Often, as I consider the music I listen to most, I’ll give myself crap for not pushing myself to explore more new music and avoid getting too stuck on music that I’m already familiar with. I’m old enough to know that getting stuck in an aesthetic rut with the bands and artists I grew up with bypasses the magic of discovering new sounds that I fell in love with back then and love to this day. Is there anything sadder than a person perpetually stuck listening to the same handful of records, refusing to consider anything outside their meager little pile? I remind myself of all the great stuff I missing out on each time I discover a new sound that perks up my ear. I’m not too old to remember older scenesters pissing on or worse, being completely unaware of the new music I held dear, and how stupid that mindset seemed to me. I never want to be someone who pathetically clings to the music of their youth.
Looking over the music that seemed to attach itself to me most in 2023, I was alarmed at how many familiar names and genres topped that list. As much as I do push myself to find new sounds, I’ve somehow still surrounded myself with music that’s not terribly different than what I’ve been digging for decades now. I guess I could continue to beat myself up, but I’ve decided that I’m simply going to embrace the fact that I know what I like and there’s a shit ton of it still being created (which isn’t always the case) while also remembering that there’s still tons of other amazing music being made out there that I’m clueless about and need to continue searching for.
So there you have it.
Below are some great albums that came out in 2023, many by artists I’ve loved and raved about for years now, but a also few by artists brand new to me, the sweetest fruits of my ongoing quest to find music that moves me.
Alien Nosejob – The Derivative Sounds of… OR… A Dog Always Returns to Its Vomit (Goner)
Jacob Robertson is becoming, or actually, pretty much already is, another highly prolific purveyor of killer garage punk tuneage in league with the prodigious output of other greats like Jay Reatard (RIP), Lars Finberg, Dan Melchior, Andy Human, John Dwyer, and others. The thing with Alien Nosejob though is that every release has distinct stylistic markers and a chameleon-like abilty to skim genres outside the garage punk lineage of his previous bands Ausmutants, Leather Towel, Hierophants and so many others. I was hooked on Alien Nosejob’s hardcore period and was also totally enamored with the new wavy Paint It Clear. While last year’s Stained Glass album had a pub-rocking AC/DC feel firmly rooted in his Aussie origins, The Derivative Sounds of… plugs into choice ’60s psychedelia with wistful downer vibes and a bit of classic ’60-style garage rock, complete with chiming acoustic guitar, reverbed electric guitar, organ, falsetto vocals, and a warm recording that lets all those tones perfectly weave together. On paper this may evoke an image of one of the hundreds of thousands of bands currently retreading the well-worn ’60s psych sonic palette, but in the skillful hands of Mr. Robertson, that palette blooms to life with fresh color. It’s not at all derivative and makes for one of the more compelling 38 minutes your ear holes will find in recent years.
Burnt Skull – Daylight Mutilation (Funky Noise)
A surprise “hit” record after nearly a decade without a new release, this deadly Austin duo cold cocked cochleas with this solid noise rock pounder that carries Texas’ fine lineage for rock n roll freakshows. Read all about it HERE.
Dan Melchior Band – Welcome to Redacted City 2xLP (Midnight Cruiser)
No stranger to NFZ best of lists, Mr. Melchior offered up at least 3 other records in 2023 as well as pumping out dozens of musician portrait paintings. While 2023’s solo LP, an EP of covers, and a Lloyd Pack LP were as essential as any Melchior output, this hefty double LP found its place on the turntable and stayed there several weeks. Welcome to Redacted City delivers 21 prime tracks that perfectly encapsulate the quality songwriting and lyrical barbs that Melchior is known for, masterfully taking the piss out of anything within his realm with decades of earned cool and enough guitar tricks to sound both classically solid and crisply modern. This double length delight is a particularly fun ride, as the guitar effects are artfully applied with a rich palette echo, fuzz, distortion, chorus, wah, amp plug misconnects, and reverb, as loads of Anthony Allman’s buzzing analog keyboard accents give a warbling retrofuturistic twist that makes this release stand out from other Dan Melchior Band releases and Melchior’s extended catalog. With a dizzyingly voluminous back catalogue worthy of years exploration, this one should go right on top of the stack for anyone curious about diving into the musical gifts from this modern day master.
Erik Nervous – Immature (Feel It)
Also a familiar name in NFZ’s best of lists, Erik Hart aka Erik Nervous has earned year-end mention multiple times for fine output from his solo singles, his Psykik Vylence project, plus NFZ playlist mentions with his excellent Eric Nervous & The Beta Blockers group. If you aren’t familiar with this upper midwest punk genius, pick up a copy of 2018’s Assorted Anxieties compilation of his early singles to get up to speed. Now. You won’t be sorry. 2023’s Immature flexes the sound engineering skills Nervous has honed working with groups like The Spits, Liquids, Spodee Boy and others, as the mix and sounds contained within the grooves of this vinyl killer positively burst out of your speakers. His songwriting chops have evolved too, as demonstrated in the bonkers prog rock punk rock epic “Bottle VS. Record”, which seamlessly shifts gears without missing a beat or beatdown. The instrumentation on each track is also stunningly unique as Erik fully exploits the charm of his collection of second hand Casio keyboards and other yard sale finds. I believe there’s even a few blasts of sax here as well to keep the surprises coming. From its first spin on the turntable I knew this was one of the best releases in 2023 and after many many many more spins that initial assessment has been confirmed.
Famous Mammals – Instant Pop Expressionism Now! (Siltbreeze)
Like Dan Melchior and Erik Nervous, California’s Andy Human is also no stranger to NFZ year end reviews, getting mention with bonafide classics like Andy Human & The Reptoids’ albums, Non Plus Temps, and even the Famous Mammals’ demo tape. Shit, even last year’s pick, the amazing Non Plus Temps’ Desire Choir tape, noted the ongoing NFZ love for the Famous Mammals. Well, thankfully 2023 delivered this album’s worth of top-grade slapdash psych post punk that mines the finer bits from 50 years of alternative music history into an undeniably brilliant new stew. Grounded in a Velvet Underground base with some ragtag instrumentation of The Fall and the playful abandon of The Swell Maps, and the garage buzz psych of Sic Alps and Ty Segall, The Famous Mammals have crafted an epically great album with enough charm to sustain infinite spins.
Institute – Ragdoll Dance (Roach Leg)
Since 2013, this Austin postpunk group has left a trail of killer EPs and LPs that’s led up to the highly evolved sound of Ragdoll Dance. Now, I’m as suspicious as you might be, as normally when a music critic says a group has “evolved”, what they really mean is that they’ve glossed over the rough edges of their earlier work to be more conventional and accessible, or to my tainted ears, typically, less interesting and/or straightup boring. Suffice to say, that’s not what I mean here, as in many ways Institute has done both, as this album definitely offers up something less punchy and forceful as their 2013 demo, yet the shimmering production and songwriting evokes the faded blueprints of early punk and gloomy postpunk, pulling in some thoughfully clean Television guitar leads and lush choruses that melt the swagger of Brian Eno’s early solo records with the churn of The Saints. It’s less aggressive and angular, but it’s also more interesting than some of their earlier output since it fills their sound with more dimension and loads of unexpected elements that sound great at first listen and after many repeat listens. In fact, I sense that this one will ultimately get more spins than their previously heavily-played output, as there’s a lot to discover and savor with every song on this stellar record.
Judgitzu – Sator Arepo (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
Nyege Nyege Tapes has proven to be one of the more intriguing labels going, and thankfully 2023 found the Ugandan label ushering out at least 17 releases including this standout hyper percussive instrumental album by Frech producer Julien Hairon aka Judgitzu. You can get the full scoop about the inspiration that led to this release here, but essentially this mashes up the driving Tanzanian techno sound that Nyege Nyege Tapes had its hand in with Judgitzu’s fascination with his Celtic background and the “punk ethnomusicologist” field recordings he’s captured in Asia, Oceana, and Africa. It makes for an electrifying blast of techno beats layered with metallic drones and an array of percussion instruments, occasionally veering into short drifting ambient sounds or gritty noise. Flow is crucial to sustaining interest in music like this for over 30 minutes and Judgitzu accomplishes this with an ever-evolving palette of sound that is hypnotic, hyperactive, and sublime.
Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm (Night of the Palemoon/Not Kvlt)
For the most part, black metal circa 2023 is a pretty tedious affair. More than 30 years in, the underground kvlt has surfaced and resurfaced and essentially divided into two camps: those who rigidly cling to the genre’s flashpoint (xeroxed, corpsepainted longhairs in the woods, illegible logos, cruddy lo-fi production) and those who dare to defy those well-established conventions, often times with less than memorable results. Even on its earliest releases, Lamp of Murmuur was one of the few acts that straddled both worlds by drawing from the raw emotion and mystery of first wave Scandinavian black metal while also pushing the music into less limited musical spaces, injecting songwriting complexity and outside influences. 2021 saw Lamp of Murmuur stretch into more gothic territory, even covering a Christian Death song on its Submission and Slavery EP, which hinted at an ever-expanding sonic palette that made this one of the more noteworthy bands of the genre. But make no mistake, this record still firmly sits on a black metal throne, as the blastbeats, minor chord buzzsaw riffs, and growling vocals on lead track “Conqueror Beyond The Frenzied Fog” assert as it gallops along. Like the full color cover art, a first for Lamp of Murmuur, Saturnian Bloodstorm adds detail to black metal in the form of more sophisticated songwriting, guitar solos, and a suffocatingly full production that defines all its elements. So while most black metal records released in 2023 aren’t worth your time, there are still a few out there, like this one, that makes the effort of sifting through the clutter to find some black metal gold.
Snooper – Super Snõõper (Third Man)
So-called egg punk, which can pretty much be summed up as sped up punk rock that sounds like a Devo 45 played at 78rpm with vocals often entering The Chipmunks register, is a sound that’s been developing over the last decade or so in the sub sub sub underground pockets of the punk scene. So far this may be the defining album of the genre. While earlier groups like CCTV and The Coneheads established some of the stylistic earmarks of the genre, Nashville’s Snooper have perfected it with a riot of catchy songs and… puppets? Whatever it is these Nashville kids are up to, they definitely put out one of the funnest records to in 2023, which I shall hereby also declare, one of the absolute best.
Sweeping Promises – Good Living Is Coming For You (Feel It)
2020’s Hunger for a Way Out got a fair bit of attention, really hitting the spot for a lot of people during the early days of the pandemic, so it’s been interesting to see if they’d suffer a sophomore slump with this, their second LP. I may be biased since they’ve since moved from Boston to Lawrence, Kansas where these gushing words are being typed, but I’ve found this record even better than their debut. The story goes that they bought a house and set up their own recording studio to take their time with this one and really develop the songs, which definitely is the case, as both the songwriting and the sonic qualities of Good Living Is Coming For You shine brighter than their debut. It’s full of unexpected influences, flourishes, and charm that somehow melds the lush anything-goes sonics of Of Montreal with the cool sheen of Roxy Music and shards of Wire-esque skeletal postpunk. The most noticeable difference on this record from the first is a shift away from a guitar-centered sound to one with more synths, bass, and other instruments, and of course, Lira Mondal’s powerfully soulful voice is front and center, perfectly captured with a sparkling, layered harmonizing and clarity. Like any great band, Mondal and bandmate Caufield Schnug have done their alt music homework, cherrypicking influences from a number of great sources and coming up with a sound that’s all their own.
Ulthar – Anthronomicon, Necronomicon LPs (20 Buck Spin)
OK, so in a way this is a cheat since these are technically two different albums, yet they were released simultaneously and they are definitely tied together with matching cover art and themes. Heck, Necronomicon even has a track called “Anthronomicon”, so I’m just gonna consider this more of a double album release than two separate albums. That out of the way, the reason they both earned a spot on this esteemed list is that this Oakland metal trio accomplished something rather remarkable: they were able to summon up 81 minutes of majestic, thrilling, technical extreme metal and fill four sides of vinyl without letting it ever get tedious. Perfectly blackened death metal riffs blaze in an endless artillery of blastbeats and rolling thrash, while low and high growls accentuate the musical flow, only letting up occasionally for dark ambient interludes with a sci-fi sheen as atmospheric and rich as Blood Incantation’s Timewave Zero record. The riffs are so plentiful and served up fresh that it took a number of spins to realize that Helionomicon only had one 20-minute track per side! While many metal sites and zines gushed aplenty about fall 2023 entries like Tomb Mold’s Enduring Spirit and Horrendous’ Ontological Mysterium — which are great records, afterall — I still found a lot more to love with this (these) epic release(s) and continue to play it (them) regularly. I honestly think the fact that Ulthar’s records were unleashed in February instead of late fall, when overly proactive music critics start working on their year end lists, may have allowed this (these) masterwork(s) be overshadowed by other highly-anticipated releases from genre leaders. Anyway, for what it’s worth, Ulthar’s output has unquestionably earned a spot on this list of top albums for 2023 and I suspect that the status of these records will rise in the years to come.
ALSO NOTEWORTHY:
Electric Chair – Act of Aggression (Iron Lung)
Exek – The Map & The Territory (Foreign Records)
Geld – Currency // Castration (Relapse)
Godflesh – Purge (Avalanche Recordings)
Heavy Metal – IV: Counter Electrode / Iron Mono 2xLP (Total Punk)
Lewsberg – Out And About (12XU)
Nag – Human Coward Coyote (Convulse)
Normal Nada The Krakmaxter – Tribal Progressive Heavy Metal (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
Osees – Intercepted Message (In The Red)
Poison Ruïn – Härvest (Relapse)
Spine – Raíces (Convulse)
Stress Positions – Walang Hiya (Iron Lung)
Terry – Call Me Terry (Upset The Rhythm)
Thantifaxath – Hive Mind Narcosis (Dark Descent)
Wound Man – Human Outline (Iron Lung)