1. Modern Vampires of the City
Genre: Indie rock

Vampire Weekend outdid itself with its third studio album released by XL Recordings on May 14. Many publications have attributed an “experimental” sound to the record, with lead singer and lyricist Ezra Koenig using technological elements to alter voice pitch and instrumentals, as well as the standard instruments of a rock band. Singles include the pun-filled “Diane Young,” “Step,” and “Ya Hey.” The album itself is a surreal journey through themes of religion, love, acceptance, and tension, slightly dark at the edges, but manage to maintain the buoyancy of youth that made previous albums Contra and Vampire Weekend a similarly splendid experience.

2. The Electric Lady
Genre: Soul

Encompassing an incredibly diverse number of influences all across the board genre-wise, this album is Janelle Monae’s second studio album after her debut, The ArchAndroid. The album dropped on Sept. 6 through Bad Boy Records and Wonderland Arts Society with singles “Q.U.E.E.N.” featuring Erykah Badu, “Dance Apocalyptic,” and “Primetime,” which features Miguel. According to Monae on Twitter, The Electric Lady serves as parts four and five of her overarching concept Metropolis. With elements of jazz, punk, gospel, and funk, the album is truly a masterpiece.

3. Save Rock and Roll
Genre: Alternative Rock

The surprise return of Fall Out Boy delighted fans in early 2013, but starting from April 12, this new album pleased critics and both new supporters and old ones. With singles “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up),” “The Phoenix,” and “Alone Together,” the band shines, as Patrick Stump’s vocals are more commanding than ever, and lyricist Pete Wentz brings fresh metaphors to the table once again. A contrast to its previous albums, which are considerably more pop-punk in sound, Fall Out Boy manages to transcend its older styles completely.

4. Vessel
Genre: Alternative Rock/Hip-hop

Twenty One Pilots, with its release earlier in the year on Jan. 8, has risen to new heights, receiving a near-cult following in the punk community. Vessel exhibits six reworked songs from a previous album as well as six new ones. Twenty One Pilots, with Tyler Joseph on vocals, rapping, keyboard, ukelele, and more, and Josh Dun on drums, has outdone all previous albums in Vessel, with singles “Holding Onto You” and “House of Gold.” Joseph’s poignant lyrics touch on incredibly heavy topics, namely depression, suicide, age, loss, and redemption, through both singing and rapping. The songs are heartfelt and possess a poetic mastery that wrenches listeners’ guts. Vessel is a landmark album for the year of 2013.

5. Tape Deck Heart
Genre: Folk rock

Tape Deck Heart was released on April 22 by Interscope and showcases both ballads and fast-paced dance tracks with heavy folk and rock influences. Frank Turner’s lyrics are incomparable, with the first powerful, upbeat single “Recovery” and the second “The Way I Tend To Be.” Turner holds his head high through thick and thin and there are positive undertones on even the darkest, most pessimistic of tracks. He finds a wry optimism where others may miss it, making Tape Deck Heart a near flawless work of art.

AM
Genre: Indie Rock
The fifth studio album from the Arctic Monkeys, AM dropped on Sept. 6, having been promoted with singles “R U Mine?”, “Do I Wanna Know?”, “Why’d you only call me when you’re high?”, and “One For The Road.” Critically acclaimed, the album maintains a surreal, psychedelic overtone with a variety of guitar parts, keeping melodies fresh. Lead singer, lyricist and frontman Alex Turner sings of desire, romantic tension, and the ups and downs of contemporary urban life, often backed by fellow bandmembers’ falsetto vocals. AM also broke records in the UK as the first independent record album to debut number one on the charts within the band’s first five albums.

Salute
Genre: R&B/Pop

The poppy and glamorous Little Mix showcase its newfound maturity in sound with its second studio album Salute, with singles “Move” and “Little Me.” The album was released in the UK on Nov. 8, the four members of the girl group sharing vocals throughout. Content ranges between the pressure on women in the world, tension in relationships, and chasing one’s love. The women’s voices are incredibly powerful with layered harmonies that make Salute a true auditory pleasure.

Bankrupt!
Genre: Synthpop

The French indie band Phoenix after its previous critically acclaimed hit has scored yet another spot on the charts with Bankrupt!, released on April 19. Present in the album are both utterly danceable songs and softspoken, thoughtful ballads that still have an electric twist. Singles include “Entertainment” with an accompanying video taken from scenes of Asian dramas, and “Trying To Be Cool.” Thomas Mars on light, flowing vocals is supplemented with electronic sounds, keyboard, and guitar. “Bankrupt!” itself, the track that shares the title of the album, is almost a completely instrumental piece with vocals only starting in nearly two-thirds of the way through. Bankrupt! is a supreme thrill for the ears.

Beyonce
Genre: R&B

Beyonce Knowles’ eponymous “surprise” album, dropped at midnight on Dec. 13, is not only utterly solid in musicality, but also has artfully conducted music videos accompanying each track, all of which was shot and recorded in secret. As usual, Knowles vocals are potent and moving as she sings about the pressures faced by women in the world and other darker themes, such as insecurity, postpartum depression, and sex. Beyonce is Knowles’ fifth studio album and is just as empowering as her previous ones, succeeding especially with singles “XO” and “Drunk in Love.” Knowles’ excellence as a musician as well as her flair for the fabulous make Beyonce a hallmark album for 2013.

Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
Genre: Electronic rock

Panic! at the Disco returned on Oct. 8 with its fourth studio album Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, a delightful mix of its usual alternative rock with hiphop and electronic influences. The album forms a pleasant concoction that also serves as an extremely personal look into lead singer, lyricist, and frontman Brendon Urie’s past, present, and future. Singles are “Miss Jackson,” featuring the singer Lolo, the emotive “This Is Gospel,” and the infectious “Girls/Girls/Boys.” Urie’s vocals are forceful and drive the listener straight into the feelings underlying the keyboards and guitars. This album serves as another milestone for Panic! at the Disco, with its knack of drastically changing their sound after every album.