2013 has been one showstopping year of music. Album after album blew away the entertainment world. Blues, alternative pop, indie rock and everything in between was seen this year. The best artist and bands came out with some of their greatest work this year. Here’s a recap of the favorites of 2013:

January: Vessel by Twenty One Pilots– B+

What a way to kick off the year. Twenty One Pilots’ third album, Vessel was released January 8. This album launched them into the alternative rock scene. Their album ranges from a sweet, indie rock sound to harder and more energetic tracks. Twenty One Pilots has a well balanced mix between alternative and indie rock, and this album proves it. Really trying to make the music their own while still being relevant to the alternative audiences, this duo definitely mixed it up. With a unique and almost rap sound to their music, Twenty One Pilots took off with this album.

February- Atlas Genius-When It Was Now-B

After their tour with Imagine Dragons in 2012, this was a much anticipated album. Heavily indie pop, this fresh new band launched into success with their first ever album. When It Was Now is a heavily alternative album. Atlas Genius did a fantastic job of using Keith Jeffery’s smokey, coffee house voice to their advantage. Their music is laid back, but has a nice beat without being obnoxious. This album can be compared to bands like Death Cab for Cutie or Passenger. All these artists reflect an alternative/ indie sound that makes you want to jump in a VW van and take a road trip down the west coast.

March-Bad Blood-Bastille– B+

Another brand new band, these brits by the name of Bastille, took the summer by storm with their hit “Pompeii”, and the rest of their upbeat album. Daniel Campbell Smith , the lead singer of the band, has a unique and haunting voice that captivates an audience. Bad Blood took off making the #1 Top 40 Official Albums in the UK as of March 16, surpassing Mumford and Sons and Bruno Mars. Many of the lyrics to Bastille’s music are angsty, independent and often times refer to famous historic events and stories. Though reflecting negative events in history and life in general, Bastille puts a catchy beat behind each of their tracks. “Oblivion” is a beautifully written song with such emotional power behind it. This and many other tracks on the album are powerfully emotional. If listeners crave more Bastille, the album was reissued as All This Bad Blood on October 11. This includes a second disc with more tracks that didn’t make it on the first album.

April-Save Rock and Roll-Fall Out Boy-A+

A band not quite like the others creates an album that’s not quite like the others as Fall Out Boy, delights us with their fifth album, Save Rock and Roll. This album was very different from the other four albums Fall Out Boy has put out. The sound was a little more organized than their usual let loose, fiery style. Multiple artist joined them on the album including Courtney Love and Elton John. Save Rock and Roll was worth the five year wait. This album peaked at #1 on the US Billboard 200, Rock Albums, Digital Albums and Alternative Albums. Fall Out Boy definitely gave their fans something different, but different isn’t always bad. “Young Volcanoes” was especially surprising with its happy go lucky style and empowering lyrics. Overall Fall Out Boy kept us on our toes without losing themselves.

May- Thirty Seconds to Mars- Love Lust Faith+Dreams-A+

Many expected Love Lust Faith + Dreams to be a disappointment. Thirty Seconds to Mars has quickly been moving away from their original sound, but it hasn’t all been horrible. Sure if you compare “Welcome to the Universe” off their 2002 self titled album to “Pyres of Varanasi” off their most recent album you might not be sure if you are even listening to the same band. As much as Thirty Seconds to Mars has changed and grown, they still have a steady fan base. They’ve experimented with many different types of rock, and have yet to get an increasingly negative response from their fans. Love Lust Faith+ Dreams is energetic with a wide range of styles that adds to the same sort of themes as their  2009 album, This is War: Do or Die.

June-The Mowgli’s-Waiting for the Dawn-A

Talk about a perfect start to the summer. The Mowgli’s, an up and coming indie rock band, release their album Waiting for the Dawn on June 18. This funky, indie rock album is all about loving not only people, but yourself. The Mowgli’s promote making others happy and bringing joy to the people they touch with their music. This album is incredibly easy to sing along to. The songs are repetitive so listeners have a better chance to learn the lyrics and sing along. Waiting for the Dawn is a pick me up with a large band and use of simplistic, and uncommon instruments such as the melodica, kazoo and tamborines. This album exceeds it’s job of making people smile.

July- There was not an album in July worth reviewing. Much of the music released in July was unimpressive or uninteresting. Between Robin Thicke, Selena Gomez and Cody Simpson, July was a sad time to be a music enthusiast. July was overall disappointing.

August- John Mayer- Paradise Valley– A+

John Mayer hits us with more of that raw, personal and individual style. Mayer writes music like a diary and he doesn’t let it go in this perfect finish to the summer. Throughout Mayer’s career he has always delivered uniquely intimate music to his fans. This album is positive, optimistic and delivers the perfect sound for summer cruising. “Dear Marie” is beautiful storytelling and music all rolled into one. Paradise Valley debuted as #2 on The Billboard 200, and was the first Mayer album since Continuum to not debut as #1. However, you would have to search hard to find an extremely negative review of Paradise Valley. Though some aspects of the sound and style may have been different then his past albums, Mayer definitely delivered soul and depth once again.

September- Kings of Leon-Mechanical Bull– A-

On their sixth album, Kings of Leon is no newbie to the alternative rock scene. Their newest album is Mechanical Bull. This album wasn’t a let down, but it wasn’t stellar either. It was just Kings of Leon. This over a decade old rock band has an individual style that has made them successful. The Nashville natives didn’t disappoint with Mechanical Bull. They kept their sound true to the laid back, rock vibe that has never failed them before. Mechanical Bull is exactly what Kings of Leon fans want, a couple fun guitar solos, smoky vocals, and lazy day lyrics.

October-Panic! At the Disco- Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die-A+

Success once more. Panic! At the Disco has been incredibly consistent throughout their career and they stay true to that in their newest album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die. The song titles may have gotten shorter but, Brendon Urie still impresses once more with his fantastic vocal quality. Though the album is very good, it could showcase more of their musicians talent. Dallon Weekes on the bass guitar and Spencer Smith on the drums are both very impressive musicians, but this album does little to showcase that. Brendon Urie’s unique vocal qualities weren’t shown off as well as it could’ve been also. Urie has a quite impressive range that was unfortunately not represented well in this album. The entire band’s talents could certainly be utilized more to highlight their true talents.

November- The Killers- Direct Hits-B+

A “Best of-” album The Killers style. Released November 11, the album Direct Hits features some of the most popular The Killers songs of all time. Including “A Dustland Fairytale”, “Mr. Brightside” and a new song “Shot at the Night”, this album has nearly all of the best tracks in The Killers repertoire. Though a couple great songs were excluded, such as “The World We Live In” and “Here With Me” , the album really touches on the sound and style that The Killers have stayed true to. The album seems a bit premature with the youngest track being only a year old. It is not fair to call this album a “Best of”. Direct Hits is a combination of the best The Killers songs and new music that they just couldn’t wait to share with the fans.

December- Beyonce-B

Who can throw an album out into the world with little to no promotion and come back with #1 on the US Billboard 200 in less than one week? Beyonce. Her brand new, self titled album dropped a bomb on the music industry. Not only being a fierce role model and businesswoman, but a classy entertainer, this Houston native took the world by storm on December 13. Writing personal songs with guest artist such as her husband, Jay Z, her daughter Blue Ivy, and more, this album was definitely a family event. One can’t be too sure if the album’s success was based off her dedicated fan base or just the clean cut individuality of her music. We may never know, but her album sure is fierce.

Personal Rankings:

1. Save Rock and Roll-Fall Out Boy

2. Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die- Panic! At the Disco

3. Love Lust Faith + Dreams- Thirty Seconds to Mars

4. Paradise Valley- John Mayer

5. Waiting for the Dawn- The Mowgli’s

6. Mechanical Bull- Kings of Leon

7. When It Was Now- Atlas Genius

8. Bad Blood- Bastille

9. Vessel- Twenty One Pilots

10. Direct Hits- The Killers

11. Beyonce- Beyonce