Pitchfork may be rapidly spinning into a self-righteous hype-machine, but every once in a while they give props to bands who really deserve it. Most of the albums that manage to snag the site's "Best New Music" title are exactly the type of music you'd expect Pitchfork to shower with accolades (Vampire Weekend, Daft Punk, The National, etc.), but occasionally they slap an under-the-radar album with the tag and give huge press to bands that really deserve to be heard by more ears. These are a handful of the albums Pitchfork really nailed last year.
1. Deafheaven - Sunbather
This album is absolutely incredible from start to finish, and without Pitchfork's endorsement I doubt it would have found its way into quite as many ears as it did. The concept itself is nothing new (black metal mixed with shoegaze), but Deafheaven perfected it on this release. Emotional, exciting and completely enrapturing.
2. Mutual Benefit - Love's Crushing Diamond
This album just makes you feel things. Light-hearted and gentle, but the content Jordan Lee discusses on these tracks is incredibly personal. Definitely one of the most interesting albums I listened to in 2013, and if you haven't, you're missing out.
3. Waxahatchee - Cerulean Salt
I've said it before and I'll say it again: 2013 was the Year of The Crutchfields. This release from one-half of the two-sibling powerhouse, Katie, was much less aggressive than her sister Alison's release with Swearin', but just as engaging. Intensely personal and constantly compelling, Cerulean Salt definitely pulls the listener into its world and refuses to let go.
4. Jon Hopkins - Immunity
I don't listen to all that much electronic music, but most of what I do find myself latching onto tends to be ambient, ethereal stuff that thrives on vibe rather than the amount of people on the dance floor. This spot almost went to Darkside's incredible Psychic, but in the end, Immunity's swings between sunny ambient waves and more bass-centric dance tracks kept me going back throughout the year.
5. Iceage - You're Nothing
This album is all out punk in the most aggressive sense of the word. It took a few listens to warm up to the vocals, but once I did I was hooked. Intense, carefully-crafted bangers are all over You're Nothing, and they made me remember a side of punk that I had mostly forgotten about: actually enjoying music that sounds like it wants to rip me to shreds.
