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!

Olivia Rodrigo "Guts" (2023)

 

Two years on from Sour, Olivia matures, returning with welcome yet familiar tuneful dances of vulnerable self expression. Guts possibly signals the expression of having enough to bleed these pained relationships she divulges in detail. Among its twelve tracks, we experience the flip side, highs and lows, loves and heartbreaks, all in broken sequence, letting each song take form with its own identity.

Like last time around, mature, expressive and palatable singer songwriter bites get wedged between chirpy, catching hooks and pop sensibilities. Often teenage in nature, Olivia has no difficulty finding relatable words with an essence of youth and soft touch of rebellion. Not my preferred picks yet her vibrancy so clearly on the pulse of those young years, one can take a step back into those spaces faded by age.

A notable 90s Post-Grunge, Alternative Rock aesthetic rears its head on occasion. My favorite track, Pretty Isn't Pretty, bolsters a gorgeous shoe-gazing guitar lick. Underneath a luminous baselines marches with a delicate assemble of subtle instruments coloring its calmer moments. The tone is wonderfully balanced, fresh yet nostalgic, she yields her voice to whats asked of the instrumental. Stunning song!

These revived sounds kick off the album back to back. All-American Bitch and Bad Idea Right? get there Pop Punk kicks on with fun and cheeky expressions. The later reminding me of Devo's Whip It in an obscure way, must be that tight overdriven guitar riff! Every time an energetic song arrives, it always comes with a complimentary sense of specific inspiration from the 90s and 00s alternative music scenes.

The soft and vulnerable cuts found between are my favorites. When the guitars fade and airy synths rise, alongside moody pianos and tempered strings, Olivia opens up with endearing stories of personal woes felt in her voice. It strips out the attitude and quirk of catchy hook writing, saying similar things but from direction experiences. This is where the guts of the record lay, their pacing between other sounds is apt.

Lastly, the record ends with Teenage Dream, reflecting on artistic and cosmetic atrophy. A tender track exposing her relationship with the massive pressures of fame and public opinion. Its quite saddening considering how heavy such thoughts can weigh. Feels like an potential premonition, a self fulfilling prophesy. Hopefully getting it off her chest wont make that so! This album was remarkably gratifying, just as good if not better than Sour. I'm left knowing I will keep coming back to this one.

Rating: 8/10

Olivia Rodrigo "Sour" (2021)

 

Being of a different generation, I only became aware of Olivia Rodrigo when the storm of ignorance descended upon Sour and its similarities to music of decades past. Is she reinventing the Punk Pop wheel? Or pinching from Paramore on Good 4 U? Crashing the record open with Brutal and its nod to Elvis Costello, I can see why the accusations flew her way. A lot of people don't understand that everything is a remix, we stand on the shoulders of giants and there is little true "originality" to be found. We're products of our surrounding environments, influence flows through one to the next. All music has its place in the tree of evolving lineage, branches spread, flowers blossom and bloom, looking all so similar yet with their own quirks.

I'm happy the has controversy lured me in. Olivia has a powerful, independent voice, a swaying mix of committal and vulnerability, with a loose grip in timely moments. This generation is growing up on auto-tuned vocals and its physically effecting how young people now sing. I'm more partial to the old ways and no vocal coach but her pitch and temperament seems to straddle the two. Strong notes cruise into crashes of softness and expression so wrapped up in the emotions her words paint bright.

Lyrically, a passing glance could simply dismiss these topics of high school love, heartbreaks and teenage toils as typical and naive yet despite the surface, something about how she picks apart her feelings seems so raw and direct. Its clear shes been through an awful break up, laying out both the bad and ugly alongside her righteous reactions, circling back to different aspects of the experience on multiple tracks. Her words weave brief insights in their bluntness, creating a remarkable impression what could seem like an atypical song. Of course her singing spearheads it all with these surges of vulnerability as she opens up an extraordinary range and delivery.

The introspection seems almost unintentional, as if she stumbles onto the pulse without reflective intent. Later in the record, Jealousy Jealousy highlights the thought and craft in her lyrics, narrating the difficult navigations of a generation growing up with social media exacerbating the thief of joy, comparison. The lightly shouted conclusion has a fantastic flow to it, kicking up a breezy gusto and riding it out. Creativity flows effortlessly it seems and her singing style is front and center of it all.

Her partnership with Dan Nigro, writing and production, seems like a perfect fit. Song structures are apt with piano chord melodies a frequent source of warmth. Much of the music comes with a lofty ambience, a sense of scale as songs drift dreamily with swells of lush and gentle sound amounting. All the instruments are orchestrated to grow and croon softly with power and persuasion. Giving it a keen ear one can hear layers of quiet instruments at work, led by minimalist percussion that's timely with a pallet beyond the basics. Its a fine footing for inspirations that much of the record holds in these loose, fluid and shapeless moments, only be suddenly snapped into place by an occasional upbeat Pop song like the successful hit Good 4 U.

I struggle to find the right words, the resonance between voice and instrumental is just fascinating yet so simple. Sour has a wonderful and curious chemistry, an individual set in the center who's got a seemingly typical, yet deeply rousing self expression to offer. Its much gentler than its big tracks suggest and the personal story embedded is moving. Its a shame people get all riled up by similarities. There is much to miss out on here! One I spotted myself was 1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back. It has a vibe keenly reminding me of Regina Spektor! Anyway, Sour is a fantastic album, can't wait to see where she goes from here!

Rating: 8/10