Top 10 Albums of 2013

10. The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1-Five Finger Death Punch
The metal titan's fourth album is their best by far. With guest appearances by Maria Brink of In This Moment, Rob Halford from Judas Priest, Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed, Max Cavalera from Soulfly and Tech N9ne, the band experimented and released some of their most aggressive music to date. The album's sequel which came out later in the year is also phenomenal. The album's best song is "Anywhere but Here" the duet version with Maria Brink.
Key Tracks: "Lift Me Up" freaturing Rob Halford, "Watch You Bleed," "You," "Wrong Side of Heaven," Burn MF," I.M. Sin," "Anywhere but Here," duet with Maria Brink, "Dot Your Eyes," and "Mama Said Knock You Out" featuring Tech N9ne.
9. The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2- Justin Timberlake
The pop star shocked us with his come back this year with not one, but two amazing albums. The second part of his opus was better though, however check out part 1 as well. This album had a more urban sound than part 1's neo soul vibes. The songs dealt with breakups or love and sex. Timberlake showed us that he can still be a viable musical force after all these years. The best song is the opening track "Gimmie What I Don't Know (I Want)."
Key Tracks: "Gimmie What I Don't Know (I Want)," "TKO," "Murder" featuring Jay-Z, "Drink You Away," "Amnesia," "Only When I Walk Away," "Not a Bad Thing" the bonus track "Pair of Wings.
8. Side Effects of You-Fantasia
Fantasia really outdid herself on her fourth record. The soul singer incorporated rock elements into her music and discovered explicit language. The singer also wrote a lot of the songs where she didn't do that so much in the past. The album's best songs are "Without Me" featuring Missy Elliott and Kelly Rowland and the title track.
Key Tracks: "Supernatural Love" featuring Big K.R.I.T., "Without Me" featuring Missy Elliott and Kelly Rowland, "Side Effects of You," Get it Right," "So Much to Prove," "Change Your Mind," "Lighthouse," "Lose to Win," "End of Me," "In Deep" and the bonus track "To the Heavens."
7. Gravel & Wine-Gin Wigmore
Gin Wigmore's sophomore album was released in 2011 but it was only released in the United States in 2013. Wigmore's music mixes pop, rock, blues and folk to make a soulful, sassy blend of music. The best song is the second American single "Black Sheep."
Key Tracks: "Black Sheep," "Man Like That," "Poison," "Kill of the Night," " Devil in Me," "If Only," "Dirty Love," "Happy Ever After," "Saturday Smile," "Sweet Hell" featuring Butch Walker and the bonus tracks "Don't Stop" and "Kick This Love."
6. Save Rock and Roll-Fall Out Boy
Pop punk kings Fall Out Boy returned this year with an album that is more pop than rock. The album was a loud return for the band who hadn't released an album since 2008. The album mixes elements of dance, hip hop and punk into the tunes. The best songs are "The Phoenix" and "Just One Yesterday" featuring Foxes.
Key Tracks: "The Phoenix," My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)," "Alone Together," "Where Did the Party Go," "Just One Yesterday" featuring Foxes, "Miss Missing You," "Death Valley," "Rat a Tat" featuring Courtney Love, and "Save Rock and Roll" featuring Elton John.
5. True Romance-Charli XCX
The singer behind Icona Pop's epic single "I Love It" released her own debut album this year and it's very unique. The album mixes in synthpop with indie, new wave, R&B and house music. The lyrics are all about different sides of love. The best songs are "You (Ha Ha Ha)," "Stay Away" and "Black Roses."
Key Tracks: All of them.
4. Mosquito-Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The art rock band went indie rock on their fourth album which isn't as phenomenal as their debut but is better than their third album and that improvement is aplenty on this record. The album's best songs are "Sacrilege," "Mosquito" and 'Under the Earth," "Despair" and Wedding Song."
Key Tracks: "Sacrilege," Mosquito," "Under the Earth," "These Paths," Area 52," "Buried Alive" featuring Dr. Octagon, "Despair" and "Wedding Song."
3. Trouble-Natalia Kills
Pop singer Natalia Kills doesn't get the credit she's due. The singer who's sophomore album is like Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey somehow had a baby who made pop music with guitars, it'd be Natalia Kills. On this album, Kills tackles personal issues like her family life, childhood and relationships gone wrong. The album's best tracks are "Television," "Devils Don't Fly" and "Marlboro Lights."
Key Tracks: "Television," "Problem," "Boys Don't Cry," "Daddy's Girl," "Saturday Night," "Devils Don't Fly," "Controversy," "Rabbit Hole," and "Marlboro Lights."
2. Artpop-Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga needs no introduction. While this album isn't her best, it also isn't her worst either. It shows a lot of experimentation. The album mixes in EDM, rock, R&B and hip hop elements into her music. The album's best song is "Dope."
Key Tracks: "Aura," Venus," "Jewels n Drugs" featuring T.I., Too Short and Twista, "MANiCURE," "Do What You Want" featuring R. Kelly, "Swine" "Mary Jane Holland," "Dope," Gypsy," "Applause."
1. Paramore-Paramore
The band prove on this album that they can do fine without what's their names? The lyrics talk about looking forward and just wanting to have fun and dealing with inner demons, as well as usual love songs. The album's best songs are "Fast in My Car," "Grow Up," "Part II," "Ain't It Fun," and "Still Into You."
Key Tracks: "Fast in My Car, "Now," "Grow Up," "Interlude: Moving On," "Ain't it Fun," "Part II," "Still Into You," "Anklebiters," "Interlude: Holiday," "Proof," "Hate to See Your Heart Break," "Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore," and "Be Alone."

Krewella Release Exquisite Debut Album

Dance trio Krewella released their debut album Get Wet last month and it is a fun ride from beginning to end. Their music combines house, drum and bass and dubstep to make a perfect union of dance music perfection. From the opening track "Live for the Night" to the ending song "This is Not the End" which features Pegboard Nerds, the group always bring the party.
"Live for the Night" is an epic party jam that starts the record off right. Next up is one of the best songs, "We Go Down." This song is all about partying and the bonds of friendship. "Come & Get It" is a fun song that is decidedly dubstep leaning. The next song "Enjoy the Ride" is a song about the group enjoying the ride that is life.
One of the best songs on the album comes up next. "We Are One" is possibly the most house song on the album is all about unity. This song should definitely be a single, it would do great at radio. The next song is sure to be a hit as well. "Dancing with the Devil" features Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump. This song is a dubstep anthem for misfits everywhere.
"We are louder than your bullshit/ You're just dancing with the devil," vocalists Jahan Yousaf and Yasmine Yousaf sing with Stump.
The next song is the group's signature song and biggest hit "Alive." The song is a gorgeous dance song that starts out with just a piano and soon adds a raved out instrumentation. The song is song is about the music making them feel alive. It's emotional and perfect. This song is so catchy, no wonder it's such a huge hit.
The theme of getting lost in the music continues on "Pass the Love Around." The song is about dancing at a club and getting lost in the music and feeling free. The next song "Ring of Fire" has the group getting into a darker dubstep kind of sound. "Fuck the rules," the girls sing in the first line of the song. The song is tailored to clubs.
The next song "Human" finds Krewella changing up the pace. The song starts off with pianos and acoustic guitars. The lyrics of the song show such fragility. "I am only human," they sing.
Next the album goes to "Killin' It." This song has a hip hop swagger to it and then dubstep breakdowns. The lyrics are classic hip hop bragging lyrics.
The album closes on a high note with their current single "This is Not the End." The song features Pegboard Nerds is a very dubstep song that closes the album off right.
Krewella are a great group and they've already shown that they mean business. They are sure to have more hits like "Alive."

Escape The Fate Regain Their Aggression On New Album

It's impossible to talk about Escape The Fate and not bring up their sordid past when it comes to band members. Two years ago former frontman Ronnie Radke's new band Falling In Reverse released an album in which Radke's lyrics took aim at his replacement Craig Mabbitt. It's safe to assume that the bulk of the songs are aimed back at Radke on Escape The Fate's fourth record Ungrateful. The first single and title track is supposedly about bullying but it seems to be a dig at Radke and his new band.
Another song that seems to be aimed at  Radke is "Fire it Up." "Fire it, fire it up/ This is our last dance/ With middle fingers up we'll dance on your, dance on your fucking grave," Mabbitt sings during the chorus.
These songs are much better than anything that Radke could come up with and much more aggressive. The music mixes in metalcore with hard rock and straight up metal.
Highlights on the album include "Until We Die" an aggressive rocker and "Live Fast, Die Beautiful," which is about a young starlet in the making. The topic is cliché but it still works.
Second single "You're Insane" is a fun rocker that's full of energy. "I'm not the reason that you're insane," Mabbitt screams during the chorus.
The album has a few low points, "Chemical Love" is a gothic rocker about a drug addicted romance and "Picture Perfect" has good intentions but never really gets anywhere. The song, co-written by Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump is about the loss of a loved one and how it showed Mabbitt how to live his life and what's truly important.
The album picks up for the rest of the album after these two bumps. "Risk it All" is about living live to the fullest and it's fitting that his song comes after "Picture Perfect." Desire" is a rocker which is about, just that. "One for the Money" is a fun party song that sounds like a better version of Papa Roach.
Ungrateful is by far one of their best albums, if not the best thing this band have ever released. Hopefully they keep on this path and keep making great music.

Gin Wigmore Shines On New Album

Gin Wigmore, New Zealand's answer to Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy, released her sophomore album Gravel & Wine in her homeland in November 2011. The album was hugely successful there leading it to be released in the United States this month.
The album is a mix of bluesy, folk rock with an alternative rock and pop edge. The songs range from faster, sassy songs to ballads. Wigmore's voice is what part of what makes her so great. It's soulful, yet full of blues.
Her songwriting is another part of what makes her sophomore album so great. "I got lots of jealous lovers that all wish they had me back/ Got a pistol for a mouth, my own mama gave me that/ Making my own road out of gravel and some wine/ And if I have to fall then it won't be in your line," Wigmore sings during the first verse of the album's second single and best song, "Black Sheep." The soulful, rocker recalls Amy Winehouse's sassiest moments.
Other album highlights include "Devil in Me," a rollicking song about a lover who brings out Wigmore's bad side and "If Only" which has 50s soul influences and wouldn't be out of place on Gabriella Cilmi's debut. "Man Like That" and the bonus track "Don't Stop" are both faster songs, the latter being the album's cute love song.
The slow jams like "Saturday Smile" and "Moving on to Gone" are emotional and Wigmore's lyrics and vocals truly make you feel what she is singing about. "Dirty Love" wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond film and "Sweet Hell" is a duet with Butch Walker who produced the whole album. Walker is known for his productions for P!nk, Avril Lavigne and Fall Out Boy, this album shows he is versatile as a producer. "Happily Ever After" sounds like a mix of P!nk's "Please Don't Leave Me" and "Halo" by Beyoncé.
This album is a great way for Wigmore to be introduced to American audiences who missed out on her debut. Hopefully her greatness is realized, yet in a world where dubstep breakdowns make hits, that isn't likely. Wigmore will be playing the entire Vans Warped Tour this summer.

Fall Out Boy Back With A Vengence

Fall Out Boy came back from their hiatus with their fifth album Save Rock and Roll. The album followed their 2008 opus Folie à Deux. The album featured guest appearances by Blondie singer Debbie Harry, William Beckett and Lil' Wayne and went between genres. Then in 2009 the band went on hiatus.
This album may not be perfect, but it shows that Fall Out Boy need to be here. Fall Out Boy just can't say away from making music and this record is a testament of that. From the introductory track "The Phoenix" to the album closer and title track which features Elton John, the album has no bad songs. While some songs like "Alone Together" and "The Mighty Fall" which features rapper Big Sean may be a little boring, songs like "Where Did The Party Go" more than make up for them.
The album's highlights would have to be "Just One Yesterday" which features singer Foxes, "Rat a Tat" which features Courtney Love and the Robynesque "Miss Missing You." These songs all show what the band do best, make good music.
The lyrics are another thing that make the album so great. "I'm gonna change you/ Like a remix/ The I'll raise you/ Like a phoenix," front man Patrick Stump sings during the chorus of "The Phoenix." While most of the songs are about breakups and aging, they never get overdone.
This album is a great return for Fall Out Boy, here's hoping that they don't do any silly things like going on hiatus ever again.

Fall Out Boy Return to Form On New Single

Fall Out Boy's new single and the announcement of their new album in February. Save Rock and Roll was due out on May 6 before it got pushed up to April 16. This was due to the overwhelming popularity of their first single, the soulful, electrorock "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)." The single was great and while it was a good song and would have fit nicely on an Adam Lambert album, it wasn't the classic pop-punk of their older music.
On March 24 the and released the promo single "The Phoenix." The song for one thing is back to the classic Fall Out Boy sound. The song mixes in their previous albums with the electro sound of their previous single.
The song is a catchy rocker with lyrics about rising up like a phoenix. We are the jack-o-lanterns in July/ Setting fire to the sky," Front man Patrick Stump sings during the first verse. While some of the lyrics may be a little cheesy ("Put on your war paint.") the song is still great.
This song is like classic Fall Out Boy with a new twist. Hopefully this song is a sign of what is to come with the new album. Save Rock and Roll is in stores April 16.

Escape The Fate release first single off of new album

Escape the Fate released a sneak peak of their new single last year, This week they finally released their new single "Ungrateful." The song is a heavy offering with a catchy chorus. While Escape the Fate have never been the heaviest band, this song is breaking the mold they usually fit in.
The song features angry lyrics that are sure to spark controversy. They are clearly aimed at former frontman Ronnie Radke. His new band Falling in Reverse has lyrics that are usually aimed at Craig Mabbitt who took his place fronting Escape the Fate. "No one hears a fucking word you say," Mabbitt screams at his adversary. It's time somebody shut Radke up.
This song is a nice new sound for the band. Their new album also titled Ungrateful will be released  on May 14. The album is set to feature vocals from former Attack Attack! singer Caleb Shomo and Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump. Another single is expected to be released before the album's release.

Fall Out Boy end hiatus

In 2009, Fall Out Boy went on hiatus. Pete Wentz formed band, Black Cards, frontman Patrick Stump went solo, Joe Trohman played in The Damned and Andy Hurley played in several bands. None of them reached much success so here comes the reunion. The band shot down rumors of a new album and tour, then Monday announced they were playing shows this week and a tour and new album were coming. The ironically titled Save Rock and Roll is due for release on May 6. The first single "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)" was released at the same time this news came.
The single is nothing like any of Fall Out Boy's previous pop-punk songs. In fact it's got a hip-hop/R&B sound that would fit better on Stump's solo record than on a Fall Out Boy album. That being said, the song is catchy and kinda grows on you. At first I found it be stupid, but now it's growing on me. While I do find the band to be a tad overrated, their last two albums were amazing.
Pete Wentz writes the lyrics for the band's songs and this song is no different. The song seems to be a song about a breakup and since Wentz had a very public divorce from wife Ashlee Simpson, my guess is this song is about her. She had a ridiculous single last year called "Bat for a Heart." The song was an angry breakup song and I'm guessing this is Wentz's retaliation song. And Wentz is definitely better lyricist than Simpson so he's the winner.
Even though this song won't be saving rock and roll, it's a good comeback and hopefully it'll get the world thinking back to rock and roll, not this shitty dance music trend that is taking control of the radio.

Yellowcard finally change things up

Last month pop-punk band Yellowcard released their eighth studio album, Southern Air. The album was released just one year after it's predecessor When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes. That album was great but it didn't stand up next to their other albums Ocean Avenue and Lights and Sounds. The album didn't do anything different than those records and while it was well-done it wasn't a classic.
This album is just like Ocean Avenue, emotional and well written. The lyrics are written directly from frontman Ryan Key's heart and that's what makes a great album. This record has some different characteristics. One thing is the music.While it's not much of a change from their violin-filled pop-punk, it just has a different energy. Songs like "Awakening" and "Here I Am Live" which features a duet with We Are The In Crowd singer Taylor Jardine and was cowritten by Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump, have an undeniable energy to them.
The highlight of the album is "Telescope" which features vocals from Jardine, Cassadee Pope from Hey Monday and Alex Gasgarth from All Time Low. The song is dedicated to Key's late aunt and it's a touching tribute. "My only hope, you're my telescope," the four singers sing beautifully at the end. The song's music sounds like "Work" by Jimmy Eat World and it's one of their best songs of their career.
Other songs like "A Vicious Kind" and the first single "Always Summer" simply rock. Every song on the album makes this one of the best Yellowcard albums.
The one low point lies in "Ten" a boring acoustic number that slows down the pace of the album. Even that song is forgivable because the album is so good. Surely Southern Air will be getting serious play by fans all over the world.