Top Songs of 2013

best songs ath 2013We’ve put our pretty little heads together ladies and gentlemen to bring you our favorite songs from this past year.  It was a difficult task with our ever growing staff, but we feel like this list best represents the diverse taste of our staff.  Love it or hate it, it’s ours to call our own.  Hit play and put your head down or dance or shimmmy or drool or whatever works. Most of all we hope you hear something you missed, something you want to buy or something you want to see live.

Scroll past the playlist for full the run of the bestest songs ever this year.

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New Music from Horrible Houses

horriblehouses5.143644I do not know much about Daniel Johnsson other than he’s the man behind the music of Horrible Houses.  Really, I don’t need much other than that, as this new single from his up-coming release is so remarkable that I’d be remiss if I didn’t share it with you as soon as possible. It’s got this frolicking folk feel to it, though blended through a bit of a lo-fi edge.  There’s even this really quiet touch at the back end of the song near the 3 minute mark where you’re just listening to a man and his intricate guitar work while the vocals slowly work their way in.  This is in my top songs of the year, today. You can grab his new release Family Tapes Vol. 3 in December from Happenin Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/sun-leaving.mp3]

Download: Horrible Houses – Sun Leaving [MP3]

Pleased to Meet You: Horrible Houses

I don’t know how I stumbled upon this great little recording project, but I’m grateful that I did. If you’re looking for some low key lo-fi, then meet Sweden’s Horrible Houses.  They’ve been hard at work this summer, releasing two collections titled Family Tapes Volume I and II.  The track below is one of my personal favorites, though I’ve been spending my entire day jamming to the whole of FT Volume I. From start to finish these compilations are full of hits, and while it’s said to be sort of a basement recording you wouldn’t really be able to tell by just listening.  Sure, there’s little details that hint at the process being done in a small space, but it seems so much more than that.  I suppose that’s just the power of great songwriting.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Horrible-Houses-Haunted-Rivers-Family-Tapes.mp3]

Download:Horrible Houses – Haunted Rivers Family Tapes [MP3]