Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2023
Writing some thank yous plus the best from Julie Byrne, The Lemon Twigs, LIES, Uni Boys, Blondshell and more!
It’s hard to believe this is already the fourth year-end list I’ve written for Check This Out! and that this is my 301st post on Substack. What started as a small subscribership of primarily friends and family has blossomed into something much bigger than I imagined when I started this newsletter as a way to get back in touch with my love of writing, and let’s face it, something to do when life was much quieter around this time back in 2020.
Life in our current era of the internet may be a wasteland, and I try my damndest to avoid social media. Still, Substack remains an incredible space for writers to let their imaginations run wild while sharing their knowledge directly with readers. It is also a great place to meet folks who share your niche interests. I’m constantly blown away by how the Musicstack subset continues to be a place of positivity and encouragement. We may feel like we live in an isolated hellscape these days, but I always look forward to my favorite newsletters and all of the comments and DM’s you all send me.
With positivity and encouragement in mind, I want to share with you two friends (like, real life) who are new to Substack that you’ll probably be interested in if you enjoy Check This Out!. First is Joel Daniel, who is out of Chicago and is writing Audio Incubator. This newsletter focuses on his nonprofit that uses city tax funding to try and do anything to make being a musician a viable income. He’s also focusing on other outlets for this, like a new app that connects musicians with homeowners to build tours around house shows, which, so far, can lead to a more fruitful run than playing to empty club rooms. We’re also working on a few projects together that I’m sure I will share with you early next year.
The other is Joe Stringer, my friend down the road in Albuquerque, who is an ally in celebrating our under-discussed and underrated New Mexico scene. His fresh ‘stack called Cheap Gas, Thin Air will be a great spot to learn about these artists, and I admire how Stringer gets out to far more local shows than I could ever fit on my calendar.
I hope you join me in subscribing to both, as nothing is more enjoyable on this platform than watching newsletters grow from their infancy into something so much more when they find their footing, narrative, and audience.
Though they aren’t on Substack, I also want to give a shout and thank you to Karl Blakesley of New Music Weekly UK and Clash and Andrew Belt of 5-9, the platform we’ve run our Album of the Month podcast through this year. I’ve tried to be better about practicing the art of saying ‘yes’ over the past few years, and I didn’t know what to expect when I agreed to sit on the podcast panel this time last year. We've never met in person with myself in Santa Fe, Karl in Nottingham, and Andrew outside of Reading. Still, they’ve both become great transatlantic friends throughout 2023 as we finish our pod tapings and find ourselves still sitting on Zoom long after and shooting the shit. We’re about to release our year-end episode covering all of our favorite records we’ve listened to for the podcast, and we will be back early next year with some fresh updates. If you’re a pod person, I hope you give it a listen.
I also want to talk about how starting this newsletter changed my professional and personal life over the past few years. After a good spell in white-collar corporate America before finding myself on the outside looking in without guidance, writing to all of you each week gave me the confidence to act on my decades-long dream of starting an indie label. This year, in particular, has been wonderful for Mama Mañana Records as we continue to find our footing and learn with each release. I am so thankful to Lowmello and Zivi for bringing outstanding records and easygoing friendships. Without the best music, what is a record label? I’m also grateful to all of you who have bought a tape or t-shirt and made this year so successful. We’ve got some great stuff coming your way next year that I’m excited to share soon!
Finally, I also have an absolutely awesome development that has spun off from the label. I may have missed a few newsletters over these last two months as I got a ‘Mama Mañana Presents’ booking residency off the ground at a newly renovated motel that goes back to the Route 66 days. It’s been amazing to get to know even more artists throughout New Mexico, and it's refreshing to design show flyers and hit the pavement to hang them around town. It’s grunt work, but sometimes I feel like I’m twenty years old again, so I won’t complain. We’re almost through the first month, and the turnout has been tremendous. I always expect nothing, and am taken aback by how much our dusty lil’ town has responded to a positive space showcasing talent we haven’t seen a thousand times around here. Thanks to everyone who has shown up and to the artists and bands who have made my December Friday and Saturday late nights so magical.
All of this, thanks to a lil niche newsletter.
Alright, let’s roll through my favorite records of 2023, and after some much-needed rest, I’ll be back in January to share this musical obsession with all of you.
Happy holidays, and thanks for being here!
Through tomorrow (12/19), you can still grab a Check This Out! subscription for 50% off. Your notes fill me with warm feelings, and I want to share this one from this morning that made me downright blush:
"No other music writer turned me on to more new music in 2023 that made my top 20 albums list than Kiley Larsen. Kiley’s wide-ranging tastes and penchant for the unsung artist combined with strong writing chops make this newsletter a standout and essential for the open-minded music fan."
10. Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy
What I said in my review: ‘Heavy Heavy,’ the fourth and latest record for Young Fathers, is even more uncategorizable, and dare I say, the effortless ambition makes it their best yet. It’s advertised as a “back to basics” record, whatever that may mean for Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and G. Hastings. In the case of ‘Heavy Heavy,’ it’s the three of them hitting “record” in a basement studio and seeing what flies (hint, hint: it all does)… From the starting one-two punch of “Rice” and “I Saw,” which will sound familiar to fans of TV On the Radio, to later highlights like the explosive “Holy Moly,” this is a record that never falters. ‘Heavy Heavy’ covers a lot of contemporary problems, but the music typically ends up joyous.
Heavy Heavy is available on Ninja Tune.
9. Josephine Network - No One's Rose
What I said in my review: “Self-described as a ‘shapeshifting drag yenta,’ Network has written the best cosmic country record from the Lower East Side I’ve heard. Think Gram Parsons crossed with Network’s bubblegum and glam beginnings filtered through an early aughts lo-fi anti-folk lense. ‘Howdy Girl’ is a sub-two-minute slice of slide guitar paradise, but I also can’t stop singing, ‘I’ve got short shorts with deep pockets shimmying through the August heat’ from the brilliant ‘Short Shorts, Deep Pockets.’ My only complaint is a complimentary one in that ‘No One’s Rose’ goes by far too quickly, and I want more Josephine Network. This snuck into my orbit in the past week, and it may very well be my favorite album of the month.
No One’s Rose is available on After The Fall Records.
8. Strange Ranger - Pure Music
Note: Strange Ranger unexpectedly decided to call it quits in October. A super mega bummer, but they really did go out on a high note.
What I said in my review: “Ever since Justin Vernon holed up in a cabin to deliver Bon Iver’s indie folk classic, ‘For Emma, Forever Ago,’ sixteen years ago, the concept of an album recorded in the isolation of nature has become somewhat of a trope in the indie world - the pandemic only escalated this tired PR stunt (can you tell my inbox is full of these pitches?). I’m happy to report that while Strange Ranger recorded ‘Pure Music’ in a cabin during a blizzard in The Catskills, there’s no evidence that the smell of pines and a bellowing fireplace influences what you hear here. Instead, Strange Ranger is now operating a nightclub on another planet. There’s an electronica undertone to most of the ten songs on the new record, yet ‘Pure Music’ is never interested in staying sedentary, as it visits moments of the band’s preferred emo and indie rock background, yet often flirts with dream pop (‘She’s On Fire’), shoegaze, and Madchester’s baggy scene (‘Dream’) in the early nineties. As much as I love ‘Remembering the Rockets,’ this new record is in another galaxy. It’s an album that sometimes seems daunting, as I’m sure the sessions were for the band while recording it. But give it the multiple listens it deserves, and not only will you find Strange Ranger’s best, but also a record shooting straight up the year-end list.”
Pure Music is available now on Fire Talk.
7. Barry Can't Swim - When Will We Land?
What I said in my review: “‘When Will We Land?’ is everything you want from an electronic album and more. It may pull from all of Barry Can’t Swim’s influences and serve them in eleven distinct ways, but Mannie’s vision is clear and never wanders from the bigger picture. While the record should be taken in as a whole when possible, each song is so distinct and fully executed that each is tailor-made for playlists (or mixtapes, if you’re keeping them alive). This isn’t an accident, either. Mannie is a musical perfectionist, and every beat, texture, piano note, and all of the blips and bloops fit together impeccably like bits of cloudy glass in the ‘When Will We Land?’ mosaic. Mannie may be a club wizard who easily fills the dancefloor, but none of these songs are mindless half-baked ideas crafted solely for the late-night amusement of turnt frat boys. Instead, ‘When Will We Land?’ finds Barry Can’t Swim doing what he’s done best over the past few years by harnessing the energy of that big night out while coloring it with organic instrumentation and a much-needed reminder of the universality of the human experience. For music writers, the year is full of anticipated albums. Sometimes, they match the internal hype, while often, they fall short. ‘When Will We Land?’ was unquestionably at the top of my list, defying expectations and more. Barry Can’t Swim proved a true talent with his EPs, but this debut album is a colossal next step. Even if you’re not typically into electronic music, this is still worth diving into, as there are few albums this year that successfully convey a complete vision with what should be universal appeal.”
When Will We Land? is available now on the legendary Ninja Tune.
6. Circles Around the Sun - Language
What I said in my review: “Neal Casal’s passing could have easily ended the band. Instead, not only does John Lee Shannon honor the group’s founder’s spirit throughout, but he also adds his unique stamp to ‘Language’ for a phenomenal payoff. As a Circles Around the Sun fan since the beginning, it’s a sweet relief to hear these guys come out on the other side of the darkness for a genuinely celebratory record. There are so many unique ideas on ‘Language’ that we haven’t heard before, and Horne, MacDougall, and Levy all sound like they’re having a damn good time again. ‘Language’ will surely get you moving whether you’ve followed the band for the past eight years or this is your first encounter with their trademark brand of groovy space funk. The current algorithm-driven music climate has us endlessly discussing which indie-pop star is guesting on which band’s latest track or trudging through efforts from overly advertised supergroups, and it’s refreshing to return to the no-fuss instrumental experimentation found on exceptional albums like ‘Language.’”
Language is available now on Megaforce Records.
5. Blondshell - Blondshell
What I said in my review: “CK One must be in the air because this year, we’ve had at least one excellent 90s-influenced record to discuss monthly. Currently, it’s Blondshell’s phenomenal self-titled debut record that finds the Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter confronting inner turmoil with a sometimes humorous sneer over walls of deliciously chorus-drenched distorted guitars. Blondshell is the nom de plume for Sabrina Teitelbaum, who initially gave music a go as Baum with a poppy single back in 2019. After tackling self-conscious tendencies and writing songs for herself instead of hoping to hitch a ride in the algorithm, Blondshell was born. Her debut record is unvarnished in its confrontation of all the enormous feelings that go into growth and finding yourself… Produced by Yves Rothman, who has worked with the Yves Tumor, Girlpool, Porches, and many others, ‘Blondshell’ is a raw look at inner turmoil - kudos to Sabrina Teitelbaum for her honesty that makes this set of nine songs so alluring. By combining candid lyrics with a cohesive vision borrowed from grunge’s heydey, Teitelbaum’s ‘Blondshell’ is easily the best debut of 2023 to this point and one of the better records you’ll hear this year.”
Blondshell is available now on Partisan Records.
4. Uni Boys - Buy This Now!
What I said in my review: “‘Buy This Now!’ is sequenced perfectly in that these twelve songs alternate between Nash and Matin’s creations, each taking lead vocals on six songs. A lesser band might sound disjointed in this setup, but Uni Boys are so confident in their sound that the good times flow from one song to the next with ease. Nash offers some great moments about life’s little pleasures, like staying home on ‘Let’s Watch a Movie’ or singing, ‘Feeling rotten, I’d rather stay in bed, and order takeout food, eat it in the nude,’ on ‘Hiding in My Home.’ While there’s no fat on this lean and mean record, Nash’s best submission comes later with ‘I’m Alright,’ which has the most apparent D’Addario influence. The harmonies are spot on, and you can’t convince me otherwise that it’s not Brian or Carl Wilson singing the hook at the end of the bridge. Matin’s songs offer as much swagger - whether it’s the ‘Beach Blanket Bingo’ escapism of ‘Down To the City’ or the earworm of a single in ‘I Don’t Believe in Love,’ there’s plenty to love. In Matin’s songs, Uni Boys also try some new tricks. ‘Intentions’ veers into indie rock territory before the hook pulls it back to the seventies. ‘Be My Baby Tonight’ is a classic Joey Ramone-esque ballad that once again benefits from all of the harmonies and a nifty little guitar solo, and ‘Two Years’ is the best song that Matin has written yet - full of chord progression wizardry it’s one that is one repeat.”
Buy This Now! is available now on Curation Records.
3. LIES - Lies
What I said in my review: “As intriguing as the first quarter of ‘Lies’ is, it’s in the thick of the album where LIES (the band) blossoms. Last year saw the release of an EP that featured five of the songs found here, and ‘Resurrection,’ the first on Lies not to be found there, shows that this new Kinsella project has real legs. With its bouncing synth bassline and gorgeous string work, ‘Resurrection’ would be all over pop radio if Clear Channel had any soul left in its Robo-DJ empire. Not to be outdone is ‘Broken,’ with Mike Kinsella exploring divorce much like he did on ‘The Avalanche.’ LIES brilliantly turns the formula on its head, creating an atmosphere akin to a child’s birthday party through a melody built around a Jack-in-the-box that morphs into a drumline crescendo. Kinsella has explored this subject many times. Still, here he offers a bit of humor by breaking up the seriousness with a party horn after singing, ‘I’m over you, you’re over me, congratulations!’ for one of the more memorable parts in a fantastic record… Earlier American Football and Owen albums may hold a special place in the heart, but Mike and Nate Kinsella deserve praise for continuing to grow and releasing something so distinctive from the rest of their catalogs.”
Lies is available on Polyvinyl Records.
2. The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony
What I said in my review: “It’s here on their fourth record, ‘Everything Harmony,’ though, where The Lemon Twigs reach their fantastic potential by being no one else but those two brothers that devoured all of these influences from a time long before their existence. Sure, there are moments throughout, like the autumnal ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ lost song in the opener, ‘When Winter Comes Around,’ or the McCartney-esque highlight ‘Born To Be Lonely.’ Still, there’s no denying the confidence in these distinctly D’Addario harmonies. There are incredible highs in the power pop of ‘Ghost Run Free,’ and the floating glam rock in ‘What Were You Doing,’ but ‘Everything Harmony’ is made chiefly of sentimental chamber pop, which provides the glue to create their most cohesive album yet. Standout singles ‘In My Head’ and ‘Corner of My Eye’ could have easily been overly played around here, but they always sound as fresh as the first listen. The ballads are also top-notch, like the rawness of ‘Every Day Is the Worst Day of My Life’ and ‘I Don’t Belong To Me,’ one of the songs on ‘Everything Harmony’ recorded at the brother’s noisy Midtown Manhattan practice space. Working on other projects like Weyes Blood’s ‘And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow’ and Todd Rundgren’s ‘I’m Leaving’ seems to have pushed The Lemon Twigs sound into a lusher territory, and this self-produced album is a band-defining effort from two talents still in their early twenties. If things continue like this, we’re in for a real treat.”
Endless Harmony is available now on Capture Tracks.
1. Julie Byrne - The Greater Wings
What I said in my review: “Julie Byrne’s ‘Not Even Happiness’ was one of my favorite records of 2017, so when ‘The Greater Wings’ was announced as its follow-up six years later, it shot up my anticipated list. Byrne is one of those singer-songwriter talents whose transcendental voice is more than worth the price of admission, and she wisely continues to focus almost exclusively on a minimalist presentation of her vocal beauty. Her past work found her mostly accompanied by fingerpicked acoustic guitar, but ‘The Greater Wings’ excels at painting the vocal focus while adding celestial synths and well-placed strings. We don’t often discuss cover art around here, but this transformation is apparent from ‘Not Even Happiness’’s black and white photo of Byrne with her eyes closed to ‘The Greater Wings’ shot of Byrne in a technicolor sweater. Byrne started recording ‘The Greater Wings’ a few years ago, between tour dates and longtime collaborator Eric Littman producing. In late 2021, Littman passed away unexpectedly, giving Byrne pause while she grieved and wrote more songs dealing with the loss. Her new label, Ghostly International, is an interesting pairing, as they’re typically known for their electronic outings with Tycho and Com Truise. Still, the label’s suggestion of Byrne working with Alex Somers (Jónsi & Alex, Sigur Rós, Julianna Barwick) to complete the record is an excellent combination. These haunting textures are most apparent on ‘Summer Glass,’ which links the two phases of ‘The Greater Wings,’ but every song is a must-hear. The album rightfully carries a heavy air, but Byrne wonderfully mixes gratitude alongside grief - one has to be in the right mood for ‘The Greater Wings,’ and many oncoming autumn listens should only solidify Julie Byrne’s latest as a still blossoming career high and one of the year’s best.”
The Greater Wings is available on Ghostly International.
What is your favorite record of 2023? Let me know in the comments!
I know we talked about it already, but the booking residency is awesome- I’m excited for you!
Records-wise, the Circles Around The Sun LP is awesome. I wound up grabbing a copy after learning about it here, so thank you for that!
Excellent top 10. I had Barry Can't Swim and Uni Boys just outside my top 10. BCS being yet another band/artist I discovered through you! I am a big power-pop fan but there's something about The Lemon Twigs that hasn't connected for me; it might be that it fell too far on the overly precious side of power pop for me (musically, not lyrically). Which means that by mid-2024 it'll be my favorite record!
And all your projects for 2024 sound amazing! I think you choosing to say "yes" to everything has really paid off! Enjoy the short break from writing...