#10 – Shelter Song – Colours to Life/Shelter Song – Temples
I love the return to psychedelia these lads are selling. I can’t wait for their debut in 2014 which hopefully includes a tour stop at Coachella.
#9 – A Stillness – In Rolling Waves – The Naked and Famous
I dug this one of their decent follow up to ‘Passive Me Aggressive You”. This ‘In Rolling Waves’ cut is symbolic of the rest of the album and shows a more mature sound.
#8 – We Sink – The Bones of What You Believe – CHVRCHES
CHVRCHES had a pretty amazing year and have just ended their first headlining tour. The whole album is solid and hopefully they include a stop in Indio in 2014.
#7 – When the Lilies Die – Ministry of Love – IO Echo
IO Echo melted my face at Coachella and the album is great start to finish. Can’t wait to hear what this band puts together for a follow up.
#6 – Breakers – Hummingbird Local Natives
One of the hardest working bands in all of 2014, Local Natives surprised the hell out of me with this album. Each song is expertly crafted and shows that the band really pushed themselves to outdo their debut ‘Gorilla Manor’ in every way. They are an excellent live band as well.
#5 – Find My Way – Hesitation Marks – Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor had a busy 2013. ‘Hesitation Marks’ is the best Nine Inch Nails album since ‘The Fragile’.
4 – This is the Last Time – Trouble Will Find Me – The National
‘Trouble Will Find Me’ is a daunting listen but once you give yourself up to it, it begins to reward you upon multiple listens. I go back and forth between this track and ‘Pink Rabbits’ as my favorites.
#3 – Infallible – Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam returned in 2013 with their best album since ‘Binaural’. They’ve embraced the fact that they are an arena band now and really keep their fans happy. This clip is from the show I attended in Phoenix and they played for 3 hours. The next stop in San Diego they played for almost 4 hours. Do yourself a favor and catch them if they stop in your town.
#2 – The Leopard and the Lung – Wolf’s Law – Joy Formidable
Joy Formidable opened 2013 with a bang with their follow up to ‘The Big Roar’ and it hasn’t left my rotation yet. This track is amazing and I’m glad the band decided to include a variation in vocalists between Ritzy and Rhyddian. Hopefully they come to Coachella in 2014.
#1 – I Appear Missing – …Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age
‘…Like Clockwork’ is a monumental effort by Josh Homme and the rest of the band and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Although each track is gold on this album, this one keeps me coming back.