Favorite Albums 2013: Madison Business Picks

Brandon Clementi
Man About Town, Majestic Live

10. James Blake Overgrown
James Blanket delivered a lush and warm follow-up that magically retained its comforting appeal after repeated washes. So Dreamy™!

9. Pissed Jeans Honeys
This is the best kind of stuff! Cathartic, smart, and hilarious. Definitely one of my favorite live bands of the year. Pissed Jeans: Things that make you go AAAAAUUURRRR.

8. Sat. Nite Duets Electric Manland
I love almost everything this band does, and this album really grew on me in the last months of the year. If Vampire Weekend are today’s Bee Gees (they are), let’s make that trade and let Sat. Nite Duets fill the place of VW in 2014.

7. Bill Callahan Dream River
Merrill Garbus’ ukelele (or Colin Stetson’s bass saxophone) may have been 2011’s defining instrument. 2012 could have seen that honor go to Zach Hill’s rudimentary kit. For 2013, I feel confident that top honors go to Thor Harris’ claves on “Dream River.” Bill Callahan is terribly reliable, and this lovely chapter in his tome is bound to be one of my all-time favorites.

6. Disclosure Settle
It still feels early to compare this album to other dance classics of the past 20 years. That said, this is a well-organized release that I’ve had the pleasure of hearing more than a few times in 2013. Disclosure is young as heck — I hope they wait a while before releasing another album.

5. Coachwhips Hands on the Controls [Reissue]
Blissful, pile-drivin’ pile of hits from the turn of the millenium. This album was the biggest thing keeping me afloat when things looked the most bleak for Thee Oh Sees — there’s no way this guy is ever going to stop putting out gold. Favorite lyrics: “OO-ho-OO-ho-OO-ho-OO-ho!!”

4. Oneohtrix Point Never R Plus Seven
The top four albums on this list were probably the four most immediately loved albums of my year. Like 2013’s releases by Danny Brown, Kanye, or The Knife, this release was so simultaneously comparable yet dissimilar to its preceding releases. Take ’em to church, Daniel!

3. Death Grips Government Plates
It will take an offense much more serious than not showing up to their Chicago gig to tarnish my deeply-set love for this band. I will gush over it for days. 2013 was a great year for Death Grips, which is convenient for them, since they really didn’t do much. Government Plates is more of a fall into the ground than a mere forward step. Somehow, that is a good thing.

2. John Wizards John Wizards
Instead of discussing my reasons for being enamored with John Wizards in 2013, here’s a plea: If you dig weird stuff, if Vampire Weekend wrote your album of the year, if you DJ, if you’re looking for a great gift for the person who has it all, if you are looking for the “next big thing,” if you couldn’t care less about prospecting for indie trends, if you survive exclusively on Sublime Frequencies, if you’ve never heard of Sublime Frequencies, if you like Dan Deacon (but love him live)… listen to this!

1. Kanye West Yeezus

“The quality of selection/substitution coincides with the trope/notion of metaphor, where by the merit of certain similarities one signifier can be used to refer to (or to substitute) another. The mode of ‘combination’, on the other hand, functions to join distinct meaning units together by locating them within the same ‘context’, and as such it comes with the implication of difference, discrimination, contiguity, and displacement. […] This notion is most closely akin to the trope of metonymy, since it is not the ‘similarity’ of two signifiers that associates them, but rather their contiguity, such as syntactical or physical proximity and con-textuality.” –Sadeq Rahimi, “The Unconscious: Metaphor and Metonymy,” Somatosphere (2009)

“I’m God” –Lil B (2009)

Renee Frank
Marketing, Frank Productions

10. The Colourist Lido
9. Noah and the Whale Heart of Nowhere
8. Iron and Wine Ghost on Ghost
7. The Avett Brothers Magpie and the Dandelion
6. Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer Different Park
5. MS MR Secondhand Rapture
4. Foals Holy Fire
3. Keith Urban Fuse
2. Bastille Bad Blood
1. Woodkid The Golden Age
Matt Gerding
Owner, Majestic Live

10. Kings of Leon Mechanical Bull
Still one of the best rock bands on the planet, and this is the best thing they’ve done since Aha Shake Heartbreak — it’s got more muscle than their past couple records.

9. Devil Makes Three I’m a Stranger Here
I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to listen to this band, but this album is incredible. It’s steeped in American song traditions — jangled hot jazz & ragtime, folk, bluegrass, blues. It’s like a history lesson of American acoustic music.

8. Direct Hit! Brainless God
I’ve never heard a band be able to do both melodic pop punk and raw hardcore punk at the same time so well. Wisconsin Punk. FUCK YOU.

7. Janelle Monáe The Electric Lady
She’s like the female Prince. So much creativity and funkiness — some of the best music to dance to on the planet. Also, I want to marry her.

6. Mason Jennings Always Been
The best record he’s done in years. So much more lush and full than usual and just great songwriting. He’s such a peaceful dude; I get all meditative when I listen to him.

5. Jim James Regions of Light and Sound of God
He just totally lets go on this album and there are so many beautiful and haunting moments — and so much playfulness. You can tell he just played around with so many sounds and moods. And also, his show at the Majestic was one of the top five shows I’ve ever seen.

4. Bonobo Late Night Tales
So many different mellow grooves into one long stretch of pure amazing. There’s soul and afrobeat and all kinds of crafty beats. Such a good record to put on at home and space out to.

3. Smith Westerns Soft Will
Lots more introspective and mellow than their last record, but the songwriting has gotten even better. It’s warm and pretty and I listened to it non-stop for a month when it came out.

2. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City
They keep getting better; I don’t know how they do it. There’s no band on the planet that sounds like them. They can make you cry tears of joy and sadness in the same song…and I never get tired of listening to them.

1. The National Trouble Will Find Me
I’ve tried pretty hard to get into this band for awhile. I’ve always liked them; with this album, I love them. The songs are just have more meat, and hooks, and the drums just pump so much life into everything they do. Also, I do a pretty good impression of Matt Berninger and I really mastered it after listening to this record 143 times.

Jenni Grubba
Boss Lady, Majestic Live

5. Valerie June Pushin’ Against a Stone
4. Lorde Pure Heroine
3. Frank Turner Tape Deck Heart
2. Beans on Toast Giving Everything
1. Laura Marling Once I Was an Eagle

Jeff Haupt
Owner, WisGo.com and Red Card Meal Plan

5. Arcade Fire Reflektor
4. Poliça Shulamith
3. Fitz & the Tantrums More Than Just a Dream
2. Holy Ghost! Dynamics
1. Cut Copy Free Your Mind
Justin Kibbel
High Noon Saloon and True Endeavors

10. Ezra Furman Day of the Dog
Ezra is up there on my list of favorite songwriters. I mean, I’d even dare to put him next to Dylan. This album has a great rock n’ roll sound.

9. Caroline Smith Half About Being a Woman
I’ve been excited for Caroline’s new album since hearing a few songs live late in 2012. Who would’ve guessed that she would’ve put out a fantastic soul-pop album?

8. David Bowie The Next Day
I mean, c’mon. It’s David Bowie. Every song on this album is great.

7. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Push the Sky Away
Nick Cave is one of my all-time favorites. I don’t want to think of a world where he releases an album that isn’t in my top 10.

6. Mutts Object Permanence
Tom Waits, yadda yadda yadda. The comparisons are always going to be there, but these guys can hold their own. This stripped down album only showcases Mike Maimone’s fantastic songwriting and piano skills.

5. Kurt Vile Wakin on a Pretty Daze
I always get a great sense of nostalgia while listening to this album. Other than that, I don’t have much more to say other than it’s a great, intimate album from beginning to end.

4. Mikal Cronin MCII
Great soundtrack for the summer. It’s one of those albums that you put on and you feel like you’ve heard a hundred times before. Timeless, dreamy pop.

3. King Khan & The Shrines Idle No More
Driving around in your car listening to this album makes you think you’re in a spy movie or something.

2. FIDLAR FIDLAR
I’ve wanted to play a drinking game to this album where every time a drug is mention you have to do that drug. I don’t think you’d be alive past the third song. Perfect album to get wasted, roll the windows down, and drive 95 mph. Fuck it dawg, life’s a risk.

1. PHOX Confetti
Fresh off the release of Friendship late in 2012, PHOX sort of surprised everyone with a video EP early in 2013. I mean, maybe it wasn’t too surprising since they obviously have more than a few aces up their sleeves. They are constantly striving to make their songs better, and because of this, every time you see them live is a new experience.
Scott Leslie
Grand Poobah, Majestic Live

10. Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience
Because I like a cup of soup in the winter.

9. Frank Turner Recovery
He’s really nice and is good at the music.

8. Jason Isbell Southeastern
I like it.

7. Cut Copy Free Your Mind
They were really good at their massive sold-out Majestic show.

6. Unknown Mortal Orchestra II
Yes.

5. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City
They keep getting better.

4. The Lone Bellow The Lone Bellow
I saw them at SXSW and decided that I had to bring them to Madison. So we did.

3. Jim James Regions of Light and Sound of God
Because he is Jim James. If you need more of a comment, try listening again.

2. Arcade Fire Reflektor
It gets better with each listen.

1. Washed Out Paracosm
Listen to the song “All I Know” on repeat over and over and over…
Murfie Staff
Submitted by Kayla Liederbach, Murfie Podcast Host & Content Editor

5. Control Control
Control’s self-titled, limited run vinyl LP is the culmination of their “artist series” of EPs. Each EP, named after the artist who made that EP’s cover art, is included in this awesome release. Control is a band that is making music like no one else in the area, and their shows are always fun because of that fact — not to mention just how tight they are as an ensemble. –John Kruse at Murfie

4. TUGG Mazes
La Crosse, WI-based TUGG absolutely hit the nail on the head with this album. Every song is great, from the instrumental surf-rock of “Calamari” to the fun reggae-rock TUGG is best known for on songs like “Scars” and “Layers.” This album was produced by Ted Bowne of the band Passafire, and you can hear his influence come out in the best way, in both the production and his vocals on Tracks 1 and 4. –Kayla Liederbach at Murfie

3. Otep Hydra
Otep is doing some great things in metal, and she has a really amazing radio show with local morning 94.1 WJJO DJ Dee Biznatch. –Tiffany Green at Murfie

2. William Z. Villain William Z. Villain EP
Bill Villain writes absolutely crazy songs, and his stage presence is even crazier. The William Z. Villain EP is rough, but it shows where the band could go with even better recordings and more refined songs. This was one of my favorite releases of the year if only because it was the one that left me most anxious for more. –John Kruse

1. John Brown’s Body Kings and Queens
This is hard-hitting roots reggae with modern elements of rock, rap, and electronic. The buzz around this album is well-earned — it’s arguably JBB’s best album ever during their 18-year career. –Kayla Liederbach

Scott Resnick
COO, Hardin Design & Development

5. Jay-Z Magna Carta… Holy Grail
4. Pretty Lights A Color Map of the Sun
3. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City
2. Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d. city
1. Nickelback The Best of Nickelback Volume 1
Album of the year or album of the millennium? You decide.
Lauren Toler
Marketing Coordinator, Majestic Live

10. Rilo Kiley rkives
Ummmmmm, have you guys forgotten? Rilo Kiley released an incredible album this year and it pairs excellently with an $8 bottle of wine.

9. Metz Metz
Metz’s self-titled debut actually came out in October 2012, but it happened to be one of the most influential albums of 2013 for me so I’m throwing the rule book out. BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT PUNK ROCK IS ALL ABOUT, AMIRIGHT?!?!

8. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
We the Common
Ladies (other than Beyoncé) was pimps too in 2013.

7. Typhoon White Lighter
This band reminds me a lot of Arcade Fire, if Arcade Fire had a horn section and no control over their emotions. I love it.

6. PAPA Tender Madness
I keep telling everyone this band is going to be huge. Listen to them so I’m not a liar. Some excellent pop-rock tunes to be had.

5. Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks
Trent Reznor’s ability to continually modernize his music, without straying from the gritty industrial roots fans have built their devotion around, is awe-inspiring. Also, this album makes me dance in an angry way and I like that.

4. Arcade Fire Reflektor
Refkletor spans a multitude of genres but blends flawlessly. They’re basically a musical rainbow. But instead of a pot of gold, you get the satisfying feeling of listening to a incredible album. No, that analogy was not lame.

3. Phosphorescent Muchacho
Because heartbreak sounds so much better coming from him.

2. The National Trouble Will Find Me
This is my favorite album of The National. There, I said it. Pretty sure I’ve played “This is the Last Time” over 500 times, and it never failed to strike a chord.

1. Nathaniel Rateliff Falling Faster Than You Can Run
FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD, how is this man not famous? This crooning indie-folk album has ALL the passion, and that is why it is No. 1.