Favorite albums of 2023 (part 2)

Over a year ago, I wrote a list of my favorite albums I'd discovered in 2023 and alluded to a likely second part coming later. Well, later doesn't have a expiration date, so here's the long-awaited-by-exactly-nobody Part 2 to that post!

Because this is coming so dang late, I'm going to be abbreviating the reviews a bit. After all, can't let perfect be the enemy of done, right? I'm completely reworking my review/list format in another upcoming post, but until then, you're getting this weird mishmash of styles and voices. Just because it's less polished doesn't mean the music is any less good though, so go check it out.

No Such Animal - The Entertainer (2023)

I. Love. This. Album. In my earlier post, I alluded to an upcoming album that I was anticipating taking the cake for 2023, and this was that foretold album. I'm good friends with No Such Animal, and actually got to listen to The Entertainer almost a month early, so there's definitely a lot of personal bias or whatever here from hearing the early demo versions and contributing ideas, but all of these songs hold a very special spot in my heart. (I'm even in the music video for "New American Cyborg" lol.) I did a full review for Provo Music Magazine, which you can read here. That's got most of my thoughts, so I won't rehash it all here.

The only thing I will add is that in the almost year since its release, The Entertainer has absolutely held up. This wasn't some flash-in-the-pan craze that entranced me with whistles and sparkles for a short while before the honeymoon halo effect wore off; this is the real deal. It's incredibly well organized and paced, and when I first showed it to one of my best friends, he legitimately started crying when it finished. He was so moved and touched once it was over that he wept. Yeah, this is more than just a good album from a fun local rock group; this is genuinely some of the best music I've heard, period.

Favorite tracks: On My Own, The Entertainer, Mr Spaceman, New American Cyborg, Corrode, Bones, Out There

Spotify | YouTube

Health Care - Totality (2023)

Totality is another case of a local rock band putting out an absolute banger of an album that deserves way more attention and respect than it has gotten. I also wrote about this one for PMM, but one thing I had to cut for length is how good the production is. The whole album is incredibly mixed; the jangle of the acoustic guitar stands out from the wash of the electric guitar, and each instrument holds its own space wonderfully. So much music is compressed to flip, and it loses so much of the personality in the composition. Rock production and mixing makes a huge difference, and this album proves that.

Favorite tracks: In the Eyes of All, Incomplete, Home Free, Totality, What a Shame

Spotify | YouTube

notsure - stressed (2023)

I've been following notsure for several years and was really excited to see he was releasing a full album. His glitchy, expressive textures are both incredibly detailed and gloriously exuberant. I've used his track "Dialed In" to introduce friends to the intensely packed sound of glitch music, and even people who don't enjoy electronic music or other more noise-focused genres have commented on how unique and enjoyable it is.

This album sees notsure take a bit of a smoother approach, though it's still definitely him. This album is gorgeous and emotional, with tracks that feel like they're straight out of a 2010s movie score. The amount of ear candy on this album is fantastic too. Admittedly I don't actually buy as much music nowadays as I wish I did unless it's in physical formats, but this one was so good I just had to get it. Like The Entertainer, stressed has held up incredibly well since its release a year ago. It sounds just as fresh and deep as it did day one. Admittedly, I do have a decent amount of bias here too, as I watched notsure assemble many of these tracks live on Twitch and managed to snag a ticket to the digital listening party on Bandcamp. However, this album holds the kind of appeal that perfectly straddles the line between unusual/outside of the everyday listening habits of most people. and still being absolutely something that most people would find enjoyable. Seriously, go show notsure some love.

Favorite tracks: "errchk," "still here, with you," "re::wrkd," stressed," "run condition"

Spotify | YouTube

Thy Slaughter - Soft Rock (2023)

The end of an era is always such a bittersweet moment, and Soft Rock was the last hurrah for label and collective PC Music. I was late to the party, only getting into PC Music about two or three years ago, but this sort of sickly-sweet, semi-ironic, kitchy electronic music is the kind of thing I know high school me would have been horrified to know that I'm really really into now. The whole scene drips with that sort of aggressive earnestness that is hard not to at least respect. I'm no expert on the scene, so I'll quit trying to describe it before I mess something up too much.

Late last year, it was announced that this would be the final release from the label and would be the first full-length album from A.G. Cook and EASYFUN's collaborative project, Thy Slaughter. And boy, I don't know if I can imagine a more perfect sendoff album. The whole thing glistens with glitchy atmosphere and distorted vocal lines (some of which are contributed by non-credited artists like Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek). It's deep in the trenches of that sort of post-irony that PC Music always held. It's genuine and full of a lot of real heart, but it's also not that deep, man.

The album carries a surprising (though I shouldn't be too surprised given the title) amount of rock influence, which has interestingly seemed to predict several of the more mainstream trends on social media since its release. I say predict and not create, because to me, this was an album that was never meant for massive mainstream attention and success (though it is good enough and palatable to a general audience; even my mom like some of the tracks). No, this album was meant as a love letter to fans, to music, and to the journey of the previous decade. If it succeeded commercially, great. But if not, those who it was made for would still appreciate it. Like many love letters, there is a twinge of sadness and longing in there that really drives home the bittersweet nature of goodbye. Thank you, PC Music, and here's to the next generation of music innovators and explorers.

Favorite tracks: Reign, Sentence, Immortal, Heavy, O Fortuna

Spotify | YouTube

Sego - Sego Sucks (2019)

I used to hate Sego, but this album showed me the err of my ways. It's not the most mind-blowing of albums, but it now holds a special place in my heart because the review I wrote about it for PMM is arguably the reason I have the job I do now. It's also still one of my favorite reviews I've ever written. Go read it.

Favorite tracks: Heart Attack, Neon Me Out, Sucker/Saint, Shame

Spotify | YouTube

Piano Shoegazer - Sisyphus Happy (2023)

We're now getting into a few albums that I have less to say compared to the others. Piano Shoegazer's debut album isn't for everyone, but it offers a lot of new ideas and wild sonic concepts that push the boundaries of what's acceptable as music. Now, I don't mean this as it's just noise; what I mean is that the songs here carry a lot of that same familiarity and comfort as your favorite music would anyway, but there's something wrong, something distorted. It's almost uncomfortable because it's so close to being what you'd expect and hope for, but it's just not quite that. I've previously described the album as the sonic embodiment of a liminal space, and I absolutely still stand by that. It's really cool, but also pretty disconcerting if you aren't ready.

Favorite tracks: Wet Moon, Escape, Oblique Energy, You Don't Want This

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House of Harm - Playground (2023)

Not much to say here, I just really like House of Harm. They're like if all the best new wave, post-punk, and goth rock groups of the 80s and 90s had access to the magic of modern technology and production techniques during their heydays. I know that everyone hates being compared to legendary bands of decades gone by, but anyone who likes moody groups like The Cure, The Smiths, or Depeche Mode should give these guys a listen. I don't like Playground quite as much as their earlier album Vicious Pastimes, but it's still a dang good effort by the group.

Favorite tracks: Roseglass, Place it Back, Endlessly

 Spotify | YouTube

Better Corners - Continuous Miracles vol. 2 (2023)

Less abrasive and more ambient than 2022's Modern Dance Gold, this album is perfect for a cold night in by yourself. It's a bit moody and dark, very contemplative, and full of all the wonderful experimental goodness that defines a Better Corners release. Give it a listen if you've ever felt that profound sense of awe that sometimes comes while standing in a modern art gallery. Seriously, if you've ever experienced that moment where an abstract visual piece hits you like a truck for reasons you can't explain, this is for you. If that sounds like your nightmare, maybe choose something else from this list instead.

Favorite track: Continuous Miracles

Spotify | YouTube

And with that, I can officially say goodbye to 2023 - a year that honestly, kinda sucked for me besides a few bits, and the music was a lot of those good bits. I've had this hanging over my head for over a year now, and it's good to be done. I think what made it hard to finish was not just the job change etc, but also the fact that most of these albums wouldn't be eligible (per my own rules) for my yearly album ranking in February, so I wasn't quite as interested in talking about them anymore. (Speaking of which, one of my next posts will be that updated list! I've already got that post nearly done, so it just depends on when I want to publish it.) Plus, Christmas always throws a wrench in things music-wise, so that probably contributed too.

Once again, even though this isn't the most current list of albums, I still encourage you to read about it and let the winds of discovery take you where they will. And as always, please let me know if you liked any of my recommendations! Hearing that I introduced people to new music they enjoy is one of my favorite things ever.