JPU Matt’s Top 5 Albums of 2013
9 December, 2013 1 Comment
Last week we caught up with JPU Records’ sparkly assistant Chriss for her top five albums of 2013, which includes its fair share of visual kei, glam rock and electro-pop cheese. Next up on the firing squad is JPU Matt: salesman extraordinaire. If you’ve ever visited the JPU Records shop at events, he’s probably the reason you’ve over spent and ended up going home with way more CDs than you set out to get. When not at the shop you’ll probably find him shouting at the Japan Underground DJ to play his favourite songs, or front-row of a random gig somewhere in the UK. Here are his top five albums of the year:
A Day To Remember – Common Courtesy
“A relatively late entrance into the running as the album only got a physical release on November 25th but an instant hit in my books. This album is crammed full of heavy hitting riffs and powerful acoustic tracks. Every song has a story to tell and the band tell it well.”
Outstanding tracks – Violence (Enough is Enough), End Of Me.
Buy from Amazon: Regular Edition, Digital Edition.
BOOM BOOM SATELLITES – EMBRACE
“Mixing rock and electro can some times go horribly wrong but BOOM BOOM SATELLITES have been doing it fantastically for years, and this new offering is no exception. What could be better than buying a new album and finding a cover of your favourite Beatles song? (not much in the musical world that’s for sure!) The band’s cover of ‘HELTER SKELTER‘ is one of the best versions I have ever heard. From the first beats of the opening track ‘ANOTHER PERFECT DAY‘ you know that you are in for more of what BBS do best, powerful tracks with smooth deep vocals. For me this is the best album to put on when I’m going on a long drive, pump up the volume and lets go!”
Outstanding Tracks – BROKEN MIRROR (<-official music video), FLUTTER.
Buy from Amazon: European Special Edition, Digital Edition, Japanese Limited Edition.
Buy direct from JPU Records (worldwide shipping).
Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal
“Bring Me The Horizon are one of those bands you either love or hate, upon hearing that a new album was coming out I wasn’t bothered at all. But on a suggestion from a friend I took a listen to the opening track ‘Can You Feel My Heart‘ and fell in love. Much like the band’s last album, this outing is more ‘lyrical’ with less flat out screaming and more singing. Catchy, easy to learn choruses mean that you will have each song stuck in your head for days, and will most likely be singing them at the top of your lungs every time they come on!”
Outstanding tracks – Sleepwalking (<-official music video), Hospital for Souls.
Buy from Amazon: Regular Edition, Vinyl Edition, Digital (Deluxe) Edition.
Ling tosite sigure – i’mperfect
“This album is definitely a grower at first I wasn’t too sure but after 2 or 3 listens i started to love it! If you have never had the pleasure of listening to Ling tosite sigure this album is a great place to start, it gives you a perfect example of what the band are all about and shows off there indie/ hardcore style. Straight off the bat you are thrown into the hectic world of TK and his band with opening track ‘Beautiful Circus‘, It’s unlike anything I had heard before! Raw guitar riffs and male/female fairly high pitched vocals make a great mix and invite you into a world of rock wonder!”
Outstanding Tracks – Metamorphose, Sitai miss me.
Buy from Amazon: Regular Edition, Digital Edition.
Buy direct from JPU Records (worldwide shipping).
ONE OK ROCK – Jinsei×Boku=
“This album is a perfect mix of head banging floor fillers and Lighter in the air ballads, every track leads you into the next right to the end. Seeing ONE OK ROCK live in October was one of the musical highlights of my year and has me counting down the days till they return to a UK venue.”
Outstanding Tracks – ONION!, Nothing Helps.
Buy from Amazon: Regular Edition. Buy from iTunes: Digital Edition.
Next time we’ll speak to JPU found Tom Smith on his essential albums of the year. Until then, and seeing as no tracks from A Day to Remember have been officially uploaded on YouTube, we’ll leave you with the rather excellent BROKEN MIRROR from BOOM BOOM SATELLITES instead. Enjoy. (The music starts from 39 seconds in if you’d rather not wait)
Marking their 15th anniversary, BOOM BOOM SATELLITES return to a European label with their eighth, most ambitious studio album to date: EMBRACE. Crafted in the wake of nuclear disaster, and followed by vocalist Kawashima’s own battle with a tumour to the brain, the release sees the pioneering duo pushed to their absolute limits. Match that with a cover from the Beatles and the pressure is truly on.
Japan Underground | JPU Records Ltd. 