Getintothis writers and contributors offer their thoughts on music in 2013 reflecting on the best sounds from Liverpool, their top albums and tips for 2014.
Joseph Viney: Getintothis Assistant Editor
Albums Of The Year
1. Queens Of The Stone Age: …Like Clockwork
2. Eels: Wonderful, Glorious
3. Ducktails: The Flower Lane
4. The Strokes: Comedown Machine
5. Future Of The Left: How To Stop Your Brain In An Accident
Tracks Of 2013
1. Death Grips: You Might Think He Loves You For Your Money But I Know What He Really Loves You For It’s Your Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat
2. Buckethead: Halls Of Dimension Part One – Hall 1
3. Polyphonic Spree: Popular By Design
4. Pissed Jeans: Bathroom Laughter
5. Pixies: Indie Cindy
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Queens Of The Stone Age at Phones 4U Arena, Manchester (Getintothis review)
2. Eels at Liverpool O2 Academy (Getintothis review)
3. The Fall at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
4. Future Of The Left at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
5. Giant Drag at The Kazimier (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Joseph said: “I’ve seen some fantastic shows this year, I’d go as far to say it’s been my best year in terms of great gigs witnessed, but I think for the scope, context and atmosphere it’s a toss-up between Sound City and FestEVOL. I had something of a whale of a time at both.
“I also finally put on my first show from start to finish at Maguire’s Pizza Bar with Alpha Male Tea Party, so from a personal achievement point I’m really happy with that. However, I don’t think Liverpool’s promoters need worry themselves about me just yet!”
Tip for 2014
Joseph said: “Whatever the BBC tells me to like.”
Alan O’Hare: Getintothis contributor and musician with Only Child.
Albums Of The Year
1. Villagers: [Awayland]
2. Eoin Glackin: Rain Finally Came
3. KT Tunstall: Invisible Empire / Crescent Moon
4. Manic Street Preachers: Rewind The Film
5. Laura Marling: Once I Was An Eagle
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Eoin Glackin: The Hour’s Gone Too Late (For Holding Hands)
2. Manic Street Preachers: Show Me The Wonder
3. Villagers: Nothing Arrived
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at Kilkenny Weekender, Ireland
2. Villagers at East Village Arts Club
3. I Am Kloot at O2 Academy
Event of 2013
Alan said: ‘Dexys at the Anglican was pretty special. The sound was great and the setting suited the theatrical colours of Kevin Rowland’s latest work of genius.
That’s right: this reformed group played their brand new record in full and didn’t apologise for a note. Fiddles, horns and those bruised vocals all reverberated ’round the old building to deliver the best mass I’ve ever witnessed.’
Tip for 2014
Alan said: ‘If we’re talking an assault on the masses, then it’s all set up for Dan Croll to swim the mainstream..’
Chris Burgess: Getintothis contributor
Albums Of The Year
1. Mavis Staples: One True Vine
2. Earl Sweatshirt: Doris
3. Phoenix: Bankrupt!
4. Disclosure: Settle
5. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Jagwar Ma: Man I Need
2. Vampire Weekend: Diane Young
3. Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell: Blurred Lines
Chris said: “Controversial choice but has any other recent song garnered as many press column inches as this one? Plus it’s catchy as hell from the very first bar, despite the dubious subject matter.”
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Rolling Stones at Glastonbury (Getintothis review)
2. Thee Oh Sees at Liverpool Sound City (Getintothis review)
3. Shangaan Electro at Kazimier Gardens (Getintothis review)
4. Voodoo Ball at Kazimier (Getintothis review)
5. Phoenix: Glastonbury
Tip for 2014
Chris said: “I predict a big year for Thumpers and expect Lorde to do well if she can follow up the enormity of Royals. Personally, I’d love Jungle to get more recognition and think they could have a great 2014.”
Laurie Cheeseman: Getintothis contributor
Albums Of The Year
1. These New Puritans: Field Of Reeds
2. Mount Kimbie: Cold Spring Faultless Youth
3. Various Artists: Livity Sound
4. Run The Jewels: Run The Jewels
5. A$AP Rocky: Long.Live.A$AP
Top Tracks of 2013
1. FKA twigs: Water Me
2. Flatbush Zombies: Palm Trees
3. SZA: Ice Moon
Top Gigs of 2013
1. My Bloody Valentine at Manchester O2 Apollo
2. Trash Talk at Blade Factory (Getintothis review)
3. The Pharcyde at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
4. Joy Orbison @ Abandon Silence at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ Liverpool Sound City at Duke Street Garage (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Laurie said: “Klangkarussel, Dusky, T.Williams & Ben Pearce @ Chibuku.”
Tip for 2014
FKA twigs
Emma Walsh: Getintothis contributor
Albums Of The Year
1. Foy Vance: Joy of Nothing
2. Haim: Days Are Gone
3. Villagers: {Awayland}
4. And So I Watch You From Afar: All Hail Bright Futures
5. Arctic Monkeys: AM
Top Tracks Of 2013
1. Hozier: Take Me To Church
2. Drake: Hold On, We’re Going Home
3. Eliza and the Bear: Friends
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Bruce Springsteen at King’s Hall, Belfast (“My 14 year old sister’s first ever gig. Short of Freddie Mercury’s resurrection and reunion with the original Queen, I doubt it will ever be topped!“)
2. Ten Bands Ten Minutes: Fleetwood Mac at Kazimier (Getintothis review)
3. Foy Vance & Rams Pocket Radio at Epstein Theatre
4. Bear’s Den at Shipping Forecast
5. Editors at O2 Academy, Liverpool (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Emma said: “Of course it’s Sound City. Despite not quite living up to the dizzy heights of 2012, Sound City is still the highlight of my Liverpool calendar. In particular the Korea Rocks Garden Party at the Kaz Gardens was fantastic, any excuse to have beer and BBQ for breakfast is a winner in my books.”
Tip for 2014
Emma said: “The 3 Bears: Eliza and the Bear, Bear’s Den & Little Bear (I wish I could have found a Goldilocks to complete the metaphor, but so far, unsuccessful).”
Tom Dani: Getintothis contributor
1. Albums Of The Year
2. The National: Trouble Will Find Me
3. Kanye West: Yeezus
4. Local Natives: Hummingbird
5. Drake: Nothing Was The Same
1. Top Tracks Of 2013
2. Mount Kimbie: You Took Your Time (ft King Krule)
3. Pusha T: Numbers On The Boards
4. Sky Ferreira: Everything Is Embarrassing
5. Daughter: Smother
Top Gigs Of 2013
1. Local Natives at the Kazimier (Getintothis review)
2. The National at Alexandra Palace, London
3. Purity Ring at the Kazimier (this was 2012, Tom!).
4. Thee Oh Sees at the Kazimier
5. Daughter at Anglican Cathedral (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Tom said: “FestEVOL at the Kazimier. Two weekends of amazing performances, showing that Liverpool’s music scene is one of the most unique and inspiring in the country.”
Tip for 2014
FKA Twigs
Gaz Jones: Getintothis photographer
Albums Of The Year
1. MONEY: Shadow of Heaven
2. Savages: Silence Yourself
3. Foals: Holy Fire
4. Swim Deep: Where The Heaven Are We?
5. Outfit: Performance
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Daughter at Anglican Cathedral (Getintothis review)
2. Deap Vally at Shipping Forecast (Getintothis review)
3. Mixhell (CSS support) at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
4. Radkey (Drenge support) at East Village Arts Club (Getintothis review)
5. Public Enemy at Kendal Calling
Tip for 2014
Gaz said: “I’m sticking my neck on the line here – Cliff Richard to awake from hibernation in time for Xmas & Pete Doherty to get arrested. Or more seriously Crystal Castles to come back in a BIG way.”
Liam Fay: Getintothis contributor
Albums Of The Year
1. Outfit: Performance (Getintothis review)
2. John Grant: Pale Green Ghosts
3. The Besnard Lakes: Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
4. London Grammar: If You Wait
5. Bill Ryder-Jones: A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Petula Clark: Cut Copy Me
2. Big Deal: Dream Machines
3. John Grant: Glacier
Top Gigs of 2013
1. John Grant at The Ritz, Manchester (Getintothis review)
2. Bruce Springsteen at he Ricoh Arena, Coventry and at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff
3. Loved Ones at the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool Sound City (Getintothis review)
4. Melody’s Echo Chamber at the Kazimier, Liverpool Sound City (Getintothis review)
5. Two Door Cinema Club supported by Bastille at Manchester Apollo
Event of 2013
Liam said: “Musically speaking my event of the year was the Friday of Sound City. I’ve never experienced such an amazing day of music in my life with the likes of Melody’s Echo Chamber, Dan Croll and Silent Sleep starring.
However, in real world terms, my event of 2013 was Wigan Warriors’ come back from 16-2 down to win triumph 30-16 over Warrington Wolves in the Super League Grand Final. The second half was a truly magical, hair raising, exhilirating, joyous experience.”
Tip for 2014
Liam said: “Patterns – Manchester based band who are set to release their debut album Walking Lines in the new year. Dreamy, shoegaze-esque pop that makes you feel all light and floaty.”
Mike Townsend: Getintothis contributor
Albums Of The Year
1. Majical Cloudz: The Impersonator
2. Julianna Barwick: Nepenthe
3. The National: Trouble Will Find Me
4. Oneohtrix Point Never: R Plus Seven
5. Jon Hopkins: Immunity
Top Tracks of 2013
1. Majical Cloudz: Bugs Don’t Buzz
2. San Fermin: Sonsick
3. Sophie: Bipp
4. Lindsay Lowend: GT40
5. Mapei: Don’t Wait
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Arcade Fire at Empress Ballroom, Blackpool (Getintothis review)
2. The National at Alexandra Palace, London
3. Four Tet at The Shipping Forecast (Getintothis review)
4. Gold Panda at East Village Arts Club
5. Matthew E. White at Leaf Tea Shop (Getintothis review)
Event of 2013
Waxxx Neighbourhood at HAUS.
Tip for 2014
Mapei.
Sean Bradbury: Getintothis contributor
Albums Of The Year
1. The National: Trouble Will Find Me
2. Parquet Courts: Light Up Gold
3. Peace: In Love
4. Kurt Vile: Wakin On A Pretty Daze
5. Outfit: Performance
Top Tracks of 2013
1. James Blake: Retrograde
2. Parquet Courts: Stoned and Starving
3. Loved Ones: Paper Crown
4. Grumbling Fur: Dancing Light
5. Teeth of the Sea: Responder
Top Gigs of 2013
1. Peace at O2 Academy (Getintothis review)
2. John Grant at O2 Academy
3. Goat at ATP
4. The National at Manchester Apollo (Getintothis review)
5. Katona Twins at Bluecoat (Getintothis review)
