Music That Mattered In 2013

I might reasonably consider 2013 to be the year that I became able to euphemistically refer to myself as a ‘mature’ music listener. Perhaps because letting my gym membership expire kept me away from my daily dose of MTV; perhaps because working day shifts at a respectable company makes it difficult to sustain the kind of alcohol, drug and nightclub habits that only graduate school followed by an extended bout of unemployment could inspire or permit. For whatever reason, I listened to fewer singles and much less pop music this year, and focused almost entirely on albums instead. So what music mattered to this ‘maturing’, Hype Machine-spurning Luddite in 2013?

Well, first of all, in this era of disposability, it warmed the cockles of this old fart’s heart to see fellow fogeys like Phosphorescent, the Flaming Lips, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Bill Callahan, Califone and Okkervil River continue to make solid albums after listening to them for over a decade. However, the Most Valuable Veteran Award goes to Cass McCombs, who 12 years into his career made my favourite album of his and one of his best albums yet, the sprawling and immersive Big Wheel and Others.

Much to my surprise, Devendra Banhart and Of Montreal sought a sage sort of simplicity this year, and in doing so clawed their ways back up from disappointing releases (several, in the case of Of Montreal) with very satisfying late period albums. Banhart’s Mala, in fact, was one of my absolute favourites from this year.

Speaking of comebacks, though they’ve already cemented their statuses as legends, My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada and Daft Punk stepped down from their pedestals after very long hiatuses to release albums that may not have exceeded the heights of their greatest work but nevertheless proved worth waiting for.

While no one could surpass the universal appeal of Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’, a handful of other bona fide stars not only put out great songs, but also thoroughly enjoyable albums – including Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend. As a former hater, I have to admit that the latter’s Modern Vampires of the City blew me away with its unrelenting delightfulness and wit.

Meanwhile, Julia Holter, Eleanor Friedberger, Mount Kimbie and Pure X all followed up promising recent debuts with accomplished albums filled with enough personality to establish them as musical forces to be reckoned with. Holter’s sophisticated and stirring Loud City Song, as well as her enchanting live performances, seem to be positioning her in particular for crossover success.

Perhaps by now you’re thinking to yourself, Fuck all these established artists. I thought Subbacultcha! was all about providing a platform for the unruly underground?! Rather than conclude you’ve been hanging out with Richard James Foster too much, I will concede you’ve got a point – and point out that this year we hosted dozens of kickass shows around the country. Highlights for me included The Sound of the Dutch Underground at the Melkweg, Holly Herndon’s hypnotic show at OT301 and Amen Dunes’ mesmerising and beautiful acoustic set, again at OT301.

There were also many wonderful full-length debuts from lesser-known artists like Majical Cloudz, Blue Hawaii and John Wizards, though my personal favourites were Forest Swords’ bewitching Engravings, Darkside’s not-so-underground but certainly visionary Psychic and Way Yes’ sweetly psychedelic Tog Pebbles.

For those whom no guilt trip will persuade them to listen to entire albums, I will make another concession: at the end of this article you’ll find a mixtape of favourite tracks from this past year worthy of impressing a potential lover (or college admissions officer).

And finally, as if to nullify all preceding hints at refinement, I will confess that the song to which I responded with the most Pavlovian eagerness this year was Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’, despite the admittedly sexist and stupid video that accompanied it. What can I say? Maybe I’m going deaf? Maybe I’m going blind? Maybe I’m out of my mind…

All typical traits of a ‘maturing’ music listener. 😉

Side A.
Julia Holter – ‘Maxim’s I’ / Majical Cloudz – ‘Bugs Don’t Buzz’ / Son Lux – ‘Easy’ /
James Blake – ‘Retrograde’ / Blood Orange – ‘Chamakay’ / Heavenly Beat – ‘Honest’ /
Lost Animal – ‘Lose the Baby’

Side B.
Vampire Weekend – ‘Hannah Hunt’ / Cass McCombs – ‘Name Written in Water’ /
Bill Callahan – ‘Ride My Arrow’ / Pure X – ‘Thousand Year Old Child’ /
Devendra Banhart – ‘Never Seen Such Good Things’ / Way Yes – ‘Get Healed’ /
Mutual Benefit – ‘Advanced Falconry’

http://8tracks.com/mixes/2879201/player_v3_universal