52 Weeks of New Releases - 2013 - 24-15

We're now half way through this epic voyage of discovery.  I've written about more than half of the bands who I think you should care about from this past year.  Obviously, the meat and bones of the top 24 should be a bit more interesting.  I'm also hoping to write about the best compilations I checked out in 2013 (not the best DJ sets mind you, but the best releases curated by someone at some record label or in some studio somewhere).  That will come later,  now we move on through our next phase:

24. Disclosure - Settle - PMR/Island

Disclosure presents us with one of the most intriguing dance albums of 2013.  In a similar way that Hercules and Love Affair changed our perspective on dance music and drew on different genre to make their game-changing release, Disclosure does the same.  Drawing on R&B music and making it easily accessible.  Oddly enough it totally works and makes for one of the best albums of 2013.

I'm going to use the word "smart" here and say, in the English sense, this is probably the smartest album of the past year.

23. Ejecta - Dominae - Driftless

So I guess nudity is her thing.  All her promotion photos are Ejecta in the nude.  Nevertheless, Ejecta could very easily be on the Italians Do It Better label with a sound that's very much akin to Glass Candy and Desire.  Some of the songs are a bit more of the experimental sound like Adult. (see: "Beast" amongst others), but overall the album is a solid contribution to the Italo-Disco revival scene.

22. Infinity Shred - Sanctuary - Paracadute

While M83 was off making a soundtrack for the bomb that was Oblivion (the soundtrack was pretty good, kinda the Daft Punk Tron fare, but still decent), Infinity Shred has come along and picked up where he stopped.  Some of the tracks tend towards the atmospheric or ethereal bent, while other are more firmly planted in the EDM space like "Void Ripper".  A good release by a young up and coming band.

21. Sebastien Grainger - Yours to Discover - Last Gang

Sebastien Grainger is just fun.  From Death from Above 1979 to this solo offering, Grainger just puts out stuff that's ready to make you move your body.  The album is a total clash between 80's new wave and indie rock.  Like everything he puts his name on, it's not pretentious, it's not something that you need to study up on, it's just something to put on at 2 am when you're ready to get down.

If you liked Twin Shadow from the past couple years and especially liked "Five Seconds", this album is for you.  It takes that sound and drives it into new heights.

20. Mixhell - Spaces - BNR

Mixhell is an original idea on the EDM sound and, of course, it comes to us courtesy of Boys Noize records.  A bit more palatable than the crazy sounds of Boys Noize, Mixhell uses live drums to help develop their sound out a bit.  Much like Huoratron from 2012, Mixhell takes from the EDM genre and adds a lot more to it.  It's for those kids who grew up listening to Metallica, realizes that Lars Ulrich is a douche and found out that synthesizers rule (read: me).

19. Sally Shapiro - Somewhere Else - Paper Bag

Italian Disco continues to make a comeback and I'm loving it.  Sally Shapiro draws from inspirations like Savage, Valerie Dore, and all those one-hit wonders from Italy to make a complete contemporary take on the genre. Sally's vocals don't take center stage, but rather co-exist beautifully with the drums and synths.  "Starman" with Electric Youth is a stand-out.  If you dig god-man, Giorgio Moroder, you'll love this album.

18. VV Brown - Samson & Delilah - YOY

A complete departure from her previous work, Lollipops and Politics, which relied on a soulful sound and even featured artists like Chiddy Bang.  Samson & Delilah is totally a goth album, almost devoid of fun.  That doesn't make it bad at all.  It actually makes it quite good.  Some of the track, like "The Apple", actually sound like the Knife.  Samson & Delilah is a welcome step outside the bounds of comfort.

17. Feathers - If All Now Here - NYX

Feather's debuted with a very solid album in If All Now Here in 2014.  This Synthpop, New Wave-revival group provides the dance with songs like "Land of the Innocent", "Soft", "Familiar so Strange", and more.  The album draws on acts like New Order, Depeche Mode and adds a more dance floor filling vibe along with some pop hooks.

16. My Bloody Valentine - mbv - Self-Released

MBV have kept the world waiting for a new release for over 20 years.  Since their seminal release Loveless, they has gone their separate ways even with fans clamoring for more material.  MBV defined the shoegaze sound in the late eighties and early nineties.  A sound which innumerable bands would follow over the next two decades.

With their release of mbv, they unbelievable step right into where they left off all those years ago not missing a step.  This music is not for the average listening public (I would say 85% of my list could be for the "every man").  That is to say, this ain't pop music.  Nevertheless if you can appreciate an innovative group stepping right back into where they left off, and delivering a very solid album, then this one is for you.

15. Weekend - Jinx - Slumberland

Weekend is a different band, and it's funny I put them at number 15 because they are most certainly drawing from the path that number 15 My Bloody Valentine laid down.  They combine a shoegazey element with a dance beat and the results are phenomenal on Jinx.  It's fun, complex sound that should get you moving and yet is enjoyable with a big sound system.