The Pop Critics Top 20 Releases of 2013

2013 was a mixed bag when it came to releases. Like 2012, it was the debuts of artists that really shined, where some follow-ups did their job cementing their status as some of the best acts of the These are the releases that captured my ears, my Last.Fm account, my iTunes, kept me going through grueling exercises and long days of doing homework and held my attention from their release dates up until this list was created. 

20.Perfume-Level3

The Japanese trio under the tutelage of composer Yasutaka Nakata's fourth full length album mixes what the girls have been putting out for the past thirteen years of their career into a neat package of sugary, electropop eargasm that even a person unfamiliar with the Japanese language can get into. 

Recommended Tracks: Spring of Life, Spending All My Time, Magic of Love

19.Lorde-Pure Heroine

While Lana Del Rey had to (re)-work to get the public to show her some type of admiration, 17-year old Ella Yelich O'Connor from New Zealand  did it without trying. Pure Heroine is an aged album that's best listened to with some type of understanding of the world, or a rainy day is ok too.

Recommended Tracks:Ribs, Tennis Court, Team

18.James Blake-Overgrown

The post-dubstep phenom dug a little deeper for his second LP, which is more a continuation of his self-titled LP rather than a deviation. Rather than recycle the understated iciness that made James Blake so good, he opened himself up to collaboration with Brian Eno and RZA and added warm tones of R&B and soul, making it moodier and more accessible.

Recommended Tracks:Digital Lion, Take The Fall For Me, Voyeur, Retrograde

17.Kanye West-Yeezus

Kanye, though polarizing in real life, always makes above average music (except for "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", I have no idea what he was thinking when he released that). Though it divided his fans, "Yeezus's" mix of genres from industrial to metal and glimpses of pre-808's Kanye are warm welcome and gives us hope that Kanye will give us another "Graduation" caliber release, but don't hold your breath waiting.

Recommended Tracks:Blood on The Leaves, Bound 2, Black Skinhead, New Slaves

16.Kavinsky-OutRun

Kavinsky's 80s inspired concept album about a teenager who becomes a music making zombie after crashing his Lamborghini (every teenager's dream to be honest) was six years in the making. Six years that couldn't have come sooner, especially after hearing "Nightcall" in "Drive" two years prior. "Outrun" is a test drive you'll want to repeat on numerous occasions. Maybe over some episodes of Knght Rider (the 80s version, preferably).

Recommended Tracks: Suburbia, Nightcall, Protovision, Deadcruiser

15.Frankmusik-Between

After leaving the big wigs over at Island, Vincent Frank was able to stretch his wings and get his creative juices flowing, which resulted in a independent dance record for the ages. Frankmusik drops us in on the tail end of a relationship, where he goes from questionably passive aggressive, to angry, to resolving his issues and moving on. All over some solid production and catchy lyrics.

Recommended Tracks:Cake, Fast as I Can, Captain, Life is My Revenge

14.Autoheart-Punch

Autoheart's debut is a slow starter and may take a few plays before you can fully appreciate the depressing yet whimsical nature of it. Piano pop in its purest form, "Lent" is a rare record: untouched by the hands of mainstream radio and made for the ears of people who more than likely never hear Jody Gadsden's glorious feminine vocals.

Reccomended Songs:Control, Agrophobia, January, Lent, The Sailor Song

13.HAIM-Days Are Gone

HAIM actually knows how to sound like the 80s, 90s and 00s without cheesing it up to high heaven. Rock music with a pop sensibility that few can master, Days Are Gone blends all the ingredients of what an emerging indie superpower should aspire to sound like: consistency, cleanliness and fun.

Recommenced Songs:The Wire, Let Me Go, Forever, Days are Gone, Don't Save Me

12.Alice in Chains-The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here

After 2009's "Black and Blue," many were unsure how the refurbished Alice in Chains would sound going into future. Rest easy fans, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Put Here  is a mainstream rock album that doesn't compromise the tortured grit that made the band the alternative staple that it is today. The band hasn't sound this fresh or cohesive since the 1995 EP release "Jar of Flies".

Recommended Tracks:Voices, Choke, Scalpel

11.Oliver Tank Slow Motion Music

The Australian's 2nd EP is more a religious experience than a listening one. A dreamy, ethereal landscape is created within the span of seven tracks, doing what Bon Iver's Justin Vernon does on their album, though conveys the feelings behind the songs better with the icy production and haunted special effects.

Recommended Tracks: Stay, Home, Blessing In Disguise, Her

Eliza Doolittle "Walking on Water" Music Video

Eliza Doolittle refuses to give up on this era! The singer has chosen "Walking on Water" as the third single from her sophomore set, "In Your Hands" which peaked at #25 on the UK charts. Shame since the album is pretty solid. The single version of the song adds a bit more instrumentation and a slowed breakdown during the third verse. The video shows Eliza and her Batman (that his name in her iPhone at 0:09) texting. He the n proceeds to travel over 7000 miles just to see her with no motorized transport! That's dedication for ya. I bet he's fit as hell after that!

Stream Eliza Doolittle's "In Your Hands"

You can now stream UK singer-songwriter Eliza Doolittle's second studio effort "In Your Hands" a few days before it's October 14th release date. The album includes the singles, "Let It Rain" and "Big When I was Little" and the promotional track "Waste of Time." Click here!

Eliza Doolittle "Big When I Was Little"

Since her recent collaboration with Disclosure, Eliza Doolittle has been more visible nowadays. The follow-up to her platinum-certified eponymous debut will come sometime this year after three long years, but for now we'll have to settle for the first single, "Big When I Was Little." The song is a bouncy pop number that has a very sing-songy chorus that is perfect for upcoming summer months. The song will be released July 28th, but you can listen to it below.

Disclosure "You and Me" Music Video

UK garage duo Disclosure have released the music video for their soon-to-be smash hit, "You and Me" featuring Eliza Doolittle. The video was given a parental advisory warning, probably because of the one scene where the girlfriend starts beating on the guy with the dildo. Ha ha. Check it!

Disclosure "You and Me" (feat. Eliza Doolittle)

The sibling production duo played the song for the first time at last weekend's Coachella, now one of the UK's most talked about new acts Disclosure has released their latest (and debatable) best single to date. The song features Eliza Doolittle after being absent from the music scene for almost three years. After a rough starting electro-house intro, there is a seamless transition to Doolittle's strong soulful vocal work, much like Sam Smith did with "Latch" and with the more heavy and upbeat garage instrumental coming into play later, Disclosure makes a return to the music that hyped them up in the first place. In other words, it slays and I hope this gives them their first #1! The song will be included on their debut album,"Settle" due in June and their singles EP in the States, due out April 30th.