As we turn the calendar to July, let us reflect on the first half of 2013. The first six months has been filled with notable album releases from established indie artists as well as electrifying breakthrough buzzbands. Also, iconic Heritage Act My Bloody Valentine released their first album in over twenty years. Furthermore, The Replacements have reunited and The Stone Roses finally played the States. Can’t wait to see what the rest of 2013 has in store for us.
The following is a list of the most notable indie albums of 2013 so far. The list appears in alphabetical order, mainly because ranking albums is a fun activity to do while I’m doing last minute Christmas shopping. The beauty of this list (whether you agree with it or not) is that we don’t have corporate sponsors (yet). This allows for the omission of non-indie artists such as Justin Timberlake and Kayne West in an relevant indie music list. Also, we can leave off the overhyped and overrated new Daft Punk record. What you’re left with is a refreshing list that makes sense.
Here you go, 19 to wrap your ears around:
* The Besnard Lakes “Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO”
* Bleached “Ride Your Heart”
* Deerhunter “Monomania”
* FOALS “Holy Fire”
* Foxygen “We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic”
* Guards “In Guards Will Trust”
* Local Natives “Hummingbird”
* Majical Cloudz “Impersonator”
* My Bloody Valentine “MBV”
* The National “Trouble Will Find Me”
* No Joy Wait To Pleasure”
* Palma Violets “180”
* Parquet Courts “Light Up Gold”
* The Pastels “Slow Summits”
* Savages “Silence Yourself”
* Smith Westerns “Soft Will”
* Vampire Weekend “Modern Vampires Of The City”
* Veronica Falls “Waiting For Something To Happen”
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Mosquito”
Honorable mention
* Deap Vally “Sistrionix” (Only available currently on import)
Let the debate begin.
GoINDEEpMusic
I would add the following:
Joy Formidable “Wolf’s Law”
IO Echo “Ministry of Love”
Queens of the Stone Age “…Like Clockwork” (they are on Matador a indie label)
Black Angels “Indigo Meadow”