I have to admit that, in the midst of such a busy year (getting married, launching a new book, new home, etc.), I didn't stay up on new music as much as I'd like to. I've realized in recent years that it's probably a good thing to not care as much about "staying up" on every genre of media. It can be exhausting. (Side note: I've also fallen hopelessly behind on prestige television; it was all I could do to squeeze in Breaking Bad in 2013).
Movies are my biggest passion, so I'm content to focus my increasingly scant free time on "staying up" on those (watch for my "best films" list to post next week). That said, I did enjoy many songs and albums this year. For old time's sake I'll share my favorites here, in hopes that you'll check out the music or share with me something great I haven't discovered.
My Top 10 Albums:
- Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
- Arcade Fire, Reflektor
- Over the Rhine, Meet Me At the Edge of the World
- The National, Trouble Will Find Me
- Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience (Part One)
- James Blake, Overgrown
- Jessie Ware, Devotion
- Daft Punk, Random Access Memories
- Pusha T, My Name is My Name
- Phosphorescent, Muchacho
Honorable Mention: Disclosure, Settle; Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe; Drake, Nothing Was the Same; Laura Veirs, Warp & Weft; The Civil Wars, The Civil Wars; Polyenso, One Big Particular Loop; Kanye West, Yeezus; Volcano Choir, Repave; Bifrost Arts, He Will Not Cry Out: Anthology of Hymns & Spiritual Songs, Vol. 2.
My Top 100 Songs of 2013: Spotify playlist here.