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

Katy B "Crying For No Reason" Music Video

Katy B is coming for all the mid-tempo ballad crown this winter with her newest album cut.

Miley Cyrus Gets It Right For "Adore You" Video

Miley Cyrus was supposed to drop the video to her third "Bangerz" single, "Adore You" this morning. However, some vindictive soul (I'm guessing a Belieber or Directioner who care about Vevo records) leaked the video to the net ahead of time.

Son Dam Bi Brings The Bossa Nova Sexy With "Red Candle"

Son Dam Bi chose the right time to come back. While everyone is releasing holiday themed tunes, the female Rain decided to heat up the landscape a bit with her third digita single.

The Pop Critics Top 30 Songs of 2013

Maybe the album doesn't live up to your standards, but individual tunes do. Genre-mashing, funk, throwbacks, songs with interpolations of timeless rap novelties were what the public wanted. All the songs are here in a convenient Grooveshark playlist for you. Enjoy and comment!

SHINee "Colorful" Music Video

Even though "Miracles in December" by EXO is doing well for SM Entertainment, I guess they want to milk the Christmas cash cow as much as possible.

IU "Friday" (feat. Jang Yi-jeong)

IU is back with a repackaged version of her "Modern Times" album with two new tracks!!!

Zion.T "Miss Kim"

It's been a while since I post anything K-Pop related, but the releases this month have mostly been holiday themed and I'm not a big fan of Christmas songs unless it's "Last Christmas" by Wham! or "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. This new one by K-Rapper/singer Zion.T is not a holiday tune.

Min "Lost" Music Videos

The debut single from St.319's diva Min and  now the music videos for the song have been released in full.

Song of 2014: Magic! "Rude"

People are already looking for that next song that's going to capture the hearts (and iTunes gift cards) of the public during the summer. What will be the next "Call Me Maybe"?"Blurred Lines"? Look no further.

Pixie Lott "Heart Cry" (Updated with Video)

While we wait for the Christina Aguilera song that never was "Nasty" to premiere, the first listen of what Pixie Lott's new self-titled album will sound like. "Heart Cry" is a vintage throwback, something that the pint-sized singer has been showcasing via her YouTube covers as of late. It's a bit on the dry side, but beggers can't be choosers I suppose. Now, please: give us "Nasty" before the new year, I beg of you! updated with video!

Elyar Fox "Do It All Over Again"

Elyar Fox (L-ee-yar) is a new talent from the United Kingdom. He's one of the people who got their start on YouTube doing covers and the right people saw it and now he has a record deal (in the vein of Conor Maynard, Justin Bieber and Austin Mahone). His debut single, "Do It All Over Again" will be released in the new year, but the music video for it is already here after RCA UK refused to post the audio after it premiering on Capital FM weeks ago! Elyar emulates social media sites like Twitter and Instagram, while paying homage to YouTube in the process. The song is a catchy bop and could be a hit with the right promotion (and rabid fanbase).

Min of Dance Troupe St.319 Releases Debut Single "LOST"

I guess it was only time before they expanded their talents beyond dancing. Background: St.319 is a dance collective of pre-teens and teenagers from Vietnam who are best known for their near flawless dance covers of popular K-Pop songs. They have won many numerous awards and make it seem easy to pick up on a K-Pop dance and master it like that (insert finger snap here). Min is one of their dancers, who did a killer performance of BoA's "Only One". I'm not too sure if Min plans on becoming a singer or this is just a fun side project, but either way, I'm here for this! My ears know no language and this is amazingly heart-wrenching mid-tempo. I wonder when the music video comes! Please listen and share and follow St.319 on Facebook.

Richard Osborne "Motive" (feat. Ca$his & Mistah F.A.B.)

Richard Osborne gets a helping hand from Eminem...sort of. For the singer's latest tune "Motive" with a late 80's throwback theme going on, Shady Records artist Ca$his is featured on the record along with Mistah F.A.B. The production on the track sounds familiar, but I can't put my hands on where it's from, if from anywhere. This along with sex anytime anyplace anthem "Wherever I Fall" will be on the singer's "Nothing Personal" EP, to drop early next year.

Lorde "No Better"

Oops! It looks like someone is beginning to leak Lorde's leftovers. A song by the name of "No Better" hit the web early today in the midst of the overload of music released within the last 24 hours. The song is rumoured to be the first single from a "Pure Heroine" re-release or an outtake from the original sessions. The song is more hip-hop oriented than the stuff we heard on "Pure Heroine". Come and get that smash on the urban charts Ella!!!

2AM Club "I See Stars"

While Beyonce's surprise album is hot on everyone's lips and Twitter feeds, a select few were buzzing for a different reason. 2AM Club dropped another song! "I See Stars" is another winner for the group, who I feel like is incapabable of releasing a sucky tune. The reggae inspired tune, that would have been a perfect July release will (hopefully) make the band's elusive second studio album, which will like Beyonce's drop out of the sky with videos for every song. I'll be waiting!


2AM Club - I See Stars
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Frankmusik "Ephemeral Summer"

Frankmusik is focused. He released two albums this year, toured and is hard at work on his next project due sometime in 2014. While you wait, you can listen to the chilling, haunting first single "Ephemeral Summer" (good use of synonyms). Aside from the awkward close ups of his lips throughout, the video is twice as nice. I want to know where he got the map shirt from. Make sure you support and buy the single from Play Music and iTunes!

2AM Club "Evidence" Music Video

It's getting harder and harder to survive without a new 2AM Club LP, but these singles and freebies are doing the job for now. The official vid for their third single "Evidence" has premiered and matches the somber tone of the song nicely. Singer Marc Griffin is shown in his apartment, cleaning himself up, throwing away his exes belongings and roaming his hood when a wild Tyler pops up and does his rap. Not much of a storyline, but hey! It's something...

Britney Spears "Perfume" Music Video

Britney Spear's term of endearment album "Britney Jean" was released last week and hit #4 on the charts with 100k sold. Not too shabby for someone who did almost no promo but some half baked interviews. Now a week later, we get the video for "Perfume," the second single. Britney is seen being all lovey dovey with her man...or is it? Because in later scenes we see another woman getting all cozy with him too! Obviously there was going to be a tie-in between the video and one of Brit-Brit's many fragrances. The video seems to be lacking and according to director Joseph Khan, there was supposed to be a lot more going on than what we saw. Release that director's cut before it's too late!

Dappy "Animal"

Surprise!!! UK rapper Dappy has dropped off an early Christmas gift to all his fans: a freestyle over "Animals" by Swedish house producer Martin Garrix. The tune was first played on BBC Radio 1Xtra and has set the internet ablaze! Dappy (like always) delivers rapid fire rhymes and spits about his wealth (and the size of his manhood),you would never know that he's in a massive amount of debt.

T-ARA "What Should I Do?"

T-ARA has been slowly but effectively rebuilding their brand throughout 2013, with their subunit T-ARA N4 giving us one of the better K-Pop songs of the year, an official group comeback (sans Areum and Dani) and even a summer special single. The girls have re-released their  "Again" mini with a new title track "What Should I Do?" and it's a banger! (No Z). The song is a cover of a song released back in the 70s updated for current appeal thanks to the magic touch of frequent collaborator Shinshadong Tiger to make it club ready with subtle dubstep flourishes and that disco inspired sound that many have tried but T-ARA can only pull off. Two versions of the song have been released, a ballad and dance version. I'm loving Eunjung's blonde hair and Qri taking front and center as the star of the M/V, but it would have been better if it was shot on location somewhere. 

Ladi6 "Diamonds" Music Video

Ladi6's stunning album cut "Diamonds" got a video! The Parks produced tune is one of the best on "Automatic," Ladi6's third studio album which dropped back in September. The vid shows a couple who start off pulling off petty crimes and steadily progress to bigger and more dangerous ones that end in tragedy, shown in retrospect. Bonnie & Clyde, the New Zeland version.

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!

Daft Punk "Instant Crush" Music Video

It's looking like that one of my two favourite songs from Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories" is getting the single treatment!!! The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas contributes vocals to the song.  Story: a wax figure that looks like a French soldier (who looks a lot like Casablancas) falls in love with a colonial period wax figure in a wax museum. Yup, that's pretty much the plot. There are also shots of Julian performing on a circular platform, looking very menacing at some parts. Now all I need is a proper video for "Doin' It Right" sometime in the future.

Childish Gambino "3005" and "The Worst Guys" Music Videos

I have not had the time to listen to any of Childish Gambino's (AKA Donald Glover) new material, though I've been reading good things about it. "Because of The Internet" is set to drop tomorrow in the States and the rapper has released videos for the songs "3005" and "The Worst Guys" featuring one of this year's breakout artists, Chance The Rapper. In "3005" Glover gets his Ted on and is shown riding on a ferris wheel with a teddy bear looking like a strung out bum (no offense) while in the "The Worst Guys" visuals, he and Chance are shown having some fun at the beach: surfing, smoking and playing around with colourful light saber things around a bonfire. Sounds like a good day to me!  3005
The Worst Guys

Lorde "Team" Music Video

The steam behind Lorde's worldwide smash "Royals" is dying down and the second single "Team" can finally get the shine that it deserves. The New Zealand alt-pop star dropped the video for the single last week, stating that the video was inspired by a dream she had about a future run by teenagers, complete with hierarchy and ruins and all that good stuff. All I know is Lorde better work those cornrows!!!

Sam Smith "Money On My Mind"

Sam Smith, fresh off his Sound of 2014 longlist nomination, will release his debut album sometime next year, one of the most anticipated and for good reason. His collaborations with Disclosure and Naughty Boy have showcased that this guy is beyond talented, so seeing what he can do on his own with a full length is pretty exciting, His debut single, "Money on My Mind" will drop in February, but Smith himself tweeted it the audio for it. While it sounds very nice, it doesn't sound like a debut single should sound. It's more like the one of the album tracks that everyone loves and begs for it as a single release. Whoever produced it took the less is more approach. Smith sings how he doesn't sing for the coins, but for the love and admiration of fans. Lovely indeed.