5 records that slipped under the radar this year

It's that time of year again; that time is album of the year list time. As always, lists spring up here, there and everywhere across the web. Of course, there is no way of finding an overall best album of the year (unless you spent £12.99 on Reflektor) but there are always a number of fantastic albums that just slip under the radar, and this is a post I've written to celebrate some of this year's greatest under-the-radar records.

Wooden Shjips - Back to Land 

Wooden Shjips are one of California's finest modern bands, and like the majority of Orange County, they make upbeat psychedelic rock. With Back to Land, the Shjips have combined their already fine tuned sound with influences in the shape Krautrock (Neu!), Shoegaze (Loop) and Steve Reich-esque minimalism to make one of 2013's greatest albums. Back to Land features my second favourite (after Telegram's Follow) song of the year; Ghouls, which at first listen sounds like a pulsating psychedelic cover of Joy Division's Interzone, which it borrows a chord progression from. Although it sounds similar throughout, the sound has much more of a togetherness than the rest of the band's back catalogue, and is very in-need of a listen.
Songs to hear: Ghouls, Back to Land, Servants

California X - California X
Staying with the Golden State (in name only- they're from Amherst, MA), 2013 also saw the release of California X's self titled debut album. Like compatriots FIDLAR, California X make scuzzy, fuzzy yet fantastic surf-inspired punk rock, and with their debut they've propelled themselves into that sort of league. California X is one of 2013's more overlooked albums, as most publications failed to even speak about its release, but don't let that fool you. California X is 34 minutes of non stop punk rock, with more adrenaline and more energy than anything any actual Californians could muster up this year, and is well worth a listen.
Songs to hear: Sucker, Spider X, Pond Rot

Public Service Broadcasting - Inform-Educate-Entertain

One of Britain's finest debuts of the year, Public Service Broadcasting combine catchy hooks with archived vocal samples in a way that is more than listenable. 2012's Lemon Jelly-inspired War Room EP showed the world that PSB were set for big things in 2013, and it didn't lie. Inform-Educate-Entertain is one of those rare albums where each track is fantastic and worthy of a single release in its own right, but on top of that, it manages to make 12 conceptually similar songs sound completely different. The album peaks with digital-release-only single Everest, which features PSB at their most synth-poppy and "lyrically" intriguing, but the entire album is well worth a go.
Songs to hear: Everest, Night Mail, Spitfire

Beach Fossils - Clash the Truth
Although well-known for being Cole Smith's band pre-DIIV, Beach Fossils are very much a fantastic band in their own right, and after 2010's self titled release, the sophomore album had a lot to live up to. Much like DIIV, Beach Fossils dabble in traditional 90's/Krautrock-inspired shoegaze, and on Clash the Truth it's more apparent than ever. Songs like Caustic Cross and Shallow make Clash... a worthy contender in any album of the year list, with their dreamy majesty, so if you haven't checked out Clash... now is a very apt time to do so.
Songs to hear: Caustic Cross, Sleep Apnea, Crashed Out

Hookworms - Pearl Mystic

The last of my Overlooked Albums of the Year comes in the shape of Pearl Mystic by Hookworms. Hookworms, like Wooden Shjips, draw influence from bands like shoegaze pioneers Spacemen 3 and Krautrock gods Neu! and like the Shjips, they've churned out one of 2013's finest alternative records. The Leeds five-piece released Pearl Mystic in March, to tremendous acclaim, with it sounding much fresher than all the rest of the year's releases combined, still. If you haven't heard the majestic masterpiece that is Pearl Mystic now a good time to begin.
Songs to hear: In Our Times, Preservation, Away / Towards

(Written by Calum Cashin)

Obviously, many fantastic albums have slipped under the radar this year and these are just a few. Comments and suggestions are more than welcome, but I can't advice you heavily enough to check these 5 records out. Enjoy.