Hi kiddos. End of 2023. We made it through yet another year of ups and downs, quiet moments of reflection, frantic moments of “whaaa???”, and everything in-between. Bottom line: this is life so deal with it.
I’m a pretty open guy, at least I’ve become more open since the scourge of 2020. Talking about the heaviness and the worry seems to help me quantify the fear and anxiety. While it doesn’t necessarily “fix” the source of my concern and disillusionment in the world, it definitely puts those mental fires out in my brain. And I sincerely believe that sharing my world-weary heft might just help out someone else who’s going through similar shit.
As they say, misery loves company.
But at the end of every year it’s time to reflect not on the state of my mental fears and fires but on the past year’s music. This year I heard a lot of music, and bought a lot of music. I wrote about a lot of those albums throughout the year and was amazed and enthralled with a decent swath of those records. My list this year isn’t as extensive as past ones, but I’m still going to share a few of the albums that stuck in my skull. And even made it down to the ol’ heart.
So here you go, folks. My favorite albums of 2023.
Edena Gardens : Agar/Dens/Live Momentum
Edena Gardens is the supergroup the world needed. Jakob Skøtt, Martin Rude, and Nicklas Sørensen, all coming out of major Danish bands(Causa Sui, Papir) arrived in 2022 with the debut Eden. In 2023 they dropped three albums, follow ups Agar and Dens, along with the excellent live record Live Momentum. The sound cultivated from these three is subtle, understated, widescreen. Their songs are like the sound of distant thunder as a storm passes over. It’s the perfect trio of studio albums that put together form this epic swath of post-rock, euphoric psychedelia and touches of cosmic blues.
Andy Shauf : Norm
Andy Shauf has become one of the premier songwriters of the 21st century. His most recent called Norm is an excellent slice of singer/songwriter storytelling and melody-driven tunes. It’s also a concept album about God, giving voice to songs like the masters of 70s singer/songwriter fare like Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra : V
Ruban Nielson continues to evolve his groovy psychedelic pop on V, as well as his excellent guitar work. V is a big step forward in his songwriting, while still keeping it weird when needed.
Mandy, Indiana : I’ve Seen A Way
Disorienting post-punk with plenty of groove to spare. Jagged guitar squall, abrasive electronics, dance-ready beats, and hypnotic vocals. Excited to see where this English/French band go next.
Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra : Lightning Dreamers
Rob Mazurek is one of the OGs of Chicago’s underground music scene, making music that sounds equally inspired by Miles Davis and Ornette Colemen as it does Cluster and Harmonia. Lightning Dreamers is his latest from his Exploding Star Orchestra, and Mazurek pulls equally from beat poets, free jazz, and his days with Isotope 217.
Protomartyr : Formal Growth In the Desert
Detroit’s Protomartyr have carved themselves out quite a niche in the post-punk/art rock world. Several albums and EPs released since 2012, and their sound continues to evolve. Formal Growth In The Desert is their most diverse yet, adding steel string guitar to their jagged post-punk delivery. This album is understated, dark, and their most engaging yet. One of the most underrated albums of 2023.
Wild Nothing : Hold
Jack Tatum can do no wrong. He’s a gifted songwriter, arranger, producer, and makes the kind of music that seems to transcend style and decade. Wild Nothing covers bedroom pop, 80s indie rock, synth pop, and singer/songwriter fare. Hold is Tatum’s loosest, dance-heavy record yet, taking Wild Nothing straight to the dance floor, then right into therapy. It’s music to lose yourself to.
Beach Fossils : Bunny
Like Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils started out making music that felt lost in time somewhere. Early bedroom pop-meets-Beach Boys, but with a post-punk twist. The sound has evolved into more well-polished studio tunes, but the intent is the same: Pop music for those that don’t like pop music. Bunny is the perfect blend of the bedroom pop and soulful touches Dustin Payseur added to 2017s excellent Somersault.
Jake Schrock : Temporal Visions
Jake Schrock’s Temporal Visions EP sees the Texas-based analog synth wizard continuing his vintage/retro trip he began on records like Tropical Depression and Omnibus. Temporal Visions sounds like vintage VHS intro music, the kind that would play at the beginning of a movie you rented from the Video Hut in 1985. Steely, futuristic, and just a touch of melancholy for good measure.
London Odense Ensemble : Jaiyede Sessions Vol 2/Live At Jaiyede Jazz Festival
This jazz/psych collective that hails from Denmark and the UK was one of the more exciting bands to emerge out of 2022. The fusion rhythm section mixed with Eric Dolphy flute touches and Krautrock synth layers gave us folks looking for headier vibes to get lost in something to look forward to. 2023 saw them release two albums, the follow up to Jaiyede Sessions Vol 1, Vol 2, as well as a killer live set Live At Jaiyede Jazz Festival recorded during the band’s studio sessions. Both see the quintet locked in and in fine form, with the live album a particularly far out listening experience. It’s like Electric Miles jamming with Harmonia. Groovy stuff, man.
Video Age : Away From The Castle
Video Age started out as a synth pop outfit with touches of early 80s soft rock. That may not sound like a good idea, but this band pulled it off rather well. Their latest, Away From The Castle, sees the sound evolving into more of a power pop vibe. The 80s synths remain, but there’s more of an Of Montreal feel to it.
Aesop Rock : Integrated Tech Solutions
I like rap music, but it needs to fall into certain parameters for me to lock in. Thoughtful rhymes, wonky, lo-fi beats and production, and just a touch of paranoia for good measure. El-P fits those parameters perfectly, as does Aesop Rock. Integrated Tech Solutions has some amazing production and just the right amount of world-weary rhymes that makes me think A-Rock and I might have read a few of the same books and have seen some of the same dystopian sci-fi flicks.
Blonde Redhead : Sit Down For Dinner
30 years in and Blonde Redhead continue to make gorgeous post-punk and shoegaze music. They’ve aged like a fine wine, and Sit Down For Dinner is a beautiful, melancholy affair from start to finish.
Below are the albums that hit hardest for me this year. If an album is mentioned on this list, then I locked in and it did something to me for the better. The five albums below, however, struck a real nerve and were played ad nauseum. And number one especially kind of blew my mind. There was definitely some neural rewiring going on.
5. Queens Of The Stone Age : In Times New Roman
QOTSA are in fine form 25 years into an extensive and impressive career. In Times New Roman sees Homme and company getting back to basics, which is big riffs, dark lyrics, and greasy grooves to slip you into 2024. Their best album in over a decade.
4. Hawksmoor : Telepathic Heights
James McKeown’s Hawksmoor project is full of Komische-heavy synths and 70s proggy guitar/bass, connecting the space between 70s art rock and German Krautrock giants. On his Soul Jazz Records debut Telepathic Heights, McKeown makes his most engaging album yet. Buzzing synths take you on a electronic journey; heady, engaging, and all-encompassing.
3. Oneohtrix Point Never : Again
Again feels like a full circle album for Daniel Lopatin’s Oneohtrix Point Never project. He stated this was kind of a farewell record to what came before, and was made with the point of view of his teenage self in mind. Not sure what any of that means, but I do know that Again has some of OPN’s most engaging pieces in years. Not sure where he’ll take this project from here, but I’m happy to have this album if it’s the last.
2. Harp : Albion
After a decade in the works Tim Smith(formerly of Midlake) returns with Albion, the first album under his new project Harp. It’s simply stunning, locking into early 80s post-punk and 4AD vibes as opposed to the Medieval Times feels of his work with Midlake. He was particularly taken by The Cure’s album Faith(one of my personal favorites as well), and it comes out in the flanged bass lines and synth touches.
And number 1,
Jeremiah Chiu : In Electric Time
This album completely blew me away. Jeremiah Chiu’s went into the Vintage Synthesizer Museum in Highland Park and let the machines do the talking. Figuring these boxes out on the fly and then composing pieces on them, letting the muse take him where she may. This does not sound like wholly improvised works, but more so well thought out and melodic pieces. It flows beautifully and builds to a gorgeous finale with title track “In Electric Time”.
In short, this little cassette release blew my damn mind and I listen to it nearly every day. If you love vintage synth music and haven’t heard this yet, what are you waiting for?
Also, do yourself a favor and check these out below:
Causa Sui Loppen 2021, Wilco Cousin, Explosions in The Sky End, Blake Mills Jelly Road, Kurt Vile Back To Moon Beach, Futuropaco Fortezza di Vetro, Future Museums Dorsal Fin, Sermons By The Devil Pro-Life, Depeche Mode Momento Mori, and DJ Shadow Action Adventure.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in 2024. Thanks for hanging out with me in 2023. Let’s do it again next year.
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