Best Songs of 2013: Honourable Mention (Part 1, A-C)

It’s nearly impossible for me to do a strict Top 100 Songs of the Year list. Each year, a plethora of new bands/artists release debut records. That’s a lot of songs. On top of that, there are the bands/artists that have already released material, and continue to build their catalogues. That’s also a lot of songs. Songs over songs in between songs topped with songs stuffed into songs. And I can’t help but seek them out — I love music that much. It makes list releasing/curating a hell of a task though, and it will only get harder each passing year. I don’t know what I’ll do in 2020. Perhaps a Top 500 Songs of The Year list will be the way to go.

As for 2013, there are waaaaaaay more than 100 songs that deserve to have a spotlight shone on them, so this year, I’ve made an alphabetical list of the songs that didn’t make my Top 100. Make no mistake, the songs on this Honourable Mention list are really, really good. Some people might even enjoy these tracks more than what will comprise my Top 100 list. To each their own.

This list is for my favourite tracks of the year to have a space to relax and get comfortable, and for insatiable music consumers. This list might not appeal to a lot of people (that’s okay). If one person discovers a song they hadn’t heard before, listing this many songs will have been worth it.

Here, again, are my favourite songs of 2013, Honourable Mention style, in alphabetical order, beginning with A-C.

2 Chainz f. Pharrell – Feds Watching

2AM Club – Too F***ed Up To Call

Ace Hood f. Future & Rick Ross – Bugatti

Active Child f. Mikyk Ekko – Subtle

Albert Hammond Jr. – St. Justice

ASTR – Operate

Atlas Genius – If So

Autumn Hill – Fire

Avec Sans – The Answer

Ballet School – Heartbeat Overdrive

Bell X1 – Careful What You Wish For

Blood Orange – Chamakay

Bosnian Rainbows – Worthless/Mother, Father, Set Us Free

Cage The Elephant – Come A Little Closer/Spiderhead/Telescope

Camera Obscura – Cri Du Coeur

Capitol Cities – Safe and Sound

Cayucas – High School Lover

City and Colour – Thirst/Harder Than Stone/The Way It Used To Be/The Lonely Life

Club 8 – Straight As An Arrow

Clubfeet – Everything You Wanted

Coasts – Wallow

Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener

My Top 20 Songs of September 2013

The summer was sensational for songs, and September didn’t let up. Brilliant tune after tune made its way to my ears. I went in detail with the written accompaniments of my favourite songs of the summer, so I’ve decided to switch things up a bit here and practice some brevity.

That said, here are my Top 20 Songs of September 2013, described in 10 words or less.

20. Porcelain Raft – The Way Out

Getting pretty damn good at using synths that “cry.”

 

19. Flyleaf – Something Better

The best not-by-Paramore Paramore song of the year.

 

18. Two Door Cinema Club – Changing Of The Seasons

The seasons might change, but the hits keep coming.

 

17. In The Valley Below – Peaches

Peaches is delicious, succulent, juicy, fresh, from the first bite.

 

16. Foxes – Youth

Those lips. That look. The hooks. This song.

 

15. Autumn Hill – Fire

Brilliant New Country-Pop. That chorus, burning hearts and ears.

 

14. Katy Perry – Roar/Ylvis – The Fox/Natalia Kills – Saturday Night

Does The Fox Say Roar On Saturday Night?

 

13. Gavin DeGraw – Best I Ever Had

Toe-tapping, foot-thumping, piano pop of the highest order.

 

12. Goldfrapp – Jo/Drew

Ethereal. Deep breaths. Cold air. Warm summers. Jo and Drew.

 

11. Mikky Ekko – Kids (Monsieur Adi remix)/Zedd – Clarity

Kids: when remix trumps original. Clarity: a flat-out smash.

 

10. Arcade Fire – Reflektor

A reflection of a band with unparalleled creative might.

 

9. Editors – The Phone Book

My favourite song from their latest album. Wonderful.

 

8. The Killers – Shot At The Night

Simply, spectacularly: M83 + The Killers = a monster tune.

 

7. Haim – Strong Enough

A fantastic choice of a cover that makes magic. #TeamCrow.

 

6. Placebo -A Million Little Pieces

No more glowing in the dark for… my heart.

 

5. Avicii – Wake Me Up

Made when Gustaffson came out to it vs. Jones. Monstrous.

 

4. King of Leon – Supersoaker

Meh at first. I was so wrong. Absolutely massive.

 

3. Blue October – Sway/Bleed Out

Sway: Justin Furstenfeld doesn’t get the credit he so rightly deserves.

 

Bleed Out: He’s shown an incomparable ear for melody, mood, major songs.

 

2. Alt-j – Matilda (Johnson Somerset remix)

Absolute transcendence. Rarely ever said of remixes. Pure, powerful, bliss.

 

1. Neko Case – Local Girl

For me, quite simply the best voice on the planet.

 

And a bonus, brilliant, breathtaking live rendition.