The 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.
This article appears in Dec 26, 2013 – Jan 1, 2014.