Some people spend December making lists of gifts ... I spend it making lists of albums. First a "definitely best of" list ... then a "possibly best of" list ... then a "better listen to that" list. Many headphone hours later, I always arrive at a clear cutoff point between the albums I am willing to go to the mat for and the albums that, although good, don't quite measure up to my absolute favorites of the year. I don't pad out the list to make a nice round number, I just let it lie wherever it naturally falls. This year the cutoff came at 35 albums. Now that might seem like a lot of records to you, but I estimate that 5000 albums, at least, passed through my office this year. That means these 35 were not just in the top 1%, but in the top .7% of albums released in 2013. So I think you should check them out. Chances are you'll find something good. Peace, ~tricia P.S. you can easily sample each album by using the Amazon or iTunes links below the artwork - I spent a ridiculous amount of time embedding these links so I hope you use them! Also, here is a BEST OF 2013 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST but be warned that several artists are missing from Spotify, including Thom Yorke's Atoms For Peace, Wildlife, and only two tracks are available from the excellent Storyman album.
P.P.S. They're in alphabetical order by artist name. Adding rankings to this list is futile when I love them all in their own unique way. There would be a different #1 every day!
