The Getintothis albums of 2013 end of year list countdown is underway. Think of this as a selection box of treats that have tickled our senses throughout the year and we’re keen to share them with you. Shortly we’ll be posting our top 50 albums of 2013, but here’s 50 which didn’t quite make the cut. As always share your thoughts and suggestions on what’s been a superlative year for music.
100.
My Bloody Valentine: MBV
Self-released
Big wait, big sounds but ultimately a muddle of characteristic ambient boom and underwhelming experimentation.
Getintothis feature on MBV.
Getintothis reviews My Bloody Valentine at Festival No. 6.
99.
Arcade Fire: Reflektor
Merge
Their most playful record to date was injected with grooves and mirrorball shimmer yet there was little denying this could have been condensed into a stunning refined package. Still, an improvement than their previous two offerings.
Getintothis reviews Arcade Fire at Grand Central, Manchester.
98.
Deerhunter: Monomania
4AD
Bradford Cox‘s most feral offering to date – lacking Cryptograms‘ krautrock dalliances and Halcyon Digest‘s dream pop escapism, Monomania is still stuffed with white-noise thrillers.
Deerhunter ready Monomania for Liverpool.
Getintothis reviews Deerhunter at The Grog Shop, Cleveland, Ohio
97.
Iceage: You’re Nothing
Matador
Bolder and heavier than New Brigade yet slightly lacking that initial knockout punch. Still, few major label punks kick this hard.
Getintothis reviews Iceage, Puce Mary, Bad Meds, Eyes at The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool.
96.
I Am Kloot: Let It All In
Shepherd Moon
More love-lorn irresistible melodies from the John Bramwell handbook.
Getintothis reviews I Am Kloot at O2 Academy, Liverpool.
95.
Dutch Uncles: Out Of Touch In The Wild
Memphis Industries
Characteristically awkward, angular and theatrical yet for the first time Dutch Uncles have managed to imbue their clever pop with a sense of wide-eyed fun. Check Fester‘s marimba action for evidence.
Getintothis reviews Dutch Uncles at Festival No. 6.
Getintothis reviews Dutch Uncles at Liverpool Sound City 2013.
Getintothis reviews Dutch Uncles: O2 Academy, Liverpool.
94.
Peace: In Love
Columbia
A swaggering, scuffed glam-pop belter outshining much of their over-hyped peers.
Getintothis reviews Peace, Drenge: East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
Getintothis reviews the NME Tour feat Django Django, Miles Kane, Palma Violets, Peace at O2 Academy, Liverpool and picture gallery.
93.
Christopher Owens: Lysandre
Fat Possum
Post Girls, Owens branches out into all manner of instrumentation dabbling in prog-folk, jazzy summer whimsy and sax-led garage – sometimes he misses the spot yet that almost adds to the rock and roll rickshaw ride.
92.
NAAM: Vow
Teepee
Incessant hallucinogenic carnage from the always reliable Teepee Records stable.
Getintothis reviews NAAM, Mind Mountain, Big Naturals: Blade Factory, Liverpool.
91.
Everything Everything: Arc
RCA
Where Man Alive showcased the Mancunians’ nous for tangled structures, Arc sees the quartet unlocking bigger tunes and spirited exuberance.
Getintothis reviews Everything Everything at Festival No. 6.
Getintothis reviews Everything Everything at O2 Academy, Liverpool.
Getintothis reviews Everything Everything at Liverpool Sound City 2013.
90.
The Oscillation: From Tomorrow
All Time Low/Hands In The Dark
Frenetic undulating fuzz rock which gloriously lives up to it’s name.
Getintothis on Liverpool Psych Fest 2013 review, picture gallery and final thoughts.
89.
Pissed Jeans: Honeys
Sub Pop
Quite possibly Sub Pop’s definitive band – unadulterated kick arse, slam-dunk belters.
88.
Thought Forms: Ghost Mountain
Invada
Eastern-infused post-rock imbued with the spirit of Sister-era Sonic Youth.
Getintothis reviews Teeth Of The Sea, Esben and the Witch, Thought Forms: The Kazimier, Liverpool.
87.
M.I.A.: Matangi
XL
Wilfully chaotic, ear-punishingly high octane and riddled with inconsistencies, there’s no way Matangi should be this good – it’s flaws have you reaching for the repeat button all the more.
86.
Disclosure: Settle
Universal / Island
A playful, relentless, supreme pop album that will succeed where most commercial dance records fail, sounding fresh years from now.
Getintothis on Disclosure on the Mercury Prize 2013.
85.
Mazes: Ores & Minerals
Fat Cat
Cyclical alt-pop tightly woven with meticulous care and frazzled attention to detail – the roughest of rare diamonds.
Getintothis Blade Factory feature including Mazes.
Getintothis reviews Mazes at Liverpool Sound City.
84.
Public Service Broadcasting: Inform Educate Entertain
Test Card Recordings
About as rock & roll as geography teachers, yet a reassuring listen stuffed with refined grooves and aural kraut comfort.
Getintothis reviews Public Service Broadcasting, Lovecraft at East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
Getintothis reviews Manic Street Preachers, Public Service Broadcasting: The Ritz, Manchester.
Getintothis reviews Public Service Broadcasting, Baltic Fleet: The Kazimier, Liverpool.
83.
Drenge: Drenge
Infectious Records
A one-trick pony the brothers Loveless maybe – yet when they unleash primal tub-thumpers like Dogmeat and Bloodsports you’ll be rocking like Labour MP Tom Watson.
Getintothis on Drenge‘s debut album.
Getintothis reviews Drenge, Radkey, Dirty Rivers at East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
82.
Imbogodom: Metafather
Thrill Jockey
Alexander Tucker and Daniel Beban unravel all manner of nocturnal found sounds and monstrous mechanical drones into something which sometimes approaches beauty. For the most part, it’s desolate and discomforting.
81.
Solar Bears: Supermigration
Planet Mu
Glossy, sensuous and ever so slightly kitschy electro-pop.
80.
Besnard Lakes: Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
Jajaguwar
More languid, otherworldly suites of sweeping darkness from Canadian husband and wife duo Olga Goreas and Jace Lasek.
Getintothis reviews Besnard Lakes: O2 Academy, Liverpool
Getintothis on Liverpool Psych Fest 2013 review, picture gallery and final thoughts.
79.
Psychic Ills: One Track Mind
Sacred Bones
A relentless ride into a frazzled oblivion.
Getintothis on Liverpool Psych Fest 2013 review, picture gallery and final thoughts.
Getintothis on Psychic Ills.
78.
Delorean: Apar
True Panther Sounds
Basque synth heads Delorean struggled to match the magnificence of debut Subiza‘s wall-to-wall anthems but don’t be deceived into thinking Apar is a let down for this is another must-listen euphoric rush of pop.
Getintothis on Delorean.
77.
Crystal Stilts: Nature Noir
Sacred Bones
Sacred Bones was the psych-rock label of choice in 2013, and Crystal Stilts‘ effortless chugging grooves were some of the finest.
Getintothis reviews Crystal Stilts, Spectrals at Static Gallery.
76.
Wooden Shjips: Back To Land
Thrill Jockey
More direct than previous offerings, yet no less thrilling, Back To Land was the natural continuation of Wooden Shjips‘ endless boogie.
Getintothis on Wooden Shjips new single Back To Land.
Getintothis reviews Wooden Shjips, The Fresh and Onlys, Mugstar: The Kazimier, Liverpool.
75.
The Child Of Lov: The Child Of Lov
Domino Recording Co
Deft rhythmic pangs and basement garage chugs married to a rubbery thick gloop of funk reawakening Black Album era Prince.
74.
Majical Cloudz: Impersonator
Matador
Spectral electronica and disquieting orchestration underpinned by Devon Welsh‘s granite baritone. Frequently thrilling stuff.
73.
London Grammar: If You Wait
Warner/Chappell Music
Borrowing the xx‘s concrete sparseness, London Grammar injected a levity and pushed Hannah Reid‘s gorgeous vocal to the fore to regular refined, stylish results.
Getintothis reviews London Grammar at Liverpool Sound City 2013.
72.
Clang Boom Steam: Clang Boom Steam
Pledge
A careering wrecking ball of shotgun blues and propulsive percussion. Like a runaway train you never want to jump off.
Getintothis on Clang Boom Steam: A direct train with no stops.
Getintothis reviews Fang Island, No Spill Blood, Alpha Male Tea Party, Clang Boom Steam: The Kazimier, Liverpool.
GIT Award 2014 launch feat Bird, Natalie McCool, Clang Boom Steam, VEYU, Kalax: Leaf Tea Shop, Liverpool.
71.
Danny Brown: Old
Fools Gold
A sprawling concept album riddled with streamlined funk, dusty grooves, ceaseless samples, interplanetary soul and a desperate plea for salvation. Epic.
70.
Phosphorescent: Muchacho
Dead Oceans
Matthew Houck‘s mesmeric opus sees him crossover from also-ran to major league Stateside star.
Getintothis on Phosphorescent.
Getintothis reviews Phosphorescent at The Kazimier, Liverpool.
69.
Foals: Holy Fire
Transgressive
Holy Fire is a weighty record but ultimately lacks the coherence of their previous outings. That said where it works there’s few UK guitar bands that deliver as a unit – and they’re still one of the world’s finest live draws.
Getintothis reviews Foals, The Invisible at O2 Academy, Liverpool
Getintothis reviews Foalsat The Kazimier, Liverpool.
68.
DJ Rashad: Double Cup
Hyperdub
Hyperdub‘s equivalent to Rustie. Yep, that good.
67.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Mosquito
Interscope
Glammy and more guitar-driven than their previous offering, Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ most middling effort to date still sounds twisted, dirty and mighty fine.
66.
inc.: No World
4AD
Subtle noir pop that’s tailor-made for 4AD.
65.
Kosmischer Läufer: Volume One: The Secret Cosmic Music of the East German Olympic Program 1972-83
Self Released
A lost kosmische relic or the guise of a Scottish prog nerd? Whichever story you believe there’s no denying this is infectious krautrock trades on the guile of the finest pioneers of elektronische musik.
64.
Blood Orange: Cupid Deluxe
Domino
Devonté Hynes’ strongest work to date showcases his tight, subtle funk while allowing girlfriend and Friends frontwoman Samantha Urbani to ooze foxy sauciness in the vocal booth. Just over 20 years on this is the ideal companion piece to Controversy.
63.
Miracle: Mercury
Planet Mu
Zombi‘s Steve Moore and Guapo‘s Daniel O’Sullivan hook up on the swirling synth-led curveball of the year.
62.
Arctic Monkeys: AM
Domino
The sound of the Arctic’s rediscovering their mojo; tight, hard and packed with percussive pummelling – a proper return to form.
Getintothis on Arctic Monkeys cover Lou Reed at Echo Arena, Liverpool.
Getintothis selects our Top 10 Arctic Monkeys.
Arctic Monkeys set for Liverpool Echo Arena date
Arctic Monkeys: Echo Arena, Liverpool.
61.
Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires Of The City
XL Records
Ditching the Afro rhythms in favour of a ‘more mature’ sound surprisingly worked in Ezra Koenig and co’s favour – here they sound like a band that refuses to be a flash in the pan suggesting there’s plenty more in the locker for a seriously ambitious future.
60.
Mogwai: Les Revenants
Rock Action
In some respects Les Revenants is Mogwai by numbers – yet there’s inescapable beauty inside this glistening, malevolent fizzing electrolysis.
Getintothis on Forest Swords, Mugstar and Clinic to support Mogwai on 2014 European tour.
59.
Villagers: Awaylands
Domino Recording Co
A vast expanse of ideas rooted in fine song-writing, you suspect Conor O’Brien will forever be lost amid the myriad of acolytes trading similar fodder – few do it as good as good as this young Irish troubadour.
Getintothis reviews Villagers: East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
58.
Local Natives: Hummingbird
Infectious
Nuanced, harmony-drenched, sometimes elegiac, Americana which improved upon Gorilla Manor‘s startling debut offering with something approaching epic.
Getintothis interviews Local Natives.
Getintothis reviews Local Natives and Balthazaar: The Kazimier, Liverpool plus picture gallery.
57.
Ex-Easter Island Head: Mallet Guitars Three
Low Point
Benjamin Duvall‘s most ambitious effort yet is also the sound of he and his band cutting loose – they’ve always been free-spirited but on Mallet Guitars Three they’re positively bouncing beats and drones into your very being.
Getintothis interview with Ex-Easter Island Head.
GIT Award 2012 nominee profile – Ex-Easter Island Head
56.
Janelle Monae: Electric Lady
Interscope/Bad Boy
It’s strange that Monae‘s Electric Lady seemed to revert to type yet that’s the high standard she’s set herself – a rainbow of musicality married to one of the finest new talents in pop.
Getintothis reviews Janelle Monae at the Academy, Manchester.
55.
Mount Kimbie: Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
Warp
Crisp, thudding dance music which is as magnetic on record as it is unleashed in the live arena.
Getintothis interview with Mount Kimbie.
Getintothis reviews Mount Kimbie at Summer Camp at Camp and Furnace.
Getintothis reviews Mount Kimbie live review and pictures from Liverpool Sound City 2013.
54.
The National: Trouble Will Find Me
4AD
To some extent, Trouble Will Find Me was the sound of The National consolidating their position, yet when that position is of one of the great classic rock bands on the planet, it’s a pretty remarkable consolidation.
Getintothis reviews The National at the Manchester Apollo.
The National named #3 in Getintothis‘ albums of 2010.
53.
Heterotic: Love & Devotion
Planet Mu
Life-affirming vistas revisiting the early hours of warehouse parties. With added Gravenhurst.
52.
Haxan Cloak: Excavation
Tri Angle
Bobby Krlic‘s aural tapestry of the journey after death is exactly that: a myriad of unexplainable trips into darkness.
Getintothis reviews The Haxan Cloak at HAUS during AND Festival 2013, Liverpool.
51.
John Grant: Pale Green Ghosts
Bella Union
While John Grant‘s hardly gone dance, he’s flexing his considerable frame all over this one – sprinkle a liberal amount of understated humour and malevolence and you’ve a tasty proposition.
Getintothis reviews John Grant, Josefin Winther: East Village Arts Club, Liverpool.
Getintothis on John Grant bringing Pale Green Ghosts to Liverpool.
50.
Jel: Late Pass
Anticon
Jerry ‘Jel’ Logan offers up grindingly dirty, heavily textured hip hop which sounds little like anyone else.
Further reading on Getintothis
Getintothis‘ Top 100 Albums of 2012.
Getintothis‘ Top 50 Records of 2012: 10-1
Getintothis‘ Top 50 Records of 2012: 20-11
Getintothis‘ Top 50 Records of 2012: 30-21
Getintothis‘ Top 50 Records of 2012: 50-31
Getintothis‘ Top 50 Albums that didn’t make it into Getintothis’ Top 50 albums of 2012.
Getintothis‘ Top 100 Albums of 2011
Getintothis‘ Top 50 Albums that didn’t make it into Getintothis’ Top 50 albums of 2011
Getintothis Top 50 Albums of 2010.
Getintothis Top 50 Albums of 2009.
Getintothis Top Albums 100 of 2008.
Getintothis Top Albums 50 of 2007.