AlunaGeorge’s Body Music came along at just the right time. With the emergence and success of artists like Grimes and her electro-pop creations, Haim’s indie-classic-rock concoctions, and CHVRCHES’ synth-pop sing-a-longs, there came not only greater tolerance for pop experimentation, but also greater appreciation for it. The past few years have done a wonderful job at naturally blending sounds to create entirely new genres.
The combination of the album’s indie nature and massive pop appeal have some people hating, but as Lorde notes on the album’s closing line, “The people are talking, the people are talking/Let ’em talk.”- Dee And in taking the short and tightly focused 10-song approach, Lorde’s debut is a defined vision and a change of pace from the over-produced, manufactured pop that typically dominates radio. Lorde’s rise to fame narrative aside, Pure Heroine also features some of the best vocal harmonies on any album this year (see: “White Teeth Teens”), complemented by Joel Little’s polished production work, another key ingredient to Pure Heroine’s sonic enchantment. It won’t please every rap listener, but if you’re a fan of quality storytelling, classically-groomed wordplay, and rich, sample-based production, My 1st Chemistry Set delivers.- Jon Tanners
Songs like “Moochie” and “400 Thousand” show how much room is left for play with tried and true concepts in the hands of a clever rapper, as James makes the slang-breakdown song and a tale of a paranoid drug dealer into subtly hypnotic affairs, the sorts of songs you find yourself coming back to without fully noticing you’ve been hooked yet. Working with a lone producer of singular vision proves ideal for James, with Alchemist serving up a consistently entertaining, pliable array of grimy funk samples, soulful vocals, and dust-caked orchestral arrangements. In spite of enlisting a few notable names as collaborators (Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, and, of course, Alchemist), James manages to remain the centerpiece, his impossibly steady baritone delivering some of the savviest street raps in recent memory. Teaming up with prolific and legendary producer Alchemist, Detroit’s Boldy James served up a cohesive, cinematic vision with full-length My 1st Chemistry Set. 6 Feet Beneath The Moon is a manic-depressive sonic adventure, and Archy Marshall, however young he may be, is leading the way.- Joyce But these jumps, like from the light-hearted “Border Line” with a hip-hop-leaning beat to the industrial, fuzzy “Has This Hit?,” maintains your undivided attention because it’s that much more interesting. As a whole, there’s not much in terms of continuity-there aren’t many smooth transitions, few moments that flow from one song to another. There are moments on the record when his angsty side emerges, unrestrained and raw, which pairs perfectly with the frantic strumming of his electric guitar.
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6 Feet Beneath The Moon can be interpreted as the audible representation of Marshall himself-a series of songs that reflects the psyche of a 19-year-old with its lethargic and uncertain, but also urgent, delivery. Yes, Archy Marshall is only 19, and no, that guttural, disdainful growl does not sound as if it should come from his wiry frame, but that only adds to the charm of King Krule’s brand of off-kilter, jazzy rock. Here are our picks for the best albums of 2013. Among all of this mess, creativity has been thriving and the year has been an excellent one for music. It’s made everything a little more unpredictable and a lot more volatile, but it hasn’t been at the cost of the music. While all this madness happens, the Internet continues to speed things up like a wobbly ride on a skateboard down a steep hill. Album-leaking is the norm, labels are scrambling to make money like they used to, and as we publish this list, a teenager from New Zealand is on the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Not just for the music itself-which is an orgy of genres, sounds, and styles-but for the business behind the music and the hyperbolic, illogical criticism it incites.
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