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.
Top 30 Albums of 2022
2022 was awash with Melody, anarchy, comebacks, throwbacks but ost important of all, pushed the envelope forwards yet again. Here’s to all the talent, labels, and tipsters who made it possible.
Here are our top 30 albums of the year:
30. The Heavy North - Electric Soul Machine (Full review here)
The Heavy North have achieved a great deal on this debut. The guitar solos are the big take home but, the creative flourishes with the drums and vocals begin to shine upon repeat listens. It leaves you with a sense of hope that, next time out, they could do something really powerful.
29. Kae Tempest – The Line Is A Curve
Tempest is a national treasure. Astute poetic observations from start to finish.
28. Lightning Seeds – See You In The Stars
Older and wiser but, still as vibrant as the ‘Jollification’ and ‘Sense’ days.
27. Jamie Webster - Moments
Mixing pop and politics with joyously righteous effects.
26. Enjoyable Listens - The Enjoyable Listens
The heir to Richard Hawley and Nick Drake.
25. Narcissus - A Sense of Place
Reimagining early 90s rave and hip hop for the modern day.
24. Embrace - How To Be A Person Like Other People
The euphoric anthems keep on coming!
23. Warmduscher - At The Hotspot
Bella Union’s best signing in a generation. Shaun Ryder-esque lyrics meet a drugged-up Talking Heads.
22. Andy Bell - Flicker
Bell’s creative streak is relentless at present. Flicker adds to his ever-expanding fine body of work.
21. The Mysterines - Reeling
Heavier and more badass than the debut. Their march to the top continues!
20. Skylights - What You Are (Full review here)
What was a fortuitous reformation has undoubtedly led to one of the albums of the year! This isn’t a breakout debut, it’s the sound of a band 3 albums deep commanding the respect of academy-sized audiences.
19. Suede - Autofiction
The outsiders return to their rightful place in the shadows howling at the world.
18. Maze – Chaos Interrupted
Wayward rock ‘n’ roll searching for its freedom.
17. David Long & Shane O’Neill - Age of Finding Stars (Full review here)
What started as an unplanned album has turned into a masterpiece of grief-stricken songwriting. Devastating lyrics and lost soundscapes unite on one of 2022’s albums of the year.
16. The Boo Radleys - Keep On With Falling (Full review here)
Without Martin Carr in the fold, the new lineup could have easily folded under the pressure of delivering a new Radleys album. Carr has been an exceptional solo artist after all. Nevertheless, Sice and co have paid tribute to all that they once were and pushed the band forwards with remarkable results.
15. The Shed Project - The Curious Mind of the Common Man (Full review here)
The guitars will inevitably lure people in. The licks of ‘Livin’ are so infectious it’s medically advisable to wear gloves when listening.
14. Chorusgirl - Collapso Calypso (Full review here)
In what must have been a testing time personally and creatively, Chorusgirl have come out the other side with a piece of art to be cherished!
13. The Skinner Brothers - Soul Boy II
Laconic but confrontational soon to be iconic.
12. Thousand Yard Stare - Earthanasia (Full review here)
Their previous album in many ways was a second debut album. It said everything they ever wanted to say to the world. They thought it would cap off a great few years playing live and release the odd EP. What it did is best expressed in their single ‘Measures’:
“It doesn’t matter how you arrive here / Just be sure that you are here at the end / It doesn’t matter how you arrive here / Take pleasure in the message it sends”.
This sentiment flows from every corner of the album and has allowed them to be more expressive than ever. Long may it continue.
11. The Shop Window - A 4 Letter Word (Full review here)
The Kent outfit have lit up a bleak year with this gentle yet defiant indie-pop record. Everywhere you turn there are nods to the 80s and 90s but, with astute sonic updates. Lyrically, they accept nostalgia less as a noose and more as a bridge to their untamed teenage selves and thus, provide endless tales for their souls to relive in the modern age.
10. My Raining Stars – 89 Memories (Full review here)
These more instantaneous moments breathe vitality into Haliniak’s body of work that will surely win the hearts and minds of many new fans sooner rather than later.
9. Armstrong - Grafitti (Full review here)
Classic songwriting rarely collides with guts, heart, and pop music but, Armstrong has it all.
8. Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Joni Mitchell meets Karen Carpenter in this beautiful debut.
7. Columbia - Embrace The Chaos (Full review here)
Somehow, they have reimagined the Stones, Stereophonics, Oasis, and Kasabian into something new on this debut. A life-affirming set of songs that will smash whatever stands in its way. For once, we alternative types beg the gatekeepers to put up barriers. It’ll only be that much sweeter when Columbia destroys them!
6. Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia
The most accessible record to date is met with the sound of fraying souls and demons.
5. Moses – I Still Believe, Do you? (Full review here)
‘I Still Believe! Do You?’ is blessed with The Kinks’ storytelling, Blur’s chaos, and Blossoms’ pop sensibilities.
4. The Orchids – Dreaming Kind
A stunning return from the former Sarah Records heroes. Angelic masterpiece!
3. Confidence Man - TILT
All the girls say “Ooh”. All the boys say “ahh”.
2. Charlie Clark – Late Night Drinking (Full review here)
A tumultuous cleanse of the soul that rewards creator and listener alike. Clark has built upon The National’s ability to embed melody into troublesome discourse by adding psychedelic pop to certain tracks. It’s a stunning debut from the Astrid bandmate, a piece of art in its purest form.
1. Deja Vega – Personal Hell (Full review here)
There’s no filler on ‘Personal Hell’, every track leaves an indelible mark on the soul. ‘Precious One’ throbs with 70s debauchery and Wooden Shjips riffs to create yet more new pastures of the kaleidoscopic expedition! On and on the superlatives could go. ‘Personal Hell’ is a huge leap forwards from the debut, and whilst the live shows remain in small(ish) venues, for now, their rightful place is the upper echelons of mainstages. Over to you festival bookers of 2023.