Beck - Morning Phase

I've been digging through Beck's catalog in anticipation of the new record. Morning Phase doesn't live up to the potential of some his past works, but there are still many things to like about this record. My favorite aspect is that this is gentle, relaxing music rife with an early morning ocean/beach type feel. I'm not sure if this album is better than its 2002 companion piece, Sea Change, but there is a vintage, 1960/70s California feel that comes across very powerfully. The beautiful, swirling strings wash over the listener, delivering a dynamic, restorative emotional impact while still maintaining a sense of simplicity.

"Turn Away" could have been a Simon & Garfunkel song, while Beck's plea for togetherness on "Blue Moon" marks some of his most earnest and heart rending lyrics. This is not my favorite side of Beck, and probably not an album I'll come back to very often as the year progresses. But it's still a very good record, not to mention that it is still rewarding to find a piece of singer/songwriter folk these days that doesn't reek of Mumfords/Lumineers coffee counter slop. Morning Phase should bear a strong appeal to anyone who loved Sea Change, or just anyone who's a fan of the genre.

Bonnaroo 2014 lineup thoughts, impressions, and general excitement

With the Bonnaroo lineup dropping a couple of days ago, here are my thoughts on a range of artists playing the festival:

KANYE WEST - Pretty much everyone I know hates Kanye. Well I say haters can hate, cause this will easily be one of the best sets of the weekend.  College Dropout, Late Registration, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy are all legitimately great albums, along with plenty of great tracks spread out through the rest of his discography. Folks who come out to Bonnaroo come to see a show, and Kanye has one of the biggest and baddest stage productions of any touring act today. This is his chance at a redemption show, and it will be intriguing to see what he does with it. His setlists are massive, and possible collaborations with Frank Ocean and Pusha T make this into a possible set for the ages. If I am at Bonnaroo this year, I am at this set.

JACK WHITE - very excited for Mr. White. I was hoping he was going to be Mumford's replacement last year; Jack headlining the night after Macca would have been an unbelievable one-two punch. The White Stripes stuff is awesome, Blunderbuss is awesome, I'm not as familiar with Raconteurs and Dead Weather material but can brush up on that rather easily.

ELTON JOHN - I only know four songs from Elton John, but I'm no dummy. I know this set has potential. Elton is one of the legendary artists of his era, this year's answer to Paul McCartney, who has a veritable back catalog of his own. If I end up making the trip this year, I'll make a concerted effort to learn his setlist.

LIONEL RICHIE - not much positive I can say here, so I'll keep it short. Lionel is obviously one of the greats and I respect that, but his brand of schmaltzy, cheesy 70s/80s love ballads does nothing for me. I'll probably have to sit through his set if I want a close spot for Jack, and I will not be thrilled.

SKRILLEX/SKRILLEX SUPER JAM/EDM IN GENERAL - I don't have the greatest impression of Skrillex as an artist, but seeing some of the things on the linuep this year may honestly be the year I give EDM a shot. I'm glad to see Roo is pushing themselves by putting on an electronic superjam; I'm curious to see how it turns out even if I probably won't know most of the guests that drop in. Not to mention this year is the year that Disclosoure and Chromeo are on the lineup. And hell, even Kaskade is sounding pretty sweet based on what I've listened to so far.

THE REST - Vampire Weekend and Arctic Monkeys are near the top of my list. Wanted to catch each when they hit Nashville, but was unable to due to various conflicts. Excited to check out The Flaming Lips extravaganza for the first time, and also looking forward to what madness Die Antwoord has in store for us. Also really pumped that Frank Ocean is coming nearby; didn't think I'd get the chance to see him. I'm really enjoying what I've listened to from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; she seems like an artist I should give a chance to.

And of course, I've got to dig into some roots/folk music. First Aid Kit, Shovels and Rope, and Carolina Chocolate Drops should all be a blast. Last but not least, if you know me, you know I've got to get my metal fix. I'm glad to see Mastodon on the lineup. I was planning on heading down to Atlanta to see them with Josh; now hopefully we'll get to see them a lot closer (for me, anyway). And I also can't wait for the grinding intensity of a Meshuggah set. Should be an awesome time and I hope to see you  all there!

Deafheaven's foggy black metal frenzy casts a spell over Nashville

By the time Deafheaven arrived for their gig at The End, the venue was already packed to the rafters in anticipation of the San Francisco metal band's inaugural Nashville performance. The guys have been riding a major wave of hype since last June's release of their sophomore album Sunbather, which forges together an inventive blend of black metal, post rock, and progressive metal.  Their set was a very draining, exhausting, and intense experience, but was also very fulfilling.

Vocalist George Clarke is very interactive with his audiences. Clad in a black button up shirt, black pants and black gloves, he could be seen forcefully gesturing as though he was conducting some kind of bizarre orchestra. He clasped hands with those in the audience, leaned directly into audience member's faces while screaming into his microphone, and even crowd surfed for a brief moment. With two of his fingers pressed into his temple while he let loose a shriek, it looked like he was going crazy at some points. The only disappointment was that his microphone volume was turned so low his vocals were virtually inaudible.

Deafheaven vocalist George Clarke pours out every drop of intensity, and his fans do the same.

It was undeniable the amount of energy this band unleashed upon the crowd. When "Dream House" kicked in, an overwhelming wave of adrenaline was unleashed. Everyone pushed up front until we were all packed in close together like sardines. Girls were hopping up on stage periodically and stage diving into the crowd. As for the band themselves, they rumbled away with precision and tenacity. It sounded slightly muddier than on record, but they still generated large wall of sound. They weren't that loud at first, but the cranked that up later as they went along.

The drums were obviously very technical, but what stood out about Daniel Tracy's playing is how hypnotic it was. There weren't a ton of crazy fills; there was a little more time keeping than usual from drummers in this genre, but had a very mesmerizing rhythm keeping the pace for the rest of the band's insanity.

The setlist featured the four main cuts from Sumbather with a much needed breather in between each song. By the third song, "Vertigo," the crowd was exhausted and took a little break but kicked it back up into high gear for the last two songs. Quite a bit of it sounded different from the record but the great moments were all there. The frenzied lead in to "Dream House," the deep, grooving riffs during the denouement of "Sunbather" that serve as the perfect come down, the hazy, and dreamy guitar strains that open "Vertigo" -- it was all there, and it was glorious.

Deafheaven cast a spell over the crowd. Seeing them was not at all like what I expected it would be, and I'm not entirely sure if it was quite like any other band I've seen. Being still young and upcoming, they've not quite attained unmissable status, but this young band has something special going for themselves and you'd be ill advised to overlook it.

Reuinted Neutral Milk Hotel quietly takes charge at Ryman Auditorium

Out of all the bands that launched a reunion in 2013, few generated a bigger sense of euphoria and hype than 90s fuzzy acoustic indie folkers Neutral Milk Hotel. But hype can be a double edged sword. Friends of mine who had seen their initial reunion shows last October spun tales of massive auditoriums where everyone was singing along, people overwhelmed with glee, and generally just a groundswell of euphoria sweeping over the entire building. Everyone I heard talk about the shows were all hype as fuck even long after having seen it.

Maybe I was expecting too much, but this was far from the case when the band played Nashville's Ryman Auditorium last week. The crowd was surprisingly low energy. Near where I sat, everyone was plastered with bored, blank expressions. More than a few appeared totally disinterested, and could be seen noticeably shuffling around, while even more kept filing in and out all throughout the set to hit the concession stands. It was like people didn't know what to do if they weren't allowed to capture the show on their phone or Ipad.

Down near the front there was a little contingent rocking out and really getting into it, and at one point someone screamed out from the upper balcony, "We missed you!" but such displays were few and far between. It's possible that Neutral Milk Hotel did indeed make an indelible impression on this crowd, but it sure didn't look like it.

Which is a shame, because the band's performance was actually excellent. Frontman Jeff Magum, sporting his thick mountain man beard, kicked off the show by playing the magnificent "Two Headed Boy Pt.1" alone on stage. It was only the first song, and I already wanted it to never be over. The aggressive voice of Mangum's crisp acoustic guitar combines with his mesmerizing vocal melodies to create one of the most euphonious sounds in music today. Those divine horns, a staple of many bands associated with the Elephant 6 Recording Company, wonderfully accented "Holland 1945" and "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea."

The bass that propelled On Avery Island standout "Song Against Sex" was obviously less fuzzy, but made up for it by being more propulsive and energizing. Mangum, who is historically known for being introverted, didn't speak much. But he did seem to loosen up a little and at one point even cracked a joke. He asked everyone to set their cameras and phones down, and then said, "if it's really that much of a drag, I'll give you a drawing."

But he had a point. It was nice look around and not see any camera or phone lights in the crowd (even though I admit I take my fair share of pictures at most shows myself). And even though I've dogged the crowd a bit in this piece, there were a few moments where it was splendid to see the way one guy was able to stand on stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar and hold a packed crowd spellbound in the palm of his hand. The hype that follows Neutral Milk Hotel may not be the greatest thing, but the band themselves certainly are.

Totally Unauthorized's Most Anticipated Albums of 2014

It's been a great decade for music thus far, and 2014 seems like a year that could top all of them. No joke. Kendrick Lamar, Fleet Foxes, Agalloch, Frank Ocean, and Adele are all at least somewhat likely for sometime later in the year. Meanwhile, British stalwarts Radiohead and Blur have been working on new material, but it is not known yet whether those works will be pushed into 2015. Here are some of the can't miss releases of 2014:


Beck -  Morning Phase
TBA February

How can you not love Beck? The super versatile musician and songwriter responsible for classic tunes like "Loser" and "E-Pro" hasn't had much to cheer about in several years, but Morning Phase is looking like it will be among the early contenders for album of the year. The album will apparently cull from a collage of classic 60s and 70s artists; Beck tells David Fricke of Rolling Stone that he drew inspiration from The Byrds, Crosby Stills & Nash, and Gram Parsons among others.

St. Vincent - s/t
February 25

Whenever St. Vincent puts out an album, you can rest assured that it will be just plain fun. There are already a pair of singles out. The first, "Birth in Reverse," is a fun and bouncy number that sounds like new wave updated for a 2014 audience, with a bit of a very intentional mechanized feel. "Digital Witness," meanwhile, has a similar vibe but manages to pack in her trademark horns into the fabric. It gives the image of an album with pretty heavy production, but still with enough charm and life to fit it into the themes she's developed over her career.

Tune Yards - TBA

Merril Garbus of Tune Yards released one of the most eclectic and aurally stimulating albums in 2011's w h o k i l l, blending all sorts of world music influences with a rough, homespun, do it yourself type of vibe. But most of all it was the overpowering bass and tribal drums that underpinned the tracks more than anything. Garbus revealed a tentative title for the album, Sink-O, back in July but not many details have emerged since then. It is known, however, that she spent time in Haiti learning more about African tribal rhythms.

Cloud Nothings - TBA

Cloud Nothings made one of the most intelligent fusions of punk, indie, and post-punk with their 2012 album Attack on Memory, but don't think that the Cleveland rockers are content to sit on their laurels for the followup. Frontman Dylan Baldi claims the new album will be nosier and much less melodic, meaning that the guys will be free to work their chaotic brilliance in all new ways.

Rodrigo y Gabriella - TBA
TBA April

The Latin acoustic guitar playing duo released their last album, Area 52, in 2012, but their newest release will be their first proper studio album since 2009's 11:11. All that's been released so far is a brief clip of a new song, as well as a release date -- April 2014 -- on the band's website. But if their past material is any indicator, the new album will be another captivating piece of heavy rhythm and breathtaking lead work.

Modest Mouse - TBA

All I can say is that it's been far too long since Modest Mouse put out a full length studio album. It's been seven years since We Were All Dead Before the Ship Sank, and going on 15 years since their magnum opus The Moon & Antarctica. However, as recent history has shown, a long layoff can often enable a band to come back with a fresh approach. They cancelled a run of European dates last summer to work on the new album, which is set to include a guest appearance from former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic.

Grimes - TBA

Canadian electronic synthpop artist Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes, is one of the more overlooked personalities out there. Her excellent tumblr reveals a silly and fun loving personality, and this is one of the qualities that made Visions such a gem. Boucher said in April that she was influenced by Enya and Paramore while recording the new album, and wants it to have a Nine Inch Nails level recording quality, which will be much easier with the resources she'll have after her signing with Jay Z's Roc Nation label.

Badbadnotgood - BBNG3

If you're looking for jazz music that thinks outside the box, Badbadnotgood will be your jam for 2014. This trio of early 20s musicians is well known for infusing their deep, and introspective compositions with a hip hop nature. They've worked Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, and Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future Fame, while reinterpreting material from artists as diverse as James Blake and Wacka Flacka Flame. They released a new tune, "Hedron," last summer, but it is unknown whether it will be on the final album.

Run the Jewels - TBA

Atlanta hip-hop artist Killer Mike and New York based producer/rapper El-P gave us one of the most exciting rap collaborations last year with their self titled Run the Jewels album, and fortunately the duo isn't making us wait long for more material. Killer Mike didn't give a release date but did disclose that recording was taking place in December and January. If it's anything like its predecessor, you can expect forceful and combative hip hop that never messes around and gets straight to the point.

Totally Unauthorized: 2013 Album of the Year Awards

How great of a year was 2013? Here's a quick and easy barometer for you: if you like hip hop, if you like to dance, or if you enjoy seeing your favorite band from 20 years ago get back together, odds are this was an incredible music year for you.

All told, 2013 was possiby the best music year of the decade yet. It will be an interesting conversation this time next year, when we hit the midway point of the decade.   Hip hop was one of the inarguable winners, with key releases from Run the Jewels, Danny Brown, Pusha T, and of course the impossible to ignore Yeezus.

But the year also boasted one of the best classes of newcomers in years. Dance duo Disclosure, all female post punkers Savages, all sister pop trio Haim, and Irish synth pop newbies Chvrches headed up a staggering freshman class. Odd Future cohort Earl Sweatshirt wowed us all with his long awaited major label debut, while Matthew Barnes tripped us out with nostalgic electronic under the name Forest Swords.

In other trends, 2013 was easily the year of the comeback. Nine Inch Nails, My Bloody Valentine, and even the mythical Neutral Milk Hotel made their grand returns to the fore this year, but perhaps no artist reappearance was more unexpected than David Bowie, who dropped the excellent The Next Day in March.

But it didn't end there. Daft Punk, Queens of the Stone Age, and Mazzy Star released new work after long layoffs, while the year end saw a reemergence from Outkast and even Garth Brooks. Stars this year proved there's no better way to build buzz and fill thier register drawers than by a well executed comeback.

As I do each year, here are my picks for some miscellaneous categories, followed by the list.

Most Disappointing Album of 2013

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Mosquito

After a threesome of impressive records, including their out of left field turn toward dancepop on 2009's It's Blitz, the Brooklyn rockers ran out of steam on latest. The came across like a band that's gotten too old for their scene, leaving many wondering what directions are still open to them at this point in their career. 

 
Most Overrated Album

 

Kanye West

Yeezus

You knew it had to be this. After building a career around the concept of being polarizing, West drops argubaly the most divisive record of the decade. It's a good album, and deserves credit for pushing industrial/noise/whatever rap into the mainstream eye. But there's a failed experiment for every moment of brilliance, which makes most of slavish praise and album of the year nods seem a bit over the top. 

Best New Artist

Disclosure

This category was razor thin between Disclosure and Savages. I have no clue which artist will go on to provide us with a more fruitful career, but it's really a win/win scenario either way, right? Disclosure got the nod for being more fun to listen to, for its great collaborations, and those undeniable beats. 

Song of the Year 

Patty Griffin

Go Wherever You Wanna Go 

Written in the wake of her father's death, folk singer Patty Griffin employs all the hand crafted turns of phrase that will tug at your heart strings and make you feel like you knew the man. This song is on another level.  

25. Kvelertak - Meir

Kvelertak's sophomore release spotlights one type of sound that was conspicuously absent from 2013: swaggering, good time rock and roll. Meir is steeped heavily in the metal traditions of their native Norway, but is also rife with the sounds of blues, metal, and classic 70s rock and roll.

24. Forest Swords - Engravings

Cold, industrial, but still highly organic, Engravings is one of those records that rings out like echoes from the past, creating a sense of longing about things lost long ago, but still maintains an overall sound that pleases present day sensibilities.

23. Paul McCartney - New

One of rock's most transcendent figures releases a great new album doing what he's always done, but this time he's got four different producers to make sure he does his damage in different ways.

22. Arctic Monkeys - AM

Alex Turner and the boys are up to no good as usual, but this time they've got some slick R&B grooves to power one of the year's best guitar rock records.

21. Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe

This Scottish synth pop trio have managed to release the best 80s pop album of the year. But more captivating than their sound is the sense of determination and passion that they pour into it. In addition: Lauren Mayberry is just too damn cute.

20. Deerhunter - Monomania

Atlanta indie rockers Deerhunter were on a clear shoegaze coated trajectory for the better part of their career. That all changed with their fifth LP, Monomania, a brash celebration of all things America proudly coated an inch thick in dive bar grime. Behold Bradford Cox's rambling traveling narrative on "Pensacola," the raucous junkyard crunch of "Leather Jacket II," or the chilling brilliance of "Nitebike." Deerhunter not only wears the label of one of today's best bands, but also one of the most unpredictable.

19. My Bloody Valentine - MBV

I was really, really enamored with this album when it first came out,  especially so considering I didn't have much of a history with the band and never listened to Loveless that much. Unfortunately, this was one of the albums I started to get bored with as the year progressed, yet looking back now it's hard to argue its status as one of the year's landmark albums. There are no major surprises, but there is plenty of energetic drum work, loopy synthesizer experiments, and, of course, plenty of Kevin Shield's haze filled instrumental soundscapes.

18. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels

Killer Mike and El-P, the two emcees behind Run the Jewels, both cracked the top 5 of last year's list with their respective solo releases, and their first collaborative record is brash, confrontational, and is another undeniable gem as well. El-P's beats are a little more subtle here than what he's done in the past, but Mike's intensity will force you to show respect.

 

17. Bad Religion - True North

Aging artists tend to talk a pretty good game when it comes to making a return to form album. Then there is Bad Religion, whose latest record not only captures the spirit of their early material but actually rivals it. Anyone who's heard Suffer, No Control, or Against the Grain knows what to expect, yet it's still revitalizing to hear that they still have a record like this in them. Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz, meanwhile, unleash their ire on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the Citizens United Supreme Court decision to the degradation of American education.

16. Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks

The first post reunion album from Nine Inch Nails is much quieter and more restrained than its predecessors, but it works because Trent Reznor finds plenty of ways to work with the quiet space and gentle ambiance. Aside from "Copy of A," there aren't too many songs here I get that excited about on their own merits but played from start to finish, it's remarkable how well these tracks work with one another. Whether it's the damning violin in "Disappointed," the muted mechanical tinkering on "In Two," or the bold uplifting chorus of "Various Methods of Escape," Reznor has done a terrific job of crafting an album that is much more the the sum of its parts.

15. Kanye West - Yeezus

Hands down the most hotly debated/talked about album of the year, and a #1 pick for many publications. A fair listen to Yeezus should be enough to convince a great many listeners that isn't the year's best. In fact, there are too many outright bad tracks here for it to even be top 10.  Yet Yeezus is bringing elements to the fore that haven't been heard in mainstream music in possibly ever, and the first four tracks are about as strong of an opening as I've heard on any album this year. 

14. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual

There is no shortage of longtime listeners of The Knife who had problems with the duo's latest album. To be fair, it is incredibly arty and obtuse in places, but it also in many ways is a work of arresting brilliance. Tired of formulaic music? Shaking the Habitual is about as far from a formula as you can get. Their previous release, 2006's Silent Shout, was weird but accessible, but everything was more or less laid out on the surface. The sugarcoated dream lands are few and far between here, however, as Karin Driejer Andersson and Olof Andersson cull the deepest recesses of our subconscious, crafting sounds that play on fears and anxieties locked away in deepest recesses of our subconscious, while weaving in a minor political theme regarding social customs in their native Sweden. Too much for some to swallow, no doubt, but what's brilliant about Shaking the Habitual is you never know where it will go next.

13. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

Doris is the type of album that sucks you in the more you listen to it. On initial blush, it's clear that the production is album's strength. Hazy and dreamlike, it's easy to find some situation where you just want to slip away into some chilled out, mellow beats. Earl's delivery is usually pretty understated, but rather than being a detriment as some have claimed, it actually suits the album almost perfectly. Earl is calm, collected and thoughtful, but able to show you the strains he is under. It's not intended to make you feel sorry for him, but to get you to respect his inner strength. 

12. HAIM - Days are Gone

What HAIM is doing isn't new or original, but they do make damn fun and carefree pop, and do it better than just about anyone else at the moment. The vocal interplay between the sisters can be staggering, most notably during the title track's middle eight, or on the acid tinged tones of "My Song 5." But one of the biggest triumphs is that it is like a musical blender -- the Haim sisters weave together a diverse array of styles and influences a make it work out fantastically.

11. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Few albums from this year have been as thoroughly disassembled as Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, and opinions vary wildly over the French dance duo's fourth album. Yet once you cut through all the hype, it's difficult to deny that Random Access Memories is solid from top to bottom, and is among the year's most ambitious recording projects. The highly sought after duo let their EDM roots fall by the wayside, opting for a bold approach toward 70s disco that paid off in spades. Meanwhile, guests such as Pharrell, Animal Collective's Panda Bear, and Paul Williams did more than just add a slew of fancy names to the guest list -- they delivered legitimate awesome performances that rounded out Daft Punk's sound and helped make this one of the year's best albums.

10. Deafheaven - Sunbather

Arguing over its status as a black metal album, or even whether it's metal at all, seems to me to be beside the point. I'll admit this: when I'm in the mood for metal, Sunbather isn't the record I'm going to reach for. When I do play Sunbather it's going to be because I want to listen to that record specifically, which I think is much higher praise. "Windows" surely must have been inspired by Godspeed You! Black Emperor's "Blaise Bailey Finnegan III." Deep, dark, wandering, and exploratory. It's extremely dense but always offers something new to jump out on each repeated listen. If you have any interest in music like that at all, there's really no one who did that better than Sunbather.

9. Patty Griffin - American Kid

This album has plenty of songs that break me down. It's something about the way her voice rings out, and the power behind it, that cuts through me. This is Griffin's seventh album (discounting Silver Bell), and is perhaps her most personal to date, focusing on stories of her father and her link with family. She offers a few stylistic detours here and there, but when you deliver passion like this people will follow you en masse.

8. VV Brown - Samson & Delilah

What a difference an album makes. It was always evident Brown had immense talent, but Samson & Delilah marks her first true artistic statement. The generically catchy pop of her last album had merit, but on initial blush everything seems to have changed between this album and the last. Dark, futuristic, hazy R&B replaces the 50s and 60s influence of Travelling Like the Light, sounding bold and passionate and frightening at the same time. Even the way she sings is different, dropping her Northampton accent for a deep and imposing contralto. What hasn't changed, though, is the infectiousness and mastery of hooks. "The Apple," along with the title track are the type of songs Top 40 radio wish they had the balls to play.

7. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

Monae's second album advances the storyline of wacked out android Cindi Mayweather, but it's not the concept that sells this album for me. The Electric Lady will be remembered for its indelible sense of the funky; it knows how to be zany in just the right way. The first suite is packed with high energy dance tracks with an overwhelming sense of individuality. The second suite was harder to get into, but ringing cuts like "Victory" are also songs that show off the tremendous raw power of her voice. She also weaves in themes of rising from tough times/street life on cuts like "Ghetto Woman" and "Electric Lady," while championing feminist causes on "Sally Ride." Few albums recently have been as effective at making you kick up your heels, dance, and sing along, while also forcing you to think.

6. Savages - Silence Yourself

In 2013, Silence Yourself was that was scary, gritty, and dangerous album in a year that was somewhat lacking in that department. It took an all girl band to make one of the records that had the most balls of this year.  Just when the album seems to be tapering off, it hits you with an incredible burst of energy of some of frontwoman Jhenny Beth's most frantic and frenzied screeching and shrieking. Guitarist is capable of gentle brushstrokes and jagged edge riffing, while the rhythm section churns and gurgles like an industrial strength factory. The tempo relaxes a bit during the middle part of the album, but it opens and closes with a bang, and their message of defiance will be one that continues to reverberate within your earlobes.

5. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

The 80s are often maligned for the being the progenitor of a lot of largely disposable new wave. But Arcade Fire have made a record that is this diverse, and pulls influences from so many corners of the 80s that with Reflektor, they have subtly but powerfully made the case that perhaps this decade is much more nuanced that many of us have been willing to give it credit for. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a mind like James Murphy at work, and perhaps it's no coincidence that Reflktor offers a sharp left turn from the triumvirate of Funeral, Neon Bible, and The Suburbs.

At first, I thought the album was inconsistent, but the more I listened, the more I appreciated the diversity that each track offered. The raging Jamaican feel of "Here Comes the Night Time, the frenzied group shout along of "Joan of Arc," along with the heavy 80s synthesizer vibe of "We Exist" are all among the top music moments of the year. Reflektor is one of the deepest, most varied, and challenging albums of recent memory, and no doubt one we'll be discussing for some time.

4. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

When listening to some of Vampire Weekend's earlier work, it often sounded like something made by a super smart Ivy League grad who wanted to make sure you knew how smart he was. Modern Vampires of the City, conversely, sounds like a record that could only be made by someone with the brilliance of Ezra Koening, and he is employing his genius to craft something we wouldn't have been able to enjoy otherwise. Rife with religious, historical, and intellectual references, the album sounds like something that could have been dreamed up after an all day study session in a university library. But it also represents the most overt maturation process in the band's history.

For a long time, Vampire Weekend have teetered dangerously on the precipice of genius and irrelevance. Modern Vampires is a legitimate turning the corner album for the band, and one that we're as fortunate to have as they are. They stagger the senses with their sense of imagination. Within each song, Koening is able to paint a short story about some type of character, setting, or event and make you feel like you were actually there with them, if only for a moment or two.

3. Disclosure - Settle

Do you like beats? You'd better, because English duo Guy and Howard Lawrence have what you need to keep your booty moving. Unlike some of their contemporaries, they don't overwhelm you with a wall of synth and they don't craft dream covered soundscapes. But they do pump out the BPM you need to dance, dance, dance, into the early morning hours. Settle is a great mix of British dancefloor club beats along with shimmering electronic pop songs that never lose their danceclub sensibilities. Sounds fresh, stimulating, and like they're having a great time. Many of their pieces, including "Tenderly," and "Stimulation" show an emphasis on 90s throwback with the ecstatic vocal samples.

They also have a thing for collaboration. They have snuck in some of the best electronic pop songs of the year, "White Noise" and "You and Me," which will stand out to fans of synthpop, and pop music in general, but these have a definite dancefloor philosophy ingrained into them. Then you have the demented "Confess to Me," featuring soul singer Jessie Ware, along with the bold and majestic song with London Grammar, the closest the duo have come to mounting an answer to Orbital's "Halcyon + On + On."

I'm not too much into dance music, but these songs have a freshness and creativity in them that gives them a broad appeal, along with the fact that they pay enough attention to melody to make these songs great bangers for the club or in the car. I haven't heard a dance album I liked this much since Orbital's In Sides.

2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

Queens of the Stone Age began significantly modifying their sound on 2007's Era Vulgaris after four rock heavy records in a row, but never have they pulled it off like this. Coming off a six year hiatus, Josh Homme took his creative offspring in his hands and redefined everything we thought we knew about this band.  The grooving riff rockers are there, to be sure. Lead single "My God is the Sun," along with "I Sat by the Ocean," are two of the tastiest rock songs the year has to offer. Yet the album's other eight cuts paint a much different picture. There is a move toward the manly piano power ballad territory, the type of song the band has rarely written, but also the type of song a singer like Homme was always meant to sing.

His gentle, lilting croon easily carries the day through "The Vampyre of Time and Memory" and the album's title track, creating rare tear jerking moments in the band's catalog. The experimentation doesn't stop there, however. Rollicking, Elton John piano rockers and Trent Reznor inspired sexual dreamscapes also push QOTSA's sound in directions rarely hinted at. ...Like Clockwork is one of those rare albums where every track is a bonafide winner. Homme and crew's ability to pull off this many styles and do it as well as they've done makes Like Clockwork one of the year's best albums.

1. Steven Wilson - The Raven that Refused to Sing

I did not know what to expect from this album leading up to its release. Wilson has long numbered among one of my all time favorites since his days with Porcupine Tree, but his last few releases had been somewhat disappointing. His third solo album, The Raven That Refused to Sing, saw a major overhaul affecting everything from album's thematic concept to the backing band behind him. His previous release, 2011's Grace for Drowning, presented a more churning, chaotic, King Crimson pattern of attack, while his latest mellows out the vibe considerably and gives the songs room to breathe. One of the best decisions Wilson made to was to give the album a theme and structure each song around a story about ghosts or supernatural elements.

And while thematic concepts in popular music don't always work out or tend to get overlooked,  it actually provided the perfect foil for Wilson, as well as a great framing device. It's no secret that there's plenty of meaningless lyrics these days, but he proves it doesn't have to be overly cerebral or politicized to get the job done. The cast of musicians surrounding him also enable him to explore new musical territory. Guitar magician Guthrie Govan can scorch you with the power of his solos, but also knows how to slowly wind out a passage and allow a solo to develop nice and slowly. Also notable are the clashing cymbals of new drummer Marco Minneman drive the madness up to the 11th degree, while Michael Shuman deploys basslines capable of carrying songs by themselves.

Some say that Wilson is too into hero worship, and discount much of his solo work on those grounds, but I don't care. I love the way Wilson presents the material, with the bleak, dissonant atmosphere that he has been perfecting ever since his Porcupine Tree days.

Raven is an album that amazes in every phase of the game, but what I like best about it is that every song excels at something different. From the crazed jazz fusion of "The Pin Drop," to the spacey ethereal wash of "Drive Home," the fluid, flowing bassline and blitzing guitar solos of "Luminol," or the magical soul tinged title track, Wilson has pulled off a dazzling turnaround and released an album with vivid musicianship and plenty of food for thought.

Totally Unauthorized Presents: the Top 25 live shows of 2013

Let me begin by saying that this is easily the best concert year I've ever had in my life, and I don't expect this to be topped. 2012 got the ball rolling with plenty of great acts, which led me to attempt to up the ante this year. I succeeded, and then some. Here are the best 25 I saw this year:

 

25. Ty Segall Band

January 28 at The End

This show deserves a mention if for no other reason than for just how rowdy it was. It's probably lucky no one was hurt, but seeing as no one did it presents a fascinating case study on the type of impact an environment like this can have on a rock show. Broken bottles had to be swept from the stage, a massive Hispanic kid tried to stage dive directly on top of me, and I had to be hoisted over the side railing just to get back to the bar area. Ty Segall pulled off a rare sellout at The End, and had the place busting at the seams with sludgy garage rock influenced by everyone from Black Sabbath to Iggy and the Stooges.

24. Run the Jewels

July 16 at Exit/In

When you combine one of the boldest, most outspoken emcees with one of today's most free thinking producers (who also happens to kill it on a mic), it makes for a one-two hip hop combo that's hard to top by anyone, anywhere. Killer Mike and El-P even had guys in the crowd with cardboard cutouts of their faces taped to the end of wooden sticks,  and invited them onstage. Mike's intensity combines with El-P's face shredding beats to create arguably the best hip hop act touring the club circuits right now. For those who aren't sold on sitting in a dank arena for Kendrick, Drake or Yeezy, Run the Jewels is your best bet.

23. Wilco

June 14 at Bonnaroo

Wilco has consistently been billed among the best live bands for well over a decade, and it's simple to see why. Their Friday night pre-headlining set at Bonarroo had all the elements of a great rock show. Jeff Tweedy showcased himself as a relatable and  clever frontman, while guitarist Nels Cline let loose with ample amounts of rock shreddery, not to mention a back catalog that boasts plenty of influential, game changing tunes from their late 90s/early 2000s output. If that wasn't enough, they even brought out alt-country brethren Calexico onto stage for a ravishing guest spot for a song or two.

22. Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers

June 13 at Bonnaroo

She's not well known, but knows how to put on a good time. Imagine a gritty, southern rock sound coupled with Bluhm's impressive set of pipes, which also features great classic rock guitar soloing to boot. It's the kind of music designed to get you set to head to the bar and kick your good for nothing man to the curb.

21. Megadeth

September 5 at Bridgestone Arena

Unfortunately, their opening set for Iron Maiden at Bridgestone Arena didn't deliver the type of spectacle these Bay Area headbangers are known for putting on. Despite their extensive back catalog, they rushed through a short set that didn't even touch the hour mark. The only pause came before the final song, when Dave Mustaine delivered a few short remarks on the conflict in Syria. Yet it's still hard to argue with the pure headbanging power of "Hangar 18" or the god-tier soloing on "Tornado of Souls."

20. Of Monsters and Men

June 14 at Bonnaroo

For a relatively new band, Icelanidc indie pop folk band Of Monsters and Men have set a solid foundation for live shows for years to come. With only one album out, there's not much pomp, flair, or elaborate stage setups, but what comes across best is the demeanor of the band. Onstage they're all so easy going and laid back, and it makes it easy to feel endeared to the band and their material.  They played their album My Head is an Animal in full, while also impressively transforming Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Skeletons" into a mellowed out, deep sea submerged sounding version of an old Icelandic folk tune.

19. Bad Religion

March 20 at War Memorial Auditorium

Anyone with any interest in punk whatsoever should revel in frontman Greg Graffin's tales of the San Fernando valley scene the band came up in and the slam dancers they once played in front of. This set would have been a couple of notches higher had I not accidentally gotten balcony tickets, where the energy level was lethargic. But it was easy to see the kids on the main floor were in a frenzy. Bad Religion's influence runs wide and deep, and they tore through a career spanning setlist that featured everything from their old school hardcore hits to their newer, more melodic driving rock sound.

18. Menomena

February 23 at Mercy Lounge

This Portland based indie rock duo put on a great sing along performance with a very clever and unique songwriting style. The best part is that it's hard to know where their songs are going to end up when they start. The music is predicated on a great sense of rhythm from drummer Danny Seim, while frontman Justin Harris keeps the crowd on their toes by switching between bass and saxophone

17. Patty Griffin

October 21 at Ryman Auditorium

Griffin displayed a very warm and inviting personality while touring her album American Kid, which focuses on her family relationships. She told personal stories about her dad and grandfather and explained how they connected with the themes of each song. She also cleverly tinkered with different arrangements for several songs. She transformed "Don't Let Me Die in Florida," with the presence of blusey, warbly electric guitar, while a dash of accordion was injected into the teary eyed eulogy "Go Wherever You Wanna Go."

16. Animal Collective

June 14 at Bonnaroo

Their set was insane, and had great stage production value. With rows of teeth and and giant pointy blowup balloons adorning the stage, it looked like something out of an acid trip. Michael Winslow from Police Academy announced the band's entrance, and they played late into the night. It came across like listening to an old transistor radio late at night, fading from one song into the next. One of the highlights was Avey Tare twerking around onstage with nothing but mic in hand while singing "Peacebone." They played a bit long, but their dieheards probably would have taken much more.

15. The Whiskey Gentry

December 7 at Variety Playhouse

This show marked a special occasion for these Atlanta based country/folk rockers as they celebrated their 5th annual Merry Y'all Tide Celebration. The band was a blast onstage, ripping into breakneck solos on banjo, mandolin, violin, and more. Although they may be country/folk based, the intensity they play with rivals that of a punk band. Throughout the set they were joined by various artists from the Atlanta area, ending with a folk/gypsy extravaganza that featured over 15 performers onstage. No matter your spirit, The Whiskey Gentry proves there's no better band for celebrating the holidays with glasses raised high.

14. Preservation Hall Jazz Band

June 15 at Bonnaroo

It's hard to discount the way good old New Orleans jazz can positively affect the soul. Preservation Hall Jazz Band have not only kept this incredible tradition intact, but have impressively expanded upon it. Their Saturday night Bonnaroo crowd responded in full force, dressing themselves up in 1920s style suit and ties and kicking it like it was still pre-Depression era.The best treat, though, came near the end when My Morning Jacket's Jim James joined them onstage for a jaw dropping rendition of blues/jazz classic "St. James Infirmary."

13. Atoms for Peace

October 3 at War Memorial Auditorium

Atoms for Peace take the cake in terms of unique stage setup. The Thom Yorke fronted superband relies heavily on percussion and electronics, eschewing guitar almost entirely. This leaves Flea to play bass like a lead instrument, which is essentially what it functions as in this band. There are flourishes of guitar, but it tends to get eaten up by their impressive wall of sound.  Nigel Godrich's deep knowledge of electronics enables him to crank out impressive beats, while a pair of percussionists layer over top of that. Also consider that you have Thom Yorke and Flea on the same stage, and that's almost too much badassness to comprehend.

12. Savages

October 7 at Municipal Auditorium

For a band with only one album, Savages are way better live than anyone has a right to expect them to be. The band is powerfully propelled by their rhythm section, bassist Ayse Hassan and drummer Fay Milton. They have a versatile guitarist in Gemma Thompson, who can alternate between light, gentle brushstrokes and jagged riffing, while frontwoman Jhenny Beth generates a blast of defiant, feminist energy while slipping back and forth from steely edged rock singer to performance artist and back again.

11. David Byrne/St. Vincent

June 16 at Bonnaroo

Dave Byrne and Annie Clark are about as good as you can ask for when it comes to performers who know how to have fun. They promote a quirky, fist pumping nature, while singing songs covering all sorts of zany topics. Their band presented a big, loud, and brassy sound, and the duo even mixed it up by letting all of their bandmembers go through line and sing a line into the microphone. If that's not enough, hits from the Talking Heads catalog, along with gems from Clark herself should be ample to convert almost anyone. These two clearly have a blast on stage, and make sure you do too.

10. Weird Al

June 15 at Bonnaroo

Some might scoff at Weird Al, but don't write him off.  His showmanship is first rate, and his decades of experience have enabled him to perfect the art of his live shows. It's a very production heavy show, as Al's costume changes see him parody everyone from Nirvana to Green Day to Amish preachers. Also charming is his use of video screens to poke fun at non-musical entertainment figures in between costume changes. The popular culture he satirizes is so ingrained in our culture that almost anyone can relate to his shows on a variety of levels.

9. Janelle Monae

November 17 at Ryman Auditorium

When it comes to meticulously planning and arranging a concert, few put more work in than Monae. She entered the stage strapped to a dolly like a mental patient, then proceeded to blow our minds. Her shows are highly thematic, her upbeat demeanor rivals that of Matt & Kim, and she can also lay claim to the best set of pipes I have ever witnessed live. But it all paled in comparison to her 25 minute extended jam of "War of the Roses," where she moonwalked, led the audience in a Cab Calloway style sing along, jumped into the crowd, and even conducted an audience costume contest.

8. Sleigh Bells

November 8 at Marathon Music Works

This was the best I physically felt after any concert this year. After soaking in all the energy this duo left on stage, I felt like I was ready to go level a forest. Guitarist Derek Miller's playbook extends far beyond mere headbanging, allowing him to craft musical backdrops that are threatening and dissonant, while others are rowdy and rollicking. Alexis Krauss, meanwhile, draws from her experience fronting a girlpop band and proves she knows how to play to a crowd, getting them riled up with throat stomping badassery. 

7. Steven Wilson

April 17 at Variety Playhouse

Wilson's previous band, Porcupine Tree, was a regular entrant on many best live bands list. He hasn't garnered as much press since their hiatus, but it would be a major error to write off his solo shows. The musicianship is first rate, with famed British guitarist Guthrie Govan joining Wilson's live band, along with a slew of other virtuoso musicians. Wilson weaves an impressive multimedia aspect into his act, projecting eerie, dissonant video clips to complement his creative concoctions. Touting material from his excellent album, The Raven That Refused to Sing, Wilson haunted the auditorium with tales of ghosts, supernatural beings, and other menaces, while also breaking out cataclysmic prog rock from his first two albums. The highlight goes to their captivating performance of "Raider II," which silenced the crowd for its 25 minute duration.

6. The Wayne Shorter Quartet with Esperanza Spalding and the Nashville Symphony

April 12 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center

This was easily the jazz event of the year in Nashville. Shorter's backing quartet features some of the most talented musicians in the world, on any instrument in any genre. Shorter can't blow the pipes like he used to, but just seeing him preform is a treat. The symphony upped the ante by joining in after the first set, but that was no preparation for what Spalding brought to the fore. I admit I wasn't well versed in her work prior to the show. That changed after her glorious and dominating voice pierced every square inch of Nashville's cavernous Schermerhorn Center.  It served as an overpowering testament to jazz's legacy, along with a strong affirmation that its future is indeed bright.

5. Queens of the Stone Age

October 7 at Municipal Auditorium

Queens of the Stone Age aren't flashy, but they operate like a well oiled machine. With Josh Homme showing off muscular rock and roll chops, bassist Michael Shuman going nuts all over the stage, and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen clad in his signature black suit and red tie, these are some of the meanest, leanest rockers around.  They got off to a blazing start, instantly hooking the audience with great rock and roll sing alongs "No One Knows" and "Burn the Witch," but demonstrated their catalog is much more diverse than the hits their known for. They pack plenty of well known crunching rockers, but can also deploy raging piano power ballads, grooving funk pieces, and even dissonant jam tunes. Their songs always have a distinctive flavor, and it is predicated on being slightly different in their rhythm section. Many songs will have very distinctive beats but are also very simple, to the point it makes you wonder why someone else hasn't thought of it first.

4. Bjork

June 15 at Bonnaroo

This is the show that made me a fan of Bjork. Up till this point I always had a curious interest in her but had never found time to listen to her works. Her sunset set on Bonnaroo's main stage vindicated that sentiment in a big way. She came out in a dress that looked like it was made of mangled fish, wearing that unforgettable icicle headgear and supported by a choir dressed in blue and gold cloths. The early part of her performance felt like a New York art museum translated into a musical equivalent, with songs that were mellow and restrained but serene and majestic. As the sun began to set, however, she broke out much harsher beats in songs like "Hyperballad" and "Nattura" that you could free yourself to get lost in. There was no more absorbing dance related experience this year, and certainly nowhere else you can go to get an audiovisual experience quite like Bjork.

3. Nine Inch Nails

October 22 at Bridgestone Arena

When I heard talk about the Nine Inch Nails light show, I had no idea what I was in for. Thinking of it in terms of a light show is simply missing the point. The vision designed by Trent Reznor and Rob Sheridan is a full on embrace of the various ways technology can transform our idea of what a concert can be. Full on digital scanning creates various images that complement each song, the most jaw dropping of which was the giant NiN logo at the end that was made by what was initially just nine clusters of lights. But to pull it off the way these guys also requires a killer band onstage, and Nine Inch Nails is a band capable of tearing it up with or without fancy tricks. This was proven by the final three song run in the main set, consisting of "Head Like a Hole," "The Hand That Feeds," and "Wish," undoubtedly my most breathless concert experience of the year. 

2. Iron Maiden

September 5 at Bridgestone Arena

I'd seen clips of Bruce Dickinson electrifying massive crowds on TV specials and Youtube videos, but an opportunity to physically see one of the world's most passionate, intense, and beloved bands is an incomparable experience.  Their Bridgestone set was ripe with an amazing setlist, and the stage setup and production is second to none. The concert's theme was based upon their Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album, and had the corresponding icy glacier/mesa setup, Bruce wore his aviator cap and waved the UK flag, and Eddie stalked around all over stage. Far from just a band onstage playing old songs, like contemporaries Metallica and Megadeth. This is one of the last few remaining bands that still capture the spirit of 1980s metal and communicate it to younger generations. It's a shame I couldn't have been there to drink in that scene, but thanks to Iron Maiden I was able to live it for one night.

1. Paul McCartney

June 14 at Bonnaroo

Paul McCartney has been enjoying a heavy dose of visibility lately. He's had a great new album, Saturday Night Live cameos, and continual touring over the past few years. I was fortunate in that this was my second time seeing him. His performance was on par with his Bridgestone Arena set I saw three years ago, although that show will always be my favorite as it was my first time seeing him. Nevertheless, his headlining set at Bonnaroo allows McCartney to top my list for the second time in four years. It was an incredible shared collective experience with 80,000 other people.

The final remaining core of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting battery preformed a slew of songs from his solo projects, Wings, and The Beatles and showed us why he's one of the most electric performers and songwriters to ever walk this planet. Massive screens broadcasted all of his antics and fireworks all the way to the back of Bonnaroo's massive main field. He broke out several old Sgt. Peppers songs that hadn't been heard in years, including "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" and "Your Mother Should Know." Even more fittingly, someone tossed a plush walrus doll on stage, which Paul placed on his piano while he played his final encore. There isn't a better live show on earth than this.