My Totally Biased 13 Best Albums of 2013

All other blogs have it wrong.
You don't drop a best albums list mid-December.
You wait to the last possible minute so
people maybe, sorta, not really give a damn.

So, without further adieu
here's some random gay black music lover's opinion
about the best 13 albums to grace his ears this year.
[And remember, don't get your panties in a bunch.
It's only entertainment (Jay-Z voice)]


13. Arctic Monkeys - AM 

As expected, the Arctic Monkeys delivered another dope album. Nothing but solid grooves and lyrics. AM poses such hard hitting questions such as Do I Wanna Know and R U Mine? When the band slows it down for a bit, Alex Turner's tenor earnestly wants to "be your vacuum cleaner breathing in your dust." Can you get any sexier than that? Yes. But these are rocking Brits here to wake up your ears, not get you laid.

Standout Tracks:
R U Mine?
Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?



12. Drake - Nothing Was The Same

His third time out, Drake does what Drake does best: be Drake. He's gonna serenade you in a monotone voice; he's gonna rap with the confidence that Lil Wayne is still the greatest rapper and will validate him; but most of all, he's gonna give you raw emotion that men will weep along to in the privacy of their bedroom. It seems nothing Drake releases will ever be as iconic as So Far Gone, but he's still one of the best in the game with albums that hold up.

Standout Tracks:
From Time (feat Jhene Aiko)
Too Much (feat Sampha)



11. Disclosure - Settle

Earlier this year, two young chaps by the names Guy and Howard Lawrence came out of England and revitalized the genre of House music. No dubstep, no crazy horns. Just a bunch of two-stepping tracks that b-boys and bros alike can vibe to. Featuring some of the best rising and aspiring R&B and Soul singers, each track is a different journey to the perfect mellow. Feel free to play this start to finish at a party that doesn't mind a few slow(er) jams.

Standout Tracks:
Latch (feat Sam Smith)
F for You



10. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories


Daft Punk has always been popular, since Discovery and the accompanying Interstella 5555 film. When Daft Punk released RAM with a slew of mid-tempo beats, they were championed - though not without a few upset fans who just wanted to dance their way through an album. Still, with the talents of Julian Casablancas, Pharrell, and Panda Bear at their disposal, it's hard to deny the playability of this album. Definitely an album for the Cadillac or Prius. You know, whatever floats your ass from place to place.

Standout Tracks:
Giorgio by Moroder
Touch (feat Paul Williams)


9. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience, 1 of 2 


2013 was clearly the year of comebacks, with JT's perhaps the most anticipated. Taking his FutureSex/LoveSounds one step further, Justin channeled the 70s/80s approach: not shying away from six minutes plus song, calling for each track to be its own experience. An overplayed Suit & Tie aside, this Pop/R&B album is another great addition to JT's discography. We could have done without the B-Sides that is the 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2 though.

Standout Tracks:
Don't Hold the Wall
Strawberry Bubblegum



8. Major Lazer - Free the Universe

Hands down the best party/dance/Reggae album of the year. Spearheaded by Diplo the don, the tracks are laced with features from Santogold, Flux Pavillion, Elephant Man, Ezra Koenig, Wyclef and more. (There's a track by Shaggy, but we can all pretend that one doesn't exist.) With twerking finally taking over the nation after years of being around, each song will have you shaking your ass in a different pattern. Twerk Team assemble!

Standout Tracks:
Get Free (feat Amber of Dirty Projectors)
Sweat (feat Laidback Luke & Ms. Dynamite)



7. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

A favorite since I first spotted them on MTVu my freshman year, Vampire Weekend dropped their third album to much critical acclaim. Still drawing sounds African music, they leave many listeners wondering what the hell they're playing, adding to their charm. This is the album that the band really start to claim their place among our great acts, rising firmly into the mainstream while staying true to their sound and holding on to their ever-strong fan base.

Standout Tracks:
Step
Ya Hey



6. Childish Gambino - Because the Internet

Gambino's latest effort has received flack recently for not being executed to its fullest potential, called a poor MBDTF clone. Nay, I say. If anything it's closer to the Man on the Moon, Vol. II. Both albums feature a clearly depressed protagonist through a range of up-tempo to mid-tempo songs. True, it can be difficult to fully realize the album's message until you read the screenplay Gambino released as a companion piece, exploring his role as a multi-talented artist. Either way, it's still an outstanding album with replay value.

Standout Tracks:
3005
Flight of the Navigator



5. Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap

Though only a mixtape - his second at that - Acid Rap is one of the best rap records of the year the way So Far Gone was in 2009. Equipped with his own unique adlibs and offbeat rapping style, Chance hits you with some of the most relatable and honest lyrics while still managing to lighten the mood and have fun on a track. He can also carry a tune, and who doesn't love a rapper who can serenade you, too?

Standout Tracks:
Pusha Man/Paranoia
Everybody's Something (ft. Saba & BJ The Chicago Kid)




4. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

The Soulful Queen of Sci-Fi is back with the fourth and fifth installments to her Cindy Mayweather tale. This time with features from Prince, Solange, Miguel, and Esperanza Spalding, Ms Monae continues to hit us with the funk as Cindy hides out from the bounty hunters with the aid of her fellow cyborgs and androids while finding love and inspiring a revolution. Though the album is part of a narrative, it and its songs can be enjoyed without context. Jam on.

Standout Tracks:
Primetime (feat Miguel)
Victory


3. Kanye West - Yeezus

Despite his ego. Despite his abrasiveness. Despite Kim Kardashian and the Bound 2 video. Through it all, Kanye West is still one of the best musicians in the industry, and Yeezus proves it. Honestly, first listen, I hated it. But all great projects take time to understand. The same happened during 808 & Heartbreaks. With head beats, West Indian influences, and a few reliable samples, Kanye laid the grown work for a harsh sound we all grew to love with lyrics that make us respect him even more.

Standout Tracks:
Black Skinhead
Blood on the Leaves



2. James Blake - Overgrown

One of the most haunting voices in music today, James Blake dropped his sophomore effort that was made to entrance you. The ambient noises and voice loops will transport you to a world of James Blake's choosing, where he'll treat you to an experience like nothing else you've experienced this year. His voice is sex, his instrumentals the bed. This album is best enjoyed with mood lighting and your racing thoughts.

Standout Tracks:
Retrograde
Digital Lion




1. Beyonce - Self Titled

The fact that she dropped an album no one saw coming and sold over a million couples worldwide through iTunes alone aside, Beyonce recorded and released the greatest album of 2013. I am no obsessive fan (or stan) of Beyonce's, simply a respecter of her craft. She, too, decided to make her own rules, pairing the album with a visual experience: a video for every track. We were able to see her unadulterated vision, and everything from song to video delivered. Beyonce continues to grow as an artist, through her vocal ability and topics. She revealed personal information about her and her family while giving us the most grown and sexy Mrs Carter we had no idea was even a thing. This album has launched Beyonce into something new. She is no longer comparing with other artists "but with mothafuckas in the ground" as another fan explained. She's legendary, and she makes legendary music. That's all there is to it.

Standout Tracks:
Blow
Partition



Honorable Mentions:
M.I.A. - Matangi
Lorde - Heroine
Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Mayer Hawthrone - Where Does This Door Go


And there you have it.
Feel free to argue in the comment session.
Word.