What a year. Exciting new artists burst onto the scene. Classic bands returned to form. There were reunions, both expected … More
What a year. Exciting new artists burst onto the scene. Classic bands returned to form. There were reunions, both expected and surprises. All genres showed up with something to prove, or to destroy the very definition of genre they had established.
From Dec 2022 – Nov 2023 (since we drop this list in December, and don’t want to disservice any artists with Dec releases), these are our Top Albums of 2023!
Indy Review’s Top 30:
Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
No album this year felt nearly as refreshing, as vibrant, as original and as joyous as the latest from this Scottish trio. Heavy Heavy is an everything bagel of music that blends everything together so well that trying to describe any song is not worth the effort – they just need to be heard. From the buoyant, rhythmic “Rice” to the meditative, orchestrated “Tell Somebody”, you can hear flavors of hip-hop, afropop, alternative, indie, gospel and classical and not be wrong. The innovativeness of every song on Young Fathers‘ new album is a testament to their growth as songwriters and steadfast devotion to their unique vision. And in a year of such heaviness, being able to turn up a track like “Sink or Swim” and be awash in its festive dynamism was a healing tonic for the soul.
2. Algiers – Shook
In many ways feeling like the “yang” to Heavy Heavy‘s “yin”, Shook is an album that dismisses the need for “genre”, but unlike the pop gloss coating the songs on Young Fathers‘ album, Algiers are fearlessly abrasive, confrontational and daring with their compositions. That’s not to say there aren’t hooks – there are plenty. They just dig into a more ethereal realm that your run-of-the-mill pop or rock song, and lyrically the band addresses weightier issues; race, violence, war and society’s ills. Single “Irreversible Damage” is like a vicious wake-up call (“You should be screaming out, And ringing like the alarm”), like a soulful bomb dropping heavy riffs, middle eastern guitar lines, and a cameo from Zach De La Rocha that burns in a beautiful way. “Bite Back” simmers as rap verses collide with a pained melodic chorus, and ends with a powerful gang vocal call out. “I Can’t Stand It!” is R&B-singed rock that lingers in your mind long after it’s over, while “A Good Man” is a punk rager that should get any crowd moshing. It’s an album that reveals itself more and more on repeat listens, rewarding those who venture into the engaging musical labyrinth it creates.
3. Versus the World – The Bastards Live Forever
It’s rare these days that a new punk/emo record comes along with songs that hit me as hard as the tracks that soundtracked my youth. That’s what made the new album from Versus the World feel so seismic to me. As I said in my review of the album, the album is full of caustic self-analysis, examinations of one’s worth, and powerful, memorable hooks that do not stop. Songs like the kinetic “Roadsick/Roadsick” and the incredible earworm “Your Wedding and a Funeral” were stuck in my head for weeks, and more importantly, I felt like they spoke to me in a way most bands in this genre just don’t anymore. Maybe that’s because the band is made up of veterans from the scene, all with experience in other bands, and therefor a more mature outlook on the world. Whatever the case, this is an album that anyone who grew up on Warped Tour, or who currently goes to When We Were Young, should have on their radar.
4. Adeem the Artist – White Trash Revelry
Wit and wry wisdom abound throughout Adeem the Artist‘s sophomore album, along with a fearsome ability to speak truth to power. The fiery “Heritage of Arrogance” is a visceral look at growing up in a southern culture where racism and injustice are so firmly embedded into life that those guilty of it aren’t even aware. Adeem paints a more empathetic picture of the world they know on “Middle of a Heart”, a tale of growing up poor and the risks of attempting to find a better life through the only means sometimes available to those in difficult circumstances. Even on the irreverent “Going to Hell”, Adeem drops powerful truth bombs (“white man would rather give a devil praise than acknowledge a black man’s worth”) that are almost in his playful jabbing at Christian condemnation (“Do you want to go to Hell with Adeem the Artist?”). So basically what I’m saying is, Adeem is a helluva great songwriter, and White Trash Revelry one of the best country/americana/folk releases of the last twelve months.
5. Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman…
It’s been a hard couple years for Josh Homme – from a messy divorce to a run with cancer, no one would have blamed him if the latest Queens of the Stone Age album was a searing, rage filled collection of bile and vitriol. Yet what we were given was a set of addictively psychedelic hard rock with unexpected melodic ventures. That’s not to say Homme doesn’t reflect on his recent troubles – he just does so over slick, desert garage rock. “They’re out to get you aren’t they? The kids, the man, the chicks, the breaks. They don’t care what you think anymore” Homme sings on the excellent single “Paper Machete”, softening the jagged riffs with windy harmonies. “Emotionless” finds a sick groove that feels pulled from the 70’s, with Homme sounding like a hard rock flower child. Moments of funk, punk and stoner rock pepper the album, all the while the band drive a spine-tingling tone through each song that makes each listen feel as exciting as the first one.
6. Stephen Marley – Old Soul
The entire Marley clan has proven themselves many times over to be talented musicians in their own right. Ziggy had big hits in the eighties and early nineties, and Damian broke out with “Welcome to Jamrock”, but IMO, Stephen Marley has the closest balance of melody and lyrical depth and wisdom that made his father a true legend. On his latest, and probably greatest album, Stephen Marley captures the flame, with songs like “Cast the First Stone” (with help from Damian) emanating with the universality and spirit of his father’s best work. But the artist shows his own personality throughout as well, getting autobiographical on the acoustic title track, and touching into more modern roots reggae on “Standing in Love”. He even shows a flair for country with the breezy closer “Winding Roads”, a three-hander with Jack Johnson and Bob Weir. Old Soul has everything that made Bob Marley‘s records classics; and if some more people can discover this one, it may find its place as a classic too.
7. blink-182 – One More Time
The reunion album everyone had been waiting on for over a year, ever since the band announced it in October of 2022 with the release of “Edging”. Tom Delonge was back in the band. blink-182 were whole again. Expectations ran high, and the boys kept us waiting and salivating to hear more for twelve long months after. When the title track finally dropped, it told a story; a story about three friends reconnecting, about letting go of grudges and being willing to tell those in our lives how important they are to us. Its this brotherhood that has made blink-182 so beloved, and which made that song so powerful. Other tracks like the ballistic “More Than You Know” and rousing “Anthem Pt. 3” carried over the blink-182 we came to know from their Untitled record. But then there were also classic blink party songs, like the insanely catchy “Dance With Me”, and the lovelorn “Blink Wave”. All together, they made One More Time a fantastic return to form for the trio, and hopefully a sign that there is much more blink to come.
8. Marvelous 3 – IV
One of the most unexpected (yet welcome) reunions of 2023 came from Marvelous 3. Songwriter/producer Butch Walker got his late-90’s band back together, and recorded an album packed full of flawless power pop and spirited rock n’ roll with a big ol’ heart on its sleeve, and I am very grateful for it. “My Old School Metal Heart” gives you the kind of rush that a great Cheap Trick or Thin Lizzy song does, and “Kill a Motherfucker That Breaks Your Heart” is the kind of squishy tough guy love song that only a former metal head could write. On top of all the crunchy riffs and sticky melodies, there’s also some beautiful storytelling, such as “Jackie and Tina”, a tale of two best friends separated by time and eventually cancer, which tugs at your emotions even as it remains the kind of big hooky rock song that Bon Jovi would kill for. Fingers crossed these guys do a full reunion tour in 2024!
9. boygenius – The Record
A true supergroup if there ever was one, boygenius (aka Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker), caused a stir when they announced they were releasing a full length record, but I doubt even they foresaw what a splash it would make. Now six Grammy nominations, an SNL performance, a shout-out from Taylor Swift and sold-out shows around the country later, boygenius are full-on super stars, and they fully deserve it, as The Record is an impeccable meshing of the three songwriters’ talents. Tracks like “$20” open softly but evolve into throat-shredding rock tracks by the end, while the amazing “Not Strong Enough” hits with its lyrical hooks (“Always an angel, never a god”) with each singer’s vocals playing a necessary role in the track. The layered harmonies of “Emily I’m Sorry” are a thing of serene beauty, while “Satanist” is a grungy headbanger that legitimizes the group as the rock stars they are.
10. The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds
Well into their 80’s, The Rolling Stones have nothing left to prove to anyone, yet that didn’t stop them from releasing one of the years best rock n’ roll records (nor one of their best records in ages). Almost everyone hearing first single “Angry” sounded surprised that the track was as good as it is; a classic Stones rocker with a swaggering hook and grand pop sheen. Some kudos to mega producer Andrew Watts for getting the best out of the band, but of course, no one needs to teach these guys how to write a damn good rock song. “Whole Wide World” and “Mess It Up” can be added to the rest of the list of classic Stones tunes, while the Paul McCartney-assisted “Bite My Head Off” is one of the most punk-sounding tracks they’ve released. And the soulful “Sweet Sounds of Heaven”, featuring both Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, will certainly shine on the group’s 2024 tour. Pitchfork can suck it – this album is a keeper.
11. Samiam – Stowaway
The NorCal punk rock group made a triumphant return after nearly a decade with an album that’s as tight as memorable as their best work. From the blazing “Lake Speed” to new classic “Lights Out Little Hustler”, the group still are able to write songs as emotional and soul-smashing as ever, while never losing their sharp edges.
12. The Iron Roses – The Iron Roses
Turning their supporting band into its own unified collective was a smart move by Nathan Gray, as the band takes the best of Gray’s solo work, and expands the sound and range into songs that are exemplary rock anthems. Adding dashes of ska, hip hop and folk into the mix with the politically charged lyrics Gray is known for (like on “Justify Lies” and “Screaming for a Change”), the band fire on all cylinders.
13. Güero – Wednesdays
This indie-skate rock band were one of the chillest discoveries of 2023 for me. Their sound has the kind of mellow, airiness that endeared groups like The Shins and Grizzly Bear to a generation of fans, but they also mix in hints of surf guitar, pulsing drums and droplets of keys for their own unique flavor. And Wednesdays flows as one cohesive collection of songs, from the light pop of “Paul Simon” to the Beach Boys-esque doo-wop “Streams of Light” to the hazy melancholy of “Gone Away”.
14. Durry – Suburban Legend
Proving a TikTok band can live up to its hype, this brother-sister duo’s debut full-length is overstuffed with catchy, relatable power pop/pop-punk tunes that hit a chord for the current state of our society. “Coming of Age” attacks the the soullessness of the “9 to 5” capitalist trap, “Little Bit Lonely” our acceptance and comfort in disconnection, and “Mall Rat” the nostalgia attached to the simple life in suburbia. Yet all these weighty topics are wrapped up in energized songs you want to shout along to.
15. The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons
After a break that was far, far too long, Sweden’s national treasure The Hives triumphantly returned, with nary a change to their riotous brand of rock n’ roll. “Bogus Operandi” brought back the same cheeky garage rock that made them stars, but the methodical “Rigor Mortis Radio” show off a band learning how to be methodical in their thumping attacks. #TheHivesForever
16. Ruston Kelly – The Weakness
Kelly’s post-divorce album finds him at his most vulnerable, yet he turns this vulnerability into a strength, letting us peer into his healing process. You can feel the freshness of the wounds on “Mending Song”, the empowerment on the title track’s statement of purpose, and the closure on “Let Only Love Remain”. Kelly even manages to sneak in some levity on the excellent “Michael Keaton”.
17. Mustard Plug – Where Did All My Friends Go
Third-Wave ska will never die as long as its veterans are still writing albums as good as Mustard Plug‘s latest. The title track is as catchy as anything they’ve ever written, and “Vampire” reaches back to 80’s two-tone for a future Halloween classic.
18. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
By this point, no one needs to be reminded of how great of a songwriter Isbell is, but he outdid himself again on his latest album. From capturing the feeling of helplessness and fear all parents feel in the age of school shootings in “Save the World”, to the story of lingering racism in “Cast Iron Skillet”, the man continues to shine a light on internal struggles and societal issues in the way that only a great songwriter can.
19. Cold War Kids – Cold War Kids
This is simply the best full album the band has released since Mine is Yours. “Run Away With Me”, “Blame”, “Stray”, “Double Life” – any of these songs could be a prime rock radio single, while “Another Name” is the ballad that truly hits the emotional target.
20. McKinley Dixon – Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?
The independent rapper lives up to his Bad Ass Break-Out on his jazz and soul-indebted rap opus. Taking inspiration from Toni Morrison, Dixon proves himself a mighty writer and storyteller. Whether memorializing a friend on “Tyler, Forever” or breaking out of society’s traps on “Sun, I Rise”, Dixon finds beauty and hope in society’s darkness. And with “Run, Run, Run”, he’s written one of the best songs of the year. Period.
21. Death of Guitar Pop – Be Lucky
Crazy catchy UK ska/pop-punk that retains just enough of its local flavor to make it feel like a true work of English culture.
22. Noah Gundersen – If This is the End
Devastating looks at depression, anxiety and hope from one of the most underrated songwriters out there.
23. The Menzingers – Some of it Was True
More soulful punk rock that follows a journey of fear, depression and unrequited love to a place of healing and optimism. The band’s learning how to take great songs and make them into a cohesive album.
24. Sunny War – Anarchist Gospel
Mixing folk, blues, soul with an activist soul, Sunny War creates a sound all her own. Tracks like “No Reason” are great by any metric you judge songwriting.
25. Wicked Bears – Underwater
Take one part super-catchy punk rock, and one part tongue-in-cheek humor, and you get this hook-filled opus from a great under-the-radar band.
26. Northcote – Wholeheart
A masterclass in songwriting. Heart, wisdom, nostalgia and longing permeate these songs. As he sings on “Can’t Stay the Same”, this album will “leave your heart out in the open”.
27. Wilder Woods – Fever / Sky
The NeedtoBreath frontman goes solo again on this collection of classic R&B and soul-indebted tunes.
28. Codefendants – This is Crime Wave
A throwback to the kind of classic street punk that band bassist/producer Fat Mike likely grew up on, this group writes from a real-enough place that it even brought the rap legend The D.O.C. out of retirement for a verse.
29. Brian Dunne – Loser on the Ropes
Dunne hits a homer with this collection of hopeful, shimmering guitar pop.
30. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan
The Americana wunderkind shows he’s here to stay with this (far more concise) collection of melan-country tracks.
Honorable Mentions:
Dave Hause – Drive it Like Its Stolen
Dub Pistols – Frontline
Killer Mike – Michael
The Luka State – More Than This
Pony Bradshaw – North Georgia Rounder
Listen to all of these amazing albums in my Top Albums of 2023 Playlist!
