Each year provides us with a plethora of new music to enjoy and appreciate. I’m already excited for what 2024 is going to bring and I wanted to take a bit of time to reflect on a few of my favourite albums from 2023. It’s a little belated but here’s a few bits of music that got me through last year.
5. The Record – boygenius
An incredible LP from the American Trio comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Accomplished artists in their own rights showcasing what can happen through combined talent and creativity. At the beginning of the year I wouldn’t have thought an album like this would make such an impression on me that it would make my top picks but clearly, I’m not always right (a realisation that I have to come to multiple times a day). The opening track is a hauntingly beautiful a cappella number demonstrating the power of the combined harmony of the trio, providing an answer for anyone questioning how the sum of the group would improve the individuals’ music. This is followed by the track “$20” with a guitar intro that brings back memories of the 00’s indie bands we all loved. A personal highlight of the album is “Emily I’m Sorry”, exqusite songwriting accentuated by a spacious mix. “Cool about it” is a fingerpicked acoustic ballad about the complicated feelings associated with meeting up with an ex-partner with moments of lyrical perfection such as “We don’t have to talk about it, I can walk you home and practice method acting”. The closing track “Letter to a Old Poet” is sparse instrumentally, focusing on the combined vocals of the trio, drawing parallels with the opening track and feels like a great way to close a fantastic album.
4. PetroDragonic Apocalypes; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
No band quite matches King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in terms of sheer quantity of music. Releasing multiple full length albums a year, the work ethic of this band is incomparable. You would assume that this would mean a drop in quality but you would be wrong as the genre-switching band consistently release great music. PetroDragonic Apocalypes; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation is a metal album that brings back a few memories of their earlier work ‘Infest the Rats Nest’. The Australian six-piece, in their usual fashion, are using their music to evoke a message. This time it’s the climate. With references throughout to climate disasters and the wealth divide, its not a new angle for band. A personal highlight is the closing track ‘Flamethrower’, a track that keeps you guessing. While it’s as heavy as the rest, the 9 minute epic layers in a few sounds that feel like a nod to the bands previous psychedelic traits. I always love a King Gizzard release, regardless of genre or topic, it always feels like the personality of the band shines through. I’m excited to see what they do next but who can guess. Maybe a K-Pop project.
3. HELLMODE – Jeff Rosenstock
An alternative punk masterpiece and arguably the most well rounded release by Rosenstock. In comparison to his earlier releases, there’s a sense of maturity both musically and lyrically. The album is a fantastic blend of the beautiful instrumentation and energetic breakdowns that have become increasingly expected from the talented frontman as he takes you on a journey of highs and lows. The track ‘FUTURE IS DUMB’ is a highlight, upbeat and energetic. “So what if you die? So what if you don’t? ‘Cause the world doesn’t owe you”, just one of many lyrics of Rosenstocks weighing up positive mentalities against the realism you have when you realise you ultimately don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Jeff has never been one to shy away from singing about mental health and his willingness to be vulnerable in from of the microphone only makes his music so much more genuine and personal. One of the more beautiful moments of the album is the acoustic track “HEALMODE”. A pretty, stripped back piece about the rain in California, drawing parallels between the weather and the feelings of going through hard times. “LIKED YOU BETTER”, the first single released and the most pop-punk sounding. The gang vocals on the chorus feel like a call back to one of Rosenstock’s most popular tracks “Begged 2 Explode” and forces you to sing along. Every track feels considered and the decisions made seem intentional to enhance the overall feel, with the listener’s experience in mind.
2. V – Unkown Mortal Orchestra
Unknown Mortal Orchestra have done it again. Another great sounding album by three talented musicians. Creative, innovative, exciting, something they share in common with fellow members of their record label “Jagjaguwar”. Bon Iver and Dinosaur Jr to name a couple. It has always been within Ruban Nielsen’s style to keep his voice hidden, almost treated like an instrument rather than a central part of the track, something I’ve always loved. However, it feels like that’s changed a little on this new album. Perhaps the lyrics were just a little too good to be hidden or maybe the band’s just evolving. One thing is for certain though, I have no complaints about it. “Layla”, a beautiful, almost ethereal track about running away from your problems. Nelson even has a go at putting himself into the shoes of Hawaiian Chief Kalaimanokaho’owaha who killed the explorer responsible for a lot of the Polynesian collonisation, James Cook, in the track “I Killed Captain Cook”. “Although the man lay dead on the sand, Darkness had not lifted there” is a chilling excerpt from that same track, an example of the beautiful lyrical composition Ruban is capable of.
1. KNOWER FOREVER – KNOWER
KNOWER FOREVER is the answer to the age old question “What would happen if a bunch of talented LA-based musicians got into a room and wrote a plethora of jazz-funk tracks seeping with creative flair and a just because we can mentality?”. It also happens to be my favourite album of the year. The minute I heard the singles “The Abyss” and “I’m The President” I knew it would be a game changer. The duo released the 11 track album in October and in the short space of time since, it’s flown to my most listened. Topping the yearly Spotify wrapped. I’ve already made my opinions on this album very clear in the review I did a few months ago and if you haven’t listened to it already then what are you doing. “It’s All Nothing Until It’s Everything” is a great example of the versatility the band are more than capable of displaying. A relaxed, moody verse leads into a big, reverb-soaked chorus. From start to finish Louis Cole’s drumming continues to feel precise and accurate, even at his most energetic. I’m shocked that there wasn’t more hype around this album as I genuinely believe its one that everybody should hear. The album sounds like a meticulously-recorded project from a top studio. In reality, it’s a bunch of musicians crammed into a house, playing simultaneously. It really is phenomenal that it sounds so good.
Honourable Mentions:
Live at Bush Hall – Black Country, New Road
Recorded at London’s Bush Hall in December 2022 the album serves as an introduction to the new era of Black Country, New Road. The departure of a lead vocalist has been enough to spell the end of many great bands but BCNR refuse to stop. Accompanied with the video recordings of the live performance, the record demonstrates the six remaining members of the band doing what they do best, playing great music and entertaining the masses.
Volcano – Jungle
An incredible album by the electronic duo without a dull moment. The 4th release by Volcano and in my opinion the most well-rounded production wise, blending elements of funk and disco. “Back on 74” is a personal highlight but plenty of tracks on the album are worthy of a mention. The album was accompanied by the short film of the same name which contains a music video for each song.
Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling – Slaughter Beach, Dog
I stumbled on Slaughter Beach, Dog after a shoutout on one of the tracks from Jeff Rosenstock’s Hellmode and instantly found a comfort in the relaxed Indie Folk five-piece. This is the fifth album the band have released and has an overall calming feel routed in flowing guitar melodies and poetic lyricism. A slow album for a slow summer’s day.