Best Rock Songs Of 2013: Celebrating the best rock tunes of the year (sorry no Blurred Lines here).
Recently I covered the best rock albums of 2013 (click here to read). But now it’s time to celebrate the best songs of the year.
Some of the album’s listed produced many great tunes, but as we know in the internet era, sometimes a lopsided album only produces a handful (or less) of great tracks, and sometimes a single is all we have to satiate ourselves.
Given the spat of obnoxious pop songs of the past year, I want to celebrate some lesser appreciated rock tracks in addition to some songs that had wider appeal.
If you’d like to own any of these ear worms, I’ll have an iTunes playlist at the end of the list.
Let’s begin.
25. Sigur Ros-Kveikur
The title track to the Icelandic band’s latest album is one of their most abrasive tunes, but it still retains their haunting beauty.
Click here for my Kveikur album review
24. Red Fang-Blood Like Cream
In many ways, Red Fang’s new album feels like s step backward, but this QOTSA flavored track satisfies.
23. Monster Magnet-Mindless Ones
The stoner rock vets make one of their most immediately catchy songs to date from recent album Last Patrol.
22. Goldfrapp-Anabell
Their new album Tales Of Us’s down tempo feel alienated some fans, but why complain with music as gorgeous as this track?
Click here for my Tales Of Us album review
21. Primal Scream-2013
At 9 minutes long, this song wasn’t getting played on radio, but its message of vacant youth consumerism is a timely one, set to a groovy soundscape.
Click here for my review of Primal Scream’s album More Light
20. Wavves-Demon To Lean On
I gave these guys shit when I reviewed them for Buddyhead for being such a slavish Nirvana ripoff, but you can’t deny that Demons To Lean On is catchy as hell, even if it’s derivative.
19. Iggy And The Stooges-Burn
The new Stooges album Ready To Die,wasn’t great, but was a vast improvement over The Weirdness. And Burn is the best track, conjuring some of their patented nihilistic fury.
Click here for my Ready To Die Review
18. M.I.A.-Y.A.L.A
A hard-hitting dance groove makes for one hell of a song.
17. Alice In Chains-Stone
The new AIC album was pretty lopsided, but Stone’s seismic riff ranks amongst the band’s best.
16. Tomahawk-Stone Letter
Mike Patton and co. tap into the FNM sound for this catchy punkish-ditty off recent album Oddfellows.
Click here for my Oddfellows review.
15. Lorde-Royals
Not even I was immune to this pop song’s charm. I dig the anti-materialistic message and felt it was a cool throwback to the trip-hop era. Not bad for a 16-year-old, huh?
14. Black Sabbath-God Is Dead
The metal pioneers come back swinging on recent release 13. God Is Dead shows them very much alive.
Click here for my 13 review
13. Kavinksy-Protovision
This is the best song to a film that doesn’t exist. Kavinksy channels John Carpenter/Giorgio Moroder 80’s synth-score to euphoric effect.
Click here for my review of Kavinsksy’s album Outrun.
12. Paul McCartney and Foo Fighters-Cut Me Some Slack
One of the highlights of Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary was this awesome jam between the Foos and Sir Paul.
Click here for my Sound City soundtrack review and click here for my Sound City movie review.
11. Depeche Mode-Soft Touch/Raw Nerve
The DM boys managed to reference their synth pop beginnings and sound current at the same time with this killer electronic groove.
Click here for my Depeche Mode Delta Machine review
10. Gary Numan-Love Hurt Bleed
The industrial pioneer makes a stunning return to form on his new album Splinter, and this track features one hell of a synthetic kick.
Click here for my Splinter album review
9. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds-Push The Sky Away
Quiet devastation never sounded so beautiful as this sparse title track from the moody Aussie’s latest album.
Click here for my Push The Sky Away Album Review
8. Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy-I Wouldn’t Know
How to pick just one tune off such an amazing album as You Are Everything? Impossible, but this is my current favorite. Blissful ambient serenity.
Click here for my You Are Everything Review
7. CHVRCHES-Recover
About as good as modern electropop gets methinks.
Click here for my review of the new CHVRCHES album
6. Savages-Shut Up
Another 80’s revival band bring back the Goth dread on this caustic tune.
See where Savages album Silence Yourself ranks on my list of the Best Albums Of 2013
5. David Bowie-Valentine’s Day
There’s not one bad track on Bowie’s comeback album The Next Day (click here for my full review) but Valentine’s Day is a particular standout, featuring him at his most anthemic.
4. Placebo-Too Many Friends
Fact; if Placebo were a brand new band, this song would be on the top of everyone’s single list this year. Listen to Too Many Friends once and tell me it’s not catchy as hell.
Click here for my review of new Placebo album Loud Like Love.
3. Nine Inch Nails-Copy of A
Copy Of A proves Trent Reznor still remains a sonic force to be reckoned with.
Click here for my review of new NIN album Hesitation Marks
2. Queens Of The Stone Age-I Appear Missing
The most eerie, haunting and epic song QOTSA has recorded to date. Nuff said.
Click here for my review of QOTSA’s Like Clockwork.
1. Suede-Hit Me
The Britpop vets made one hell of a comeback with 2013 album Bloodsports, and Hit Me slaps you in the face with its sweet catchy melody.
Click here for my Bloodsports Review.
Honorable Mention: Dwight Twilley Band-Looking For The Magic
Okay, so this song first came out in the 70’s, but nobody heard it then, and it’s been given a new lease on life thanks to the You’re Next soundtrack, so it’s new to me! Power-pop perfection.
So there you have it, the SLIS list of the best rock songs of 2013.
Which songs would make you list? Tell me in the comments.
And stay tuned for more best end of 2013 lists, including movies and television.
And click here for my list of best Music Box Set Gifts of 2013.
