[Click to jump to Matt Masin's list, Bridget McQuillan's list or Chloe Ekberg's list.]

BEST NATIONAL ALBUMS

1. Yeezus by Kanye West

Kanye West has made himself ubiquitous. Never have I seen such heated conversations about the merits and definitions of art from casual observers as I have with Yeezus. It’s invigorating. His seventh studio album comes as his most clever, most vicious, most arrogant, most genre-pushing effort yet, as well as his most divisive. Is he a childish idiot or a master of his craft? While I fall somewhere on the “master of his craft” side, I don’t think debate matters. What matters is that Kanye does what he wants, and people pay attention.

2. Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend

When Vampire Weekend first garnered national attention with their afro-beat prep-pop tracks of 2008’s Vampire Weekend, it was hard to imagine what else the band could do. They arrived on the scene with a fully-realized sound. They’re a band that studied their predecessors and blended the influences into catchy, well-informed pop songs. 2010’s Contra only galvanized that impression. But Modern Vampires of the City sees a more mature Vampire Weekend, with a greater taste for subtlety. Where they could have redrawn their approach, they instead expand the limits of their own sound.

3. The Electric Lady by Janelle Monae

There isn’t a lot that I can say about Janelle Monae that hasn’t been said. The Electric Lady is nothing short of masterful, modern pop. And, in a pop music world dominated by figureheads like Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Beyonce, it’s refreshing to find an album so rich with meaningful collaboration. When Erykah Badu and Solange appear on tracks, it’s not because Janelle wants to do someone a favor or bolster her own credibility, it’s genuine collaboration. By that same token, Random Access Memories by Daft Punk should be a contender here.

BEST NEBRASKA ALBUMS

Listen to Hear Nebraska staff writer Chance Solem-Pfeifer and I discuss our favorite Nebraska albums (and a few other special awards) for 2013 here:

BEST CONCERTS

1. Universe Contest for Lincoln Calling at Duffy’s Tavern

The final show of this year’s Lincoln Calling festival took place at the intersection of circumstance, camaraderie and talent. It was the last show of a fantastic week of live music. It was hundreds of people supporting and enjoying one local band. It was a talented, riotous band playing their home stage with a newly configured and stupor-inducing light show. Like any Universe Contest show, it was a party to bring the house down. And that’s all before the crowd was invited on stage and a snare drum was hurled through the air in the show’s final, apocalyptic moments. Check out the proof here.

2. Jonathan Richman at The Waiting Room

If there was one anti-Universe Contest show in 2013, Jonathan Richman’s March appearance at The Waiting Room may have been it. Since his proto-punk days in the Modern Lovers 30 some years ago, Richman has gotten softer and softer. At The Waiting Room, he appeared with only an acoustic guitar and a tired looking drummer, playing brushes on a snare and ride cymbal. It would have been easy for one or two of the 20 or so people in attendance to drown him out by coughing or dropping a glass or laughing at a whispered joke. But none did. All eyes were on Richman as he danced somberly and sang sadly “I Was Dancing in a Lesbian Bar,” an originally rocking tune turned this time into a solemn ballad of broken nostalgia.

3. Tim Kasher at Vega

Tim Kasher’s final stop on his tour for Adult Film might have been a less warm homecoming than expected. Had the show been in Omaha, surely the city’s veteran rocker would have drawn a larger crowd. But as it was, the crowd was small. A table of unaware drinkers sitting near the stage laughed and talked over most of his set. Maybe that’s what made the show: Where I expected a drove of people all toting copies of Cursive’s Domestica on vinyl, I got instead a small group of casual but intensely interested fans. That’s not to mention the soft spot I have for Vega’s awesome sound system and shiny newness (and also I’m employed there). Most memorable moments include an acoustic take on Cursive’s “The Recluse” and a purely Kasher-ified version of The Faint’s “The Geeks Were Right.”

by Matt Masin

BEST NATIONAL ALBUMS

1. MBV by My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine’s first two records came out before I was born. I can’t claim to understand the significance of a group in real time if I wasn’t alive. However, this album remains true to the My Bloody Valentine sound. There’s this big notion of reinventing album after album, which works for my second pick on this list. The thing is My Bloody Valentine didn’t need to reinvent. The music is something that isn’t made by too many bands right now.

We’re in a new age of music ownership/listening, downloads are down and streaming is up, CD sales are down, vinyl sales are up. We’re seeing a reemergence of reissues and older artists making headway into younger audiences. 2013 was filled with comeback albums, some great, some not-so-great. MBV was released on Groundhog’s Day and still found its way into my headphones and stereo into December, something that gives merit to the durability of an album. Whether I’m putting it on loud while walking across campus, dreaming of pushing frat bros in tank tops into the mud, or at the end of a party to debrief and recap an eventful night with good friends, MBV suited many moods.

2. Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend

Sometimes you hate a band because you can. That was why I hated Vampire Weekend from the early days of “A-Punk” and lyrics that seem incoherent like, “This feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel, too / But this feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel” from "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa." Always kind of felt like that weird genius/stupidity of Lil’ Wayne’s lyrics in teenie-bopper indie music.

Then, Modern Vampires of the City came out. I denied listening to it, didn’t even give it a chance. Months passed, by and I still didn’t care. It wasn’t until my roommate played “Hannah Hunt” that I unknowingly gave a shit. It was one of those moments where you ask someone who a song is by and then think to yourself, “Shit, don’t act like you like it. You can’t like this.” But I did like “Hannah Hunt.” I liked it a lot. I’d listen to it while riding my bike to class everyday in September, wishing the crescendo at the end lasted just a minute longer.

Modern Vampires of the City became the album I’d throw on. I'd play tracks like “Diane Young” at parties where mainly boys in cowboy boots and belt-strapped pliers were at, hoping to see a few of those boots tapping the floor, or hoping the get the shit beat out of me, because that would be a good story.

3. Victim of Love by Charles Bradley

First off, holy shit. Bradley is an awesome dude. The man was a James Brown impersonator for years on years before ever trying his own music. Being 65 and breaking into the international music scene isn’t done every year. It’s even more strange to consider the type of music Bradley is making. Soul/funk and R&B is by no means the popular music in today’s musical zeitgeist where genres have more hyphens than adjectives.

Victim of Love also was an early album in the year (April) and came at a perfect time for the sounds on the record. “Strictly Reserved for You” pairs nicely with a rompus night of wine drinking and love making and equally as well with warm Summer nights driving to nowhere, with no one. You can cry to it, and you can fuck to it, something that always makes a great album.

I’d be daft not to mention the videos that helped make this album blow up. Bradley has character, and he’s an accessible musician who seems truly grateful for his late in life success, as it stands today. The Menahan Street Band is the perfect fit for Bradley’s vocals and songs like the title track, "Victim of Love," can transport you back to a James Carr-era soul show with a thick cloud of cigar smoke and for some reason more candles than you can fathom or understand.

BEST NEBRASKA ALBUM

1. Dust in Wire by Kill County

BEST CONCERTS

1. Sidewalk Chalk at The Zoo Bar

2. FIDLAR and Wavves at The Waiting Room

photo by Matt Masin

3. The Joy Formidable at Outer Harbor (Buffalo N.Y.)

4. Flaming Lips at Maha Music Festival

Honorable mention: (Public Enemy, but I fainted before the first song was over)

photo by Matt Masin

by Bridget McQuillan

BEST NATIONAL ALBUMS

1. White Lighter by Typhoon

I’ve been in love with this band since I found out about them about a year and half ago. This Tiny Desk Concert they did in a hotel lobby at SXSW in 2011 is probably my most-watched YouTube video of all time. I eagerly awaited the release of White Lighter and it’s easily been my most-listened to album this year. With 11 band members, and an array of instruments on top of heartfelt songs that explore real, heart-wrenching aspects of humanity, this album is one that will be on my favorites list for a while.

2. Repave by Volcano Choir

In my opinion, anything that Justin Vernon touches turns to gold. I liked Volcano Choir’s first album enough, but this second album has been one of my most played this year. “Byegone” absolutely blows it out of the water. I’ve spent quite a few road trips with that song on full blast.

3. Sleep In Water by Snakadaktal

This 5-piece from Australia is by far my favorite band discovery this year. Their debut album has been on repeat for most of the past couple months (really… I rarely listen to anything else at this point). “The Sun II” and “Sleep” are my current favorites.

BEST NEBRASKA ALBUMS

1. Twinsmith by Twinsmith

2. Come On by Tie These Hands

3. See Through Dresses by See Through Dresses

BEST NATIONAL SONGS

1. “Let Go” by RAC

2. “Espeon” by PHOX

BEST NEBRASKA SONGS

1. “The Thrill” by Twinsmith

I love long, drawn-out songs that build up to something really amazing in the end. “The Thrill” is just that. I love it recorded, and I really love it live.

2. “Sideways Lightning Blues” by Jack Hotel

The first time I heard this song was when I was shooting video of Gunter Voelker performing it at Bold Nebraska’s solar barn recording in November. It’s been in my play queue since.

BEST ALBUM ART

1. Flowers by Sin Fang

2. The Sweep by Natureboy

BEST CONCERTS

1. Typhoon at The Waiting Room

I’ve been waiting to see this band live for a long time. The entire 11-piece band finally made the trip to the midwest and played one of the most beautiful live shows I’ve ever seen.

2. Sigur Ros at the Gorge

I never got super excited about Sigur Ros, but somehow I ended up being front row center for their show at Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge in Washington. I spent the entire show staring at the band’s visuals and taking in the music.