12. Jason Molina: Captain Badass

The top songs, albums and artists influencing an incredible year in music

When Darkside remixed the entirety of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories this summer, it was clear they were warming up to something much bigger. Producer Nicolas Jaar and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington have been concocting a musical experiment since their 2011 EP, and new singles “Golden Arrow” and “Paper Trails” are evidence their work will continue to blur genres and break new ground in electronic music. …

2. George Jones: He Stopped Loving Her Today

The top songs, albums and artists influencing an incredible year in music

After 71 colorful years, the immensely influential musician Lou Reed (born on 2 March 1942) passed away on Sunday, 27 October 2013. Not since Elvis has rock’n’roll received such a loss, and the indelible mark this distinctly talented artist left on the world is seen in the innumerable bands he inspired, the expressive music he created both as a solo act and with The Velvet …

3. Commander Chris Hadfield: Space Oddity

The top songs, albums and artists influencing an incredible year in music

Known as much for his love of cocaine and whiskey as his incredible ability to write and perform, country music legend George Jones passed away on 26 April 2013 at 81 years old. His discography includes a mountain of number one hits, many of them duets with one-time wife Tammy Wynette, and he will remain a paragon of the classic country sound. You can hear …