Year-End Lists

Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker: 42 Best Albums of 2013 (listed chronologically within three tiers)

[see also 2022 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

I have lost sensation in my extremities.

• Excavation
  The Haxan Cloak
• …Like Clockwork
  Queens of the Stone Age
• Yeezus
  Kanye West
• Slow Focus
  Fuck Buttons
• Dysnomia
  Dawn of Midi
• 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
  King Krule
• Virgins
  Tim Hecker
• Not Here/Not Now
  Swans
• Open
  The Necks
• Matangi
  M.I.A.

I feel funny.

• Nocturnes
  William Basinski
• Once I Was an Eagle
  Laura Marling
• Compendium
  Old Apparatus
• Immunity
  Jon Hopkins
• Settle
  Disclosure
• Random Access Memories Memories
  Daftside
• Electric
  Pet Shop Boys
• Swisher
  Blondes
• Doris
  Earl Sweatshirt
• One Breath
  Anna Calvi
• Old
  Danny Brown
• Beautiful Rewind
  Four Tet
• 12 Stories
  Brandy Clark
• Lanterns
  Son Lux
• Process
  YVETTE
• Syndrome Syndrome
  Gardland
• Saint Heron
  various artists
• Love’s Crushing Diamond
  Mutual Benefit

Something is up.

• Amok
  Atoms for Peace
• Impossible Truth
  William Tyler
• mbv
  My Bloody Valentine
• Magic Trix
  Xenia Rubinos
• Loud City Song
  Julia Holter
• Run the Jewels
  Run the Jewels
• Nothing Was the Same
  Drake
• Days Are Gone
  Haim
• Pure Heroine
  Lorde
• No Dreams
  Noveller
• Night Time, My Time
  Sky Ferreira
• Solar Motel
  Chris Forsyth
• Wed 21
  Juana Molina
• FRKWYS Vol. 10 Fits & Starts
  David Van Tieghem x Ten

Magnet Magazine: Top 25 Albums of 2013

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. The Silver Gymnasium
   Okkervil River
2. The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
   Neko Case
3. Fade
   Yo La Tengo
4. Amok
   Atoms for Peace
5. Trouble Will Find Me
   The National
6. Monomania
   Deerhunter
7. I Hate Music
   Superchunk
8. Random Access Memories
   Daft Punk
9. Tonight You Look Like a Spider
   David Yow
10. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
    Foxygen
11. Silence Yourself
    Savages
12. mbv
    My Bloody Valentine
13. The Bones Of What You Believe
    Chvrches
14. English Little League
    Guided By Voices
15. Siberia
    Polvo
16. Wakin on a Pretty Daze
    Kurt Vile
17. Self-Titled
    Wesley Stace
18. Honeys
    Pissed Jeans
19. Modern Vampires of the City
    Vampire Weekend
20. Dream River
    Bill Callahan
21. B-Room
    Dr. Dog
22. Personal Record
    Eleanor Friedberger
23. Push the Sky Away
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
24. Days Are Gone
    Haim
25. Muchacho
    Phosphorescent

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2013

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Muchacho
   Phosphorescent
2. MCII
   Mikal Cronin
3. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
   Foxygen
4. The Electric Lady
   Janelle Monáe
5. Monomania
   Deerhunter
6. Wakin on a Pretty Daze
   Kurt Vile
7. Modern Vampires of the City
   Vampire Weekend
8. The Bones Of What You Believe
   Chvrches
9. Run the Jewels
   Run the Jewels
10. Days Are Gone
    Haim
11. Southeastern
    Jason Isbell
12. Trouble Will Find Me
    The National
13. Wildewoman
    Lucius
14. Silence Yourself
    Savages
15. Random Access Memories
    Daft Punk
16. Yeezus
    Kanye West
17. Repave
    Volcano Choir
18. Reflektor
    Arcade Fire
19. Cerulean Salt
    Waxahatchee
20. Same Trailer Different Park
    Kacey Musgraves
21. Shaking the Habitual
    The Knife
22. The Silver Gymnasium
    Okkervil River
23. Light Up Gold
    Parquet Courts
24. Matangi
    M.I.A.
25. II
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
26. mbv
    My Bloody Valentine
27. Dream River
    Bill Callahan
28. The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
    Neko Case
29. …Like Clockwork
    Queens of the Stone Age
30. Hummingbird
    Local Natives
31. Idle No More
    King Khan and the Shrines
32. Woman
    Rhye
33. Anxiety
    Autre Ne Veut
34. My Name Is My Name
    Pusha T
35. Wondrous Bughouse
    Youth Lagoon
36. Pure Heroine
    Lorde
37. White Lighter
    Typhoon
38. Old
    Danny Brown
39. lousy with sylvianbriar
    of Montreal
40. Excavation
    The Haxan Cloak
41. Pedestrian Verse
    Frightened Rabbit
42. Big Wheel and Others
    Cass McCombs
43. Doris
    Earl Sweatshirt
44. Victim of Love
    Charles Bradley
45. Bigfoot
    Cayucas
46. Personal Record
    Eleanor Friedberger
47. The Lone Bellow
    The Lone Bellow
48. Tape Deck Heart
    Frank Turner
49. Major Arcana
    Speedy Ortiz
50. B-Room
    Dr. Dog

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2013

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Yeezus
   Kanye West
2. Nothing Was the Same
   Drake
3. My Name Is My Name
   Pusha T
4. Acid Rap
   Chance The Rapper
5. Old
   Danny Brown
6. The Marshall Mathers LP 2
   Eminem
7. Days Are Gone
   Haim
8. Trap Lord
   A$AP Ferg
9. Cupid Deluxe
   Blood Orange
10. Because the Internet
    Childish Gambino
11. Doris
    Earl Sweatshirt
12. Watching Movies with the Sound Off
    Mac Miller
13. Born Sinner
    J. Cole
14. Woman
    Rhye
15. Run the Jewels
    Run the Jewels
16. Reflektor
    Arcade Fire
17. Blue Chips 2
    Action Bronson & Party Supplies
18. Anxiety
    Autre Ne Veut
19. Long.Live.A$AP
    A$AP Rocky
20. Yours Truly
    Ariana Grande
21. The Night’s Gambit
    Ka
22. Anything In Return
    Toro y Moi
23. Magna Carta... Holy Grail
    JAY-Z
24. The Luca Brasi Story
    Kevin Gates
25. Night Time, My Time
    Sky Ferreira
26. Indicud
    Kid Cudi
27. Stay Trippy
    Juicy J
28. Cut 4 Me
    Kelela
29. B.O.A.T.S. II #METIME
    2 Chainz
30. …Like Clockwork
    Queens of the Stone Age
31. Sunbather
    Deafheaven
32. Matangi
    M.I.A.
33. Overgrown
    James Blake
34. Innanetape
    Vic Mensa
35. Settle
    Disclosure
36. 1017 Thug
    Young Thug
37. Shulamith
    Poliça
38. 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
    King Krule
39. Double Cup
    DJ Rashad
40. I Have Lost All Desire For Feeling
    Perfect Pussy
41. Excuse My French
    French Montana
42. Ketchup
    DJ Mustard
43. Indigoism
    The Underachievers
44. YRN
    Migos
45. Random Access Memories
    Daft Punk
46. The H: The Lost Album, Vol. 1
    Birdman & Rick Ross
47. Modern Vampires of the City
    Vampire Weekend
48. Get Home Safely
    Dom Kennedy
49. True Romance
    Charli XCX
50. Hall of Fame
    Big Sean

Q Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2013

[see also 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012 • 2011]

1. AM
   Arctic Monkeys
2. Modern Vampires of the City
   Vampire Weekend
3. The Next Day
   David Bowie
4. Random Access Memories
   Daft Punk
5. Immunity
   Jon Hopkins
6. Rewind the Film
   Manic Street Preachers
7. Big Wheel and Others
   Cass McCombs
8. A Bad Wind Blows
   Bill Ryder-Jones
9. Pale Green Ghosts
   John Grant
10. Days Are Gone
    Haim
11. Howlin’
    Jagwar Ma
12. mbv
    My Bloody Valentine
13. Monkey Minds in the Devil’s Time
    Steve Mason
14. …Like Clockwork
    Queens of the Stone Age
15. Holy Fire
    Foals
16. Sing to the Moon
    Laura Mvula
17. Big Inner
    Matthew E. White
18. Once I Was an Eagle
    Laura Marling
19. Factory Floor
    Factory Floor
20. Opposites
    Biffy Clyro
21. 180
    Palma Violets
22. Bloodsports
    Suede
23. Settle
    Disclosure
24. Ice on the Dune
    Empire of the Sun
25. Tomorrow’s Harvest
    Boards of Canada
26. Yeezus
    Kanye West
27. Dream River
    Bill Callahan
28. Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action
    Franz Ferdinand
29. Drone Logic
    Daniel Avery
30. Electric
    Pet Shop Boys
31. The Electric Lady
    Janelle Monáe
32. Silence Yourself
    Savages
33. Light Up Gold
    Parquet Courts
34. Crimson/Red
    Prefab Sprout
35. Mala
    Devendra Banhart
36. Wakin on a Pretty Daze
    Kurt Vile
37. Trouble Will Find Me
    The National
38. Tales of Us
    Goldfrapp
39. Body Music
    AlunaGeorge
40. Run the Jewels
    Run the Jewels
41. Praxis Makes Perfect
    Neon Neon
42. Field of Reeds
    These New Puritans
43. Shaking the Habitual
    The Knife
44. Lightning Bolt
    Pearl Jam
45. Kveikur
    Sigur Rós
46. Overgrown
    James Blake
47. Comedown Machine
    The Strokes
48. Mug Museum
    Cate Le Bon
49. More Light
    Primal Scream
50. Seasons of Your Day
    Mazzy Star

Greg Kot: The Best Albums of 2013, as aired on Sound Opinions

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Light Up Gold
   Parquet Courts
2. Acid Rap
   Chance The Rapper
3. Songbook
   Allen Toussaint
4. Psychic
   Darkside
5. Silence Yourself
   Savages
6. Woman
   Rhye
7. Innanetape
   Vic Mensa
8. Event II
   Deltron 3030
9. As Plantas Que Curam
   Boogarins
10. The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
    Neko Case
11. Nobody Knows.
    Willis Earl Beal
12. Inspiration Information / Wings of Love
    Shuggie Otis
13. Electric
    Richard Thompson
14. Nomad
    Bombino
15. Push Any Button
    Sam Phillips
16. I Hate Music
    Superchunk
17. Back to Land
    Wooden Shjips
18. …Like Clockwork
    Queens of the Stone Age
19. Beautiful Africa
    Rokia Traoré
20. The Next Day
    David Bowie

Jim DeRogatis: The Best Albums of 2013, as aired on Sound Opinions

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Silence Yourself
   Savages
2. Light Up Gold
   Parquet Courts
3. Acid Rap
   Chance The Rapper
4. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
   Foxygen
5. Pure Heroine
   Lorde
6. Off the Record
   Karl Bartos
7. Change Becomes Us
   Wire
8. She's Gone
   Upset
9. Back to Land
   Wooden Shjips
10. The Invisible Way
    Low
11. Electric
    Richard Thompson
12. Mosquito
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs
13. Double Exposure
    Kelley Stoltz
14. Sleeper
    Ty Segall
15. True
    Solange
16. Fade
    Yo La Tengo
17. Event II
    Deltron 3030
18. Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action
    Franz Ferdinand
19. MGMT
    MGMT
20. Nobody Knows.
    Willis Earl Beal
21. The Recipe Volume 2
    Probcause
22. 180
    Palma Violets
23. Random Access Memories
    Daft Punk
24. Woman
    Rhye
25. Skull Worship
    The Warlocks
26. Fourth Corner
    Trixie Whitley
27. Amok
    Atoms for Peace
28. Crashes On the Platinum Planet
    Big Dipper
29. PillowTalk
    Pantyraid
30. Under the Covers, Vol. 3
    Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs

American Songwriter: Top 50 Albums Of 2013

[see also 2023 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Southeastern
   Jason Isbell
2. American Kid
   Patty Griffin
3. Muchacho
   Phosphorescent
4. My Favorite Picture of You
   Guy Clark
5. The Graceless Age
   John Murry
6. Trouble Will Find Me
   The National
7. Same Trailer Different Park
   Kacey Musgraves
8. New
   Paul McCartney
9. Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs
   Elvis Costello and The Roots
10. Build Me Up From Bones
    Sarah Jarosz
11. Dream River
    Bill Callahan
12. Modern Vampires of the City
    Vampire Weekend
13. Old Yellow Moon
    Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
14. Like a Rose
    Ashley Monroe
15. Magpie and the Dandelion
    The Avett Brothers
16. Stories Don't End
    Dawes
17. The Ash & Clay
    The Milk Carton Kids
18. Push the Sky Away
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
19. The Civil Wars
    The Civil Wars
20. Once I Was an Eagle
    Laura Marling
21. Pushin’ Against a Stone
    Valerie June
22. Still Fighting the War
    Slaid Cleaves
23. Reflektor
    Arcade Fire
24. Country Mile
    Johnny Flynn
25. Days Are Gone
    Haim
26. Pure Heroine
    Lorde
27. 12 Stories
    Brandy Clark
28. The Beast in Its Tracks
    Josh Ritter
29. Carry On
    Willy Mason
30. Fossils
    Aoife O'Donovan
31. The Low Highway
    Steve Earle & The Dukes (& Duchesses)
32. Honky Tonk
    Son Volt
33. Privateering
    Mark Knopfler
34. The Stand-In
    Caitlin Rose
35. Caves
    Tristen
36. Tape Deck Heart
    Frank Turner
37. Tooth & Nail
    Billy Bragg
38. Country Sleep
    Night Beds
39. The Diving Board
    Elton John
40. Negativity
    Deer Tick
41. Rubberband
    Charlie Worsham
42. Matt Costa
    Matt Costa
43. Feeling Mortal
    Kris Kristofferson
44. Let's Be Still
    The Head and the Heart
45. Not Cool
    Tim Easton
46. Down Fell the Doves
    Amanda Shires
47. Love Has Come for You
    Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
48. Dad Country
    Jonny Fritz
49. Love and Forgiveness
    Courtney Jaye
50. Runaway Freeway Blues
    The Black Lillies

Les Inrockuptibles: Top 50 Albums of 2013

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Reflektor
   Arcade Fire
2. Psycho Tropical Berlin
   La Femme
3. Random Access Memories
   Daft Punk
4. Push the Sky Away
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
5. Howlin’
   Jagwar Ma
6. Parcs
   Bertrand Belin
7. The Electric Lady
   Janelle Monáe
8. Racine carrée
   Stromae
9. Les chansons de l'innocence retrouvée
   Étienne Daho
10. Light Up Gold
    Parquet Courts
11. Settle
    Disclosure
12. If You Wait
    London Grammar
13. Psychic
    Darkside
14. Overgrown
    James Blake
15. Yeezus
    Kanye West
16. 180
    Palma Violets
17. Aventine
    Agnes Obel
18. Images du Futur
    Suuns
19. Body Music
    AlunaGeorge
20. The Golden Age
    Woodkid
21. Bankrupt!
    Phoenix
22. Lanterns
    Son Lux
23. Antiphon
    Midlake
24. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
    Foxygen
25. Drone Logic
    Daniel Avery
26. AM
    Arctic Monkeys
27. Archipel
    Peau
28. Aleph
    Gesaffelstein
29. Modern Vampires of the City
    Vampire Weekend
30. Comedown Machine
    The Strokes
31. Nobody Knows.
    Willis Earl Beal
32. Field of Reeds
    These New Puritans
33. Glow
    Jackson and His Computerband
34. Sing to the Moon
    Laura Mvula
35. Holy Fire
    Foals
36. Doris
    Earl Sweatshirt
37. No Deal
    Mélanie De Biasio
38. More Light
    Primal Scream
39. Drenge
    Drenge
40. Dream River
    Bill Callahan
41. Matangi
    M.I.A.
42. Pushin’ Against a Stone
    Valerie June
43. The Child of Lov
    The Child of Lov
44. Seasons of Your Day
    Mazzy Star
45. Long.Live.A$AP
    A$AP Rocky
46. Silence Yourself
    Savages
47. Super Forma
    Orval Carlos Sibelius
48. No Ceremony
    No Ceremony
49. Kiss Land
    The Weeknd
50. The Next Day
    David Bowie

Pretty Much Amazing: 60 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. The Idler Wheel…
   Fiona Apple
2. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
3. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
4. Lonerism
   Tame Impala
5. Celebration Rock
   Japandroids
6. Shields
   Grizzly Bear
7. Kill for Love
   Chromatics
8. Visions
   Grimes
9. Shrines
   Purity Ring
10. America
    Dan Deacon
11. Heaven
    Walkmen
12. Until the Quiet Comes
    Flying Lotus
13. Blunderbuss
    Jack White
14. Devotion
    Jessie Ware
15. Bloom
    Beach House
16. R.A.P. Music
    Killer Mike
17. Nootropics
    Lower Dens
18. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
    Spiritualized
19. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
20. Cancer 4 Cure
    El-P
21. ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
22. Confess
    Twin Shadow
23. The Money Store
    Death Grips
24. Tramp
    Sharon Van Etten
25. Coexist
    The xx
26. Awe Naturale
    THEESatisfaction
27. Open Your Heart
    The Men
28. Love this Giant
    David Byrne & St. Vincent
29. Fear Fun
    Father John Misty
30. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
31. Kaleidoscope Dream
    Miguel
32. Tempest
    Bob Dylan
33. Attack on Memory
    Cloud Nothings
34. Spooky Action at a Distance
    Lotus Plaza
35. Oshin
    DIIV
36. Boys & Girls
    Alabama Shakes
37. Instinct
    Niki & The Dove
38. A Thing Called Divine Fits
    Divine Fits
39. Centipede Hz
    Animal Collective
40. The Feeling
    Naomi Punk
41. Be the Void
    Dr. Dog
42. Slaughterhouse
    Ty Segall Band
43. Habits & Contradictions
    Schoolboy Q
44. Total Loss
    How to Dress Well
45. Lucifer
    Peaking Lights
46. Port of Morrow
    The Shins
47. An Awesome Wave
    alt-J
48. Something
    Chairlift
49. Wixiw
    Liars
50. fIN
    John Talabot
51. Sun
    Cat Power
52. The Seer
    Swans
53. Give You the Ghost
    Poliça
54. kin
    iamamiwhoami
55. Metz
    Metz
56. Zammuto
    Zammuto
57. In Our Heads
    Hot Chip
58. Control System
    Ab-Soul
59. Strange Weekend
    Porcelain Raft
60. Put Your Back N 2 It
    Perfume Genius