Top Songs 2013, the third annual list of top songs of the year, to date is my most listened to Top Songs list. 2013 is not blessed with a lot of songs that jump out as epic, but nearly to a song I’ll listen to them whenever they come on. 

Top 50 Songs of 2013

The Top 3

In 2013 my car became very acquainted with I-94, I played a lot of cribbage and changed both jobs and homes. These first few songs always seemed to be playing.

1. Song Away by Hockey
   The number one song for me this year . Starts with a kick, doesn’t stop, lyrically complex and was on repeat all year.  This was not in The Current’s regular rotation but the one-off spin came in at the perfect time.
2. Stubborn Love by The Lumineers
   This song both wrecks me and renews my faith in humanity. 
3. Sugar Man by Rodriguez
   This last year I spent many a Monday night at The Black Dog café playing cribbage.  When the café didn’t have a booked live music group, they would play CDs.  Cold Fact by Rodriguez played a few times and I discovered the amazing story of Rodriguez’ rediscovery via the documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.”  A great album, a phenomenal story.

The Rest

Songs A-C (But Not A.C. Newman)

4. Always Gold by Radical Face
   The build on this is so up-lifting. Thanks to Betsy’s 2012 list.
5. The Applause by Lady Gaga
6. Beta Love by Ra Ra Riot
   Falsetto.
7. Breathing Underwater by Metric
8. Bulletproof by La Roux
   A little too Devo, but great chorus.
9. Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine
   Rally round the family…
10. Call Me A Hole by Nine Inch Nails and Carly Rae Jepsen by pomDeter
    This works too well. Is Jepsen a NIN fan?

11. Can’t Hold Us feat. Ray Dalton by Macklamore and Ryan Lewis
    First of two by Macklamore and Ryan Lewis. The horns are awesome.
12. Clarity by Zedd feat. Foxes
    Amazing energy in the chorus.
13. Climbing the Walls by They Might Be Giants
14. Come Back Down by Greg Laswell feat. Sara Bareilles
    I couldn’t stop listening to this in Jan-Feb. The lyrics don’t match the groove but it still works. Thanks to Betsy’s 2012 list.
15. Cups by Anna Kendrick
    Heard this before watching Pitch Perfect. Seems a backwards way to liking this song.

Top Songs 2013 is on like D-K!

16. Do It Anyway by Ben Folds Five
17. Electric Fever by Free Energy
    Simple driving drums with positive bounce.
18. The Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns by A.C. Newman
    Song title alone is worth an entry.
19. The Gardner by The Tallest Man on Earth
20. Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips
    Mr. Phillips has entered a rare pantheon of people talented enough to overcome their uncreative parents naming them the same name twice. He joins Kris Kristofferson, Billy Dee Wiliams and Tommy Thompson.
21. Hands Open by Snow Patrol
    Why doesn’t Snow Patrol always sounds this raw?
22. The House that Heaven Built by Japandroids
    Driving energy rock.
23. I Wonder by Rodriguez
    Cold Fact is an album best listened to straight through as the songs blend so well. I Wonder is a beautiful stand out.
24. Kill Your Heroes by AWOLNATION

Going to CHVRCHES for recovery (L-R)

25. Labrador by Aimee Mann
26. Lightning Bolt by Jake Bugg
    He’s only 19.
27. Man on Fire by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
28. Molly’s Lips by Nirvana
    Still discovering Nirvana 19 years after Cobain’s death.
29. The Mother We Share by CHVRCHES
30. New Alphabet by Eels
    Dirty cool feeling.
31. O.N.E. by Yeasayer
    This song is synthesized happiness.
32. Read Between the Lines by KSM
    I don’t know why I have this. It certainly was free somehow. Catchy.
33. Recover by CHVRCHES
    Breaking two into the list, CHVRCHES is going somewhere.
34. Recovery by Frank Turner
    I must have had a musical addiction problem this year. I needed some recover and recovery.
35. Red Hands by Walk Off the Earth

All the S-es

36. Sacrilege by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
    I did not take to this song right away. Now I don’t understand why. The choir at the end is breathtaking. Don’t watch the video until you’ve heard the song. THEN watch the video.
37. Safe and Sound by Capitol Cities
38. See You Again by Miley Cyrus
    I was hesitant to put the singer on this song, because if you don’t know the … artist … it comes off as a much better song.
39. Show Me Your Light by August Rain
40. Sing Loud by Alpha Rev
41. Soon As I Get Paid by Keb’ Mo’
    I think I need to check out the full album “Slow Down”.
42. Stereo Love by Edward Maya feat. Vika Jigulina
    This had been at the edge of my consciousness for awhile, playing in stores, the car but I didn’t know what it was called. Finally, I recognized it in the St. Paul Macy’s (during the going-out-of-business liquidation sale) and SoundHound-ed it. There’s umpteen remixes, but the original is the best.
43. Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Ray
    Why did this start hitting the radio again recently? It’s summertime sadness.

T-W: The end of the musical alphabet

44. Tell the Ones I Love by Steep Canyon Rangers
    This likely was heard on Radio Heartland, MPR’s streaming station of Americana. I recommend it.
45. That’s It by Preservation Hall Jazz Band
    And now the instrumental interlude…
46. Thrift Shop feat. Wanz by Macklamore and Ryan Lewis
47. Timber feat. Ke$ha by Pitbull
    I like this song much more than it deserves.
48. Unsingable Name by Mike Doughty
    Mike Doughty’s voice is instantly recognizable. It carries most of his work, including this song.
49. Wake Me Up by Avicii
50. Walking Home by We Are Serenades
    I love the echo on the clapping.  A beautiful song to end a playlist. Thanks to Abby’s 2012 list.

Peruse all of the Top Songs posts.

(Note: The post “Top Songs 2013” was originally posted on December 27, 2013 via the author’s Facebook page. Updates have been made.)