thebunk

This right here. They have not made a great album since the underrated Room on Fire.

Back on topic,I would say this has been the best year in a long time from a year to date perspective.

Daft Punk
Phoenix
The National
Frightened Rabbit
Mark Kozelek & Jimmy Lavelle
Local Natives
Johnny Marr
My Bloody Valentine
Vampire Weekend
Charles Bradley
Beach Fossils
Jason Isbell

And while I am not a fan of many of the other big releases this year, you can't ignore them (David Bowie, Flaming Lips, Nick Cave, etc)

Strevlac

I was surprised how cool that new Sabbath song is (God Is Dead). I haven't heard the whole album, but I'm really digging that one.

Eddie W

Wait, what? CBV has a new record? I had no idea these guys were still kicking around.

In addition to some of the ones listed in this thread, The Airborne Toxic Event has a great new one that I'm enjoying quite a bit.

Arpeggi

My Bloody valentine.

Trelach24

What is this? Music is dead.

Rocketdog2000

Perfectly said, sir!

nodeerforamonth

Best year since 2011 and 2012.

Jason

Perfectly said, sir!

DaveyJoe

The new Big Boi was excellent.

CRM114

Phoenix? Zzzzzz.......
The National? ZZZZzzzzzzzz..........
Daft Punk? Meh.

But OK.

Dan1boy

God, I can't wait until the Daft Punk hysteria wears off. I couldn't get past track three.

Could be I can't stand 70's disco and funk. Worse than a chorus of screeching tomcats in heat.

Hiro11

These are all awesome. In addition:
Parquet Courts (the lo-fi NYC garage album I wish The Strokes would make)
The Knife (huge return to form from my favorite Nordic ice gods)
Savages (great twisted post punk)
Ghostface Killah (his best since Fishscale)
Pistol Annies (best country supergroup in years)

2013 is simply awesome so far.

Hiro11

Yeah, that's going to be a small impediment to liking this album.

story

Is 2013 a Pearl Jam year? Because if it's not...

CRM114

I don't understand it.

printerati

...then it will be like every year since 1994, when they were last relevant.

story

wendersfan

Fantastic albums so far by:

Palma Violets
Frightened Rabbit
Foxygen
Local Natives
Phoenix

One of the best years in recent memory.

Supermallet

How can people not like '70s funk? I know a lot still don't like disco because of the misguided disco sucks movement, but funk?

Rockmjd23

Too many sentimental, rootsy, earnest, sing-songy guys! Terrible year!

Hiro11

Song of the year, so far, for me:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bx7dF89a3z4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(Video is inexplicably awful).

CRM114

Ween doing funk? No problem?

CRM114

Lots o' beards. A little too poppy for me.

Foxygen, No Destruction - song of the year:

Rocketdog2000

Agree on the first one, but the other two were just fine in my book. I'd add Vampire Weekend to that list, as well, though.


Your loss, but if it isn't doing it for you, it isn't doing it for you. Can't fault you for that. Plenty of other albums that other folks here love which I don't give F---all for, either, so there you go.

For myself, I'd say it's been a decent year, if not "the best" in awhile. Overall, I've been pretty pleased with what's come out. Some things lived up to expectation (Josh Rouse, Matt Pond, Johnny Marr, Suede, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), others I didn't really have any for, and some things caught me completely by surprise with how much I enjoyed them. I'd put Daft Punk, The Joy Formidable and Joe Satriani into that latter category.

thebunk

Agree on all accounts (top 5 song of the year, fantastic band, horrible video).