Today is my wife’s birthday. Only every seven years or so (not sure how Leap Years affect this) will both her birthday and mine fall on a weekend, so this might be my only opportunity to play the ‘Random Weekend (Birthday Edition)’ game for both of us in the same year.
So let’s spin the wheel and see what Alexandra’s 41st year has in store.
Best Songs of 2013 – #1
This is the sixth year-end countdown I’ve done since I started writing Song of the Day posts. The very first was in 2008 and Vampire Weekend reached the #1 spot with the track ‘M79’ off of their debut album.
Five years and two albums later, they’re back on top.
Best Songs of 2013 – #2
New Zealand teen Lorde came out of nowhere to dominate the pop conversation in the latter third of 2013. Her debut album, Pure Heroine, was an unlikely smash, driven by minimalist beats, secret journal lyrics and smoky vocals.
First single ‘Royals’ was a deserving mega-hit — it’s perfectly crafted and executed — but it isn’t the best song on the album.
Best Songs of 2013 – #3
I apologize for the scheduling quirk that landed Eminem on Christmas Day. Not exactly the most festive choice, I know. Merry Christmas, everyone!
I had high hopes but medium expectations for The Marshall Mathers LP 2 after hearing the first few singles. But Eminem erased all doubts seven minutes into the record with this extraordinary opening track.
Best Songs of 2013 – #4
The final female country singer on my countdown, Brandy Clark, put out one of the best albums of the year in any genre.
Her 12 Stories is an elegant, focused and resonant work that calls to mind Bonnie Raitt and Mary Chapin Carpenter but still feels wholly original.
Meet Me In Montauk 