Top 20 Albums of 2013 – Albums 20 to 11

It’s taken me longer than anticipated to put out my Top Albums of 2013. Part of the delay is how hard it was to narrow it down to ten albums (you’ll notice, my Top 10 ballooned to Top 20). The other reason for the delay is because I kept changing the list up as I remembered amazing albums I listened to in the earlier part of the year. With that in mind (and one additional change…sorry Vampire Weekend), I present Part One of my Top 20 Albums of 2013!

20: Saves the Day: S/T

I got on the Saves the Day bandwagon late in the game. In fact, I didn’t really appreciate them until I heard the lead singer’s Two Tongues side project.

19: Bad Religion: True North

At this point in their career, Bad Religion are probably done evolving musically. That being said, True North is still a great punk album from an amazing punk band.

18: A Wilhelm Scream: Partycrasher

This album should be enjoyed at full volume.

17: GWAR: Battle Maximus

Sure, people think GWAR is a big joke, but I’ve listened to them for 20 years. They’re trying to become a credible metal band these days (even with the costumes), and this is the first album since the death of their guitar player. They’re getting better with every album…and this one shreds.

16: Sundowner: Neon Fiction

I absolutely love Chris McCaughan’s songwriting and singing, so it’s always nice to see him break away from sharing those duties with Brendan Kelly in Lawrence Arms. This is Sundowner’s best album to date by far.

15: Elvis Costello & The Roots: Wise Up Ghost

This is one hell of a collaboration and it just makes me feel good when I listen to it.

14: Less Than Jake: See the Light

Less Than Jake is back on Fat Wreck Chords with See the Light and it feels like they’re recharged. Musically, this feels more on par with Losing Streak and Hello Rockview, which means all the fans who haven’t liked their newer contributions very happy.

13: David Bowie: The Next Day

This release really surprised me. After ten years without new material, I thought Bowie was effectively retired. This is well worth the wait.

12: Trombone Shorty: Say That to Say This

If you’re not familiar with Trombone Shorty, then now’s your chance. He blends jazz, funk, rock, and R&B into an indescribable combo that is diverse as the music from the city he’s from.

11: Lorde: Pure Heroine

Sure, Lorde is the hot new pop star, but I came to her music on accident. Her haunting vocals have stuck with me since the first time I heard “Tennis Court” pop up on shuffle.

Hope you enjoyed the first half of my Top 20 Albums of the Year. Come back soon for the Top 10. Also, feel free to leave comments below to tell me how bad my taste in music is.

Click HERE to see my Top 10!