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Austin B. Harvey presents: The Liquid Diet writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Austin B. Harvey
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from Assistant Music Director Austin B. Harvey.
i barely had any time to do anything this year, let alone critically listen to music. My baby and I liked these tunes.
#1 The Window by Ratboys (Topshelf)
I think about the title track from the latest (and best) Ratboys’ album often. The lyrics recount the mid-2020 death of lead Ratboy Julia Steiner’s grandmother from non-covid causes through the eyes of her grandfather, who had to observe the painful events and say his goodbyes through the titular open window. It’s wistful, heart-wrenching, melodic, and incredibly moving all at once. It’s a Tom Petty arrangement with a Dolly Parton melody. It’s jangly country-emo without affect or petulance. “The Window” is a tidy four-minute AOR radio hit that will stop you where you stand. The only other comparison I have is Alvvays’ “Belinda Says” from last year, and even that juggernaut doesn’t possess the heft, or the ability to tackle the immense psychological weight of the first couple years of the covid era (better than any other song has to this point, it should be said), of “The Window”. Much like Alvvays’ 2022 magnum opus Blue Rev, The Window exists with its massive climactic track as merely one focal point of many on a mood board of what are mostly exquisitely-crafted post-breakup grunge anthems. Steiner is, at varying points, sad, embarrassed, lustful, pissed, and, by the end of proceedings, exhausted. This album is a triumph which readily admits that, once you reach the summit, you still have to get back down.
#2 Erotic Probiotic 2 by Nourished by Time (Scenic Route)
Marcus Brown’s debut full-length is a woozy, contemporary bedroom revisitation of the Quiet Storm R&B sounds of the 80’s and 90’s. If Sade had cheap synths instead of silky electric guitars, you might get something like the proletarian, lovelorn ambition of Erotic Probiotic 2. This record is a blast, breathing life and urgency into music that, in other hands, would have its distinctive edges worn down to the level of a mere consumable product.
#3 i've seen a way by Mandy, Indiana (Fire Talk)
The Manchester band's full-length debut is a triumph of violent disco-punk. This inventive quartet take the sounds of Factory Records and transpose them into the setting of a haunted, abandoned factory. They are at once spare, industrial, and incredibly menacing at once. This record demands the listener's attention and refuses to let go.
#4 Madres by Sofia Kourtesis (Ninja Tune)
The Peruvian DJ's debut full-length is a fiery celebration of the liberatory power of the dancefloor. Leftfield samples bounce off of deep house musical flourishes and electric beats.
#5 Villagers by Califone (Jealous Butcher)
Tim Rutili has been one of Chicago's most consistent musicians since the 90's. Almost every Califone album is a reliably ramshackle melange of somewhat-penetrable folk-rock poetry, secondhand vintage instruments, and uncanny electronics. Villagers continues Califone's magnificent with perhaps the most honest, and comprehensive work in their catalog.
#6 After the Magic by 파란노을 (Parannoul) (Topshelf)
The South Korean musician's third LP is a joyous, massive work of emo-ish bedroom pop fed through the shoegaze machine several times over. Full of noise and sounds, Parannoul emerges optimistically from the despondency of past releases and, presumably thanks to success and critical recognition, finally sounds encouraged.
#7 Dogsbody by Model/Actriz (True Panther Sounds)
Here we have another menacing debut LP that turns the conventions of genre 90 degrees. Again, it's disco-punk getting wrenched from the post-irony mid-00s and into the current era of the hyperreal and delightfully debauched. For fans of the intersection between Xiu Xiu and Special Interest.
#8 The Comeback Kid by Marnie Stern (Joyful Noise)
The greatest compliment I could possibly pay to this record is to say that it sounds like Marnie Stern hasn’t taken a decade-long break from recording at all. Exquisite shredding and songwriting. One of the world's best living musicians is back at it.
#9 Principia by En Attendant Ana (Trouble in Mind)
The third album from the Paris band is their quietest and most reserved yet. Still, the motorik-inspired beats that power more than half the record imbue a heft that few artists possess. One of the best outfits going right now.
#10 Cousin by Wilco (dBpm)
The Chicago legends concede board control to Welsh vibesmaster Cate Le Bon and yield themselves their best sounds since the best moments of The Whole Love. "Meant to Be" is probably the year's best song excepting "The Window".
Honorable Mentions
11. Earl Sweatshirt and the Alchemist - Voir Dire (Tan Cressida/Gala) The jazz-rap of Earl's finest LPs continues in muted form on this delightful trifle.
12. The Clientele - I Am Not There Anymore (Merge) There's a lot to digest in the English twee-folk-rock band's 9th LP, and none of it will upset your tummy.
13. Yves Tumor - Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) (Warp) Rock music's most forward-thinking artist takes their band into further dimensions
14. ANOHNI and the Johnsons - My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (Secretly Canadian) Faithful yet urgent blue-eyed soul from a singer-songwriter who should be regarded as a legend at this point.
15. Yeule - Softscars (Ninja Tune) YOU GOT K-POP IN MY SHOEGAZE
16. The Veldt - Illuminated 1989 (Little Cloud/5BC) The presumptive debut LP from the Raleigh/NYC shoegaze-dream poppers, produced by Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie, is an energetic blast of late 80's energy that is equal parts college rock and pop chart.
17. Panchiko - Failed at Math(s) (self-released) Excellent and unexpected comeback LP from the eclectic English experimental pop band.
18. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter - SAVED! (Perpetual Flame Ministries) NARAS nominate Kristin for a Gospel Grammy you losers. But seriously the production here is otherworldly. Hayter's incisive evisceration of the American Christian ideology is worthy of a full-on academic examination. Essential, intense music.
19. Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good! (Interscope) Seal the deal with this LP. "Pleasure is a right."
20. Connections - Cool Change (Trouble In Mind) This is still the best Ohioan band on the planet that isn't Guided By Voices.
21. Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World (Matador) A messy YLT album in 2023? Sure.
22. Hotline TNT - Cartwheel (Third Man) Uncanny shoegaze-grunge.
23. billy woods/Kenny Segal - Maps (Backwoodz Studioz) This sounds like a classic Serengeti LP. No notes.
24. 100 gecs - 10000 gecs (Dog Show) Brains? Where we're going you don't need brains.
25. a.s.o. - a.s.o. (Low Lying) HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE TRIP-HOP?
26. Pangaea - Changing Channels (Hessle) Trance?!? In this economy?!?
27. Sweeping Promises - Good Living Is Coming for You (Feel It)
28. jaimie branch - fly or die fly or die fly or die fly or die ((world war)) (International Anthem)
29. Avalon Emerson - & the Charm (Another Dove)
30. Kara Jackson - Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? (September)
Next entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Mike Sirvinskas
Previous entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Mauricio Reyes