Our Musical Wants and Needs for 2013

General Manager

Only 20 days in and this year’s already promised so much: more long-awaited reunions, revivals and releases than we could’ve ever dreamt, maybe that new My Bloody Valentine and, of course, #BabyYeezy.

The Exec Board shares what we’re looking forward to in 2013.

Mike Creedon:
‰Û¢ Autre Ne Veut – Anxiety
Pitchfork writer and former WVAU General Manager Lindsay Zoladz recently wrote in her article “This Must Be Pop” how 2012 was a year where the line between “pop” and “indie” was further smudged, and I hope that trend continues in 2013. With releases from Rhye and Dawn Richard coming out later this year, 2013 looks to be in good hands. However, my most anticipated release that will continue to abstract our idea of what pop and indie sounds like is Autre Ne Veut’s Anxiety. “Counting,” the first single from the album, is a stunning piece of pop-mastery that is danceable, experimental and carries weight lyrically.

‰Û¢ Diarrhea Planet – TBA
All you have to do is look at Diarrhea Planet’s name and their anthem “Ghost With a Boner” and you know what you’re getting into. There’s not much else to say, they just might be the world’s best rock band currently.

‰Û¢ Junip – Junip
Junip is the side project of folk artist JosÌ© GonzÌÁlez. Their 2010 album Fields was one of my favorites of that year, but was sadly left unnoticed amongst so many classic albums (2010 was one of the most fruitful years music has given us in past memory). Combining elements of folk rock, krautrock and baroque pop, Junip’s self-titled release will hopefully carry on the same sonic qualities of their debut.

‰Û¢ David Bowie – The Next Day
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Richard Murphy:
‰Û¢ No Age
Every release these guys have put out has been absolutely incredible in my book, and although they haven‰’t officially said they are going to release anything this year, they‰’ve been talking about recording over their Twitter feed, which gets me all excited for some more noisy and inventive punk music from the guys who do it best.

‰Û¢ Pissed Jeans – Honeys
Just seeing their absolutely incredible live show at CMJ would be enough to highly anticipate whatever they did next, but both tracks they‰’ve released from their upcoming record, Honeys, have been absolute fire. This record is going to be ugly, but in the best way possible

‰Û¢ Phoenix
For my money, Phoenix‰’s last record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is one of the greatest achievements in pop music, and even if their new record is only half as good, it‰’ll still be one of my favorites of the year.

‰Û¢ Ty Segall
It‰’s almost a guarantee he‰’s going to release something. And it is absolutely a guarantee I‰’m going to love it.

Cameron Meindl:
‰Û¢ Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito
It has been four long years since we last heard from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who had spent the last decade establishing themselves as one of the best bands in the game before taking an extended leave of absence. Sure, we‰’ve had Karen O pop up on the Frankenweenie soundtrack, but that didn‰’t exactly contain the raw power of an “Isis‰” or “Black Tongue.‰” Thankfully, the YYYs are back this spring with Mosquito, which promises a return to the “extremely lo-fi‰” sound of their earlier work. If anticipation wasn‰’t high enough, the album‰’s truly insane album artwork has only served to heighten interest for what the trio has in store. Other than the birth of Kanye and Kim‰’s child, there is no event I‰’m anticipating more than Mosquito in 2013.

Bill Oldham:
‰Û¢ Arcade Fire and Justin Timberlake albums
Probably on other lists, but whatever, I’m still stoked.

‰Û¢ The Knife – Shaking the Habitual
I don’t care that everything surrounding this album has been so cryptic. It’s been seven years since Silent Shout and I need my fix.

‰Û¢ AlunaGeorge — Body Music
Last year saw a pretty solid EP release for the duo, followed by the awesome single “Your Drums, Your Love” and the even more awesome feature on the remix of Rustie’s “After Light.” So I really can’t wait for their first full-length album.

‰Û¢ Spring Breakers
Art-piece combining contributions from James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Skrillex, Gucci Mane and Cliff Martinez. Probably my most anticipated release of 2013.

‰Û¢ Other things:
David Bowie – The Next Day, Danny Brown – ODB, Pissed Jeans – Honeys, Kvelertak — Meir and many, many more.

Marissa Cetin:
‰Û¢ Factory Floor
The DFA Records darlings have been producing their post-industrial dance with a distinct video game pulse since forming in 2008, but have yet to release a real actual full-length record. Singles “Lying / A Wooden Box,” “(R E A L L O V E)” and “Two Different Ways” sustained fans for a few years, but banger “Fall Back,” which dropped in the opening days of 2013, has hopes high for the long-awaited LP.

‰Û¢ A James Murphy-produced Arcade Fire album
This is literally super relevant to several of my interests.

‰Û¢ Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience
It’s been six years since he brought SexyBack, which is enough time for it to disappear again, so JT’s due to seduce us again with his smooth pipes. If “Suit & Tie” is any indication for the rest of his material, I’m ready, too. (*NSYNC 4eva<3)

‰Û¢ Julia Holter
In the last two months of 2012, Holter signed to Domino Records, released a “Goddess Eyes” single with two new tracks, rereleased March’s Ekstasis also with new live material and is oft tweeting about being in the studio. In February Holter is performing with another of my 2012 favorites Laurel Halo (June’s Quarantine), and if the stars align, I will be in the audience. The possibility that the two collaborate in 2013 would also be more than welcome. I just love Julia Holter so much, you guys.