Favorite Albums of 2023

Another year of bands regaining their post-pandemic footing in the studio and on the road. Not sure if any of these releases will reach classic status but some great stuff nonetheless!

1. Reds, Pinks & Purples - "The Town That Cursed Your Name"

After two years of being the bridesmaid, Glenn Donaldson's wistful, lo-fi, world weary brilliance finally claims my top spot. The rare prolific artist that sets the bar higher with each release. Check out "Burning Sunflowers" - Gorgeous!

2. Ian Hunter - "Defiance Part 1"

Octogenarian, Ian Hunter truly Defies age and expectations with this triumphant return to the studio. Backed by a who's who of Rock 'n' Roll (Jeff Beck, Mike Campbell, Billy Gibbons, Todd Rundgren, Ringo and many more) this album could easily veer into tribute territory but fear not, Ian's stellar writing and vocals rule! "Guernica" ranks with his best - Amazing!

3. The Tubs - "Dead Meat"

From the ashes of Joanna Gruesome arises the debut album from the Tubs! The driving strum and thrum of this English quartet embraces the best of Richard Thompson and R.E.M. (how's that for a recommendation)! My favorite new band of 2023!

4. Hurry - "Don't Look Back"

Philadelphia's Matt Scottoline and company had been churning out jangly melodic righteousness for a dozen years before I finally discovered them. This release is simply their latest and greatest! Head over to Bandcamp and show them some love - their digital albums are only $5!

5. Superchunk - "Misfits & Mistakes"

This 2-disc collection of singles, B-sides and unreleased material is from my favorite era of the band (2007-23) and it's a rich bonanza of 50 songs! It would be impossible to round up all these rare 45s, cassettes, soundtracks, EPs, etc... but here they are with insightful liner notes to boot!

6. Eyelids - "A Colossal Waste of Light"

Haunting guitar pop out of Portland, Oregon. Led by singer/songwriters Chris Slusarenko (Guided by Voices) and John Moen (Decemberists) this is some seriously great indie rock from the get go with the opener, "Crawling Off Your Pages" to closer, "I Can't be Told". Impeccably produced by good friend and sometimes collaborator, Peter Buck. 

7. En Attendant Ana - "Principia"

A blissful breeze of sparkling indie pop from Paris, France, fronted by the crystalline voice of singer/songwriter Margaux Bouchaudon. Her vocals float atop a Belle and Sebastian/Velvet Underground musical base flecked with bits of sax and trumpet, making for one fascinatingly fine listening experience! 

8. The Baseball Project - "Grand Salami Time"

The fourth album from this baseball-loving supergroup featuring members of R.E.M., the Dream Syndicate and a myriad of other projects is still batting 1.000! Each song is clever and catchy, from taking aim at big sluggers ("The All or Nothings"), to baseball cliches (the title track) to the dreaded yips ("The Yips") - take me out to the ballgame!

9. Yo La Tengo - "This Stupid World"

Best title of the year! This unique unclassifiable NYC trio has now been around for 40 years! From delicate hushed melodies to full-on noise guitar skronk Yo la Tengo is as eclectic as it gets. Their albums always reward repeated listens and this one is no exception. Still on top of their game!

Rolling Stones - "Hackney Diamonds"

The first Stones album of original material in almost 20 years pretty much guarantees this a spot in my top ten and damned if it doesn't almost live up to all the hype and expectations! The songs are terrific, Mick sounds great and it's nice to hear Charlie and Bill reunite for a track or two, but Andrew Watt's production sucks all the air out of the room leaving behind a very sterile atmosphere. 

So close :(

Honorable Mention;

Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives - "Altitude"

Guided by Voices - "La La Land" and "Welshpool Frillies"

The Hives - "The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons"

William Tyler - "Secret Stratosphere"

Boygenius - "The Record"

Teenage Fanclub - "Nothing Lasts Forever"

Something Old...Something New (#33)

"Horses" - Patti Smith (released 1975)

   "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine", and with those words the high priestess of punk announced her arrival on a debut album unlike any other. Packed with free-form poetry and for the most part ignoring conventional song structure. It was off-kilter and oddly abstract set amidst the typical radio fare of the time but her unique voice, fearless passion and unbridled energy kept you spellbound. This was something wholly different and at the same time something special! Expertly backed by a sympathetic band (Lenny Kaye-guitar, Richard Sohl-piano, Ivan Kral-bass, Jay Dee Daugherty-drums) there are no missteps or creative dead ends. The single, "Gloria" opens the record with a mournful/slinky intro which builds to an unleashed version of the Van Morrison classic. "Redondo Beach" is a fairly straight Reggae based tune that would fit neatly on an early Elvis Costello album. The brooding, elegiac, "Birdland" showcases Kaye's keenly skittering guitar, Smith sing/speaks in tongues like a woman possessed while Sohl's beautiful piano anchors the nine minute piece. "Free Money" quickly unspools into a wonderful minor key rocker while "Kimberly" is a pretty mid-tempo song for her sister. "Break it Up" has Kaye's soaring guitar echoing Smith's emotional vocals. This brings us to the three-part tour de force "Land: Horses - Land of a Thousand Dances - La Mer (De)" A driving epic with the rhythm section constantly pushing forward as Patti's words pour out as if in a trance. The album wraps up with "Elegie" a tribute to her fallen heroes in music and poetry. From the production by John Cale to the striking b&w cover by Patti's great friend, Robert Mapplethorpe, this is a landmark album in every way!

"The Town That Cursed Your Name" - The Reds, Pinks & Purples (released 2023)

   A veteran of the Bay Area music scene (Vacant Gardens, Skygreen Leopards, Art Museums, to name just a few) "the Reds, Pinks & Purples" is the latest and greatest creation of San Franciscan singer/songwriter/musician, Glenn Donaldson. Over the past four years he has released over a dozen EPs and LPs showcasing his hazy, melodic, lo-fi pop methodology. His world weary voice instills a sad beauty to every song while acoustic strum and electric jangle add to the dreamy tone throughout the record. Recording everything himself in his home studio/kitchen is a recipe that has served Donaldson well.  Some favorites from this album's smorgasbord of melancholy pop are the opener, "Too Late for an Early Grave", "Leave it All Behind", "Waiting on a Ghost to Haunt You" and "Mistakes (Too Many to Name)". "Here Comes the Lunar Hand" is an absorbing and hypnotic change of pace while the driving "Burning Sunflowers" features some fairly sizzling guitar work. His arrangements reward every listen as an opportunity to discover more sonic details in each song. Honestly, he is so consistently excellent that if you like one song you'll enjoy the whole album and indeed his entire catalogue! My favorite album of 2023 and he already has a new LP out now! RIYL; East River Pipe, the Smiths, Belle & Sebastian.

 

 Favorite Albums of 2022

A tentative return to normalcy brought with it a slew of good albums, just not a lot of great ones. It was exciting to see bands attempting to tour again (amid many cancellations) as artists attempted to make sense of this crazy new world. These albums will help you do just that!

1. Chris Church - "Darling Please"

Lenoir, NC brings us the album I can't stop listening to. It doesn't just have my favorite song of the year ("Bad Summer") but my second favorite as well ("Pillar to Post")! A ten year old two track basement recording rescued from the scrap heap becomes a buzzing, melodic marvel! Chris Church touches the sun on this one and every listen just reaffirms that feeling.

2. The Reds, Pinks & Purples - "Summer at Land's End"

San Francisco's Glenn Donaldson goes back to the kitchen (literally) and serves up another helping of hazy tuneful indie pop. His breakneck pace of releasing multiple singles, EPs and an LP each year belies the dreamy laid-back sunny afternoon feel that radiates from his music. Keep them coming Glenn!

3. Young Guv - "III & IV"

Ben Cook as Young Guv traffics in hyper-catchy power pop which was on full display in 2019's "Young Guv I & II". This time around we get more of his sublime musicianship on "III" along some new wave and even country-flecked sounds on "IV". An artist at the top of his craft.

4. Superchunk - "Wild Loneliness"

This Chapel Hill, NC band blazed an indie rock trail in the 90s before taking a ten year break. They exploded back onto the scene with 2010's magnificent "Majesty Shredding" and this is their fourth straight second stage winner! Tighter and more focused with guest stars; Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub), Mike Mills (R.E.M.) and Sharon Van Etten among others make for an engaging listen!

5. The Helicopters - "Eyes of Oblivion"

Longtime Swedish hard rockers return after fourteen years with a sensational new album! Guitarist/songwriter, Nicke Andersson describes the record as "The Beatles meets Judas Priest or Lynyrd Skynyrd Meets the Ramones..." That might sum it up - all I know is that "Reap a Hurricane" and the title track rock harder than anything I've heard in years!

6. Flyying Colours - "Flyying Colours"

Australia's premier Dreampop/Shoegaze outfit reissue a collection of their early out-of-print EPs. The guitars swirl, the voices soar and your brain melts in the sonic haze!

7. Healees - "Healees"

My favorite new find of the year. The Healees are a dream pop band located in Paris featuring members from Belgium, France, Sweden and the USA. Only available as a cassette or download (those crazy kids)! Head to their bandcamp page to check out the delightful debut EP.

8. Cheap Star - "Wish I Could See"

Remi Vaissiere has been fronting this enchanting melodic power pop outfit for years. His latest and greatest incarnation includes Jon Auer (Posies) on every track as well as special guests; Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Gary Louris (Jayhawks), Brendan Benson and Mitch Easter - Wow!

9. The Beths - "Expert in a Dying Field"

New Zealand's Beths third album showcases singer/songwriter/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes front and center as well she should be. Her voice is beautifully compelling as are her insanely catchy tunes. Their debut is still my favorite but this is better than 99% of what's out there.

10. The Smile - "A Light for Attracting Attention"

Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead fame have collaborated on a project sure to please fans of both. Their fascinatingly quirky machinations are anything but boring and sometimes downright beautiful. Until a new Radiohead release appears this will do just fine!

Other Favorites

Band of Horses - "Things Are Great"

Marc Andersson - "First Prize For Everyone"

Nick Piunti & Complicated Men - "Heart Inside Your Head"

Alvvays - "Blue Rev"

Kids on a Crime Spree - "Fall in Love Not in Line"

Lauds - "Lauds II"

Death Cab For Cutie - "Asphalt Meadows"

Martin Courtney - "Magic Sign"

Spielbergs - "Vestli"

Eels - "Extreme Witchcraft"

Persian Leaps - "Machines For Living"

First Aid Kit - "Palomino"

 

Something Old...Something New (#32)

"Aladdin Sane" - David Bowie (released 1973)

   Bowie follows up the zeitgeist-tapping perfection of "Ziggy Stardust...'' with his hardest rocking album. Written during the craziness of his 1972 American tour (a lad insane) it's his final LP with the Spiders from Mars (Mick Ronson-gtr, Trevor Bolder-b, Mick "Woody" Woodmansey - dr) and released at the commercial peak of the Glam scene. The Stonesy rocking opener "Watch That Man" gets things off to a rollicking start (you can picture Mick and the boys tearing into this one)! When Bowie encouraged pianist Mike Garson to let loose his avant-garde style he unleashed a mind-blowing one-take solo on the title track! Garson's inventive skills are also on full display in the glittering theatrical ballads "Time" and "Lady Grinning Soul". "Drive-in Saturday" and "The Prettiest Star" portray Bowie's pop/rock side to perfection with the latter highlighted by another terrific Ronson solo! Mick Ronson is the unsung architect of Glam. His arrangements, guitar tones and solos for all Bowie's work throughout this period is impeccable! An infectious Bo Diddley vibe drives "Panic in Detroit" deep into your reptilian brain before the grinding sleaze of "Cracked Actor" ends side one. The stomping swagger of "The Jean Genie" closes with a stuttering swell of guitars and a place in classic rock history! Let's not forget the iconic album cover that's every bit as inspired as the music. Most critics were disappointed but aside from relegating "Let's Spend the Night Together" to the "Pin Ups" covers album which came out later that year I wouldn't change a thing. Still brilliant 50 years on!

"Chime School - Chime School (released 2021)

    San Francisco's Andy Pastalaniec is Chime School. A drummer for local bands Odd Hope, Sealbite and Cruel Summer he was inspired to create his own music when his girlfriend gifted him a 4-track Tascam Portastudio. He them proceeded to write record and produce this utterly charming debut album at home. A long time fan of jangly rock with upbeat melodies from the 60s (Byrds) and 80s (the C86 scene in Britain began with the release of a cassette by the New Musical Express in 1986. It showcased new indy bands and labels in the UK) he took these influences and ran with them! This album is a winner from beginning to end. An effortless barrage of hooks and melodies that are at once familiar but at the same instant fresh and exciting! With his ringing 12-string jangle and hints of dream pop he fashions one happy/melancholy pop gem after another. "Wait Your Turn", "Dead Saturdays", "Radical Leisure", "It's True", "Calling In Sick", the ten tunes fly by and it's impossible to choose a favorite as the guitar driven energy and breezy vocals make every song irresistible! Pick up this album and Chime School will always be in session. RIYL Young Guv or The Reds, Pinks and Purples (and you should!)

 Favorite Albums of 2021

2021 was another challenging year for the music community with remote recording and cancelled tours remaining the norm. With many established acts electing to sit on the sidelines until some sense of normalcy returns it was a good year to discover new artists and that's definitely reflected on my list of 2021 favorites. Remember, musicians pour their hearts and souls into their work so be sure to support them any way you are able (vinyl, CD, download)

1. Cloud Nothings - "The Shadow I Remember"

The band reunites with legendary producer Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio Studios and emerge with another revelation. Light and shade abound in these eleven densely compact post-punk marvels featuring explosive rhythmic discord and resplendent melodies around every corner! Good luck choosing a favorite.

2. Chime School - "Chime School" 

Springing from the head of the Power Pop Gods fully formed, Rickenbacker in hand, appears Andy Pastalaniec. Revel in the sweet jangling righteousness of his debut as Chime School. Class is in session for my favorite new artist of 2021!

3. The Reds, Pinks & Purples - "Uncommon Weather"

Glenn Donaldson cooks up yet another collection of engagingly warm indie pop recorded in the kitchen of his San Francisco home (seen on the album cover). He's been releasing his dependably pleasing tunes at the rate of two albums a year so I'm sure he'll be on next year's list too!

4. Aeon Station - "Observatory"

Waiting 15 years for the follow-up to the Wrens "Meadowlands" (a masterpiece) to be completed by his musical partner (Charles Bissell) was long enough for Kevin Whelan. He took his songs and 3/4 of the band to form Aeon Station. This is as close as we'll get to another Wrens album so just immerse yourself in the melancholic beauty.

5. Flyying Colours - "Fantasy Country"

This quartet from Melbourne, Australia delivers my favorite shoegaze album of the year. The most fully realized album of their career is a glorious sea of Krautrock rhythms propelling shimmering waves of psych rock guitar. Dreamy vocals and keyboard textures help deliver a lavish listening experience.

6. Ducks Ltd - "Modern Fiction"

Sounding for all the world like a lost member of New Zealand's "Flying Nun" label this Toronto duo delivers the jangle pop goods on a great debut LP.  Earworm alert - Tom McGreevy and Evan Lewis construct some of the catchiest hooks and choruses you'll hear this year!

7. Lauds - "Lauds" EP

This five piece from Wilmington, North Carolina have produced an EP of stunningly beautiful guitar pop. It's easy to be swept away in the first rate melodies, tranquil vocals and clean production. RIYL Real Estate or R.E.M.

8. Split Single - "Amplificado"

From his 90s band, Verbow, to continuing stints as bass player for Bob Mould and Superchunk, Jason Narducy exemplifies musical excellence. His latest features drummer extraordinaire Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould, Mountain Goats) and Mike Mills (R.E.M.) on bass. Head over to their Bandcamp page and check out "95 Percent" - sublime!

9. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Way Down in the Rust Bucket"

The Neil Young archives are a gift that just keeps giving. This show was recorded in 1990 and Young's majestic, snarling guitar playing is on full display as he and Crazy Horse hit the road in support of "Ragged Glory". With six songs clocking in at over 10 minutes, it's the feral shredfest we all need!

10. The Institutes - "Colosseums"

If you thought Britpop was dead these lads from Coventry beg to differ. Their debut fairly bursts with big chorus anthems in the style of Oasis. The opener, "All That You'll Ever Know", rockets out of your speakers and the momentum rarely subsides. Maybe the next big thing in the UK ignored by the U.S.

Honorable Mention

Robert Plant/Alison Kraus - "Raise the Roof"

Persian Leaps - "Drone Etiquette" (EP)

Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - "Angel Dream"

Cheap Trick - "In Another World"

The Black Keys - "Delta Kream"

 Favorite Albums of 2020

Not a good year for anyone. Music clubs shuttered, recording studios empty, low quality streaming continues to be the main way people consume music - and yet excellent new releases continued to appear like lights in the darkness to provide comfort, diversion and hope for better times to come. Do your best to support these artists during quarantine as they/we await the return of live music and an avalanche of new releases in 2021!

1. Cloud Nothings - "The Black Hole Understands"

Recorded entirely in quarantine, Dylan Baldi (guitar, bass, vocals) and Jayson Gerycz (drums, mixing) produce a marvel of melodic, hook-laden modern pop/rock gems, each one impossibly outshining the next. The ultimate comfort food in a year when we needed it most!

2. The Wild Giraffes - "Live and Later"

The first seven songs are the sound of the roof being blown off Cleveland's famed Agora Ballroom in 1981 (a mix of covers and stunning originals by guitarist Edgar Reynolds) followed by nine unreleased tracks giving us a view into what might have been. Legendary indeed!

3. The Beths - "Jump Rope Gazers"

Indie pop/rock from New Zealand has a rich history and these Auklanders proudly carry the torch. No evidence of the dreaded sophomore jinx here as Elizabeth Stokes (she of the sublime vocals) writes twelve more instant favorites. A rich album that gets better with each listen.

4. Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men - "Downtime"

With five fantastic albums over the last six years Nick Piunti has become the model of Power Pop consistency and excellence. Top notch writing, great vocals and searing guitar make every song a winner. It's nice to see him receiving increased airplay with each release and there is more on the way in 2021!

5. Nada Surf - "Never Not Together"

This band never disappoints. Each release hones their sweet-sounding mellifluous Indie Pop to a fantastically finer edge. Singer Matthew Caws carries each tune with his engaging vocals and continues to write songs of deceptive intricacy. 

6. The Persian Leaps - "Smiling Lessons"

After crafting my favorite album of 2019 ("Electrical Living") Drew Forsberg returns with a terrific eight song EP! Slashing guitar rhythms support compelling melodies and addictive choruses. In a better world this music is heading up the charts and on everyone's playlist!

7. Kestrels - "Dream or Don't Dream"

Halifax, Nova Scotia gifts us Chad Peck setting his swirling shoegaze ablaze with fiery guitar, including a remarkable appearance by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. My favorite "new" find has been recording since 2009 so I have a catalog to catch up on!

8. Close Lobsters - "Post Neo Anti: Arte Povera in the Forest of Symbols"

Scottish indie rockers return after more than 30 years and they haven't missed a beat, recapturing the jangly pop goodness of their legendary C86 years! They have been a favorite of mine since the "What is There to Smile About" EP in 1988. Welcome back, but what's up with the unwieldy title?

9. The Hanging Stars - "A New Kind of Sky"

Dreamy, psych-tinged, harmony-laden songs dripping with gorgeous pedal steel guitar. These young Londoners echo the best of Americana while putting their own stamp on each tune. RIYL Band of Horses, Byrds

10. AC/DC - "Power Up"

Following a tumultuous five years (Malcom Young's Passing, Brian Johnson's hearing issues, drummer Phil Rudd's plethora of legal problems) the band improbably returns with their strongest album in decades! Twelve succinct Angus/Malcom compositions loaded with explosive rhythms, searing guitar, and throat-ripping vocals! Straight hard rock and nobody does it better!

HONORABLE MENTION:

Bob Mould - Blue Hearts

Caddy - Electric Hero

Muzz - Muzz

Best Coast - Always Tomorrow

Old 97s - Twelfth

The Jayhawks - XOXO

Neil Young - Homegrown

Something Old...Something New (#31)

"Mr. Tambourine Man" - The Byrds (released 1965)

   From the moment you hear Jim McGuinn's ringing 12-string Rickenbacker guitar on the opening track there is a musical revolution in the air (ask Tom Petty or R.E.M.)! The Byrds create the folk/rock genre virtually overnight in Los Angeles by marrying the melodic social consciousness of American folk music with the sharp pop of the British Invasion. The original lineup (too talented to last long) is Jim McGuinn (lead guitar, vocals) Gene Clark (vocals) David Crosby (vocals, guitar) Chris Hillman (bass) and Michael Clarke (drums). This album boasts four definitive covers of Bob Dylan songs including the title track which becomes a #1 single! Singer/songwriter Gene Clark bursts onto the scene by contributing to all five original tunes. The sparkling "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" is a personal favorite and includes an outstanding undulating guitar solo. "Here Without You" is beautifully haunting and "I Knew I'd Want You" glows with the singular harmonies of McGuinn, Clark and Crosby "It's No Use" is the hardest rocking tune on the record highlighted by a couple fiery guitar bursts. This is a classic debut album that plays like a Greatest Hits package! The 1996 Columbia remaster includes dramatically improved sound, 6 bonus tracks and informative liner notes. I can only imagine what it was like to initially hear this perfect harmony of songwriting, guitars and voices pouring from your speakers in 1965!

"12" - Sloan (released 2018)

   Question: How many bands release a dozen albums with the same lineup and make album number 12 their best ever? Answer: Sloan! This Canadian alt rock/power pop quartet is a model of democracy as each member writes and sings three of their own songs while playing a variety of instruments. The album explodes out of the gate with the sublimely careening power pop of "Spin Our Wheels" Chris Murphy (vocals, bass, drums) creates the year's catchiest tune while also contributing the crushing "Wish Upon a Satellite". Patrick Pentland (vocals, lead guitar) just might outgrunge Nirvana on "All of the Voices" and showcases his hard driving guitar on "The Day Will Be Mine". Andrew Scott (vocals, guitar, drums) displays a beautifully constructed introspectiveness on "Gone for Good" and the record closing "44 Teenagers". Jay Ferguson (vocals, guitar, bass) crafts pretty pop with the delicate tunefulness of "Right to Roam" and "The Lion's Share". His "Essential Services" wouldn't sound out of place on "Sgt. Pepper"! There is more, but suffice to say there is not a weak moment on this album. This is a multi-talented group with plenty of songs that I've enjoyed in the past but this record blew me away! The superlative songwriting, addictive melodies and faultless harmonies make this album an absolute joy - looking forward to "13"!