I’ve heard multiple theories and approaches. Because critics need to start getting these lists together before the year’s end, they have to have a cutoff point for selections. My understanding is that early December is normative.
The Grammy’s just released their list of 2024 Grammy nominations. This includes “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift from her recent album Midnights, which was released in October 2022.
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A lot of people are going to say Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘GUTS’. I’ve listened to it. It’s earnest and well-done. I don’t know that it will hold up over time. She works her influences into the tracks well. All this bodes well for a young artist creating better and better work throughout their career. It’s a little early to start saying someone peaked. I think she’s going to do better given a few years and a couple more albums.
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Blink-182’s ‘One More Time’ is fun but not amazing. The drumming is good, no surprise. In some ways, the musicians did grow up. Surprise surprise. In other ways… not so much.
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Lotta talk of young boy Zach Bryan. He has done a nice collab with Maggie Rogers (‘Dawns’).
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Overall, the new The National simply doesn’t seem up to snuff. The best tracks feel like a pastiche of their modern classics.
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As I’ve said before, I dislike having different genres battle for top spots. But that is the state of play. So, let’s give it a shot.
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Ok, so I gave it a shot and what I’ve determined is that, overall, 2023 was not a good year for music. At least in my highly subjective opinion based on the music I was exposed to. These days, even if it’s your 9-5 job, good luck trying to listen to a good amount of the music that is released in a single year (or 15 months based on the above).
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Here’s my unserious list of best albums and songs for 2023…given my above statement…
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Top 10 Best Albums
1. boygenius – the record
2. Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?
Top 10 Best Songs
1. Luke Combs – Fast Car (Wonderful to see Tracy Chapman recognized!)
2. Carlone Polachek – Welcome to My Island
3. SZA (feat. Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in The Machine
4. Arlo Parks (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) – Pegasus
5. boygenius – True Blue
6. boygenius – Emily I’m Sorry
7. boygenius – Not Strong Enough
8. Omar Apollo – Live For Me (The whole EP is good imho)
9. ?
10. ?
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So, what songs/albums have you gone back to again and again in 2023? Or the last 15 months? What are your favorites?
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