Album of the Year 2023

mrkb

1) Rival Sons - Darkfighter
2) Dirty Honey - Cant find the brakes 
3) Black Crowes - Southern Harmony and Musical Companion - Super Deluxe reissue (released this Friday)
/End of list

Philly_Q

mrkb said:

1) Rival Sons - Darkfighter
2) Dirty Honey - Cant find the brakes 
3) Black Crowes - Southern Harmony and Musical Companion - Super Deluxe reissue (released this Friday)
/End of list

I'm sensing a bit of a pattern there.

blobb

Zopp - Dominion.

MagicPigDetective

Philly_Q said:

I haven't heard any of those albums, I'm afraid.  Must admit I thought it was going to be a thread asking for our albums of the year.

It would've been more interesting to ask for our top albums.

For what it's worth, here's my top ten:

1. Green Lung - This Heathen Land

2. 3rd Secret - 2nd

3. Beach Fossils - Bunny

4. Slowdive - Everything Is Alive

5. Sleaford Mods - UK Grim

6. Prong - State of Emergency

7. Tomb Mold - The Enudring Spirit

8. Orbital - Optical Delusion

9. Paramore - This is Why

10. Kelala - Raven

Philly_Q

I can only list the few 2023 releases I've bought.  In no particular order:

Green Lung - This Heathen Land
Baroness - Stone
Blood Ceremony - The Old Ways Remain
Royal Thunder - Rebuilding the Mountain
Winger - Seven
Kvelertak - Endling
Metallica - 72 Seasons

I think that may be it...

Vintage65

Philly_Q said:

I haven't heard any of those albums, I'm afraid.  Must admit I thought it was going to be a thread asking for our albums of the year.

Browsing the albums of the year charts is an old habit from the days of the NME and Melody Maker to see if I'd missed out on anything interesting throughout the year, and it usually resulted in a few album purchases for Xmas. Now it's a trip to Spotify or YouTube  

Reverend

Vintage65 said:

Reverend said:

a list like that is enough to put me off checking out the new lankum and slowdive. 

I like the new Lankum album, it's something a bit different, and it is good to see them getting some recognition.

I like them, but putting them in a list of hipster dross like this almost ruins it

Vintage65

Reverend said:

Vintage65 said:

Reverend said:

a list like that is enough to put me off checking out the new lankum and slowdive. 

I like the new Lankum album, it's something a bit different, and it is good to see them getting some recognition.

I like them, but putting them in a list of hipster dross like this almost ruins it

I'd blame the recent hipster Mercury Prize nomination for putting them in the spotlight   The Lynch brothers have been trying to make a go of it in the music industry since 2000, so they have certainly paid their dues, and I don't think they will be complaining too much about any of the recent attention.

Philly_Q

Vintage65 said:

Philly_Q said:

I haven't heard any of those albums, I'm afraid.  Must admit I thought it was going to be a thread asking for our albums of the year.

Browsing the albums of the year charts is an old habit from the days of the NME and Melody Maker to see if I'd missed out on anything interesting throughout the year, and it usually resulted in a few album purchases for Xmas. Now it's a trip to Spotify or YouTube  

For me it was Kerrang! who had their Top 25 or whatever it was, plus all the writers used to list their own personal choices.  It eventually got to the point where I only had two or three of their top picks, and then I stopped buying the magazine.  That was a very long time ago.  But yeah, Spotify for me now... and if I like something and listen to it a lot, I'll buy the CD eventually because I feel I owe the band the money.

Reverend

Vintage65 said:

Reverend said:

Vintage65 said:

Reverend said:

a list like that is enough to put me off checking out the new lankum and slowdive. 

I like the new Lankum album, it's something a bit different, and it is good to see them getting some recognition.

I like them, but putting them in a list of hipster dross like this almost ruins it

I'd blame the recent hipster Mercury Prize nomination for putting them in the spotlight   The Lynch brothers have been trying to make a go of it in the music industry since 2000, so they have certainly paid their dues, and I don't think they will be complaining too much about any of the recent attention.

Ive got a lynched album on tape somewhere 

Vintage65

Reverend said:

Vintage65 said:

I'd blame the recent hipster Mercury Prize nomination for putting them in the spotlight   The Lynch brothers have been trying to make a go of it in the music industry since 2000, so they have certainly paid their dues, and I don't think they will be complaining too much about any of the recent attention.

Ive got a lynched album on tape somewhere 

Cold Old Fire?

Draco_V_Ecliptic

Would it be regarded as treasonous if I posted about a hip hop album on here? Lol I thought The Elephant Man's Bones by Roc Marciano x The Alchemist was the best album of the year. Hip hop is my second love after jazz. 

Enough of the "trolling" now, for the best jazz album featuring a guitarist, of 2023 I would say Dream Box by Pat Metheny is up there.

Jfingers

I'd heard of 12 of those artists in the 50. I'd also not heard any of their work apart from Jason Isbell's Weathervanes that were released this year.

My album of the year is Sweet Anhedonia by Ben De La Cour, produced by Jim White. Isbell a close second.

Winny_Pooh

A very sleepy list (and I like Lana del rey etc)

I reckon these were overlooked:

David Brewis - the soft struggles
Hiss golden messenger - jump for joy

Viagra Boys - Cave world (just because it rocked my 2023) 

Placidcasual79

Winny_Pooh said:

A very sleepy list (and I like Lana del rey etc)

I reckon these were overlooked:

David Brewis - the soft struggles
Hiss golden messenger - jump for joy

Viagra Boys - Cave world (just because it rocked my 2023) 

I've enjoyed Jump for Joy as well. I bought it off the back of a review in Mojo. It's the first album of theirs I've listened to but they have been around for ages I believe? 

Being a reggae fan I've enjoyed Hollie Cook's Happy Hour and its dub counter part as well as Prince Fatty meets Gorgon in dub - a reworking of original tracks by the Aggravators. 

Has anybody heard Rajan by Night Beats? That came out this summer - it's produced by that fella from the Black Keys - it's guitar-centric so people here might like it - it has soul, psych, fuzz pop......Jelly Road by Blake Mills has been for out for months and I am still trying to understand its dense layers of guitar......African Head Charge released a record this year - A Trip to Bolgatanga. Thats good. Lil Yatchy's album is on that list - thats a good hip hop record. The production is 'live' sounding - like  a yatch rock band.....

There have been some good traditional guitar records - Wilco's 'cousin' is there best for a little while IMHO, 'Isn't it now' by Animal Collective is a good psych record and of course Queens of the Stone Ages album 'In times new Roman' came out. 

EricTheWeary

Ooh I'd forgotten about the Hollie Cook one, I shall have to look up the Prince Fatty one - he doesn't seem to put a foot wrong. 

Fingers657

Any love for the new Rolling Stones and Peter Gabriel albums?

Sporky

I didn't find much new stuff this year - 2022 was ripe though.

So I'll nominate Unisono by Winter Dust, which is quite joyful. No idea what the lyrics are - all in Italian, so my apologies if they're all horrible people.

Placidcasual79

EricTheWeary said:

Ooh I'd forgotten about the Hollie Cook one, I shall have to look up the Prince Fatty one - he doesn't seem to put a foot wrong. 

I definitely owe you a big thank you or a beer for putting me on to Prince Fatty and Hollie Cook @EricTheWeary - I've had many happy hours of listening time going through his back catalogue.  I am a big fan of his production - his characteristic sound, warm and analogue...... I've seen some great interviews too - he's served an apprenticeship under great reggae producers and is a real gear head - he's collected original gear from some of the great Jamaican studios..... 

He doesn't produce this Hollie Cook album or the dub. The production is similar to Prince Fatty's but not quite as good IMHO - but the songs are really good - the best since her first album......

I would definitely have a look for the Prince Fatty meets Gorgon in dub record though. It's only just been released - but is really really good. You might recognise some of the tracks - they are original Aggravators tracks that have been reworked and mixed. They sound great.   

Do you read? There is a fantastic book about the history of Jamaican music - Bass Culture - When reggae was king by Lloyd George.  Its really interesting, it talks about the circumstances that led to the birth of the Jamaican music industry and how it developed, as well as how the socio-economic and culturally history of the island influenced the music that was made there. It's really comprehensive -  but gripping too. Perhaps a lot it might be familiar to you -  but I found it fascinating. I'd happily send you my copy as a thank you. 

Anyway - have a great Christmas. 
 

monquixote

Fingers657 said:

Any love for the new Rolling Stones and Peter Gabriel albums?

The PG one had a great write up in the press but I must admit I turned it off before I got to the end.