topten – The Concordian

Top Ten Artists to Look out for in 2013

10. Suuns

Montreal natives Suuns have recently signed on with City Records to release their first album, Images du Futur out in March. Their heavy electronica sound mixed with scratchy guitars will be featured while on tour this spring.

Trial Track: “Armed For Peace”

9. The Lumineers

Nominated for two Grammys, 2013 is sure to be a big year for The Lumineers, a folk-pop band from Denver, CO. Their catchy, sing-along tunes are firing up all around the world with tour dates planned in the U.K., Europe, Japan and Australia.

Trial Track: “Slow It Down”

8. Single Mothers

It’s hard to find a good, unapologetic punk-rock band nowadays. Fortunately, Single Mothers, the newest addition to Dine Alone Records, is making that search a lot easier. Their sound is a raw mash up of hard guitar and drums and incomprehensible vocals that are completely irresistible.

Trial Track: “Christian Girls”

7. Kitten

The L.A. electronica quartet known as Kitten opened up for No Doubt last December and just signed with Elektra Records. Although they’ve already released their EP Cut It Out, this band is just starting to catch the major attention of music aficionados and media worldwide.

Trial Track: “G#”

6. Laura Marling

Brit singer-songwriter Laura Marling is known for her poetic lyrics and captivating vocals. Marling’s fourth album, due out in February, will hopefully make her one of the most talked about female artists of 2013.

Trial Track: “Salinas”

5. Kandle

Originally from Victoria, B.C. but now based in Montreal, Kandle is quickly becoming the Canadian star to watch out for in 2013. Her haunting and sultry vocals and pensive lyrics are sure to impress anyone looking for an original yet easy sound to brighten up their winter blues.

Trial Track: “Small”

4. Chvrches

With catchy synth-pop tunes it’s easy to see why these Glasgow natives are catching the hearts and ears of music lovers worldwide. Fresh off tour with Passion Pit, Chvrches are planning on releasing their debut album sometime in 2013.

Trial Track: “The Mother We Share”

3. How To Destroy Angels

Comprised of Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and his wife Mariqueen Maandig, How to Destroy Angels is an electronica/post-industrial quartet offering a refreshing take on the haunting tunes of the NIN glory days. Their debut full-length album, Welcome Oblivion, is due out in March.

Trial Track: “The Loop Closes”

2. Peace

Hailing from Birmingham, England, this group of four indie-rockers is releasing their first full-length album this coming March. Their fun, upbeat songs are sure to please fans of bands like Foals and Vampire Weekend.

Trial Track: “Wraith”

1. Atoms for Peace

Consisting of the wonderful Thom Yorke from Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Atoms for Peace will be the band to watch out for in 2013. Little to no news has been offered with regards to the content of the upcoming album, Amok, but with a mastermind like Yorke at the helm, Atoms for Peace are sure to conquer 2013.

Trial Track: “Default”

Listen up guys and ghouls. Halloween is upon us, and you know what that means: P-A-R-T-A-Y!

In this top ten, we take a look at some of the best tunes to properly get your groove on this Halloween.

10. “My Body’s A Zombie For You” – Dead Man’s Bones

Founded by hunky movie star Ryan Gosling, Dead Man’s Bones released their monster-themed, self-titled debut in 2009 to critical acclaim. Is there anything more creepy than a choir of children shouting, “My body’s a zombie for you!” Unless you’re into that … not judging!

9. “Poor Edward” – Tom Waits

This is a song about Edward Mordrake, a 19th century heir to English nobility. He supposedly had a second face on the back of his head, which would laugh, cry and whisper to him in Satanic language. Poor Edward was driven to suicide at the age of 23.

8. “Sally’s Song” – Fiona Apple

Originally written for Tim Burton’s stop-motion masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas released in 1993. Sally was a rag doll and desperately in love with the film’s protagonist, Jack Skellington. In “Sally’s Song,” she laments her unrequited love for Jack. This song is perfect for a slow dance or a bump-in-the-night.

7. “Monster Mash” – Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers

The song is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster arises to performs a new dance called “Monster Mash”. This 1962 novelty “mash” is sure to catch on in a flash, and be a graveyard smash!

6. “In A Gadda Da Vida” – Iron Butterfly

“Wait a minute, this sounds like rock and or roll.” This 17-minute jam was famously covered in an episode of The Simpsons, as Bart exchanges the sheet music in church during Sunday mass from their usual hymns to this pipe organ-driven psychedelic rock number. An instant classic!

5. “I Put A Spell On You” – Bette Midler

Originally by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “I Put A Spell On You” was performed in the 1993 Halloween-themed comedy Hocus Pocus. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are witches executed during the Salem witch trials, who come back to life on Halloween night for one purpose: to boogie!

4. “Ghostbusters Theme” – Ray Parker Jr.

This was the theme song for the 1984 cult classic, Ghostbusters. The film features Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver as unemployed parapsychology professors who create a ghost removal service —with hilarious results. This catchy tune is sure to haunt even the most skeptical.

3. “Time Warp” – Motion Picture Cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Dust off those fishnets and corsets boys, because we’re doing the “Time Warp” again! This song was featured in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film stars British actor Tim Curry as a sexually ambiguous and flirtatious ‘Sweet Transvestite’ from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania.

2. “Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565” – J. S. Bach

Although there is nothing inherently spooky about a pipe organ, the pop culture references transcend Bach’s original intention for the piece. With references ranging from Dracula to Phantom of the Opera, this melody is definitively Halloween. (Bonus: It also makes an obnoxious ringtone!)

1. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson

Composed by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, Thriller is one of Michael Jacksons’ lasting musical legacies. This song has it all: a killer beat, catchy hooks and a dance-ability that lands this song at the top of my list. All we need is Michael to come back from the grave this Halloween to re-enact the infamous music video.