Year In Review 2013

     These past 12 months of music have been much better than in years past.  Some of the best albums I have heard from some artists - Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire - came out this year. So, compiling a list and narrowing it to just 20 albums was a difficult task this year.  I think my honorable mentions list will be a little more extensive.  This "Year In Review" list used to be titled the "Year In Rock" because most of what I used to listen to was categorized in that genre.  But as you can tell from this year list, you can probably see why I elected to change it from "rock" to "review".  There is just to much good music out there in a variety of different genres.  
     If you are new to this way of how I compile this list, I rank my top 20 albums of the past year and then create an iTunes playlist of what I consider the signature song from that album.  Or rather, the song that I related and loved the most.  In some cases - Kanye West for example - I've had to find a clean version of the song so that if you are interested in listening to the mix, you'll have a clean version of the song.  Although I'm not in favor of censorship in music, movies and art, I know others don't share that same sentiment, so I do my best to make sure I'm giving you a clean playlist.
     There was a lot that happened to me and my family this year, with the biggest thing being the birth of my daughter Jane.  If you've had children you know each one is life changing, and she was no different.  I find that when you have life changing events, regardless of what it is, the music you listen to during that time becomes part of the soundtrack to your life, and has a much bigger impact on your life than it would if you weren't going through a large event in your life.  I've found over the years, that even if those life changing events are good or bad, you'll never forget the time in your life when you first heard that song or album.  And even if you don't listen to again for many years, it can instantly take you back.  With that said, this is the music that defined the year 2013 for me, with all of it's ups and downs.  This was the best year of my life, just as I'm sure next year will be the best year of my life.
     Here are my picks for the top 20 albums of 2013:

1. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of The City
2. Arcade Fire - Reflektor 
3. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
4. Arctic Monkeys - AM
5. Grouplove -Spreading Rumours
6. Disclosure -  Settle
7. Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
8. *Kodaline - In A Perfect World
9. Kanye West - Yeezus
10. Volcano Choir - Repave
11. Phoenix - Bankrupt!
12. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
13. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito
14. Lorde - Pure Heroine
15. The Neighbourhood - I Love You
16. Atoms for Peace - AMOK
17. The Strokes - Comedown Machine
18. The Head And The Heart - Let's Be Still
19. Biffy Clyro - Opposites
20. Local Natives - Hummingbird

* - Best New Artist

Honorable Mentions

Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt

!!! - Thriller

MGMT - MGMT

Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

Atlas Genius - When It Was Now

Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (1&2)