We've already spread the word on what two of the biggest names in music media, Rolling Stone and SPIN, have been listening to during 2013. But what about our friends across the pond? NME has joined in the end of the year fun, releasing its own list of the Top 50 albums of the year. The bad news is that you have to buy the issue to get the full list (looks like those Brits are trying to generate a profit, something the rest of us music media types have given up on), but they were kind enough to share their Top 3 to the general public.
Perhaps there was a bit of Brit bias, but the Arctic Monkeys took the top spot with its fifth album, AM. The album hadn't been completely ignored by other publications releasing lists so far, as Rolling Stone placed it within the Top 10, but both SPIN and Stereogum didn't find the record worthy of their respective Top 50s. Regardless of opinion on the album, it's always nice to see a little bit of diversity in the market.
Especially when you consider that Kanye West was top-ranked by SPIN, Stereogum, and The AV Club (as well as second in both NME and Rolling Stone). Granted, it's a great album, but somewhere in between the thousands of records released this year, we would hope that somebody somewhere would find at least two albums better than West's. Caving to peer pressure isn't cool guys.
The album that rounds out the Top 3 for NME has appeared on every list so far, but finally makes the jump into the spotlight: Queens of The Stone Age and Like Clockwork. Salute to that band for its near universal acclaim this year.
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