Best of 2023!

 

Welcome to my year end list. This has been a banner year for Hiphop, droned out guitar rock and triphop influenced stuff. Below is my favorite LPs, EPs, singles and reissues! Hope you discover something you dig and inspires you. This also doubles as a bandcamp recommendation for this weeks BCF. See you in 2024

LP's :

Danny Brown X Jpegmafia - Scaring The Hoes

This might be my album of the year. Bonkers production that goes from bombastic glitchy beat switches to totally blissed out euphoric melodic alls of sound. Danny and Peggy trade verses, both bringing different flows, often with hilarious ywt thoughtful bars through out the whole LP. I havent liked a hiphop record this much since Loojis album from a couple years go. This is just such a fun, twisted, avant rap record that sees two of the best making banger after banger. 

https://jpegmafia.bandcamp.com/album/scaring-the-hoes

Icecoldbishop - Generational Curse 

A harrowing hiphop record that I feel like I am not the right person to talk about, but i do love it and its story telling. Like Danny Brown and Kendrick ICB has a very flamboyant and expressive vocal delivery. The beats mix g funk, trap, boombap and psychedelic hiphop into a brutal yet hooky debut. The strain in ICB voice whens he trying to squeeze out his bars cuz its just a pure release of his inner monolog. This isnt fake at all, its so real. Like Biggies debut. (Not on bandcamp)

A.S.O. - Self Titled

This whole record rules. Its a surprisingly dynamic record unlike...alot of records ingeneral. Taking elements of triphop, house, 90s r&b, dream pop and Sophisti-pop into their sticky melodies and interesting production choices. The crown jewel of the record is "True", its one of the more emotionally resonate songs I've heard in a minute, and the vocals reallllly soar with that Beth Gibbons vibrato, along with "Hunter" kinda vibe. The songs are hella catchy, it doesnt over stay its welcome, its fun.....This record will likely be in my top 5 of the year. It's rare that I feel cooler when listening to music but this makes me feel cool lol. Also, love the subtle nodes to soul there are.

https://itsaso.bandcamp.com/album/a-s-o

Water Damage - 2 Songs 

If it's not obvious from my Twitter or IG, but Water Damage has become one of my favorite current bands. Droned out minimalist rock music that is just so soothing but I don't think for most, this will be the case lol. First track is similar to what they were doing on last year's "Repeater" buuuut their are strange wild edits(?) Or pauses jump out that really gives this track an off kilter vibe. Theres another lil thing is that there are these random snare hits with reverb that make it sound HARD. The B-side pushed their sound into a interesting direction with the vibraphone or xylophone, with Steve Reich like repetition and just grows from there, it's quite mesmerizing. MAN, this shit just hits, obvi if you dig Tony Conrad, Faust, Bardo Pond or Jessamine....you'll love.

https://waterdamage12xu.bandcamp.com/album/2-songs

Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World 

Truly absurd a band 30 years into their career can make such a adventurous piece of work thay doesnt betray their sound. Next to Low, YLT might be the only other 90s indie band that still pushes forward. Tracks range from Tony Conrad drone feedback minimalism, noise pop, idm, folk, free rock and NZ pop. Each song is its own lil world but all work in congress to make a haunting, modern and cohesive listen that shows age doesnt matter if yr a real one.

https://yolatengo.bandcamp.com/album/this-stupid-world

Lewsberg - Out and About

Much has been said about Lewsberg mellowing out, but with this mellowing they actually sound less like VU. On their new LP they fold in new sounds, moods and colors. Expanding the vocals adds new textures to their minimalist but lovely songs. Feeling closer to post crazy rhythm era Feelies, Yo La Tengo at their most sweet and even alil Belle and Sebastian. Its beautiful music made by freaks. The only "issue" is i wish lead guitarist went off leash alil. But regardless this record rules. 

https://lewsberg12xu.bandcamp.com/album/out-and-about

XV - On The Creekbeds On The Thrones

Great Detroit weirdo rock, from members of Shells, Deadbeat Beat and Tyvek. Idk how to properly describe this record, it's kinda raw, it's kinda psychedelic, alil dub and alil avant. Too my dum dum ears it's a mix between Raincoats, Red Krayola and Movietone 🤷. It's really cool, and I feel cool listening too it. Disorienting production, detached vocals at times but then there is a playfulness too....very distinctive band. "Fresh Lettuce" is so odd, otherworldly. If you dig Mope Grooves, Maximum Joy and freak flags flying.

https://thexv.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-creekbeds-on-the-thrones

IE - Junkbody 

Their last record was on a toneburst favorite label Moon Glyph . This continues their meditative brand of kosmiche. If you can imagine it, it's like if Faust made a minimalist ambient record inside of the punishing drone feedback jams. The vocals pop in sometimes to add an even more haunting hypnosis. The amount of space they use to create such trance inducing worlds of sound. Highly recommend esp if you dig early Smoke Below or VU at their mellowest. The song "Mels Hole" is top 5 songs of the year, drone pop by way of Shangri-las. Perfect tune.

https://iesounds.bandcamp.com/album/junk-body

Water From Your Eyes - Everybodys Crushed

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a couple freaks crystallize their sound into a cohesive piece of work that marries pop and avant-garde. These songs twist n turn from pop bangers to noise rock freak outs that never hold yr hand. Its as if Cornelius didnt drift into more ambient direction and just kept going harder into the noise pop he explored earlier in his output. Very excited to see where they go next cuz this shows so much promise ontop of being so realized. Rachel's vocals are at times crushingly beautiful & emotive and sometimes flip to a deadpan distance. Nates guitars are jagged and punishing. Hopefully more labels will take chances of more left of center indie music based off this.

https://waterfromyoureyes.bandcamp.com/album/everyones-crushed

Omni Gardens - Golden Pear

Im a huge fan of Steve and his label Moon Glyph by evidence of how often the label shows up here on the blog. He returns with his solo work under Omni Gardens which continues to explore beauty and inner peace. This record feels like floating on a river of bliss at the golden hour while yr on a mild shroom trip. Purely immersing you in the drifting synth arpeggios and low frequency drones. I love how this music makes me feel.

https://omnigardens.bandcamp.com/album/golden-pear

Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps

Imo Billys best LP yet, flows, word play and just the pure sniper focus of his bars are awe inspiring. The production compliments the vibe of each song perfectly. It goes from boom bap jazz infused beats to more far out abstract psychedelic beats that circle dark ambience. Billys words often dense, hilarious and profound all in one tune. Theres so many funny one liners that make me run the track back like from opening track, a line i deeply relate to "Every time things going good or having a laugh, Have to remember God's a hater". The guest verses are all uniformly dope but have to say Danny Browns is a real stand out with how patient and calm his delivery is, he knows how to weave words and cadence w pure mastery. 

https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/maps

Weak Signal - War and War

So if i had to give a neanderthal elevator pitch to describe WS sound it would be what if The Melvins and The Vaselines were jamming in a very well dark smoke filled room. That maybe be silly but thats how it unfolds to me. Effortless songs, dense guitars, drums and bass pound with lovely coed vocal melodies that hook ya in. "Consolation" is song of the fall. Stoned pop at its best. Is 12xu best undergroundrocklabel right now?(Aware it was out digitally in 2022, but idc, 12xu released vinyl in June). 

https://weareweaksignal.bandcamp.com/album/war-war

Hysterical Love Project  - Lashes

I really enjoy listening to this record late at night while very stoned. Its what in the old days you'd call it a grower. They blend Love Spirals Downward, Sneaker Pimps, Bowery Electric, and Aphex Twin into a LP of subtle dreamy pop tunes. The production is soooooooo good, feels studied but not overly referential. I could imagine HLP playing The Bronze during a forlorned moment between Angel & Buffy. Its sick.

https://motionward.bandcamp.com/album/hysterical-love-project-lashes

Daisies - Great Big Open Sky 

Daisies are the most underrated pop group in the US. Val's voice and storytelling are so welcoming and empathetic with hooks galore. Pair that with Chris's production and guitar playing.....hes a lowkey genius. This is a more contemplative release for the group that brings their 90s dance pop / adult contemporary influences more upfront than the more indie pop early LPs. Its no secret i love this band and if the world was just theyd be huge. THIS IS POP MUSIC LOSERS. 

https://daisies.bandcamp.com/album/great-big-open-sky

EP'S :

Forever ☆ - 3 Series 

Easily the most impressive and exciting shoegaze coming out right now despite what big indie will tell you. Breakbeats, blown out guitars and haunting vocals. MORE OF THIS PLEASE. Its like Curve on speed.

https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/album/3-series

Tara Clerkin Trio - On The Turning Ground

Bristol just knows whats up. This fantastic ep that melds jazz, triphop, ambient, drone, field recordings, modern classical into a dreamy swirl. They feel like they are picking up where Broadcast left off with Noise Made By People with the soft, layered and production forward pop that isnt holding yr hand. The vocals r so transportative, with the loops and melodies. I just love this ep. WORLD OF ECHO STRIKES AGAIN.

https://taraclerkintrio.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-turning-ground

Pablo Volt Y JGG - Mordida

Gorgeous exotica. Immersive rhythms and fantastic production. Flawless ep

https://edicionespopulares.bandcamp.com/album/mordida

Present Electric - Self Titled 

I am such a huge fan of Paisley Undergrounds founder Kevin Linns P E. This new mini album/ep continues to tread in weirdo post VU jammers and janky post punk nuggets. The record is Bursting with cool ideas, experiments and tunes. If you dig Lewsberg, Drinks and The Sheaves you'll love this. 

https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/present-electric

pot-pot "Ode To A"

Hitting a similar vibe to Water Damage, Irelands pot-pot play zoned out drone rock that pulses like yr digging through miles of dirt trying to get to the hallow earth to see some primordial monsters dook it out. They also have a new song out that kicks ass that sounds like "waiting for my man" but harder.

https://potpot.bandcamp.com/album/ode-to-a

Purelink - To / Deep

Chicagos Purelink are the current dub techno ambeint kings and this EP is sonic perfection. Just listen to "Maintain the Bliss".....ok yr back? Was i wrong? Ok, now go buy it and read a book.

https://purelink.bandcamp.com/album/to-deep

Reissues :

Hydroplane - Selected Songs 1997 to 2003

Hydroplane has been probs my favorite discoveries since finding Pram like 6 years ago. Like Pram, Hydroplane makes pop music but of the avant variety. Mixing indie pop, triphop, ambient, electronic dance, and shoegaze but with odd production. The songs can be catchy, or maximum droned out. They use effects and synths in subtlety adventurous ways, more studio as an instrument. This is a comp of tracks across thier whole discograpy with couple new tracks through on. Its just very idiocratic pop music which is very much my shit

https://hydroplaneband.bandcamp.com/album/selected-songs-1997-2003

The Woods - So Long Before Now

My ideal jangle pop. Sounding like Twice As Much meets Feelies meets Rain Parade but rougher around the edges. I cannot Recommend this enough

https://woodsmodernharmonic.bandcamp.com/album/so-long-before-now

Don Cherry / Jean Shcwarz - Roundtrip (1977)

Extremely far out free jazz /electronic fusion from the master Don Cherry. Some of the most propulsive/explosive jazz ive ever heard. The grooves are odd, psychedelic and at times punishing. The electronics can be spacey but also abrasive in the best way. I cannot Recommend this one enough, just so emmersive and confounding.

https://transversales.bandcamp.com/album/roundtrip-1977

Richter Band  - Smetana 

This haunting collection of Popol Vuh inspired quiet music that has been reissue from this i think mostly unknown group from 1990 according to discogs. Combining kalimba, synths and guitar to create this beautiful alien sounds that use human hands to make. Its easy to get lost in this world they created, there is just something so genuinely special about these little discoveries labels make and we are so lucky to hear they gorgeous home spun sounds of 3 people playing together in such a harmonious way.

https://infiniteexpanse.bandcamp.com/album/smetana

Blue Smiley - Return

Thank the heavens this got reissued becuz its easily one of the most important shoegaze releases since the OG's. The profound influence on diy music of the noisey guitar variety. Every song kicks ass, emotionally satisfying and production is perfectly on point. Just stfu and listen to the best shoegaze record since Loveless. 

https://bluesmiley.bandcamp.com/album/return

Dorothy Carter  - Wailee Wailee

Cosmic folk at its finest, this reissue is a treasured discovery in 2024. Haunting combo of Celtic, Appalachian folk with new age / avant-garde drone mixed together. Its like Malvina Reynolds jamming with Laraaji. Its just truly other worldly.

https://paltoflats.bandcamp.com/album/waillee-waillee-2

Singles :

Newjeans "Super Shy"

Best pop song of the year hands down.

Fievel is Glauque "Dark Dancing"

Fievel continue to hone and experiment, this song is a banger with new lil production trix.

Hoodie x james k "Scorpio"

Zoned out triphop ala Bowery Electric mixed with Cocteaus

Twin Coasts " Scatch on You"

This Chicago band is showing great promose with 2 killer singles this year that blend bent noise pop and drone ambient peices like Loveliescrushing 

Mo Dotti  - For Anyone and You

Obviously I am biased but Mo Dotti is the best traditionally leaning shoegaze band right. Hands down understand song first, sound design second which tbh is how it should always be. This new single will be on their debut LP i believe and its a catchy pummel pop number with Ginas beautiful voice, Guys swirling guitars and Andrew (drummerl does a great job on production on both tunes. B side is more of a mood peice thats kinda like Jefre Cantu Ledsema meets Beach House.

Cole Pulice  - If I Don’t See You in the Future, I’ll See You in the Pasture

22 minute single from Toneburst/Dummy homie collaborator Cole Pulice whos music means alot to all of us. This long form tune is a caccoon droning saxophones or synths or both that have a somber tone though out its runtime. Cole bends their sax into different forms and sounds that are so beautifully alien. Get it