7 Albums from 2013 You Must Have in Your Collection

This year is more than halfway over now, and there have been numerous albums released since the start of it. I did a bit of a retrospective at the end of 2012 that celebrated those albums, but I have yet to give homage to the amazing records that have come out during this year. A small reminder: these are albums I fully endorse and appreciate, but they aren’t necessarily my favorite albums. There are some albums I think everyone already has, so I’m not going to put The 20/20 Experience here, even though it’s a dynamic record, and I’m also not going to talk about Magna Carta Holy Grail because, well you know. So, without further ado, here are seven albums from 2013 that you must have in your collection:

1. Dido – Girl Who Got Away

This is the first album from Dido since her debut album that I feel is truly her from start to finish. There was way too much outside influence on the previous two, and I think it showed in her live shows as well. Something was missing. But she’s found it again with Girl Who Got Away. Like Alicia Keys’ return with Girl on Fire, this album showcases the voice of an angel in rare form. Every single time I listen to it, I hear something new and profound, and I hope Dido never forgets her voice again. Standout song: Let Us Move On.

2. The Band Perry – Pioneer

I tried not to like this country group, but like their name suggests, they are a real band, not some thrown together group of singers whose voices happen to complement each other. Plus, they’re old school, meaning they sing songs with grit, but with a country twang that’s unmistakeable. They’re the better version of SheDaisy mixed with Dixie Chicks, and their songs are memorable. This album is easily their best to this point. Standout song: Better Dig Two.

3. The Great Gatsby Soundtrack

Baz Luhrmann is a different kind of director who makes different kinds of movies, and I happen to love them all. My personal favorite is his take on Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, but Moulin Rouge will always hold a special place in my heart too. With Gatsby, Luhrmann captures the zeitgeist of the roaring 20s with aplomb, using such varied acts as Lana Del Rey, Jay-Z, Bryan Ferry, and Gotye. While it might look like a disjointed list, that’s exactly the kind of thing he did with success in two aforementioned soundtracks, and he does it again here. Gatsby is a thrill ride through music that sounds like it could have come directly from the period of time, and yet also makes itself timeless. Standout song: Over the Love (by Florence + the Machine)

4. Kelly Rowland – Talk a Good Game

While Beyonce gets all the attention, for whatever reason, her former group-mate Rowland actually keeps on producing amazing music. What I love best about Kelly Rowland is her commitment to dance beats that also infuse rock and roll as well as R&B in their makeup. The mix, combined with Rowland’s incredible voice, works to perfection on Talk a Good Game, arguably the best album of the year. From the opening track, Freak, to the final #1 anthem, the record rocks. Standout song: Street Life.

5. Skylar Grey – Don’t Look Down

Skylar Grey is unabashedly herself from start to finish on this record. The lyrics are so forthright and forthcoming, and her voice so pure as she discusses issues in her life and in society as a whole. She also doesn’t shy away from tough language that is at once expressive and also not suitable for children. But that’s okay because Don’t Look Down is a grown woman’s record that soars. Easily a must-own if you’re not squeamish about the language. Standout song: Final Warning.

6. Depeche Mode – Delta Machine

Same as they ever were, Depeche Mode pulls out absolutely no new tricks for their latest record, Delta Machine, but they don’t need to, not anymore. With synthesizers at the ready, the band continues to prove the formula still works, at least for me. I know some have said they’re a one trick pony, but the trick is a good one. Dave Gahan’s voice is still one of the most haunting I have ever heard, and Martin Gore’s songwriting skills have maintained their passion and fire through all this time. Standout song: The Child Inside.

7. Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines

Infectious. That’s all I have to say about this rollicking ride through the smooth funk that is Robin Thicke and his amazing falsetto. Talk about music that gets you in the mood, this is one record that does not fail in its mission. It’s a return to form for Thicke, whose last album was too smoothly produced and not as organic as I’ve come to know from him. Blurred Lines is him at his best. If you love the groove from JT’s 20/20 Experience you’ll love the rhythm of Blurred Lines. Standout song: Blurred Lines.

Sam

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