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Transmission's Top Tracks of 2013

by Jake Rudh

December 19, 2013

Jake Rudh and Johnny Marr
Jake introduced Johnny Marr to the Varsity Theater stage on April 23, 2013.
Mercedes Rudh

Transmission's roots are in the worlds of post-punk, new wave, synth, power & dream pop, shoegaze, psych, mod, space and Krautrock.

Here's a list of artists who carried on those sounds nicely in 2013 (in no particular order). Some broke through to the masses while others are still waiting their turn.

Remember to submit your favorites songs of 2013 for a chance to win an iPad Mini and tune in Dec. 31 to hear the countdown of this year's Top 89.

Johnny Marr — "New Town Velocity"

It's not a stretch that the man behind the music of the Smiths made Transmission's top of the list two years in a row. This track especially brings up the guitar chime we all love about Mr. Marr in the first place.

David Bowie — "I'd Rather Be High"

At 66, David Bowie is still one of the most innovative artists creating new material today.

Savages — "Husbands"

The raw, dark, post-punk feel of Savages' entire debut this year is exactly what 2013 needed.

Depeche Mode — "Should Be Higher"

This track is proof that Depeche Mode has lost nothing since their 1981 inception. Nothing. Well, besides Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder...but you know what I mean.

Parquet Courts — "Borrowed Time"

Long live great rock and roll!



The rest (in no particular order):

The Ocean Blue — "Sad Night, Where Is Morning?"

Minks — "Margot"

Ski Lodge — "Just to Be Like You"

The Proctors — "Trouble with Forever"

Wild Nothing — "The Body In Rainfall"

Cults — "High Road"

Frankie Rose — "Sorrow"

Veronica Falls — "Waiting For Something To Happen"

Saturday Looks Good To Me — "Invisible Friend"

Camera Obscura — "Do It Again"

Amor De Dias — "Jean's Waving"

Deerhunter — "Back to the Middle"

The Pastels — "Check My Heart"

The National — "Graceless"

King Krule — "Easy Easy"

Arctic Monkeys — "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High"

The London Suede — "Snowblind"

Pulp — "After You"

Eleanor Friedberger — "She's a Mirror"

Phoenix — "Don't"

Club 8 — "Stop Taking My Time"

Washed Out — "It all Feels Right"

Pure Bathing Culture — "Pendulum"

Small Black — "No Stranger"

Postiljonen — "Supreme"

Still Corners — "Berlin Lovers"

Primal Scream — "Invisible City"

Paul McCartney — "New"

Midlake — "This Weight"

Jim James — "Know Til Now"

Arcade Fire — "Reflektor"

Foxygen — "San Francisco"

Jagwar Ma — "Come Save Me"

Yo La Tengo — "Well You Better"

Telekenesis — "Wires"

Smith Westerns — "Varsity"

Queens of the Stone Age — "I Sat By the Ocean"

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds — "Push the Sky Away"

Au Revoir Simone — "More Than"

Rhye — "The Fall"

Daft Punk — "Lose Yourself to Dance"

St. Vincent — "Birth In Reverse"

No Joy — "Wrack Attack"

Ducktails — "Under Cover"

Girls Names — "A Second Skin"

Part Time — "I Want to Go"

Blouse — "A Feeling Like This"

Widowspeak — "True Believer"

Mood Rings — "Pathos Y Lagrimas"

Matthew Dear — "Headcage"

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark — "Metroland"

Karl Bartos (formerly of Kraftwerk) — "Without a Trace of Emotion"

Pet Shop Boys — "Axis"

Ejecta — "Jeremiah"

Holy Ghost! — "In the Red"

Boards of Canada — "Cold Earth"

Astral Pattern — "Faraway"