New Music: Best Of 2013 So Far #2

2013 may only be a few months old, but it has already been a great year for music so far. With spring well under way (I say spring, what I mean is slightly less cold weather than winter) and May nearly upon us I thought it would be a good time to give a quick roundup of some more of the best songs that have been released this year. It’s been a few weeks since I last did one of these, and there has been plenty to choose from since that last post.

There’s a real mixture of songs in here, and I really recommend you give them all a listen. There are some underrated and new artists that deserve to grace your ears, and fair to say you won’t regret listening to them. So sit back and enjoy. You never know, you may find your new favourite song for the week :)

Airborne Toxic Event- Timeless:  Ah, the infamous difficult third album. One of the many banana skins of the music world. This is where we find The Airborne Toxic Event with their latest release and I’m happy to report, its business as usual. This, the first single from the LA indie group’s third album, follows on in the same vein as their previous releases. Fans of the band will be familiar with their blend of indie rock and orchestral influenced sound, and this is continued in their latest single. Couple this with wonderful, heartfelt song writing and you get a fantastic song that will stick in your head. If the rest of the album is as good as this, then it’s going to be one of the best of the year.

Airbourne- Live It Up: Part of the new generation of rock artists, Airbourne offer uncomplicated, no holds barred hard rock, very much in the style of fellow Aussies AC/DC. As if that’s a bad thing. ‘Live It Up’, the first single off their new album ‘Black Dog Barking’ could easily have been taken off either of their previous albums, as their style hasn’t changed. But then again, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Airbourne are very good at what they do, and that is playing straightforward rock n roll. So what if they’re influenced by older bands, they’re not ripping them off. And anyway, bands such as AC/DC won’t be around for ever. Best thing to do, turn the volume up to 11, put your devil horns in the air and enjoy.

Beady Eye- Flick Of The Finger: Liam Gallagher returns with his second solo effort. Having been outdone by brother Noel with his debut solo album (I preferred it anyway) there was perhaps a little bit of pressure on Liam to up his game for Beady Eye’s new record. While it may not click with you immediately, it does grow on you. I had to give it a few listens, but I think it’s a really good song. It sounds different to the brash rock n roll of his Oasis past, and sounds more mature, as if he is trying to set himself apart from his old band. In fact if it wasn’t for Gallagher’s distinctive vocals, you wouldn’t have any idea that there were any links to the Brit Pop goliaths at all. If the rest of the album is going to sound this good, then we are in for a treat.

Biting Elbows- Bad Motherfucker: There’s a good chance you may already be familiar with this video. It’s certainly popular, 12.5m views since mid-March and still going. It’s on this list because it’s the best music video I’ve seen in a long time. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it. It tips its hat towards ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ by The Prodigy, but that’s only because of the First Person style its shot in. Other than that, I think it’s pretty unique. I certainly haven’t seen another music video that is so blood thirsty and Call Of Duty-esque. The song itself is fairly good. Not the best song I’ve ever heard, but the sound and style fits the video perfectly.

Daft Punk – Get Lucky: I am not a big fan of electronic music, but there is something about Daft Punk that just draws me in. ‘Get Lucky’ is no different. I was hooked inside the first 5 seconds. That funky beat just had pulled me in. If that has no effect on you, which is highly unlikely, then there’s a good chance the catchy chorus will. Either way, it has the perfect ingredients for a song to plant itself in your head and grow there for a while. Funnily enough it takes over two minutes for there to be any indication that this is a Daft Punk song at all. But then the unmistakable voice distortion quickly dispels that notion. This song could well end up being one of the biggest songs of the year, and as it’s already reached Number 1 in the UK charts, who’s to say it won’t.

Fall Out Boy- The Phoenix: If it wasn’t for David Bowie, I think this may have been up for one of the most unexpected comebacks of the year. Their time away however seems to have them the world of good. Before, Fall Out Boy were riding on the pop punk/emo wave, a field that become littered with bands that all sounded similar. By taking themselves out of the game, they have been able to reinvent themselves, with ‘The Phoenix’ being the perfect metaphor for them rising up out of the ashes of their previous work. With its big chorus, it’s a perfect rock party song and one that shows that Fall Out Boy are back and mean business.

 
Gabriella Cilmi- Sweeter In History: I was, actually still am, a big fan of Gabriella Cilmi’s debut album. She managed to find her own little style in the sometimes saturated world of singer songwriters. That’s why I was a little disappointed in the change of direction towards a more ‘pop’ orientated sound for her follow up album ‘10’. Things have changed with her new album however, with Cilmi bringing her music back towards something she wants to do. Now making music she “has always longed to create”, ‘Sweeter In History’ is a moody, atmospheric song that has a slightly different style to her debut, but is still just as easy to listen to. Imagine Macy Gray crossed with Lana Del Rey and you wouldn’t be far off. To be honest, I’m just glad she’s moved away from the generic pop sound, as she has a wonderful voice and is a brilliant talent.

 
Haerts- Wings: Hailing from New York (by that I mean Germany, England and the United States), this is the debut single from indie rockers Haerts. Led by frontwoman Nini Fabi, they remind me of fellow Indie band Buffseeds. There is a similar sound in the delivery of the vocals. You even catch hints of Delores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) and Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) in there. There is quite a lot going on in the song, but it is well structured, and focuses mainly on Fabi’s brilliant voice. There’s a real strength to it that grabs your attention. Put against a perfect blend of light and airy indie-pop, Haerts have created something that sounds new and fresh. A song perfect song for the upcoming summer.

 
Haim- Falling: There has been a considerable amount of hype surrounding Haim, not least over here in the UK since they came top of the BBC Sound of 2013 poll. Even though some winners of this poll have not gone on to match their potential, there is little chance of this trio of sisters from LA falling by the wayside. Whilst comparisons to Fleetwood Mac, and in particular Stevie Nicks are fairly accurate, to label them merely as wannabes does them a huge disservice. Following on from their previous single, the brilliant ‘Don’t Save Me’, Haim are showing that they can couple a strong harmony with a good beat wrapped together in a soft rock package. Considering their debut album hasn’t been released yet, they are doing remarkably well for themselves. It’s one that you won’t regret pre-ordering.

John Grant- GMF: Until I heard this song played as ‘Record of the Week’ on a Drive Time radio show, I had never heard of John Grant before. He came highly recommended by the DJ and as I’m always interested in new artists (well new to me), I gave it a listen.  He went ahead and played this song, although a cleaner, censored version and I have to say I was really impressed. Formally of alternative rock band The Czars, Grant went solo in 2010. The song is heartfelt and well written, with hints of the band Eels in the delivery of the vocals. It’s a really nice, gentle song that really absorbs you, and the even the expletives don’t sound out of place. He is a fantastic talent, and one that I am glad to have discovered.

Kodaline- High Hopes: Kodaline may not be reinventing the wheel with their music; their similarity to Ben’s Brother is quite stark. This doesn’t mean however that they should be ignored. If you caught the Dublin quartet’s debut single 'All I Want' at the back end of last year, then you will be familiar with the sort of sound that Kodaline deliver. Their brand of emotionally charged soft rock really is captivating. Although there are some similarities to fellow 2013 debutant Tom Odell, this could be a big year for the Irish band. They are already building themselves a reputation and a strong fanbase.

KT Tunstall- Feel It All: Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall returns with her 4^th album Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon this summer, with this song the first single. While is still possesses her distinctive vocals, the song has a stripped back, relaxed feel about it. This is explained by the arrangement of the album, which is divided into two parts. ‘Invisible Empire’ has a darker side, influenced after the death of her father last year. The second part, ‘Crescent Moon’ “evokes an ethereal mood” and is “more reflective of deeply felt changes in outlook.” This follows from Tunstall’s separation from her husband late last year. Taking that into consideration, it is easy to see why it’s not an upbeat number. However to think this song is a dull and depressing heap of misery couldn’t be further from the truth. It is showing a different side to her song writing, and one that appears to be flourishing. On the strength of this, I am really looking forward to the rest of the album.

Lissie- Shameless: It’s taken a little while to grow on me, but I really like this song. The first single off Lissie’s new album and it shows a slight change in direction. She has moved away from the bluesy soft rock of ‘Catching A Tiger’, and towards a more ‘mainstream’ sound. Well at least on the evidence presented here she has. However it also shows a progression, especially in her song writing. This is demonstrated in her single ‘Shameless’, a reflection on the ‘celebrity culture’ that we live in at the moment, much like Amy MacDonald’s song ‘This Pretty Face’. It may sound a little disjointed at first, but it pieces together well after you’ve listened to it a couple of times. There’s also a rawness to it that gives it that extra edge and bite.

Lissie explains: “We live in a society where terrible behaviour is rewarded with coverage and attention, where celebrity is seen as a talent in itself. I understand the allure of image and of a good story but I sometimes feel like it trumps the content. When I wrote Shameless I’d just been feeling so over how much bullshit style over substance there is to “making” it in this business.” A fantastic song that is well worth persevering with.

 

Primal Scream- It’s Alright, It’s Ok: Scottish rockers Primal Scream return after a five year wait with their new album ‘More Light’, with this the first single. Straight away it becomes very apparent that this song is classic Primal Scream. It may come as little surprise that this song resembles their hit ‘Moving On Up’ from ‘Screamadelica’, considering they spent time since their last album celebrating their breakthrough albums’ anniversary. They have always tended to do things their own way, and have their own sort of style. ‘It’s Alright, It’s OK’ however shows the band in top form with a gospel backed chorus that will grab your attention. A song that will certainly get the crowds going at festivals throughout the summer.

Misty Miller- Anything For You: Having one EP already this year, with ‘Girlfriend’ being released in February, London artist Misty Miller has already got a second lined up. The new single ‘Anything For You’ is a first glimpse as to what to expect and so far, it’s more of the same. Influenced by 70s rock, there is more of a pop rock sound running throughout this, much like Ida Maria. Its upbeat, has a good riff and is very catchy. It’s certainly got enough energy to capture and hold the listener’s attention. Having seen her live recently when she opened for Jake Bugg, she sounds exactly the same on record as she does on stage; the sign of a talented artist.

Muse- Panic Station: The latest single from Muse’s 6th album ‘The 2^nd Law’ sees the Devon trio doing what they best; being Muse. It sees Muse move into territory that is not all too familiar for them, not that has put them off before.  It has a really funky bassline and catchy beat that is bound catch and hold your interest.  Add to that the space age sci-fi video that accompanies it and you’re transported to this other world where Muse thrive.  Not surprising considering they had full control over the video. For five minutes you are encapsulated in this bubble with one of their best songs to date. It’s an assault on the senses but well worth it as it shows Muse at their full indulgent best.

 

Nico Vega- Beast: An old song with a new video, ‘Beast’ by LA rockers Nico Vega have gained popularity recently after this song was used in a TV commercial for the video game Bioshock Infinite. Well that’s where I discovered the band and the song anyway. Not going to lie, I thought it was a song by Deap Vally when I first heard it, but there’s no getting away from the fact it’s a brilliant song. The rhythmic drum beat is hammered into you from the start, while singer Aja Volkman delivers an almost gravelly vocal. Put that together with a simple yet effective riff and you have something that makes you sit up and take notice. There’s a real punchiness to the delivery that really makes this song stand out; can see why it was used in the TV advert. With these guys along with the aforementioned Deap Vally and Band of Skulls, the future of bluesy style rock is in safe hands.

Noah and the Whale- There Will Come A Time: There was a bit of pressure on London folk band Noah and the Whale after the success of their last album ‘Last Night On Earth’ and in particular their hit single ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.’ After all, you’re going to have to follow it up with new material at some point. So what have they achieved with the first single of their new album? Well I’m happy to report that they have stuck to the formula that worked wonders last time. That means no surprises, just a catchy little indie folk song that would be perfectly accompanied by sunny weather and a cold cider. They may not be reinventing the wheel with this song, just sit back and enjoy it for what it is.

Palma Violets- We Found Love: If this song was released in 1996 there would be a good chance it would have been a big hit. There are clear Brit Pop influences in the veins of the Palma Violets music. Their debut album ‘180’ was released in February of this year, with this the current single. The intro is very Suede-esque and they play with an energy that matches any of their 90s predecessors. There’s a real feel good vibe running through this song and has a hook that will stick in your mind. With spots at T in the Park and Reading and Leeds festivals amongst others, they have a busy summer ahead of them, but they’ll be well worth seeing.

 

 

Rival Sons- All Over The Road: Ok, so this song can be found on Rival Sons’ 2011 debut album, which doesn’t make it entirely new. However, they’ve have recently released a new video for the song, which is good enough reason for it to be included here. Those who aren’t familiar with the Rival Sons, they are blues rock band California who wear their influences on their sleeve. While cynics have passed them off as Led Zeppelin wannabes, I am not one of them, although there are hints of ‘Trampled Under Foot’ in this song. They are making a big name for themselves however, and have already opened for the likes of AC/DC, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest. If they carry on making songs like this, then the sky is the limit for these guys. (*even if the dates are a bit out, enjoy the song anyway).



The 1975- Chocolate: Have to admit I wasn’t really taken with this song when I first heard it, but after hearing it on the radio a few times, it’s really grown on me. Taken from their upcoming EP ‘Music for Cars’, The 1975 are slowly making waves and building a reputation for themselves. There’s a simplicity to this song that makes it really appealing. Some may find the radio-friendly indie-ness a bit bland, but I disagree. There’s a catchy little riff and beat to it which, coupled with the jauntiness of the vocals, makes the song a great addition to any radio playlist. They are a band to watch out for as this could be the start of something big.

The Strypes- Blue Collar Jane: Jeff Beck. Noel Gallagher. Dave Grohl. Paul Weller. Sir Elton John. Just a selection of names that are fans of this up-and-coming blues quartet from Cavan in Ireland. Impressive stuff. Even more impressive when you discover that none of them are 18 yet. Having seen them on Tonight… with Jools Holland a couple of weeks ago, I have definitely joined the list. The band really go back to basics, playing the rhythm and blues drawing on influences such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and Dr Feelgood. They quickly gained a reputation in Ireland with their fast-paced, punkish and gritty “Speed Blues” and that reputation is only going to grow now. They play with an upbeat tempo and swagger that really belies their tender years. Elton John is certainly impressed. While appearing on a US chat show, Sir Elton said that the band “have a knowledge of R&B and blues at 16 years of age that I have only amassed in my 65 years. They’re like a breath of fresh air.”

The Weeks- Brother in the Night: Hailing from Mississippi, there’s a real southern feel to this brand of indie rock from The Weeks. Taken from their fourth album, I stumbled across this totally by accident as it was a recommended video on YouTube. Very glad I checked it out though, as it is a fantastic song. There’s a simplicity but feel good factor around it that really is infectious. They are obviously a band that knows what they want to do musically, and they go ahead and nail it. They may not be a band that people are familiar with, especially so here in the UK, but this is one of those songs that everyone will like, regardless of music taste. There really is nothing not to like. Whether it’s the jaunty chorus, the southern state vibes, or the trumpet in the chorus, there’s just a quality about it that makes you hit repeat. A gem of a song that more people should know about.

 
Tribes- Dancehall: Many of you may go “Who?” at the site if this band on the list, but they are one of the best young bands in Britain right now. Tribes return after their successful debut, with the first single from their new album indicating that they are kicking on from where they left off. I am a big fan of their debut album ‘Baby’ with songs like ‘We Were Children’ and ‘Sappho’ showing the bands strength is writing big, guitar led anthems. If anything, ‘Dancehall’ is more of a ballad but still maintains the quality that ran through their previous album. They manage to sound even better live, which is not really that surprising considering this is music that is meant to grace festivals across the land. I cannot recommend this band enough, and once you listen to this, I’m sure you’ll understand why.

Volbeat- Cape of our Hero: Danish band Volbeat may be by trade a Metal band, but in truth they are much more than that. They play with a depth and versatility that is endearing and is helping them create a growing army of fans. In fact in an interview with Metal Hammer magazine, singer Michael Poulsen said about the new album:

“One of the things I’m most happy about this time is the contrast in the material, the range of the music; on the one side, you have the western motifs, the rockabilly / country songs, and the real emotional melodies, and on the other, some of the heaviest – actually, THE heaviest – songs we have ever recorded.”

Having listened to it myself, there is a real mix and diversity in there that really sets the band apart from anything else around at the moment. This song doesn’t show Volbeat at their heaviest, but is a perfect example of Poulsen’s effortless crooning vocals, a catchy riff and brilliant song writing ability. They are a band that are slowly gaining worldwide recognition, and on this evidence, they deserve to be heard by as many people as possible.

So there you have, another quick roundup of some the best music 2013 has delivered so far. No doubt there will be another one of the in a couple of months time, so keep your eyes out for that.

Anyway that’s all for now, hope you enjoyed it.

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