As 2023 comes to a close, I would like to continue another tradition in showing some of the music that I listened to in the past year.
To cover a few things I have shared in past annual music post, I wanted to share a few particular items here. First, I still aim to purchase rather than stream my music. The quality is better, artists are better compensated, and it forces me to consider the music before purchasing.
I would also include that this list tends to be informed by indie rock with some electronic music. If youâre here for K-Pop and R&B, I apologize but youâll need to find another music list (I have no issue with these genres, btw).
In a final inclusion, I realize that there are a few Grade A jerks with past #MeToo issues in this post. This is a challenging thing to reconcile, and I am choosing to separate the music from the persona behind the artist.
Where possible, I am including Bandcamp embeds for the music. While there are legitmate concerns that Bandcamp is about to be ruined as Epic Games did little with the platform and then sold it off to a music licensing firm, it is still the best way to consume and purchase music today. And it isnât even close. Support Bandcamp, and support Bandcamp Fridays to support the artists you love. You can even follow me on Bandcamp if you would like.
Now, letâs get to the music, organized by release date. These are individual tracks from larger albums that I hope you listen to and consider adding to your collection.
The Void, by Acid Ghost
Released January 18, 2023
Acid Ghost has a lot of great indie work going back many years, along with some personal issues that derailed the group a few years ago. I will steer clear of that, but will highlight this song as an especially great track. If you like folk and indie, this one is a great listen.
Empires, by Smashing Pumpkins
Released January 31, 2023*
The 90s are alive and well, my friends! The Smashing Pumpkins album, ATUM, is an overwrought 33 tracks that is an exhausting listen, but there are some very familiar highlights on the way. The album also had an unusual release in 3 different 11 song âActs.â The song I originally wanted to pick was technically released in the first Act in 2022, but this is another good one.
Little Things, by Philip Selway
Released February 24, 2023
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I wish we could just get a new Radiohead album, but the individual members keep putting out good solo work. Selwayâs break from the drums resulted in a better third solo album than his first two, and this was one of my most played songs of the year.
Letting Go, by manchester orchestra
Released March 10, 2023
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Hats off to my friend Tyler for turning me on to this band, who keep putting out excellent work. This was an EP this year, and I wouldnât mind a full-length in 2024. Indie rock continues to fill my home with good tunes.
Donât Say You Love Me, by Depeche Mode
Released March 24, 2023
Itâs a little difficult to say that Depeche Mode is full DEPECHE MODE in 2023. Alan has been out of the band for 20 years (!) now, Vince is never coming back, and Andy sadly died last year. But that is still Dave Gahanâs voice, and theyâve done a great job capturing the sound that made them such a big deal in the 80s and 90s. The album is a good listen, and this track is one of the highlights.
Miniaturized, by miniaturized
Released March 31, 2023
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I saw this band live this year, having no idea who they were and not expecting much from the 2nd warm-up band. That being said, they were actually fantastic live. They just released their debut LP this year, but it looks like the guys in the band are veterans in the San Diego indie scene. Highly recommended.
Move Under, by Mudhoney
Released April 7, 2023
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Speaking of our ongoing 90s revival, how about Mudhoney! People forget that their 1988 song Touch Me Iâm Sick helped launch what became the Seattle grunge scene. They didnât hit it big like the other bands, but Mark Arm goes way back with the guys from Pearl Jam in the band Green River. And true being a real indie legend, he is still the manager of Sub Pop Recordâs warehouse. This was a great listen all year, and I am glad my teenage years never went out of style.
Hot Rotten Grass Smell, by Rat Saw God
Released April 7, 2023
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I started listening to this album late in the year, when I started to see it hitting a lot of Best Of lists. I was quite astounded and highly recommend it to anybody who loves Indie Rock.
You Are The Man, by Jonathan Bree
Released April 14, 2023
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This guy is pretty cool, with a retro stage setup and white head masks. Look up some of his videos on Youtube to see the action. But for an artist with little guitar work, I really think this guy rocks. Highly recommended from New Zealand!
Lux Aeterna, by Metallica
Released April 14, 2023
Speaking of the 1990s, here is Metallica trying to see how much more they can get out of the Black Album. I love the record, of course, but in my old age I have found a lot of the latter day Metallica albums to be real exhausting from start to finish. They are, more than anything, a victim of their own success several times over. Fans want a Black Album with the prog quality of Master of Puppets, and that just isnât possible.
On a side note, when I FaceTime with my daughter (who is now developing her own taste in music), she asks me to play various songs from artists she likes. And all year long, Iâve been pranking her at the 4th of 5th song by playing this super loud. She comes to expect it now, and itâs a good laugh. So some nostalgic thoughts for this song as well.
Nothing Left To Lose, by Everything But The Girl
Released April 21, 2023
More 90s revival, because why not? I wasnât as into a new dance record as I would have been at age 18, but it is still a very good listen, and Tracey Thornâs voice is as every bit as soulful and deep as it was when you were listening to âMissingâ 20 years ago.
Woman, by Prism Bitch
Released April 23, 2023
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This was another act I had never heard of that I saw live as an opener. I remember them being late to start with what seemed like a 20+ minute soundcheck, and turning to my friend Tyler saying, âAfter all this, they had better be fucking good.â Well â they sure as hell were. Another interesting tidbit is that this band shares the same drummer as Built To Spill, who we were there to see. They were good enough that a 40 minute soundcheck next time will not bother me.
This Isnât Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers), by The National
Released April 28, 2023
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The National are about as close to Indie Rock royalty as they come, and when you have members helping Taylor Swift win an Album of the Year Grammy, youâve crossed over into something very different. So The National isnât quite the listen they were for me when they were a smaller band. And to top it off, they unexpectedly released two albums this year. Theyâre not at the level of Alligator/Boxer/High Violet, which will always be the best of their work, but the band still makes good music. On their last album, Matt, with his deep voice surprisingly dueted with a number of female singers. I wasnât sure that always worked, but I really liked his song he co-sang with Phoebe Bridgers, who is also a personal favorite. Sheâs done songs with indie rock legends like Conor Oberst before, so their harmonies are very good. My daughter also liked the song, which is a bonus.
Inner Sanctum, by Dave Lombardo
Released May 5, 2023
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I never would have guessed we would see a record by the former drummer from Slayer, but here we are. The God of Double Bass released something totally unexpected. This isnât slash metal percussion work at all. He has a lot of style, nuance, and unexpected effects that somehow make a percussion album a worthy listen. Now will he get back with Mike Patton and make a new album from one of their many bands please?
Overture (A New World), by Akasha System
Released May 5, 2023
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I find electronic music difficult to keep tabs on, because there are so many artists, and in a weird quirk to the genre, so many artists with multiple artist names and groups. But the guy behind Akasha System is super reliable and releases work every year. He had one album and a couple singles this year, and I have yet to hear a back track. This one I really enjoyed.
Stand Up, by Graham Nash
Released May 19, 2023
If you are 81 years and still have the same voice as when you were 30, why not keep doing it? That was what struck me most about Graham Nashâs solo album, the first of a couple of our CSNY friends to release this year (RIP Croz). To get a sense of how long Graham has been at it, he had already been in The Hollies for 4 years when Bus Stop was released. That was 57 years ago! This was a surprisingly good album, and his voice will take you right back to Crosby, Stills, and Nash (and sometimes Young) like he never left.
The Teacher, by Foo Fighters
Released June 2, 2023
Oh boy, where to start here. First, I was surprised to see a new Foo Fighters album, after the sad and untimely death of beloved drummer Taylor Hawkins. In addition, something I didnât know until I listened to Dave Grohl on Norah Jonesâ podcast, he also lost his Mother last year. It is pretty clear that he poured a lot of his grief into this album. And although they did hire Josh Freese as their new drummer (great pick, by the way), and with apologies to the late great Taylor, I was quite pleased to hear Dave back on the drums for this album. He has that same hard-hitting style that made Nirvana so memorable. This was the best Foo Fighters album in many years.
Paper Machete, by Queens of the Stone Age
Released June 16, 2023
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Josh Homme had some serious allegations of domestic abuse, which made this new album a bit of a buzzkill. But keeping with our attempts to focus on the music, it was another good Queens album. Having seen them live before, Iâve always enjoyed them. NowâŚif he can just give Dave above a call and email John Paul Jones, how about a new Them Crooked Vultures record, please?
Klettur, by Sigur RĂłs
Released June 16, 2023
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JĂłnsiâs voice is always what gets you â Iâve related before how a very drunk friend heading home from a concert swore to me this was Bjork, something that is still a good laugh. But this Icelandic group is still pretty great. This was their first album in years, and this was a standout track. I have no idea what the lyrics are, and in many ways I enjoy that mystery.
The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored, by Hayden Pedigo
Released June 30, 2023
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This was another NPR find. How about some beautiful acoustic instrumentals? The entire album is good, but the title track is by far my favorite. This is a big recommendation if you want some good, relaxing, guitar to chill out to.
Watermelon Peperonia, by Sun Kil Moon
Released July 26, 2023
I have loved Sun Kil Moon ever since their collection of Modest Mouse covers in Tiny Cities. But over the years, some of the work got a little long and stilted as Mark Kozelekâs style of spoken word got a bit more overwrought year after year (this was particularly pronounced in his solo work). Mark also apparently isnât so nice with women, which has effected my motivation to follow in the years since (he was quite an asshole to The War On Drugs too). But, alas, I gave this new album a chance, and this was my favorite track. We will keep separating the artist from the art, but I hope heâs learned a little now.
Everything That Rises, by Sufjan Stevens
Released October 6, 2023
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Sufjan is a prolific artist with a huge catalog, so he seems to make it into my blog post every year. And it turns out, he released two different records this year (his second was more instrumental focused). His album was particularly poignant as he apparently lost a partner in the last year. I still prefer his earliest indie work, but I am glad he can be relied on to keep releasing albums every year.
One More Time, by Blink 182
Released October 20, 2023
There isnât much that calls back my late teens and early 20s than a new Blink 182 record. And I chose this song because I had long wondered why it takes near-death plane crashes and cancer scares to get this gang back together. As it turns out, they wondered that themselves in making this song. With apologies to Matt Skiba for holding down the fort, Blink needed Tom to take a break from the UFOs and get back with Mark and Travis. They sound revitalized, and a little more mature, and for the larger history of San Diego music, it is great these guys are back. Letâs hope they stick together for a while.
Diversity, by Hauschka
Released October 20, 2023
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From late 90s rock to some piano. Hauschka is a German composer who creates beautiful piano arrangements. On this latest album, though, he brings in a whole lot of other instruments to compliment his main work. I really enjoyed it, and I really loved and mentioned his last album in that yearâs blog post.
More Than A Love Song, by Black Pumas
Released October 27, 2023
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I am not normally into a funk record, but after hearing it on NPR, I was quite intrigued. It is difficult to give it a particular genre, as they bend so many different styles into surprising listens. The entire album is really interesting, and I have now found and love their previous debut record as well. Highly recommended.
Craig, Ingels, & Wrightson, by DJ Shadow
Released October 27, 2023
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I still remember the first time I listened to âŚ.Endtroducing, and DJ Shadow has been a mandatory buy ever since. It is hard to overstate his influence, and how samples, tape effects and loops, and other methods have been adopted by so many artists. 20 years later, and he still comes up with songs and surprise and amaze. This was a favorite from his most recent album.
Old Death, by car colors
Released November 17, 2023
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Okay, where to start with this oneâŚ..to appreciate this, you need to be into 00s Indie Rock, and specifically into The Wrens. Their album, The Meadowlands, was one of the best albums of the decade. And theyâve spent nearly 20 years saying they were almost done with the follow-up. A battle ensued between the two main songwriters, with Kevin Whelan splitting his tracks and releasing his own album, Aeon Station, which I included in last yearâs post. Charles Bissell was upset, but was also the primary reason the new Wrens album never got completed. He plotted a revenge of sorts, which resulted inâŚâŚ.well not an album, but 3 tracks. Not even sure that qualifies as an EP. But that being said, this song kicks absolute ass, and Charles is still a fantastic songwriter. He claims he will never get back with his Wrens bandmates to make a new album, which is fine because at his pace, that album would be coming out in 2043. Hopefully he releases a full-length car colors record soon, because I am certain it will be great.
Iâm the Ocean, by Neil Young
Released December 8, 2023
And, so we finish off the second release from a CSNY member (Stephen, where were you this year?). Neil Young has been around so long, which such an easily identifiable style and voice, that I am not sure what to offer. Except that heâs still got it, and he definitely hasnât long anything in his songwriting skills. I am still listening to this album, as it was a late 2023 release, but after David Crosbyâs passing last year, I am glad the rest of the gang and still giving us great music.
And with that, my 2023 in Music comes to a close. Thank you for reading, I hope you listened to a few tracks, and letâs all find some more great music in 2024.
T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographerâs Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.
If I were doing a list like this, I’d likely throw in a selection from The Churchill Garden’s Metamorphosis release this past year. I do like the Black Pumas, but like their first release over this followup, could be it just takes a few more listens. A nod on the DM mention, quite a good one this year. No Peter Gabriel? Road to Joy is such a great song, still stuck in my head – along with inspiring artwork paired with each song on the new album. Of course, this is the trap of putting out a list of music for the year – you have yahoos like me chiming in “what about this, and this, and that, …” đ Still, You’ve given me some things to listen to and check out that buzzed right past me.
Hey Mark:
You SHOULD do a list like this. I would love the read it, and you have a great list of suggestions. I was never a Genesis fan and missed Peter Gabriel’s prime, so I totally missed he even released an album in 2023. Shame on me. I will check out The Churchill Garden. As you mention, there is more quality music than can be consumed, and undoubtedly I miss great songs every year. Hopefully I will discover some of them eventually.