Top 30 Albums of 2023
Top 30 Albums of 2023
What a year. Perhaps the best in recent memory for new rock ‘n’ roll acts striking out. Social comment has begun to forge bonds with the devil, and the results have been breathtaking. It’s seen plenty of 00s stalwarts prove they’re not done creatively.
Find out where they’ve ranked in our top 30 albums of the year:
30. NGHFB – Council Skies
Some great moments blended with average ones. Lockdown and pending divorce may have hit the consistency, but there’s enough melody to keep you returning for more.
29. The Kynd – Timelines (full review here)
The long-awaited second album from 90s outfit The Kynd is a touch of baggy-mod class.
28. Neev - Catherine
Heartfelt folk from the Glaswegian songwriter who will surely go on to bigger and better things.
27. Adam Nutter – Badlands On Fire
Celestial instrumentals from The Music’s lead guitarist.
26. Andrew Cushin – Waiting For The Rain
The Geordie singer-songwriter’s debut shows glimpses of a much brighter future.
25. Emy P - Lights // Chaos // Action
Intense tales of love, coming-of-age, and mental health. Raw Kai Tempest meets Scroobious Pip vibes.
24. Bag of Cans – We Are A Band
Lunacy. Brilliant, hilarious lunacy!
23. DMAs - How Many Dreams?
Polished anthems from the Aussie heroes.
22. The Boo Radleys - Eight
The cult Scouse heroes continue their fine run of form since returning in 2021.
21. Egyptian Blue – A Living Commodity
Off-beat but cohesive post-punk striving for glory.
20. Death of Guitar Pop - Be Lucky
The third installment from the DIY Ska outfit.
19. Grian Chatten - Chaos For The Fly
The Fontaines frontman strikes out with a timeless sense of songwriting.
18. The Shed Project – Our Fear Is Their Power (Full Review here)
What began as mates in a Shed playing for fun has become the do-or-die rock ‘n’ roll generations live for! Their attempt to convey their moods has given a window into a nation teetering on the edge of revolt at its politicians, media, and institutions falter.
17. Mull Historical Society – In My Mind There’s A Room
Colin McIntyre’s literary project is littered with melodic gold and award-winning author cameos.
16. Jasmine Minks – We Make Our Own History
The former Creation Records maestro’s prove they can still cut it with the best.
15. Treasures of Mexico – Burn The Jets (full review here)
Three albums in, Treasures of Mexico show no signs of tailing off. ‘Burn The Jets’ is a heartfelt slice of guitar joy that all should bask in.
14. King Creosote - I DES
Fife’s finest fok artist continues to find pockets of magic twenty-five years after his debut.
13. Afflecks Palace – The Only Light In This Tunnel Is The Oncoming Train (full review here)
The rise of Afflecks Palace continues steadfastly. It’s beautifully aimless, passionate, and soul-enriching. 100 years from now, they will not be forgotten!
12. Slowdive - Everything Is Alive
Utterly spellbinding.
11. Das Koolies - DK.01
Four members of Super Furry Animals strike out with breathtaking results.
10. Trampolene – Rules of Love and War (full review here)
The journey from ‘Swansea To Hornsey’ youthful fire to ‘Rules Of Love and War’ measured prose has been six years of hope, self-doubt, escape, self-discovery, and now, one of triumphant return. The mission statements they dreamt up in bedrooms in 2017 are now becoming fully realised via richer creative palettes. Coupled with Jack Jones’ purist of souls, long may Trampolene’s ship sail on.
9. Senses – Little Pictures Without Sound (full review here)
‘Little Pictures Without Sound’ is an album by dreamers for dreamers. Even in its most lo-fi moments, it’s touched by the hands of fantasy. It breeds a vision of a better life at every turn.
8. Tom Clarke– The Other Side
2023’s best kept secret! The Enemy frontman’s second solo album is his finest set of songs. Timeless songwriting showcases what a generational talent he is!
7. The Goa Express - The Goa Express
Life-affirming indie that’ll soundtrack a generation coming of age!
6. The Coral – Sea Of Mirrors (full review here)
The drifters charter. Masterful songwriting.
5. The Dream Machine – Thank God It’s The Dream Machine (full review here)
The Wirral has a new set of outsiders to idolise!
4. Joel Stoker – Undertow (full review here)
After two decades with The Rifles, making any solo album was a brave decision. To tackle his living nightmares and chart a musical course a world away was truly courageous.
3. The Velvet Hands – Sucker Punch (full review here)
Skint, downtrodden, and overtaken by those who can afford it or the artistically redundant. Despite the odds against them and cultural pressures pushing them toward a boring mainstream landscape, the band have funnelled their joyous punk debut into something more studied and grander this time out.
2. Pynch – Howling At A Concrete Moon (full review here)
Pynch’s debut album is full of such great era-defining couplets it's easy to overlook just how many great musical moments it possesses. The dreamy Real Estate and Horrors-esque (circa ’V’) synths of opener ‘Haven’t Lived a Day’ or the solos on ‘Tin Foil’ and ‘Maybe’, to name just a few.
A truly great moment in a sea of political despair. Viva la hope!
1. The Utopiates – The Sun Also Rises (full review here)
Whether you’re coming of age or finding a new lease on life, The Utopiates are the band to soundtrack it. From ‘Devolution’ to ‘It’s Coming To You’ they clutch onto hope with their fingernails as their sonic tumbles towards the darkness. Like all great bands before them, they find a way to lead the mortals out of their doldrums. During the introspection of ‘The Sun Also Rises’ the fog begins to lift allowing the rhapsodic ‘Ups and Downs’ conjures a moment of unrivalled happiness. The journey to their promised land is completed on the angelic reflective come-down piece ‘Simple Minds’.
Undeterred by Spotify’s influences, they take their time on intros and solos alike. They’ve allowed rock ‘n’ roll to breathe once more. The results are nothing short of a perfect debut album.
Theatre Royal: Top 5 Singles
Kent’s Theatre Royal have released all 22 singles dating from 2010 to 2018 via bandcamp. It’s proof just how this decade has been under documented for new bands. Much like Sheffield’s The Crookes and The Heartbreaks, they have the ability to write alternative 3min pop songs as naturally as the sun rises.
As a result, we undertook the unenviable task of producing our top 5 singles from this faultless collection:
French Riviera 1988
Escapism for the industrial estuary towns has never sounded so exuberant. The human condition on display for all to fall in love with. Yearning to belong somewhere out of reach should be a downbeat and crushed affair right? Nope!
Our Medway friends are made that much more heroic by saddling up and charging towards their dream land.
Locked Together on the Lines
This is the true story of front man Oliver’s Nan discovering a sailor and a prostitute laying together, dead, at Chatham’s war memorial. Rightly lauded by Steve Lamacq, it recalls Mike Leigh or Alan Clarke dramas at their best. Heartfelt and gritty, it oozes charm and great characterisation.
As the guitars shimmer to a climax, The Pale Fountains and Jasmine Minks come roaring to the surface on this pop triumph.
Standing in the Land
Despite unknown to the masses Theatre Royal are blessed as a band. They can write great and meaningful pop songs, as this singles collection will attest to.
On ‘Standing In The Land’, they change tact and deliver one of the bravest lyrics of the decade. Tackling the migrant crisis from a loving and reasoned view point is to be lauded. Especially back in 2017 with David “hides in his shed” Cameron describing them as “swarm of migrants”.
It goes further than just providing an emotive response. It offers an intellectual viewpoint, asking the difficult questions about Britain’s part in the crisis that emerged. The beautiful harmonies chime away as this kitchen sink drama conversation unfurls like an inspired piece of Morrissey song writing.
If You Could Stand Up
“Kent's 21st Century Robert Forster & Grant McLennan. Purveyors of timeless guitar pop classics.”
John Kennedy, X-Posure, Radio X
It combines the relentlessness of the The Jam and mod hooks of The Prisoners with their love of the C86 movement. It’s arguably the sweetest spot they have struck upon sonically. The earthy horns of latter day The Jam and the opulent harmonies are so effortless it’s impossible not to get washed out to sea on this pop riot.
Caught Me At The Wrong Line
A cross between their idols The Go-Betweens and their hometown heroes The Claim, Theatre Royal demonstrate alternative pop can still melt hearts.
The spritely and pop hook laden The Go-Betweens guitars saunter along carefree whilst Oliver delivers his finest vocal to date. Infectious as Edwyn Collins and defiant as Mick Head, it’s the perfect counter to the sun kissed guitars.
Friday 2nd August marks our 8th birthday. Come down to the New Cross Inn for a night of great live music. Tickets available here:
