We might still see some late gems but this is an opportunity to mine each other for new material right now ?

* Top 5 Albums Of The Year
* Guitar Album Of the Year
* Missed Opportunity Of The Year
* Surprise Of The Year

Top 5 Albums Of The Year:

1. Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave
This release initially baffled me because it was quite different from their previous albums - heavier vocally and guitar-wise... like a power trio with horns. Thing is, I can't stop listening to it, something I can't say for any other albums this year (even favourites needed time off the turntable).

2. Endless Boogie - Long Island
Narrowly pipped to the post by BJL, another killer long form groove jam boogie masterpiece. My only complaint is that the 14 to 20 minute numbers on Long Island necessarily get split across commutes unless I'm driving far enough ?

3. White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade
Masterful musicianship finally meets solid songwriting on this release. Granted it's just out... but I've got a feeling it's going to stay strong.

4. The Shouting Matches - Grownass Man
Bon Iver man makes killer rock album. 'nuff said.

5. Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
Solid entry hasn't had the legs that the other top 5 have had but that doesn't mean it wasn't essential listening for a couple of months.

Honourable mention: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away


Guitar Album of The Year

Endless Boogie - Long Island
A perfect showcase for guitar's ability to created universes, in a way diametrically opposite to prog.


Missed Opportunity Of The Year

Promised Land Sound - Promised Land sound
GREAT tunes from an emerging band almost completely scuppered by baffling tone and production choices. There is something to be said for glistening tops, shimmering treble etc. but when the album (even the bass has no low end) is actually painful to listen to, then you're got a problem.


Surprise Of The Year

Arctic Monkeys - AM
It was never going to be a bad album but it's surprisingly engaging in a pleasant way. The songs are almost as good as on Humbug but without the muddy as hell Josh Homme production (as much as I admire Homme, his production is not always great).
Honourable Mention: Monster Magnet - Last Patrol (nothing new but a nice, surprising, blend of Spine of God and Powertrip styles)

Jack Flash Jr wrote: We might still see some late gems but this is an opportunity to mine each other for new material right now ?

* Top 5 Albums Of The Year
* Guitar Album Of the Year

I take it you mean albums released this year?

X-rated Bob wrote:

Jack Flash Jr wrote: We might still see some late gems but this is an opportunity to mine each other for new material right now ?

* Top 5 Albums Of The Year
* Guitar Album Of the Year

I take it you mean albums released this year?

Released in 2013
Otherwise I'd have Let It Bleed as my album of the year ?

Jack Flash Jr wrote:

X-rated Bob wrote:

Jack Flash Jr wrote: We might still see some late gems but this is an opportunity to mine each other for new material right now ?

* Top 5 Albums Of The Year
* Guitar Album Of the Year

I take it you mean albums released this year?

Released in 2013
Otherwise I'd have Let It Bleed as my album of the year ?

I've bought more music this year than I can ever remember buying before. But I don't keep up with fashion and I've been busy making up for lost time with Ry Cooder's catalogue. iTunes and Nokia Music have changed the game for me - I can get lots of stuff that local shops don't stock, loads of people's back catalogs are available and it's cheap with a capital V. I've still got some Cooders to go, but there's Christmas coming and a birthday the next month.

So, despite the sudden swelling of my music collection, but not (because of my switch to digital purchasing) the CD shelves I had made, I actually only obtained six that meet Jack's quite reasonable requirements.


1) Robert Randolph Presents the Slide Brothers.
This also gets my vote for guitar album of the year. This album reminds me of why I once loved the blues, indeed it tells me that I still do love the blues. These guys play with such authority, such skill and with such great spirit and attitude. If they want a witness my hand is already up. Strong in them the spirit is.

2) Laurie Levine - Border Crossing.
In every way a step up from her previous (pretty good) album. Producer Dan Roberts does a stellar job and serves the songs and the singer well without simply repeating the recipe of the previous album. But the main attraction here is the fabulous soul groove, underpinned by the marvellous rhythm section of Tebogo Sedumedi and Justin Badenhorst.

3) Ry Cooder and Corridos Famosos - Live In San Francisco
A curate's egg, but the good parts are REALLY good. Late in his career Cooder suddenly hit considerable songwriting form, and his last few solo albums have emphasised that. So it's good to hear him plugging in and wailing again. He's good at it.

4) Linda Thompson - Won't Be Long Now
This is her third album since her unexpected comeback in 2003, and for me it's the best yet - the most consistent in form and in style. She doesn't expect hits and has no need to make concessions to fashion. Listen to this and one of the early Richard and Linda albums back to back and there's almost no difference. She's an anti-Celine, retaining the strong but unadorned style that she used in the 70s.

5) Richard Thompson - Electric.
Cooder's songwriting is coming on stronger as he gets older, Thompson's seems to be in slow decline. Here he's really inconsistent and one's thoughts start turning to a word not previously associated with him: Filler. But he made his name as a guitarist first and that aspect of his craft is undiminished. The performances are strong (not just Thompson's either - drummer Michael Jerome turns in a very fine performance, and fiddler Stuart Duncan is a delight every time he plays), and the power trio numbers suggest some interesting stylistic possibilities. Producer (and occasional 2nd guitar) Buddy Miller steers Thompson away from the shiney but flat sound that he's opted for since leaving Capitol and going indy.

Honestly for me these two albums seemed to be head and shoulders over everything else

Shovels and Rope - O be Joyfull
=

Jason Isbell - South Eastern
=

[Edits] Whoops make that 3......
Ryan Bingham - Tomorrowland
=

Heish, this thread made me realize how little new music I've listened to this year. Thanks guys, some cool stuff you've all shared.

What I enjoyed this year :

Pretty Lights - A color map of the sun. (warning...it's electro). I prefer his earlier stuff, but it's still real good.

BMU's album (http://thraeol.bandcamp.com/) is my guitar hero album, f*&^ing impressive.

And I'm reallllllyyyyy looking forward to Lack of Afro's new album "Music for Adverts" due very soon...I've little doubt that will be my No.1 for this year ?.

V8 wrote: Heish, this thread made me realize how little new music I've listened to this year. Thanks guys, some cool stuff you've all shared.

+1
I can't think of many new releases I've listened to this year.
...Like Clockwork
Clutch's Earthrocker
Big Terrible's Rotten City

Got plenty more stuff to listen to but only these were new (unless I forgot any).
Haven't had the time or inclination to listen to Like clockwork properly yet, even though I'm a big QOTSA/Josh Homme fan. I'll get to it when the time is right...

Earthrocker was disappointing for me. I thought the lyrics were weak by Neil Fallon's standards. Cheesy. His lyrics were a big part of what made them fun to listen to for me but this one doesn't do it for me. The music and vocal kick ass but because of the lyrics, I think this one is the "Missed Opportunity" for me. I've spent much more time this year acquiring and listening to their back-catalogue.

Rotten City is probably my top out of these three. Nothing groundbreaking but just a cool album. Less Sabbathy than their previous stuff but I still dig it. Reminds me of the Black Crowes at one point.

Psean wrote:

Earthrocker was disappointing for me. I thought the lyrics were weak by Neil Fallon's standards. Cheesy. His lyrics were a big part of what made them fun to listen to for me but this one doesn't do it for me. The music and vocal kick ass but because of the lyrics, I think this one is the "Missed Opportunity" for me. I've ppent much more time this year acquiring and listening to their back-catalogue.

+1

Edit: Big Terrible = good stuff!

@ Bob: nice Linda Thompson review in Uncut

Looking through my iTunes, I actually have listened to more 2013 releases than I've realised.

The Black Cat Bones' Beatipillar.
One of my top of the year actually. Rougher and closer to the power of their live shows, which is what I thought the previous release lacked. Fun stuff. I suppose it does for me what the new Clutch record didn't...


Biffy Clyro's Opposites
I enjoy it but I think I like the "Making of" DVD more.

Crime and the City Solution's American Twilight
This was a good discovery for me. Never knew about this band until Jack Flash posted in the What are you listening to right now thread. Thanks ? Now that I see I've listened to more than five 2013 releases (only just), this one can go on the top 5 list.

Guy Buttery's Live in KwaZulu
Not all new material, but it was released this year, so I'll put that as my Guitar album of the year.
He makes it pretty damn near the top, if not top spot itself, for my performance of the year too with his International Guitar night set.

The Sound City soundtrack has some fun stuff on it too. Not exactly destined for classic status or anything but it's pretty cool when it stops sounding like another Foo Fighters record every now and then.

Jack Flash Jr wrote:

Psean wrote:

Earthrocker was disappointing for me. I thought the lyrics were weak by Neil Fallon's standards. Cheesy. His lyrics were a big part of what made them fun to listen to for me but this one doesn't do it for me. The music and vocal kick ass but because of the lyrics, I think this one is the "Missed Opportunity" for me. I've spent much more time this year acquiring and listening to their back-catalogue.

+1

Edit: Big Terrible = good stuff!

Glad someone else fells similarly about the new Clutch. All I've heard about it is hype...

Yeah, Big Terrible's whole (admittedly short) catalogue has got some serious play time from me for the past year or so. Rotten City was one of the records I was most excited for this year.

I recently discovered Dream Theatre with the amazing guitar work of John Petrucci and they launched their album Dream Theatre a short while ago. Awesome stuff!

Album of the year : 13 ....anything else released this year pales into insignificance when compared to the historical release of 13.

then Turisas2013 ...while panned by some has actually grown on me a whole pile....this is a band I very much like and hope to catch em live next year in Europe.

IceCreamMan wrote: Album of the year : 13 ....anything else released this year pales into insignificance when compared to the historical release of 13.

Must get hold of that. Only listened to the Nietzsche one...

Jack Flash Jr wrote:

2. Endless Boogie - Long Island
Narrowly pipped to the post by BJL, another killer long form groove jam boogie masterpiece. My only complaint is that the 14 to 20 minute numbers on Long Island necessarily get split across commutes unless I'm driving far enough ?

This band is the bollocks. Been listening to this album since yesterday. Must actually buy it now...

These threads are awesome for discovering new stuff.

Psean wrote:

IceCreamMan wrote: Album of the year : 13 ....anything else released this year pales into insignificance when compared to the historical release of 13.

Must get hold of that. Only listened to the Nietzsche one...

I think it's pretty cool but not amazing. Must give it more time but the drum sound is off-putting.

Psean wrote:

Jack Flash Jr wrote:

2. Endless Boogie - Long Island
Narrowly pipped to the post by BJL, another killer long form groove jam boogie masterpiece. My only complaint is that the 14 to 20 minute numbers on Long Island necessarily get split across commutes unless I'm driving far enough ?

This band is the bollocks. Been listening to this album since yesterday. Must actually buy it now...

These threads are awesome for discovering new stuff.

Their previous albums, Focus Level and (particularly) Full House Head are even better imho ?

Sweet. Will check them out. Thanks ? I'm enjoying this one a lot.

V8 wrote: BMU's album (http://thraeol.bandcamp.com/) is my guitar hero album, f*&^ing impressive.

Well that broke through the half asleep morning haze. ? Very unexpected, thanks man!

In metal Carcass' Surgical Steel has to be #1 of the year. Building on the best metal album ever released (Heartwork, '93.) and even improving it in some ways.

I'm too disorganized (and bought too much music) to compile the rest into a top 5. Or figure out if they were released in 2013.