Although Boxer might always be my favorite National album, Trouble Will Find Me comes as close as it gets, and continued to grow on me after its release. Each song has it’s own amazing character to it, and with each listen, one discovers a new favorite or intricacy to the pieces. When I saw The National at their first 2013 performance in Boston, Berninger said that the band planned to take a much longer hiatus, but when Bryce sent over the instrumentals to this track and others, a new album was unavoidable. And boy should we be thankful for that.

“I Should Live in Salt” deals with Matt’s relationship with his younger brother, but the lyrics are universally applicable to many relationships. We constantly seek honesty from our significant others and those close to us, but sometimes it’s easier to ignore both our own annoyances and the other person’s faults. In this case, Matt regrets letting his frustrations get the best of him, choosing expediency over family and in the process, leaving his brother in a poor mental state. He recalls Biblical imagery of Lot’s wife, a vivid picture I’ve had in my head since my first experience with Biblical stories. Aside from this song’s lyrical qualities, the lull in the verse’s perfectly leads into a burst of emotion in the chorus, replicating the emotion and regret that Berninger feels. 10/10 on the arrangement.

http://rock.rapgenius.com/The-national-i-should-live-in-salt-lyrics

Check the lyrics and song here: http://rock.rapgenius.com/Vampire-weekend-worship-you-lyrics

Many of the hypebeasts this year have proclaimed Modern Vampires of the City the album of the year. I might have to join the ranks. Does the album show extreme progression from their previous styles? Not necessarily. The songs, however, are extremely catchy, and some of the jingles are infectious. Tunes like Hannah Hunt counterbalance the more lighthearted fare on the album, making for what I consider to be an unforgettable record.

Worship You is a huge standout. Koenig belts sometimes non-understandable lyrics, formulating a very caustic critique of religious practice, talking to the Big Man himself. After the interesting synth solos, the cascading guitar noises along with elegant vocal effects give the song a beautiful change just as it seems to become uniform. Overall, it’s an amazingly fun tune on one of my favorite Rock Albums of the Year. There might have been more interesting albums, but I don’t believe any album aside from Trouble Will Find Me was quite as consistent.

The notion of a longtime partner is among the beautiful and harrowing experiences we have as humans. Aziz Ansari expresses it pretty well here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYdsWtku9gg

San Fermin perfectly expresses the concept of wanting a long-term partner in the near future but at the same time allowing for distance and personal exploration. How can one avoid seeing others' children and not considering one’s own future?

No real explanation needed. Caroline Polachek from Chairlift performs beautifully, and Dev Hynes is possibly the coolest human alive, looking like a 90s stereotype in the incredible video shot in Guyana. Just sit back, relax, and watch the show. The dance moves tho:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfZMvTHJLUs

But actually don’t just watch the show. His apartment burned down in December 2013 and he lost his lil pup Cupid along with recordings and other property. You can donate to a fund here if you want to contribute to his recovery. Or just buy concert tix!

A money track on one of the best rock releases of the year. The revivalistic 60s tune song engages in frenetic tune switching and constantly keeps the listener off guard in just under 3.5 minutes. The repetition of “If you believe in yourself you can free your soul” is perhaps the most memorable line of song, channeling a sort of spiritual guidance.

The direction of this band, however, is up for grabs. First, they decided to cancel their European tour in Summer 2013. Then, I heard news from a friend that at their Boston show which he attended, lead singer Jonathan Rado ranted between every song about how love is doomed and talked about a messy breakup. Lastly, touring member Elizabeth Fey wrote a lengthy Tumblr post tagged “tour sucks” chronicling the drama between members Rado and Sam France. For a band channeling 60s hippies/love vibes, they also capture the turmoil of the time. Hopefully we get another release soon.

As Maboo knows, The Weeknd’s Kiss Land was by far among the most underrated albums of the year. The expectations after Trilogy were high, but I thought that the Weeknd delivered an unforgettable album that served as catharsis during the best and worst times. And to quote Maboo about another track on the album, “If you play this track while you make love — then you are sophisticated at love (scientific fact).”. Y'all people need to reexamine this album.

I love song because it makes absolutely no sense at times. She cheated on him, he still wishes the best for her, and most importantly, he still wants possession of her. It does, however, reveal the interesting truth that often people just need bodily warmth, regardless of who provides it. We sometimes love someone so much that all we want is them, but somehow we are able to quickly replace that with someone else. I’m not advising this, but I’ve seen it time and time again. Abel knows he’s the ultimate love and will get this girl back. It’s also an interesting song to write at this point in his career, when he is indeed experiencing a shift from Toronto cult hit to international traveler and star. This is his response to the unsolvable hardships of life on the road.

Ch-ch-check it: http://rapgenius.com/The-weeknd-pretty-lyrics

James Blake’s album Overgrown easily makes it into my top 25 of the year. Despite my affinity for albums that come out during the season that matches their aura, I still was able to enjoy it when it was released in April. Blake’s collabo with RZA, “Take A Fall For Me”, showed what kind of versatility James Blake’s slow and impeccable beats could have as hip-hop backdrops. The original, although a masterpiece in its own right, was greatly enhanced by Chance’s flow on the track. There are rumors that more collabs are along the way. Could not be more excited.

Peep the video and the making of if you haven’t already:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S6U_krabrk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Z7MdLndH8

DMB has been an American summer touring staple for the past two decades, considered among the premier jam bands of the era. They made roughly the same amount in 2012, when they dropped their latest album, Away From The World.

In the aughts, the band made over 500 million dollars from ticket sales alone, so the strategy of sporadically releasing albums but consistently touring pays dividends. At age 46, Dave has the energy of someone in his 20s.

• Total Gross: $52,960,667
• Total Attendance: 882,287
• Total Capacity: 1,152,025
• No. of Shows: 61
• No. of Sellouts: 17

Rieu is a Dutch violinist known for his rockstar stage presence and creation of the Johann Strauss Orchestra, who are known for their antic approach to live classical music shows. Rieu has toured extensively through the Americas, Europe, and Australia this year, playing primary in large arenas and concert halls. Interesting to note that a classical musician can outsell traditional powerhouse popular artists like Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

He has extensive European touring planned for 2014.

For a perspective on his unique stage persona, look no further than The Herald article “The night I was heckled by Andre Rieu, global superstar, in front of 12,000 people” from Scotland.

Also, A video of his antics with the Johann Strauss Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxaH1254mvA

• Total Gross: $49,983,266
• Total Attendance: 484,599
• Total Capacity: 558,467
• No. of Shows: 70
• No. of Sellouts: 5

Generally found in alcoholic cocktails, especially at resorts.