Purple Sneakers' Top 50 Albums Of 2013

It’s quite easy to find blogs at this time stating “what an incredible year for music” – but truly, as music veterans, you’ve done us all proud 2013.

We’ve watched the flux of electronic acts grow substantially, jump for joy as both domestic and international acts released singles, EPs and full-length records, experienced Australia’s favourite music festivals and have together paid more attention to those just beginning their musical journeys; with the help of community radio, music streaming websites, music blogs and simply word of mouth.

Being one of those blogs, it’s been an absolute pleasure sourcing and releasing the material of musicians over the year that’s almost behind us. With a tonne of us doing our best to treat you with your new favourite acts, we thought it would be interesting to combine our tastes and cast an internal vote that would become our top 50 albums of the year. So without further ado, here are Purple Sneakers’ favourite records of 2013!

50. Best Coast 'Fade Away'

49. Machinedrum 'Vapor City'

48. Clubfeet 'Heirs & Graces'

47. Cakes Da Killa 'The Eulogy'

46. The KVB 'Immaterial Versions'

45. Cold War Kids 'Dear Miss Lonely Hearts'

44. The Knife 'Shaking The Habitual'

43. Yung Lean 'Unknown Death of 2002'

42. Arcade Fire 'Reflektor'

41. Ryan Hemsworth 'Guilt Trips'

40. Zeahorse 'Pools'

39. Toro Y Moi 'Anything In Return'

38. Rhye 'Open'

37. Snakadaktal 'Sleep In The Water'

36. A$AP Ferg 'Trap Lord'

35. Everything Everything 'Arc'

34. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 'Float Along, Fill Your Lungs'

33. Zomby 'With Love'

32. Moderat 'II'

31. Beaches 'She Beats'

30. Ty Segall 'Sleeper'

29. London Grammar 'If You Wait'

28. Savages 'Silence Yourself'

27. Atoms For Peace 'Amok'

26. Kanye West 'Yeezus'

25. Queens of The Stone Age '… Like Clockwork'

24. Beach Fossils 'Clash The Truth'

23. Nick Cave & The Bad  Seeds 'Push The Sky Away'

22. Pond 'Hobo Rocket'

21. David Bowie 'The Next Day'

20. Charlie XCX 'True Romance'

19. Disclosure 'Settle'

18. Autre Ne Veut 'Anxiety'

17. Darkside 'Psychic'

16. Palms 'Step Brothers'

15. Violent Soho 'Hungry Ghost'

14. Vampire Weekend 'Modern Vampires Of The City'

13. King Krule '6 Feet Beneath The Moon'

12. Bonobo 'The North Borders'

11. Foals 'Holy Fire'

10. WAVVES 'Afraid Of Heights'

Currently sitting on four studio albums and one EP, we really got to know Wavves through the release of 2010’s King Of The Beach. Grabbing our attention with their psych-surf punk tunes, they held onto us right through to their subsequent EP release Life Sux.

Having hibernated for the following two years, we were delighted to find Afraid Of Heights in our old office mailbox, and haven’t stopped listening since.

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – QUICK QUESTIONS: NATHAN WILLIAMS, WAVVES

9. BLOOD ORANGE 'Cupid Deluxe'

Let’s get one thing straight – Dev Hynes is a god. Starting the Blood Orange project in the noughties, Hynes found himself a huge fanbase that could only be conjured from his charm and gentle nature that is poured into his dazzling catalogue. Since releasing the debut record Coastal Grooves in 2011, we were again treated to the uniqueness of his composition, as well as his soothing vocals and genius lyricism through the release of the second album Cupid Deluxe (RIP Cupid L).

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – WATCH: BLOOD ORANGE ‘CHAMAKAY’ (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

8. RUFUS 'Atlas'

Not overly long ago, three Sydney boys got together, connected their musical brains and collectively named their work in progress that we would all eventually discover as RUFUS.

Since releasing their Blue EP, the boys have found themselves signed to prestigious Australian dance label Sweat It Out! Music and released their debut record Atlas – one that we fell in love with and deemed our eighth favourite album of 2013.

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – SET LIST: RUFUS ‘ATLAS’ ALBUM LAUNCH W/JERRY BOUTHIER (KITSUNE) & MORE

7. FIDLAR 'Fidlar'

They don’t care if you think it’s cool, they’re fucked up and ditching school. But that’s okay, cause we’re a bit in love with their music. LA surf punks Fidlar gained the gratitude of Australians pretty damn quickly. Within months of releasing their debut self-titled LP, they came over to hang out at Splendour In The Grass and the Spin Off festival, proceeded by a run of Australian dates for their own headlining tour.

All of this, mind you, was announced by Brandon Schwartzel of the group as he downed a six pack of James Boag in a video. It may not be VB tinniezzz, but it was definitely good enough for us. Oh, and the album fucking rules.

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – INTERVIEW: FIDLAR

6. CLOUD CONTROL 'Dream Cave'

Blue Mountains born, London based four piece Cloud Control have been of our interest from day dot. After releasing the critically acclaimed debut Bliss Release back in 2010 the boys and gal found themselves winning awards and touring internationally, playing the songs that got them there after receiving the high rotation treatment on national radio.

Three years on, they conceived their second baby, Dream Cave that saw the outfit trying on new sounds and techniques; a main one being the fact that they literally recorded in a cave. Unique in its production and a joy to listen to, we’re confident in placing Cloud Control in our top 10 albums of the year.

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – INTERVIEW: CLOUD CONTROL

5. ARCTIC MONKEYS 'AM'

Hailing from Sheffield in England comes the ruggedly handsome four piece Arctic Monkeys. Their first official release Whatever People Say I Am, I’m Not hit shelves all the way back in 2006, and was followed by another four brilliant albums; their latest being 2013’s AM. Produced by James Ford, the album was released through Domino Records and arguably fashions a new sound for the quartet. Nominated for the Mercury Prize and deemed NME’s best album of 2013, it’s no wonder it’s landed such a great spot in our top 2013 albums.

4. THE NATIONAL 'Trouble Will Find Me'

To follow the release of their sixth LP, American band The National made their way over to the land of Aus for Splendour In The Grass 2013. Showcasing the new album, Trouble Will Find Me, the boys wore their new material with pride after having worked on it since 2010 – the year of their previous record High Violet.

Upon listening, you’ll notice a great deal of collaborators on the record, including the likes of St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens and Sharon Van Etten – just one of many elements why we love The National’s Trouble Will Find Me so much.

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – LISTEN: THE NATIONAL ‘LEAN’

3. MOUNT KIMBIE 'Cold Spring Fault Less Youth'

An album the team have seriously been digging this year is the second record from English duo Mount Kimbie. Since forming in 2008, the boys have released a series of EPs alongside their debut album Crooks & Lovers that became available to all ears in 2010. For what took three years to follow up the sophomore, we were treated with Cold Spring Fault Less Youth in late May and have been glued to the hip ever since. Featuring UK buddy King Krule on two tracks as well as the vocals of both Dominic Maker and Kai Campos themselves, the lyricism complements the warm, intricate production endlessly; guaranteeing a colossal play count for every iTunes account of the Purple Sneakers contributors. Make sure you catch these two at Laneway Festival next February!

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – INTERVIEW: MOUNT KIMBIE

2. DRAKE 'Nothing Was The Same'

Started from the bottom now we here, at the second spot of Purple Sneakers’ Top 50 Albums of 2013. It is if course occupied by Drake with his third studio LP Nothing Was The Same. The Canadian artist employed the creative genius of a select few, as the body of work features the helping hand of fellow musicians 2 Chainz, Sampha and Jay Z, amongst others.

The popularity of this release is not only proven in our summary of 2013’s best records; it’s seen high rotation, positive reviews and its own tour, not to mention selling 658, 000 copies within the first week of its public existence. Not bad Mr. Graham.

1. JAGWAR MA 'Howlin’

When we orchestrated the Top 50 Albums of the yesteryear, us Purple Sneakers bros struggled narrowing down our most important albums of the 12 months behind us. We got there in the end though, and saw Tame Impala’s Lonerism graduate into the top spot. This year was no different. Incredibly difficult shortlisting and then culling some of our favourite jams, we got there in the end. Through tallying votes and pulling this list together, it was only inevitable that Jagwar Ma’s Howlin was going to make it pretty damn high up on our list.

Made up of Jono Ma (Lost Valentinos) and Gabriel Winterfield (Ghostwood), the two first started interacting musically by sharing their solo projects with one another. After working on and releasing  [what was supposed to be] a one-off track together, the guys were pleasantly surprised with its reception. That track is called ‘Come Save Me’ – the song that would go on to be their debut album’s first single, not to mention the cause of their musical journey together.

It’s rare finding an album of consistently outstanding tracks, though somehow these guys managed, as the entirety of Jagwar Ma’s Howlin is honestly overly enjoyable; which is why we’re so proud to place it as our favourite album of 2013.

PURPLE SNEAKERS HIGHLIGHT – INTERVIEW: JAGWAR MA

Words by Hannah Galvin.

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SEE ALSO:

OUR TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2012