TOP TENS 2023
Each December, we ask some of our friends for their top tens of the year. We’re pretty loose with what that means, especially the word “ten”. But the idea is to shine some light on things that we loved that you might love too. happy new year.
Guy Capecelatro III
Top Albums:
Sparklehorse “Bird Machine”
We’d been hearing about the record Mark Linkous was working on before he took his own life on March 6th of 2010, but nothing surfaced. With the help of younger brother and bandmate Matt Linkous and his wife Melissa Moore, we now have that album and it’s a wonderful reminder of the Mark’s genius and singular vision. Songs run from raucous rockers to quiet lullabies with the wide array of warbly dream-like textures Sparklehorse fans have come to expect.
Will Johnson “No Ordinary Crown”
Will Johnson is one of the hardest working musicians today, fronting Centro-Matic for decades and his side project South San Gabriel and making terrific collaborations with Overseas, Monsters of Folk, Undertow Orchestra, Jason Molina and more. This is the eighth release under his own name and one of my favorite things he’s put out. The songs feel more personal and run the full range of tone and breath. He’s currently touring in Jason Isabell’s band but I sure hope he hits the road with this batch of songs soon.
Fenne Lily “Big Picture”
This third long-player from Fenne Lily marks a bit of a maturation for the artist though personal lyrics are delivered in a familiar soft way despite the arrangements being more varied and dynamic. The album is said to encapsulate the beginning through the end of a relationship and you can feel the emotion of it all throughout.
Runner “Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out”
In my year-end wrap up I was surprised to learn that this album ended up being one of my most listened to. This is technically the first long player for Runner’s main man, Noah Weinman though he’s got lots of eps and one offs. It’s a real bedroom affair with Noah’s lilting, yearning vocals at the forefront bringing forth “small,” narrative tales that feel true and realized. The thoughtful instrumentation and arrangements really serve the songs well.
Charlotte Cornfield “Could Have Done Anything”
Charlotte Cornfield enlisted Josh Kaufman of Bonny Light Horeseman to produce this album though it seems fairly unencumbered and simply rendered. The songs feel like personal stories with lots of specifics sprinkled around pulling the listener into each particular reality. There’s a particular playfulness and uncertainty to how the lines are delivered along with the yearning relationship situations. that I find particularly endearing and satisfying.
Keaton Henson “House Party”
Keaton Henson follows up 2022 cover album, “Keaton’s Party Playlist” with “House Party”, an album in which our protagonist tries on a new hat: “I wanted to make an upbeat confident pop record about depression and being a performer.” If that all feels wildly incongruous given the sad sack back catalog, have no fear, there are still self-deprecating over-thinking motifs we’ve grown accustomed to. Though I wouldn’t call it an “up” album, the songs do get more of a pop treatment and I have to say the results are quite charming.
Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band “Dancing on the Edge”
Ryan Davis of the much heralded State Champion is back with his densely word prose after some explorations into instrumental music and it’s a much needed return. It’s got a bit of Bukowski without the misogyny to it and the late Dave Berman sang his praises so expect humor, characters that skirt the edges of society and sharply realized moments. The arrangements are loose and he enlists some amazing singers to flesh out some harmonies. “Dancing on the Edge” will bring surprising and varied rewards through the inevitable repeat listens.
There Will Be Fireworks “Summer Moon”
This Glasgow five-piece are back after a ten-year hiatus and have returned delightfully emboldened and confident. You can hear the years of maturation in the writing and the dynamic arrangements and taut interplay of instruments. It’s rare to hear a band eclipse their prior work after such a long break but I find “Summer Moon” to be a stunning return to form.
Jenn Champion “The Last Night of Sadness”
Hard to imagine there won’t be more nights of sadness for Jenn Champion though this album does have some explorations into dance music and adventurous beats and synthy sounds. Regardless of the sounds the songs are couched in, they continue to delve more deeply personal struggles. It’s a long way from Seattle’s delightfully mopey, indie-rockers, Carissa’s Weird (sic), or the bedroom, 4-track albums that defined her band S but it all comes off wholey authentic and brave.
Honorable Mentions:
Daughter “Be on Your Way”, Andy Shauf “Norm”, Greg Mendez s/t , Britain Ashford “Trotter”, The Coral Sea “Love is No Sacrifice”, Jason Isbell “Weathervanes” , David Francey “The Breath Between”, Petey “USA”, Carla Geneve “Hertz”, The Jones Sisters “Silver Bath”
Top TV Shows:
Fargo, The Last of Us, Silo, Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, The Bear, Justified: City Primeval, A Murder at the End of the World, Slow Horses, Happy Valley
Top Movies:
The Civil Dead, Cocaine Bear, Sisu, Hummingbirds, Linoleum, Showing Up, Dream Scenario, I Care a Lot, Godland, The Killer
Chris Cöté (Almanac Mountain, Ambermor, Tiger Saw)
Jim Rioux with Ted Ehlers “The Hook”
Guy Capecelatro III “Christmas Rain”
The Mountain Goats “Jenny from Thebes”
Fever Ray “Radical Romantics”
The Lemon Twigs “Everything Harmony”
Osees “Intercepted Message”
Boygenius “The Record”
U.S. Girls “Bless This Mess”
The Zombies “Different Game”
JBizl “Black Album”
Stu Dias (Soggy Po Boys, Diaspora Radio)
The Circling Sun “Spirits”
Psyche s/t
Whatitdo Archive Group “Palace of a Thousand Songs”
The Arcs “Electrophonic Chronic”
El Michels Affair and Black Thought “Glorious Game”
Tapioca “Samba em Kigali”
Bokoya and Gianni Brezzo “Minari”
Queens of the Stone Age “In Times New Roman”
Eli & Harry “The Breathing Effect”
Dylan Metrano (Tiger Saw)
Top Ten albums of 2023
Youth Lagoon “Heaven is a Junkyard”
This was a discovery for me. This music sounds so strange in all the best ways, but it also has got the most memorable singalong hooks. The perfect combination of arty, deranged and pop confections. I love this for the same reasons I love Royal Trux and Cocorosie.
Nick Shoulders “All Bad”
Wow. Country music by the way of the wildest early rock n’ roll, with yodeling to boot. So much fun, and to me, is the pinnacle of American roots music in 2023.
DM Stith “Fata Morgana”
Stith is an incredible, emotive singer, with the dreamiest, haunting music. All his albums are must-listens, and this is no exception.
Sigur Rós “Atta”
Seeing them play these songs live with an orchestra really opened this album for me. A more understated release from this one-of-a-kind band, but a sleeper and a thing of beauty.
Jolie Holland “Haunted Mountain”
Holland continues to put out gorgeous music that is so rich in feeling and vibe.
Mary Lattimore “Goodbye, Hotel Arkada”
This is what I want my dreams to sound like. No one makes music quite like Mary Lattimore.
The Handsome Family “Hollow”
Another classic in a long line of timeless, rich, Americana from the weird, old southwest.
Sufjan Stevens “Javelin”
I love Sufjan for always following his muse, and this is a beautiful, intimate collection.
Damien Jurado “Motorcycle Madness”
One of my favorite voices, and this album is full of odd scenes from a masterful storyteller.
Jon Mulaney “Baby J’
Also seen live in Boston, Mulaney’s post-rehab hour is so raw and deeply funny.
Favorite comics of 2023:
Dimitri Martin, Sarah Sherman, Tig Notaro, Jon Mulaney, Ray Harrington, Sheng Wang, Todd Barry, Please Don’t Destroy, Marc Maron, Gary Gulman, Brad Wenzel, Joe Pera, Mike Birbiglia, Sarah Silverman
Jim Rioux
- Sparklehorse “Bird Machine” For fans of Mark Linkous, this was a long overdue release of material left behind after his tragic suicide in 2010. Frankly, it was hard to hear his voice again. It took several spins for feelings of gratitude to take up some space beside the deep sadness that remains.
2. Beef: This series had just the right mix of the absurd and the all-too-real.
3. If Anyone Should Ask: The Life, Music and Mystery of Connie Converse: Quite a journey, and it starts in New Hampshire.
4. Roy H Pomeroy: A podcast? A cult? A world unto itself?
5. Taking Cover: Ok, I contributed to the soundtrack of this podcast, but still, It’s really, really good investigative journalism.
6. “Feet on the Ground”, Jolie Holland: “Haunted Mountain” is a great album; this single, however, sounds as if Holland unlatched the deadbolt to some hidden door.
7. Triangle of Sadness: See “Beef” above, but on a much larger scale and add brilliant socio-economic commentary to the mix.
8. Red Hand Files: I’m an endlessly impressed with Nick Cave’s humanity.
9. Cosmic Scholar: The Life and Times of Harry Smith—A trip, for real…
10. How to with John Wilson: If the poet James Tate had done documentary TV it might have looked something like this.
burst & bloom records 