Here are numbers 11 to 20 on my list, in descending order.
20. Nathaniel Rateliff - Nothing To Show For
Never heard of Denver folk-rock singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff? Don't worry, neither had anybody at the Dr. Dog concert at the Troubadour, where he was the opener, and for me, the main attraction. I've been listening to his albums and EPs for a few years, ever since he appeared on some British music magazine's list of most underappreciated musicians in the world. Think Mumford & Sons or The Lumineers— he's opened for both of them on their tours— but more depressed, angry, and often sinister. According to an interview I once read, he went into music after losing his job at a trucking company because he suffers from narcolepsy.
19. Little Boots - Satellite
It's true, Little Boots (Victoria Hesketh) hasn't found nearly the same success as other female electropop acts that emerged at about the same time like Lady Gaga, Robyn, Ellie Goulding, and La Roux, and yes, her new album (produced by DFA's Tim Goldsworthy with assists from Junior Senior's Jeppe Laursen and Hercules and Love Affair's Andy Butler) doesn't contain nearly as many dance party hits as her debut 2009 album. However, this closing song on the album is a soaring standout.
18. Alice Smith - Cabaret
I saw Alice Smith open spectacularly for Santigold and The Ting Tings back in 2008. At the time, she only had one album that was already two years old, so her set was packed with new songs from a soon-to-be-recorded follow-up. But then she got married (to Clarence Greenwood, a.k.a. Citizen Cope), became a mother, and vanished from the music scene for five years. That second album finally arrived this year, and this song opens it with a bang. She had a show at the Troubadour this summer, but unfortunately (or fortunately?) I already had a ticket that same night to see the singer of my absolute favorite song of 2013.
By the way, here's her stunning 2008 performance of "Loyalty," which was finally released on the new album this year.
17. Psychic Friend - Once A Servant
Every few years, it seems like Will Schwartz of Imperial Teen pops up with another side project. Last time it was his dance-pop act Hey Willpower!, whom I saw open for Scissor Sisters and Junior Senior. Now it's his electropop outfit Psychic Friend. Their debut album seems to have come and gone without a trace, even with a heavy assist from fan Sarah Silverman (who opened for the band at their record release show back in February), but it produced two of my favorite songs of the year.
I also love the song "Silent Show."
16. Solange - Losing You
That's right, Solange Knowles— a.k.a. Beyoncé's little sister— who's quietly becoming a fantastic singer-songwriter in her own right with a distinct alternative pop streak (just seek out her fabulous cover of Dirty Projectors' "Stillness Is The Move"). I still can't believe she played FYF Fest this year.
15. Washed Out - All I Know
Washed Out are probably best known for their dreamy/druggy song "Feel It All Around," a.k.a. the theme song to Portlandia. When they launched into their set at FYF Fest, though, they could almost be confused for U2, a band that would never be labelled lo-fi dream pop. I never thought Washed Out could ever release a song that I could put on my gym workout mix, but here it is.
14. TV On The Radio - Mercy
I was worried last year when TV On The Radio said that they were going on hiatus and that they would probably never release another album. Instead, they were just going to release the occasional single or EP whenever they felt like it. Then, this past summer, they released this song out of the blue, their most propulsive song in years. And now they say they're going to record a new album, after all. Thank god.
13. Lorde - Royals
One of my biggest music regrets of 2013 is missing out on seeing adorable 17-year-old Kiwi singer-songwriter Lorde when she performed in LA at the Fonda Theatre a couple of months ago, because at the rate her career's taking off, she'll probably never perform in a venue that small again. My only hope right now is that she'll perform at Coachella in April... which IS looking pretty likely. Since this is probably the biggest song in the world right now, I probably don't have to provide much more of an introduction.
12. Grouplove - Ways To Go
After falling in love with Grouplove a couple of years ago, I was kind of baffled by the backlash from critics who complained that they were an insincere and crass knockoff of The Lumineers and Of Monsters And Men, with their shouts, harmonizing, and handclaps. When they released this song as the first single off their new album, it was instantly clear that they're trying something very different.
11. Primal Scream - It's Alright, It's Okay
Scottish alt-rock legends Primal Scream finally return to the glory and classic sounds of their album Screamadelica. This song sounds like it could've been a lost track from that album, 22 long years ago. Supposedly they're playing Coachella, and I can't wait to see them again.
Their new album More Light is so good that it produced another serious contender for this list, the perfect song to close out the year: "2013."
Stay tuned for the top ten list, coming tomorrow!
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