All Songs Considered

Our no. 1 songs: 2013

October 13, 2025

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  • The hosts of "All Songs Considered" are celebrating the show's 25th anniversary by reviewing their number one songs, focusing specifically on the year 2013 in this segment. 
  • Casey Musgraves' song "Follow Your Arrow" was a significant pick for 2013, noted for its revolutionary sentiment in mainstream country music, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ themes. 
  • James Blake's song "Retrograde" from the album *Overgrown* was highlighted as a peak moment for the artist, praised for its crystalline voice and thematic depth related to its title. 

Segments

Episode Introduction and Context
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(00:00:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The “All Songs Considered” 25th anniversary feature continues by reviewing the number one songs from 2013.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson introduce the segment focusing on their top songs from 2013 as part of the show’s 25th anniversary celebration. The episode notes that explicit language is contained within the recording. The hosts immediately begin reviewing their selections for that year.
Casey Musgraves’ 2013 Song
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(00:00:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Casey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow” from Same Trailer, Different Park was a breakthrough single that featured a revolutionary sentiment for mainstream country music in 2013.
  • Summary: The song features lyrics encouraging listeners to ‘kiss lots of boys, kiss lots of girls,’ which was considered revolutionary for a mainstream country artist in 2013. This track was an early single from Musgraves’ breakthrough record, Same Trailer, Different Park. The song later gained significance when Musgraves performed it during her Tiny Desk concert on the day the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.
James Blake’s 2013 Selection
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(00:03:45)
  • Key Takeaway: James Blake’s “Retrograde” from the album Overgrown solidified his position as a mega talent, featuring a perfect, resonant voice.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson selected James Blake’s “Retrograde” from the album Overgrown, which followed his self-titled debut. The host praised Blake’s voice as crystalline and warm, conveying real emotion. The term ‘retrograde’ is explained as an object appearing to move in the opposite direction of its surroundings, mirroring a sonic effect in the song’s chorus.
Sponsor Break
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(00:06:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The segment pauses for advertisements from Schwab, Rince, Adobe, and LPL Financial.
  • Summary: The podcast takes a break featuring several sponsors. Schwab promotes investing smarter with market insights and human help. Rince offers laundry service to free up time for passions like creating charcuterie spreads. Adobe introduces the AI-powered PDF features in the new Acrobat Studio. LPL Financial focuses on providing control over one’s financial future.
Backup Song Picks Discussion
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(00:09:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Robin Hilton’s backup pick for 2013 was “Look, the Sun Is Rising” by The Flaming Lips from their album The Terror.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton revealed his backup song, which Stephen Thompson had previously given him ‘grief’ over due to his obsession with it. The song is “Look, the Sun Is Rising” from The Flaming Lips’ 2013 album, The Terror. The hosts then briefly mention other contenders for the year.
Other 2013 Contenders
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(00:10:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Typhoon’s “Young Fathers” and The Front Bottoms’ “Twin Size Mattress” were strong contenders, reflecting the continuing stomp-clap era.
  • Summary: Typhoon’s song “Young Fathers” from the album White Lighter was noted for its booming chorus of voices singing in unison. The Front Bottoms’ track “Twin Size Mattress” was cited as one of the better divorce songs of the 21st century and exemplified the stomp-clap era continuing from previous years. Dessa’s song “Fighting Fish” was also mentioned as a favorite from that year.
Final Song and Wrap-up
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(00:14:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The segment concludes with a clip of Sun Kil Moon’s “Easy” and a final song by Dessa, before transitioning to the end credits.
  • Summary: The hosts played a clip of Sun Kil Moon’s “Easy” from the album Lanterns, which was a bigger hit for them. The episode ends with Dessa’s song “Fighting Fish” playing over the closing remarks. Robin Hilton thanks Stephen Thompson, and they sign off until the next installment covering 2014.