My Favorite Records of 2023
--
2023 brought the world some really spectacular music. Here is a list of my favorites (18 in total).
Some of my favorite artists returned with great records. Some were brand new to the world or to me. There’s hip-hop, metal, hardcore, pianists, violin players…and more. Some brought me light when I was in dark places, and some brought me joy when I needed nourishment.
In alphabetical order…
Alwa Bolivia, [no official record noted, but lots of singles]
Favorite track: La Boliviana
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMubaZ8vIcY
Buggin, “Concrete Cowboys”
Favorite track: Cocaine Footprints
Listen: https://flatspotrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fsr67-concrete-cowboys
Cicada, “Seeking the Sources of Streams”
Favorite track: Departing in the Morning After Rain
Listen: https://flau.bandcamp.com/album/seeking-the-sources-of-streams
Creeping Death, “Boundless Domain”
Favorite track: The Parthian Shot
Listen: https://creepingdeathtx.bandcamp.com/album/boundless-domain
Czarface, “Czartificial Intelligence”
Favorite track: You Know My Style
Listen: https://music.apple.com/us/album/czartificial-intelligence/1708132322
Drink Deep, “DD”
Favorite track: Empathy
Listen: https://drinkdeephc.bandcamp.com/album/dd
Flowers for Burial, “Animus”
Favorite track: Defective
Listen: https://protagonistmusic.bandcamp.com/album/animus
Geld, “Currency // Castration”
Favorite track: Fog of War
Listen: https://geld.bandcamp.com/album/currency-castration
Graveripper, “Seasons Dreaming Death”
Favorite track: Resist Against the Light
Listen: https://graveripper.bandcamp.com/album/seasons-dreaming-death
The Joy, “Hammarsdale”
Favorite track: Imali
Listen: https://transgressive.lnk.to/hammarsdale
Kishi Bashi, “Music from the Song Film: Omoiyari”
Favorite track: Know Your Enemy: Japan
Listen: https://kishibashi.bandcamp.com/album/music-from-the-song-film-omoiyari
Maxence Cyrin, “Springsong”
Favorite track: Orage
Listen: https://music.apple.com/us/album/springsong/1706832820
NF, “Hope”
Favorite track: Hope
Listen: https://nfmusic.bandcamp.com/album/hope
Roger Waters, “The Dark Side of the Moon Redux”
Favorite track: Brain Damage
Listen: https://rwaters.lnk.to/DSOTMredux
Scowl, “Psychic Dance Routine”
Favorite track: Opening Night
Listen: https://flatspotrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fsr69-psychic-dance-routine
These Beasts, “Cares, Wills, Wants”
Favorite track: Cocaine Footprints
Listen: https://thesebeasts.bandcamp.com/album/cares-wills-wants
Wrong War, “On Further Reflection”
Favorite track: The Call
Listen: https://wrongwar.bandcamp.com/album/on-further-reflection
Yi-Mei “Yeemz” Templeman, [no official record noted, but lots of singles]
Favorite track: Wondering Why
Listen: https://ffm.to/wonderingwhy
I really loved compiling this list. I hope you find something on it that brings you joy.
Note that most of these can be found on Spotify or Apple Music, so you can give them a risk-free spin. But if you truly love something, I encourage you to purchase it from the artist. That’s why I link to Bandcamp and the like.