It just must be the time of the year for announcing one's albums of the year, as Rolling Stone has also released its list of the best 50 records for 2013 (Music Times will publish its list December 21). SPIN also published its own list of best records this week, as we reported yesterday. Considering the number of albums released during the year, there was a decent amount shared, relatively, within the Top 5 of both publications.
Vampire Weekend performed admirably on SPIN's list, placing no. 3 with Modern Vampires in The City, but the album took the top prize on Rolling Stone's list. It's the band's second big finish with Rolling Stone, after its Contra was ranked the sixth best album of 2010.
Kanye West placed highly on both lists as well, taking no. 2 on Rolling Stone's report and no. 1 overall with SPIN. If West is bitter about the loss to Vampire Weekend, he can look back to 2010 when his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy came in at the top spot.
The rest of the finishers were a little more shook up, although most garnered praise from both publications. Daft Punk and Random Access Memories placed at no. 3 (SPIN had it at no. 19), and The Arcade Fire placed no. 5 with Reflektor in Rolling Stone (versus a no. 37 finish in the opposing magazine).
The only true source of conflict was Paul McCartney. Rolling Stone, which is known for paying special attention to the artists that made it the hallmark name in music coverage during the '60s, ranked McCartney's New at no. 4. Not to say that SPIN wasn't receptive to the former Beatles' work, but it just wasn't having it in its Top 50.
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