I like this song. I should give this one a chance.

Key · 01-15-2014, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
The dynamic duo topped charts, filled up dance floors and made a full blown transition into a smoove late 70's funk/disco groove that, while not everyone's cup of tea, deserves kudos for atleast being interesting. Could have done without the 17-minute long Giorgio Moroder monologue, though even that grew on me with repeated listens.

This one made it on my top list for 2013 but that's due to the fact that for one, it was released in a time when we really just needed something new and fresh, and Daft Punk delivered that and more. I was expecting something amazing, and they delivered something more than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Jerry Cantrell may never do another paradigm shifting record like Dirt was back in the early 90's, but when you put out an album as corrosively catchy and layered as The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here in 2013, you don't really care if it will change the world. William DuVall really comes into his own here and the results speak for themselves.

I loved this album upon it's release and still do. I wouldn't say it's their best by any means, but it feels great to be able to put a very smooth sounding rock album and just listen the night away. It's well done in the respect that it allows for an easy listen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
You know when you get prog messiah Steven Wilson together with people like Alan Parsons and guitar legend Guthrie Govan that something magical is going to happen, and that's what we got early in 2013 with The Raven That Refused To Sing. Stellar songwriting reigns throughout this haunting collection, and it only didn't make my top 25 by coincidence rather than design.

I was never too impressed with his solo work, but this one changed it for me. He went very far on this album and it shows his genius mind at work. Lots of individuality and difference in song structures throughout but nonetheless a great album to give a few listens to. I still haven't really decided if I should have it on my list of 2013 for top albums, but it may stay there for the time being, at least until I listen to it again.

paul6237 · 02-21-2014, 11:51 AM

great selections. discovering new bands on this page to listen to. great recommendations!

MarliQQ · 03-13-2014, 11:35 PM

Did not know a lot of the artists on this list, so thanks for giving me some new goodies.

02-21-2014, 11:51 AM	#54 (permalink)
paul6237 Groupie Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1	great selections. discovering new bands on this page to listen to. great recommendations!

03-13-2014, 11:35 PM	#55 (permalink)
MarliQQ Groupie Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cheesesteak Posts: 19	Did not know a lot of the artists on this list, so thanks for giving me some new goodies.