Best Albums of 2013

Kanye West - Yeezus

To say this album is polarizing is an understatement, but no one in 2013 made more of a forceful statement, and no one did it as well. Daft Punk's 4-track contribution is my favorite work they did all year. I saw Kanye twice in 2013 - once at Governor's Ball this summer, and on his first night at Barclays. No one even comes close, at least not this year. He was the biggest and most important artist of 2013.

Key Tracks: "Blood on the Leaves", "On Sight", "Send It Up", "Hold My Liquor", "New Slaves", "I Am A God"

Phosphorescent - MuchacHo

Matthew Houck's been performing as Phosphorescent since 2001. If there was a better song written this year than "Muchacho's Tune," I have yet to hear it. Phosphorescent blew up in New York City this year, making their home in Brooklyn (via Athens, GA via Alabama) and continually selling out as many shows as they can book.

Key Tracks: "Song for Zula", "Muchacho's Tune", "Ride On / Right On", "A Charm / A Blade"

Disclosure - Settle

This was the album of the summer, and the electronic album of the year - blowing up the careers of Sam Smith, AlunaGeorge, Jessie Ware, and London Grammar in the process.

Key Tracks: "When a Fire Starts to Burn", "Latch", "White Noise", "Defeated No More", "You & Me", "Help Me Lose My Mind"

Drake - Nothing Was the Same

I don't think anyone would have guessed that the entire hip-hop universe would have Drake at its very center this year. Hard to follow up Take Care, his masterpiece, but he did, and he continued to occupy a space in hip-hop sonically that no one else inhabits.

Key Tracks: "Tuscan Leather", "Furthest Thing", "From Time", "The Language", "305 To My City", "Too Much", "All Me"

Arcade Fire - Reflektor

This record is way too long, but that doesn't mean it isn't also a great Arcade Fire record. Where it's good, it is sublime.

Key Tracks: "Reflektor", "Here Comes The Night Time", "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)", "Afterlife", "Supersymmetry"

Volcano Choir - Repave

Justin Vernon teamed up again with the members of Collections of Colonies of Bees, but this time they actually made a real record. It's so good that no one really cares if another Bon Iver album materializes, as long as he keeps making music like this.

Key Tracks: "Tiderays", "Acetate", "Comrade", "Byegone", "Alaskans"

Lorde - Pure Heroine

I slept hard on this record, which is why I had to come back and update my top 10. Probably THE debut of 2013.

Key Tracks: "Tennis Court", "400 Lux", "Royals", "Team", "Buzzcut Season"

Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe

Another band that is burning up NYC, playing multi-night stints at Terminal 5 these days. The combination of Lauren Mayberry's vocals over driving Scottish electo-synth-pop rocks my body.

Key Tracks: "We Sink", "Lies", "Under the Tide", "Recover", "Science / Visions"

Jason Isbell - Southeastern

This is what it sounds like when a professional shows up to work. Isbell has made quite the career for himself after leaving the Drive-By Truckers.

Key Tracks: "Cover Me Up"

The Weeknd - Kiss Land

After Channel Orange last year, and The Weeknd's mixtapes were remixed and repackaged as Trilogy, I realized that 1) PBR&B is a genre and 2) it is my favorite kind of music. The tunes from Kiss Land are amazing live (I was at both shows at Radio City). Nothing sounds as cinematic and original as the first 5 tunes on this record.

Key Tracks: "Adaptation", "Love in the Sky", "Belong to the World", "The Town", "Live For", "Kiss Land"

Icona Pop - THis is… Icona Pop

I spend a lot of time walking around the city with headphones on - it's how I do the majority of my listening. This record came out of nowhere - it is driving, melodic, economical and satisfying. You could throw on any random tune from it in the clerb. Maybe it's a guilty pleasure, but who cares.

Key Tracks: "I Love It", "All Night", "Girlfriend"

The Rest

Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
HAIM - Days are Gone
Flume - Flume
The National - Trouble Will Find Me
Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
Lucius - Wildewoman
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Danny Brown - Old
M.I.A. - Matangi
Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City