best of 2023: best of

[smholiv]

 

hofork: the most trusted voice in music

 i'm back to share my favourite releases of the past year (:

 

this includes my top 10 albums with top 40 songs coming in the future~

 

last time I did a list I also did a worst/disappointments list on the fly at the end so I might do that later

but for now I'll post my albums in succession!

 

 

follow me on RYM if you're interested in following my 2024 log/journey

[smholiv]

 

10. Jane Remover - Census Designated

A twisting contortion of shoegaze, noise-rock, and pulsating bedroom pop outlines Census Designated, the newest album from Jane Remover. It’s an ambitious album, one that never fully settles into one sound, preferring to skirt the cracks between the genres. The result is something that hits you like a ton of bricks, almost always followed by a moment of well-needed reprieve. In that sense, sonically and lyrically, Jane hits all the right notes, building anticipation into explosive moments, contrasted by softer, breathy contemplations. This was arguably one of the most impactful and sharp albums of the year, cutting into the earth with its declarations of emotional pain and growth. - hofork

 

I was unfamiliar with Jane Remover's music prior to this release but the genres caught my eye so I felt like checking it out. I feel like it might be superficial to compare this to Ethel Cain's Preacher's Daughter from last year but I do think there are some parallels. A lot of this album feels like it draws on Americana conceptually rather than musically which I think was a pattern throughout the year (and on my list tbh). What I like about this album is that at first you really gravitate towards the way it seamlessly switches from shoegaze to noisier rock moments, but upon closer listen you really start to catch onto the hooks. Lyrically and stylistically this feels like a really strong, bold moment from the year. I don't listen to it all the time but it accomplished a lot for the artist and I am excited to find out more about their musical journey! 

Key tracks: Holding a Leech, Cage Girl/Camgirl, Fling

Genre(s): Shoegaze, Noise Rock, Indie Rock, Emo

 

 

[smholiv]

 

 

09. Indigo De Souza - All of This Will End

The follow up to our favourite 2021 album, Any Shape You Take, sees Indigo expand her range further, venturing into heartland americana and ‘70s tinged indie rock. Her signature stream-of-consciousness style lyricism is back and in full display, as each track bares emotion without holding back. This coupled with a somewhat jukebox-styled guitar makes for a killer combination - songs that are sure to stick with you long after. In a way, this album feels like a cross-country road trip, slowly cruising through the Southwest, the kind of journey where self-discovery unfolds. - hofork

 

Back in 2021 I placed Indigo De Souza at the AOTY position for having an album that I think really set the tone for my personal experience with the 2020s musically. I definitely found myself gravitating more and more towards indie rock/pop-rock and I definitely owe a lot of that to Any Shape You Take. Naturally I am always going to be excited for what Indigo releases, largely because her particular slacker style coupled with very matter-of-fact delivery (and lyrics) helps her standout among the crowd. There are slower moments on this album than the last, which requires more careful listening to really pick aspects out, but I think this grew on me a lot. By no means would I say it was a disappointment, but rather a different kind of experience. There are a lot of southwestern vibes on this album that compliment her style really nicely. 

Key tracks: Younger & Dumber, All of This Will End, Smog

Genre(s): Indie Rock, Slacker Rock, Alternative Country

[smholiv]

 

08 Amaarae - Fountain Baby
Fountain Baby is the type of album that isn’t content being contained - and for good reason. Across this expanse, Amaarae explores a whirlwind of different styles, utilizing instruments and vocal techniques that embrace desire and opulence. Fountain Babyspeaks to desire and tenderness, love and sex, darkness and the light. The continuous back and forth makes this one of the most dynamic albums of the year, sonically and conceptually. The whole time, Amaarae feels incredibly sure of herself, a full exploration of who she is and what she wants. - hofork

 

It's hard to really box this album into any particular style or direction and that's a large part of the appeal. In some ways this kind of reminds me of 2014's Aquarius in that it's quite expansive and ambitious but fully delivers on all of that. There's so much variety in terms of sound that there's sure to be songs that really resonate with you and others that will grow and expand with time. I love that in a pop album because it gives me a reason to continuously listen and that sense of adventure is key to the listening experience here. Amaarae's lyrics and delivery really demand attention constantly and really... you want to give it. Sometimes when artists dive into a concept album or try to be ambitious they can end up being overly serious, but I think there's a lot of nuance in the fun of Fountain Baby.

Key tracks: Co-Star, Sociopathic Dance Queen, Big Steppa

Genre(s): R&B, Afrobeats, Dance-Pop

[smholiv]

 

07 Hannah Jadagu - Aperture
It can be easy for bedroom pop to fall into a lulled state of monotony. There are countless artists who are destined for spot #28 on a Spotify playlist titled “In My Feelings”, and for some that might be fine. Hannah Jadagu is an artist who isn’t content with settling for the background corners of a coffee shop. Although her signature bedroom pop style embraces familiar indie stylings, it transcends these potential limitations and surrounds you with a sense of warmth and quiet tenderness. This is music that feels less like something to throw on, and more like listening to an introspective friend narrating your inner thoughts. - hofork

 

One of my all-time favourite songs is Bags by Clairo, it's not an overtly complex song, it's just a really really amazing hook paired over a bedroom pop indie-rock production. But it's all the little nuances that make me appreciate it. Hannah's approach to bedroom pop invokes similar feelings. Her approach is both simple yet extremely complex. The lyrics are really layered and that backed by her style of dreamy pop makes this album feel a lot like a soundtrack. I definitely appreciate the rockier elements to the production, but there's a lot of different sounds that make this feel like a warm, summer day. I just think this is a mastery of a pretty contentious "genre". She doesn't fall into the trap of making it sound boring or flat, everything feels like a standout.

Key tracks: Say It Now, Shut Down, Admit It

Genre(s): Dream Pop, Bedroom Pop

[smholiv]

 

06 Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
After 2019’s Pang melodic approach to electronically-fused indie pop, it could be easy to write off Caroline’s musical thesis as having accomplished what it needed to do. Enter, Desire…, a breathtaking ode to fantasy, filled with harmonious vocal performances, glittery electro-pop production, and subdued folk elements. Caroline’s delivery flutters across the album like butterfly wings, perfectly encapsulating a new age-ified pop of the past with a futuristic worldview. I liken this album to a Playstation 2 era RPG game, incredibly immersive as Caroline brings you into her own curated world - you’re just along for the ride. - hofork

 

I consider Chairlift to be a contender for worst band of all time, so, it's pretty telling that I'm not like eagerly anticipating a Caroline project. However this album is something special, and one that I could not get enough of at the beginning of this year. Like I said, it immediately feels like this fantastical, beautiful journey through a fantasy world - one that reminds me a lot of early 2000s video games and JRPGs. I think that carries the experience for me, but I also give props to Caroline for curating such a detailed world. It feels like there's a fanciful story that she's trying to share and I appreciate any album that really brings you into the experience fully. I'm curious where she can go from here, but I can honestly say I'm actually interested...

Key tracks: Bunny is a Rider, Blood and Butter, Butterfly Net

Genre(s): Electronic, Art Pop

[smholiv]

 

05 Wednesday - Rat Saw God
Indie rock’s evolution has been fascinating to watch, as it draws less and less on contemporary ideas or theoretics and focuses in on everyday life. Rat Saw God excels in how it captures a photorealistic depiction of the mundanity of America. Stories about overdose, sex shops off the highway, and the corners of suburban boredom, are delivered with rich yet casual reprieve - demonstrating a careful balance of grit and grain with landmark alternative rock. It’s in between that grain, amidst the country influences, next to the riotous punk guitars, that Wednesday find themselves as one of the most formidable and exciting faces of the modern indie rock scene.  - hofork

 

The 8 minute epic that is Bull Believer is a really good introduction to why I like this album. I am NOT one for songs that are extremely long and kind of self indulgent. Wednesday, however, is kind of anything but. The whole album is rooted in its everyday-ness in a way that is so incredibly endearing that you can't help but love it. Like I said earlier, rock is truly like... my sound now, and I think a lot of that is because of the contrast between really explosive and exciting instrumentation coupled with fairly mundane yet beautiful lyricism. When you listen carefully to these songs they're about like, really straightforward stuff, bringing forward the grit of everyday suburban American life to match the sonic style. I think that's just brilliant, and the hooks on this album are some of the best indie rock has had to offer in recent memory. I love the elements of country that weave throughout, it's not the major focus, but it really does add further depth.

Key tracks: Bull Believer, Chosen to Deserve, Quarry

Genre(s): Noise Rock, Alternative Country, Shoegaze, Slacker Rock

[smholiv]

 

04 Pinkpantheress - Heaven knows
There are few fresh faces in mainstream pop that reach the euphoric highs Pinkpantheress has accomplished throughout her career. Short, snappy songs filled to the brim with hooks that are sure to stick with you for days are only the beginning of her pop ethos. Across Heaven knows, the lyrical themes are more complex than meets the eye. Once the bubbly first impression weans, a careful dissection reveals deeper thoughts on love, life, and tenderness. It’s a testament to Pinkpantheress’ understanding of her own pop prowess that despite occasionally darker edges, every song across this album feels exuberant, with the same level of energy and joy that one would come to expect from her.  - hofork

 

I've been enamoured with Pinkpantheress pretty much since she got started and to see her evolution into her first album after EPs, mixtapes, and other singles has been one of the most exciting pop culture moments of the 2020s for me. I really feel like this debut is an amalgamation of all her best aspects with yet another layer of freshness. It's honestly magical how she is able to create these songs that are just so insanely catchy and memorable and beautiful. She really is at the forefront of an entire musical movement and yet there's an air of humility to her music that I just love. This is just such a standout pop album from this year!!

Key tracks: True Romance, Ophelia, Mosquito

Genre(s): Electronic, Drum and Bass, Breakbeat

[smholiv]

 

03 Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
2021’s SOUR hit the music scene like a ton of bricks demonstrating her own unique perspective on young love, angst, and coming of age. The explosive debut showcased a different kind of pop-star - slightly rebellious, slightly love-sick, outlining the good and the ugly of teenage heartbreak. But where do you go from there? GUTS feels like the antithesis of its predecessor. Now leaving her teenage years, Olivia focuses in on a more nuanced approach to growing up. Her lyrics are sharper, blunter, and harder-hitting, the melodies are tightened yet equally journey into slacker territory where appropriate. Musically, it’s a study on the grittiness of ‘90s grunge and punk, but not without familiar (and necessary) explosive pop notes. You’d be remiss to write Olivia off, and she’s here to make sure you remember that.  - hofork

 

I'll spare you all. But just know I could write a ten page essay on how important to me this album is!

 

I can't imagine the pressure that a young artist might be under after having a musical moment like SOUR. It's genuinely insane to think about the way parasocialism (not a word but whatever) and music has conflated and how in a lot of ways it can kind of be a barrier. Why this album excels is that, in a sense of defiance, Olivia really just kind of does what she wants, and it's just sooo cool. Obviously there's songs that might not push the needle much further from what we've come to expect of her, but I think there's a fresher, more nuanced sense of maturity to her lyricism and delivery that underscores why those still work. This album boasts confidence in ways that are just so admirable and inspiring. It's one of those cases where a major pop artist is clearly demonstrating their understanding of their craft and who they are in the music scene, and that's really all we can ask for. Olivia carries GUTS with a sense of unbridled rage and perspective that sets her apart from a lot of other contemporary newer artists. She once again draws on music she likes, but I think this time around she has a better idea of how she can fit into these spaces and show her true self. Like I said this album is such an important one for me because of how it feels like a love letter to my own experience growing up and interacting with these genres and influences.

Key tracks: All-American *****, Bad Idea Right?, Pretty Isn’t Pretty

Genre(s): Pop Punk, Alternative Rock, Dream Pop

[smholiv]

 

02 Feeble Little Horse - Girl With Fish
From textured shoegaze to fuzzy noise rock, Girl With Fish is a master-craft in drawing on influences while keeping things fresh. Filled with incredible hooks, distorted guitars, and blown-out production, there’s almost no moment to catch your breath on the record. But that sense of excitement, that intense journey across an eccentric soundscape of indie rock, is exactly at the pace it needs to be. While fairly short in length, the band manages to perfectly balance their time, without anything feeling rushed or unfinished. Instead you have a sharp, succinct record that tells you everything you need to know - this is the future of indie rock.  - hofork

 

At less than 30 minutes you might expect an album like this to be way too short and barely be able to settle into itself. It's a testament to their talent that Girl With Fish is such a fully realized project, truly accomplishing and exceeding in everything it sets out to do in that short of a timespan. The production of this album is stunning, I think it's easily my favourite album production/instrumental wise of the entire year. There's a certain charm to how some of the songs sound like they're coming straight off a '90s cassette tape, recorded in someone's garage as hazy guitars and intense drums echo about. Yet this album really does its best to excel in a space that is somewhat bogged down by same-ness by being so true to itself and so explosively charming. The evolution of slacker rock in 2023 has been my favourite musical moment as you can probably guess from the rest of this list. I feel like this band encompasses all of the brightest aspects of the genre and I truly couldn't get enough.

Key tracks: Tin Man, Steamroller, Freak

Genre(s): Slacker Rock, Noise Rock, Shoegaze

[Alldeezy]

 Pinkpantheress & GUTS is cute

[smholiv]

 

01 Yeule - Softscars
Glitch Princess was a stunningly produced album, filled with darkly fantastical electronic flourishes and the right touch of cyber-goth in its cracks. However, one of the key highlights was a fully emo-folk track, “Don’t Be So Hard on Your Own Beauty”, in which yeule’s tender lyricism and earnest delivery were the highlights. Expanding on this sound is 2023’s softscars, an album that delves further into fuzzy shoegaze, ethereal dream-pop, and touches of rock and alternative, without losing that sense of cybernetic wonder that makes the artist. You feel like you’re on a journey, spiralling through a futuristic city, dreamlike and surreal in its presentation, yet simultaneously grounded with incredibly sharp songwriting and bountiful hooks. There's truly nothing else at this level.  - hofork

 

Glitch Princess is fantastic, and to think that Yeule is able to pivot into such a drastically different direction yet not only maintain that level of expertise, but somehow top it is incredible. Their attention to detail is awe-inspiring, no two songs sound alike yet everything sounds like it's reaching the same goal. Softscars is more than an album to me, it's an ethereal, other-worldly experience that hit me like a cyber-kinetic train on my very first listen. The way they approach shoegaze from such a different, complex angle, and provide such delicately sharp songwriting, I honestly am at a loss for words. Listen to this album immediately, this isn't just my favourite album of 2023, it's my favourite album of the decade so far!!!

Key tracks: sulky baby, ghosts, cyber meat

Genre(s): Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Noise Rock, Glitch

[Sanguine]

Love the contrast between hofork and your personal writeups, the multiple personality disorder and music criticism snapped

 

Rightful #1  "it's my favourite album of the decade so far!!!" IKTR

 

I love the whole top ten but special shoutout to Wednesday and FLH who carried rock on their backs this year. And we love a classic Hocore Bedroom Pop pick with Hannah Jadagu, our designated Clairo/Rachel Chinouriri of the year

 

Guts... maybe the only good pop girl album of the year (excluding the flops)? AAB/PIP SOTDs

 

Pinkpantheress has evolved a lot and you were on the train back when I hated her still not a fan of the mixtape! so  new queen of pop

"I consider Chairlift to be a contender for worst band of all time" It's true!  Caroline solo has rendered them useless, lovely early-year album

Amaarae-Indigo-Jane back to back to back hits although I didn't stan them quite as hard as the others on this list. IndiGOD really solidified herself as one of the best artists in Indie Rock rn

 

 

[TRF.]

Fountain Baby, Desire, Heaven Knows and Softscars

 

I wanted to like the Wednesday album a bit more but nothing really came close to Bull Believer for me  it's still good but Bull Believer is just way too hard to top imo!!

[smholiv]

Top 40 Songs!

One song per release/album/EP or stand-alone single

 

40 Pinkpantheress ft. Ice Spice - Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2

While the solo version was released at the tail-end of 2022, the remix featuring Ice Spice added some much needed punch that elevated the song to feel a bit more complete. It's incredible to me that this became a legitimate hit this year because it really does put a fresh step forward in pop!

 

39 Rebecca Black - Destroy Me

I think Rebecca's album and ambitions are notable, and I really did enjoy most of her album but nothing really struck me as hard as this track which somehow combines like 5 genres at once (some of which are among my favourites) and pulled it off so well. There's a powerful mood to this that commands attention, and its also just a really fun song.

 

38 Coco Jones - Double Back

I've loved Coco Jones for a long time but seeing her come into her own as an artist is fantastic and really demonstrates just how talented she is. Throughout the album you get this really classic sense of R&B, coupled with her voice which I find so brilliant. She's meant to make this kind of music, and while there are multiple options I could've went with, this is my personal favourite! It sounds like something from the 2000s but with a fresh lens.

 

37 Shygirl ft. Tinashe - Heaven (Remix)

Nymph was AOTY etc etc from last year, but I felt like it would be cheating a bit to have her super high on my list so I compromised. :eee: This collaboration is a match made in... heaven! :mop: It's a shame they probably don't like each other anymore after the cancelled flop tour drama.

 

36 Chappell Roan - My Kink is Karma

Chappell's music is filled with theatre kid personality which on paper should be grounds for me to pan it. However, I find that her ability to capture the best of Swiftian synth-pop at key moments on her album was very enjoyable. I struggled to pick between this and Naked in Manhattan, but ended up going with this track because I love the slow-burn kiss-off vibe. It demonstrates the kind of attitude she has in her music which makes her standout in small doses.

 

35 Ice Spice - In Ha Mood

I will always be a little spice cabinet...

 

34 Slayyyter - My Body

I love slayyyter's music but I have to admit I didn't spend a ton of time with this album despite really liking it. I think she's a master of pop and she channels what the average ATRLer wants out of pop music but for some reason won't admit when it comes to her. I mean whatever, their loss, at the end of the day almost any track from this album is like the best of 2007-2012 pop with a completely new filter.

 

33 Doechii - Pacer

Rico Nasty-esque is a bit superficial but also I can't help it. I heard she doesn't like this song, but idk... metal/rap elements in hip hop will probably always work for me. Shout out to Cobra by Megan as well which I discovered a bit too late to place on my list... the energy that Doechii brings is fantastic and works really well with the high pace of the production.

 

32 Kara Jackson - Dickhead Blues

This album is like, a lot to take in. It's a bit on the poet laureate side for me to fully want to get invested. Like it's well written, she's a beautiful lyricist, but I can't say I would enjoy listening to this album all the time. This is a clear standout though, I like the way she performs it. You feel a lot like you're listening to a master poet chronicle an important story - which I suppose is completely true in this case.

 

31 Kelela - Contact

Yeah this is kind of low and yeah I noticeably left her off the album list. This album is like... yeah it's good but so what?  and I know that sounds extremely pretentious of me but I don't mean it that way. I really did enjoy the soundscape of Raven, I think it's obvious Kelela is one of the most captivating electronic artists of our time, but I feel like it never quite clicked with me in a way I wanted it to. I wanted to shout her out regardless however because I think there's a ton of talent and skill and ambition, and maybe I'll revisit this in 2024 and it will finally hit? For now this is a standout and one of the songs that I remember.

[Touch It]

Hi best best of

 

[Touch It]

6 minutes ago, minho said:

31 Kelela - Contact

Yeah this is kind of low and yeah I noticeably left her off the album list. This album is like... yeah it's good but so what?  and I know that sounds extremely pretentious of me but I don't mean it that way. I really did enjoy the soundscape of Raven, I think it's obvious Kelela is one of the most captivating electronic artists of our time, but I feel like it never quite clicked with me in a way I wanted it to. I wanted to shout her out regardless however because I think there's a ton of talent and skill and ambition, and maybe I'll revisit this in 2024 and it will finally hit? For now this is a standout and one of the songs that I remember.

best song ever well yes

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 10:00 PM, minho said:

 

01 Yeule - Softscars
Glitch Princess was a stunningly produced album, filled with darkly fantastical electronic flourishes and the right touch of cyber-goth in its cracks. However, one of the key highlights was a fully emo-folk track, “Don’t Be So Hard on Your Own Beauty”, in which yeule’s tender lyricism and earnest delivery were the highlights. Expanding on this sound is 2023’s softscars, an album that delves further into fuzzy shoegaze, ethereal dream-pop, and touches of rock and alternative, without losing that sense of cybernetic wonder that makes the artist. You feel like you’re on a journey, spiralling through a futuristic city, dreamlike and surreal in its presentation, yet simultaneously grounded with incredibly sharp songwriting and bountiful hooks. There's truly nothing else at this level.  - hofork

 

Glitch Princess is fantastic, and to think that Yeule is able to pivot into such a drastically different direction yet not only maintain that level of expertise, but somehow top it is incredible. Their attention to detail is awe-inspiring, no two songs sound alike yet everything sounds like it's reaching the same goal. Softscars is more than an album to me, it's an ethereal, other-worldly experience that hit me like a cyber-kinetic train on my very first listen. The way they approach shoegaze from such a different, complex angle, and provide such delicately sharp songwriting, I honestly am at a loss for words. Listen to this album immediately, this isn't just my favourite album of 2023, it's my favourite album of the decade so far!!!

Key tracks: sulky baby, ghosts, cyber meat

Genre(s): Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Noise Rock, Glitch

best album ever

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 9:45 PM, minho said:

 

 

04 Pinkpantheress - Heaven knows
There are few fresh faces in mainstream pop that reach the euphoric highs Pinkpantheress has accomplished throughout her career. Short, snappy songs filled to the brim with hooks that are sure to stick with you for days are only the beginning of her pop ethos. Across Heaven knows, the lyrical themes are more complex than meets the eye. Once the bubbly first impression weans, a careful dissection reveals deeper thoughts on love, life, and tenderness. It’s a testament to Pinkpantheress’ understanding of her own pop prowess that despite occasionally darker edges, every song across this album feels exuberant, with the same level of energy and joy that one would come to expect from her.  - hofork

 

I've been enamoured with Pinkpantheress pretty much since she got started and to see her evolution into her first album after EPs, mixtapes, and other singles has been one of the most exciting pop culture moments of the 2020s for me. I really feel like this debut is an amalgamation of all her best aspects with yet another layer of freshness. It's honestly magical how she is able to create these songs that are just so insanely catchy and memorable and beautiful. She really is at the forefront of an entire musical movement and yet there's an air of humility to her music that I just love. This is just such a standout pop album from this year!!

Key tracks: True Romance, Ophelia, Mosquito

Genre(s): Electronic, Drum and Bass, Breakbeat

best album ever actually

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 9:37 PM, minho said:

 

 

06 Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
After 2019’s Pang melodic approach to electronically-fused indie pop, it could be easy to write off Caroline’s musical thesis as having accomplished what it needed to do. Enter, Desire…, a breathtaking ode to fantasy, filled with harmonious vocal performances, glittery electro-pop production, and subdued folk elements. Caroline’s delivery flutters across the album like butterfly wings, perfectly encapsulating a new age-ified pop of the past with a futuristic worldview. I liken this album to a Playstation 2 era RPG game, incredibly immersive as Caroline brings you into her own curated world - you’re just along for the ride. - hofork

 

I consider Chairlift to be a contender for worst band of all time, so, it's pretty telling that I'm not like eagerly anticipating a Caroline project. However this album is something special, and one that I could not get enough of at the beginning of this year. Like I said, it immediately feels like this fantastical, beautiful journey through a fantasy world - one that reminds me a lot of early 2000s video games and JRPGs. I think that carries the experience for me, but I also give props to Caroline for curating such a detailed world. It feels like there's a fanciful story that she's trying to share and I appreciate any album that really brings you into the experience fully. I'm curious where she can go from here, but I can honestly say I'm actually interested...

Key tracks: Bunny is a Rider, Blood and Butter, Butterfly Net

Genre(s): Electronic, Art Pop

fadoline paidnochecks redemption arc YESS

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 9:42 PM, minho said:

 

 

05 Wednesday - Rat Saw God
Indie rock’s evolution has been fascinating to watch, as it draws less and less on contemporary ideas or theoretics and focuses in on everyday life. Rat Saw God excels in how it captures a photorealistic depiction of the mundanity of America. Stories about overdose, sex shops off the highway, and the corners of suburban boredom, are delivered with rich yet casual reprieve - demonstrating a careful balance of grit and grain with landmark alternative rock. It’s in between that grain, amidst the country influences, next to the riotous punk guitars, that Wednesday find themselves as one of the most formidable and exciting faces of the modern indie rock scene.  - hofork

 

The 8 minute epic that is Bull Believer is a really good introduction to why I like this album. I am NOT one for songs that are extremely long and kind of self indulgent. Wednesday, however, is kind of anything but. The whole album is rooted in its everyday-ness in a way that is so incredibly endearing that you can't help but love it. Like I said earlier, rock is truly like... my sound now, and I think a lot of that is because of the contrast between really explosive and exciting instrumentation coupled with fairly mundane yet beautiful lyricism. When you listen carefully to these songs they're about like, really straightforward stuff, bringing forward the grit of everyday suburban American life to match the sonic style. I think that's just brilliant, and the hooks on this album are some of the best indie rock has had to offer in recent memory. I love the elements of country that weave throughout, it's not the major focus, but it really does add further depth.

Key tracks: Bull Believer, Chosen to Deserve, Quarry

Genre(s): Noise Rock, Alternative Country, Shoegaze, Slacker Rock

so good thanks to the naevis bunnies for introducing me to them

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 9:32 PM, minho said:

 

 

07 Hannah Jadagu - Aperture
It can be easy for bedroom pop to fall into a lulled state of monotony. There are countless artists who are destined for spot #28 on a Spotify playlist titled “In My Feelings”, and for some that might be fine. Hannah Jadagu is an artist who isn’t content with settling for the background corners of a coffee shop. Although her signature bedroom pop style embraces familiar indie stylings, it transcends these potential limitations and surrounds you with a sense of warmth and quiet tenderness. This is music that feels less like something to throw on, and more like listening to an introspective friend narrating your inner thoughts. - hofork

 

One of my all-time favourite songs is Bags by Clairo, it's not an overtly complex song, it's just a really really amazing hook paired over a bedroom pop indie-rock production. But it's all the little nuances that make me appreciate it. Hannah's approach to bedroom pop invokes similar feelings. Her approach is both simple yet extremely complex. The lyrics are really layered and that backed by her style of dreamy pop makes this album feel a lot like a soundtrack. I definitely appreciate the rockier elements to the production, but there's a lot of different sounds that make this feel like a warm, summer day. I just think this is a mastery of a pretty contentious "genre". She doesn't fall into the trap of making it sound boring or flat, everything feels like a standout.

Key tracks: Say It Now, Shut Down, Admit It

Genre(s): Dream Pop, Bedroom Pop

what I did soty

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 9:51 PM, minho said:

 

 

03 Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
2021’s SOUR hit the music scene like a ton of bricks demonstrating her own unique perspective on young love, angst, and coming of age. The explosive debut showcased a different kind of pop-star - slightly rebellious, slightly love-sick, outlining the good and the ugly of teenage heartbreak. But where do you go from there? GUTS feels like the antithesis of its predecessor. Now leaving her teenage years, Olivia focuses in on a more nuanced approach to growing up. Her lyrics are sharper, blunter, and harder-hitting, the melodies are tightened yet equally journey into slacker territory where appropriate. Musically, it’s a study on the grittiness of ‘90s grunge and punk, but not without familiar (and necessary) explosive pop notes. You’d be remiss to write Olivia off, and she’s here to make sure you remember that.  - hofork

 

I'll spare you all. But just know I could write a ten page essay on how important to me this album is!

 

I can't imagine the pressure that a young artist might be under after having a musical moment like SOUR. It's genuinely insane to think about the way parasocialism (not a word but whatever) and music has conflated and how in a lot of ways it can kind of be a barrier. Why this album excels is that, in a sense of defiance, Olivia really just kind of does what she wants, and it's just sooo cool. Obviously there's songs that might not push the needle much further from what we've come to expect of her, but I think there's a fresher, more nuanced sense of maturity to her lyricism and delivery that underscores why those still work. This album boasts confidence in ways that are just so admirable and inspiring. It's one of those cases where a major pop artist is clearly demonstrating their understanding of their craft and who they are in the music scene, and that's really all we can ask for. Olivia carries GUTS with a sense of unbridled rage and perspective that sets her apart from a lot of other contemporary newer artists. She once again draws on music she likes, but I think this time around she has a better idea of how she can fit into these spaces and show her true self. Like I said this album is such an important one for me because of how it feels like a love letter to my own experience growing up and interacting with these genres and influences.

Key tracks: All-American *****, Bad Idea Right?, Pretty Isn’t Pretty

Genre(s): Pop Punk, Alternative Rock, Dream Pop

smash smash smash

[smholiv]

30 Beabadoobee - Glue Song

I prefer her rock material to her folksy stuff but I think this song is super cute and loveable. I don't know how I feel about her upcoming album/new direction just yet, but it wouldn't be a list of mine without shouting her out so here it is!

 

29 Tyla - Water

I discovered this during ATRL Song Contest this year and almost immediately after it started getting viral in Canada and became a hit. It's so feel good and summery. Truly just a vibe, and it gets in my head. So far I've liked a lot of what she's done and am excited for the full length album next year! For now this just reminds me of summer and I have to say Afrobeats you will always be famous to me.

 

28 Taylor Swift - Hits Different

Obligatory mention! I opted not to include something from each of her vaults etc just so I can contain her power. Obviously midnights was a really important album in my view and I could go on and on about how I think it doesn't get the credit it deserves and is in fact one of her more nuanced albums emotionally, but I'll spare that and just say this song is an example of her prowess at incredible pop songwriting. 

 

27 Leah Kate - Space

I loved her pop rock era but I like that she transitioned into something more electroclash since it gave her a fresher style and a newer sense of attitude that she wears very well. This is the type of song that I think pop fans would rally behind if they weren't so judgemental about which woman is singing it  but whatever, this is clear that Leah is more than meets the eye and I genuinely hope she knows she killed it with this style!

 

26 Chrissy Chlapecka - Alpha

Like slayyyter/Troubled Paradise therefore it's a win. This invokes the 2007'd style of darker electropop for me but with a hyper pop finish. Love the lyrics and the delivery, my favourite of her singles so far~

 

25 Addison Rae - Nothing On (But The Radio)

Need her to re-record all of Gaga's music then maybe I'd like it

 

24 Amaarae - Co-Star

Won't go into too much detail because I outlined everything I needed to say in the album write-up but this is a clear highlight from the album, love the lyrics and the vibe. Idk its just good I don't know if I have the words here.

 

23 Lizzy McAlpine - Ceilings

2022 album but was a hit this year... so yeah this reminds me a lot of the Sour singles in a way, I think her style of story-telling is really fresh and simple in a brilliant way. The bridge in particular is right out of a cinematic scene! 

 

22 Hemlocke Springs - sever the blight

Synthwave/synthpop mastery... she ended the male artists that rely on that sound with ease. I love her sense of style and quirkiness. It's like... annoying but not? It feels somehow natural which gives her music a distinctive eye!

 

21 Indigo De Souza - Younger & Dumber

Truly beautiful. It's cinematic and emotional. Her delivery is so natural and fits this so well.

 

 

[Touch It]

On 12/21/2023 at 9:28 PM, minho said:

 

 

08 Amaarae - Fountain Baby
Fountain Baby is the type of album that isn’t content being contained - and for good reason. Across this expanse, Amaarae explores a whirlwind of different styles, utilizing instruments and vocal techniques that embrace desire and opulence. Fountain Babyspeaks to desire and tenderness, love and sex, darkness and the light. The continuous back and forth makes this one of the most dynamic albums of the year, sonically and conceptually. The whole time, Amaarae feels incredibly sure of herself, a full exploration of who she is and what she wants. - hofork

 

It's hard to really box this album into any particular style or direction and that's a large part of the appeal. In some ways this kind of reminds me of 2014's Aquarius in that it's quite expansive and ambitious but fully delivers on all of that. There's so much variety in terms of sound that there's sure to be songs that really resonate with you and others that will grow and expand with time. I love that in a pop album because it gives me a reason to continuously listen and that sense of adventure is key to the listening experience here. Amaarae's lyrics and delivery really demand attention constantly and really... you want to give it. Sometimes when artists dive into a concept album or try to be ambitious they can end up being overly serious, but I think there's a lot of nuance in the fun of Fountain Baby.

Key tracks: Co-Star, Sociopathic Dance Queen, Big Steppa

Genre(s): R&B, Afrobeats, Dance-Pop

YESSSS album so good I barely knew her until this year and sha ate