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Last Active 01-14-14 10:02 am Joined 12-19-10
Review Comments 2,334
| 2013 by CrownofMagnets, bitch
Here's my favorite albums of 2013. I thought I might as well choose 13. Here we go. | 1 | | Queens of the Stone Age ...Like Clockwork
I didn't expect QOTSA to make the best album of the year. I've always loved them since Songs for the deaf. Era Vulgaris didn't do it for me at first but now I've learned to accept it. I, as well as many other people, didn't think they would produce another top notch album since Oliveri left, but the new line-up surprised me. Dave Grohl is also back to, kids. He plays on pretty much the whole album, however after he recorded it he went back to Foo. With new drummer Jon Theodore, the guy who was in one of the greatest prog rock bands, Mars Volta, although he only plays on the last song, the title track of the album. It is a rather unique song, probably the most special song of the album. Homme trying new things as always, plays a soft piano in the beginning, while the end is more prog rock almost, but with more of a symphonic twist. An interesting combination, and overall a unique album with great melodies. Had the pleasure of seeing this band live finally (which I've been trying to do for years and had the chance in 2007 but failed), and they blew me away. So glad I went with my friends.
Album Rating: 4.1/5
Quality Tracks:
I Appear Missing
Vampyre
...Like Clockwork | 2 | | O'Brother DIsillusion
Having seeing this band live so many times I know they will not disappoint. This new record solidifies that statement. Although it's a very slight step down from its predecessor, Garden Window, Disillusion still has a different evolution to O'Brother's sound that has lots of great, new ideas. The album starts off kind of shaky in my opinion, I don't really care for the beginning of the album to be honest. While Parasitical is a nice change of pace after the repetitive unwelcoming intro, it really turns around and starts to make sense around track 3, the first single, Context. One of my favorite parts of the album is the transition from "Path of Folly", a nice mellow song into "Oblivion", a real heavy gut buster. Also features an 'epic' title track, ten minutes in length. The song is O'Brother's second longest song in their catalog. The longest is the dramatic, heavy, and heartfelt twelve minute "Cleanse Me" from Garden Window which this new song "Disillusion" can be compared to. But it is different and gives a different experience. Rather than emotional and dramatic it is more eerie. Some of the songs are slightly less enjoyable but nothing short of solid. Can't wait to see what these guys will come out with next.
Album Rating: 4.0/5
Quality Tracks:
Disillusion
Oblivion
Context | 3 | | Polyenso One Big Particular Loop
Having never heard of these guys before they changed their name, Polyenso was once called Oceana. They were hardcore mixed with post hardcore, I guess? I don't know, they had some okay stuff back then, but the band which has changed a hell of a lot, is maturing into something new. This album is often overlooked and written off because the vocals sound a lot like Radiohead. And its true, the singer/guitarist Brennan is definitely refining his vocal skills a lot after screaming his throat out when the band was Oceana. That can't be an easy transition and I respect the guy for getting way better at singing. This is definitely mellow indie rock in a sense. There are lots of clean guitars, however the bass, drums, as well as many additional instruments bring the sound to a big production type feel. And it actually works. "Cherry Life" is a kick-ass garage rock jammy song with lots of cool guitar textures and vocal effects. Denny, the drummer comes up with complex grooves. His drumming has always been good, but now it seems he is trying new things. "Falling in the Rain" is the other best song on this thing. Great vocals on this one. He goes into Eddie Vedder mode a little bit on it too. "Push" is more straight ahead catchy indie rock. A song about skateboarding.
Album rating 4/10
Quality Tracks:
Cherry Life
Falling In Rain
Push | 4 | | Alice in Chains The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Alice in Chains returning after a long break, release their second album with new frontman or co-frontman William Duvall, who of course replaced Layne Staley, RIP. Anyway, the album is quality AIC although maybe not as memorable as Black Gives Way to Blue. The title track is worth checking out though, definitely the best song that came out of this solid album.
Album Rating: 3.7/5
Quality Tracks:
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Stone
Hollow | 5 | | Palms Palms
Chino Moreno is back with his new highly anticipated side project, Palms. Probably one of the most interesting newer bands out there. Featuring a bunch of the dudes from Isis playing instruments and Chino singing, this album has one of the best songs of the year, which is the opening track, "Future Warrior". Perfectly blending all the musical elements of Isis but in a different way, with Moreno's melodic vocals is a great combo because I was never too big on the vocals in Isis. However, this album suffers from a common album disease: "first-song-is-way-better than rest syndrome". It is kind of a let down listening to the songs after the first but the whole album has its moments, especially in the beautiful "Antarctic Handshake". Very dreamy space rock with occasional bursts of metal.
Album Rating: 3.6/5
Quality Tracks:
Future Warrior
Antarctic Handshake | 6 | | My Bloody Valentine MBV
Album Rating: 3.6/5 | 7 | | Daylight Jar
Album Rating: 3.6/5 | 8 | | Balance and Composure The Things We Think We're Missing
Album Rating: 3.6/5 | 9 | | Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks
Album Rating: 3.6/5 | 10 | | Dillinger Escape Plan One Of Us Is The Killer
Album Rating: 3.5/5 | 11 | | Black Sabbath 13
Album Rating: 3.4/5 | 12 | | Wavves Afraid of Heights
Album Rating: 3.3/5 | 13 | | Bring Me The Horizon Sempiternal
Album Rating: 3.2/5 | |
CrownOfMagnets
12.09.13 | overall a decent year but not too great. | Keyblade
12.09.13 | Well yeah, if these were the only good albums of this year | KSK1
12.09.13 | Haven't heard 7 yet. Been meaning to check it. 8 was one of my favorites of the year as well. | oltnabrick
12.09.13 | 6 is best ye | ILJ
12.09.13 | listen to more music
i mean damn nothing on here is even top 20 | oltnabrick
12.09.13 | cept like MBV | Keyblade
12.09.13 | Yeah | CrownOfMagnets
12.09.13 | sorry if i dont like deafheaven or daft punk | iwasnvrurbf
12.09.13 | i mean damn nothing on here is even top 20 [2] | KSK1
12.09.13 | Sputnik, ..where opinions are simply a fallacy.. | Havey
12.09.13 | you only listened to 13 albms this year didnt u | ihopeuchoke
12.09.13 | This list falls off pretty hard at 7. Also, if you're going to include Daylight and Balance and Composure, why is there no love for Turnover? Magnolia was pretty fuckin awesome. | CrownOfMagnets
12.09.13 | i will check it out, man. just never heard of it until now. | ihopeuchoke
12.09.13 | Enjoy. It rules pretty hard. | Havey
12.09.13 | favorite bands
The Smashing Pumpkins, Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Kyuss, O'Brother, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Trail of Dead, Thursday, Radiohead, The Beatles, The Mars Volta, Jimmy Eat World, Nine Inch Nails, The Flaming Lips, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Deftones (not a HUGE fan but I like em), , | Havey
12.09.13 | Deftones (not a HUGE fan but I like em), , | CrownOfMagnets
12.09.13 | hey man there was a point when I got over deftones for a while, who cares? | oltnabrick
12.09.13 | I LIKE EM HUGE | CrownOfMagnets
12.09.13 | ended up making some changes.. forgot to add DEP and NIN because I only put the ones I had rated. anyway, i think this change makes this list less shitty :)
what are some albums from the year I should be listening to based on these? |
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