The 2023 End of Year music lists thread

long running music blog,

mapped by what surrounded them - 2023 Favorite songs
https://mappedbywhatsurroundedthem.blogspot.com/2023/12/2023-favorite-songs.html?m=1

many choices that align with ilm. how many of these 50 will make the ilm top 77.

a Spotify playlist link is included.

includes tracks from:

jesse ware, slowdive, depeche mode, eartheater, kylie, carly rae jepson, tinashe, lloyd cole, blondshell, art school girlfriend, shygirl, alison goldfrapp.

RA 2023 in Review: What's pop got to do with it?
https://ra.co/features/4027

"Love them or hate them, pop edits were present on the dance floor (and the timeline) this year. We round up some of the best."

Pitchfork - Best Electronic Music of 2023
https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-electronic-music-2023/

electronic / dance music

beatportal the 50 best tracks of 2023
https://www.beatportal.com/features/the-50-best-tracks-of-2023/

"With the help of our contributors, we celebrate the 50 best tracks of 2023.
So, how did we compile this list? None of the songs chosen are based on sales. Instead, we reached out to Beatportal contributors from across the world, and they helped our editorial staff pick the 50 best tracks of 2023, which are listed below in no particular order."

music blogger, Absymal Hymns provides many genre top 10s, including this one covering punk

the Top 10 Punk Albums of 2023

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-top-10-punk-albums-of-2023.html?m=1

including Final Gasp who meld metal, hardcore and goth together. The vocalist at times sounds exactly like Jaz Coleman. Highly recommended.

3-Final Gasp- "Mourning Moon"

"This Boston band, falls back into the late 80s when bands like TSOL and Die Kruzen took a darker turn in a more shadow-drenched direction. They are more aggressive than most bands going in this direction and take me back to a place in music that I hold close to my black heart. "

bandcamp:

Final Gasp - Mourning
https://finalgasp.bandcamp.com/album/mourning-moon

Metal Injection Top 20 Albums of 2023

https://metalinjection.net/lists/best-of-2023/metal-injections-top-20-albums-of-2023

UK music website/ magazine DIY

DIY’S ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2023

https://diymag.com/feature/diy-albums-of-the-year-2023

Number 1

CAROLINE POLACHEK - DESIRE, I WANT TO TURN INTO YOU

^ the first list i've seen with the incredible chief adujah album
― kissinger on my list (voodoo chili), Friday, December 8, 2023 12:24 AM (eleven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Listening now, very nice, a similar voice and soul to Lonnie Holley, but more energetic.

Creeper's Sanguivore is Metal Hammer's album of the year

https://www.loudersound.com/news/c?utm_content=louder&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com

Metal Hammer's 50 best albums of 2023
1. Creeper - Sanguivore
2. Avenged Sevenfold - Life Is But A Dream...
3. Code Orange - The Above
4. Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden
5. Metallica - 72 Seasons
6. Svalbard - The Weight Of The Mask
7. Tesseract - The War Of Being
8. Green Lung - This Heathen Land
9. Baroness - Stone
10. Royal Thunder - Rebuilding The Mountain
11. Myrkur - Spine
12. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
13. Urne - A Feast For Sorrow
14. Empire State Bastard - Rivers Of Heresy
15. VV - Neon Noir
16. Godflesh - Purge
17. Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament
18. Skindred - Smile
19. Katatonia - Sky Void Of Stars
20. Primordial - How It Ends
21. Vexed - Negative Energy
22. Twin Temple - God Is Dead
23. Obituarty - Dying Of Everything
24. Blood Command - World Domination
25. Dødheimsgard - Black Medium Current
26. Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
27. Enslaved - Heimdal
28. Pupil Slicer - Blossom
29. Periphery - V: Djent Is Not A Genre
30. Grave Pleasures - Plagueboys
31. Oxbow - Love's Holiday
32. Blackbraid - Blackbraid II
33. Ken Mode - Void
34. Within Temptation - Bleed Out
35. Sylosis - A Sign Of Things To Come
36. Maggot Heart - Hunger
37. Voyager - Fearless In Love
38. Zulu - A New Tomorrow
39. Mutoid Man - Mutants
40. Orbit Culture - Descent
41. KK's Priest - The Sinner Rides Again
42. Khanate - To Be Cruel
43. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
44. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
45. Spirit Adrift - Ghost At The Gallows
46. Ahab - The Coral Tombs
47. Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium
48. Burner - It All Returns To Nothing
49. Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific
50. Blood Ceremony - The Old Ways Remain

UK music mag, Retro Pop

Retro Pop Magazine - new issue Best of 2023 now on sale
https://x.com/retropopmag/status/1733075764898115847?s=20

Alison Goldfrapp takes album of the year.

Have there really been no lists with Kate NV or Decisive Pink? Been looking and not seen their names anywhere.

'Wow' was in one list, can't remember which

the kate nv album was on the crack list and the slant list

latest section from bandcamp

bandcamp The Best Albums of 2023: S – Z
https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2023/the-best-albums-of-2023-s-z

coming up today
December 8: 2023’s Essential Releases

highly recommended album from the bandcamp review

Temple of Angels - Endless Pursuit

Few albums this year balanced the sweet and sinister quite like Endless Pursuit, Temple of Angels‘s debut album. Melodically, the Austin band resembles a dream pop outfit from the dark side of the moon, reared on Sisters of Mercy’s gothic romance and My Bloody Valentine’s glorious mess. Simultaneously, their spring-tight rhythm section, a byproduct of its members’ hardcore roots, provides the structure and counterbalance necessary to keep those euphoric soundscapes aloft. (Don’t miss the balancing act on “Tangled In Joy.”) Abetted by some of the most in-demand producers and engineers of the moment—Will Yip (Turnstile, Citizen, Title Fight) handled the mix—Temple of Angels have given us radiant guitar music suitable for punks, goths, bloomers, doomers, and everyone in between.

bandcamp link

Temple of Angels - Endless Pursuit
https://templeofangels.bandcamp.com/album/endless-pursuit

Billboard - The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks
Our 100 favorite songs from a year where "pop" could mean just about anything.
https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-songs-2023/?curator=MediaREDEF

number 1
SZA, "Kill Bill"

number 41
Kylie Minogue, "Padam Padam"

why was the picked when tension was far superior?

number 77
MUNA, "The One That Got Away"

will this Muna track feature in the top 77 ilm tracks

number 94
The Last Dinner Party, "Nothing Matters"

yesterday they were also announced:

The Last Dinner Party: Who are the BRITs Rising Star 2024 winners?
https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-last-dinner-party-who-are-the-brits-rising-star-2024-winners/

Slant Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2023
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2158-slant-magazines-50-best-albums-of-2023/

https://www.slantmagazine.com/lists/the-50-best-albums-of-2023/

1. Lana Del Rey - Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

10. Kate NV - WOW

45. Susanne Sundfør - blómi

Seconded on Temple of Angels. They sound like a band that might have once gotten rotation on 120 Minutes (in a good way). Great vocalist.

NME's Best Albums of 2023
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2161-nmes-best-albums-of-2023/

https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/best-albums-2023-3554171

Number 1: 1. boygenius - the record

7. Sofia Kourtesis - Madres

25. Loraine James - Gentle Confrontation

popmatters THE 80 BEST ALBUMS OF 2023
https://www.popmatters.com/the-best-albums-of-2023

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2160-popmatters-80-best-albums-of-2023/

1. Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!

Glad to see Madres placing

makes a change from 20 years ago when we had that idiot Conor McNicholas in charge of the NME, the bleak landfill years.

That slant list with a rare (and low) placing for Roisin Murphy

why was the picked when tension was far superior?

"padam padam" was the hit though i still don't really understand how or why

Still Listening magazine, new music website, that I was previously unaware of.

UK based formed in 2020
https://twitter.com/MagazineStill

still listening magazine - The Top 50 Albums Of 2023
https://www.stilllisteningmagazine.com/features/the-top-50-albums-of-2023

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2163-still-listenings-top-50-albums-of-2023/

1) JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Scaring The Hoes

djmartian, how do you choose your "selected highlights"?

just quick notes, personal faves of mine and/or previous ilm faves or artists that others have mentioned on this thread.

Creeper's Sanguivore is Metal Hammer's album of the year

Huzzah! Definitely in my top 10. It's so ridiculous and grand and committed to the bit. And hooks in every song.

For those who care about the horserace, LDR has slipped to 5 and Boygenius has taken the lead

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/summary/2023/

I was not aware that people thought the boygenius record was all that.

it got very good reviews so that isn't surprising but i still don't quite understand the hype. it's not as strong or interesting as any of their solo work, less than the sum of its parts

The Best Albums of 2023: Essential Releases
https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2023/the-best-albums-of-2023-essential-releases

these were all the albums mentioned in the article:

Chief Adjuah
Bark Out Thunder, Roar Out Lightning

Shana Cleveland
Manzanita

Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
Jerusalem

Liturgy
93696

Kabeaushé
The Coming of Gaze

KMRU
Dissolution Grip

L’Rain
I Killed Your Dog

MC Yallah
Yallah Beibe

Nourished By Time
Erotic Probiotic 2

Silicone Prairie
Vol. II

upcoming
And next week, our genre columnists weigh in with their picks for the year’s best records.

UK based music website, musicOMH

musicOMH’s Top 50 Albums Of 2023
https://www.musicomh.com/features/lists/musicomhs-top-50-albums-of-2023/

1. Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good!

it got very good reviews so that isn't surprising but i still don't quite understand the hype. it's not as strong or interesting as any of their solo work, less than the sum of its parts

― ufo, Friday, December 8, 2023 9:52 AM (twenty-nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

yep

yeah, I thought the consensus was that it was good but not great, which is why it's an odd #1.

I think it's more like "very good" than "good" — I count 8 great songs out of 12, which is a lot of great songs — but also I think people just love the idea of Boygenius. Which I do, too.

another music website, i am not previously familiar with;

optimistic underground (david james)

60 Best Albums of 2023
https://optimisticunderground.com/2023/12/08/60-best-albums-of-2023/

provides links to bandcamp

seems to be on the same wavelength as The Wire magazine.

tipsy mothra otm ... i think it's half great and half good to meh, but those three *and* those three together is just catnip for so many people ... i'm surprised they haven't run away with the aggregate by now. they're a conceptual (not the right word) juggernaut and unless they make an album that really stinks, people - both critics and norms - are going to eat it up.

number 41
Kylie Minogue, "Padam Padam"

why was the picked when tension was far superior?

it's all about the cultural moment Kylie had w/this song, one which i think is vv good, but "Tension" is actually great.

I'm surprised Water From Your Eyes isn't trending; I had thought that would be more of a favorite.

I like Water From Your Eyes, it's 415 on my list currently :)

I tried to get onboard with Creeper's Hollywood goth take on Meatloaf. I like the concept, just wasn't compelled to revisit. It's nice to see Royal thunder, Maggot Heart and Blood Ceremony on another list other than my own. And yes, everyone listen to unpurson's recommendation to check out Spirit Adrift, my #2.

Shindig is the first list to mention my album of the year, Large Plants - The Thorn, as well as my #18, Emile - Spirit. The Beatles-y psych pop of Vanity Mirror and third album from Dentists spinoff The Treasures of Mexico (psych/jangle/power pop) are nice discoveries for me.

The Shindig! Writers' Poll
1. The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony
2. Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection - 2
3. The Coral - Sea of Mirrors
4. Say She She - Silver
5. Mapache - Swinging Stars
6. Large Plants - The Thorn
7. The Ironsides - Changing Light
8. Jonathan Wilson - Eat the Worm
9. Belbury Poly - The Path
10. Meg Baird - Furling
11. Teenage Fanclub - Nothing Lasts Forever
12. The Clientele - I Am Not There Anymore
13. Shana Cleveland - Manzanita
14. Thomas Walsh - The Rest is History
15. Julie Byrne - The Greater Wings
16. The Evening Sons - Tracks
17. Emile - Spirit
18. Co-Pilot - Rotate
19. Novelty Island - Wallsend Weekend Television
20. Uni-Boys - Buy This now!
21. Emma Tricca - Aspirin Sun
22. Simon Rowe - Everybody's Thinking
23. Soft Hearted Scientists - Waltz of the Weekend
24. Vanity Mirror - Puff
25. The Treasures of Mexico - Burn the Jets
26. Pete Molinari - Wondrous Afternoon
27. Lael Neale - Star Eaters Delight

Some of my new discoveries in the past week:

1. Upper Wilds – Jupiter (Thrill Jockey)
2. Deeper – Careful! (Sub Pop)
3. Volksempfänger – Attack of Sound (Cardinal Fuzz/Feeding Tube)
4. Death And Vanilla – Flicker (Fire)
5. Catatonic Suns – Catatonic Suns (Agitated)
6. HMLTD – The Worm (Lucky Number)
7. William Tyler & The Impossible Truth – Secret Stratosphere (Merge)
8. Vanity Mirror – Puff (We Are Busy Bodies)
9. The Treasures Of Mexico – Burn the Jets (Spinout Nuggets)
10. En Attendant Ana – Principia (Trouble In Mind)
11. Shredded Sun – Each Dot and Each Line (Shredded Sun)
12. Star 99 – Bitch Unlimited (Lauren3)
13. The Psychotic Monks – Pink Colour Surgery (Vicious Circle3)
14. Coventry – Our Lady of Perpetual Health (Septic Jukebox)
15. Vipertime – Arise (HPBC,)
16. Matt Ulery – Mannerist (Woolgathering)
17. Truth Club – Running From the Chase (Double Double Whammy)
18. Mapache – Swinging Stars (Innovative Leisure)
19. Mos Eisley Spaceport – Further (MES)
20. Soft On Crime – New Suite (Eats It)
21. Musta Huone – Valosaasteen Sekaan (Paa Jotaki)
22. Sun June – Bad Dream Jaguar (Run for Cove)
23. Will Johnson – No Ordinary Crown (Keeled Scales)
24. Holy Tongue – Deliverance And Spiritual Warfare (Amidah)
25. Abstract Concrete – Abstract Concrete (State51 Conspiracy)
26. Sans Merit – Early Grave (Zen 2000)
27. Lorelle Meets The Obsolete – Datura (Sonic Cathedral)
28. Hayden Pedigo – The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored (Mexican Summer)
29. A Certain Ratio – 1982 (Mute)
30. Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
31. Matthew Halsall – An Ever Changing View (Gondwana)
32. Lost Under Heaven – Something Is Announced by Your Life! (LUH)
33. Thomas Walsh – The Rest is History (Curation)
34. 12 Rods – If We Stayed Alive (American Dreams)
35. Cloth – Secret Measture (Rock Action)

oh thanks for the heads up about the lost under heaven album, i had no clue they'd put out a new one this year

what is Shindig? googling didn't help much...

printed music mag

shindig magazine
https://www.shindig-magazine.com/?page_id=34
Shindig! is full of quality journalism, columns, music and film history; exciting new bands and culture. From the most far-out ’60s sounds through country-rock and folk to soul and electronic experimentation. And more. Brought to you with passion and sincerity every month.

huh. interesting. never heard of it, and it appears to be up my alley (i.e. i am old and like rock music)

by 'i am old' i mean i still like print publications

and thanks DJ! sorry for the three posts that could've been one.

World of Echo have now published their Hindsight 2023 list

Can I just say I absolutely hate the album title 'That! Feels Good!'

It! Sucks Ass!