Mauricio Reyes- Radio Maoheem writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2013: Mauricio Reyes

Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2013. Our next list is from DJ Mauricio Reyes.

1. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (Columbia)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   I could go on and on about this album, but I truly believe that the robots have made a timeless album. It was ballsy doing what they did. They took some artists that were sorta past their prime and made them cool again. They very easily could have used somebody more current than Pharrell(Frank Ocean?) or Paul Williams(!). That's what separates good from great. Great ones don't follow the trends, they make them. Now everyone wants to work with Nile Rodgers and be remixed by Giorgio. Now every artist is stepping up the rollout of their album(RAM's was masterful). RAM re-opened a lot of doors, and created new paths. And I think it's pretty awesome when my old roommate(who's more concerned about college football) texts me: DOIN' IT RIGHT, to which I reply: DAFT PUNK, to which he replies: PANDA BEAR.
2. Arcade Fire – Reflektor (Merge)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   When I heard that James Murphy was finally gonna help produce an Arcade Fire album, I started wagging my tail like crazy. Personally, AF's music feels like a celebration of life, like you've won something. Reflektor invites us to turn off the internet and drop our phones in the toilet so we can enjoy the party and get through this thing called life by making a real connection with our surroundings without any distractions. A few reviews hate on C/D side of the album, but I prefer the 2nd half of the album more than the 1st. To me, "Porno" is the most JM sounding song on the album. And "It's Never Over" and "Afterlife" really get me moving.
3. Mountains for Clouds – Maybe It’s Already Everywhere (Count Your Lucky Stars)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   There have been a number of articles written about the resurgence of emo this year, but all of them have majorly failed by not mentioning this album.
4. Kanye West – Yeezus (Def Jam)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   No one knows what it means. But it's provocative. It gets the people going.
5. Night Beds – Country Sleep (Dead Oceans)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Winston Yellen has one of best voices I've ever heard. His vocals during their show at the Empty Bottle back in March had jaws on the ground, including mine.
6. The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Whenever, If Ever (Topshelf)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   I honestly thought I'd be reading about the 4th wave of ska before I was reading articles about the 4th wave of emo. I guess you can say I was surprised when I opened up the Reader back in August and it was highlighting TWIABP. The band name and album cover are slightly ridiculous, in a emo way, but the album is pretty fantastic. With or without the emo tag.
7. Disclosure – Settle (Universal Island)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   I wasn't doing anything useful with my life when I was 19 or 21, which just makes this album even more impressive. Track after track, the Lawrence brothers deliver dance floor euphoria. Hearing "Latch" live at Coachella(with Sam Smith!) was my favorite concert moment of 2013.
8. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City (XL)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   Their last album didn't quite live up to their debut, but this album surpasses both of them. They've really made up for having to hear "Holiday" a zillion times on that Volkswagen commercial.
9. A$AP Rocky – LONG.LIVE.A$AP (Polo Grounds/RCA)
   BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
   
   A$AP really brings it up a notch on this one. Don't hate, that Skrillex beat on "Wild For The Night" is just ridiculous.
10. Crystal Stilts – Nature Noir (Sacred Bones)
    BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
    
    The album that's most similar to my life. Dark & Dangerous.

Honorable Mentions

• My Bloody Valentine - m b v
  Savages - Silence Yourself
  Shocked Minds - Shocked Minds
  A$AP Ferg - Trap Lord
  Roosevelt - Elliott EP
  Juan MacLean singles