Knoxville music fans, it is time! Time for our Top Albums of 2013 List! Whoo-hoo!! As you know, each year we compile a list of our favorite albums and publish the results. And this year is no exception. So enjoy a few samples from our favorite albums of ’13.
And don’t forget, you can always check out the KMT Top Albums of 2012 and KMT Top Albums of 2011, and all of our previous Free Music Friday offerings!
Lipliplip Hands. Bingo.
Body by Lipliplip Hands – It isn’t very often that we listen to a new album and say, “Yep. That’s it.” But was exactly our reaction to the well-crafted six-song EP live/love (or L(I/O)VEP), by Knoxville band, Lipliplip Hands. The band features Drew Cunningham, Travis Bigwood, and the Brothers Gilleran – Zach and Nathan. And no, the band isn’t named after the shenanigans at a junior high school dance. Regardless, be sure to check out the EP at their Bandcamp site. We think you will agree, it is outstanding.
Hudson K. Have keytar, will travel.
Pick A Place To Play by Hudson K – Another local band – Knoxville duo Christina Horn and Nate Barrett, better known as Hudson K – graced us with a new album this year, Ouroboros and the Black Dove. The album features our favorite local video ever produced, The Knife, which we premiered here. And visit the Hudson K website to stay up-to-date on all of the band’s news and happenings, and of course go see their fantastic live performances!
Moon Taxi are no strangers to the Scruffy City!
Suspicious by Moon Taxi – The talented quintet Moon Taxi may be from Nashville, but they have played enough shows in Knoxville that we feel comfortable adopting them as ‘locals’. The band’s most recent album, Mountains Beaches Cities, represents another fine development for the band and we are hoping the album will provide plenty of appropriate background music for beach ball launching at numerous outdoor festivals in 2014!
We know, LiL iFFy, we know.
Phoenix Tears by LiL iFFy – So just when we think that Knoxville wizard rapper LiL iFFy can’t possibly take his musical concept to another level, he does just that. The new album, Wand Out, is a remarkable release. It’s raw, powerful energy is infectious.
The Lone Bellow brings a different flavor
Bleeding Out by The Lone Bellow – Finally. Some Americana on our Top Albums list. The Lone Bellow is a Brooklyn-based trio that features Zach Williams (guitar, lead vocals), Kanene Donehey Pipkin (mandolin, vocals), and Brian Elmquist (guitar, vocals). Their self-titled debut album was released in January and we knew from the first listen that it was special.
Arcade Fire, a peppy group
Porno by Arcade Fire – You may not have heard of Arcade Fire… OK, who are we kidding. The band’s new album, Reflektor, was released at the end of October and it is absolutely loaded with monster songs. But then again, that’s what Arcade Fire tends to do. Monster songs. And plenty of them.
How do you know it’s Local Natives? Well, it says so right there!
Breakers by Local Natives – The most recent album by the Los Angeles natives Local Natives, Hummingbird, was released in January 2013 and maintained a spot for the entire year as one of our favorite albums. It has remarkable depth and is one of those albums that you can put on repeat and not realize it until hours later.
Guitar, check. Parka, check. Portugal. The Man at the Roo!
Purple Yellow Red and Blue by Portugal. The Man – On June 15, 2013, a parka-clad John Gourley and Portugal. The Man stepped onto the Which Stage at Bonnaroo and ripped into this song to start their set. The band’s brand-new album, Evil Friends, had only been out for 9 days but the crowd’s enthusiasm was evidence that the album would become our #3 pick this year. Or maybe it was just the heat.
The National… NOT happy at #2
I Need My Girl by The National – If it wasn’t for our next pick, Trouble Will Find Me by The National would have been a shoe-in for our Top Album of 2013. Top-to-bottom, it is a classic. It is one of those albums that you could listen to 5 times and pick 5 different songs as your favorite. This is our 5th-favorite song on the album. Wait, 7th-favorite…
Kurt Vile is obviously ecstatic about being our top pick
Goldtone by Kurt Vile – Our #1 pick this year is Wakin On A Pretty Daze by Philadelphian Kurt Vile. We have featured Mr. Vile numerous times at knoxmusictoday.com, and for good reason. The new album is an absolute gem. This song is the finale and it clocks in at a luxurious 10 minutes, 25 seconds of fuzzy bliss.
So there you go, the KMT Top Albums of 2013!
