One Thousand Fist Pumps Later - Best of 2013
(DISCLAIMER: Until 2020 all my "Best Of" lists were on Facebook in the Notes section. In 2020, when I hadn't used Facebook for 6 months, they decided to do away with Notes. I was still able to access some of them, such as this one, but the layouts are a little wonky.)ext remained. See my 2020 Best Of to see what they all used to look likjjk
(this is a LOT longer than I planned on…..you've been warned)
Hello! Well it's that time of year again for some aural stimulation!…..yup. Anyways, this year has been one full of great songs but, similar to last year, not full of whole albums that blew me away. So I'll be dividing things up into a couple different categories, along with some NEW media categories also.
Like I said, there were a ton of great songs this year that I loved, so my 2013 Mix has gone the opposite direction - I fear I have too many songs this year hah Hopefully you'll enjoy most of them though…..unless you don't like anthems, because this years' mix is full of them! Without further ado:
Mix of 2013 (One Thousand Fist Pumps Later):
1. "I Believe" - Basic Vacation
2. "Dreaming" - Smallpools
3. "On Our Way" - The Royal Concept
4. "San Francisco" - The Mowgli's
5. "Nicotine" - Panic! at the Disco
6. "Zen and the Art of Xenophobia" - Five Iron Frenzy
7. "A Love Like War" - All Time Low
8. "Young Volcanoes" - Fall Out Boy
9. "Things We Lost in the Fire" - Bastille
10. "Wake Me Up" - Avicii
11. "Farrah Fawcett Hair (feat. Andre 3000)" - Capital Cities
12. "Gun" - CHVRCHES
13. "Elevate" - St. Lucia
14. "I Shut Off" - Ra Ra Riot
15. "Hands" - Alpine
16. "My Song 5" - Haim
17. "Don't Lie" - Vampire Weekend
18. "Holy" - Frightened Rabbit
19. "The John Wayne" - Little Green Cars
My entire mix (as well as past ones) can be streamed here:
(It starts playing automatically as soon as the page loads, just fyi).PHEW! I told you it was a lot. Every year my Mix seems to get longer…..I'll try to keep it reasonable next year. I've laid out the album this way so it's pretty close to being 4 different sections. Starting off with some very anthem-based pop/rock, segueing into some general rock-pop/rock, fading into some electronic-y pop, and finishing with some general indie/rock bands which might sound familiar to a couple of my past mixes. 90% of this mix contains very sing-alongable songs, so listen at your own risk. I take no responsibility for ear worms.
Top Albums:
BEST ALBUM EVAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!! ;)
I heard these guys sometime in 2012 and ended up downloading a couple EPs and forgetting about them among all my other favorite stuff that year. Then at the beginning of 2013 I saw their song "Pompeii" featured on itunes and immediately remembered them. I went in a desperate search for some more music from them, only to find their album wasn't available on the U.S. itunes and others…..but I acquired the album and have enjoyed every song from it since. It's one of those rare albums that comes along and I can listen to it from beginning to end every time. I give Bastille the comparison of being a cross between Florence and the Machine/Imagine Dragons. Even if you're not a fan of those bands, I'd still give Bastille at least a once-over. Definitely my favorite album of the year.
I saw this album on itunes and knew I'd check it out at some point, but it was only a week or two later when Vijay became obsessed with the album that I actually gave it a listen. I'm glad I did, because this made it's way towards the top of my list. Along with several other albums that came out this year, it's very 80s Pop in it's overall sound. What sets it apart, I think, is how much songs are based heavily in the rhythm section. I put their song "My Song 5" in my mix because, along with being a favorite obviously, I think it's the most unique song on their album.
Highly Recommended:
Vampire Weekend - "Modern Vampires of the City"
I honestly hated Vampire Weekend when they first came out. I though their name was stupid and I think I heard "A-Punk" 5 times a day the summer the year that album came out. However, back in 2012, I was convinced to listen to them more. So I did, and I really like them now. I was excited for this new album…..but it turned out to be quite different from their previous ones. "Diane Young" was a great single and I enjoyed it, but it took a long time for this album to grow on me. Once it did though, songs like "Don't Lie" and "Step" became favorites. If you've been turned off by Vampire Weekend's previous upbeat indie/pop efforts, I'd say give this album a try - it's quite different and relaxed (with a couple exceptions).
Frightened Rabbit - "Pedestrian Verse"
This is another album that took a little bit to grow on me, but grow it did and it's yet another great release by this band. Oddly enough I feel like this album is sonically a bridge between their 1st and 2nd albums (this is their 3rd full-length). It's got the crunchy (distorted yet….not?) guitars and organic sounds of the 1st album, but also has the smooth production value of the 2nd one. I also saw them live over the summer and I think they keep adding a new member every album tour hah But they still have a great live show and are still very highly recommended, all of their albums, by me.
Capital Cities - "In a Tidal Wave of Mystery"
Despite some head-hanging/shaking lyrics ("Even in a hurricane of frowns/I know we'll be safe and sound") in the single I'm sure you've heard somewhere this year, these guys are good. Very catchy, upbeat, and kind of an alternative to Daft Punk's album this year - and by that I mean there's some funky, 70's disco feel in it. These guys are also a 5-man band, not 2 DJs, by the way. They also sing, unlike their song that I put in my mix, "Farrah Fawcett Hair….," so don't let that song make you think they just use samples and choirs and guest vocalists hah Definitely worth a listen.
Five Iron Frenzy - "Engine of a Million Plots"
I know I know I know, you're thinking "Oh come on Jake, I know Five Iron and they're whatever….blahblahblah" but really, you should check out their triumphant return. It still has the elements of social commentary and silliness to it ("Zen and the Art of Xenophobia" and "Battle Dancing Unicorns (with Glitter)"), but there's also a sense of maturation with it. They're also now more of a Rock band that uses horns, rather than a Ska band with checkered belts/shoes/e.t.c….. And despite being labeled (still) as a Christian band, they have a couple members that have lost their faith, including one of the original songwriters for the band, Scott Kerr, who left after the 2nd album and is now back. Here's a good article/interview with them:
New Kids on the Block:
So this is a section I forgot about last year and was reminded of when looking through my old posts. There's quite a few. Enjoy!
Little Green Cars -
This Irish quintuplet is one of the best live bands I've seen - ever. They're also all 21. I remember this little fact because the first time I saw them they talked about how they were all too young to drink in this country. I saw them a 2nd time a few months later and they talked about how they were now old enough heh Anyways, their harmonies are ridiculous. Whatever you hear on their album, they can pull it off live too. That being said, I think their live show is far superior to their studio efforts. (for fans of Frightened Rabbit and indie/rock with a folk tinge)
Basic Vacation -
Heard their single "I Believe" late this past summer and wondered how these guys weren't already huge. Saw them live in Oct. when they opened for Alpine, and there was about 20 people there when they played. I think it was in early Nov. where I made a post, with their video in it, saying that they'll be super huge within 6 months. I heard that same song on a movie trailer over Christmas and I believe (no pun intended) that come this Spring, you'll be hearing about them everywhere. Their song is, to me, the epitome of Anthem-Pop/Rock. I dare you to not sing along/bob your head/tap your foot/pump your fist.
Smallpools -
These guys are sweet. Can I coin the term Candy-Rock? I just did. If you need some upbeat pop/rock with a touch of synth, check out their EP. You might want to eat an apple afterwards.
The Royal Concept -
These Swedes know how to write some catchy stuff. You've probably heard their single "On Our Way" while walking around Target or somewhere else and just haven't realized it. Yet another band that I feel is anthem-pop based and very danceable and sweet. Enjoy in small doses, doctor's orders.
Alpine -
British electro-pop with some ambiance thrown in. Ask me about their live show sometime, it's fun.
Magic Man & Gold Fields -
These two bands released some decent stuff this year, but nothing that was crazy impressive. I like them enough that I'll be keeping my ears open to see what they do in the future.
Not sure what 2014 is going to bring, but hopefully some more gems, new and old!
Ok, if all you cared about is the music, you can stop reading now, otherwise…..
MOVIES of 2013!
Alright, I'm not going to get in-depth about a bunch of movies or debate what should/shouldn't get an Oscar nod. What I AM going to do is mention 3 movies I think are worth seeing that may have slipped under your radar. Sooooooo BOOM:
Lead: Olivia Wilde & Jake Johnson
Supporting: Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston
Director: Joe Swanburg
Rated R
So I saw a preview for this movie online at some point and decided I needed to see it. It's based (and shot) in/around Chicago, so that helps right there. The main characters work in a brewery and the film revolves around their relationship with each other and their significant others. It definitely has an "indie" film feel, with a good mix of funny/awkward and dramatic situations to it. It has a realness to it, I think, because there's no extremes to it (no sci-fi lasers or crazy/meta sequences), it's just something you can see happening and even put yourself in someone's shoes. It's also on Netflix now, so you have no excuse! I give it 14 stars*
Lead: Brit Marling
Supporting: Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page
Director: Zal Batmanglij
Rated R
This was on my list of things to watch for a while, and I finally did while on Christmas vacation. The premise of this film is about a group of "eco-terrorists," here in the USA, that target big companies (oil/medical/pharmaceutical/e.t.c….) on a personal level. They film their "jams" and post them online. We follow lead actress Brit Marling as she tries to infiltrate the group while working undercover. I give it 12 stars*
Lead: Aubrey Plaza
Supporting: Bill Hader, Johnny Simmons, Alia Shawkat, Donald Glover
Director: Maggie Carey
Rated R
This comedy follows Aubrey Plaza (playing high school virgin/valedictorian Brandy Klark) who, after graduating, decides to give into her friends' peer pressure and have some fun over the summer…..by creating a list of sexual experiences she'd like to accomplish by summer's end. Oh, and it's also set in the 90's. While this isn't anywhere near the over-the-top ridiculous type of funny, a la "This is the End," nor on the spectrum of indie/cult-classic "Wet Hot American Summer," I think it's a solid comedy. I give it 17 stars*
*star rating completely fictional, do not quote.
That's all for movies! See, I told you it wasn't that bad. Next up…..
VIDEO GAMES of 2013!
Again, I'm not going to get super in-depth or start name-calling people who play COD, I'll just suggest a few things you should play for their all-around goodness (story/gameplay/control/e.t.c….)
While this game may be in the top 5 of a lot of peoples' lists, it's usually not #1. It's #1 on mine though. Part of what makes this game great is that even though there's been a couple previous games with the "Bioshock" name, this isn't a direct sequel or prequel - you can play this without having any knowledge of the other Bioshocks.
The setting of this game is gorgeous. Brightly colored and seemingly set in the late-19th/early20th century, you'll spend some time just gazing at the scenery before it becomes normal enough for you to just play the game hah The gameplay is solid too. It's in 1st-person, and you use a variety of guns/projectiles, but the sweet part is when you start getting Salts. Salts basically give you superpowers. Not like "flight/invisibility/super speed" but powers nonetheless. While the storyline is obviously the important part and what makes or breaks most games, I don't want to ruin anything. So, suffice it to say, the story and characters are GREAT. If this isn't on your list, it should immediately go to the top.
The Last of Us
Genre: Action/Adventure, Survival Horror (Apocalyptic/World Wide Catastrophe)
Ok, so it's not exactly a "Horror" game, but there are humans who've been turned into flesh eating creatures. So that's scary.
THIS is the game that's at the very top of most peoples' lists, and it slides right in behind Bioshock: Infinite for me. The opening of this game is one of the best, if not the best, I've played. So keep your expectations low/adequate ;) The setting of Last of Us is some years after an "outbreak" occurred, affecting the whole world. At first it seems like a normal 3rd-person zombie game - but it's so much more. There's several types of creatures, not just one, that want to kill/maim/eat you, but you're not just running around shooting things Left 4 Dead style, oh no my friend, if you want to fight then you have to be smart about it. Ammo/supplies are scarce, so getting in a firefight (yeah, other humans who are still humans are dangerous too) or fighting off more than a couple infected is a big deal.
Aside from the entire Earth becoming a 3rd-world country and surviving on a day-to-day basis, The Last of Us looks beautiful…..in a grim sort of way. Broken down buildings, ghost towns, rusted over cars, vines covering everything….and you get to enjoy all the seasons too.
While I'm sure you've heard or seen something from both of those games this year, there's a reason they've been talked about and awarded so much. I'd like to suggest more games, and ones that haven't had their own commercials and been raved about, but I'm behind on my own game-playing…..and I can only consume so much media! Get off my back!
Hope you enjoyed/will enjoy some of my favorite things of the past year!
Comments
Post a Comment