I Keep This List 100: Playing Along at Home with the 100 Best Albums of 2010-2014

best in shows 2010

In the early days of 2010, I compiled a list of the best concerts I attended in 2009. After years of obsessing over such lists, it seemed natural that I’d make one of my own. I hadn’t made lists for 2010, 2011, and 2012 until this summer. Lists such as these are incredibly subjective, and I like to wonder about what would have remained similar if I would have made these lists shortly after year’s end. That said, making this kind of list from memories would be impossible if I didn't keep track of this stuff is such detail. Like many people, I am drawn toward experiences I find cathartic and exhilarating. I ordered these lists primarily based on the excitement and fulfillment I remember having at these events.

Here are my favorite concerts of 2010, as ranked through the lens of summer 2013 and as commented on through the lens of November 2013-January 2014:

Honorable Mention:

All Tiny Creatures w/ Sunglasses, Red Electric Rainbow, Jivas - The Project Lodge, 10/20
Caribou - Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 7/12
The Chemical Brothers - North Coast Music Festival, 9/3
Grandchildren w/ Dinosaur Feathers, Arto - Der Rathskeller, 10/15
The Hold Steady - Riverside Theater, 12/31
Los Campesinos! w/ Cymbals Eat Guitars - Majestic Theater, 4/29
Phantogram - Strictly Discs, 10/23
School of Seven Bells w/ Active Child - Majestic Theater, 9/18
These United States w/ Juniper Tar, Strand of Oaks - The Terrace, 6/11
Yeasayer w/ Sleigh Bells - Majestic Theater, 4/28


25. Liars – High Noon Saloon, 7/14

I absolutely love it when I find a band to be scary. I think this is often one of the highest compliments a person can give a creative entity. Liars are one of those perpetually unsettling acts. It takes a career of dedication to keep this aura going—one slip up could easily strip away that appearance. When Liars played outdoors midday at Pitchfork the next day, the heat and sunlight proved a disappointing accompaniment to their set. In the dark and chilly High Noon, Liars were powerful in their element.

24. Nite Jewel w/ Rory Kane – Lothlorien Co-op, 5/13

A few days after finishing finals, this show was a great start to summer. Nite Jewel was enjoyable (although the thing I remember most from their set was a guy playing obnoxiously with a flashing light the whole time) but Rory Kane absolutely stole the show. I want him to play my wedding.

23. of Montreal w/ Janelle Monae – Pabst Theater, 9/24

Here’s another show-stealing early act. I’m a huge of Montreal fan, but Janelle Monae did a terrific job working the crowd while of Montreal was a little less solid. Still, they played a blast of a set. This was one of my favorite co-headlining bills of the year.


 22. Deerhunter – Chicago, 9/25

The day after show #23, Urban Outfitters threw a *corporate gig* under an overpass in Chicago. The performance was crazy no-frills (I don’t remember there being Urban Outfitters signs on the stage or anything to that effect, though I could be forgetting them). With no opener and in the middle of the afternoon, Deerhunter played a lot from Halcyon Digest, which came out three days after the show.

21. Moby DJ Set w/ Boys Noize, Future Rock, Daedelus, Laidback Luke - North Coast Music Festival, 9/4

These dance music festivals can get kind of cheesy (and this day was no exception) but the smaller stage in the corner of Union Park (Pitchfork’s blue/connector stage) hosted a non-stop flow of “eclectic” (well, for DJs at North Coast) acts. I expected Boys Noize to be the highlight of the day, but Moby turned out to be better than I would have ever expected. His set was big, loud, and relentless. We did not get to hear “otherside”. Maybe next time!

20. The New Pornographers w/ The Dodos – The Orpheum, 8/4

One of my very first indie love affairs was with the one I had with The New Pornographers. At this point in my life, I take them for granted until I’m listening to them. As soon as I hear THOSE HOOKS and THOSE VOICES it’s all new to me again and I’m 15 and getting a ride home from seeing Phantom Planet at Summerfest, you dig? I also had not payed The Dodos much attention until seeing them here, which was a really enjoyable surprise.

19. Ariel Pink & Haunted Graffiti w/ Puro Instinct, Magic Kids– Lincoln Hall, 7/20

I remember this as one of the weirdest shows I’ve attended. This show went pretty late, and after going from Madison (Liars) to Chicago (for Neon Indian and 3 days of Pitchfork) to Madison (for Bear in Heaven) back to Chicago in 7 days, I was exhausted. The lineup was stellar and Ariel Pink played for what seemed like 2 hours.  I could be wrong, but I seem to remember him playing “For Kate I Wait” (the song I was waiting to hear through the entire show) last, and that was a thrilling way to wrap things up.

I should note that, though the show didn’t place in this list, Thursday’s Neon Indian + Dam Funk show had one of the most thrilling encore song selections I’ve experienced: a live version of Vega’s “No Reasons”… Hoooo!

 18. Deadmau5 – Soldier Field, 7/2

This was the first time I’d ever seen real guidos!!! Set just outside of Soldier Field, this show was basically a small music festival. This was prime 'Moar Ghosts' era Deadmau5, in all his top-billing glory. I think this is the only time I've seen him, and it was definitely the place and time to do that.

17. Beach House – Pabst Theater, 4/3

On the day after seeing Joanna Newsom in the same theater, I was well-primed to fall in love. This was my first time seeing Beach House, and on the Teen Dream tour… gaaaahhhhh. Simply amazing show. It’s a lazy comparison to make, but I felt similar to the soft awe I felt when seeing Grizzly Bear tour in support of Veckatimest the year prior. That guitar slide!!


16. Julian Lynch w/ Austin Hays, Yellow Ostrich, Cedarwell – Gates of Heaven, 5/17

I loved shows in this place. It’s a total destination venue—-one for arriving early and combining with a trip to James Madison Park. As I recall, this was my first time seeing Julian Lynch play with a large(r) ensemble (I could be wrong about that), with drums and the like. Like many other Wisconsinites, I easily became enamored with Yellow Ostrich. I remember excitedly playing Youtube videos of his live performances to friends and family members for quite a while after the show. Bring back Gates of Heaven! There’s probably a reason people aren’t having shows there these days. Maybe I’m just not hearing about them. Hmm.

15. Zola Jesus w/ Julian Lynch + Sonmi – Project Lodge, 3/6

Coming up in Madison at the same time as Zola Jesus started to rise in profile was a unique experience. As a freshman/sophomore in college, it was my first opportunity to see a very regular person in real life who started to have a bigger and bigger celebrity presence online. I have always felt like ZJ cut the hipsters of Madison a raw deal by not cultivating more of a hometown presence, but I guess sometimes that isn’t a big priority. I believe this was the first time I saw both Zola Jesus and Julian Lynch perform.

14. Dawes – Der Rathskeller, 2/13

For a brief period, every Dawes show was less of a concert and more of a reunion with friends. The band name became more of an meme than a moniker and each show was more of a social event than an opportunity to watch a fledgling band that had an inappropriately enthusiastic fan base among my social network. This Rathskeller show was probably my DAWES peak. By the time they started releasing new songs, I sort of fell off the last train to Dawesville. Continuing to follow their career became sort of beside the point--their debut (and the memory of those shows) was what really mattered to me.


 13. Phoenix – Lollapalooza, 8/7

I could track my geospatial love of this band, bounded by my table on the third floor of College Library where my scrobbles for the leak of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix first hit last.fm and the Lollapalooza field where I took in their tremendous headlining set. This Lollapalooza was my first solo trip to a music festival, and while it can get lonely, there’s much to be said about the experience of taking in a show of this magnitude as an individual alone in a massive crowd.

12. Pavement - Pitchfork, 7/18

Having only listened to 'Slanted and Enchanted' before the news of Pavement’s reunion, I had a lot of homework to do before this show. It was a great opportunity to have an incentive to quickly fall in love with their albums, which was not a difficult thing to do. One of the best parts of this show was being part of a crowd that was filled with so many happy and nostalgic adults.

 11. Bear In Heaven w/ Twin Sister, Mountain Man – High Noon Saloon, 7/19

One of my favorite High Noon shows of all time! This was one of those small shows that just happened to get everything right. A gorgeous package from start to finish. Summer 2010 was the perfect time to be at this show. Mountain Man (whatever happened to them?) performed to a small huddle of people sitting on the floor, and Twin Sister played the best set I’ve ever seen them perform. Finally, Bear In Heaven put on a big, smoky, and well-lit show that capped off this thing in the best way possible.

10 Big Boi - Pitchfork, 7/18

Bros, there is little more to say than that Big Boi is terrific live. Big Boi sprinted through classics from all pockets of his career, and there was no dead time at all. There were a ton of people on stage, but even that aspect seemed more constructive than a lot of clique-driven rap live shows. There were kids breakdancing!! It was a really wonderful penultimate festival set.

9. The Arcade Fire – Lollapalooza, 8/8

I am a shameless strategist when it comes to getting to the front of crowds, and MGMT’s prior set at the same stage cleared out a ton of people, which helped me get very close for this show. This show was predictably enormous, and really a total thrill. If you picture the best an Arcade Fire headlining slot at an outdoor festival could be, it’s probably pretty similar to what this ended up being.

Ready to Start
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haiti
Empty Room
Rococo
The Suburbs
Intervention
Crown of Love
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
We Used to Wait
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Month of May
Keep the Car Running

Encore:
Wake Up

8. Titus Andronicus – Project Lodge, 4/6

One of my favorite Project Lodge shows of all time (duh). Peter Truby brought one of my favorite bands to the smallest of all viable Madison locations. (Watch the throne, Madison DIY!) Technically, this show was a pretty decent mess, but Titus are troopers and put on a sweatfest for the ages. BEST BAND EVER.

7. Weezer – Verge (Summerfest Grounds), 6/5

This should have been miserable, but it was perfect. To set the scene: this show was the headlining set of a completely scrambled-together lineup of pop/rock and assorted others (AFI played the preceding slot, lol). It was at the Summerfest grounds. There were nowhere near enough attendees to warrant another year. The weather was disastrous-—super cold and raining. We waited in the large indoor bathroom complex for what seemed like (and probably was ) an hour once it got dark and colder outside. We ate tepid Saz's samplers.

Fast forward to Weezer’s set! Rivers was in total rockstar mode, and it was amazing to watch. Though this concert was far from one, it made me realize that I don’t get out to enough arena shows. This guy put on a face and ran with it for the whole set. There were props, moments he’d run across the stage and climb on rigging, a double encore, and even a rousing “Can’t Stop Partying.” The guy totally rocked my expectations.

Hash Pipe
Troublemaker
Undone - The Sweater Song
Surf Wax America
Trippin' Down the Freeway
Perfect Situation
Dope Nose (Scott Shriner on lead vocals)
Say It Ain't So
Brian's Theme
Can't Stop Partying
Why Bother? (Brian Bell on lead vocals)
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
My Name Is Jonas
Beverly Hills

Encore:
Pork and Beans (with "Hot for Teacher" intro)
Kids / Poker Face

Encore 2:
Island in the Sun
Buddy Holly

6. Joanna Newsom – Pabst Theater, 4/2

Gaah, I love Joanna so much and it was amazing finally being able to see her play. What I didn’t expect was the value of her live band. The accompaniments were intricate and executed perfectly and musically. It was wonderful being able to see her play solo this summer at Pitchfork, but, unsatiated, I am holding out until I have the opportunity to see her play a long set of new and old songs with her ensemble.

Jackrabbits
In California
Easy
Soft as Chalk
The Book of Right-On
Have One on Me
Inflammatory Writ
Good Intentions Paving Co.
Monkey & Bear

Encore:
Baby Birch
Peach, Plum, Pear

5. The Flaming Lips – Riverside Theater, 4/21

Towards the end of my sophomore year of college, Todd and I took the bus to Milwaukee to see The Flaming Lips. This was the loudest, most abrasive show I’ve ever seen from these guys. We were very close and this show did not disappoint. I might note that every time I’ve seen The Flaming Lips has been been less magical than the last, and though I don’t mean that as a slam to them, it’s fine to keep in mind here that I’d only seen them once before—the magic was still there (which is to say that I still sobbed uncontrollably during 'Do You Realize??').

The Fear
Worm Mountain
Silver Trembling Hands
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)
The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine
In the Morning of the Magicians
She Don't Use Jelly
I Can Be a Frog
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1
See the Leaves
Laser Hands
Powerless
Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
Taps (Daniel Butterfield cover)
The W.A.N.D.
Convinced of the Hex

Encore:
Brain Damage (Pink Floyd cover)
Eclipse (Pink Floyd cover)

Encore 2:
Do You Realize??

4. My Morning Jacket – Northerly Island, 8/17

MY MORNING JACKEEETTTTTTT. Obviously this was amazing, so all I'm going to do is qualify the #4 slot instead of a higher one. As this was my first chance to see them, this was pretty hotly anticipated. I don’t know how much I could claim to have been swept off my feet, but I was definitely blown away. The outdoor, parking lot-y venue was pretty OK, but that just made my first indoor MMJ show feel that much more explosive.

Rollin Back (Instrumental)
The Way That He Sings
Gideon
Mahgeetah
Dancefloors
Master Plan
Golden
Circuital
Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 1
Anytime
Tonite I Want to Celebrate With You
Carried Away (Carl Broemel song)
I'm Amazed
Easy Morning Rebel
Dondante
Smokin From Shootin
Run Thru (Second half, from the jam through the end)
Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2
Lay Low (Just the solo)

Encore:
Bermuda Highway
Wordless Chorus
Off the Record
Steam Engine
One Big Holiday

3. Voxtrot – Lincoln Hall 1/14, Lincoln Hall 5/21, Lawrence University, 5/22

I had the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands of all time for the first time ever--as well as the last time, barring a reunion--in a string of three shows in just over four months. The opportunity to experience this band's live show so many times in such a brief burst of nostalgic bliss was pretty singular. The three shows had fairly similar setlists (each sadly lacking 'Trouble' but including almost all other favorites) and allowed what I feel was a fitting experience to 'see off' the band. I miss you, Voxtrot!!

[setlist from 5/21]
Introduction
Rise up in the Dirt
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters + Wives
Kid Gloves
Your Biggest Fan
Raised By Wolves
Steven
Soft and Warm
Berlin, Without Return
Wrecking Force
The Start of Something

Encore:
Whiskey and Water
Missing Pieces

2. The Strokes – Lollapalooza, 8/6

Very few of the concerts I've ever attended have afforded me ecstatic catharsis like seeing The Strokes for the first time. Like 2009's exposure to The Flaming Lips' live show, being able to see The Strokes (alone in a vast expanse of similarly thrilled young adults) was an experience 9 years in the making. Look at this set list!!! Picture an entirely overwhelmed 20-year old me being drowned in complete happiness. As nostalgic as my relationship is with The Strokes, this was the kind of show that allowed for no time for thinking about anything other than the now.

New York City Cops
The Modern Age
Hard to Explain
What Ever Happened?
You Only Live Once
Soma
Is This It
Vision of Division
I Can't Win
Reptilia
Last Nite

Encore:
Juicebox
Someday
Under Control
Heart in a Cage
Take It or Leave It

 1. LCD Soundsystem w/ Hot Chip – Eagles Ballroom, 10/22

Eleven days prior to seeing LCD Soundsystem play with Hot Chip at the Rave, the two titans played a show at London's Alexandra Palace, which was recorded in an instantly released bootleg. This has turned into a unique souvenir from this tour. I don't deal with bootlegs often, but this probably would have been my top pick of a 2010 show to be able to hear again (and again--which I have, many times).

Catching these DFA kingpins playing back to back (no openers to mess around with) was a blissful experience. Both acts had catalogs established enough that the night was entirely saturated with hits. Wisconsin's least favorite rock venue couldn't even hamper this performance! It was loud and the venue was packed with dancing kids--that's all I could care about. After all, I cried when I saw "Shut Up and Play The Hits". All LCD Soundsystem need to do was slay, and they slayed.

Boy From School
One Pure Thought
Thieves In The Night
One Life Stand
Over And Over
Hand Me Down Your Love
Alley Cats
Take It In
Shake A Fist
We Have Love
Hold On
I Feel Better
Ready For The Floor

-----

Dance Yrself Clean
Drunk Girls
Get Innocuous!
Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
Yr City's a Sucker
You Wanted A Hit
I Can Change
All My Friends
Movement
Tribulations
Yeah

Encore:
Someone Great
Losing My Edge
Home

Playing along at home with Pitchfork's top 20 albums of 2013

Alright, alright alright alright! After seeing only P4k's list of 'honorable mentions', here are the 20 albums I anticipate being in their 'best album' list's top 20 slots (in order):

20. DJ Rashad

19. Fuck Buttons

18. Chvrches

17. Field

16. Youth Lagoon

15. Haxan Cloak

14. My Bloody Valentine

13. Kurt Vile

12. Danny Brown

11. Phosphorescent

10. Darkside

9. Drake

8. Bill Callahan

7. Daft Punk

6. Deafheaven

5. Savages

4. Arcade Fire

3. Kanye

2. Disclosure

1. Vampire Weekend

Woof! Okay, just looked at 21-50. Kind of unsettling that they’re doing everything in one day this year!! At the very most ideal situation (no Sky Ferreira), I will have chosen 14 of the actual top 20. I guess I have to be content with that! Here’s my updated roster for 20:

20. Charli XCX

19. Haim

18. Shaking the Habitual

17. Chance

16. Iceage

15. Julianna Barwick

14. Field

13. Youth Lagoon

12. My Bloody Valentine

11. Kurt Vile

10. Danny Brown

9. Darkside

8. Bill Callahan

7. Daft Punk

6. Deafheaven

5. Savages

4. Arcade Fire

3. Kanye

2. Disclosure

1. Vampire Weekend

20. Jai Paul - Jai Paul

Ah yes! I need to download this. I think actually only listened to it once, while it was streaming. This is pretty #20 worthy. I expect a decent amount of 15-20 to be things absent from my predictions.

19. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

One from my bank of 5 runners up for this top 20. Another album I haven’t given enough attention to!

18. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

Aaah! Another one from my 5 ‘on deck’. For reference, the other 3 are Foxygen, After Dark 2, and These New Puritans.

17. Haim

AAh Much love to Haim’s singles, but I am so happy this isn’t in the top ten. Speaking of-- if Sky is in the top 20, which she probably is… I will be disappointed.

16. Bill Callahan

Soooo good. I love ya, Bill! Underrated on this list and many others. The world is a cruel place.

SO, critical reevaluation time. I’m switching out some of the ‘less exciting’ acts that I didn’t feel Pitchfork reported on a ton this year. The weird thing at this point is that some of the albums I anticipated for the top 20 will not have been in the top 70 (though P4k asserts that the ‘honorable mention’ list isn’t a continuation). Let’s see. If Charli XCX knocks out one of these contenders...

15. Shaking the Habitual

14. Field

13. Youth Lagoon

12. My Bloody Valentine

11. Kurt Vile

10. Danny Brown

9. Darkside

8. Sky Ferreira (ugh)

7. Daft Punk

6. Deafheaven

5. Savages

4. Arcade Fire

3. Kanye

2. Disclosure

1. Vampire Weekend

15. Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time

Phew! Swiped in at the final moment.

14. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual

So close to being on the money with this! This was a great record. Very satisfied with the placement.

13. Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Daze

Kurt Vile is so dreamy! A little too low, but 13 isn’t a bad number.

12. Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap

Yes!! I’m so glad this is so high on the list. I got cold feet and took him off the “top 15” draft because he was so slighted in the 100 songs list. Great, great stuff.

11. Darkside - Psychic

I’m satisfied with this ranking. It’s a fun album, but given its competition, it seems a little unlike Pitchfork to stick to their guns in ranking an album of this genre (sorry, “these genres”) in the very top of the list.

10. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

Ah!!! This is a bit of an upset. I’m actually pretty happy about this, though--I’d probably rank this at about #10 in a personal list.

9. Savages - Silence Yourself

Such a terrific debut! I pictured Pitchfork making a statement with this, but #9 is still a statement. Again, I’ll settle. Maybe I should expect an upset switch like in the songs list, where my top 4 picks ended up in the 6-10 range.. But I am feeling pretty confident about my top 3.

8. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator

WOW! Another true upset. And because I’m lazy and just started with a longlist of 2013’s ~50 BNMs and a few I remembered on the side, I didn’t even have this in the running. This is a pretty deserving album for top 10 contention. Wow, I just realized I forgot to make a top 10 list! So, here are my updated rankings for Pitchfork’s top 7. Get your cash bets ready! The record I feel the most unsure about placing is RAM. It could really go in any of these slots. Let’s see..

7. My Bloody Valentine

6. Danny Brown

5. Deafheaven

4. Daft Punk

3. Kanye

2. Disclosure

1. Vampire Weekend

7. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Whoa!! Well, there it goes. Will thought this was going to be #1. Sorry Will, but you were SO WRONG!

6. My Bloody Valentine

5. Danny Brown

4. Deafheaven

3. Kanye

2. Disclosure

1. Vampire Weekend

6. Deafheaven - Sunbather

YEEEAAAH. Black metal in the top 20! I don’t know when this last happened. You did a good job, Deafheaven, but next time? Shoot for the top 4 (Y’don’t want to make me look bad, do you?) When this album came out, I sent it to my mom in hopes that she would finally concede to the quality of the genre. It’s that sort of record. (You already probably know that, though, if you’re reading this silly thing)

5. My Bloody Valentine

4. Danny Brown

3. Kanye

2. Disclosure

1. Vampire Weekend

5. Danny Brown - Old

This is how you follow a tremendous success!

4. My Bloody Valentine

This is how you follow a tremendous success!

3. Disclosure - Settle

The “act that looked the most like high schoolers” at SXSW ‘13 ended up putting out the electronic album of the year. Full of hits like a Michael Jackson record--and one of the guys doesn’t even read books! I feel tempted, at this point, to switch Vampire Weekend with Kanye for #1 record. That said, in a year where gol-darn Drake has Pitchfork’s number one song (a total embarrassment), it seems fitting that Vampire Weekend will fill the top slot.

2. Kanye West - Yeezus

and

1. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

Well, there it is. In the past week, I switched my guess for this slot from Yeezus to Settle. After reading the songs list yesterday, though, I settled on this one. I did it! Why, then, do I feel so discontent with this choice? :)

final tally- initial guesses - after seeing only the honorable mention list 13/20

guesses after seeing 21-50 15/20

Instant Review - Knee-jerk reactions to the P4k 100 for 2013

100. Factory Floor - Fall Back

This is a great track. I don’t think I have adequately paid attention to this group. Something to catch up on 2014!

99. Thee Oh Sees - Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster

Oh seeeeees! I wonder if there will be another track on the list from this album. I would have to guess ‘minotaur’.

98. The Range - Metal Swing

I don’t think I’ve heard this album, either. Fair enough, as I don’t see why I’d consciously choose to listen to FF or the Range and not to the other one.

97. Foxygen - No Destruction

Some songs are tightly bound to memories, but this song just reminds me of having conversations about Foxygen.

96. Ty Segall - Sleeper

This is a nice one indeed. It would be fun if even a quarter of today’s acts put out material as varied as the stuff Ty has released. Bye Bye!!

95. Swearin’ - Dust in the Gold Sack

Man, Swearin’ is so much better than Waxahatchee! This song rips.

94. Duke Dumont - Need U (100%) feat. A*M*E

Where was this song when I was DJing to myself in my dorm in 2009??

93. David Bowie - Love is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Remix by James Murphy)

Yeah, this is terrific. I’d have put it higher. I love the great 70s prog harmonies on the ‘hook’ here.

92. Lil Durk - Dis Ain’t What U Want

I’d never heard this before, surprisingly, though I did read a 2-page piece about him in the new VICE three days ago on the bus to Chicago. **AUTHENTICITY**

91. Forest Swords - Thor’s Stone

I liked this album a lot--more than the last one. I’m fine with this track being in the 90s, though.

90. Yo La Tengo - Ohm

Though I loved YLT when I saw them this year, I still haven’t even taken a stab at becoming acquainted with their catalog. This is a nice song, though, for sure.

89. Young Thug - Picacho

How have I never heard this before? Jesus Christ, what is wrong with me??

88. Grouper - Vital

I saw Grouper four days ago and it was so very lovely. Thanks for the songs, Grouper!

87. The National - Pink Rabbits

My favorite track from the new album. 87 is pretty low! I don’t know about that call.

86. Ty Dolla $ign - Paranoid feat. Joe Moses

This is the first song on this list that am I am not a fan of. It didn’t do much for me this time, though it’s worth mentioning that I’ve never heard Ty before.

85. Janelle Monae - Q.U.E.E.N. feat. Erykah Badu

I actually haven’t heard this album yet! This was a good introduction to it. Erykah Badu is someone I know nothing at all about. Two more for the list of things to look into…

84. Chvrches - Recover

One of my personal favorites of the year! This was in the top 5 singles list I made halfway through the year. I assume “Mother We Share” will be between 15 and 5.

83. My Bloody Valentine - New You

A curious choice. I wonder if there was a lot of deliberation over what I assume will be the one song representing mbv on this list.

82. Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to low in this ranking!! That’s criminal. This song is tremendous.

81. Disclosure - Help Me Lose My Mind feat. London Grammar

Man, Disclosure is going to completely sweep this list.

80. Future - Karate Chop feat. Casino

This song’s hook is pretty great.

79. Omar Souleyman - Wenu Wenu

WENU WEEENU WENU

78. Mariah Carey - #Beautiful feat. Miguel

Miguel is so cool! What a cool person!! And Mariah Carey isn’t all that old!!

77. Julia Holter - Hello Stranger

It’s beautiful and all, but don’t you wish she had covered “Beautiful Stranger” instead?

76. Fuck Buttons - Brainfreeze

Those HEALTH drums. I appreciate Pitchfork’s blurb for this--especially its crude categorization of the three FB albums.

75. Youth Lagoon - Mute

Still not wild about Youth Lagoon, but I’m fine with this ranking.

74. M.I.A. - Come Walk With Me

Pleased to see this make the list. When an act plays an unreleased song live without any advance hype (see: Animal Collective bootleg videos in 2008), I typically mostly forget what it sounds like until I’m acquainted with the album cut. This song stuck with me remarkably well between her set in Chicago and the studio version’s release. Total bamboo.

73. Big Sean - Control (HOF) feat. Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica

The verse is still terrific. The hype was overblown, but it’s still there. And as a cultural event (this is, after all, the Top 100 Tracks of 2013) you couldn’t make a list of the year’s songs without giving this a slot. Although that means both of Miley’s singles would also have to make the list, etc. etc.

72. Darkside - The Only Shrine I’ve Seen

This swings so hard. Fast forward to pimply high school kids of the future playing arrangements of this in their extra-curricular 7AM electronic music ensembles.

71. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?

I haven’t heard this album yet. After hearing the song though, I do feel like I may be a fan.

70. Neko Case - Man

I also have not heard this album yet! What a travesty. This song RIPS!

69. 2 Chainz - Feds Watching feat. Pharrell

I’m pretty sure I’ve heard this song less than 5 times, but it feels like many more times than that. This is pretty infectious.

68. Kurt Vile - Goldtone

This is so dreamy. Conspiracy theorists may not that this track was purpose-built as a ten-minute transition from ‘Wakin on a Pretty Daze’ to ‘Dream River’.

67. Daft Punk - Doin’ It Right feat. Panda Bear

It’s still so awesome that this collaboration happened. I’m glad it turned out well.

66. Chance the Rapper - Chain Smoker

Live love Chance.

65. Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. and Pharrell)

There are things 2013 wouldn’t have been 2013 without. Spring Breakers, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell putting his hands into everything.

64. Prurient - You Show Great Spirit

I have really liked Prurient in the past, and I love this Prurient. Like Ty Segall, here’s a person that has really excelled in a variety of formats.

63. Young Magic - Pretty Boy (Peaking Lights Remix)

I’d never heard this before, but it was very nice.

62. Vampire Weekend - Ya Hey

Take that, Vampire Weekend!! #62! But don’t be too sad. ‘Diane Young’ will get your picture on a big banner in the top ranking. The p4k blurb for this is pretty weak.

61. Charli XCX - You (Ha Ha Ha)

I’m laughing!

60. Thundercat - Heartbreaks + Setbacks

This is so smooth. I’ve never heard anything like Thundercat live, though--this feels miles from it. If only he toured more often, or lived closer.

59. Majical Cloudz - Bugs Don’t Buzz

I do really like this, although I think it’s fine at #59.

58. Sky Ferreira - Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)

I hate on Sky a lot, but I guess I haven’t even heard her new album yet. That’s embarrassing. This is enjoyable. Not very smart, and plenty self-pitying, but at least they still have some of the “Nevermind” “Party Hard” guitars that tend to be my favorite part of Sky’s live sets.

57. Classixx - All You’re Waiting For feat. Nancy Whang

SO GOOD. One of the best tracks from one of my favorite albums of 2013.

56. Chief Keef - Citgo

Meh!

55. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

Now, this is what I call music! My hands-down pop single of the year (all competitors never stood a chance). Completely slighted with this #55 slot.

54. Rich Homie Quan - Type of Way

Sit down here on my knee, my little baby son. There are all kinds of people in this world. In your life, there will be people that try to tell you that ‘Type of Way’ is a better song than ‘Mirrors’.

53. Deerhunter - Monomania

Sloppy Deerhunting never hurt anyone!

52. Pharmakon - Crawling on Bruised Knees

Great, great album. I would have rather this been on the top half of the list (even at #50), but I’ll settle for this.

51. Arcade Fire - Afterlife

Yes, yes. A great penultimate track for the penultimate ages!

50. Phosphorescent - Song for Zula

Highway Robbery!!!! This being so low in the ranking is unacceptable.

49. Courtney Barnett - Avant Gardener

oh WOW. I have never listened to Courtney Barnett before but I absolutely loved this song. Man!! I look forward to catching up on her releases. If there’s typically even half as good as this..

48. Pusha T - Numbers on the Boards

I haven’t heard this album yet. This was a pretty slick track, though.

47. DJ Rashad - Let It Go

I prefer “Drums Please” to this track from this quick but quality EP. What can you do. At least this means there will be another Rashad track on the list! I expect to hear from him again in the 20s.

46. A$AP Ferg - Hood Pope

I anticipate his Shabba remix will be in the top ten singles. This is a good pick for the upper-middle of the list.

45. Glass Candy - Warm in the Winter

So lush. I am not sure I’ve listened to this release before. It’s easy on the ears!

44. Parquet Courts - Stoned and Starving

Man, this song is so good. Another of my personal top picks for the year.

43. FKA twigs - Water Me

This song creeps!

42. Todd Terje - Strandbar (disko)

Ah! the token Todd Terje track on this list. This is a winner.

41. Janelle Monae - PrimeTime feat. Miguel

Sloooooooow buuuuuuuuuuurn.

40. Kanye West - Bound 2

YES

39. Waxahatchee - Swan Dive

This is a pretty good place for this song.

38. Migos - Versace

SHOUTS OUT TO MIGOS

37. Perfect Pussy - I

YEEA this tape ruuulez. I did not expect this ranking.

36. Rhye - Open

Eh!

35. ASAP Rocky - Fuckin’ Problems feat. 2 Chainz, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar

I was not pleased with this upon its release, but it’s grown a lot on my over time. This was very 2013.

34. Haim - Falling

Wow! I anticipated this charting higher. I wonder if ‘The Wire’ will be higher on the list.

33. Run The Jewels - Banana Clipper feat. Big Boi

I haven’t listened to this project very much, but whenever I have I have definitely been pleased. This is enjoyable. 33 Okay.

32. Disclosure - White Noise feat. AlunaGeorge

At the moment, my money’s on Disclosure for Pitchfork’s Album of the Year. There were a ton of brilliant moments on ‘Settle’. I see ‘Fire’ in the top 20 and ‘Latch’ in the top 10.

31. Lorde - Royals

Like ASAP Rocky’s first big hit, it’s taken me a while to entirely warm up to this song. I’m still not to 100%, but I certainly don’t dislike it.

30. Daft Punk - Touch

YES. This is the best kind of upset. I didn’t expect this to be on here, but I’m so glad it is. My favorite track from RAM.

29. Savages - She Will

It’s scary!

28. Kingdom - Bank Head feat. Kelela

Slick as heck. I don’t know if I heard this more than once or twice this year.

27. Chvrches - The Mother We Share

I don’t know if I heard this one hundred or two hundred times this year!

26. My Bloody Valentine - Only Tomorrow

Ah! I wasn’t expecting another mbv track here, but this is a great spot for one.

25. Danny Brown - Kush Coma

Pretty insufferable blurb, Pitchfork! Sheesh

24. Jai Paul - Str8 Outta Mumbai

Maybe 2014 will be Jai Paul’s year. (I think the jury’s still out on whether 2013 was or wasn’t his).

23. A$AP Ferg - Shabba feat. ASAP Rocky

Good thing I didn’t put money on this being in the top ten..or being listed as the remix, as Pitchfork sometimes tends to do. A+ song though.

22. Majical Cloudz - Childhood’s End

Now we’re getting to serious quality. That stuff was great, but this stuff...

21. James Blake - Retrograde

This was #2 for my year at June’s end. Such a terrific lead single for a follow-up!! Hmmm. I wonder if the James + Chance collaboration could be in the top 20…

OK. It’s time to anticipate the next 20. After much deliberation, I arrived at the following list (with 10 alternates)

Diane Young or Step

James + Chance?

Haxan Cloak - Mirror Reflecting

Wakin on a Pretty Day

Dope Song

Juan macLean - You Are My Destiny

Drake Hold on we’re going home or 5am in toronto

YYYs Sacrilege

Whorehouse

20. Autre ne Veut - Counting

19. Bathroom Laughter

18. Juan Maclean - Feel like Movin

17. When a Fire Starts To Burn

16. Birds

15. Blood orange - You’re not good enough

14. Mutual Benefit - Advanced Falconry

13. DJ Rashad I Don’t Give a Fuck

12. National - Sea of Love

11. Full of Fire

10. Body Party

9. Good Ass Job

8. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

7. Come Down to Us

6. Kanye West - New Slaves
5. Mikal Cronin - weight

4. Deafheaven - Dreamhouse

3. Autre Ne Veut - Play By Play

2. Latch

1. Get Lucky

20. Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Day

About a month after I started my current job, I felt comfortable enough to start listening to music while I worked. The first thing I listened to was this album, and it nearly never left rotation in the first week. There’s something so lovely and listenable about this album. Great track.

19. The Knife - Full of Fire

I guess #11 was a bit ambitious. This is a terrific song. Maybe it’d weight down the top ten too much?

18. Drake - Worst Behavior

Oops! I didn’t know this track existed. I hope there isn’t more Drake in this list, because I have no idea where it’d go. For the sake of the other awesome songs, I hope this is the sole track from this album.. but I sort of expect another since this is so low in the top twenty.

17. Sophie - Bipp

Uuuuuuuhhh another track I’ve never heard in the top twenty. This is an unfortunately familiar situation.. To the track, then. I love the artwork. The song is decent. It doesn’t come across as top-tier material to me, but it is fun!

16. Blood Orange - You’re Not Good Enough feat. Samantha Urbani

This is a great track. Good position. My closest prediction so far!

OK, reorganizing my list again. I am nervous Bathroom Laughter isn’t going to be on this list. That would be a tragedy. One of my very favorites of the year!

Diane Young or Step

James + Chance?

Haxan Cloak - Mirror Reflecting

Dope Song

Juan macLean - You Are My Destiny

Drake Hold on we’re going home or 5am in toronto

YYYs Sacrilege

Whorehouse

Autre ne Veut - Counting

Bathroom Laughter

Juan Maclean - Feel like Movin

15. When a Fire Starts To Burn

14. Birds

13. Mutual Benefit - Advanced Falconry

12. DJ Rashad I Don’t Give a Fuck

11. National - Sea of Love

10. Body Party

9. Good Ass Job

8. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

7. Come Down to Us

6. Kanye West - New Slaves
5. Mikal Cronin - weight

4. Deafheaven - Dreamhouse

3. Autre Ne Veut - Play By Play

2. Latch

1. Get Lucky

15. Bill Callahan - Small Plane

Oh wow, I forgot about this album when I ranked those songs!! I should probably be putting more thought into this. Obviously, I’m glad “Small Plane” is here. I really aaam a lucky man. Also, what’s with the new three-part name that Grayson Currin goes by? Maybe he’s a lucky man as well!

14. Vampire Weekend - Step

Maybe I should have made a list of 1-30 and just switched my 21-30 for my 11-20!

13. Earl Sweatshirt - Sunday feat. Frank Ocean

Aaah. I should have noted the absence of Earl on this list. Yeah, this is actually a pretty great track.

12. Sky Ferreira - I Blame Myself

ARE YOU SERIOUS! I will take the fall for each of these upsets but this is clearly Pitchfork’s mistake.

11. Kanye West - Blood on the Leaves

Ah!!! This was my second pick for Kanye in this list. Obviously, I love this track. This almost makes up for Sky being at 12. Ugh. I am not sure if that means Kanye will be in the top ten now, though. Hmmm.

Well, these five picks really threw off my ranking! Let’s see… I hope they don’t bring back Haim for “The Wire”. I feel out on a limb including Latch, all of a sudden--as if they’d drop both that and ‘when a fire starts to burn’. Is that possible?? And ANV probably won’t be as high as I wish it was. Also suspecting that Chance may be absent.

10. National - Sea of Love

9. Come Down to Us

8. Body Party

7. Good Ass Job

6. Kanye West - New Slaves
5. Mikal Cronin - weight

4. Deafheaven - Dreamhouse

3. Autre Ne Veut - Play By Play

2. Latch

1. Get Lucky

10. Autre Ne Veut - Play By Play

And I say…...Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaabyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Such a perfect jam. This is my song of the year!

9. Deafheaven - Dreamhouse

Yes yes yes. Wonderful track, and I suppose the 10-6 range is fine enough for me. This is gorgeous.

8. Daft Punk - Get Lucky feat. Pharrell

Wow! I am surprised, but pleased, with this placement. It’s been so iconic and such a central focus this year that I was expecting it to be the top pick on this list. Truly one of the great marketing stories of the internet age.

7. Disclosure - Latch feat. Sam Smith

WOW! This is very interesting. My picks for the 1-4 of this list were Pitchfork’s picks for 6-10. This song is truly amazing and, Like Play By Play, I’ve especially enjoyed the way bits of meaning have attached themselves to the already-great music.

6. Haim - The Wire

I should have known!! Now that a lot of the songs that I knew would be in the top 20 have been used, there’s a lot of wiggle room for surprises. The only ones I feel confident that they’ll use are “Weight” and “Body Party”. This is most unusual! Maybe I’m forgetting something large here. I’m also hesitant to keep Burial in here since his song just came out. I don’t know if they would want to use such a fresh track in the top five. Reflektor may return to my predictions..

5. Good Ass Job

4. Come Down to Us

3. Body Party

2. Kanye West - New Slaves
1. Mikal Cronin - weight

Well, who knows..

5. Ciara - Body Party

Fitting spot for a great track. I’m too excited to see what #4 is to say more than that.

4. Come Down to Us

3. Good Ass Job

2. Kanye West - New Slaves
1. Mikal Cronin - weight

4. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

Woof! I was going to bring in Reflektor to replace Burial and Chance if neither of them were number 4. This is truly down ~~to the wire~~! I’m way too excited about this..

3. Come Down to Us

2. Kanye West - New Slaves
1. Mikal Cronin - weight

3. Vampire Weekend - Hannah Hunt

You gotta be kitten me! I enjoyed this album, but I would never have considered this track for #3 of the year. At this point, I am just totally lost. Unless Kanye is 2 and Mikal’s tops? Well..

2. Kanye West - New Slaves
1. Mikal Cronin - weight

2. Kanye West - New Slaves

Yeah!! This is one of of those inextricably ‘2013’ tracks. One of those songs that the sound of my steps elicits in my brain.

1. Drake-Hold On, We’re Going Home feat. Majid Jordan

THIS LIST SUCKS NO MORE DRAKE HOW COULD THERE BE A TOP 100 SONGS LIST OF 2013 WITHOUT “WEIGHT”???? GAAAAAAA. TURN IT OFF!