Soapbox 2013 end of year lists:

it is true barny, i might need to get slightly better at updating my rym ratings as time goes on. i dont think ive been particularly terrible for that this year though, certainly not as bad as when i rated the vivian girls third album 4.5 stars then didnt include it at all

ps today i listened to the 2nd connections album for the first time mahoney and have to say i prefer it to the first. i was in no real hurry to listen to it as the general consensus seemed to be it was worse but i really enjoyed it. reckon if id listened to it earlier it would have been in my top 40. also karl, it is well worth checking out the latest robert pollard album i included in my list as looking at rym/lastfm youve not heard it yet. i rate it as the best thing he released this year and think it would be right up your street, its like connections but better!

You enjoy it more than the first because it's more FUCKING lo-fi! I actually didn't know he'd done another solo album. That bastard has almost makes as many records a year as me. I'll check it out for sure.

Btw, The Next Day only has 14 tracks, the others at the end are the Japanese bonus tracks which leaked with the record. Though they are also excellent, there's a Next Day EP with even more bonus tracks which are just as good as the record. Bowie could have easily of milked the tracks into two separate albums.

I'm not putting these in any order because bar my undoubted number one album of the year these could be put in any order. I could have made a longer list but I couldn't be bothered. So here are 12 albums i loved in 2013 ...

Night Beats - 'Sonic Bloom'

Seattle based garage rock band who's second album was released through the Reverberation Appreciation Society label in late 2013. Seemingly influenced by The Zombies this album is 52 minutes long but never once feels like it's overstaying it's welcome.


Psychic Ills - 'One Track Mind'

Another album released through Sacred Bones Records, Psychic Ills have quite an extensive back catalogue that I haven't actually bothered to check out, mainly because I don't want to stop listening to their latest record.


Elephant Stone - 'Elephant Stone'

Fronted by Rishi Dir formally of The High Dials and sometimes sitar player for The Black Angels Elephant Stone's self titled album is their second album and is stunning. Influenced by Indian classical music and 60's psychedelia if you love The Brian Jonestown Massacre you'll love Elephant Stone.


The Holydrug Couple - 'Noctury'

Signed to Sacred Bones Records and coming straight out of Santiago Chile this album was released in January and has been a constant on my iPod ever since. 2013 really was a great year for psych and this was the first in a long line of fantastic records.


Bishop Nehru - 'strictlyFlowz'

I discovered Bishop Nehru through an article on Sabotage Times and have hammered 'strictlyFlowz' and 2012's 'Nehruvia' on a pretty regular basis ever since. This is a 16 year old rapper … YEAH SIX-FUCKING-TEEN YEAR OLD … who has already worked with MF Doom, DJ Premier and Madlib and opened up for the Wu-Tang Clan. His next project is a full album with MF Doom which I can't wait for.


Action Bronson x Party Supplies - 'Blue Chips 2'

BRONSON is back! He should work exclusively with Party Supplies because that dude brings the best out of him. 'Contemporary Man' might just be my song of the year. No matter how shitty i'm feeling, sticking this album puts a spring in my step and a smile on my face.


Charles Bradley - 'Victim Of Love'

What an album, what a voice, what a performer and what a man. Discovered Charles Bradley by complete fluke. A friend of mine works in a record shop and I was down visiting him and noticed a poster for a Charles Bradley gig, went home googled him, read his life story, heard him sing and was blown away. Ended up going to the gig and it was joyous.


Mazzy Star - 'Seasons Of Your Day'

After 15 years away Mazzy Star sound exactly the same and I love it.


Fuzz - 'Fuzz'

Ty Segall's creativity must know no bounds he looks about 17 and has released about 420453 records. For me the band in which he plays drums was the best release he was associated with in 2013. This is best listened to with your stereo turned up to 11.


Palma Violets - '180'

Bit of a guilty pleasure of mine it must be said but I love it. Reminds me of being 19 and going out to indie clubs with my mates, getting pissed on £1 bottles of XXXX and feeling like a DON cause you got to feel some birds tits while you got off with her in a dark corner of the dance floor.


Wooden Shjips - 'Back To Land'

A band I have been meaning to check out forever but had never got round to listening to. I downloaded this off exy when I seen it had leaked, and they didn't sound like i expected them to, but this record is fantastic nonetheless.


01. Hookworms - 'Pearl Mystic'

Without a shadow of doubt this is my album of the year, no matter what I write here it'll not do this album justice. For me it's incredible and the fact nobody else has it on their list baffle's me. Either they haven't heard it or they have no taste.

You can choose if I rate your list onwards or backwards, besides the number 1.

Why so, Moz ?

I'll think of my top 10 gigs later.

Top 10 Gigs- been to a lot fewer gigs this year, and am becoming quite predictable in that respect

1 mikal cronin- the lexington

2 the national- the roundhouse

3 parquet courts- 100 club

4 grizzly bear- primavera

5 tindersticks- barbican

6 wolf people- sebright arms

7 sigur ros- brixton academy

8 iron & wine- barbican

9 chic & nile rodgers- inidgo o2

10 mikal cronin- the dome





There are 32 albums i've spent any time with this year. In reverse order.


32 Blood Orange- Cupid Deluxe

31 Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs - Clarietta

30 Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Mosquito

29 King Khan & The Shrines- Idle No More

28 Foxygen- We Are The 21st Century…..

27 Earl Sweatshirt- Doris

26 The Stepkids- Troubadour

25 John Grant- Pale Green Ghosts

24 Jacco Gardner - Cabinet of Curiosities

23 Julia Holter- Loud City Song

22 Ty Segall- Sleeper

21 John Murray- The Graceless Age

20 Laura Marling- Once I Was An Eagle

19 Phosphorescent- Muchacho

18 Mac Miller- Watching Movies With The Sound Off

17 Kurt Vile- Walkin On A Pretty Daze

16 Jon Hopkins- Immunity

15 Iron & Wine- Ghost on Ghost

14 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Push The Sky Away

13 Speedy Ortiz- Major Arcana

12 Arcade Fire- Reflektor

11 Thee Oh Sees- Floating Coffin

10 Hookworms- Pearl Mystic

9 Dead Flowers- Midnight at The Wheel Club

8 Deerhunter- Monomania

7 The National- Trouble Will Find Me

6 Janelle Monae- Electric Lady

5 Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold

4 Mikal Cronin- MCII

3 These new Puritans- Fields of Reed

2 Bill Callahan- Dream River

1 Africa Express- Maison des Jeunes

1. Neon Neon – Praxis Makes Perfect 4.5*
Yes, musically a bit too patchy to be at top spot - though it features terrifc electronical musics with “Mid Century Modern Nightmare”, “Hammer & Sickle” and “Shopping”, among none else. The refreshing thing about this LP is the story and the way it’s told (very well), and, as a result, as a whole, another comma, all the best art and rock ‘n’ roll I’ve seen since Wintersox + orbs. No shit.

2. Mavis Staples – One True Vine 4*
Fantastic hybrid of gospel and soul on the one hand and rootsy, alternative rock on the other. On the third hand also a great singer.

3. Beady Eye – BE
Not quite the Beefheart for the Shed Seven generation we were all anticipating it to BE (tob e). But very fucking decent despite not being indieshits.

4. Connections – Private Airplane
Some indieshits that I saw on Mahoney’s RYM. Suprisingly good. Great pop album tbh. Sounds like the Lemonheads and stuff.

5. The Fall – ReMit
Not nearly as fantastic as their best work, but at least they don’t sound like Pavement that are trying to sound like the Fall anymore.

6. Babayshambles – Sequel to the Prequel
Read a lot of shit about this regarding that it’s all ‘too produced’ and whatnot. While it may be okay to sound like a shitty, lo-fi Clash, I highly prefer the BBs to sound as produced and properly recorded as possible. ‘Cos Pete is a great songwriter. As this album shows.

7. British Sea Power
Another excellent and un-groundbreaking BSP album that will forever be doomed to lurk in the shadows. Just like me and my dad.

8. Johnny Marry – The Messenger
Excellent stuff. Poppy songs and great guitar sounds.

9. Eefje de Visser – Het Is
Dutch girl who sings beautifully. Her lyrics don’t make sense. Not that they would to you any way!

10. Mazzy Star – Seasons of Your Day
Rrrather excellent, though I’ve only heard it for the first time today and am currently on my second listen. Looming, dreamy, a bit dark. The pedal steel works very well. Extra points for myself ‘cos I spotted Bert Jansch all on my own.

11. Primal Scream – More Light
Was pretty happy with this once I finally heard it. Moderately good PS album. Would have been at 10, but serious minor points for having tory ponce de nonce Robert Plant on it and singing about youths in urban houses. Fuck that. Als a bit too long. 3.5*

I Am Kloot should also be in here somewhere.

As easy as putting 12. I Am Kloot - ...

Facilitate my work, please, lads.

12. I Am Kloot - Facilitated Barny

That's more like it

Didn't realized how may albums I'd listened to this year but I've managed to pull a Top 5 together which I should be able to post at the weekend.

Top 5 May albums, amazing idea

....and of course, I meant top 50.

reading this thread makes me fucking angry at the price of gigs in Australia. cunts

20. Arctic Monkeys - AM Utter, utter, utter Shit
19. Haim - Days Are Gone Shit
18. Danny Brown - Old
17. Suede – Bloodsports
16. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
15. David Bowie - The Next Day A few decent tunes
14. Cults - Static Exactly the same as the first album (in a good way)
13. A$AP Rocky - LongLiveA$AP Pretty shit bar 1Train
12. Steve Mason - Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time
11. Pusha T - My Name Is My Name Loved this. Nostalgia is still a huge motherfucking tune.
10. My Bloody Valentine - MBV
9. Ghostface Killah - 12 Reasons To Die
8. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris
7. Primal Scream - More Light Listened to this the other day and found it boring. It probably shouldn't be this high but I still love some of the tunes. Walking With The Beast is my fave.
6. Mazzy Star – Seasons of Your Day
5. Babyshambles - Sequel To The Prequel Sturdy
4. The D.O.T - Diary A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I put it on as soon as I typed the name out. Under The Ladder is the pick of a great bunch.
3. Beady Eye - BE Proof that they could make something good but they will never make anything great (probably). There's 4 or 5 mega tunes as with the first album.
2. Action Bronson - Blue Chips 2 Pretty shocked he stopped being shit. "BECAUSE I LOOK JUST LIKE THE FUCKING BODYGUARD."
1. Kanye West - Yeesus The bollox.

I was pleasantly surprised by Babyshambles too. Less shambolic in a good way. Penguins are greeaat.