Jon Niles' 2013 Playlist: Drake, The National and Tennis

15. "It All Feels Right" by Washed Out
This was the year of the triumphant return on Washed Out (A.K.A. Ernest Greene). 2013's Paracosm transformed Washed Out from "the band that did the Portlandia ­theme" to a musical exploration of the "chillwave" genre that it has championed for some time. The record's opening track "It All Feels Right" is an incredible mix of samples, effects, real instruments and the sullen voice of Greene letting us know how music is supposed to come together.

14. "Closer" by Tegan and Sara
Tegan And Sara's 2013 release, Heartthrob, was a perfect tribute and celebration of the heydays of pop music. Though the twin sister musical duo is known mostly for their songs of heartbreak bordering on the pop-indie spectrum of today's music, Heartthrob completely embraces pop and it works so well. Their hit "Closer" is a perfect example of how to make a pop song.

13. "Take The Night Off" by Laura Marling
Laura Marling is a storyteller that happens to be an incredible singer and guitarist. "Take the Night Off," the opening track off of her latest release Once I Was an Eagle, exemplifies desperation in love and lust. Powerful swells and diving drops in the music make this track one of the year's best.

12. "Hold On, We're Going Home" by Drake
If this song doesn't appear on somebody's list, that person is a liar or he/she hasn't heard the most incredible song of Drake's career. He doesn't even appear on the song! Nothing Was the Same will surely top plenty of lists this year and this song is the reason why.

11. "Take A Fall For Me" by James Blake
James Blake is a pioneer, sure, but he's an acquired taste. His 2013 release Overgrown had plenty of great songs, but his collaboration with Wu-Tang founder RZA was by far the most impressive and most heartbreaking. Listen to RZA's rap and try not to deem this the saddest rap you've ever heard.

10. "Sea of Love" by The National
The National is great at making fans explore the deeper parts of the heart and letting the sadness take over. But what happens when they release a single that focuses on another emotion, not often explored by the band? "Sea of Love," one of the many hits off of Trouble Will Find Me, explores aggression in a way The National could only do.

09. "Cover All Sides" by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Fly By Wire is an album of a band that was not sure what its future would hold. Inspiration and support led Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin to make this album full of incredible reminders of why the indie outfit has been turning out lo-fi sing-alongs for so long. "Cover All Sides" transports fans back to the band's early days and shows how the songwriting themes of the 1960s were perfect.

08. "We Hit A Wall" by Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Wolfe's Pain Is Beauty is one of the year's hardest and most impressive albums. Using aspects of metal and folk, Wolfe's track "We Hit a Wall" resonates in your chest with every drum hit and every aching vocal strain.

07. "Gun" by CHVRCHES
2013 was definitely the year of Chvrches. This Scottish synthpop trio exploded onto the music scene with one song and had to meet the demand for more. That led to The Bones of What You Believe, an album that will surely make many "top" lists this year, but not mine. Overall I felt the album was underwhelming but there's no denying how great a handful of the songs were. "Gun" is the most straightforward example of synthpop from the group, with an upbeat hook and incredibly dark lyrics.

06. "The Fall" by Rhye
Rhye brings listeners back to the days of 1990s soul and R&B, elegantly constructed by Robin Hannibal and Milosh. "The Fall" lands right after the opening track of Woman and is a great second taste of what Rhye aims to do for the listener. This is by far the sexiest song of the year.

05. "Border Line" by King Krule
How long have we been waiting for King Krule's first full-length album, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon? Before you start trying to remember, it's 3 years and boy did 19-year-old Archy Marshall deliver. "Border Line" shows how the young performer can do just more than impress you with his accent-heavy baritone voice. Marshall is a songwriter first and foremost; mature beyond his years with an incredible future ahead of him.

04. "100 Lovers" by Tennis
Tennis' Small Sound EP hit in the later months of 2013, almost going unnoticed by most. What's so great about this 5-song release is that it is labeled so poorly with that title. "100 Lovers" is the loud, immersing final track of this EP and it is Tennis at its best. The bassline alone is reason to include it on any "top" lists this year, but the lyrics of past loves (no matter how high the number) echo within everyone's mind.

03. "Amends" by Braids
Flourish//Perish, the 2013 release from Canadian art rock outfit Braids, is the maybe the closest we'll get to capturing music straight out of dreams. "Amends" is the kind of song that makes you wonder how it came together to create such a composition. A simple, drone mentality leads the tune with mesmerizing vocals eventually growing into a slow explosion of soundscapes.

02. "A New Life" by Jim James
My Morning Jacket's frontman Jim James finally released a solo album after years of teasing. Regions of Light and Sound of God is James' way of showing the world that he can create something new and enthralling outside of his rock band. "A New Life" is a song that evokes tears, reflection and hope as it progresses from a vocal-driven tune into a swaying overture. This will play at my wedding and that is one of the easiest decision's I've ever made.

01. "Colombia" by Local Natives
Hummingbird shows the evolution of Local Natives, a band most known for harmonies and simplicity, exploring more dynamics and layers in their songs. "Colombia," the song that clearly marks the final few songs of the album, dives headfirst into loss. A hard topic to tackle, these lyrics are a perfect allegory for the concept. Adding a layer of reflection, the lyrics ask, "am I giving enough?" in the first chorus, then changing it to "loving" for the second. Try not to look inside of yourself during this song.