Tyler's Favorite Tracks of 2013

1.       Lorde – Royals

This song. It seems like every year there’s a song by a female pop artist that really clicks with me. Last year “Lights” by Ellie Goulding, and this year its “Royals by Lorde. This is another song that blew up and is played on every radio station constantly, but I really have a hard time getting sick of it. Another aspect of this song that really pulls me in and never let’s go is her harmonies. I’m a sucker for vocal harmonies and this song is FULL OF THEM. Holy cannoli. Her harmonies are mesmerizing and it really made me realize how talented Lorde is. I actually went out and bought this fantastic record after hearing this song so many times. That’s how much I liked it. This song isn’t just about drugs, bitches and parties. It actually has meaning to it, which is another added bonus for me. This is by far my favorite song of the year and I can’t think of another song that came close in the running. I would say to listen to it if you haven’t, but you have.  

2.       Queens of the Stone Age – I Sat By The Ocean

Queens of the Stone Age is one of my favorite bands of all time, so maybe this is a bias position on my part, but I don’t care what you think. The catchy bass line, harmonized lead guitars and Josh Homme’s falsetto vocals are what compel me to listen to this song constantly. It’s probably unhealthy how often I listen to it, but whatever. It’s amazing and you should too. It’s a genuine rock song, and there’s not too much of that around nowadays. Plus there’s an odd time signature thrown in there, and my love for prog-rock and prog-metal really had a great time with that.

3.       Daft Punk – Get Lucky

Funk. Like I’ve said, I have a soft spot for funk music, and that’s why this song really resonated with me. Pharrell’s vocals, Nile Rogers funk guitar and the genius Daft Punk production really made this song a huge hit. This was another song that really blew up, but did for good reason. It’s beyond catchy and so much fun to listen to. I can talk about this song for hours, but everyone and their dog knows this song, so I won’t bore you with a long description of why I love this song.

4.       Imagine Dragons – Radioactive

Even though Night Visions was released in 2012, “Radioactive” didn’t get nearly as much air play in 2012 as it did in 2013. That’s why I decided to put it on my list for favorite songs of 2013. This is the song that really put Imagine Dragons on the map, and it did for good reason. This song was more of an indie/alternative rock song, however it was everywhere. It had the bassy pop elements, and the catchy chorus that really connected with the radio friendly pop listeners. That’s why this song was everywhere. Even though this song was everywhere and was on every radio station, I have yet to get sick of it and that’s why it’s #4 on my list.

5.       Nine Inch Nails – All Time Low

This song isn’t one that many people have probably heard, however I have a soft spot for it for one reason. Funk. This song is incredibly funky and I can’t help but listen to it over and over again. I think it should have been the single for the album, but that obviously isn’t my choice to make. The falsetto vocals, the slow pace and the funky-ass guitar are what really put this song on the radar for me.

6.       Jay-Z Featuring Justin Timberlake

While this is another typical pop song with a catchy sung chorus and rap during the verses, which I just bashed, but I can’t help but love this song. It probably has something to do with my “man crush” on Justin Timberlake. He’s a great singer and he really compliments the song. I also love the homage/tribute to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that they threw in.

7.       Kanye West – Black Skinhead

This isn’t your typical radio friendly rap single that Kanye, and the rest of the pop community, is used to putting out. That’s what drew me to this song and the album so much. It’s different. It’s dark, it’s ominous, full of ambience which is truly a game changer. I can’t wait till 2014 when everyone cites Kanye as an influence in their music and why they changed their direction. If you’re looking to listen to another pop song with a catchy, unoriginal chorus, this isn’t the song for you. However, if you’re looking to listen to the future of rap and pop music, this is a great example.

8.       Protest the Hero - Clarity

This song is so powerful. It starts off so fast, like most PtH songs, and it’s an amazing intro to the album, which they’re great at doing. Full of fast riffs, lead guitars, odd time signatures, and guest vocals from Jadea Kelley, which are always an added bonus. This song really gave me the excitement and drive to listen to this album with an open mind, since I wasn’t too thrilled with Scurrilous.  

9.       The Dear Hunter – Shame

This song is amazing. It starts off slow, and it is a decently slow song, but it definitely picks up to an extent at the end. Casey is an amazing song writer, and he knows exactly what will fit in the song. The aspect of this song that drew me to it is the chorus’. It starts an octave lower, then the second time he does it an octave higher but in falsetto, then finally at the end of the song, he belts the chorus. That really brings the song full circle and it’s a characteristic of great song writing.

10.   Iron & Wine – Grace For The Saints And Ramblers

Starting off the list is “Grace For The Saints and Ramblers” by Iron & Wine. This track is upbeat, catchy, and fun. It has all of the new quintessential Iron & Wine elements; horns, big band style music and fun female backing vocals. It was my immediate favorite when listening to the album and I find myself listening to it before I go back and listen to the whole album all the way through.