Albums of 2013 // 10-1

It may have come very early, but Phosphorescent's 'Muchacho' held off all that followed to take top spot. A journey of an album, led out by the country epic Song For Zula and closed by the swelling incantations of Sun's Arising (A Koan, an Exit). Quiet yet soulfully energised throughout, it's an ambitious statement of a record which defined 2013. Enjoy the fruits of our top 10's labours below.

10. Parquet Courts - 'Light Up Gold'



9. Fuzz - 'Fuzz'



8. Laura Marling - 'Once I Was An Eagle'



7. Savages - 'Savages'



6. James Blake - 'Overgrown'



5. Kwes. - 'Ilp.'





4. White Denim - 'Corsicana Lemonade'





3. John Grant - 'Pale Green Ghosts'





2. Toro Y Moi - 'Anything in Return'





1. Phosphorescent - 'Muchacho'





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50 albums of 2011 // 10 - 1

At some point in 2011, the release of each of these albums made us not want to listen to anything else, but more so than any other with White Denim's 'D'. Street Joy, Keys, It's Him and every other track are brimming with soul, excitement and hyperactive musicality, and for us at least there was no other option for album of the year in 2011.

1. White Denim - 'D'



2. tUnE-yArDs - 'W H O K I L L'



tUnE-yArDs // Bizness

3. Girls - 'Father, Son, Holy Ghost'



Girls // Vomit

4. Balam Acab - 'Wander / Wonder'

Balam Acab // Oh, Why

5. Kurt Vile - 'Smoke Ring For My Halo'



6. Korallreven - 'An Album By Korallreven'

Korallreven // As Young As Yesteday

7. PJ Harvey - 'Let England Shake'



8. Active Child - 'You Are All I See'

Active Child // Hanging On

9. Anna Calvi - 'Anna Calvi'



10. Mazes - 'A Thousand Heys'



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White Denim // Hot Thought

If there's one sure fact in life you can be certain of, it's that no-one does groove like White Denim do groove. This gospel truth is rubber stamped on Hot Thought, a B-side which sees the band reach for the auto-tune rather than the heavy feedback, which some early and ardent rocker fans may see as effeminate, but which Stevie Wonder and James Brown may see as direct threats to their soul and funk crowns. The fact that the boys can pull off this sound with such effortless suavity is testament to their powers, and an indicator that they're coming out of the garage and on to somewhere far grander.

Hot Thought by WhiteDenim

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White Denim // Street Joy

Directed by Carlos LaRotta, this video to the standout Street Joy from new album D casts White Denim as a smarmy 80s prom quartet, reminding us of Freaks & Geeks and the majority of our childhood dances; all intimidated shoe shuffles, oversized suits and trying to avoid eye contact with your dance partner at all costs. Ah, memories.

via

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White Denim // D

White Denim release their fifth full length record today, and Spinner are offering you the chance to listen in full before you pull your shoes and socks on and head to the shops to get a copy. Lucky you!

On first listen, the familar psych-rock jams are accented with what seems to be an extended percussion section, leading to a distinctly more mellow feel to D than previous outings. Let us know what you think.

Check out the video to Drug here.

White Denim - Drug from One Story Productions on Vimeo.