#ArmsagainstApathy

[armsagainstapathy]

My year in lists - 2013.

I know what the question on all of your lips is. Its something along the lines of "What does that bloke from Bradford have to say about his favorite music releases of 2013? I'm sure he has some pretty profound to say" Right? Well, I don't. Or at least I don't think it is my place to. I think it is best for everyone involved that I shelve my ill-informed opinions and ramblings and leave it to the professional enthusiasts of music (rather than us amateur schmucks- wait,what do you mean it is just me who is the amateur?) There is one thing I will say though; this is the first year that I've done an end-of-year list that hasn't been topped by Los Campesinos! and that tremendous feat (considering my devotion to LC! and the fact that this post is named after one of their songs) deserves recognition. So kudos Joanna Gruesome, you've made an absolutely brilliant album. So, without further ado, 2013 everyone!  12 - Mazes - Ores and Minerals. 11 - Laura Marling - Once I was an Eagle 10 - Fidlar - S/T 9 - Mikal Cronin - MCII 8 - Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse 7 - Summer Camp - S/T 6 - James Blake - Overgrown 5 - Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City. 4 - Arctic Monkeys - AM 3 - Foals - Holy Fire 2 - Los Campesinos! - No Blues. 1 - Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister.

[armsagainstapathy]

Menace Beach - Fortune Teller. The fair city of Leeds could be forgiven for taking a break after the recent splurge of talent it has offered us. But now there is a new name to add this impressive roster of talent; and that name is Menace Beach. The more astute among you will probably be thinking "Just hang on a minute there Joseph, Haven't Menace Beach already released a fair amount of material?" and you would be right, the band have two EP's under there names already and they are both chock-a-blocka with endearingly tight, fuzzy, kind of blues-y tracks. But the Leeds five-piece seem to be really hitting there stride and perfecting their style on Fortune Teller, the second sneak peak the band have given us of their upcoming Lowtalker EP. It is no longer the case that the tremendous blend of male and female vocals are present but distant- their fabulous intertwining is now front and center driving the track on to a point where a flourish of guitar and beautifully full keys further enhance the track. All in all, Fortune Teller (true to its mysticism) spells out a fantastically exciting future for Menace Beach.

[armsagainstapathy]

Exclamation Pony - Pseudo Individual. Exclamation Pony sounds like one of those bands names that came about from one of two ways. It either a) began life as two separate band names that were subsequently squashed together (aka Japandroids) or b) it was a name deliberately composed of two distinctly different and non-related things. Regardless of how the name Exclamation Pony about it's abstract nature does have a jarring (get it?) effect that in no way reflects the sheer beauty of Pseudo Individual.Far from being some sort of post-punk ambush on meaning, Pseudo Individual is a heart wrenchingly beautiful piece of intricate piece of pop music that seems to be slightly indebted to 60's pop. Indeed, the reverb laced backing vocals on the track's chorus invoke a certain timeless quality associated with that period in music. However Pseudo-Individual never once feels like it a shameless appropriation of a by-gone era. The self-deprecation that drips from the line "I don't have to love myself because she loves me" ensures that Exclamation Pony have penned a track with a yearning emotional core that demands your attention. I thought I better wait until the end to mention this is the side project of Ryan Jarman- better known for being one-third of The Cribs. Pseud Individual and it's joint a-side Mazes (which is also a stunner of a track) are available here at Cult Records (Casablancas anyone?) as of yesterday!

[armsagainstapathy]

Sundara Karma - Freshbloom. It's not often that you happen across a band whose sound seemingly arrives fully realised. Nor is it very often that this sound is so clean and crisp. Sundara Karma, however, are one of these rare bands. Freshbloom, the taster single the band are offering of its debut album released in September, flirts with the idea of anthemic tendencies, basking in the glitter and sparkle of the track's early bounce. But the band are not content to let the track deteriorate into a lackadaisical repetition of one melodic idea as they embrace with the euphoria previously toyed with through a bombastic raise to the song's conclusion. All in all, Sundara Karma are a band you will be hearing a lot more of in the future.