In the last moments of poise before the internet music machine squats down and shits out 2013, I’d like to take a look back at three great artists who came up this past year. I’d venture to say they all produced under-appreciated records, but to be honest I’m nauseated by music journalism so probably I’m unqualified to make statements like that or to write about music at all, but hey, I’m just here playing my trumpet. Let’s finish this up before I puke in my lap.

1991

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The self-titled debut from Swedish producer Axel Backman (aka 1991) is beautiful and screwed and dark. On the single “Open To The Dark,” a well placed snippet of The Cure’s “Charlotte Sometimes” loops amid 1991’s spiraling analog haze in a manner that defines the record’s best moments.