So much cool 2013 music is out there to be heard people. We got new Iggy & the Stooges, new Strokes, new Kid Kudi, new Ra Ra Riot, and new Tomahawk. The soundtrack for The Great Gatsby appears to not suck, and allegedly, the Vampire Weekend record that just came out is quite good (although I’ve only heard a few tracks). While you patiently wait for the new Daft Punk album to drop tomorrow, here’s a list of ten solid albums you may have missed this year. Spotify can’t make all your decisions in life, you know. ATOMS FOR PEACE “AMOK” – Atoms For Peace – AMOK Thom Yorke and Flea are in a band together? Yeah, we got it. The real surprise here is that the record kicks ass. It plays way better than Yorke’s 2006 release The Eraser, which was the impetus for this project. The songs are much more cohesive and the performances are much tighter. The beats here are blippy, big and heavy and the bass playing locks in so beautifully that all EDM artists should take note of these old rockers. The crisp Nigel Godrich-produced sound makes it feel absolutely smashing on the ears. A real treat. Radiohead still puts out great records, but I’m much more interested in seeing what the future has in store for Atoms For Peace. I hope Yorke gives this new group time to evolve into a cohesive unit.   THE JOY FORMIDABLE “WOLF’S LAW” – The Joy Formidable – Wolf’s Law Head of BBC Radio 1 George Ergatoudis recently proclaimed that “guitar music is definitely on the way back.” If The Joy Formidable, Foals, and Palma Violets is what he’s talking about, then I’m all in. Welsh alt-rock trio The Joy Formidable have been popping around promoting their records for about six years now. The bulls-eye was hit with this new release, packed with tunes that twist and turn and go all kinds of places. Nineties rock styles are highlighted but never dominate the modern sound. Singer Ritzy Bryan can’t weigh ninety pounds, but she can smash a guitar as good as Townshend or Cobain any day. Where she has them beat is she does it with big a fat grin on her face. This record makes me smile every time I put it on. Isn’t that what it’s all about, at the end of the day? Recommended tracks include “Maw Maw Song,” “The Leopard And The Lung” and “Cholla.”   FOALS “HOLY FIRE” – Foals – Holy Fire Foals bring a fire to guitar rock that I’ve not heard in awhile. This album rules from top to bottom.  The rhythmic qualities separate it from its peers. Not only does it rock, but it grooves too. This is one dance-y guitar band. I have little to say about this, except that you should check it out. So check it out. I’ll wait here. Recommended tracks include “Inhaler,” “My Number” and “Late Night.”   PALMA VIOLETS “180” – Palma Violets – 180 The Palma Violets are a good, old-fashioned rock and roll band in a lot of ways. The sound of 180 evokes classic fifties and sixties records. Think modern kids channeling Velvet Underground, re-filtered backwards in time through Eddie Cochran. I understand that might take some imagination but fuck it, just listen. The creamy B3 organs and washed out fuzz guitars of yesteryear are a welcomed inclusion to the sound of 2013, and the old-school crooner vocals are full of win. The Palma Violets were critical darlings at this years SXSW and this album justifies the hype. The songs are stellar, the production is slick and the band sounds great. Top notch debut from these newbies. Recommended tracks include “Best of Friends,” “Step Up For The Cool Cats” and “Rattlesnake Highway.”   EELS “WONDERFUL, GLORIOUS” – Eels – Wonderful, Glorious (Deluxe Edition) I feel like I’ve waited a...