Smile Politely

Top Twenty C-U Songs of 2013

Patrick Singer

In the next portion of our year-end lists, as our favorite live shows were delivered yesterday, here are some of the highlights from the music scene as far as songs go. Plenty of tracks that were staples on great albums, as well as one-offs in hopes for a great 2014. Sure, it’s tough to pare it down to only 20 tracks with the wealth of music in 2013, but here’s what we thought, with the help of our readers voting as well.

20. EARTH WITCH — “EARTHBOUND”

 
The title track and bookend number on their Sabbath-esque EP, Earthwitch show their most varied track of all.

19. TERMINUS VICTOR — “HOPELESSLY REHABILITATED”

 
As Terminus Victor stormed back in 2013 with Prevention vs. Intervention, many things remained. One of those is their tenacity and fury, which is found in “Hopelessly Rehabilitated” — a track that encompasses much of what the album holds close thematically.

18. BARROWE — “SOME.TIMES.” 

 
Off of Barrowe’s split EP with The Stars, They Beckon, this is the best indication of the force this trio is outside of their live performances.

17. JAY MOSES — “ACT II: YOU LIKE THE VAMP LIFE”

 
There isn’t an exact centerpiece to Jay Moses’ teaser EP leading up to the release of his full length debut, but “Act II” showcases an experimental side of Moses. The track is pretty hypnotizing and one of the better hip-hop tracks to find the light of day in 2013.

16. DINO BRAVO — “PARTS UNKNOWN”

 
Dino Bravo returned this year with an action-packed EP Planet Madness, and this second track showcases some of the best of what the trio has to offer. Relentless and bludgeoning, “Parts Unknown” really proved to be a favorite amongst the voters, and this multi-part beast holds up.
 
15. SHADOWS ON A RIVER — “DEATH HOUSE”

[[mp3 death_house_master_shadows_on_a_river]]

Last year, we saw the release of a couple of tracks from local indie rock outfit Shadows on a River in their Drought EP. This year, they provide a quirky video to go with their really great track, “Death House”, off of their upcoming full-length LP in 2014.

14. KOWABUNGA! KID — “CUT”

 
Many Kowabunga! Kid tracks are basically gone before they even begin. With “Cut” the song actually develops into their own version of punk, from what is typically a band that fills their time with surf rock sounds. Just barely breaking the two minute mark, this is a landmark for this crew.

13. ENTA — “’78”

 
This track was literally released online earlier this week, and it might be the best Enta song to date. Off of their split EP with Anodes, “’78” is a stellar track, and a sound unlike most local bands.

12. SINGLE PLAYER — “#4”

 
By popular demand, this track off of Single Player’s Could Care Less release shot up the results chart. Although very short, it gives credit to the “short and sweet” saying. A jangly tune with a lot of heart, no doubt.

11. KLEVAH — “84s (FEAT. JAY MOSES)”

 
That sample. That beat. Whatever you want to call it. It’s just… so good. The nearly 9 minute track features some of the best lines Klevah has to offer throughout The W8, and features an awesome guest appearance from Jay Moses.

10. ELSINORE — “THE ART OF PULLING”

 
After being flashed in an album teaser early on, the final package of Elsinore’s “The Art of Pulling” was well worth the wait. We’ve heard plenty of second half breakdowns and guitar solos in Elsinore songs before, but this one has a different life to it than most.

9. WITHERSHINS — “A PATIENT BOY”

 
Withershins have always been a force within the C-U music scene, and their delivery can change depending on whether you’re hearing Aeriel or Silver Cities. With “A Patient Boy”, the band continues to deliver what they do best in the form of bludgeoning space rock, while mixing in a different angle than what we’ve seen before. It’s a new beginning, but at the same time, a familiar territory. Here’s to hearing a new record in 2014.

8. WICKED WALLS — “CRYSTAL BALLS”

 
New Ruins might be gone for good, but with everything that goes away, there’s always hope something new and interesting emerges. With Wicked Walls’ debut track from their upcoming 2014 LP, “Crystal Balls” is a perfect pace of what New Ruins had and what a new formula can generate.

7. THE FIGHTS — “GRAFFITI”

 
Americana! Country! Yes! The Fights are doing just that, and we’re impressed, as are others. It’s a welcomed sound, and a really effective mean to deliver some very soulful music in the local music scene. Their self-titled EP was a terrific morsel of what is to come for The Fights.

6. CURB SERVICE — “ROMEO JIVE”

[[mp3 curb_service_romeo_jive]]

The title track and incredibly catchy mixture of what Curb Service does best, “Romeo Jive” flaunts one of the best Beck songs that Beck never wrote. Larry Gates seemlessly integrates a terrific hook and keyboard section with an on-point rhythm section, and a standout in an all-around great Romeo Jive album.

5. HANK. — “SUFFER THE CHILDREN”

 
After last year’s excellent “That’s a Fact” made a splash on our year-end list, there was no doubt that at least one of Hank.’s Pinched. tracks were going to up the ante. That is fully recognized in the ferocious “Suffer the Children”, where no matter what part of Hank. you find the most enjoyable, it makes its mark on what great math-rock sounds like.

4. FAUVE — “STILL BREATHING”

 
The bookend to one very, very good Light EP in 2013 was “Still Breathing” by Fauve, the project of Joe Meland. A musician who crafts compositions flexes an indie rock and baroque pop mixture that excels. Not only instrumentally excellent, but the pipes on Meland are exceptional. At nearly eight minutes in length, the final track on Light EP is truly a tour-de-force.

3. COMMON LOON — “HARRY DEAN STANTON”

[[mp3 harry_dean_stanton_common_loon]]

We should have assumed this was how Common Loon would emerge from the darkness since the release of The Long Dream of Birds from three years ago. Their tribute to “Harry Dean Stanton” is incredible in a lot of ways, and Common Loon has always seemed like the silent assassin-type, as they served this one up with their own website dedicated to the man. Everything really is prettier in pink. Here’s to hoping all the new songs on LP2 will be as good as this.

2. GRANDKIDS — “COLLEGIATE PEAKS”

 
Grandkids had one hell of a year in 2013 with Timeshare, their gorgeous full-length debut. “Collegiate Peaks” is a testament to how the band has grown and matured into what they have become: A really, really great band, C-U local or not.

1. SWORDS — “HELL AND HIGH WATER”

 
The instrumentation throughout Depth can overshadow just how insane Swords’ lyrical delivery can be at times. The mark “Hell and High Water” makes is one of destruction and a flawless delivery, even in the midst of plenty of other bangers (“Evil Empire”, “That Kinda Week”). Mix that with a Megan Johns hook and crunchy guitars, you have yourself a real winner. From the opening of the track, you know you’re in for a real hurtin’ with this one.

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