TOP 13 ALBUMS OF 2013

13. Yung Lean - Sadboys2001 via datpiff

Yung Lean Soundcloud

12. Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety via Software Recording Co.

Autre Ne Veut Soundcloud

11. Heart Streets - Beats, Blunts and Broads Independent

Heart Streets Bandcamp

10. Gesaffelstein - Aleph via The Vinyl Factory

 

Gesaffelstein Soundcloud

9. HYDRABADD - Temple Of Tru Luv Independent

HYDRABADD Bandcamp

8. Danny Brown - Old via Fool's Gold

Danny Brown Soundcloud

7. Dean Blunt - The Redeemer via Hippos In Tanks

Dean Blunt Soundcloud

6. Acid Arab - Collections via Versatile Records

Acid Arab Soundcloud

5. Pete Swanson - Punk Authority via Software Recording Co.

Pete Swanson Soundcloud

4. Jon Hopkins - Immunity via Domino

Jon Hopkins Soundcloud

3. Jai Paul - Unofficial Album

Jai Paul Soundcloud

2. Bass Drum of Death - Bass Drum of Death via Innovative Leisure

Bass Drum of Death Site

1. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris via Tan Cressida & Columbia Records

OFWGKTA Site

Acid Arab Collections - EP01/EP02

Acid Arab is another duo from France doing magic with eastern music and techno beats. These two releases are their collections of various artists with their vision of Eastern culture and music. EP01 & EP02 were released via Versatile Records and the guys are preparing LP for 2014. They are coming to Belgrade on 13th of December thanks to Banda Panda collective, and I'm looking forward to that party cause this city really needs sweet sounds of Tehran. Favorite song is Rum by The Habibeats, smooth rhythm is hypnotizing while Arabian speaking dude sends you to the other dimension.

Listen to Acid Arab Collections

POV - Adat/Oum

POV is Joakim x Crackboy, musicians/producers from France. They are making oriental ghetto techno or arab acid house. Adat/Oum was released through CRWDSPCR. POV will definitely be on my TOP13 of 2013. Song Oum is simply amazing, best of two worlds, psychedelic western techno beats with oriental motives and vocals.

POV - Adat/Oum

Robotra - Tinker

Last few months my blogging laziness reached the new level, so I decided to get back on the track. Robotra is a three piece band from Austria. In October they went on tour with JFaL (Withoutahoe on JFaL) and we organized their gig in Belgrade. They were fucking awesome and blew crowd's mind with their distorted and fuzzy noise power pop and lots of wild energy. Tinker is a killer album but my favorite song is Morning Light. Robotra is releasing for the independent record label from Graz- Numavi Records. Support the artist and buy their release on bandcamp!

Robotra Bandcamp

Crazy Bitch In A Cave - Rear-View Mirror 7" EP

Crazy Bitch In A Cave is an alias of a talented Vienna based singer and producer. Another awesome master piece supported and released by fettkakao record label (I've already wrote about artists from fettkakao: Withoutahoe on Tirana & Withoutahoe on JFaL). CBC sounds like a musician from NYC late 80's/early 90's scene. Vocal is simply beautiful, backing tracks are very catchy and his appearance is charismatic and theatrical. CBC is Austrian Mirror Kisses, music made for the dance floor. New winter hit!

Crazy Bitch In A Cave Soundcloud

Uku Kuut - Vision Of Estonia

Uku Kuut released this album in 2012 but he made it way back in 80's, when he was a teenager in Sweden. Label PPU released Vision Of Estonia on 12" after almost tree decades. In that time Uku Kuut was worried that he'll never see his homeland Estonia again, because of German/Soviet rule and this album was inspired with that situation. Some songs are co-written with his mother, Maryn E. Coote (Marju Kuut), famous jazz singer (also check collaborations from other albums  Wild Men & Don't Say Goodbye). Videos and songs he made back in 80's have aesthetic similarity to music Ariel Pink and Holy Shit make nowadays. History repeating.

Order Vision Of Estonia

Culture Abuse - The Day Dreams of Nothing

Culture Abuse are bringing us furiously dope demo The Day Dreams of Nothing . These guys are coming from San Francisco, California and they are also members of some eminent hardcore bands from USA soil: Defeater, Dead To Me, All Teeth and Strike to Survive. My favorite song is Sing to Me and it reminds me of MDC's song John Wayne Was a Nazi, which I really like. They draw some influences from Melvins and Sebadoh also but Culture Abuse are more tougher and faster. They play greasy, grungy and fuzzy punk which makes you feel like smokin' weed and drinkin' rum and gettin' fucking mental. Who knows better how to kick asses than Californian guys?

Download The Day Dreams of Nothing

Benghazi Truckers - Vendetta

Benghazi Truckers. When you read the name of their album: Vendetta, you just know they're gonna kick asses. Their music is a blend of modern hardcore and stoner also followed with some melodic hardcore tones. The first three songs Unplug The Martyrs, Still Breaking Bones and Dashing Pony are more oriented towards that melodic hardcore sound. It's similar in some way to bands like Modern Life Is War and Defeater, mostly because of the angry vocals, aerospace fast tempo and broken down rhythm. But important thing: they always keep their evil driving stoner sound which is fucking rad. The second part of the album (with the songs Vendetta and Kiss My Ass) is more oriented towards stoner hammering sound similar to Electric Wizard and Sleep.

Benghazi Truckers Bandcamp

Poor Lily - Vuxola

Poor Lily is a hardcore punk band from Bronx. This is their second full-length album, Vuxola, released on August 13. If you are familiar with the sound of bands such as Cerebral Ballzy and Ceremony, you're going to have a great time with Poor Lily. The songs Ego Killed the Dinosaurs, Microwave and Hawkin' Jesus are somewhere between those two bands and these are my favorite songs. They draw their influences from old school hardcore punk bands and  anti-hardcore bands such as Flipper. Poor Lily has really fucking interesting style. Imagine this: Jello Biafra lookalike vocal, deadly dangerous rhythm, sometimes fast sometimes slower broken down rhythm on the edge of becoming fast. On all of that add raw, noizy, loud and tough instrumentals. The songs Hooliganism, Puritan Nation, Baby! and Vending Machine are slightly different than the others. Hooliganism has some strange grindy sounds, Vending Machine has rad fifteen seconds long solo that I really like and song Puritan Nation is just strangely awesome. Everything you need on one punk album!

Buy Vuxola

Retro Secrets Compilation

This is another release from Retroflex Records, eclectic flamboyant record label from Louisville, Tennessee. On this compilation you can hear various stars, from Cooper Burton (Withoutahoe on Cooper Burton), Axelrod Nemoy, Hank Paradis, Eli Kleinsmith, Saint Nick from White Reaper (Withoutahoe on White Reaper), Alex Major, Nina Ryser, Bob Bobcat, Vern and Leopold Zimmerman. Vern, Bob Bobcat and Hank Paradis are playing sci-fi Ariel Pinkish 80's tones. Alex Major is more into raw lo-fi mixed with awesome crazy vocals. Nina Ryser and Leopold Zimmerman have similar aesthetic, freak folk psychedelia. Axelrod Nemoy's skate punk songs are really catchy and I caught my self singing I Think I'm in Love With You for the first time I heard the song. Saint Nick and Cooper are playing faster and more intensive songs. Saint Nick's song Give Me Hell 2012 is the best stuff on this compilation. Eli Kleinsmith's music is twisted take on r&b and it is taking souls and kicking asses in the same time. So if this compilation was a basketball field, the artists would be dream team.

Download Retro Secrets Compilation

Blood Ocean / Spreaders split

Blood Ocean / Spreaders split is the latest release of Grand Imperial Record Co.. Blood Ocean is an alias of John Milano, certainly a mysterious persona about whom I couldn't find anything on the internet. His first song, Claire, is mainly instrumental with some vocal samples. The beat is sincere hip-hop, backing track has that summer vibe with dreamy and cloudy melodies, so the song reminds me of 80's soap operas theme songs. Intensive vocal and catchy melody make the second song, Vampire, potential top-lists hit. Blood's genre is basement pop because it sounds like you're listening to someone rehearsing from the basement. 

Spreaders are making different but truly attractive music. Their songs are prototypes of something that Grand Imperial defined as a future hyper-noize. Song Frank Peru would perfectly match some movie soundtrack with it's oriental moments. Pat Price reminds me of the sea waves which are heavily splashing stones making white, airy foam. Both songs are ambiental and dark, filled with mystic atmospheres, heavy drones and real life sounds.

This is a really interesting release and these guys can make it to the stars with their contemporary music, so you should give it a try.

Blood Ocean / Spreaders split

GARUDA - Chains & Shadows

GARUDA is a band from Paris. This is their first EP launched a few weeks ago. First song, A Million Armed Bees is a form of an entry into their stoner/psychedelic/sludge trip. Next song Chains & Shadows is an extension of the first one. They both rest on the same rhythmical transition platform and share the same vibe. But Chains is quite faster and tougher. The last two tracks Chelsea and Alexander remind me of post screamo hardcore bands from France Amanda Woodward and Aussitôt Mort because of the similar guitar riffs. All in all, they do sound like an american band in general. Vocals are neat because they resemble some old school heavy metal bands. Instrumentals are precise and complex therefore deserve compliments. To conclude, all the songs are compound into one unit so each next song is a perfect sequel to the previous one. GARUDA is certainly an interesting band and if you are up for some awesome drive you should get into their car!

Download Chains & Shadows

YusYus - Forever

YusYus is an audio/visual duo from Subotica, city in North Serbia. This song, Forever, is an extraordinary blend of Ali Renault or Etienne Jaumet instrumentals and dark female vocals. Backing track gets you hooked on the song like cocaine. YusYus had the first gig in Belgrade recently and I really liked their performance, both of them seemed really into their music (Symbols of Death live). Forever will be released on vinyl through J.A.M. Traxx, Italian record label, by the end of the year. 

YusYus Bandcamp

Carnivores - Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk is the latest single of Atlanta based band Carnivores. It features Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound on vocals and harmonica. On their previous album, If I'm Ancient, Carnivores were experimenting a lot with the sound. In one song you can easily hear garage, punk, shoegaze, noise, psychedelic sounds and even some indie folk moments. I would define their music as horror noise pop because some songs are so spooky (Georgia Power Company) and they remind me of soundtracks for Sergio Leone's westerns. Carnivores are fucking stunning!

Carnivores Bandcamp

Del Bombers - Summer Minimix

Del_bombers_summer_minimixxx by L0s_B0mber0s on Mixcloud

This is another mix that I made with my friend under the name DEL BOMBERS.

Tirana - Talea

Talea is another awesome release from fettkakao record label. Song from this 7'' Ready To Go, is the new summer hit and it's absolutely contagious! Tirana is a solo project of Veronika from the band called Plaided. This 7'' consists of two songs which were recorded as a soundtrack for an austrian movie Talea. Veronika is very talented and I can't wait to hear more stuff from her but until then Ready To Go is on repeat all day long.

Tirana Bandcamp

Just Friends and Lovers - What, Colour?

Just Friends and Lovers is gangsta trio from Graz. They are bringing us delightfully fresh pop sounds mixed with some punk & electronic elements. JFaL reminds me a lot of 70's British punk band, The Slits, probably because of nonchalant female vocal with foreign accent. These neat elements bring band to a new level and add something special to their music. JFaL even have one minimalistic rap song called Gangsta Fragrance No. 2. Album What, Colour? is released through fettkakao, label interested in not just music but also visual arts. All in all they are very interesting band and their future looks palmy. Hopefully I'll see them soon in Belgrade!

Just Friends and Lovers Bandcamp

Bass Drum of Death - Bass Drum of Death

Many times it's proved that is better when band waits a while and than releases new album. This is no exception to the rule, Bass Drum of Death waited long enough to come up with the best possible follow up of the amazing first album GB City. As far as I am concerned this is one of the best albums of the year.

Buy Bass Drum of Death

Soda Bomb - The Future Is Gonna Suck

Just when I thought they couldn't get any better this EP came out. I fucking love it and Soda Bomb is definitely one of my favorite bands!

Download The Future Is Gonna Suck

Del Venicci - Speaking To Snakes

This is my 100th post and I am proud to present you Del Venicci from Atlanta. The video for the song Speaking To Snakes is promoting their debut EP that will be released in autumn. Video is pretty weird, some girl is dancing in her panties while two people are standing behind her just playing their guitars. Album covers and videos are inspired with 80's visuals and their music could be described as psychedelic pop with dreamy vocal breaks. They have similar vibe as Warpaint so I can call Del Venicci lo-fi Warpaint. Del Venicci is a band totally worth following and listening, so take a shot.

Del Venicci Bandcamp

Crystal Soda Cream - Escape From Vienna

Crystal Soda Cream is a splendid trio composed of Philipp, Theresa and Sebastian from Vienna. This is their first LP released through Totally Wired Records, record label also based in Vienna. Opening song Freud & Jung is fast, dynamic and jolly. Later on listening to the LP you enter the dim & blurry sounds and near the ending CSC bounces back to its speedy charismatic ride and totally hammers you with songs Drag and Spy Game. They are flirting a lot with genres and they can easily change from 70's glam rock to dark and heavy Joy Division sound. I also noticed that they carry a lot of influences from neue deutsche welle, post-punk and even some mainstream 80's bands. All of these are very good ingredients and mixed together they have potential to make it big.

Crystal Soda Cream Bandcamp 

The Great Artiste - At The Bridge Of Dawn

If you try to define the genre that The Great Artiste are playing, good luck with that. Their dingy, noisy and creamy sounds are easily melting with calm male vocals. It's really strange combination of a modern drone and old school psychedelia plus typical 90's vocal. It sounds like you are listening to Wooden Shjips, Lou Reed and REM at the same tame. All in all, this is really interesting and easy to listen combination and you should give it a try.

Download At The Bridge Of Dawn

Evil Men Have No Songs - Where We Come From

I wrote about this guy from Budapest when I started blog last summer but this EP is slightly different than the one I reviewed last year. He moved towards that californian sound of Girls, dreamy and catchy summer music. You can check out those gentle and mellow melodies on his soundcloud or bandcamp.

Evil Men Have No Songs Bandcamp

derTANZ - Kaktusz

derTANZ is an ass-kicking trio from Budapest/Balassagyarmat, Hungary. Szofia from Summer Schatzies told me that they are probably the best live act, and she described me derTANZ like this: they will hypnotize you with their stomach-stabbing bass lines, head-exploding noise sequences and droning instrumental parts. I watched their videos and saw resemblance with american hardcore punk band Flipper, cocky frontman sounds like one of the best hardcore punk singers in the 80's with his shivering minimal voice. The band told me that they recorded this LP in an old empty post-socialistic community house in some small village in Hungary so they could remake the atmosphere of their live gigs.

Download Kaktusz

Cooper Burton - Marion Gray

Cooper Burton's second LP Marion Gray has been released through Retroflex Records, small record label from Louisville, Kentucky. It seems like they have pretty exciting scene over there and I have completely lost my count of how many bands from Louisville I've posted about. Cooper Burton's music is really clouded, mysterious and gloomy and it reminds me a lot of Nirvana. Whole album was made in that trashy fashion with VHS cassettes sounds, crackling guitar sounds, sometimes peaceful and sometimes shouting vocals. All in all, interesting & fresh music with a lot of references from 90's music.

Download Marion Gray

DEBT - Iceland

This band is coming from hot streets of LA. They don't have to say that they are from LA, you can hear it from their jolly surf melodies and sweet but yet melancholic vocals. They have a lot of influences from 90's music especially: brit indie bands, american alternative grunge bands and screamo revival. Surely, we all have some influences but we always put our flavor in everything. You can download their releases Iceland and DEBT on their bandcamp.

Download Iceland

The Flesh Community - The Flesh Community

The Flesh Community is one man band from Belgrade, Serbia & Melbourne, Australia. This Serbian Ozzie will play with your mind using his bitter guitar and dark electro punkish style. The Flesh Community is bringing us exquisite sound inspired with the sound of industrial machinery, italo disco and neue deutsche welle. So come on, bring some fucking ruckus.

Download The Flesh Community

Thee Rain Cats - Thee Rain Cats EP

Thee Rain Cats are coming to our lives direct from outskirts of Disneyland. This is their debut EP released on Burger Records one of my favorite labels, which also released: Ty Segall, Sam Flax, Thee Oh Sees, OFF!...  These guys have formed their own sound called "technicolor rock" that reminds me of Tame Impala and 90's britpop in Californian style. While I was listening to their cheerful and relaxing music I imagined myself lying on the beach in the 90's LA, high on mushrooms checkin' out hot chicks on roller-skates. You should try it.

Thee Rain Cats Bandcamp

Jaaska - Nimo Productions

Jaaska is a music producer coming from NYC. He was making music under the name Nimo Productions, and I think that this guy has the potential similar to Jamie XX, Jai Paul and James Blake. Song After I'm Done is an absolute killer, check out his soundcloud also.

Download Nimo Productions 

HYDRABADD - Temple Of Tru Luv

HYDRABADD is a production duo from Atlanta, Georgia. As they say on their facebook they are making magic, and I agree with them. This is nothing less than magic. Song called Sanctuary is my favorite, nice female vocals mixed with electro clashing melody and some really serious ''ass-moving'' beats. Also, they really know how to change tempo. Enjoy.

Download Temple Of Tru Luv

Plymouth Fury - Vaudeville

Welcome to Paris, city of lights, love and sick garage music. Their name is Plymouth Fury and they are here to slap you in the middle of your fucking face. When you can feel the energy pulses through your speakers you know these guys have to be genuine class. The first song Baíona De Noche is just a smooth beginning of their Ty Segall & Thee Oh Sees lookalike spine-tingling ride. They have everything that I like about this kind of music: dirty & greasy clashing guitars, banging tempo and the last and the most important mad energy.

Download Vaudeville

Ugly Motors - Ugly Motors

Ugly Motors are hailing from the edge of Minneapolis, the state of Minnesota and they are bringing some trashy rock&roll punk. They have a lot of influences from, among other stuff, old-school hardcore punk, late 80's thrashcore and some Californian surf. Ugly Motors shall kick your ass with their mosh-pit stabbing style, slightly metal supplement riffs, ball of fire drums and raging screamy vocals. If you are up for some angry punk, this is the band for you. 

Download Ugly Motors

T.E.A.M.S. - Sierra City Center (Diamond Club)

If you are familiar with the music that Teams was making you will be surprised with his new album Sierra City Center. Firstly, I have to say that I love his old albums but this one is my cup of tea. Sierra City Center has got that 80's touch with sharp guitar solos and distorted drums, it reminds me of a disco and I want to dance. This is probably one of the best albums of 2013 so far, and pay attention to the song called Hatsumi, my favorite.

T.E.A.M.S. Soundcloud

The Men - New Moon

I'm so stoked about this! The Men are coming to Belgrade and I had to post their new album New Moon. This album is also released on Sacred Bones Records like their previous albums but it's more slow paced than those albums before. New Moon is different which is very important for band so you don't get tired of them. They are true punk and I can't wait to feel that live energy.

Download New Moon

Nac/Hut Report - Angel-like Contraction Reverse

Nac/Hut Report is an interesting duo emerging from Cracow, Poland and it consists of visual artist Brigitte Roussel and musician Li/ese/Li. Their music is genuine, compound of female vocals and sharp guitar sounds, loops and effects. Nac/Hut reminds me of darker, rougher and more experimental version of Pixies, The Stone Roses and even The Velvet Underground. But whenever you put 'old' stuff in a new context result is always something interesting. That is the way of creating new genres. I think you should beware of this band because they are paving their way to the stars. You can stream the whole album (which is released on Double Hallucinative Records ) and download singles Junkstarrr and Bright Future on their soundcloud.

Soundcloud Nac/Hut Report

CTM - Variations

CTM is a solo project of Copenhagen artist Cæcilie Trier and this is her debut EP Variations. This EP hypnotised me in the same fashion as song Jewel few months ago. Her beautiful voice and astonishing melodies completely bought me. It reminds me of music from 80's commercials, Ariel Pink and old movies. Cæcilie is surely uprising star, she is singing, playing keyboards and cello and I highly recommend you to listen to this.

CTM Soundcloud

The Karovas Milkshake - Freak Out Factory

I am always so excited when I receive e-mails from Russian bands. From Екатеринбург, mother Russia, here they come, The Karovas Milkshake. I would say that their music is combination of The Beatles, The Small Faces and The Byrds, all high on LSD as fucks. What gives special touch to their old school psychedelic garage is the way they are recording their songs with old equipment and rolls of magnetic tape. I think that one of the most important things for any band is style and these guys certainly have it so they are rolling big time.

The Karovas Milkshake Bandcamp

Heart Streets - Debut EP

This is kind of R&B I was looking for: great voices, rad samples and beats, gangsta style and two awesome looking girls. Main reason why am I so obsessed with Heart Streets is my friend, who was so boring playing Heart Streets' music and videos that I ended up listening to their music more than him probably. There's nothing not to love about them, they are pretty, they are R&B divas and they are aiming for the glory.

Download Heart Streets