[Mike B.]

It is nearing the end of 2013. What were your favorite new recordings this year?

[FireGuy]

Tarja Turunen's Colours in the Dark.  For me her mezzo soprano in a Psuedo Metal genre is an amazing combination.

[prvngrnd]

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City http://www.vampireweekend.com/
Easily my album of the year. If you want samples try Hannah Hunt and Ya Hey.

HAIM - Days Are Gone http://haimtheband.com/news/
Exactly what 'pop' music should be and used to sound like. If possible, their debut is under appreciated on many year end lists. Listen to The Wire and My Song 5.

Phosphorescent - Muchacho http://www.scdistribution.com/music-shop.html?class=artist&artist=Phosphorescent
Effervescent music. Complexity made simplistic. Song for Zula

Jason Isbell - Southeastern http://www.jasonisbell.com/
Elephant

Kurt Vile - Walkin' on a Pretty Daze http://store.matadorrecords.com/featured/wakin-on-a-pretty-daze-deluxe-daze-post-haze
Even better than his last. If you have a minute (or nine), listen to the title track Walkin' on a Pretty Daze

Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe http://www.insound.com/The-Bones-of-What-You-Believe-Vinyl-LP-Chvrches/P/INS123262/
Eerie how catchy this is.

The National - Trouble Will Find Me http://americanmary.com/
Every album they make is great. For a taste, try Sea of Love

Savages - Silence Yourself http://savagesband.com/news/
Effortless modern/post-punk/rock music. She Will

[nullspace]

Frightened Rabbit -- Pedestrian Verse

http://frightenedrabbit.com/discography/pedestrian-verse/

One of my favorite albums of the last couple years. In addition, I saw them @ Union Transfer in Phila. last spring and they were amazing. Hearing the track 'The Lonelines and The Scream' still gives me goosebumps it was such a great close to a great show.

[WC]

Mug Museum - Cate Le Bon
Push the Sky Away - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Bosnian Rainbows - Bosnian Rainbows
Major Arcana - Speedy Ortiz
A is for Alpine - Alpine
Wildewoman - Lucius
Cerulean Salt - Waxahatchee
Aventine - Agnes Obel
Lily and Madeline - Lily and Madeline
Pain is beauty - Chelsea Wolfe
If You Leave - Daughter
One Breath - Anna Calvi
We the Common - Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Secondhand Rapture - MS MR

Prvngrnd list is good also. I just didn't like HAIM or Chvrches albums. They wouldn't make my favorite 100 albums of the year. But to each his own.

[Devil Doc]

This is my Top Ten, but not in any particular order.

Thelonious Monk: Paris 1969

And the Devil Makes Three:  I'm a Stranger Here

Gene Clark:  The White Light Demos

Richard Thompson:  Self titled

Bob Dylan: Another Self-portrait, Side Tracks, Blonde on Blonde remaster

The Civil Wars: Self titled

Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made up Mind

Joe Bonamassa: An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House

Doc

[maxboy00]

Dream Theater's self titled CD.

A strong  contender for 2014. . Transatlantic CD. . .  Kaleidoscope

[rockadanny]

My top three favorites of 2013 (new 2013 releases):

1. How To Destroy Angels - Welcome to Oblivion
2. The Deep Dark Woods - Jubilee (although I must admit I had to listen to it several times before fully appreciating it)
3. Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - See Saw (although there are one or two clinkers on it)

OP intended this topic to be only of new, first-time releases of 2013. Not re-releases or simply 2013 purchases. Correct?

[Diamond Dog]

Jason Isbell - Southeastern http://www.jasonisbell.com/
Elephant

The National - Trouble Will Find Me http://americanmary.com/
Every album they make is great. For a taste, try Sea of Love

Can't go wrong with these two. Southeastern in particular is an awesome piece of work. Others that impressed me this year:

David Bowie  The Next Day     
Out of nowhere, The Thin Greying Duke returns with a new album.  I think for a lot of people the fact that it wasn't cringeworthy would've been enough but no...it's much better than that. Still lovin' that cover...

The Manic Street Preachers   Rewind The Film   I don't think any of the Manics' hardcore fanbase saw this one coming - a largely acoustic album full of thoughtful and contemplative reflections on the fact that ain't none of us gettin' any younger. The title track is a stunner and the idea of bringing in the well-weathered voice of Richard Hawley to sing the lead was really inspired. Subtelty was a tool not frequently reached for in this band's toolbox...until now.

Clutch  Earth Rocker   Hard rock/metal's most rifftastic groove band gets all fierce again on a record that has that "classic album" feel to it - the combination of the tunes, the riffage, the pacing of the songs...it's all here, kids. GO NUTS !

Queens Of The Stone Age  ...Like Clockwork    Josh Homme launches the best QOTSA album since Songs For The Deaf while continuing to grow and expand the band's sound.

And more...not the worst year for music, I'd say.

D.D.

[Diamond Dog]

Oh, and one more thing...as much as it pains me to say this :     

Hey Pixies!  STFU already ! ENOUGH!

D.D.

[JerryM]

Wow, some great tunes listed. 

My favorite for the year is Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes - Baby Caught the Bus   

Smoldering hot old school. I love these girls.

Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes' latest video

Love 'em 

[ctviggen]

This is my Top Ten, but not in any particular order.

Richard Thompson:  Self titled

Do you mean Richard Thompson Electric?

http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Deluxe-2CD-Richard-Thompson/dp/B00AJLHU3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1387629797&sr=1-1&keywords=richard+thompson

This is a best of list from an "alternative" station:

http://www.wfuv.org/music/best-2013-staff-picks

I've gone through the list and put a bunch of stuff on my wish list. 

[Mike B.]

A couple of positive surprises. Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made up Mind. Much better than their first outing together IMO. Elton John: the Diving Board. I saw him perform during the Yellow Brick road period and was amazed at the talent assemble on that stage and the show they put on. But, I have placed Sir Elton in to the cabaret performer category for years, so this was a unexpected positive surprise.

[Devil Doc]

Do you mean Richard Thompson Electric?

Why yes, I did.

Doc

[Don_S]

Another vote for Joe Bonamassa: An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House

[Kenneth Patchen]

David Bowie The Next Day (extra) 2cds ... Far and away ...
Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa, SeeSaw 
Arcade Fire Relektor
Miles Davis Quintet Live in Europe 1969 
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks
John Hollenbeck/Claudia Quintet September (the CQs What is the Beautiful was my fave for 2012)
Bill Frissel, Big Sur w/Jenny Scheinman  (her Mischief and Mayhem) was 2nd on my 2012 list
Prism with Dave Holland
Bob Dylan, Another Self-Portrait ... Bob workin' on a guru
São Paulo Underground, Beija Flors Velho E Sujo
Phosphorescent Muchacho

[mgalusha]

Wow, some great tunes listed. 

My favorite for the year is Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rockettes - Baby Caught the Bus   

Smoldering hot old school. I love these girls.

Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rockettes' latest video

Love 'em 

Thanks for posting this, had not heard of them before, fabulous.

[jarcher]

Gotta say I'm really impressed with Lorde / Pure Heroine. How can a 16 year old be that "sophisticated"?

[ctviggen]

Thanks for posting this, had not heard of them before, fabulous.

Yeah, I've added them to my wishlist.  Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rockettes

[kevin360]

That depends on what you mean by 'new recordings'. By the strict definition (2013 releases), here's my top 10 ((I think) alphabetized):

Cobham, Billy / 'Compass Point' / I dig jazz-fusion, and Billy is a splendid drummer. This ensemble really cooks.

Faun / 'Von Den Elben' / Their move to a big label had an unmistakable influence on their music. A couple tracks were definitely aimed at popular radio play. Still, it has its brilliant tracks that sound every bit as inspired as anything in their catalog.
 
Hackett, Steve / 'Genesis Revisited: Live at the Hammersmith Apollo, 10th May, 2013' / The live recording that wasn't possible in the early days of Genesis. The trick in striving for a flawless performance (in time and in tune) is in not stripping the emotion from the performance. I think this toes the line nicely. I have varied opinions on the various vocalists, but the idea works, overall.
 
Haken / 'The Mountain' / This is a must have for anyone who considers him(her)self a fan of prog rock. Those familiar with Haken will already own it. The remainders should familiarize themselves.

Hiromi / 'Move' / The CD jacket indicates 2012, but Amazon states 2013 (and I got it this year), so I'll count it. This is a superb trio. This is a superb album. The last track, '11:49 PM', is simply gorgeous.
 
Jethro Tull / 'Benefit' / No, this isn't new, except in the sense that it has been tweezed by Steven Wilson. Hey, it was released in 2013 and the tweezing has created a 'new recording'. I find it an improvement, although I do find the changed songs to be jarring. After enough listens, I'll learn to anticipate the new album structure, but the old one is pretty deeply embedded in my brain.

Levin, Minnemann, Rudess / 'Levin, Minnemann, Rudess' / If Tony Levin plays on it, I buy it. This isn't my favorite work with which he was associated, but I like it.

Rose Windows / 'The Sun Dogs' / It sounds like it could have been recorded in the early '70s - heavenly days, indeed.

Wilson, Steven / 'The Raven that Refused to Sing' / If Midas touches it, I want it. There is not a moment's disapointment in this release. It's poignant, weighty stuff, but it's not cheesy about it.

Wilson, Steven / 'Drive Home' / It's really a supplement to the aforementioned - if you find that one essential, then you'll want this one too.