Good read. I don't promote it, but nonetheless, "Molly"/MDMA/Ecstasy is always an interesting subject.
I do feel like this same article could have been written in '99-2000 though, replacing these artists with the likes of Dre, Eminem and Missy. The rave scene was drawing headlines back then... but mostly on the news rather than internet outlets, which is why it feels so much prominent these days. Case in point, my parent's fully know what "Molly" is now, while a decade ago the only thing they associated "rolling" and drug use with was rolling a joint.
Great interview Tom! As someone who's produced some of the best (and my personal favorite) albums this past year, Ariel seems quite humble. Wish him all the best at the Grammy's!
It really does prove how cohesive that album is... I could never "Settle" on an exact go-to favorite myself, which is why I just label it my AOTY. If I had to pick my favorite closer of an album though, "Help Me Lose My Mind" would win, no contest.
Super happy "Sanctified" was included on this, it was left off the set-list when I saw them on the Ohio date. Nonetheless, so lucky to have caught this tour, it really was a beautiful sight to see.
Toro Y Moi! Yes! Anything In Return is fantastic...
Shame on me for not including it in my personal list that I posted up-thread. I think it had the dreaded "released in January" curse that made people forget about it.
I really think poor Charli is getting overshadowed since she released so many of her singles last year. Hopefully she'll get some recognition somewhere! It really would be a damn shame if True Romance wasn't represented on any site's list.
I honestly have just dove into Night Time, My Time recently (like I previously stated, 2013 has been great so I've spent some of the year playing catch-up) and agree that it's fantastic. Now I see why everyone was raving about "24 Hours" on here... I've started and ended my day with it for the past week.
Some of my personal favorite albums that weren't included:
Mikal Cronin
Flume
Pity Sex
Diarrhea Planet
Pusha T
Charli XCX
Jon Hopkins
Fuck Buttons
Gold Panda
The So So Glos
Boards of Canada
Otherwise, a lot of my favorites were represented. It seriously was just a fantastic year of releases, period. It could have been a Top 100 Best Album list and I guarantee, some great ones STILL would have been left off.
You know it's been a good year when I literally FORGOT Depeche Mode released an album in 2013. Saw them in August and everything too. Delta Machine was great... but in a year that was just so packed with good releases, I dunno if it'd even make my top 50.
I appreciate your justifications and completely agree with them! I mentioned up-thread that I almost felt bad for not including Charli into any category, but you beautifully stated the reasons why... well done. Between her mixtapes and release of singles that ruled my ears last year, I just didn't feel it was right to include her in the same categories again.
Now if there was a "Favorite Show/Concert" category, she might have made the list. Definitely one of the best shows I've seen this year - and she couldn't have been any more nice when I got a chance to meet her.
GOD THIS WAS HARD! Much tougher than last year... but I take that as a very very good thing. You go 2013!
Album: Disclosure - Settle
Song: HAIM - "Days Are Gone" (runner up: Danny Brown - "25 Bucks")
Music Video: Run The Jewels - "36" Chain"
New Act: Speedy Ortiz
TV Show: Dexter (even though the finale sucked more than anything, I'm still sad the series as a whole is done)
Movie: Side Effects
Viral Video: The penis one, of course.
I feel bad for neglecting Charli XCX, True Romance is great, but I voted for her a bunch last year so I felt it was only fair.
Awesome, awesome list Underscore. A lot of my favorites of the year were definitely included... except for, surprisingly, your number #1 pick as I had never heard of them. VERY much like what I'm hearing though. I also like that - despite unpopular opinion around more "indie" based sites - you included Burials. It might not top Sing The Sorrow for me, but it's definitely better than anything they've put forth since then and it restored my faith in the band.
Side-note: I also miss the Indie Crush category. Although I probably would of voted the exact same way I did last year anyway.
That's the only negative I can see to this. Although, like the article states, RT seem to be only focusing on mostly new releases and imports; as well as a venue to bring in further revenue. Used vinyl and back-catalog will hopefully push customers to other independent stores. Otherwise, any place selling hard-copies of music is never a bad thing, in my opinion.
Man, HAIM are really taking a lot of flack on Twitter but I thought on here they'd at least be a bit more well received.
"Don't Save Me" is one of my favorite tracks on the album, so I was pretty stoked in their decision to play it. People can rag on Este for her facial expressions but I personally don't get all the disdain for it, it's a part of what makes them, them.
To mirror the others here... great, great job with this article. I saw various tweet's about this yesterday and the Trent video brought tears to my eyes.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Andrew - his photography is unmatched. Also, major props for sporting a Strung Out sweatshirt in that Late Late Show clip! One of the best Fat Wreck bands of the '90s!
Yes! It's fantastic as expected. Been playing that and Mansion's new album, which is also pretty damn amazing, on loop today.
Wooden Shjips is great too for what I previewed this morning. Will be giving Back To Land a full spin on the way home from work.
Didn't Em already rap about that whole autograph on the toilet thing on "The Way I Am?"
"But I can't take a shit, in the bathroom / without someone standing by it / no I won't sign your autograph / you can call me an asshole I'm glad"
Seems silly for him to go into more detail about something that was already stated on the first MMLP... something that was kind of irrelevant to begin with.
I didn't have high hopes for this album but I can't say I'm not left a little disappointed. MMLP brings back so many good times from my first year out of high school - I'll forever nostalgically look back and smile - which is why I may just skip over this entirely to preserve those memories.
Couldn't agree more! I'm honestly pleasantly surprised by Days Are Gone - I was looking forward to its release, sure, but I wasn't expecting to like to SO much. Been listening to it daily since last month.
Will definitely be DVRing this SNL episode!
I didn't think it was horrible. Although I don't understand the need for the backup singers whatsoever. They added nothing except for the very last line in "Tiger Kit."
...now the backup singers on NIN's Tension tour on the other hand? Absolutely AMAZING.
Agreed... though I remember when No Code came out and "Hail, Hail" being the one of the first singles, it took a bit of criticism from fans - at least in my city anyway. Glad to see it being appreciated over time.
"State of Love and Trust" will always be my favorite PJ song. To this day, it's one of my go-to jukebox picks... mostly because not very many jukebox's are without the rearviewmirror greatest hits album.
Also, "Elderly Woman..." because seriously, who doesn't like that song? And it had one of the longest song titles back in the day - along with that Primitive Radio God's track - that would often flub on-air DJ's when they had to announce it.
Ah, that's a bit reassuring then. R&B is certainly fine with me, so now I'm more intrigued; and after reading the Q&A with Alexis Krauss that was posted, I get that going into a bit different direction was a point for them.
Either way, whatever my consensus of the album may be, I am more than excited to see them next month at the Metro. With Doldrums no less. Stoooked.
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