Jonny writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2013: Jonny

Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2013. Our next list is from DJ Jonny.

List in no order whatsoever…

1. (TIE) Veronica Falls – Waiting for Something to Happen (Slumberland)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   (TIE) Joanna Gruesome – Weird Sister (Slumberland)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Harmonies, harmonies, harmonies. The surreal polish of the second Veronica LP and the sophisticated punk magic of Joanna mashed together could easily be album of the year. see also: AM by Arctic Monkeys
2. My Bloody Valentine – m b v (Self-Released)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Style + substance plus 15+ years of cult buildup made this a big deal early on without the obvious hype of a label or PR dudes, My Bloody Valentine took us into a whole new realm of utopia with their third album, a record of leftovers from the 1990's. MBV is a triptych-like inspiring album given critical props for the probability of instant street cred and/or possibly because it's just damn good. see also: ...Like Clockwork by Queens of the Stone Age
3. (TIE) Jacco Gardner – Cabinet of Curiosities (Trouble in Mind)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   (TIE) Mikal Cronin – MCII (Merge)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   2013 was notable for great retro sounds, including these two winners. Similar artists on Allmusic by chance point to two other great acts with cool records this year: Crystal Stilts Thee Oh Sees. see also: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic by Foxygen
4. Strange Pleasures – Still Corners (Sub Pop)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Sounds from other planet of surreal ecstasy, Still Corners offer a super long player of sublime yet shockingly surreal beauty while living up to the excellent title and cover art. A most exciting act to watch with two fantastic/dynamic records to their credit. Easily the most ambitiously hypnotic album of the year. see also: Somewhere Else by Sally Shapiro
5. (ONE MORE TIE) Girls Names – The New Life (Slumberland)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   (ONE MORE TIE) Colleen Green – Sock It To Me (Hardly Art)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Another second-record-180-degree-turn by a massively talented group and a one woman tune machine both making a case for simplistic machine based guitar rock. Ageless, simple, happy pop from Oakland-via-Massachusetts against New Order-meets-early-REM blast of hypnotic machine music from Ireland. see also: She's Gone by Upset
6. Sleigh Bells – Bitter Rivals (Mom + Pop)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   2013 was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Sleigh Bells needed to step it up and they happily did. It could be likely you got over the massive psycho-bomp of Treats with the tacky nuances of Reign of Terror, but the tough-yet-romantic Bitter Rivals is consistently great; more George Michael rock riffage + fingersnaps, cows and laughter all put through a very sexual-omniscient/anthemic stomp box to keep you smiling. Full of charm, heavy poise and confidence. see also: Antenna to the Afterworld by Sonny & the Sunsets
7. San Cisco – San Cisco (RCA)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Just when I thought I was over the Phoenix-esque cotton candy indie pop I heard this excellent debut, sounding like a bubble-gummy Clockwork Orange to me (check "Lyall") - something beyond expectation, like the Air Supply nod in the first sentence. see also: Bored Nothing by Bored Nothing
8. Heliotropes – A Constant Sea (Manimal Vinyl)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Indie metal? Okay, if only it didn't offend metal purists. If La Luz gave us all-girrl-amazing-yet-kinda-dark retro garage from Seattle, here we have alterna-smack-retro-grungemetal from Brooklyn. Simple, kinda stark but sexy and dark, this long player is quite the charmer. see also: La Luz
9. Big Black Delta – Big Black Delta (Master of Bates)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Shockingly great debut from ex-Mellowdroner Jonathan Bates is all of my indie guilty pleasures wrapped together and justifies me paying attention. see also: lousy with sylvianbriar by Of Montreal
10. Crocodiles – Crimes of Passion (Frenchkiss)
    BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
    
    Fourth and best album from San Diego's duo Crocodiles is another step up for already great act with fuzzy awesome pop tunes galore. Sounds like the Jesus and Mary Chain with more harmonies and tambourines. see also: Someone for You by Warm Soda

Honorable Mentions

• Singles, etc. not mentioned above:
  "And the Birds..." by Light Heat
  "Anklet" by Coke Weed
  "Ozma" by Shannon and the Clams
  "Okay" by Holy Ghost!
  "Find a Love" b/w "The Start" by Gringo Star
  "In Memory Capsule" by Cut Copy
  "I Don't Know How" by Best Coast
  "Double Vision" by Jacuzzi Boys
  "Dig Up the Graves" b/w "Agincourt" by Tullycraft
  "Demon Dance" by Surfer Blood
  "Instant Crush" by Daft Punk
  "Love Spells" by Bleached
  "I Can Hardly Make You Mine" by Cults
  "The Fall" by Rhye
  "Mummy Jets" by Pretty & Nice