My Top Albums of 2013

2013 has seen some big records released, from worldwide megastars like Daft Punk to young hipster upstarts like Lorde. Here's my Top 5 list of the best and brightest albums to have pricked my ears in the last 12 months. 

Arctic Monkeys - AM

Arctic Monkeys aren't a band that sit still and rest on their laurels. 

After the astronomical success of their début record, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, broke records around the world, they could have very easily sat back, taken a long holiday and decided to rinse and repeat the same material. 

Three records later and the reality couldn't be anything more different. With each new record comes a new angle, a defining sound that encapsulates exactly where the band is.

2007's Fluorescent Adolescent saw them erupt with energy and hormones, their sound decidedly loud and brash. Record number three was 2009's divisive (and brilliant) desert-rock inspired Humbug before 2011's more melodic and ballad-driven Suck it and See steered them towards a softer, romantic sound.

So, where does AM sit amongst this spectrum? And more importantly, is it any good?

Beady Eye - BE

Beady Eye are back in the spotlight for the release of their second album, BE. It's a record that bursts forth from the off, announcing its arrival with surging guitars and blaring horns; literally. 

Album opener 'Flick of the Finger' kicks things off in great fashion. It's the kind of song that makes you want to walk away from explosions in slow motion and without a doubt one of the best tracks I've heard this year. The spoken word part over the final 30-seconds only adds to this sense of arrival, poetry and 'revolution'.

This is followed up by a cracking track, 'Soul Love'. A relatively tender love-song, 'Soul Love' is particular highlight that sees Liam croons 'come into my world' and 'everything I do, it's all for you'. The lyrics aren't the most original thing in the world but I really liked the hushed and tranquil melody underneath; the final minute of this track fades away into a void, almost like you'd hear from The xx.

Miles Kane - Don't Forget Who You Are

You've only got to listen to the opening minute of the title track to Miles Kane's second solo album to discover a new found sense of confidence and swagger for the former Rascal/Last Shadow Puppet. 

After releasing The Colour of the Trap in 2011, Kane has developed and honed his sound to something a lot more defined and striking on this second record.

Remember 'Rearrange' and 'Come Closer'? Well, meet 'Taking Over', their dirtier, grungier and fuzzier cousin. The clackity-clack of drum sticks, the gentle stroking of Kane's vocals and then, wham, in kicks the drums. "I think I'm brewing up a storm" croons Kane; why yes, yes you are. It might not be the best track on the record, but it does set the scene well.

The Strokes - Comedown Machine

Twelve years after bursting onto the scene with Is This It and changing rock music for the better (as well as sending sales of Converse All Stars through the stratosphere), The Strokes are back with their fifth LP, Comedown Machine. 

On the back of 2011's slightly lacklustre Angles, Messrs Casablancas, Valensi, Hammond, Fraiture and Moretti promised fans a return to form for their fifth record; have they delivered? Kind of yes, and mostly no.

The xx - Coexist

The Mercury award winning trio return with the sophomore album, Coexist, retaining their distinctive blend of chilled synths, low-key beats and hushed vocals. 

The xx's debut album (entitled 'xx') landed in 2009 to almost universal acclaim; the understated and dulcet tones of Romy Madley-Croft winning the band plaudits from magazines like the NME and eventually winning the Mercury Music Prize.

Following in the footsteps of other big name British artists like Primal Scream, Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand, The xx have had pretty high expectations going to into their second record. So whilst Coexist doesn't surpass it's predecessor, it certainly doesn't fail to match it.

The Vaccines - Come of Age

In what feels like hardly any time at all, The Vaccines are back with a new album, their highly anticipated sophomore record "Come of Age". 

The group clearly want to spell it out to the world; they mean business. Whilst album No. 1 was a slightly sarcastic nod by asking "well, what did you expect?", Come of Age is all about announcing their arrival as something serious.

Gone are the minute and a half long ode's to Danish models, the tongue-in-cheek references to "seamen". In their place are mid-tempo ballads with crisp, cleaner vocals (I Always Knew, Aftershave Ocean) and moodier, darker sounds that lurch and sway (Weirdo, Ghost Town) replacing the frantic bursts of energy that we saw on the first album.

Lead single "No Hope" kicks things off in true-Vaccines style; the line "When your young and bored and 24 and don't know who you are no more there's no hope" mirroring similar themes of growing up and reaching adulthood found on their first album. But whereas What Did You Expect was more sentimental and misty-eyed, Come of Age leaves this behind, instead, striving to live up to its title.

That's not to say this second record is completely devoid of those hip-shaking guitar riffs and pop-fuelled choruses; one my personal stand-out tracks "Bad Mood" is brilliant in its simplicity, whilst the third track "Teenage Icon" might just be my favourite track of the bands: it's almost frustratingly catchy and never lets up for the entire three minutes.

On Come of Age then, The Vaccines have managed to record an album that lives up to its name; It successfully manages to cover new ground whilst also retaining that distinctive sound popular with fans. But then again, what did we expect?

The Vaccines - Come of Age: 7.5/10

So what does everybody think? Like the new album or not? Leave me a comment below and check back again soon! In the meantime, check out the Vaccines performing "Teenage Icon" at Reading Festival last week.

My Top 5 Albums of 2011

2011 was a stellar year for music. Big names returning and new ones emerging, 2011 saw some brilliant records released by some incredible talents. Here is my pick of the best.