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Alex Gilbert writesCHRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Alex Gilbert
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2023. Our next list is from DJ Alex Gilbert.
There was so much great music released in 2023 that it was—once again—very difficult refining the list to just 10 albums. Ultimately, I chose the music that spoke to me the most directly: songs that I kept coming back to again and again, artists that I enjoyed enough to go see in concert, and albums that were undeniably unique in their musicianship. I know the following years will see me discovering so much I missed from these past 12 months, but for now, here’s a snapshot of my 2023.
#1 Roach by Miya Folick (Nettwerk)
#2 I’ve Got Me by Joanna Sternberg (Fat Possum)
#3 Heavy Heavy by Young Fathers (Ninja Tune)
#4 Erotic Probiotic 2 by Nourished By Time (Scenic Route)
#5 & the Charm by Avalon Emerson (Another Dove / One House)
#6 Radical Romantics by Fever Ray (Rabid / Mute)
#7 Funny Blue by Eel Romance (self-released)
#8 That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware (EMI)
#9 SOURCEHEIRESS by jess joy (Joyful Noise)
#10 Ahora by Melenas (Trouble in Mind)
Honorable Mentions
I would be remiss not to mention some of these other albums that made my year so musically rich and wonderful. If you know me at all, you know I like a lot of different genres and styles, dictated by my mood. It didn’t really feel right to rank these against one another, so I’ve sorted them, loosely, with a bit of informal categorization.
—> Something with guitars:
MAN ON MAN - Provincetown
Cut Worms - Cut Worms
The Tallest Man on Earth - Henry St.
The Reds, Pinks and Purples - The Town That Cursed Your Name
—> Something with a bit more twang:
Nick Shoulders - All Bad
Colter Wall - Little Songs
—> Something deliciously electropoppy:
Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Cindy Wilson - Realms
Django Django - Off Planet
Everything But the Girl - Fuse
Róisín Murphy - Hit Parade
—> Something soulful:
Jalen Ngonda - Come Around and Love Me
Jamila Woods - Water Made Us
—> Something jazzy:
Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music
Jaimie Branch - Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))
—> Something for the intercultural dance floor:
Sofia Kourtesis - Madres
Altin Gün - Ask
Nickodemus - Soul & Science
Captain Planet - Sounds Like Home
—> Something weird and electronic:
Kate NV - WOW
Brandt Brauer Frick - Multi Faith Prayer Room
Headache - The Head Hurts But the Heart Knows the Truth
Yarni & Give Me Monaco - Parenthesis
Creep Show - Yawning Abyss
—> Something without words:
Rami Atassi - Dancing Together
André 3000 - New Blue Sun
COVER SONGS
As a passionate cover lover, I also wanted to share a few of my favorites I enjoyed throughout the year. Not all cover songs are created equal, but these ones are certainly worthy of your time.
Basskase - Valerie Loves Me (feat. Impulsive Hearts)
The Beths - Brand New Colony (feat. Pickle Darling)
Cecile McLorin Salvant - Wuthering Heights (Kassa Overall Remix)
Colter Wall - Evangeline
Elizabeth Moen - That Summer Feeling
Erlend Øye - Wichita Lineman
Judson Claiborne - Isn’t It a Pity
Macie Stewart - Neon Lights
Miya Folick - Walking on Broken Glass
Next entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Michael Griffith
Previous entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2023: Joe Held