BEST OF 2013 – ALBUMS [10-1]
Yep. Here it is. Smack bang, ready for that little nostalgia comedown that is New Years Day.
As I alluded to in the 20-11 post on Monday, this year has been a fucking full on one. It compromised of a move interstate, and heading back to uni (although I’m not sure if you can really call doing a PhD going back to uni – prolly more like doing a full-time fucking job times about 3). Those weren’t the only things that happened of course, but they were probably the two things that impacted most on maamf for 2013.
It’s also been a year when the maamf sister site MISMATCH.TV started to come into it’s own. And although it’s definitely got a bit to go and I feel as though it’s not yet at the level I reckon it can get to, it’s taken up a bit of time as well. (However, a massive thanks to my good mates/mismatchians/Melbourne music loving fanatics Lauren and Sabi for making mismatch what it is, and making that time enjoyable).
Anyway, these are the 10. The ones that I kept on returning to this year. It’s much more of a personal list this year, with a few albums either reminding me of Melbourne, and others welcoming me into the city of Sydney.
It also comes complete with a mixtape featuring two tracks from each album. Fuckin’ BUMPER. (more…)
SEPTEMBER ’13 MIX.
Here it is. Smack bang, ready for your shortened week (if you were lucky enough to just have a long weekend that is. Soz if not).
As always, the tape runs all over your genres, from some of that lovely jangle pop to some grungy stuff to whatever on earth Cut Copy are doing nowadays. And that new edit from The Avalanches makes me hard.
Enjoi!
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TRACKLISTING:
James X. Boyd – Paul K. & The Downtown Specials
The Stevens – Hindsight
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – I Am Not A Man Unless I Have A Woman
Cull – World Inside Your Head (Right Click/Save As)
Violent Soho – Saramona Said
Naysayer & Gilsun – All That Good Work
Cut Copy – Free Your Mind
Hunters & Collectors – Talking To A Stranger (The Avalanches Rework)
World’s End Press – Reformation Age
Martin King – I’ll Be
Animaux – Alaska (Right Click/Save As)
Amaya Laucirica – Found Some Secret
The Ancients – Hey Now
Jonti x Big Scary – Slumming It In Paradise
Paul Macadam – Hackit (Right Click/Save As)
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Miks
KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD.
Gosh. These guys just don’t know when to say no. With a new album coming out next month, this here is the first official single after that epic 16minute epic ‘Head On/Pill’ teaser we got a couple of months ago.
30 Past 7 is definitely more of a ‘song’ in the traditional sense, with structure and stuff, and the inclusion of the sitar not as a feature, but just part of the rhythm section makes a whole heap of sense. It’s also a heap more washed out than their earlier stuff, but still manages to be catchy as hell.
King Gizz‘s 3rd album (yep, that’s 3 albums) Float Along – Fill Your Longs is due for release September 29.
You should catch the gents play the new album in full too as they do a few dates throughout August. details here.
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Miks
FAVOURITE TRACKS OF 2012
Ok, so here it is. my favourite 10 tracks of 2012. I think I’ll let the music do the talking instead of me crapping on about how each track made my year.
All I will say though is the criteria I had for this list
- It had to be a track I kept on coming back to; and
- It had to be a track that, even on the 10th listen, was still good.
I should also mention that they’re not numbered. They’re all decent in their own way. Awwwwww.
You can stream all ten below, and if you’re keen, you can download a mix with all ten below.
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Miks
FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2012.
ok. So, here it is. My top albums of 2012. It’s been a nutty year, full of some really incredible albums. As I mentioned in my earlier post, it was impossible to listen to everything, but, I did try. Continuing on with the whole Australian music blog theme this blog has taken on over the past 8 or 9 months, everything here is Australian. Check out my 11-20 list for the os albums that made my faves.
I’ve made a bit of a mix with a track or two from each album which you can stream/download below. Also, if you click on the album titles, you can stream the album on spotify. Coz I is good like that.
So, without further ado, 10 – 1.
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10. Bored Nothing – Bored Nothing
Such a chilled release. A culmination of tracks from EPs leading up to his singing to SPUNK, not only is it a rad collection of tracks, but they all sit so tightly together. Great prolific song writing on show with this one.
Bored Nothing – Get Out Of Here
9. Jonathan Boulet – We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart
I called this fella a genius when his debut album came in my fave albums of 2009. His second album, whilst perhaps not living up to the rather lofty heights he set himself a few years ago, still nails it. A lot more percussive this time round, I think the beauty in it is just how ferocious some of this disc is.
Jonathan Boulet – Trounce
8. Catcall – The Warmest Place
This took me a little by surprise. From the opening 46 second intro, The Warmest Place shows that Catcall is, simply put, a killer pop song writer. But moreso, not only is she an individual pop song master, she also pretty much kills a pop album.
Catcall – The World is Ours
7. Pop Singles – All Gone
Like the Twerps debut album of last year (my fave of the year too!) Pop Singles have the whole Flying Nun era jangly pop, but still manage to sound broad, encompassing, and dare I say, Australian. Not only are there some incredibly excellent individual songs on this release (in fact, each track is excellent), the songs sit really well alongside each other. It freakin works as an album.
Pop SIngles – All Gone
6. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – 12 Bar Bruise
Throw shit at the wall and see what sticks? King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard nail that noisy bluesy punk vibe with their debut release, 12 Bar Bruise. There’s a bit of variety on this disc which I love.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Muckraker
5. Presets – Pacifica
There are so many great pop moments on this album. Whilst I had heard that this disc was going to be a bit more straight techno than Apocolypso, I would perhaps suggest that there are a heap more feel good moments on here. Both Kim and Julian nail it though.
The Presets – Ghosts
4. Tame Impala – Lonerism
For all of the hype this album has received, for me, it still manages to fit in the top 10. The album has some seriously great tracks – some perhaps even contenders for year best! But, as with all the albums on this list, it’s not just a collection of songs. They all sit well together, and there’s an overarching story if you like, in the sequencing of the tracks.
Tame Impala – Elephant
3. Collarbones – Die Young
A massively hyped album, for sure, but I think still deserving of every little bit of love it gets. If beat driven glitchy rave style r’n’b is the new thing, then these two are at the forefront.
Collarbones – Die Young feat. HTML Flowers
2. Love Migrate – Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence
Easily one of my favourite Melbourne bands, this was definitely an album I was eagerly anticipating. Showcasing some incredibly strong songwriting, it’s full of really broad encompassing instrumentation. Eddie’s wonderfully crafted vocals really complement what this band do.
Love Migrate – What Kind Of Man Have I Become
1. Boomgates – Double Natural
As is the sound of bands like Dick Diver, Twerps, and Eddy Current, there’s this thrown together sound that these guys really nail. It really does sound like a couple of mates having a play. As a result, there’s this nice snug feeling that you get from listening to this disc. And yeah, sure, you may classify it as indie pop. But more me, it’s indie pop perhaps at it’s finest, and it genuinely leaves you feeling satisfied.
Boomgates – Flood Plains
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Miks
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