39. M.I.A. - Matangi

As much as we hoped she would, the eventual savior of world music may be someone other than MIA.  Here sophomore album Kala is revered to this day.  Yet the charismatic girl from Sri Lanka could never shake some questionable contradictions between her revolution-inducing music and her 1% lifestyle.  Matangi gives us more than most people are willing to admit.  The truth is that no one can escape tracks like "Bad Girls" and "Y.A.L.A." because they beg to be listened to.  She's still one of a kind and she still knows how to write great songs.

You Like This If You Like: Other MIA albums

  

40. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

For such a young kid, Earl Sweatshirt has obtained a pretty mythical status.  After his return from Samoa last year, the internet practically broke itself as news of Earl's new music recordings surfaced.  Doris delivered on the long awaited promise of his 2010 debut by highlighting Sweatshirt as the most accomplished lyricist of the Odd Future crew.  Nasty, real, demented at times but never without some humor, Doris is easily one of the more memorable collections of 2013.

You'll Like This If You Like: Tyler, the Creator, Ol' Dirty Bastard, the Beastie Boys instrumentals

41. Beaches - She Beats

All girl groups were kind of a thing this year.  One of the less appreciated was Beaches.  Their sophomore album She Beats opens like a stadium explosion.  Think hazy beach rock meets Dinosaur Jr.  Heady stuff indeed.  Their sound pays homage to a multitude of rock staples.  Definitely something for everyone here.

You'll Like This If You Like: Pink Floyd, The Smiths, Best Coast, Diiv

42. Jamie Lidell - Jamie Lidell

Jamie Lidell is an English born producer and  soul singer who lives in Nashville of all places.  As a former resident, I can tell you there is little to hear in the way of good non-country acts.  Lidell has found success internationally yet still lives in a country where he's never even cracked the top 150 chart spaces.  Strange.  His self-titled album fits extremely well into a year that saw acts like Disclosure and Daft Punk do amazing things with 90's, 80's and late 70's dance music.

You'll Like This If You Like: Daft Punk, INXS, Jamie Woon, James Blake

43. Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time

Part of the problem with everything being discovered on the internet is that it's tough to differentiate between the substantial and the bullshit.  Sky Ferreira first entered people's thoughts as a YSL model, putting her behind the 8 ball in terms of earned respect.  Her debut, however, is far from manufactured and close to perfect.  Though she can be a little too-like-Blondie sometimes, she manages to dart from lonely recluse to powerful sex kitten as adeptly as anyone to come before her.  This is one artist that is more than what she seemed and one worth a second glance.

You'll Like This If You Like: Jessie Ware, Katy B, Hole, Blondie

44. Deerhunter - Monomania

Deerhunter is one of those mainstays for my blog.  Frontman Bradford Cox will never be a Jack White to the public, but he essentially plays the same role.  He jumps around from project to project, maintaining a loyal collection of fans while charting subtly different waters at each turn.  Monomania is probably his most accessible record to date (which seems to be the case for every new Deerhunter record).  Cox is slowly lifting his too-weird-to-live persona and showing us that he can communicate with the average person.  This collection of swaggering rock songs is nearly crossover worthy.  But who am I kidding.  He's still Bradford Cox.

You'll Like This If You Like: Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies, Atlas Sound and Other Deerhunter Albums

45. Peace - In Love

Though officially this album was out in 2012, it didn't get a stateside release until May of 2013.  That's because the trend of shoegaze-happy indie bands just isn't that big here right now (sans Vampire Weekend).  Peace also doesn't do themselves any favors by having a band name that is virtually impossible to Google.  In Love is as infectious as an album can be nowadays.  The hooks are familiar yet new sounding.  The range of the band is pretty uncanny and they make a good case for keeping rock n' roll on life support in these dynamic sonic times.

You'll Like It If You Like: Vampire Weekend, Wu Lyf, Foals, Ty Segall

 

46. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels

"Free" music has a bit of a convoluted meaning nowadays.  All music is technically free because of things like The Pirate Bay and torrents, but an album that is genuinely meant to be given away for no monetary return is rare.  A 'good' album of this type is like a unicorn.  Thankfully, there are still artists like El-P and Killer Mike.   Their duo Run the Jewels may not be a permanent home for the two, but at least we'll always have this album.  WARNING: The video above contains an extreme level of violence.

You'll Like It If You Like: Outkast, Danny Brown, Early 90's Gantsa Rap

Download the album for Free HERE

 

47. DJ Rashad - Double Cup

What is happening on the radio today makes some jump to the conclusion that hip hop has melded with electronic music.  Though this is true to some degree, there are only a few artists who are pushing this boundary.  It really isn't enough to put an Avicii beat behind your verse and call it a day.  DJ Rashad's Double Cup puts this realization front and center.  This record oozes originality and challenges other DJ's out there to get with the times.

You'll Like This If You Like: Araab Muzik, DJ Shadow

48. Pusha T - My Name is My Name

Normally artists who are backed by Kanye West end up in the "Where Are They Now" file (Kid Cudi anyone?).  If a guy like Pusha T can stand up next to West's overpowering me-me-me game, then credit must be given for intestinal fortitude if nothing else.  Regardless, My Name is My Name is a blistering rap record.  One that pulls no punches and sees an up and coming artist truly honing his craft.

You'll Like This If You Like: Ghostface Killah, Kendrick Lamar

49. The Blank Tapes - Vacation

Just because a record sounds like it doesn't belong in this era doesn't mean it doesn't belong on this list.  Vacation is a carefully crafted rock record that owes it's sound to those that came before.  Yet somehow there is something reassuringly original here.

You'll Like This If You Like: Wilco, The Byrds, Elvis Costello

50. Jagwar Ma - Howlin'

Jagwar Ma slipped under the radar this year for most people out there, but their debut is nothing short of fantastic.  A psychedelic dance record that touches on everything from dubstep to 80's britpop.

You'll Like This if You Like: Primal Scream, The Stone Roses

Food 4 Ears 2013

Back by popular demand.  I admit, real life takes time away from your hobbies.  But music is too important to forget.  You all will have to find this music yourselves this year (HINT: Just Google the Artist and Album followed by the words 'zip' 'download' or 'stream'.  Not hard.).  Here are the 50 albums that wowed, surprised and burned their way into my synapses.  Hopefully you find something new here.  Instead of a long description, this year I'm including a video and a "You'll Like This if You Like" section.  Let's get to it starting with #50...