The National band portrait

Wake The Deaf’s Top Tracks of 2013

Top albums: check. Best EPs: tick. We thought it was time we put up our top tracks of 2013 too. Each of us has picked the one song that hit us hardest during the year.

Daft PunkGet Lucky

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I]

“God, I hate myself for choosing this song. The fuss around Random Access Memories was one of the most ridiculous things to happen this year – you could be forgiven for thinking the turgid 75 minute marathon record was the second coming of Christ himself. But say what you want about Daft Punk – and I will continue to do so – ‘Get Lucky’ is pretty much the perfect pop song. The production is flawless (I still gawp at Nile Rogers’ guitar tone when I listen on headphones), it’s catchier than the common cold and its groove is absolutely irresistible. If ‘Get Lucky’ doesn’t make you want to dance then I don’t know what will.” Dave

The National Graceless

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpz_gUyImhw]

“To put it simply: my favourite song from my favourite album of 2013. For a more elaborate (see: overwritten) explanation, read this post I wrote for Songsfortheday, where I analyse it in too much detail, going into medication, isolation and, uh, Facebook.” Jon

Typhoon Young Fathers

“It’s almost impossible to choose a single track from a year’s worth of music, but I’ve gone for this, from my number one album of 2013. ‘Young Fathers’ is a disjointed orchestral pop mini-epic, it’s cathartic and it’s triumphant and it embodies everything the album stands for.” Liam

Fuck ButtonsThe Red Wing

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVzdi22Bi0I]

“Taken from my favourite album of the year, ‘The Red Wing’ is not only monumental in scale, but also manages to maintain an underlying groove, as if riding on fluid foundations.” Matt

Foals My Number

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRR_pvZcu-o]

Released as a single in 2012, but released on 2013’s Holy Fire so I’m counting it. Quite simply the soundtrack to my favourite moments of 2013, whether it was blaring out and accompanying the sunrise in Split or being hummed maniacally while cycling from London to Paris. That opening guitar lick never got old.” Will