Crystal Castles – Wrath of God
Wrath of God is off Crystal
Castles’ album Crystal
Castles (III). The electronic track engages the listener enchanting them
with its great driving danceable beat, courtesy of Ethan Kath. Alice Glass’s
vocals also have a bewitching siren-like quality. Her lyrics carry a strong
political message of cruelty in the world. Yet, even with bleak tone, the song
is still beautiful as well. Available for download: here
Danny Brown – Grown Up
Grown Up is a non-album single.
Danny Brown had a great 2012, appearing on a ton of other people’s albums (plus
his album XXX
has really started to catch on). He could very well be one of the top hip hop artists
of 2013. Party Supplies provides the track with a fantastic beat that is very
catchy and fun. In addition to the beat, Brown’s lyrics are strong as he raps
about his youth in a very relatable manner (the song also has a brilliant music
video, see above). Available for download: here
Dusted – Pale Light
Pale Light is off Dusted’s debut
album Total
Dust. The Canadian duo of songwriter Brian Borcherdt and producer Leon
Taheny capture a wonderful sound with the track. It has a folk sensibility but played
through an electronic echoy reverb that gives it a uniqueness and great
aesthetic quality. Its soft manner seems to momentarily disguise its power and
allure. Available for download: here
Ellie
Goulding – Anything Could Happen
Anything Could Happen is off
Ellie Goulding’s album Halcyon.
Like a number of artists on this list, Goulding had a breakthrough year in 2012
– both with her new material and her chart climbing single Lights. Anything Could
Happen (produced by Goulding and Jim Eliot), the lead single of Halcyon, is
probably the best pop song of the year. It just grabs the listener right away,
and Goulding’s singular voice just soars. Available for download: here
Family Band – Rest
Rest is off Family Band’s debut
album Grace
& Lies. The Brooklyn duo of visual artist Kim Krans and metal/thrash
guitarist Jonny Ollsin make an unlikely pairing for such a sad, dark slow song.
While Night Song is a
better single, Rest just has a foreboding power to it that seems to entrance
the listener. Krans’s voice is transfixing while Ollsin’s guitar is sheer and
grim (and quiet). It is the kind of folk music that one might play after the
world has ended – looking out across the wasteland. Available for download: here
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