2013 In Review - The Longlist Part 3

Alright, here's the last of the great music that didn't make my Top 20. _________________________________________________ Phosphorescent - Muchacho [Dead Oceans] Sometimes it feels like I listen to music in a vacuum because it felt like no one was talking about this album when it first came out. But then it showed up on a handful of music sites/mags "Best of" lists so people were at least listening to it. Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit [Blue Note] Listen to the title track and do just as Porter commands: "Clap your hands now!" Quadron - Avalanche [Vested In Culture/Epic/Sony] The song below nearly landed this one in the Top 20 all on its own. The Reflections - Limerence [ARC Recordings] I was hooked on "Summer Days" in particular. With the weather this winter, it's hard to listen to right now. http://reductive-reviews.blogspot.ca/2013/05/the-reflections-summer-days.html The Relatives - The Electric Word [Yep Roc] Gospel-psych-blues. Truth. Alice Russell - To Dust [Tru Thoughts] Alice has previously placed #1 on my Top 20 for her work with Quantic & Combo Barbaro. Russian Circles - Memorial [Sargent House] Russian Circles have previously placed #1 on my Top 20. But not for working with Quantic & Combo Barbaro. Sao Paulo Underground - Beija Flors Velho E Sujo [Cuneiform] "The Love I Feel For [Cuneiform] Is More Real Than Ever" Seven Teares - Power Ballads [Northern Spy] Start with track #2, "Our Lady of Sound" on this Bandcamp link and then I'm sure you'll just end up listening to the rest of this great noise. Suuns - Images Du Futur [Secret City Records] This was on my Polaris longlist as well. Tall Black Guy - 8 Miles To Moneart [First Word] Whether he's producing his own material or remixing other folks, you need to be listening to Tall Black Guy. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - We The Common [Ribbon] LOVED T&TGDSD's last release enough to make it a Top 20 entry. Really liked We The Common, which is why it is here. Thundercat - Apocalypse [Brainfeeder] Yup, two in a row from the former Top 20 as Thundercat's crazy electronic apocalypse didn't quite reduce me to rubble. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II [Jagjaguwar] Still kicking myself for not catching UMO live when they played Winnipeg. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires Of The City [XL Recordings] What can I say? These guys may be Paul Simon's bastard children fathered during the Rhythm of the Saints sessions, but that doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed everything they've released. Kurt Vile - Wakin' On A Pretty Daze [Matador] If Jared and I were to expand our Year-End Countdown to 30 entries, there really would be much more overlap - Vile made his 20, but not mine. Widowspeak - Almanac [Captured Tracks] I managed to catch Widowspeak open for Iron & Wine at Pantages in 2013. They're as great live as they are on Almanac. Dustin Wong - Mediation of Ecstatic Energy [Thrill Jockey] Entry #4512... in the "Previous Top 20" artist who didn't make this year's cut. Seriously. Woodhand - Soma [Relapse] Soma was a ritual drink apparently, so take a big gulp of this one. Young Pixels - For The Love [Independent] This couple from outside Brandon, MB (shout out to the Wheat Kings!) are daytime farmers, nighttime rockers and full-time parents. I love them. And I love "Pollution Breath" in particular - it's track #4 so start there and listen to all of it. Rachel Zeffira - The Deserters [Paper Bag Records] Kudos to my fellow Polaris Prize jurors who were championing this record and put me on to Canada's contemporary answer to Kate Bush.