Rockin’ Our Turntable In 2013: Staff Picks
By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 10, 2014 10:10PM
Tankboy already told us what his favorite albums of the last twelve months were, but we didn’t want to end the love there s we asked the staff to share some of their favorites from 2013 as well. Check ‘em out and let us know what your favorites were.
Eiffel Tower - Will Perdue
Quirky Chicago trio Eiffel Tower has been toiling in obscurity for far, far too long. The group’s 2010 self-titled EP showed flashes of brilliance in a weird cocktail of influence ranging from They Might Be Giants to Television to Elephant 6, all packaged with a refreshing disregard for being ‘cool’. Those themes were continued on 2013’s full length, Will Perdue, which dials up the band’s penchant for playing the ‘lovable losers’ in the most charming way possible. Eiffel Tower would have you believe they’re as barely average as their album’s namesake, but even self-deprecating song titles like “Please Delete Me” and “Straight to Video” can’t belie the musical ingenuity this group is capable of. “Stars on Mars” is an epic, guitar-twisting build up to a top-of-your-lungs singalong, “Vegan Rom Com” is a jaunty exploration of what a guy will do for love (“I love rom coms/I’ll hang with your mom/I’ll eat your vegan cake”) and “Vicki” is the probably catchiest song ever written about realizing you’re dating the robot girl from Small Wonder. Don’t let Eiffel Tower fool you - when it comes to creating the finest in DIY basement indie pop, they’re far above average. — Lizz Kannenberg
HAIM - Days Are Gone
There wasn’t a lot of music that grabbed my attention last year, but HAIM’s (pronounced like time) Days Are Gone hooked me hard. I spent the latter half of summer going back and forth between their Falling EP and Spotify Sessions anticipating the full album release in September. With a little bit of heart, a little bit of Heart and a strong 80’s synth pop influence, these three sisters from California gave us catchy songs like “The Wire” and the aforementioned “Falling” that I’m still humming around the house, on my walk to the El and even in the shower. In addition to being the musical guest on SNL last fall, the ladies also gave a slight nod to that 80’s influence with a cameo in the fun little skit “Josie”, bringing the lyrics of The Outfield’s “Your Love” to life. — Michelle Meywes
Billie Joe + Norah - Foreverly
I did not expect to enjoy this record as much as I did but this track-by-track recasting of The Everly Brothers’ 1958 album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us by Green Day frontman Bille Joe Armstrong and crooner Norah Jones has been a guilty pleasure for me since its late November release. The vocals of Armstrong and Jones seamlessly mesh together and the sparse instrumentation only highlights the singing further. It’s a sincere tribute to one of the foundations of rock and roll and worth buying. — Chuck Sudo
ProbCause - The Recipe Vol. 2
Evanston/Rogers Park-area rapper ProbCause’s newest mixtape was already on this writer’s radar going into North Coast Music Festival this year thanks to his collaboration with 2013 sensation Chance The Rapper on its infectious lead single “LSD.” However, it wasn’t until I was able to witness Prob’s impeccable live rendition of the songs, which range from bitter and aggressive to carefree and whimsical, at the festival that my interest truly peaked. Simply put, this was a standout year for Chicago hip hop releases and the fact that The Recipe Vol. 2 keeps popping up on local “Best Of” lists should tell you something. — Katie Karpowicz
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
The former Drive-By Truckers singer-guitarist sobered up, cleaned up his act and released one of the strongest albums of the year that separates him from all the other Earnest T. Songwriters out there. Isbell’s tales of love, regret, alcohol and tales from the road never bore with some of the smartest lyrics in music today. — Chuck Sudo
The Mizzerables - Every Last Stitch
In August, I predicted this pop-punk gem would be one of my favorite local releases of 2013. By the time December rolled around though, I was surprised how high the debut album from The Mizzerables still ranked on my list. This wasn’t an album that I craved insatiably between listens. It was one that always sounded good when nothing else did. Not to mention the fact that the production value and overall sound is respectably reminiscent of something Epitaph or Fat Wreck Chords would’ve pumped out ten years ago. — Katie Karpowicz
Monster Magnet - Last Patrol
Many longtime Monster Magnet fans have been pining for the band to get back to its psychedelic/space rock roots, and they got it in spades with the band’s October release Last Patrol. The band took a departure after 1995’s Dopes to Infinity, but Last Patrol picks up where Dopes left off, but it definitely doesn’t retread old territory It continues the exploration. Recorded in guitarist Phil Cavaino’s home, dubbed Studio 13, Dave Wyndorf and the boys took their time crafting this gem in an old-school way. The result is a far out, eerie album with cool grooves, wild space guitar and Wyndorf’s classic lyrics of lust, the cosmos and desperation. It also includes a creepy cover of Donovan’s “Three Kingfishers.” — Casey Moffitt
Valerie June - Pushin’ Against A Stone
This Memphis singer-songwriter recorded one of the most eclectic collection of songs since Cassandra Wilson broke big with New Moon Daughter nearly 20 years ago. The two share an affinity for mountain music, Delta blues, country, jazz, folk and soul music and if June’s songs sound a bit like the Black Keys it’s sort of intentional—Black Keys’ guitarist Dan Auerbach produced the album and his lo-fi approach is inherent throughout. But the focus of the album is on June and her timeless voice, something of a cross between Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu and Dolly Parton. This is one of the freshest young singers I've had the pleasure of listening to in recent memory.— Chuck Sudo
Taddy Porter- Stay Golden
My tastes lean towards the classic rock end of the dial, and this has been my favorite new band that has a classic rock flair. Their self-titled first album leaned towards country fried with a bit of a Skynyrd sound that I appreciate, without sounding dated or unoriginal. Stay Golden was released back in February during some of the nasty snowstorms, and as I was stuck in traffic I heard Morrison in Andy Brewer’s vocals and Krieger in Doug Jones’ guitar. It was a bit of a change in tone with a little less blazing, non-stop energy, but I think they gained some range and emotion in this album, especially on tracks like “We Can Do Anything”. They’re wonderful to see live, and I’ve gotten the privilege to talk to them quite a few times- they’re funny, engaging and unassuming. These are Oklahoma boys who I hope to see go huge in their genre, and Stay Golden is a great album. — Marielle Shaw
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound - Howl
The latest album by the local soul mainstays wound up being their breakout album. Jason "JC Brooks" Cody and his band expanded their musical palette beyond soul revival into infectious party pop and post-punk while Brooks’ lyrics explore the nuances of love, relationships and the highs and lows in between. The lyrics to songs like "Security" ("you need security, I need assurances"), "Before You Die" ("before you part this earthly veil, girl give me your number") and the rousing title track explore the complexities of even the simplest relationships. It’s been awhile since heartbreak was so danceable and enjoyable. — Chuck Sudo
Rhye - Woman
One album I kept returning to in 2013 was Rhye’s Woman. Likened to a contemporary Sade, the soothing, sexy vocals and refined synths were a repose amid the clatter of my normal repertoire. Members Mike Milosh and Robin Hannibal managed to conceal their identities for a time, which only added to the R&B duo’s mystique. Milosh’s lilting vocals are easily mistaken for a woman’s, lending a captivating air of intimacy and enigma. — Jessica Mlinaric
Stryper - No More Hell to Pay
This is not a joke. The Christian metal legends recorded what was arguably one of the best metal records of the year and the best one in their career. This is an album that’s all lean with strong chords, tight harmony vocals, beautiful melodies and none of the treacly bombast and emasculating balladry that marred albums like Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With the Devil. The eye of Stryper’s musical storm continues to be the twin guitar attack of Michael Sweet and Oz Fox (Sweet is particularly inspired with his solos on “Revelation” and the title track) while drummer Robert Sweet signals a welcome return to form with hard, swinging rhythms. You may not want to give your life to God after listening to this album but you will be reborn. — Chuck Sudo
Amanda Shires - Down Fell The Doves
This is the album I wished Neko Case made in 2013. This collection of beautiful, haunting, heartbreaking songs parallel Case’s gift for oblique storytelling but framed against a lush musical backdrop centered on Shires’ considerable violin skills. Shires, who began her musical career at 15 playing with Western Swing legends the Texas Playboys, is in fine form in front of the mic and on the bow throughout—think of her as a female version of Andrew Bird without the pretension. Shires also gets a major boost on guitar from her husband, Jason Isbell. — Chuck Sudo