Best of 2013 - Top 10 Albums

While we asked you to tell us your favorite music, we cannot help but share our personal picks for best albums of the year. As you can see, we have a wide range of tastes in the Intersections' staff, ranging from rap to jazz, even to John Mayer (he's more than just an infamous womanizer, we swear). Check out our choices, then take a listen to these artists via our Spotify playlist. Happy listening!

 

Atlas Genius - When It Was Now

When I heard this album it felt like Phoenix and Alt-J had a brain child. Every song keeps the same upbeat-yet-chill tone while maintaining a diversity in sound.- Lara Norgaard

Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap

Chance charmed rap-heads the world over with his hit mixtape, Acid Rap. This kid's nasal, youthfully hyper flow mixed in with killer beats and hooks that have claimed classic status in 2013. - Amy Garland

Deafheaven - Sunbather

Pure anger and noise funneled through hypnotic rhythms in a god-affirming sonic experience guaranteed to make you slackjawed with awe that human beings can even make a sound this grand. - Jeff Liu

Derrick Hodge - Live Today

A promising first jazz/hip-hop solo release by bassist for Robert Glasper Experiment, Q-Tip and Chris Dave. The album features tasteful beats, thoughtful arrangements and consistently satisfying production, with enough variation to find something new on each listen. Guest artists include rapper Common, the American String Quartet, Aaron Parks, and an arsenal of artists from Blue Note Records.- Noah Fishman

John Mayer - Paradise Valley

I actually really like the old school country sound he's developed while chilling out in Montana.- Lisa Femia

Phoenix - Bankrupt!

I loved this album because it was different than their previous albums. In this album, Phoenix took a jump from slow background beats to what my roommate called "weird noises". The first time I heard the songs I agreed with him. But I've gotten over the noises as "weird" and consider them a good pair with Thomas Mars's voice. It's a new Phoenix for a new time. A second close has to be Vampire Weekend's album, but Phoenix's new sound puts them over the edge.- Jarron McAllister

The Strokes - Comedown Machine

My favorite Strokes album since Room on Fire.Every single song on this album is a great listen.- Karen Jin

Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

Soulful, mysterious, and introspective, there's not a single weak song on this debut.- Cailin Hong

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

I had always been a Vampire Weekend fan, but this album blew me away. Much better than either of their previous two albums, there's not a single weak song on the album.- Jarred Mihalik

Kanye West - Yeezus

Once a Kanye lover, always a Kanye lover. Enough said. Haters can hate.- Rachel Klebanov