Post by steve on Dec 24, 2023 13:33:22 GMT 1
It's list time of year again & so here goes.
With literally hundreds of top drawer tunes to choose from, this ended up being my top 20 (non The Cure) tunes from the year that was 2023
I made a handy playlist if you'd like a soundtrack while reading the post
Crystal Canyon - Judy Moody
Until this song appeared I saw Crystal Canyon as a very nice shoegaze outfit. Judy Moody is nothing like anything they’ve done before & it almost took the top of my head off. It’s been my favourite song of the year since April. That’s how good it is.
iskwē ft Nina Hagen - I Get High
Great to have Hagen bothering the pop guard once again. This is a bouncy, almost reggae infused banger of a record & I would highly recommend listening to the extended dub edit. Loud.
Pit Pony - Accidental Doom
Been a fan ever since Osaka threatened to make my radio catch fire in 2019. Last year’s album was astonishing & Accidental Doom promises more of the same fierceness you expect from Pit Pony. Takes no prisoners this one.
Bleach Lab - Everything At Once
From my favourite album of the year. The detail in the guitar work on this, a more upbeat offering from them, is a thing of wonder. Then that chorus hits. Goosebump central.
Slow Salvation - Grow
If you appreciate beautiful tunes matched with thoughtful lyrics, this is the perfect tune. An almost desperate plea to a lover to make that next leap of faith. I can’t use the word beautiful enough to describe this one.
SPC ECO - Step Back
Dean Garcia & his daughter, Rose Berlin have been making some wonderfully atmospheric tracks over the past few years & Step Back is a huge nod to Garcia’s Curve days. The bass/ synth parts are so incredibly rich & Rose’s vocals are eerily Toni Halliday-like.
Broken Baby - Ugly
Not an F word in sight in this joyous song from L.A.’s Broken Baby. It’s quite a sad song really. All about not stressing out despite doing your best but still feeling like you fell short somehow. But the clincher for me is Amber Bollinger’s vocal melody in the chorus. That creates instant dust in the vicinity. Oh, & the video is a hoot.
Coach Party - Parasite
A lot of these songs are fairly sedate, so, as a friend of mine often says, “It’s rowdy o’clock.”
From their recent album there are a few to pick from, but this one is Coach Party turned up to 11. It is IN YOUR FACE. Try it. Your neighbours will love you for it.
Emma Anderson - Clusters
Miki seems to make all the headlines since Lush called it a day (again) so it was so refreshing to have Emma pop up with this in 2023. As an album closer this track is ideal. It’s like Lush came back to us.
Suki Waterhouse - To Love
“WTF?” You’re probably thinking. Indeed. This took me completely by surprise one night while listening to Sonic Supernova on the radio (which is where I hear a lot of these bands first). How this song hasn’t been a global smash is beyond me. The control & power in the delivery of the refrain is outrageously good.
Magic Wands - Time
Inevitable to find a more goth offering in a list from me right? From the Switch album this is the pick of the bunch without question. A nice pacy tune with a chorus that slithers in magically with a lot of layered, howling guitars draped all over the place. #fullpenguinmode™
The Linda Lindas - Resolution/ Revolution
This is punk done properly. This track is a veritable juggernaut hurtling towards you at full speed.
It’s heartening to know that not all school aged girls are obsessed with the bland pop sh!te that the radio constantly spews at everyone. We need more songs like this. With actual real teeth.
Glove - Chewing On A Wire
I have to thank weedyburton79 for putting this band on my radar. Their style veers all over the place really with this tune being firmly in the synth-pop (albeit with a dark tinge) realm. & don’t be put off by that term. Remember, Ministry were a synth pop band before they became shouty noise merchants.
Taleen Kali - Crusher
Totally accidental discovery klaxon! The lead single of the Flower of Life album was brilliant, but Crusher is a dream. There’s al manner of stuff in this. Gaze effects, swoony vocals, a killer solo, feedback & it has rock n roll written al the way through its core.
Shonen Knife - MUJINTO Rock
After a bit of a hiatus, Shonen Knife return with a hark to their early days of glorious pop punk. There’s never a dull moment in Shonen Knife land & anyone who thinks they’re a one trick pony really hasn’t listened to them properly. This song is probably more Ramones than Ramones. With perhaps a splash of Buzzcocks. Both bands with no “The” in the name. Coincidence? I think not.
Hyperlilly - White Noise
Back to earth now, with a perfectly crafted dreamscape. This is 3 o’clock in the morning chill out music that is so blissful it’s staggering. The crispness of the guitars is able to make this twinkle like a distant star on a clear night.
Laveda - Be Yours
Ali Genevich’s vocals stopped me in my tracks when I first heard this. As it grows from a soft piano opening, it almost sounds as if it has snowflakes flurrying among the chimes as it gathers layers. But hell! That voice is amazing.
DAIISTAR - Say It To Me
This one reminds me of late 80’s/ early 90’s indie. Perhaps That Petrol Emotion? But just you wait for the bridge at 1’54”. Boom! Like shifting into top gear on an empty highway & putting your foot down.
BOKKA - TOS ft Y.O.U.
Ordinarily I am not a fan of remixes (you all know my views on Messed Up). But I think BOKKA have got this spot on. Ten years on from where it all started, they have taken Town Of Strangers & given it an up-tempo makeover that works really well. I’d dance to it. In fact I just did. Sue me.
Be Your Own Pet - Worship The Whip
It’s been 15 years since we heard from Be Your Own Pet & they hit the ground running with a new album this year that is just as scratchy & borderline-angry as 2008’s Get Awkward.
The opening track tells you all you need to know. You’ve been warned.
Fin del Mundo - El Incendio
This is an honourable mention really. El Incendio is nearly 2 years old but I only heard it the first time this year & I think it would be criminal not to mention it. & then Fin del Mundo included it on their first full length. Which, although is their first 2 EPs put together, is still an album*
*just like Japanese Whispers is
So, go on. Tell us what pleasured your eardrums this year
With literally hundreds of top drawer tunes to choose from, this ended up being my top 20 (non The Cure) tunes from the year that was 2023
I made a handy playlist if you'd like a soundtrack while reading the post
Crystal Canyon - Judy Moody
Until this song appeared I saw Crystal Canyon as a very nice shoegaze outfit. Judy Moody is nothing like anything they’ve done before & it almost took the top of my head off. It’s been my favourite song of the year since April. That’s how good it is.
iskwē ft Nina Hagen - I Get High
Great to have Hagen bothering the pop guard once again. This is a bouncy, almost reggae infused banger of a record & I would highly recommend listening to the extended dub edit. Loud.
Pit Pony - Accidental Doom
Been a fan ever since Osaka threatened to make my radio catch fire in 2019. Last year’s album was astonishing & Accidental Doom promises more of the same fierceness you expect from Pit Pony. Takes no prisoners this one.
Bleach Lab - Everything At Once
From my favourite album of the year. The detail in the guitar work on this, a more upbeat offering from them, is a thing of wonder. Then that chorus hits. Goosebump central.
Slow Salvation - Grow
If you appreciate beautiful tunes matched with thoughtful lyrics, this is the perfect tune. An almost desperate plea to a lover to make that next leap of faith. I can’t use the word beautiful enough to describe this one.
SPC ECO - Step Back
Dean Garcia & his daughter, Rose Berlin have been making some wonderfully atmospheric tracks over the past few years & Step Back is a huge nod to Garcia’s Curve days. The bass/ synth parts are so incredibly rich & Rose’s vocals are eerily Toni Halliday-like.
Broken Baby - Ugly
Not an F word in sight in this joyous song from L.A.’s Broken Baby. It’s quite a sad song really. All about not stressing out despite doing your best but still feeling like you fell short somehow. But the clincher for me is Amber Bollinger’s vocal melody in the chorus. That creates instant dust in the vicinity. Oh, & the video is a hoot.
Coach Party - Parasite
A lot of these songs are fairly sedate, so, as a friend of mine often says, “It’s rowdy o’clock.”
From their recent album there are a few to pick from, but this one is Coach Party turned up to 11. It is IN YOUR FACE. Try it. Your neighbours will love you for it.
Emma Anderson - Clusters
Miki seems to make all the headlines since Lush called it a day (again) so it was so refreshing to have Emma pop up with this in 2023. As an album closer this track is ideal. It’s like Lush came back to us.
Suki Waterhouse - To Love
“WTF?” You’re probably thinking. Indeed. This took me completely by surprise one night while listening to Sonic Supernova on the radio (which is where I hear a lot of these bands first). How this song hasn’t been a global smash is beyond me. The control & power in the delivery of the refrain is outrageously good.
Magic Wands - Time
Inevitable to find a more goth offering in a list from me right? From the Switch album this is the pick of the bunch without question. A nice pacy tune with a chorus that slithers in magically with a lot of layered, howling guitars draped all over the place. #fullpenguinmode™
The Linda Lindas - Resolution/ Revolution
This is punk done properly. This track is a veritable juggernaut hurtling towards you at full speed.
It’s heartening to know that not all school aged girls are obsessed with the bland pop sh!te that the radio constantly spews at everyone. We need more songs like this. With actual real teeth.
Glove - Chewing On A Wire
I have to thank weedyburton79 for putting this band on my radar. Their style veers all over the place really with this tune being firmly in the synth-pop (albeit with a dark tinge) realm. & don’t be put off by that term. Remember, Ministry were a synth pop band before they became shouty noise merchants.
Taleen Kali - Crusher
Totally accidental discovery klaxon! The lead single of the Flower of Life album was brilliant, but Crusher is a dream. There’s al manner of stuff in this. Gaze effects, swoony vocals, a killer solo, feedback & it has rock n roll written al the way through its core.
Shonen Knife - MUJINTO Rock
After a bit of a hiatus, Shonen Knife return with a hark to their early days of glorious pop punk. There’s never a dull moment in Shonen Knife land & anyone who thinks they’re a one trick pony really hasn’t listened to them properly. This song is probably more Ramones than Ramones. With perhaps a splash of Buzzcocks. Both bands with no “The” in the name. Coincidence? I think not.
Hyperlilly - White Noise
Back to earth now, with a perfectly crafted dreamscape. This is 3 o’clock in the morning chill out music that is so blissful it’s staggering. The crispness of the guitars is able to make this twinkle like a distant star on a clear night.
Laveda - Be Yours
Ali Genevich’s vocals stopped me in my tracks when I first heard this. As it grows from a soft piano opening, it almost sounds as if it has snowflakes flurrying among the chimes as it gathers layers. But hell! That voice is amazing.
DAIISTAR - Say It To Me
This one reminds me of late 80’s/ early 90’s indie. Perhaps That Petrol Emotion? But just you wait for the bridge at 1’54”. Boom! Like shifting into top gear on an empty highway & putting your foot down.
BOKKA - TOS ft Y.O.U.
Ordinarily I am not a fan of remixes (you all know my views on Messed Up). But I think BOKKA have got this spot on. Ten years on from where it all started, they have taken Town Of Strangers & given it an up-tempo makeover that works really well. I’d dance to it. In fact I just did. Sue me.
Be Your Own Pet - Worship The Whip
It’s been 15 years since we heard from Be Your Own Pet & they hit the ground running with a new album this year that is just as scratchy & borderline-angry as 2008’s Get Awkward.
The opening track tells you all you need to know. You’ve been warned.
Fin del Mundo - El Incendio
This is an honourable mention really. El Incendio is nearly 2 years old but I only heard it the first time this year & I think it would be criminal not to mention it. & then Fin del Mundo included it on their first full length. Which, although is their first 2 EPs put together, is still an album*
*just like Japanese Whispers is
So, go on. Tell us what pleasured your eardrums this year
