The Guardian have an interesting halfway point list. How many have you heard of?
I am still losing myself in Sakamoto’s and Lankum’s, neither of which can be described as cheery. Masego’s does bring a smile to my face.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jun/06/the-best-albums-of-2023-so-far
I have none of these.
I’ve only heard of one or two.
Only one on my buying list: Jess Williamson’s…
I have no idea who most of these are.
Paul Simon’s 7 Psalms and the new Dylan for me so far.
Blimey, The Graun is keen to show its hip credentials in that list. I’ve listened to none of them and don’t know who most of them are either.
Paul Simon, Iris DeMent and Cowboy Junkies for me so far.
I got fed up quite quickly with the Lankum album. It’s just a bit too…. Lankum. I think I prefer them in smaller doses.
And it’s unlike me but I have already found two albums I like this year!
One is the Paul Simon. I keep coming back to this. I love how stripped down it is. For a while now I’ve wanted him to go back to just backing himself on acoustic guitar. There are fewer sweeter sounds in life that Paul Simon plucking a guitar and singing.
And on the subject of older performers who are sounding better with age, the Shirley Collins album Archangel Hill is gorgeous. I was never a fan of Shirley Collins (sorry), and I only struggled with Folk Roots New Routes because it is held to be a classic. That kind of high pitched, fruity folk singing just grates with me after a couple of songs. But lo and behold she is older and her voice has settled into a mature, lower pitched, mellow sound, and it’s just brilliant. This album is a little dream, and the spoken poem about Sussex is beautiful. I’ll need to catch up on the other albums she has released since her comeback of the last few years.
Of the albums on the Guardian list, the following are great:
Scaring The Hoes – Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA.
Always going to be brilliant, given the pedigree of the two collaborators. One of the best living MCs with one of Hip Hop’s most sonically interesting producers. Not very Afterword-friendly, but I love it.
The Lana record, obviously. They’re all good, some are just more immediate than others.
Let’s Start Here – Lil Yachty
I spent the first three months of the year banging on about this album. It’s pitched somewhere between Soundcloud rap, Pink Floyd and Prince, and I absolutely fucking love it. Don’t think it’s done that well, but what a brave and interesting direction for anyone with “Lil” in their name to have taken.
Desire, I Want To Turn Into You – Caroline Polachek
Twelve terribly clever Pop songs. Bunny Is A Rider made my 2022 best of, Smoke will be a contender for 2023.
With A Hammer – Yaeji
Nothing as immediate as Raingurl (what a tune), but For Granted and the title track are excellent. Think she’s largely playing around with sounds at this stage, but expect her to go on to do brilliant things in the next couple of years.
Not on the list, but would make mine:
The Record – boygenius
It’s a slow burner, but this is a brilliant record that’s greater than the sum of its parts. They’re fantastic live too, if you get the chance.
10,000 Gecs – 100 Gecs
I have officially moved from ironic to unironic love of this band. Noisy, glitchy, shouty, ADHD music for the 21st century. They’re brilliant.
Jungle – The Blaze
Super chill French House from a very reliable act who are getting better with each album.
Fantasy – M83
I’ve really enjoyed this. It’s nothing he hasn’t done before, but long enough has passed since the utter ubiquity of Hurry Up We’re Dreaming (very much the Play of the 21st century) that I feel I can really fully embrace his schtick again.
Salad – Blondshell
Posted this once before already, but I absolutely love the 90s stylings here. Particularly the title track, which is so clearly channeling prime Alanis. Doesn’t hurt having a track called Veronica Mars either. Think this stuff is quite Afterwordable.
Good Lies – Overmono
Hands down my album of the year so far. The best Garage record since the first Disclosure. Listening to it constantly, will be the sound of the Summer if it’s warm enough. The whole thing is just so good. Love it, love it, love it.
Quest For Fire – Skrillex
Of all the things I would not have expected a few years back, the redemption arc of Skrillex is right up there. Album is jam packed with tunes; Rumble, Inhale/Exhale, Ratata, and most of all the opener, Leave Me Like This. It’s not had an official release yet, but the Skrillex mash up of Inhale/Exhale and Princess Diana by Ice Spice is a strong contender for tune of the year.
Sorry but inhale/exhale does not include anything that could be described as a tune.
😴
Lankum is the only one I’d buy, and have. Jess Williamson I am now minded to investigate.
My other tips, so far, would be:
Sweet Anhedonia/Ben De La Cour: grim’n’gothic country noir
How to Love/Withered Hand: jangly yet uplifting/dour Glaswegiana
Out on the Line/Blue Highways: Broooce, born again from Harrow on the Hill
All of This Is Chance/Lisa O’Neill: chansons d’Irlande, through a dark glass
Stretching Skyward/Gnoss: echoes of the Scottish band abound.
Lawside/Roseanne Reid: country ‘n’ Tayside from the next gen Proclaimer.
I’m with you on Withered Hand ‘How To Love’ retro, a very good album.
From that Guardian list I’ve heard of over 50% but I too only have the Lankum album.
Others for my bestest of the year so far: Cowboy Junkies, Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, the Samantha Fish/Jesse Dayton album, Molly Tuttle, Josh Ritter.
But my album of ‘23 up to now is Marty Stuart’s ‘Altitude’, a homage in parts to 60’s Psychedelia and The Byrds. His Bobness’s Shadow Kingdom is quite superb also. Speaking of also, a special mention of an album @SteveT recommended to me Paul Simenon & Galen Ayers quite exquisite album ‘Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day’.
I thought 2022 was a good year for music but 2023 is going to outdo it in my opinion.
Yes, that Ayers/Simenon is quite something. Uncertain as big as it is clever yet.
This thread is proving very useful. Kevin Ayer’s daughter teaming up with Paul Simenon of the NHC. With Paul singing! In Spanish! I was already sold before listening. Luckily it’s very good.
Great isn’t it! A really good surprise. Probably my fav of the year so far too.
I really love the Spanish songs. Maybe, because of the wonderful female vocals but the band are superb, too. The blokey songs I can live without.
It’s Paul Simonon, isn’t it?
Otherwise I couldn’t do my truly excellent* ‘Paul Simon on Paul Simonon’ and ‘Simon & Simonon’ memes
*OOAABTAW
I’ve been enjoying these:
Arooj aftab love in exile
Andy Bell & masal tidal love numbers
John cale mercy
Califone villagers
Spencer cullums coin collection 2
Depeche Mode memento mori
Robert forster the candle and the flame
Steve Gunn David Moore. Let the moon be a planet
Lankum false lankum
Ken o duffy sing the songs
Dave okumu I came from love
Ryuichi sakamoto 12
Surprise Chef spiky boi
The waeve. The waeve
The John Cale album is a grower.
The Waeve album is magic, straight out of the packet – I hope it proves to have staying power…
A very good call on the Steve Gunn & David Moore album. It’s excellent.
Lana’s Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard is magnificent. Ry Cooder’s Cambridge Festival is a proper and magnificent blast from the past.
I don’t think it’s been a great year for albums so far, but these are the ones that I think I’ll be sticking with …
Yves Tumor – Praise a Lord Who Chews …
Mandy, Indiana – I’ve Seen A Way
Avalon Emerson – & the Charm
Nabihah Iqbal – Dreamer
Margo Price – Strays
Melanie Martinez – Portals
BC Camplight – The Last Rotation of Earth
Belle & Sebastian – Late Developers
Raye – My 21st Century Blues
Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Hmmm, funnily enough, bought the Margo Price last year, only now getting around to listening properly, not that taken with a preliminary list. with greater due diligence I am uncertain I like it at all, not liking her new and non-country (nearly) direction.
Interesting…started listening to the Margo Price album in the new year and loved it. I had only listened to Margo Price intermittently before so I had little to go on but think Strays is a great album.
I got hooked on Jessie Ware last month and went to Bandcamp to downloaded her albums. She hits the same pop spot for me as Dua Lipa – fantastic sound and such fun!
That! Feels Good! has Hello Love and particularly this
I am intrigued by the Yo La Tengo – I might check that out.
Jessie Ward is naughty. Just as Pop should be.
She would definitely have been in my ‘Desire’ playlist if I had heard it before I compiled it.
Not sure who this Jessie Ward character is, but Jessie Ware is very good indeed.
I have the Yo La Tengo and Unknown Mortal Orchestra – there is case for YLT but not UMO.
I would go with Nathalie Merchant Keep your courage and Ben De La Cour Sweet Anhedonia.
Would also add Baxter Dury album but not yet played it 6 times.
Oh and the pedant in me would tell you we are not halfway through the year until the 1st July. Stop wishing your life away we have 3 more weeks of fun
I took up Rough Trades ‘Album Of The Month’ a couple of months ago. £20 a month for 3 months and free shipping for other orders. If you don’t like the AOTM you can return it free and trade for another value up to £25. You pay the extra if over £25.
And after that ad for RT, so far I’ve returned 2 albums of the month, received albums on my want list in exchange. This month it’s Baxter Duty’s new album. I sampled it on YouTube so as to keep the LP mint. Guess what? It’s going back, it’s not for me. I had Mr Dury’s first 3/4 albums but since then it’s been diminishing returns, OOAA.
I only know Miami and his last album The Night Chancers, both of which I really like. I’ll have to check out this newee, but also I must go back and investigate his earlier albums.
I have a different view to Baron. It is excellent and very autobiographical in parts. It is more in the direction of hip-hop but he does it very well and the female backing vocals add colour. Lyrics are exceptional and perhaps better than his old mans.
Another shout for Lankum here. No knowledge of any of the others.
I can’t believe no mention of Iggy Pop’s “Every Loser”. I still play it – not a thing you often say about an impulse-buy album by a heritage artist after 6 months. All the things you like about Iggy, and, for cognioscenti, a pile of in-jokes. The guy remains a star.
Of the list, the EBTG album is a lot better than it has any right to be.
A Certain Ratio – 1982. I loved ACR:Loco and this is, arguably, even better.
Blue Aeroplanes – Culture Gun.
Ivan Moult – Songs from Severn Grove. He’s the new John Martyn, or something.
Aaargh @fentonsteve
Should I buy that Blue Aeroplanes one?
It is their best for a long while. But it is no Swagger.
Fair point but nothing is really, is it?
Boygenius, Lisa O’Neill, Lana, Iris, Willie Nelson, Robert Forster, Gorillaz.
Lankum, yeah, I suppose. Something keeping me at arm’s length.
Only listened to the Paul Simon one once so far and not immediately smitten – that could change.
Van and Rickie are good fun, if not essential.
Just got new albums by Baxter Dury and Rufus Wainwright today.
Blur, Lucinda and Jason Isbell coming up.
I own none.
Heard of a few. Black Country New Road is on my “investigate” list (maybe not that one a a starting pint though).
Sparks? Too soon to make that list perhaps
If Jessie Williamson makes the list (album released this coming Friday), then why not Sparks? They gave it five stars only last week.
No idea.
I have no time to listen to new music.
Having only bought eleven albums so far this year (five of those are from 2022 or older) – six more if I count the ones I have on order – it will come as no surprise that I don’t own any of the albums on the Guardian list. Nor will I consider buying any of them.
I’m trying to have a “low-buy” year, partly bc the economy sucks and partly bc I don’t listen as much to music at home anymore. When the workday is accompanied by commercial radio stations blaring through speakers non stop (not by my choice) I find myself craving silence at home, unfortunately.
I play music mostly when I’m cooking and washing up on the weekends, in my kitchen. And the choice of music there is dictated more by what I’m cooking than what’s new – cooking my special Two Day Chili this weekend I (of course) had to play Dr John most of the time!
But from my unusually short list of 2023 albums I’ve heard, these are the ones I’d recommend:
Boygenius – The Record
The Tallest Man On Earth – Henry St.
Altin Gün – Aşk
Fever Ray – Radical Romantics (this is not for all, I’m well aware…)
I want to like the new Jana Horn album more than I do, as I loved her previous, but it’s a bit too listless and dull IMO. One of a few disappointments so far.
My favourite from the list is The National – absolutely outstanding.
Also love the LDR and Jessie Ware, but neither are as good as their immediate predecessors.
Off the list, I’m impressed with new-ish releases by boygenius and Ed Sheeran (don’t judge me), and having only had them for a week or so, the new albums by Alison Goldfrapp and Sophie Ellis-Bextor are of reliably high quality, with the latter being particularly impressive.
Loving the Alison Goldfrapp album. Really sounds like summer to me.
And I’m doing horse. Is this any good?
I think so.
Nice reference 😀
Yeah 5/12ths through the year actually, but unless something changes next 3.5 weeks I will have listened to no new music at all. The thrill is gone 🙁
😱
Give it a break and the thrill will come back to you.
Like others, the Lana del Ray, Lankum (but more the droning, atonal Swans-like dirges than the more traditional Irish music) and the Iris Dement album. It came out late in 2022 so the Weyes Blood album is a 2023 release for me.
The Susanne Sundfør album is a great one. Took to it immediately and have been playing it regularly since. Multitudes by Feist isn’t bad.
Best new version of an old album is Dazzle Ships by OMD. Always overshadowed by Architecture and Morality, Dazzle Ships is very clear in its original time and place – 80s synth pop and cold war politics.
But it’s been the Italians Do It Better label that has been my much belated discovery of this year. Every single, EP and album available in lossless audio for $1 each, I’ve raided their archive and have spent this year immersed in synth pop, Italo disco and rain-drenched streets lit only by neon lights. Main Character by Glüme is a terrific album with a mix of disco, synth pop and high melodrama.
And there’s a new Kristin Hersh album and tour to look forward to this year.
Only the Lankum album off the Guardian’s list for me. I don’t mind it, sounds like a folk band trying to recreate a Low or Bad Seeds record (which is probably the idea).
Other stuff I’ve listened to and liked have been the album’s by Belle & Sebastian, Billy Nomates, Orbital, Sleaford Mods, Murray Lightburn, Matt Elliott and Alison Goldfrapp. Just started to listen to albums by Califone and Bar Italia.
The Matt Elliott album ‘the end of days’ is probably my favourite so far. When Mini Paws overheard it last week she commented that “your depressing music is way darker than my depressing music.” Praise indeed.
On the Guardian list, the Eddie Chacon album is very laid back and pleasant to listen to in the right mood. I’d go along with those mentioning boygenius. Not listened to Paul Simon, EBTG or Natalie Merchant enough to come to a clear view, but certainly all feel worth further exploration. Ditto Lankum and Lisa O’Neil. The most straightforwardly enjoyable record so far – Van Morrison. Who’d have thought it? Closely followed by Edgar Jones’ (formerly of 90s Liverpool band The Stairs) loving homage to Motown and Northern Soul, ‘Reflections of a Soul Dimension’.
Ooo! I’ll give Edgar a listen. I can see his name in lights!
it’s terrfic. There are a couple of tracks where he goes into full Vic Reeves club singer mode, but elsewhere his voice is in fine fettle and the overall sound, with full brass and strings arrangements, is immediately appealing. A great summer record.
Another thumbs up for the Eddie Chacon album from me – I’ve been playing it at the end of the long light evenings and it’s perfect for that time of day. I’ve also been enjoying new records by The Golden Dregs, Julian Lage and Fruit Bats, none of which made the Graun list.
Nothing too earth shattering original has taken my fancy so far this year but there’s been a few I’ve rather enjoyed:
Sparks – Girl Is Crying in Her Latte (Still early days for this but but it’s very very good)
New Pornographers – Continue As A Guest – This took a few listens to really appreciate.
Long Ryders – September November – More like the heyday Long Ryders than Psychedelic Country Soul
Esther Rose – Safe To Run – It’s surely only a matter of time before she’s a big star.
Whitney Rose – Rosie – Another set of cracking songs. Sadly it looks like she won’t be able to tour this one.
A few artists in that list that I’ve heard of and one, Lankum, that I’ve seen live back when they were called Lynched. I don’t much like their new album and I have no interest in any of the others listed.
Yes yes yes.
But what albums do you like?
Ralph Towner – At First Light
Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds – Better
Complete Mountain Almanac – S/T
Sam Gendel – Cookup
Joe Chambers – Dance Kobina
Mette Henriette – Drifting
Jacob Anderskov – Emerald
GoGo Penguin – Everything Is Going To Be OK
Jim Snidero, Kurt Rosenwinkel – Far Far Away
Meg Baird – Furling
Hanakiv – Goodbyes
Chris Potter – Got The Keys To The Kingdom
Girls In Airports – How It Is Now
Flock – In C
Sarathy Korwar – Kal (Real World)
Arooj Aftab – Love In Exile
Mark Guiliana – Mischief
Greg Foat, Art Themen – Off Piste
Joe Lovano, Trio Tapestry – Our Daily Bread
Walter Smith III – Return To Casual
Rymden, Norwegian Radio Orchestra – Rymden+KORK
Sandrayati – Safe Ground
Nguyên Lê Trio – Silk And Sand
Dhafer Youssef – Street Of Minarets
Julian Lage – The Layers
Nostalgia 77 – The Loneliest Flower In The Village
Kenny Barron – The Source
The Necks – Travel
Buster Williams – Unalome
Yazmin Lacey – Voice Notes
Kalia Vandever – We Fell In Turn
Little North – Wide Open
Brad Mehldau – Your Mother Should Know
Well you did ask ..
I did and I value your response. There are quite a number there I haven’t heard and I will certainly explore.
GoGo Penguin and Necks are incredible bands, wonderfully consistent, but their latest ones aren’t quite floating my boat, as yet. Really enjoying the Mehldau, though.
Buster Williams’ album is an absolute cracker. Julian Lage’s ditto.
I didn’t know that Rymden had a new album out! Will have to look for it, as I’ve enjoyed the two previous ones I own.
Thanks for that, Mike – I must follow up on the Ralph Towner album, and try to hear the Arooj Aftab one…
That Greg Foat & Art Themen album is an absolute winner.
Not really bothered about keeping up with new music as I’m way too busy tracking down stuff from the 60s and 70s that I missed (and, in some cases, didn’t). But, having said that, from this list I’m amazed that I actually bought one. The Lemon Twigs album is really good. Mind you, it sounds as if it first came out in 1971. So a no brainer in G Towers.
Have 3 from the Guardian list ETBG, The National and Yo La Tengo.
Add to that Josh Ritter, The Blue Aeroplanes. Teleman and the Bennett,Wilson, Poole album. Just got a new Great Lake Swimmers album last week and have only played it 2 or 3 times but I reckon it will be in my best of year list come December.
I have quite of few of Telemann’s orchestral suites, fantasias and choral preludes, but, erm, that may not be the same artist…
Just the Yo La Tengo album from that list, unfortunately. But I also like U.S. Girls, “Bless This Mess” (worthy follow up to 2020’s “Heavy Light” that got lost in the pandemic) and Ryuichi Sakimoto’s “12”. Looking forward to albums from The Clientele and Gazelle Twin.
Been little to get excited so far about, at this point last year I’d bought 22 ‘ released in 22’ records for 23 it’s 7, will check some of those listed above, anyhow the ‘goodies’ out of the 7 are, in the order purchased…
Mercy – John Cale
Ugly – Slowthai
Nails – Benifits
Last Rotation of Earth – B C Campight
Last album purchased was the new Paul Simon, it’s not hitting the spot for me, although the many mentions here seem to suggest it may come good eventually.
Am I going to give you a full rundown of all my preferred albums of this year so far? No, sadly I’m not. Why? Because that would detract from the mind-melting excitement in December, when the full majesty of the duco01 60 Favourite Albums of 2023 is revealed.
But I will disclose one little tip, and it’s the new album by top kora maestro Toumani Diabaté from Mali and kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor from Iran, entitled “The Sky Is The Same Colour Everywhere”. It’s rather lovely on a summer evening…
https://realworldrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-sky-is-the-same-colour-everywhere
Oh yeah, Toumani Diabaté is always worth hearing. I think Andy Kershaw played a track on a recent podcast.
I think I’ll post the fully majestic list of my top 87 albums of 2023 but I’ll wait until March 24 so as not to get in the way.
I had it in my Amazon list but replaced it with the Cowboy Junkies.
Must add for the next checkout.
Who?
Probably some more crap from elvis costello.
The new Ben Folds is a beauty – too tired to say more but definitely will be in my Top 5 or 10 this year
Caroline Polachek – a collation of some great singles from the last couple of years, with the others of similar quality. Alt-pop at its finest.
Eddie Chacon – perfect listening for the six weeks of summer it looks like this year. Meditative, stripped down seventies funk and soul.
So, I just got delivery of my latest CD order, and started ripping them to my WMP today.
Um…I’m guessing that the Paul Simon album isn’t supposed to be one 30+ minute long track of all of the seven songs (psalms), right? It also belived that the album was by someone named Singh.
And back to the vendor it goes….not likely to become a collectors item!
It is, Locust. It’s supposed to be one track. My laptop also identified the CD as by Singh. It’s a common complaint on the Amazon comments. Doesn’t affect the playing of the album as far as I can tell…
What? You’re joking, right? Why would they deliberately do that?
So, basically the audience is forced to listen to the whole album in one go. What’s the point of that, and why even bothering naming the seven parts then?
I have a Prince CD like that. Either Around the World In A Day or Lovesexy.
I think Paul wants us to enjoy the entire work in one go rather than dipping in and out of it. I suppose there must be Yes tracks like that? Or maybe Roger Water’s Pros And Cons? I don’t have that on CD, but from the way it’s presented on vinyl, it seems it’s supposed to be one track.. ?
We should have a Roger Waters thread about it!
And not before time! What’s he up to these days?
TBH it makes me not want to listen to it at all. If the Singh guy is any good I might listen to his album instead! 😀
Try it, Locust. He has an overarching theme, a melody, a musing he keeps returning to. Each song bleeds into the next. It’s not exactly clear when one ends and another begins, they are so intertwined. It’s beautiful.
I’m not sure I’m in the right mood for that right now, but as the old disco chick that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the new album by Jake Shears this morning! 🙂
I recommend the new album by JIM. It is the latest by James Baron, half of the dance/nu disco duo Crazy P, who has also put out dance music and mixes under the name Ron Basejam (an anagram of his name). This is different though – glorious CSNY style pop that goes way beyond pastiche. The sound of summer in our house. This is one of the singles:
By the way, the album is called Love Makes Magic.
Side 1 of the new This is the Kit is very good, but then slips a bit. Careful of Your Keepers.
Enjoyed Black Country New Road. The National is okay too.
I’m loving Taj Mahal’s take on the GAS (Great American Songbook)
Another vote for Taj here, and I’m also enjoying Rufus Wainwright’s take on a bunch of folk classics on Folkocracy – funy how they both released albums at the same time, both exploring their roots – their parents´roots to be exact – and giving it their own flavour!
Taj’s version of Summertime seems to carry broad chunks of Moondance, from the G.N.I.S.!
Any love for Rickie Lee Jones’ new one, which also plunders similar sources?
I didn’t like what has happened to her voice since her debut and “Pirates”. It doesn’t suit the material very well, IMO.
Gave up on it after a couple of tracks.
Another 👍 for Rufus’s Folkocracy, it’s a very enjoyable album. I wasn’t aware of Taj Mahal’s album but soon will be.
Please could I add the new Jenny Lewis to the good albums list? Thanks.
Of course you can. Any particular reason why?
Just noticed your reply! I guess because I like it – nice tunes, witty lyrics and well delivered. And I have a bit of a soft spot for Jenny.
I don’t think you are the only one with a soft spot for Jenny.
😉