My Top 10 Albums Of 2023

Listening habits have changed, I've put more time into creating and as a result, my shortlist was literally these ten albums. I've passed over quite a few records from old favorites too, instead opting to keep an eye on newer artists but even then its familiar names emerging on the list this year.

(10) Aaron Cherof "Minecraft: Trails & Tales (Original Game Soundtrack)" (2023) link

The fallout with C418's timeless soundtrack is saddening but in his shadow, Mojang have managed to pluck some exceptional artists that suit the games atmosphere. This latest addition grows on me with each listen and as the year grew, each return to these new tracks proved how great they were.

(9) Dreamstate Logic "Starbound" (2023) link

One for the temporal playlist, Starbound has a flavor not all distinctive but lasting. As the year went on I found myself drifting back to its magic which turns out to be one of the strongest calmers in Dreamstate Logic's now extensive catalog.

(8) The Tiberian Sons "Anthems Of Liberation" (2023) link

Soundtrack to my ice boat racing, I may now never return to it without visions of skidding across frozen blocky landscapes. The musics tone is familiar but wonderfully animated, that crossover between Progressive and VGM again yielding magic. Its nice to see this group branching into their other soundtrack passions.

(7) Enter Shikari "A Kiss For The Whole World" (2023) link

I commented earlier on passing over old bands still pumping out records. Now twenty years into their legacy, Enter Shikari are one I can't pass up and I'm happy to see them find that youthful spirit again after experimenting with a more subdued approach.

(6) Post Malone "Austin" (2023) link

Its not here for its status as an album but the few favorites that emerged from Austin have been absolute ear worms, bringing hot and uplift over and over. Post has always been a keen talent but here you can hear him actualizing the vision of a songs expression and backing it up with melodic candy.

(5) Gunship "Unicorn" (2023) link

Clearly brilliant but trailing off towards its conclusion, the strong songs of Unicorn has again been ear worms. With Spotify's auto shuffle pushing them after finishing other records, they have become favorites this year. It feels like they really timed this one well, waiting for inspiration to strike after a few years.

(4) Old Tower "Draconic Synthesis" (2023) link

Dungeon Synth has become somewhat stale with my explorations of what its got left to offer. I keep eyes on a few artists and really felt that Old Tower stepped up with another maturity of sound design that yielded some fresh other worldly expressions.

(3) Myrkur "Spine" (2023) link

The uncanny feeling covers has subsided given some research into the musics originality and now I've just been enjoying how curiously strange and wonderful its chemistry is. Bruun is clearly pulling inspiration from different genres and how it all comes together has been endearing and a joy to listen.

(2) Narrow Head "Moments Of Clarity" (2023) link

With nostalgia being on plentiful supply in these times, its great to hear a band so masterfully craft inspirations of times past with a spirit and charisma that escapes that nostalgic grasp. Narrow Head have banging riffs and write songs that don't serve the past but compliment it. Everything came together so well with Moments Of Clarity. Many of its songs have been on rotation through the year.

(1) Olivia Rodrigo "Guts" (2023) link

Often singing about topics quite distant from my own experiences, Olivia's presence, expression and musicality has an allure hard to ignore. Like with Sour, she can pull you in with catchy pop chorus and sincere divulges of personal distresses that paint a picture. This outing, everything felt tightened up and finely tuned, while maturing lyrically too. Guts has me enjoying her catalog while anticipating where she will go next!

Narrow Head "12th House Rock" (2020)

 

Wedged between two fine outings, their sophomore effort 12th House Rock fits awkwardly, an anomaly drifted off a fine trajectory. Narrow Head embark on another bash of Grunge revival, shedding the shades of Groove and Nu Metal that perhaps steered them to greatness. With groans and gristle they lean into the textural oddities adjacent to the 90s scene. Reveling in hazy guitar overdrive and other fuzzy distortion effects, both guitars and vocals get a variety of tweaks over a thirteen track course.

On review, this aesthetic dwell is an unsurprising focal point. With their vocal hooks and guitar riffs lacking a spark heard before and after, many songs fall flat on arrival. It leaves ones attention attuned to its many off kilter flaws. On a handful of songs this textural rebellion is its main character, leaving a bitter taste as much fails to resonate.

The potential success of a lacking originality simmers. This revivalist pursuit wears its influences like wounds on occasion, cutting bold and obvious, jarring when a lack of gravitas persists. Hard To Swallow thumps hard, reeking of Helmet syncopation yet Night Tryst sparkles bright, despite utilizing a blatant Smashing Pumpkins blueprint.

For all its nostalgic tint, when components don't quite click, whats left is an infuriating fumble of forms. Enjoyable but barely engrossing, the ideas sought after became more audible than the music itself. Narrow Head didn't sell me on this, thus falling short on many fronts. Not awful but I couldn't get pasts the rotating cast of 90s pitfalls.

Rating: 5/10

Narrow Head "Satisfaction" (2016)

 When invited to indulge with music so apt to ones taste, it can be a tricky task to pull on the threads of its magic. After being spoiled with a refined and mature, White Pony inspired Moments Of Clarity, what I thought might be a blemished origin story, seems settled with an endearing rawness. On arrival, the dense, muffled guitar tone and crunchy baselines take a moment to adjust too. This seems like an amateurish first outing yet when Duarte's voice drifts into focus, dreamy, like a mirage coming to pass in a moment, It all clicks into place. What then unravels is simply a string of treasures.

Aching with shoegazing aesthetic wonder, punching in sharp percussive grooves and often aligning on the power of the riff, strong Grunge and Nu Metal persuasions are woven in between an energized ethereal haze of crooning distortion and swooned sleepy singing. Unafraid of hard grooves or dreary acoustics washed in reverbs, their degrees of intensity are always met with inspiration. These songs play with purpose, direction and immediacy, through direct song structures that get straight to the meat.

Its all killer, no filler, with eleven songs to pick favorites as the many takes on groove, guitar noise, melody and aesthetics explores classic 90s ideals. Despite coming reasonably close on occasion, it avoids any plagiarism with a lot of its influences manifesting in enthusiasm, energy and awe. Personally, I found its ability to grip for thirty six minutes fascinating. A sense of coming persists and no idea outstays its welcome. Best of all, firing up the record for a spin and adjusting to that thick, rumbling, dense wall of sound on Necrosis gets me every time. 

Rating: 8/10

Narrow Head "Moments Of Clarity" (2023)

 

Herein lies another nostalgia bend, or so I thought on first glance. Hailing from Dallas, these Texan's reach thirty years back for inspiration and aesthetics. The unmistakable influence of Deftones dominates as they plunder the Grunge, Alternative Metal and Shoegazing scenes of past to re-imagine the period. Moments Of Clairty was initially easy to dismiss for its lack of originality. A few obvious gems held it over for more spins, then with each try I found it harder to put down. Underneath its rosy tinted veneer lies some fundamentally decent songwriting that kept me engaged.

The records architecture revolves on effective riffs. Steeped in Shoegaze distortion, unraveled with a little Nu Metal syncopation, its sharp grooves hit with rhythm and endear with fuzzy tinges of color creeping out of its warm distortions. Overhead sings Jacob Duarte, who glues the music with tender vocals. On first impressions they seem a little timid, reaching without power. With familiarity, they become a focal charm. What melody he squeezes out goes a long way to make the songs memorable.

He aids a quiet loud dynamic, offering a comfy withdrawal from the harder aggressions brooding on guitars. Their songs play out in degrees, learning into acoustics, fuzzy guitar textures and bouncy groove riffs. Many a page comes pulled from the Deftones playbook. Less often Smashing Pumpkins with lead guitars and singing. Despite the obvious idiosyncrasies, it endures! However track eight, The World, cannot hide its My Bloody Valentine origins. Too obvious yet a good song.

Originality felt reserved until its closing moment. A touch of Industrial drive creeps in as a very 90s drum machine loop sets pace for Soft To Touch. The fuzzed out droning guitar that swirls around it, along with Duarte's vulnerable singing has all three components feeling vastly alien. Somehow it crafts a memorable song with the unique atmosphere. Flesh & Solitude has a little Industrial edge too, its whipping snare sample locks in a stiff marching drive. It however, yields to obvious influences again.

Moments Of Clairty is fantastic nostalgic ride for a fan of these ideas and this era. Its songs are solid and lasting. A little more uniqueness could of pushed it over the edge, finding freshness among old ideals. As it stands, practically no musical moment doesn't echo something heard on other records before. Its nearly a distasteful affair. Fortunately these influences are wielded skillfully, satisfaction its destination.

Rating: 7/10