When 2023 began, I made it a personal quest to listen to more music, both in quantity and variety, than I had before. That quest was conquered in absurd fashion, and that is thanks to the absolute deluge of quality releases throughout the year. It seems like nearly weekly a good/great record was released, and throughout the year I have been listing which ones were my favorites. I was originally going to just list five, then that number grew to 10, and I finally settled at 20. So let's get on with it, yeah?
20. Colter Wall - Little Songs
Starting off things, we have Colter Wall's exceptional release 'Little Songs.' Dripping with old school country charm and western grit, Wall has once again carved his place into the landscape of modern country. If you close your eyes and really dive into it, you can almost find yourself right at the fireside with Colter and his band, playing their cowboy tunes under the big sky. 'Little Songs' is 10 tracks of County Western goodness, full of mournful slide guitars, wailing harmonicas, and Wall's unique, timeless voice.
Favorite track: The Coyote & The Cowboy
19. Drain - Living Proof
Now to completely switch gears, Drain's 2023 release 'Living Proof' is an album full of fast paced, pounding hardcore tracks with a few tricks up its sleeve. Musically, 'Living Proof' lives at the intersection of classic hardcore, chuggy metalcore, and hard edged punk. There's even a cover of the Descendents' pop punk classic 'Good Good Things' toward the end of the album. And we haven't even talked about the brief Rap interlude track 'Intermission.' The production is crisp and clear, with well mixed vocals over top of the frantic, heavy, and generally excellent instrumentals. 'Living Proof' is, well, proof that Drain is a force to be reckoned with in the heavy music scene.
Favorite track: Watch You Burn
18. Paramore - This is Why
Paramore's evolution from Pop Punk staple into groovy Alt Rock powerhouse continues with 'This is Why.' I feel like many bands struggle in the post pop punk/emo world when they try to venture out, but Paramore just keeps surprising and surpassing expectations with each release. Following up 2017's 'After Laughter,' the band finds themselves further experimenting with their sound on 'This is Why.' The opener & title track, 'This is Why,' is a New Wave-esque pumped up rock track about the current state of the country, and that theme continues for pretty much the rest of the album. 'C’est comme ça' sees Paramore at perhaps their most experimental, with a groovy backing track under an almost spoken word vocal melody. If you're a fan of Paramore, particularly their later work, 'This is Why' will be right up your alley.
Favorite track: This is Why
17. Noah Gundersen - If This is the End
After a brief hiatus from releasing music and touring, Noah Gundersen is back with 'If This is the End.' If the title sounds bleak, I'm pleased(?) to report that the record itself follows that same path. Full of tracks about dwindling mental health, self image, and the realization that your best days may be behind you, 'If This is the End' packs an emotional punch not unknown to Gundersen's work. Here though, he seems to be at his most honest and vulnerable. 'Haunted House' is a lyrically bold and musically devastating track about feeling like an unworthy partner, and sees Gundersen putting himself out there more than ever before. On 'Better Days' he questions whether or not things will ever look up, before ending the track on a more positive note. While the second half of the album may lose a tad bit of focus, every track here is worth a listen. It's good to have Noah back in the fray, and he delivers again on 'If This is the End.'
Favorite Track: Haunted House
16. Fireworks - Higher Lonely Power
After 9 long years (Really, NINE?!) Fireworks have returned, and done so in explosive, and notable, fashion. 'Higher Lonely Power' sees the band make a slight departure from their pop punk past, stretching their musical muscles from the very first track, 'GOD APPROVED INSURANCE PLAN.' It's a heavy, brash, bold track that sees the band throw the virtual bird to organized religion. The true magic of this record immediately makes itself known, with the heavy and angry opener giving way to the synthy, jangly track 'I WANT TO START A RELIGION WITH YOU.' The musical themes continue to shift as the album progresses, and it's real testament to the songwriting ability on display. 'Higher Lonely Power' is Fireworks at their most diverse, and lyrically is just as rich and strong as all past work. It all makes for a very strong package, and I can't wait to see what's next.
Favorite Track: HOW DID IT USED TO BE SO EASY
15. Jeff Rosenstock - HELLMODE
Nobody really does it like Jeff Rosenstock if we're being honest, and that remains true on 'HELLMODE.' It's 11 tracks of fun, slick sounding pop punk with that unique spin only Rosenstock can give. Almost every track on this record can/will lodge itself into your brain and your ears. I don't think I've stopped humming the chorus of 'LIKED U BETTER' since the first time I heard the song. Even a track like 'HEALMODE' that sees Jeff explore a softer side of his songwriting is full of catchy lines and riffs that won't be leaving your consciousness anytime soon. I may not have the emotional investment in 'HELLMODE' like some others on the list, but that doesn't dilute what is a great release by a consistently great artist.
Favorite track: SOFT LIVING
14. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Scaring the Hoes
This may only be a two person effort, but I wouldn't hesitate to call 'Scaring the Hoes' the product of a super group. I deeply hope this isn't the only time we see JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown team up, because I don't think there are two creative minds more suited for each other's stylings. 'Scaring the Hoes' is chock full of downright absurdist rap tracks, with each instrumental seeming more and more impossible to rap over. And yet, they find a way to add their unique and often lashing flow to it all. Also, the first line of the record on the opener 'Lean Beef Patty' is "Fuck Elon Musk," so it definitely gets points for that as well. Any fans of the self professed 'weirdo rap' are destined to find something to cling onto. It's worth a listen for the creative force behind it all alone.
Favorite track: Garbage Pale Kids
13. The Menzingers - Some of it Was True
'Some of it Was True' marks Pennsylvania based 'The Menzingers' at their most vulnerable, and arguably their most accessible (for better AND for worse, I'd argue). The opening track, 'Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing,' sets the tone for an emotional, introspective look at life in your mid 30s. Touching on relationships, friendships, careers, and everything in between, 'The Menzingers' etch another great release in a discography full of them. 'Come On Heartache' is a radio ready ballad about, well, heartache. The title track, 'Some of it Was True,' is a nostalgic look back at younger life, free of the rose colored glasses that typically comes with. While it may not reach the heights of 'After the Party' or their classic release 'On the Impossible Past,' 'Some of it Was True' serves up 13 punk rock flavored tracks for the softer sides of life.
Favorite track: "Some of it Was True"
12. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Weathervanes
I seem to be keen on going from one extreme to the next, because next up is Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit's Alt. Country record 'Weathervanes.' Melancholic, intense, introspective, and so much more, Isbell and co. are arguably at their most consistent throughout the record. The songwriting on display is as diverse as we have heard from any Isbell project in awhile, and it pays off in spades. Nobody can really tell a story through the arc of a single track like Jason Isbell, and almost every song on 'Weathervanes' is a story rich, emotional maelstrom. 'King of Oklahoma' explores an out of work addict sinking into loneliness and despair, all over crunchy electric guitar and pulsing drums. 'Save the World' is a scathing, intense look at the current state of the country, and is a much needed breath of fresh air in a country genre that would many times rather pull the wool over their own eyes. Perhaps no other song shows off the emotional depth of 'Weathervanes' quite like 'Cast Iron Skillet,' which also sees the group at their most subdued on the record. To be honest, any other year this is potentially even a top 5 album for me, and I recommend it to any Isbell fan, country fan, americana fan, or just music fan.
Favorite track: 'Cast Iron Skillet'
11. Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Every once in awhile (and more times this year than I'd expect), I find a record that makes me pause and think to myself: "You're telling me a Human Being made this?" Caroline Polachek's 'Desire, I Want to Turn Into You' fits that bill in an astounding way. I struggle to call her music 'Pop' because of the varied and expansive songwriting on display, as I don't really think it would do this record justice. But if it's Pop you're after, this is certainly a worthy release. From the opener 'Welcome to My Island,' which is an absolute materclass in art pop anthem writing, to the spanish guitar that sets the scene for 'Sunset,' every track puts something new, different, and sometimes astounding in the mix. I cannot recommend this album enough, and find it pretty much required listening for any big time music fan.
Favorite track: Butterfly Net
10. Nick Shoulders - All Bad
Arkansas based Nick Shoulders' newest album 'All Bad' is as good as it gets in the Country genre. From the very first seconds of this album, you know exactly what you are in for.That deep south, mountain man, yodeling over twangy guitar and shuffling drums type of country music, and I'm absolutely here for it. Add in messaging about protecting the climate, showing empathy for those around you, and doing your best in a harsh world that moves way too fast, and you have the ingredients for a bonafide classic. 'Appreciate'cha' is an anthemic track about being thankful for the good around you, and even some of the bad. Perhaps the high point of the record, though, is 'Won't Fence Us In,' a brilliant re-imaging of the Cole Porter & Robert Fletcher song 'Don't Fence Me In,' where Shoulders' takes a closer look at just how fenced in we actually are. Also, the album art is probably the coolest on this list. If you find yourself roaming the forest or road tripping through the desert, go ahead and give this record a listen. You won't regret it.
Favorite Track: "Won't Fence Us In"
9. boygenius - The Record
Is it just me, or did folk/indie supergroup boygenius absolutely BLOW UP this year? To be fair, it isn't exactly hard to see why. 'The Record' is an emotional rollercoaster that wants YOU to know that love is okay, even if it hurts sometimes, and even if we screw up sometimes. Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker team up once again, this time for their first full length effort. And the results are dazzling, if I do say so myself. The upbeat rock track '$20' shows off just how serious boygenius are about making music that people identify with, and will return to time after time. 'True Blue' is a folksy indie rock track that tells the listener it's okay to be loved, even if you don't think so. 'We're in Love' is a song that gives me goosebumps every single time I listen to it. 'Not Strong Enough' is perhaps the best indie rock track of the year. The closing track, 'Letters from an Old Poet,' sees Phoebe Bridgers alone with a piano backing her, and is an absolutely heart wrenching tune that I think could even move the most stoic to tears. Bring tissues with you, strap yourself in, and give 'the record' a good listen. Also, I hope they name their next LP 'the next record.'
Favorite Track: We're in Love
8. Spanish Love Songs - No Joy
Spanish Love Songs think that the world is a pretty bad place, and they want you to know that too. For what it's worth, I get it! Following up 2020's excellent 'Brave Faces Everyone' was not going to be an easy task for the LA based band, but clearly they were up for that task. This record finds Spanish Love Songs also at their most accessible, but unlike the Menzingers from above, I think this is also the high point for the band at this point in their career. Synth heavy tracks like 'Pendulum' and 'Haunted' set the tone for a record that expands SLS sonically by leaps and bounds. Both from a songwriting and production standpoint this is also by far their most dynamic release, and every element works together to deliver a really great sounding album, at least in my opinion. Whether they deliver a softer, introspective sound like 'Middle of Nine' or a more classically-SLS track like 'Clean-Up Crew', The theme remains the same: being human is HARD. 'No Joy' is another notable release from a band on the rise.
Favorite track: Middle of Nine
7. The Gaslight Anthem - History Books
Much like Fireworks, the Gaslight Anthem have also reunited after a 9 year hiatus to deliver 'History Books' to the listening masses. While there is an argument to make whether or not this release serves as their 'magnum opus,' what can't be denied is that 'History Books' is an introspective look at life, love, and what's to come. From the very first listen I was absolutely captivated by the songs and stories on offer throughout the record. From the Bruce Springsteen featuring title track that sees the narrator wanting to close a chapter of life, to the punky and scream-along worthy 'Positive Charge,' The Gaslight Anthem sound like they never missed a beat. It may be a little ballad heavy for fans of the bands more frantic back catalog, but for those looking for a record to sing along to on a long car ride or shower, this is the pick for you. It may be 'dad punk,' but this dad sure loves it!
Favorite track: Positive Charge
6. Ratboys - The Window
Although they've been together well over a decade, I'll admit I had never heard tell of Ratboys prior to listening to 'The Window' for the first time, and what a revelation it was! I'd best describe this record as 'Indie Rock,' but that would be ignoring the bevy of other influences at play throughout a dazzling 47 minutes. It's a little punk, a little emo, a little folk, a little groovy, and everything in between. The title track, 'The Window,' is one of my favorite tunes of 2023 as it builds to an emotional crescendo in the middle of the album. 'Black Earth, WI' is an 8 minute groove fest that wouldn't be out of place in a jam band's repertoire. 'The Window' is the product of a band who is not afraid to take risks and try different things, and every song works in tandem and none overshadow the other. It's really quite the testament to the songwriting chops at play. All hail Ratboys!
Favorite track: The Window
5. Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan
Following up his landmark triple LP 'American Heartbreak' from 2022, Zach Bryan returns with his self titled effort, an album that in many ways feels like a debut in itself. It's Bryan's official coming out party as a staple in the Country scene, with 16 self recorded and released tracks that have since taken off in popularity, and deservedly so. It's a peak into the head of a very complicated man, and each emotional moment builds on the last. Every song is Bryan at his most vulnerable. 'I Remember Everything' is a heartbreaking duet with Kacey Musgraves about lost love, 'Jake's Piano/Long Island' paints a portrait of grief and loss, and 'Tourniquet' finds Bryan supporting a friend in a time of need. That's really just the tip of the iceberg of an album that is essentially chock full of hit after hit. Zach Bryan has proven, yet again, that he is quite possibly the most consistent songwriter in Country at the moment, and he's blazing his own path.
Favorite track: I Remember Everything
4. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
My 4th favorite release of 2023 is a record from another band I had never listened to prior to this release. That's not to say they weren't on my radar; I have known of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and their legend for years, but I guess I was never ready before. What were my expectations? Psych rock, jam bandy, fun hippie tunes. What did I get? Absolute fierce, face melting thrash and power metal, with some fun Psych rock thrown in. 1 of 2 studio records put out by this extremely busy band in 2023, 'PDA' spins the tale of a planet earth thrown into turmoil and climate crisis, complete with the uprising of the lizard people. This is, of course, told through the lens of expertly crafted, performed, and produced metal that spans nearly an hour throughout 7 songs. I really can't express enough how blown away I was listening to this record for the first time, and every time since. Every musician is world class, the songs are complex, intense and heavy, and the entire record flows together in a way rarely experienced in music. I struggle to even come up with a favorite track, as the best way to listen to 'PDA' is straight through, every time.
Favorite track: 'Witchcraft', I guess
3. Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.
I have to start this entry off by giving credit where it is truly due. I didn't know Lana Del Rey had that dawg in her. I'll admit it. On first listen, 'Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.' shocked and shook me to my core. From the experimental and downright weird 'John Batiste Interlude,' to the booty shaking and poppy 'Peppers,' to the absolute gut punch of 'Kintsugi,' this album truly runs the gamut and tests Lana Del Rey's songwriting chops, and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. Much of this album is quiet, introspective, and downright melancholy. She croons softly about our own mortality, sexuality, and psyche, but still fits in little stabs of sun drenched trap beats and self image stroking that only Lana can really pull off. None of the themes at play here should fit together, and yet they do in remarkable fashion. There are so many moments on this album that left me speechless, mouth agape, goosebumps planted firmly on my skin. 'DYKTTaTUOB' shows that Lana Del Rey is a modern master of songwriting, and I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.
Favorite track: Kintsugi
2. Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch
Sometimes, you just need to scream about how your human brain makes existing hard. That's where Hot Mulligan's exceptional 'Why Would I Watch' comes in! Hot Mulligan have been a band worth keeping eyes on for awhile, with their unique, chaotic, frantic emo/punk infusion being different to most bands in the genre. 2020's 'You'll Be Fine' firmly established them as mainstays in the emo scene, and 'Why Would I Watch' reinforces that tenfold. The production on this album is incredible, perhaps my favorite album from that standpoint all year. The guitar tone is clear and crisp, the drums are driving and booming, and there are SO many little sounds underneath the mix that help flesh things out. Tracks like 'It's a Family Movie and She Hates Her Dad' and 'And I Smoke' are certified earworms, especially for those sad brained folks out there. Themes about mental illness, grief, self worth, and general anxiety at the state of things resonate throughout, with some of the most unique and wild instrumentals and melodies you'll find. It's heavy, it's slow, it's sad, it's silly, and all at the same time. If you are a fan of pop punk/emo in any capacity, there is something here for you, I can assure you of that.
Favorite track: And I Smoke
1. Wednesday - Rat Saw God
Well, we made it. My favorite album of 2023 is Wednesday's 'Rat Saw God.' This was a band that was really nowhere on my radar going into this year, as I don't consider myself much of a 'gaze' music fan in general. However, 'Rat Saw God' is a genre defying album that is absolutely captivating, impressive, and absurd in its execution. Throughout the record, they manage to keep the listener guessing from one track to the next. Slide guitars drift behind fuzzy grunge driven guitars. Vocalist Karly Hartzman delivers weepy, often intense melodies. Wednesday have perfectly captured the endless tedium of lower-middle class America, with songs about cracked and broken neighborhoods, drug addled teens, small town turmoil, death, and much more. If we are living through the downfall of this great American experiment, at least we have some great music to document the process, eh? I really can't even describe the chokehold this album had on my psyche the first few months after it released, and still does today. Please, just give it a go. It might not be like anything you've heard before, but it's a little bit of everything.
Favorite track: Chosen to Deserve
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