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The CHIRP Blog
algabor writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Al Gabor
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from volunteer Al Gabor.
#1 The Record by Boygenius (Interscope)
As formidable as Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker are on their own, they reach new heights when they combine efforts. On The Record, the harmonies are sibling-quality; the songcraft is superb. The songs here convey the charged nature of love and friendships of people in their twenties, how an unfolding relationship is not just discovering things about the new person in your life, but finding out things about yourself.
Geoffrey Wessel: Geoffrey's Regular Show writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Geoffrey D. Wessel
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from DJ Geoffrey D. Wessel.
Memento Mori by Depeche Mode (Columbia)
Joanna Bz writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Joanna B.Z.
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from DJ and Assistant Music Director Joanna B.Z.
These are unranked and under the wire for 2023. There was an abundant and refreshing amount of releases this year- I appreciate any music lover who can select, pare down, and rank their faves. Bless!
Everyone's Crushed by Water From Your Eyes (Matador)
The Audible Snail writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: The Audible Snail
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from DJ The Audible Snail.
What does music sound like as it emerges? Fucked Up’s “Cicada” comes to mind as a single track to wrap around 2023. Grappling with isolationism, war, disease, late capitalism swinging its ax with rigor and rage, we seek art, sweetness, connection, reconciliation with age. 2023 marks a year of whiplash, reaching back for what was, pushing forward for what could be. Jenny Lewis’ Joy’All is a masterpiece of reflection — ‘What the fuck was that?!’ on the song “Puppy and a Truck” is as a good a sentiment as any. My top 10 albums of 2023 are complied of new and rediscovered and reinviting bands and artists. A bit emo, a bit alt country, a love of rock ‘n’ roll, psych pop & r&b for the soul, punk rock always, a splash of experimentalism, and some good ole Massachusetts hardcore. Listen to these albums to emerge—or molt.
10,000 Gecs by 100 Gecs (Dog Show Records)
“Hollywood Baby” by 100 Gegs might be the catchiest song of the year. The track certainly hit CHIRP Radio’s heavy rotation airwaves with reckless abandon when 10,000 Gecs was released in March. Hailing from St. Louis, 100 Gecs is an electronic duo who won hearts this year with their playful lyrics and bouncy refrains. The track “Frog on the Floor” is an absolute joyful masterpiece of youth, curiosity, and compassion. This album charts my top 10 because of its innovation, creativity, positivity, sass, and experimental prowess.
Matt Barr writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Matt Barr
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from DJ and Assistant Music Director Matt Barr.
For me, this was a down year for music; not in quality, but in quantity. I didn't listen to half as many records as I did last year, largely because some housing issues physically interfered with my usual listening habits. My list of “2023 albums to check out” is long; still, I managed to find a lot of good albums, an I've submitted them as an unranked list. As usual, some of my favorites are sentimental. The Boo Radleys and Teenage Fanclub are far from their 90s heydays, but they're here due to my decades-long love for those bands (Yo La Tengo, Slowdive and The Dead Milkmen, weren't far behind). I enjoy reading everyone's lists and hope you do as well. See you again in 2024!
Eight by The Boo Radleys (Booster)
Favorite tracks: “How Was I to Know” “A Shadow Darker than the Rest”