The Dude from Korg’s Top 13 Records of 2013

We’re equal opportunity destroyers here at Gear Gods (okay that didn’t make a shit ton of sense but it sounded metal so let’s roll with it), and when we can get the perspective of the instrument makers and not just the musicians we tend to go for it. So I was talking to Mike Bigel from Korg the other day (and Korg doesn’t just make keyboards but also VOX amplifiers, and distributes Blackstar amps among other things) and the man was enthused to talk music. Seeing as my own best of 2013 list was looking lonely, he made his own, and our lists can now roam through the streets together setting fire to homes and roasting marshmallows on the burnt corpses and whatnot. Festive times…

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MikeBigel-Korg

Mike Bigel’s Top 13 of 2013 (Korg USA Artist Relations – Korg, Vox, Blackstar, Ashdown, LAG, HK Audio)

13 words and one recommended song for each record.  I cannot wait to be made fun of for not being metal enough.

Spotify Playlist

 

1.  TIE – Deafheaven – Sunbather / CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe

Sunbather:  Pretty metal.  Pretty cover.  Intense live show.  Kerry’s insane and awesome Twitter. (@kerry_mccoy)

(Dream House)

The Bones of What You Believe:  Destined for arenas.  Catchy as hell.  Game of Thrones theme song YouTube cover.

(Under the Tide)

 

2.  Pusha T – My Name is My Name

My Name is My Name:  Return to form.  Best beat in ages.  Knicks should put up more numbers.

(Numbers On The Boards)

 

3.  Sigur Ros – Kveikur

Kveikur:  Can do no wrong.  Heaviest and most experimental record to date.  Best show.

(Brennisteinn)

 

4.  Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest

Tomorrow’s Harvest:  Highly anticipated.  Exceeded expectations.  Greatness.  Unlike the My Bloody Valentine record.  Which stinks.

(Split Your Infinities)

 

5.  J. Cole – Born Sinner

Born Sinner:  New kid on the block.  Hot fire.  Ballsy as hell.  Fucks many models.

(Villuminati)

 

6. Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaVelle – Perils from the Sea

Perils from the Sea:  I want some scotch spliffs smokes and a back porch.  Grown-up Postal Service.

(You Missed My Heart)

 

7.  Puig Destroyer – Puig Destroyer

Puig Destroyer: This makes me want to destroy everything I own with a baseball bat.

(Destroyer of Baseballs)

 

8.  Ghostface Killah – Twelve Reasons to Die

Twelve Reasons to Die:  Classic Ghost.  Early Wu sounding production.  Interludes of death.  Keeps on keeping on.

(I Declare War (feat. Masta Killa))

 

9.  Bibio – Silver Wilkinson

Silver Wilkinson:  Very diverse but coherent.  Experimental goes beats.  No longer Boards of Canada light.

(Mirroring All)

 

10.  Phosphorescent – Muchacho

Muchacho:  Pretty as hell indie rock with nod to country.  Should be household name.

(Song For Zula)

 

11.  Mikal Cronin – MCII

MCII:  Jangly indie garage pop.  Well crafted.  Summertime car jams.  Beers on the beach.

(I’m Done Running from You)

 

12.  Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels

Run the Jewels:  WEED.  WEEd.  WEed.  Weed.  weed.  Killer Mike.  El-P.  Match made in hiphop heaven.

(36” Chain)

 

Honorable Mentions: Skeletonwitch – Serpents Unleashed / Russian Circles – Memorial / Ulver – Messe I.X-VI.X / Tim Hecker – Virgins / Darkside – Psychic / The Love Language – Ruby Red / Darkside – Psychic / DJ Rashad – Double Cup

Written by

Chris Alfano has written about music and toured in bands since print magazines and mp3.com were popular. Once in high-school he hacked a friend's QBasic stick figure fighting game to add a chiptune metal soundtrack. Random attractive people still give him high-fives about that.

Latest comment
  • Meh, this list being “not metal” is whatever. At least nobody tried to sell it as “top 13 metal records”.

    Glad to see that Ghostface record pop up in someone’s list though. I feel like that album got slept on by a lot of people. It honestly might be the best Wu Tang related album to come out in years.

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