Counting down the year in music.
by Leilani PolkThe 10 best studio LPs of 2013, in no particular order
• Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, We The Common (Ribbon Records)
• Queens of the Stone Age, …Like Clockwork (Matador)
• Jamaican Queens, Wormfood (self-release)
• Big K.R.I.T., King Remembered in Time
• Pillowfight, Pillowfight (Bulk)
• Blitzen Trapper, VII (Vagrant)
• Javelin, Hi Beams (Luaka Bop)
• Willy Mason, Carry On (Communion)
• Pick a Piper, Pick a Piper (Mind)
• Foxygen, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (Jagjaguwar)
9 local releases worthy of some shine and the bands behind them — pay attention!
• Permanent Makeup, The Void… It Creeps (New Granada Records)
• The Hip Abduction, The Hip Abduction
• Jinx, The Gem in I
• Florida Night Heat, Omegas EP
• set and setting, Equanimity
• Fowler’s Bluff, Fowler’s Bluff
• Dynasty, A Star in Life’s Clothing (Jakarta Records)
• Poetry n’ Lotion, Electric Acres
• Sons of Hippies, Griffons at the Gates of Heaven (Cleopatra Records)
8 unforgettable performances
• The Meter Men featuring Page McConnell at Gasparilla Music Festival, Sat., March 9, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa
• Umphrey’s McGee, Sat., April 13, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
• Ghostface Killah featuring Adrian Younge & Venice Dawn, Sun., May 19, Orpheum, Ybor City
• Generationals with Gringo Star, Sun., June 23, New World Brewery, Ybor
• Grizzly Bear, Wed., June 19, The Ritz Ybor
• of Montreal, Sat., July 6, 2013, Czar, Ybor
• Sleepy Vikings at Plan B Festival, Sat., Oct. 5, Crowbar, Ybor
• Kanye West with Kendrick Lamar, Sat., Nov. 30, Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa
7 amazing tracks with funny, outrageous or intriguing videos to match
•“Get Strict,” Yip Deciever
•“Q.U.E.E.N.,” Janelle Monáe featuring Erykah Badu
•“Ingenue,” Atoms for Peace
•“36" Chain,” Run the Jewels
•“Lilies,” Bat For Lashes
•“Diane Young,” Vampire Weekend
•“The Hearse,” Wampire
6 noteworthy occurrences in the local music scene
• 97X became the first station in the country to change to a “You Control the Music” listener voting format.
• LA-based label Cleopatra Records signed Geri X and Sons of Hippies.
• Czar merged with The Ritz Ybor, completely re-vamped the interior (complete with LED-screen ceiling), and re-opened a mere month later.
• Antiwarpt died, and two festivals (Don’t Stop St. Pete and Plan B) sprung up in its place.
• Vintage Ultra Lounge closed, the Detroit re-opened in its place, then closed, and Ringside Café took up residence after losing its longtime home to a forthcoming Trader Joe’s.
• Magadog founder Jim Pedigo died at 50 from lung cancer.
5 stellar singles ruined by mainstream radio oversaturation
•“Royals,” Lorde
•“Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke
•“Get Lucky,” Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams
•“Thrift Shop,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
•“Holy Grail,” Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake
4 deaths that rocked the music world
• Richie Havens, (1/21/41-4//22/13)
• George Jones, (9/12/31-4/26/13)
• JJ Cale (12/5/38-7/26/13)
• Lou Reed, (3/2/42-10/27/13)
3 much-anticipated releases that missed the mark
• MGMT, MGMT
• Local Natives, Hummingbird
• Moby, Innocents
2 successful beer collaborations by Bay area bands and Cigar City Brew Co.
• High Road Ale by Have Gun Will Travel
• Alexander and the Grapes Double IPA
1 rumor we hope comes to fruition in 2014 and a bonus wish
• Outkast reunion at the 2014 edition of Coachella … followed by a national tour that stops in Tampa Bay.