Top 20 Albums Of 2013: 20-19

20. Haim - Days Go By



A pleasant flashback to pieces of the 70's, 80's and 90's, where music wasn't as overproduced and didn't have to have a frantic EDM beat behind it (not that those two things are bad). What we get instead is excellent songwriting, ballsy vocals and some of the sunniest summertime pop heard in a few years. Front-loaded by the excellent singles, the album-only tracks aren't too bad either.

19. The Limousines - Hush



Probably my favorite album cover on the list, the songs themselves were a nice surprise too. The tracklist could do with a little pruning, but there are enough dreamy 80's inspired highlights here to warrant a place on the countdown. I feel like this album was overlooked this year, and I'd love to see that changed because--while the songs might not draw attention to themselves initially--it's a solid pop album for those that like their catchy hooks to be a little more indie-oriented.

The Limousines - Scream Please

"I see you here and then away you go"

There are a few albums I've had on high rotation recently, yet haven't had much of an opportunity to write about on here. The Limousines' recent project is definitely in that category. I did feature their single, Love Is A Dog From Hell, a few weeks ago. It's still the best track on the album, but there are a few more standouts worth highlighting. Scream Please is one of the most instant, most melodic, and poppiest songs the band has recorded. It has a real warm vibe to it, with bright synths and a playful melody that sticks after one listen -- kind of like the work of Sweden's Tough Alliance. It wouldn't make a bad second single, actually.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Limousines - Love Is A Dog From Hell

"We can do anything we want to"

Though I've been familiar with the Limousines in the past (and even posted about them three years ago), for some reason I never really gave them the full attention they deserve. Then I heard this song, and I started wondering why they'd fallen off my radar for so long. This is the first single from their new, upcoming kickstarter-funded album, and it's sonic bliss. Sometimes you a track just hooks you the first time you hear it. The dreamy, synth-drenched production, the anthemic (yet not overpowering) melody and the character-laden vocals combine to produce something quite epic. It reminds me of Swedens The Sound Of Arrows, who released my favorite album of 2011. This song is also a little reminiscent of MGMT before they got all weird (think Time To Pretend, but remixed to fit in a John Hughes movie). Brilliant. I can't wait for the album.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Limousines - Internet Killed The Video Star

"That drum machine ain't got no soul"

Yes, the title's a little obvious, but this giddy piece of synth-pop from San Francisco band The Limousines is pretty addictive. It sounds a bit like an uber-indie band (think Arcade Fire) throwing up their hands and deciding to go completely pop. The quirkiness is still there, especially in the vocals, but it's complemented by an ever-repeating hook and a cacophony of synths. It all gets a little bit messy towards the end, but I could definitely do with more of this sound in the indie world. Plus, the band's got the image thing down. I'm in love with the whole sci-fi movie motif above. More bands should aspire to this sort of visual excellence!

Internet Killed The Video Star by TheLimousines

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.