Top 50 Albums Of 2013: 1- 25

25. Julia Holter - Loud City Song



What distinguishes you as an artist?

I'm not sure-- I'm probably the worst person to ask haha. Every project I do I see as a new creature, so I don't think I have a particular "sound", although I think it's likely that listeners
besides myself can hear some similarities in the sound from album to album.

In each song, I'm a different character, and most of my songs tend to have some kind of simple poetic concept or situation--like two people meeting in a room who can't remember where they met, something like that.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

A cinematic love story.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

There were two really. Hearing the players play all these things I had had in my head for so long was so exhilarating. Also, mixing with Cole was so much fun, pulling all the pieces together and hearing it fully-realized.

What is your favourite song on the album?

I don't know!

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

Working with talented people is so much fun.

24. Jesca Hoop - The Complete Kismet Acoustic



23. Charli XCX - True Romance



22. YAST - YAST



21. Capital Cities - In A Tidal Wave of Mystery



What distinguishes you as an artist?

Sebu: Dual unison vocals.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

Sebu: Capital Cities' "In A Tidal Wave of Mystery" is a thought-provoking musical joyride.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Sebu: Sending the tracks to mastering.

What is your favourite song on the album?

Sebu: Tell Me How To Live

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

Sebu: Follow your heart. Trust your gut. Take care of your lungs and liver.

20. Deptford Goth - Life After Defo



What distinguishes you as an artist?

The songs I suppose, they're unique to me.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

Reflective, hopeful, electronic pop songs.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

I think the moments when things clicked and I felt a bit of clarity. That's a nice reward for banging your head against a wall for a while.

What is your favourite song on the album?

Bloody Lip

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

Be honest.

19. CocoRosie - Tales of a Grass Widow



18. Pink Martini - Get Happy



What distinguishes you as an artist?

We put romance back into music

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

Each song has its own personality and own special meaning. I mean can you imagine that I now have the privilege of working with the Von Trapps!

What was the highlight of the recording process?

I really enjoyed recording with Phyllis Dillis, but unfortunately she passed away recently.

What is your favourite song on the album?

I have no favourite songs it depends on the mood I am in.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

I am always learning musically and working with such inspirational people such as Rufus Wainwright just keeps my creative juices working.

17. San Cisco - San Cisco



16. Hanson - Anthem



15. The Gentlemen - Departures



What distinguishes you as an artist?

Our stage show has always been our greatest asset and people come to our gigs to dance as well as see and hear the music, which is what we've always encouraged.

We also dress as true English gentlemen and tour our fans' homes.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

It's a Sheffield inspired disco-pop danceathon.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

It was really nice to record locally on this album. We recorded our last album in North Wales over two weeks, which was lovely but very intense. This time we recorded in The Foundry and Steelworks, two great Sheffield studios, over six months. It was much more relaxed and fun.

What is your favourite song on the album?

One favourite at the moment is Under these Skies. It fell out of favour for a while, as songs often do. We took a break from it, re-recorded the synth-bass and when we heard the final mix it became a firm favourite. It's basically a song for our friends who are working abroad; saying we miss you, but we're proud of what you're doing. The other would be New York Girl as it's been getting a lot of love from Janice Long recently.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

That the environment in the recording studio is key to getting a good result. We had lots of fun with our producer James Campbell when we were recording, which honestly brought the best out in all of us. We also knew all our songs really well which freed us up to be more imaginative and play around with our parts in the studio.

14. Polly Scattergood - ARROWS



What distinguishes you as an artist?

I started off as a songwriter before I started singing, so I take a lot of time sculpting and shaping every song. Everything on my album Arrows is written by me, and my co-writing partner Glenn Kerrigan.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

It's a transient album full of very big highs and very big lows, I think it's quite adventurous and bold at times, fragile and gentle in other times, it's an album of two halves.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Working with the Legendary Ken Thomas and his son Jolyon Thomas was a incredible experience, Ken has worked with lots of bands I really admire like Sigur Ros & M83, so it was a real honour to have worked with him on this record.

What is your favourite song on the album?

That's a really difficult question as they're all so personal to me.

At the moment I'm loving Falling.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

I think I have learned to always go with my gut instinct and to not always think things through too much. For me the best moments on this album is when everything soars off into the unknown. My heart at the moment is really into the soundscapey experimental stuff, like the end of silver lining, and the instrumental of I've Got A Heart... I have always loved soundtracks and I think for my next album I would maybe like to explore that experimental side a little more.

13.Olof Arnalds - Sudden Elevation



What distinguishes you as an artist?

Nothing really. We are all dismissible. If not, it is not ours to say why.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

Ólöf Arnalds´s strongest work up to date. The best is hopefully yet to come.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

After months of preparation, actually arriving in the house where I was going to have the time and the peace to only work on music for two weeks, knowing that the equipment would be there the next day.

What is your favourite song on the album?

A Little Grim

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

Keeping the environment where you record free from distractions, honouring the process and not looking back once you´re done.

12. Laura Mvula - Sing To The Moon



11. Lorde



10. Philippa Hanna - Through The Woods



What distinguishes you as an artist?

I guess, my honesty! I'm totally transparent and live life very openly through my songs. I talk a lot about my past, my current journey and the things I believe.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

A folky fairytale adventure!

What was the highlight of the recording process?

I did a fan funding campaign through Kickstarter UK to help finance the project. One of the rewards people could pledge for was to sing on the album. We had a whole choir of 'pledgers' of all ages come into the studio to record The Daffodil Song! It was a really uplifting and special day.

What is your favourite song on the album?

I think Cherry Coloured Coat is my favourite. It's a Red Riding Hood inspired song about going through dark places. We all have our dark times along life's journey. This song is about how I made my way through my own darkness and into a new life.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

It's so important to go with your instincts. Everyone has an opinion about what you should do, and which direction you should go with your career. But the process of making Through the Woods has taught me that my heart is the best compass.

9 Perfume - Level3



What distinguishes you as an artist?

Our pop sensibility and choreography. Our music is very catchy and our audience bond with the music straight away. The overall sound is quite robotic with obviously a human element.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

It's a feel good album that makes you want to dance the night away

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Its great working with each other and letting our creativity run wild.

What is your favourite song on the album?

OneMM

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

Our fans love what we do and this encourages us for our next album.

8. LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire



7. Lissie - Back To Forever



What distinguishes you as an artist?

Well I'd like to think I have a unique & strong voice as well as an authentic writing style, sound and image.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

It was a real reflective and opinionated album for me to write and make & it felt like I was slicing my past from my future.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Getting to have my band play on this album was a step in the right direction for the music we hope to make together moving forward.

What is your favourite song on the album?

I don't pick favorites but "They All Want You" I love for the storytelling and sparse production.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

That talking too much about what you're going to do before you do it can hurt the creativity & magic of just going for it!

6 Scott McCreery - See You Tonight



What distinguishes you as an artist?

I am very young but love the country music scene and feel that I fit perfectly with this genre

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

It is lightweight pop-country album. I have got more into the nitty gritty side of my relationships unlike the previous album .. as we all know there are thorns as well as roses! It's an honest message.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Working with Frank Rogers - who produced the album - and writing some
of the songs with him. A great experience.

What is your favourite song on the album?

Caroline moon. It hits home with me, growing up in North Carolina. The
song talks about being on the road touring and missing home.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

How lucky I am.

5 Ane Brun - Rarities



4 Blue Angel - Departures



What distinguishes you as an artist?

Each album I've made has had a different style. 'Blue Angel' is my third album under a different name and was essentially electro-pop.

Previous albums have been as bands - Blame Jack and Calmer - both with a more acoustic singer-songwriter feel.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

The sound of Portishead and Cinematic Orchestra chilling out at a bar in Ibiza at sunset with pop Kylie.

Alternatively, my 10-year old niece recently said 'It's even better than One Direction!'

What was the highlight of the recording process?

The first day and the final day. The sense of exhilaration in both starting and finishing the album was immense. The challenges on the way. Discovering new sounds. Losing old ones. Making new ones.

Rewriting lyrics/music in certain places to fit in with the mood of the new album. I loved the whole process from beginning to end and can't wait til the next one...

What is your favourite song on the album?

'Break Your Eyes Open' and 'La Conexion' are favourites but I keep coming back to 'Hopeful' as it was exactly how I wanted to end the album. A lot of the other songs had been around before I started recording. 'Hopeful' was done for this album. It's in a different mood to the rest of the album but a perfect closing song. And I love the
brevity of it. Say what you need to say and stop.

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

Try every idea you have but have someone with you who can objectively keep you in check and get you to stop when necessary. Gary Brady, our co-producer, is quietly gifted in this skill...

3 Juliette Greco - Gréco chante Brel



What distinguishes you as an artist?

I am a chanson singer.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

Bohemian French with a twist.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

Jacques Brel was my icon and what a privilege to sing his songs and to put my own stamp on them.

What is your favourite song on the album?

I guess it is Je suis un soir d'été" it brings tears to my eyes when I hear it

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

... this is a homage to Jacques Brel - at 86 who knows what I will do next

2 Olafur Arnalds - For Now I Am Winter



If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

It is a crafted piece of electronic and classical music.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

I think mastering with Mandy Parnell in London was the highlight for me, as only at that point i finally got a full overview of what the album actually was and sounded like as a whole. Its the point where you stop inspecting single elements and instead look at the bigger picture.

What is your favourite song on the album?

That changes every week but these days it has been "A Stutter"

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

That spending more time on something doesn't necessarily make it better.

1 Idan Raichel - Quarter To Six



What distinguishes you as an artist?

I think that this is a question that the listener will answer the best, every one of them maybe will answer different :)

I wish my music to be remembered as the sound track of Israel, that people will imagine our beloved country when they listen to this music.

If you had to describe your album in a sentence, what would you say?

A score for crossroads in life.

What was the highlight of the recording process?

So many of them... recording the first German language single in Israel, in a country that Wagner is still not being played at the philharmonic orchestra.

Recording with Ana Moura in her city, Lisbon.

Recording the song with my good friend, Vieux Farka Toure, in an hotel room in Greece in one night.

And many more beautiful moments in the studio with amazing 16 singers of the album.

What is your favourite song on the album?

Can't pick one, only now while writing the answers - I can think about the opening song. which is the "DNA" of the album :)

What have you learnt from this album that you can apply to your next?

That we are so lucky, to have so many fans and Facebook followers, that without them - we could not have done ONLY what we love to do so much for them.