SPOTIFY PICK #7: MONKEY PICKS OF 2013

I didn’t think 2013 had been a vintage year for new music but in compiling the now traditional end of year playlist I failed to whittle it down to the intended 20 tracks, eventually settling on 22, so it couldn't have been that bad.

They aren’t necessarily the best 22 as I’ve stuck to songs available on Spotify. Therefore, “I’ve Never Been To California” by Bronco Bullfrog misses out as do the Hidden Masters and Paul Messis, both who would have seen something from their albums included. Kurt Vile’s wonderful “Wakin’ On A Pretty Day” is omitted due to being nine and a half minutes long and as much as I love the Manics’ Rewind The Film album those songs sound better taken as a whole rather than pulling one out to sit alongside the work of others.

The coveted Album of the Year Award goes to Daniel Romano for his country masterpiece Come Cry With Me and Single of the Year is taken by The Higher State who just pip Baby Strange, with a honourable mention to the great comeback 45 by Suede.

Those with Spotify can listen here. Enjoy.

Barrence Whitfield and the Savages – The Corner Man

Suede – It Starts And Ends With You

The Primitives – Lose The Reason

Alfa 9 – Green Grass Grows

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)

The Sufis – No Expression

Baby Strange – Pure Evil

The Higher State – Potentially (Everyone Is Your Enemy)

The Junipers – And In My Dreams

Camera Obscura – Break It To You Gently

Triptides – Night Owl

Bleached – Looking For A Fight

Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs – Things We Be

The Lucid Dream – Glue (Song For Irvine Welsh)

Foxygen – No Destruction

Babyshambles – Picture Me In A Hospital

Midlake – Antiphon

Mary Epworth – September

The See See – Featherman

Daniel Romano – He Lets Her Memory Go (Wild)

The Monks Kitchen – Shake

Mavis Staples – What Are They Doing In Heaven Today