Beautiful sounds – The best music I heard in 2013 was from Louisiana

Each day, I’m searching and listening for my next favorite song. My attention wanders from song to song, and my thirst is never quenched. Ask any co-worker I’ve ever had, and they’ll tell you: “Matt has his headphones on all the time.”

2013 had some big, over-hyped, major label releases. You can see the lists coming in all over the place.

However, as each year passes, I find myself going back to give repeated listens to what local musicians are doing.

Make no mistake, 2013 was a stellar year for Louisiana music. More specifically, 2013 showed off the trifecta of Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans and how each city has musicians with impeccable taste.

I could do what other writers do and give you a list of nationwide albums I loved.

But with 2013 drawing to a close, it’s better to step back and take another listen to what Louisiana offered. Below are just a few more reasons why this region’s music is that much more important.

In Baton Rouge:
England in 1819, Fireball Electric Tomorrow
An electronic symphony recorded by brothers Andrew and Dan Callaway. Listen here.

Kevin Gates, Stranger Than Fiction
A vital mixtape from the Capital City that made heads turn across the country. Listen here.

Secret Annexe, Deviations
Lifers of the scene return with their fourth album of lush alt-rock. This album is available to stream on Spotify and available for purchase on iTunes.

Family Robot Seizure Show, Doom Falcon
Deranged and utterly entertaining electro-hard rock from Sam Terito and Brandon Dooley. Listen here.

Melters, various songs
Though this local punk band didn’t release a full-length or an EP, the songs that were released through the group’s Bandcamp page are making me drool and head-bang.

Joshua Polk, Beauty School Dropouts
Local alt-rock in the vein of Robert Pollard and Guided by Voices—lo-fi and full of hooks that will be lodged in your brain. Listen here.

The Hitchhiker, Get Into It
A blast of classic rock ‘n’ roll that’s even better live. Listen here.

Baby Boy, Baby Boy 2013
Furious post-punk heaviness from an underrated group of vets. Listen here.

Minos the Saint, Minos the Saint
An eclectic six-song disc from one of the harder-working bands in the area. Listen here.

Liam Catchings and The Jolly Racket, Secular Music
Rock ‘n’ roll covered in older decades’ dusty sounds and mood. Listen here.

Clay Parker, Any Old Time
Country music steeped in tradition and love, rather than the cliché and cheese of the current country music that comes through your radio speakers. Listen here.

Pacifico, Without Heroes
Punk-pop bliss from East Coast transplant Matthew Schwartz. Listen here.

Secret Smoker, Terminal Architecture
Emotive hardcore music from a group of ageless punk rockers. Listen here.

Via surrounding areas:
Brass Bed, The Secret Will Keep You
No joke, probably the best thing I’ve heard this year. There’s a reason NPR and numerous others started getting hip to this Lafayette band—it’s because they’re that good. This album is available to stream on Spotify and available for purchase on iTunes.

Royal Teeth, Glow
The Lafayette/Baton Rouge/New Orleans pop-rock band toured relentlessly behind this sugary-sweet gem. You’ll be hearing more from them in 2014, for sure. Listen here.

Brother Dege, How to Kill a Horse
Another dark swamp album of songs that could be used in a future Tarantino film (his music was already featured in Django Unchained. This album is available to stream on Spotify and available for purchase on iTunes.

Northside Eric and the Southside Playboys, KING
Rowdy rock ‘n’ roll with a little bit of Cajun flavor from Lafayette. Listen here.

Roman Discipline, ACTS I
A bit of goth rock from Lafayette that’s full of dirt, grime and synth sheen. Listen here.

The Onlies, Open Road
Roots music from an up-and-coming Lafayette band that gets better with each subsequent release. This album is available to stream on Spotify and available for purchase on iTunes.

The Tomatoes, Into the Blackout
This New Orleans trio’s latest EP is one of the better rock discs of the year. There are flashes of Petty, Springsteen, Oasis and AC/DC peppered throughout this one. This album is available to stream on Spotify and available for purchase on iTunes.

The Junior League, You Should Be Happy
Classic power-pop jingles from Joe Adragna and company out of New Orleans. Listen here.

From out-of-towners who still call Louisiana home:
Brandon White, Brandon White’s Cuss Words
Psychedelic shoegaze with a sense of humor. Listen here.

German Error Message, The Lifting
Experimental folk from Louisiana native, Paul Kintzing. “There’s a Place” is an irresistible, ethereal piece of music. Listen here.