By The SPINNING PLATTERS STAFF
Hello! It’s your favorite procrastinating music blog here to present you with… THE LAST TOP ALBUMS OF 2023 LIST! I know everyone else is trying to be first. But the one you remember best is the last one you read, and this is probably the best list anyway. It’s also only 10 records, so you can really sink your teeth into it.
10: PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation / King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s album: Petrodragonic Apocalypse… is densely layered with interesting and refreshing concepts. Each track is a narrative metamorphosis both musically and metaphorically. Despite the visceral tone introduction and constant change from one off-beat rhythm to the next, the implementation of this math was poetic by itself. Yet, the vocals enhanced each instrument, voicing an interesting tale. Greatly appreciated the applied hypnotic mantras and sweet “woo” with the mention of witchcraft. The chaos of constantly changing off-beat rhythms lent a calm acceptance to bridging multiple genres and spiritual drumming: thrash, metal, punk, brief yet poignant seconds of Tibetan throat singing, polyrhythms-African drums, and electronic synth. Tribute to multiple influences was noticed, from Black sabbath riffs, Motorhead speed, and Tool with intercut tribal. From the visceral introduction through the electronic scythe fade conclusion, this album has a unique, interesting blend of technical techniques, fantasy storytelling, and an absolute pleasure even when I’m reminded of the end of the world due to climate change. (Emily)
9: Gag Order / Kesha
If you haven’t been paying attention, you might not know that Kesha has been on a journey of self-improvement and spirituality since her split and lawsuit with her original producer, who shall not be named. With her fifth album Gag Order she shows that all the pain has been worth it. Her evolution began with 2017’s beautiful Rainbow, and is now culminating with 2023’s Gag Order, showing us how being brave and true to your authentic self is the way to happiness and beautiful art. Gag Order, with the help of iconic producer Rick Rubin, is an album that breaks free from the confines of pop music and shows us a piece of Kesha’s soul as it is right now. You get the dark moments of self-loathing in “Living in my Head,” you get defiance and fight in “Hate Me Harder,” and you get acceptance of the present in “Happy.” This album can have you bawling, then dancing, then shouting for joy, all within 40 minutes. It’s chaotic, soulful, and fun, but that is Kesha’s brand at heart. If you still think of “TikTok” when you think of Kesha, this album is the update to an adult and growing beautiful human you need. Do yourself a favor and listen with an open mind to Kesha’s strong and loving soul. This album makes me truly believe and hope that “Only Love Can Save Us Now.” (Marie)
8: Unreal Unearth / Hozier
If Hozier took us to church back in 2013, then Unreal Unearth took us to school in 2023, hoping to impress upon us the importance of the dark and the dirt and where to look for light and hope in the spaces between. The third studio album from the Irish indie blues musician takes us on a journey through emotion, hell, and desire, leaning heavily into the lore of Greek mythology to express Hozier’s love. He chases the first spark in “I, Carrion (Icarian)” with visuals of flight and stormy weather woven between lines like “And though I burn, how can I fall when I am lifted by every word you speak to me?” But at the same time, the rawness of his dark, low harmonies has been a fitting backdrop to the introspective dives I made in 2023. “Untitled/Nth” is all about rage and betrayal and identity, directly referencing the 9th circle of hell, to which I feel like we can all relate a little too well after this past year. Overall, Unreal Unearth feels like a sexy Tumblr interpretation of Dante’s Divine Comedy (Hozier, if you’re reading this, this is a good thing). Definitely give this a listen with some candlelight and a bottle of something strong. (Lily)
7: I Made An Album / Daði Freyr
Daði Freyr was supposed to be an instant international music celebrity. His incredibly catchy song “Think About Things” was paired with a video to match, and he was tipped to be among the top entries at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, representing Iceland, a country whose lack of success in Eurovision would soon be lampooned in a parody movie about that same competition. But alas, COVID-19 came and wiped out the competition, and it was determined that new songs would need to be entered. Freyr entered another song, “10 Years,” which was good but not quite as good, and although he made the finals, he lost to Maneskin, who would then become instant international music celebrities. But the musical talent edge still resides with Freyr, who’s returned to his studio to singlehandedly create a beautiful synthpop record full of warm feelings and whimsy. His path to international music celebrity status may be slower, but he’s on his way. (Gordon)
6: the record & the rest / boygenius
the record brings together sonically the best that Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus have to offer. Lush, intricate harmonies and long sweeping ballads of yearning pain and youthful existentialism. It’s the conversation at 5 am when all the world’s asleep, and it’s just you and your best friend watching the sunrise. Every song is a celebration of friendship, of what happens after you’ve pulled that all-nighter, grabbed a quesadilla burger at the 24/7 diner, and gone back to the recording studio together.
5: The Ballad Of Darren / blur
With a title in honor of the band’s longtime bodyguard, Blur is back after an eight-year hiatus with a powerful ninth studio album, The Ballad of Darren. It’s a succinct rock record, clocking in just under forty minutes, yet its end-to-end strength lies in easily digestible catchy singles such as “Barbaric” and “The Narcissist” alongside atmospheric ballads like “Russian Strings” and “Avalon.” Frontman Damon Albarn sings with a precious appreciation for time and life’s fragility, evoking the context and stylistics of late-stage David Bowie. Now with the core foursome in their mid-50s, Blur is finally getting their just appreciation from US listeners, as they’ve been top of the charts in the UK for decades. (Chad)
4: Blondshell / Blondshell
A conversation I had with a Spinning Platters staffer:
“I keep waking up with “Kiss City” stuck in my head!”
“Is it because your kink is when they tell you they think you’re pretty?”
“Isn’t that everyone’s kink?”
In a nutshell, that’s the genius behind Blondshell’s debut record. It might be the most direct and honest record I’ve heard in years. Blondshell, the pen name of Sabrina Teitelbaum, is willing to say what we all think but are afraid to say out loud. It’s a brave album. She takes you on the most relatable whirlwind of emotions, everything you are afraid to confess; she makes it safe. Plus, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a great murder ballad, and “Salad” is the kind of murder ballad Nick Cave wishes he could write. (Dakin)
3: 3D Country / Geese
3D Country is the kind of album that feels like it’s about to go off the rails at any minute. Stylistically, it ranges from Rock, country, and post-punk to the soulful wailing on “I See Myself.” But it’s vocalist Cameron Winter’s insane/brilliant performance that continually pushes this album to the outer limits. Throughout all of his register changes and tonal shifts, he manages to keep everything from devolving into chaos even though it can feel like there are different singers between songs or even inside a single song. At the end of the first listen, you might feel a little whiplash from all the changes, but you’ll also feel like you listened to one of the most exciting albums of 2023. (James)
2: Guts / Olivia Rodrigo
Teenage dreams over, Olivia Rodrigo finds herself wandering through the uncertainty of life in your 20s. Brutal, right? GUTS ditches the breakup vibes for a visceral loud, quiet, loud guitar rock and pop star blend. The album rides a slick, sharp edge, finding a mesmerizing equilibrium between gritty and pretty. There are beautiful love songs like the haunting Lacy, and there are raw confessions of bad ideas, ill-advised actions, and the inevitable cringe results. I do have an issue with the lyrics, and it’s the phrase “social suicide” … I mean, who among us hasn’t made it weird and then made it worse?? But, there’s gotta be another word to describe this experience, idk. Aside from that, GUTS is a dynamic full-album listen with highs and lows, artfully worded short stories, and carefully crafted melodies. (Niki)
1: Mono / K. Flay
