1. Paul McCartney – NEW
(Hear Music/Virgin EMI)
Classic Maca yet New. Need I say more? Is
there anything he puts out that isn’t an instant classic?
2. Queens of the Stone Age – …Like
Clockwork (Matador Records)
The recipe of hard rock we’ve been waiting for.
A record that could have come out anytime in the past three decades with sounds
of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Black Sabbath.
3. Portugal. The Man – Evil Friends
(Atlantic Records) Producer Danger Mouse (Gorillaz, Beck) knighted this project with his special touch giving this indie rock band the edgy, polished sound to set it above the rest.
4. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP2 (Aftermath/Polydor/Interscope Records)
Arguably the greatest rapper of all-time and
certainly the greatest selling…Marshall Mathers does not disappoint with his
lyrics, performance, and array of special guests to join the party: Rhianna,
Kendrick Lamar, Sia, Skylar Grey, Jamie N Commons, and Nate Ruess of Fun. – Plus
it’s enough music for two albums.
5. Deer Tick – Negativity
(Partisan Records)
Veteran musician/producer Steve Berlin of
20-year band Los Lobos jumped in to produce edgy, rustic, analog, garage-rock
sounding indie band. Pop celeb Vanessa Carlton makes an appearance with a debut
to her Americana ways. This is a must listen…easily one of the top albums of
the decade.
6. Charles Bradley w/ the
Menahan Street Band – Victim of Love
(Daptone Records)
Sweet funk, soul, and emotion pour out of the voice and music of Charles
Bradley and the Menahan Street Band. Bradley is easily the James Brown of today
and the label Daptone Records…the Motown Records of today. Bradley was
discovered just a few years ago at a NYC club by label exec Gabe Roth. He’s 65
years old. He now tours the world playing to crowds in the thousands!
7. Rhye – Woman (Republic Records)
Polished
electronic pop or electronic rock by Canadian/Danish soul duo. It’s slower
moving, yet captivating. It’s more of a down-tempo Daft Punk…it even competes
with Daft Punk’s new release, just less electronica. It feels romantic.
8. Pokey LaFarge – Pokey LaFarge
(Third Man Records) – Pokey may
have the sound of an American Roots band from the 40s, but it’s truly authentic
and original for 2013 with sounds of swing, jazz, and rag-time blues. Dressed
in suits, wearing instruments like the harmonica, washboard, cornet, trombone,
saxophone, and clarinet…this album is like no other. It’s through-and-through
original, entertaining, and poetic, and, it didn’t hurt its success to put out
the vinyl on Jack White’s Third Man Records.
9. Ewyn Collins – Understated
(AED Records)
A
classic 70s rock sound from a Scottish alternative rock musician whose garnered
all-star status in multiple decades of success including 4 Top 100 albums in
the UK. This album hits home with its lyrics and simple folk rock…a sound that
is timeless.
10. Aaron Neville – My True Story (Blue Note Records)
An autobiographical doo-wop album by a multi-platinum Grammy winning
legend of New Orleans…an album that features other legends like Mick Jagger and
Greg Leisez Produced by acclaimed The Rolling Stones producer/bassist Don Was. It’s
perfect.
11. White Denim – Corsicana Lemonade (Downtown Records) – a perfect album of garage rock, blues, psychedelic
rock, and rock n’ roll. Produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.
12. Mallu Magalh– Highly Sensitive (Sony BMG) – A native of Brazil and singer of the
world, Mallu Magalhães has
catchy, up-beat indie rock/folk songs that remind you of other female
singer/songwriters like Regina Spektor, Aimee Mann, and Fiona Apple. Her style
is original and catchy. A refreshing album, perfect for the R&R of the
holiday time.
13. Hanni El Khatib – Head in the
Dirt (Innovative Leisure) –
dirty, raw, edgy, fun rock n’ roll that takes you on a rock journey from
screamy moments to relaxed-yet-rocky times…an album and new artist that’s
stirred up a lot of buzz this year with a record that is brilliant and makes
you feel raw and dirty! Oh yah, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys produced it.
~Michael Ari
