I think this is where the ILM EOY playlists are helpful.
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 13 December 2023 12:50 (nine months ago) link
The Best Pop Music of 2023https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-pop-music-2023/
Opulent disco-pop, R&B hook-up jams, raging hot-mess anthems: These are the songs and albums that defined the year in pop music
TAGSBEST OF 2023100 GECSAMAARAEASAKEOLAMIDEAVALON EMERSONCARLY RAE JEPSENCAROLINE POLACHEKCHAPPELL ROANCHARLI XCXCHRISTINE AND THE QUEENSEASYFUNFEVER RAYJESSIE WAREKALI UCHISKELELAKYLIE MINOGUELANA DEL REYLIV.EMARÍA JOSÉ LLERGOMURA MASAELECTRONICPOP/R&BEXPERIMENTAL
― djmartian, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 13:26 (nine months ago) link
DAZED The 20 best tracks of 2023https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/61561/1/the-20-best-tracks-of-2023-pinkpanthress-icespice-eartheater
Spotify playlisthttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/4r7smCV42VU8KABfz5tzJh
recommended listening:
totally blissed out brilliance riyl insides, laika, one dove
14. JAMES K & HOODIE, “SCORPIO”
There’s something very special about “Scorpio” that I can’t really pinpoint. The track, a collaboration between New York artist James K and Hoodie, is a sleepy trip-hop ballad that stays with you in a way that cradles you at your core. In a dream but still wide awake, drifting into digital fragments and buried deep in a memory somewhere. James K’s ethereal vocals are otherworldly and puts me in the kind of wistful mood that you find yourself in when travelling to distant places, led by the beautiful refrain: “So let it go, don’t be a cell to yourself.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX6QWmGxCiE
― djmartian, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 13:40 (nine months ago) link
Listening to new music does indeed take time. While many here are up to the task, I can understand that some don't want to spend the time populating a playlist, looking at the artist's Bandcamp and RYM pages, circling back to reviews, etc. Of all my network of personal friends who are lifelong music geeks, I only know of a couple who bother. I do it so they don't have to, and in my year-end summary I include separate lists with clusters of subgenres to help those looking for certain sounds and styles.
Currently I'm working through the RSTB, as nearly half are new to me. The last two are both Chicago based projects on Drag City that I slept on, the experimental ambient folk of BCMC (Cooper Crain and Bill MacKay) and Axis: Sova. This blurb had my attention: "The fuzz that surrounded the band in the past is burned away with an acid splash of neon glow and chrome glare. Sova brought a vision of Devo, Wire, and Toni Visconti to Segall’s studio door, but the band have also burrowed deep into the android heart of Tubeway Army’s sound, scratching deep into their cauterized soul. Further into the caustic creep of the album, the band slides a few slices of Magazine, Soft Boys, Twinkeyz, and Simply Saucer into the synapses as well."
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 13:54 (nine months ago) link
Abysmal Hymns - the Top 10 Hardcore Albums of 2023http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-top-10-hardcore-albums-of-2023.html
highly recommended
3- Svalbard - "The Weight of the Mask"
track from the album
SVALBARD - How To Swim Down (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd5hh2BfsMM
expansive euphoric ethereal
― djmartian, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 14:02 (nine months ago) link
James K song was also on Crack’s list. Great song very trip hop revival.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Wednesday, 13 December 2023 14:49 (nine months ago) link
happy to see the sam goku record on a list (dj mag) (i discovered it from tim f's list)
― ivy., Wednesday, 13 December 2023 15:30 (nine months ago) link
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, December 13, 2023 7:54 AM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I'm guessing a lot of us here play this role in our social circles
― Indexed, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 15:58 (nine months ago) link
I do but most of my friends are the “only 12 records in my collection” sort of folk. The ones who are more curious have wildly differing taste from my own so it’s fun when we do find an album or artist that we both love but it’s becoming more uncommon as we grow older.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Wednesday, 13 December 2023 16:03 (nine months ago) link
Marissa Moss and Natalie Weiner's top country songs and albums of the year:
https://dontrocktheinbox.substack.com/p/issue-35-our-favorite-songs-and-albumshttps://www.stereogum.com/2244742/the-10-best-country-albums-of-2023/lists/year-in-review/2023-in-review/
― Indexed, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 17:05 (nine months ago) link
That Doc Watson Tribute album that Weiner put at number 1 is excellent. https://iamapilgrim.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-a-pilgrim-doc-watson-at-100
― Indexed, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 17:07 (nine months ago) link
Best Jazz of 2023 (Stereogum)
I wrote this, and also got 18 artists to contribute their favorite albums of the year. Surprised by how many other jazz players loved Meshell Ndegeocello's album (which I admit I didn't even listen to).
― Tahuti Watches L&O:SVU Reruns Without His Ape (unperson), Wednesday, 13 December 2023 17:54 (nine months ago) link
Love the format. Didn't know about that Hargrove record, and now I'm checking out the Koma Saxo since I didn't know anything about it. It can be hard to find the right line once you start overtly chopping and editing live takes like this but so far it's done really well.
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 December 2023 18:08 (nine months ago) link
The 50 best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by the readers of Metal Hammerhttps://www.loudersound.com/features/fan-voted-best-metal-albums-of-2023
― djmartian, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 18:14 (nine months ago) link
That Doc Watson Tribute album that Weiner put at number 1 is excellent.https://iamapilgrim.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-a-pilgrim-doc-watson-at-100
― Indexed, Wednesday, December 13, 2023 11:07 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
Should have mentioned that this features a number of ILM favorites: Jeff Parker, Yasmin Williams, Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Steve Earle, Bill Frisell...
― Indexed, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 18:58 (nine months ago) link
...yeah, that Koma Saxo is so good...
― m0stly clean (Slowsquatch), Wednesday, 13 December 2023 23:31 (nine months ago) link
The Wire's Releases of the Year 2023https://www.thewire.co.uk/audio/tracks/the-wire-s-releases-of-the-year-2023
― irerisered, Thursday, 14 December 2023 06:02 (nine months ago) link
had missed the new Fire! Orchestra album
listening now, sounds great
they are a thrill live
― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 14 December 2023 08:07 (nine months ago) link
Clash - Albums Of The Year 2023https://www.clashmusic.com/features/albums-of-the-year-2023/
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2192-clashs-albums-of-the-year-2023/
1. Sampha – Lahai
― djmartian, Thursday, 14 December 2023 14:51 (nine months ago) link
I listened to that Doc Watson tribute a ton early in the year.
― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Thursday, 14 December 2023 15:12 (nine months ago) link
Resident Advisor Top Albums 2023
https://ra.co/features/4293
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 14 December 2023 15:26 (nine months ago) link
speaking of country ... Bandcamp's best country (and "country-ish") of 2023:
https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2023/the-best-country-music-of-2023
― alpine static, Thursday, 14 December 2023 17:04 (nine months ago) link
the fader's songs of the year: https://www.thefader.com/2023/12/14/100-best-songs-2023
― kissinger on my list (voodoo chili), Thursday, 14 December 2023 17:40 (nine months ago) link
Raven Sings the Blues - albums
https://www.ravensingstheblues.com/2023-favorites/
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 15 December 2023 14:33 (nine months ago) link
part 3 from Cardiff based, GIITTV
GIITTV: Albums of the Year for 2023, 25-1https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2023/12/15/giittv-albums-of-the-year-for-2023-25-1/
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2203-god-is-in-the-tvs-albums-of-2023/
1. Corrine Bailey Rae – Black Rainbows
― djmartian, Friday, 15 December 2023 17:29 (nine months ago) link
MAGNET, is this magazine/ music website still going, trad indie rock incoming...
MAGNET's Top 25 Albums of 2023https://magnetmagazine.com/2023/12/14/magnets-top-25-albums-of-2023/https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2200-magnets-top-25-albums-of-2023/
1. Guided by Voices - Nowhere to Go But Up
― djmartian, Friday, 15 December 2023 17:34 (nine months ago) link
Not to be too pedantic, but technically Magnet listed all three 2023 GBV albums as their #1.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 15 December 2023 17:36 (nine months ago) link
Bandcamp - The Best Electronic Music of 2023By Joe Muggs·https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2023/the-best-electronic-music-of-2023
― djmartian, Friday, 15 December 2023 17:42 (nine months ago) link
Complex - The Best Albums Of 2023From smooth R&B projects to hard-hitting rap albums and an unexpected project that made its way to the top—these are Complex’s picks for the best albums of 2023.https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/best-albums-2023
1. Gunna, A Gift & A Curse
― djmartian, Friday, 15 December 2023 17:45 (nine months ago) link
Wow, Magnet has Blondshell at #2, that's cool
― This field is required (morrisp), Friday, 15 December 2023 17:48 (nine months ago) link
Guardian : best vinyl album covershttps://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2023/nov/29/the-best-vinyl-album-covers-of-2023
Exclaim! : worst album covershttps://exclaim.ca/music/article/exclaim_worst_album_covers_of_2023
Find it funny that there are albums that appear on both lists. That said Guardian’s list is pretty bad.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 15 December 2023 19:06 (nine months ago) link
Wow, those GBV albums are... fine. But to think *all three* are the very best things that came out in 2023--even if your main purview is trad indie rock!--is a sure sign you need to pack it in.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 15 December 2023 20:18 (nine months ago) link
It's probably a gimmick to get people who have been checked out on GBV for a while to pay attention.
― Chris L, Friday, 15 December 2023 20:32 (nine months ago) link
Has the 2023 Protomartyr made any year end lists yet?
― beard papa, Friday, 15 December 2023 20:40 (nine months ago) link
Irl lol at Whiney’s preamble for best experimental albums on Stereogum
― i do, what’s wrong with that? so? what now? (flamboyant goon tie included), Friday, 15 December 2023 21:52 (nine months ago) link
<3
― The SoyBoy West Coast (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 15 December 2023 22:35 (nine months ago) link
I mean, I'm a huge Pollard stan and I think he's doing some really great work with GBV in recent years, I might argue he's at another career peak, but even I'd have a hard time dropping even just one of those in my top ten for the year.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 15 December 2023 22:38 (nine months ago) link
Protomartyr #7 Loud and Quiet, #9 Ripcord, #15 Fastnbulbous, #49 Beats Per Minute, #73 Piccadilly.
― Fastnbulbous, Saturday, 16 December 2023 04:54 (nine months ago) link
The Quietus Tracks Of The Year 2023https://thequietus.com/articles/33708-quietus-tracks-2023nice to see the inclusion of Heartworms, Audiobooks, Max Tundra, Special Interest, Loraine James, Creep Show, Overmono.The Quietus Tracks Of The Year 20231: John Francis Flynn – Mole In The Ground2: Earth – Angels (The Bug Remix Feat. Flowdan)3: Heartworms – Retributions Of An Awful Life4: UKAEA ft. Dali de Saint Paul – Habibi5: Lunch Money Life – Mother ((feat. Lady Lykez & Suku Ward)6: Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam7: Teeth Of The Sea – Megafragma8: Yaeji – For Granted9: Hey Colossus – You Laugh At My Face10: Mclusky – Unpopular Parts Of A Pig11: Lana Del Rey – A&W12: Audiobooks – Burnt Pictures13: Jessica Winter – Funk This Up14: Jellyskin – Bringer Of Brine15: Max Tundra – This Woman’s Work16: Patrick Wolf – The Night Safari17: Desire Marea – If You Know18: Special interest – Concerning Peace (Machine Girl Remix)19: Mandy, Indiana – Pinking Shears20: Jam City – Times Square21: Underworld – Denver Luna22: Aphex Twin – In A Room7 F76023: Nadine Shah – Topless Mother24: Shit And Shine – Infinite Shite25: William Doyle – Relentless Melt26: Acid Klaus – You’re A Freak (Feat. Philly Piper)27: HMLTD – The End Is Now28: Meatraffle – Lovesong Industrial Complex29: DRIFT. – Red Lights30: Loraine James – 200331: Creep Show – Bungalow32: Lankum – Go Dig My Grave33: Overmono – Blow Out34: Pangaea – Installation35: In The Trunk – Everything Will Be Alright36: NewJeans – Super Shy37: Nicky Wire – Contact Sheets38: Pole – Stechmück (Sleaford Mods rework)39: Kelela – Enough For Love40: Y U QT – Y'All Ready For Dis41: Lisa O’Neill – Old Note42: Elvin Brandhi & Lord Spikeheart – Drunk In Love43: Slowdive – The Slab44: Heinali – Kyiv Eternal45: Yves Tumor – Echolalia46: Sealionwman – Giselle47: The Haxan Cloak – N/Y48: Minor Science – Workahol49: Jaaw Rot50: Fifty Fifty – Cupid51: Carmen Jaci – Oh Ah Eh Ih Ah Oh52: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Mr Medicine53: Astrid – Kostarika54: Paszka – Jade55: Manni Dee – For Love & Money56: Depeche Mode – Ghosts Again (Nik Colk Void Remix)57: IFS MA – Yaksoq58: L'Rain – New Year's UnResolution59: Slauson Malone 1 – Voyager60: Health – Children Of Sorrow61: KWARP – New Arising62: Dragonchild – LTD63: Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire64: Tara Clerkin Trio – Marble Walls65: Alex Zethson – Öja66: Enchanted Forest – Day Song67: Klara Lewis & Nik Void – I’ll Always68. Wacław Zimpel – Train Spotter69: Sleaford Mods – West End Girls70: Billy Woods & Kenny Segal – FaceTime (ft. Sam Herring)71: Enola Gay – PTS.DUP72: CHAI – Para Para73: Boris & Uniform – You Are The Beginning74: Fat White Family – Religion For One75: WaqWaq Kingdom – Buri Buri (feat. Catu Diosis)
― djmartian, Monday, 18 December 2023 08:23 (nine months ago) link
Relentless Melt
― imago, Monday, 18 December 2023 08:37 (nine months ago) link
Everyone's favorite culture paper of record, The Economist:
https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/12/08/the-best-albums-of-2023-as-chosen-by-the-economist
The best albums of 2023, as chosen by The Economist
“Blomi”. By Susanne Sundfor“False Lankum”. By Lankum“Fountain Baby”. By Amaarae“Gold”. By Cleo Sol“Guts”. By Olivia Rodrigo“Heavy Heavy”. By Young Fathers“Hit Parade”. By Róisín Murphy“Manzanita”. By Shana Cleveland“New Vietnam and Singles”. By Civic“Perfect Saviours”. By The Armed“The Price of Progress”. By The Hold Steady“The Record”. By Boygenius“Scaring the Hoes”. By Danny Brown and JPEGMafia“Strays”. By Margo Price“Sundown”. By Eddie Chacon
― Indexed, Monday, 18 December 2023 15:17 (nine months ago) link
does the anonymous economist music critic post on ilm?
― kissinger on my list (voodoo chili), Monday, 18 December 2023 15:20 (nine months ago) link
Lol didn’t expect The Economist to be one of the best lists.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Monday, 18 December 2023 15:32 (nine months ago) link
Late Entrieshttps://fastnbulbous.com/lucky-23/#late
La Rosa Noir is a Chicago band lead by Yeshi Regalado. The Chicana songwriter tells stories of the punk scene, relationships, and the loss of her mother. The dreamy post-punk/surf noir hybrid fits in perfectly with women-lead trip jam (a term I took from Peluché years ago) bands like Body Type, Goat Girl, Mere Women, Groupie and Warpaint. Still waiting for a way to actually buy the album.
1. La Rosa Noir – Arellano 2. Upper Wilds – Jupiter3. Vanity Mirror – Puff 4. The Treasures Of Mexico – Burn the Jets 5. Volksempfänger – Attack of Sound6. Sweat – Who Do They Think They Are?7. Dust – et cetera, etc EP8. Axis: Sova – Blinded by Oblivion 9. The Toads – In the Wilderness10. Death And Vanilla – Flicker11. Catatonic Suns – Catatonic Suns12. Matthew ‘Doc’ Dunn – Fantastic Light 13. Cornelius – Dream in Dream
― Fastnbulbous, Monday, 18 December 2023 19:59 (nine months ago) link
London metal record shop Crypt Of The Wizard end-of-year lists:
https://www.cryptofthewizard.com/blogs/news/end-of-year-list-2023
― blazin' squab (NickB), Monday, 18 December 2023 21:03 (nine months ago) link
of course the economist would put roisin murphy on their list
― ufo, Monday, 18 December 2023 21:52 (nine months ago) link
Oh shit, I didn't realize Waqwaq Kingdom had a new one!! Downloading post-haste, love them.
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Monday, 18 December 2023 21:57 (nine months ago) link
No one posted a link to my thing so I'll do it
https://www.stereogum.com/2245430/the-10-best-experimental-albums-of-2023/lists/year-in-review/2023-in-review/
― The SoyBoy West Coast (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, 18 December 2023 23:00 (nine months ago) link
― ufo, Monday, December 18, 2023 4:52 PM (one hour ago)
the write-up is very "which opinions, motherfucker" meme
― rob, Monday, 18 December 2023 23:15 (nine months ago) link
No one posted a link to my thing so I'll do ithttps://www.stereogum.com/2245430/the-10-best-experimental-albums-of-2023/lists/year-in-review/2023-in-review🕸/
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Monday, 18 December 2023 23:35 (nine months ago) link