2023 Mid-Year Favorites: 12 Albums From the Road!

I am excited to share my Mid-Year Top 12 list!  

Keep your ears to the ground for the Viewer's Choice list in the next week.  Or even better - join up for the Fall bracket!  Click below for more info.

2023 Album Showdown Results: Spring Mix 4

Aiming for Enrike – Empty Airports VS. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

Aiming for Enrike – Empty Airports

For listeners who amuse themselves by trying to disentangle the various parts and structure of musical performance, Aiming for Enrike is a treat.  Their mastery of looping, effects, and raw musicianship make Empty Airports a feast for the ears, and probably one of the few albums from this season that could reasonably beat out the Dirty Projectors in their prime.

 

Sloan – Steady VS. Nnamdi – Please Take a Seat

Sloan – Steady

On the one hand, I have praised Nnamdi for his eclecticism and distinctive musical voice, but when up against the clarity of Sloan's experience and songcraft, his colorful approach worked against him.

 

Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever VS. Wet Leg – Wet Leg

Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever

By now, you know the drill with me and Soccer Mommy.  I just love her music, and the production on this album really lets it shine.  Wet Leg is good and actually quite trendy, but they can’t take out Sometimes, Forever.

Algiers – Shook! VS. P.O.S. – Chill, Dummy

Algiers – Shook!

Algiers has emerged as the big sleeper from this season, and one that would most likely have been overlooked had I not been so meticulous. 

 

Laurie Anderson – Big Science VS. Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

Actually a pretty even match here, both in terms of clarity of vision and overall musical effectiveness.  Xenia’s impassioned vocals put her over the top here.

 

Brendan Eder Ensemble – Therapy VS. Consider the Source – You Are Literally a Metaphor

Consider the Source – You Are Literally a Metaphor

This is also another even match, although the styles are quite radically different.  Both of these albums represent the investment of hardworking independent musicians deserving of much wider attention.  Consider the Source’s live show still rings in my ears when I listen to You Are Literally a Metaphor, however, which gives it a bit of an edge in my auditory imagination.

 

Viewer’s Choice

Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods VS. The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention

Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods

 

Big Star - #1 Record VS. Bronze Gods - 私​た​ち​は​ロ​ボ​ッ​ト​を​ク​ソ​で​す​か ? !

Big Star - #1 Record

 

Soup – Visions VS. Wet Leg – Wet Leg

Soup – Visions

 

Tyler, The Creator – Igor VS. P.O.S. - Chill, Dummy

Tyler, The Creator – Igor

 

Laurie Anderson – Big Science VS. Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

 

The Weeknd – Dawn FM VS. Consider the Source – You Are Literally a Metaphor

The Weeknd – Dawn FM

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2023 Album Showdown Results: Spring Mix 3

Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew - Gizmodrome Live! VS. Karate - The Bed is in the Ocean 

Karate - The Bed is in the Ocean 

This is one of a couple of big Tier 4 upsets, and one that doesn't diminish the greatness of the Gizmodrome project overall. There have been a couple of nagging points about this recording that only come to the spotlight when compared with The Bed is in the Ocean. Copeland's somewhat goofy vocal approach is one. His tendency to randomly roll his "r's" and lackadaisical attention to pitch is sometimes hard to overlook.  I could argue that hearing these musicians' instrumental interactions could outweigh this issue, but it would require Copeland to showcase his drumming more than he does. His employment of a second drummer to back him up while he plays guitar and sings shatters the illusion. Karate, on the other hand, is one of the livest sounding studio albums I have heard in a while, and their unapologetic comingling of jazz and post-punk is both cerebral and emotive. 

Consider the Source - You Are Literally a Metaphor VS. Steve Reich - Runner/Music for Ensemble and Orchestra 

Consider the Source - You Are Literally a Metaphor 

Steve Reich proves his mettle as my favorite minimalist composer yet again. As much as I love his music, however, in comparison to Consider the Source, his characteristically monochromatic compositional approach shows its limitations. It's like comparing M.C Escher to Salvador Dali - and I've always had a soft spot for Dali. 

Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods VS. Riverside - I.D.Entity

Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods 

This is actually a really big Tier 4 upset, but hear me out. Ever since I put I.D.Entity in rotation, I've been chatting it up as a possible Album of the Year candidate, but even before then, I placed Through Shaded Woods in it's path. As both projects represent Mauritz Duda's creative energy through different lenses, and only one album per artist can qualify for inclusion in the year-end list, I knew they would eventually collide. I actually think they are equally brilliant, but Through Shaded Woods is distinct as an expression of Duda's interest in traditional Norse folk music.  Norse and Viking inspired music has been present in other listening this year, most notably in Skald's Huldufolk.  Through Shaded Woods allows me to acknowledge this thread while simultaneously catching my respect for Duda's work. 

Absolutely Free - Aftertouch VS Adventures of Jet - Part 3: Coping with Insignificance

Adventures of Jet - Part 3: Coping with Insignificance

I want to encourage everyone to check out Aftertouch. It's cinematic and often impeccably crafted, but dang, Adventures of Jet just keeps getting better. 

Loris S. Sarid - Seabed-Sunbath VS. Johann Johansson - Englaborn & Variations 

Johann Johansson - Englaborn & Variations 

Johann Johansson's high points on this recording make it a tough one to beat, although I feel like the Variations bog down the second half.  

Pom Poko - Cheater VS. Alvvays - Blue Rev

Alvvays - Blue Rev

For a moment, it actually seemed like Pom Poko's angular Deerhoof-meets-the-Cardigans power pop might pose an actual threat to Blue Rev, but the craft gives way to quirk in the second half.

Viewer's Choice 

Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew - Gizmodrome Live! VS. Karate - The Bed is in the Ocean

Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew - Gizmodrome Live!

Consider the Source - You Are Literally a Metaphor VS Taylor Swift - Folklore 

Consider the Source - You Are Literally a Metaphor 

Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods VS. Riverside - I.D.Entity

Riverside - I.D.Entity 

Loris S. Sarid - Seabed-Sunbath VS. Johann Johansson - Englaborn & Variations 

Johann Johannson - Englaborn & Variations

Absolutely Free - Aftertouch VS. Nordic Giants - Build Seas, Dismantle Suns

Nordic Giants - Build Seas, Dismantle Suns

Sault - Earth VS. Pom Poko - Cheater

Sault - Earth

2023 Album Showdown Results: Spring Mix 2

For the next couple of weeks, we are moving to six showdowns.  This is particularly challenging at this point because we are very close to finalizing the mid-year list and the finalists all represent quality work.  Its also particularly interesting because the prime list and the viewer's list are starting to diverge in really compelling ways.

Algiers - Shook! VS. clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned

Algiers - Shook!

Full transparency: I am completely committed to clipping.’s clear desire to focus their incredible skills to push the boundaries of rap and hip hop. Visions of Bodies Being Burned has some of the best examples of what clipping. can do, but there are a couple of tracks that take the paradigm pretty far out - like an ambient track primarily composed to cows lowing. Algiers similarly challenges boundaries, often to a similar aesthetic outcome, but is more consistently relatable.

Sloan - Steady VS. Big Star - #1 Record

Sloan - Steady

Here we have a debut album by a group that pioneered the power pop style against a group who has enjoyed the benefits of several decades of experience in the style. For me, the refined, easy, and energetic approach of Steady sounds more vital and relevant, despite Big Star’s obvious importance and genius.




Rich Ruth - I Survived, It’s Over VS. Aiming for Enrike - Empty Airports

Aiming for Enrike - Empty Airports

Both of these albums are great examples of instrumental prog-adjacent styles, but Aiming for Enrike inhabits the musical space that King Crimson and Brian Eno opened up in the late 70s and early 80s. That really hits me where I live.




Bronze Gods - 私​た​ち​は​ロ​ボ​ッ​ト​を​ク​ソ​で​す​か ? ! VS. Nnamdi - Please Have a Seat

Nnamdi - Please Have a Seat

Really tough choice between a pair of well-crafted, if eclectic, albums. My choice to go with Nnamdi is the ongoing sense that there is way more to him as a musician than meets the eye.




Ryuchi Sakamoto - The Thousand Knives of Ryuchi Sakamoto VS. Laurie Anderson - Big Science

Laurie Anderson - Big Science

I would love to let Sakamoto advance. Thousand Knives is a groundbreaking debut album from a composer whose career would stretch way beyond even what it suggests. Laurie Anderson, however, is so unflinchingly unique and confident in her quirkiness that I can’t deny its appeal.

Kate Davis - Fish Bowl VS. Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever

Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever

Very, very, very difficult choice on this Tier 3 showdown. Both of these albums are top-notch examples of distinctive women songwriters. At this level, distinctions come at the gut-level subjective sensation of how it “feels.” Soccer Mommy gives me the feels. For realz.




Viewers Results

Algiers - Shook! VS. Sault - 11

Sault - 11

Rufus du Sol - Solace VS. Big Star - #1 Record

Big Star - #1 Record

Rich Ruth - I Survived, It’s Over VS. Gruff Rhys - Seeking New Gods

Gruff Rhys - Seeking New Gods

Bronze Gods - 私​た​ち​は​ロ​ボ​ッ​ト​を​ク​ソ​で​す​か ? ! VS. Nnamdi - Please Have a Seat

Bronze Gods - 私​た​ち​は​ロ​ボ​ッ​ト​を​ク​ソ​で​す​か ? !

Ryuchi Sakamoto - The Thousand Knives of Ryuchi Sakamoto VS. Laurie Anderson - Big Science

Ryuchi Sakamoto - The Thousand Knives of Rhychi Sakamoto

Soup - Visions VS. Kate Davis - Fish Bowl

Soup - Visions

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The Shaming of the True: Kevin Gilbert's Swan Song

 A look back at Kevin Gilbert's posthumous 2000 rock opera, The Shaming of the True

2023 Album Showdown Results: More Tier 3!

These are all Tier 3 showdowns, which means we are getting pretty close!  I am considering making short-form videos for these to put up on the TikTok and reel circuit.  Just need to have a sustainable format.  Thoughts?

Broken Bells – Into the Blue VS. Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew – Gizmodrome LIVE!

Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew – Gizmodrome LIVE!

Although not without flaw, this Gizmodrome record album has a lot of appeal.  As a guy who broke in his chops in the 80’s, though, I am definitely the target audience.

M83 – Fantasy VS. Adventures of Jet – Part 3: Coping With Insignificance

Adventures of Jet – Coping With Insignificance

This is a bit of an upset, as I accepted M83 as a next-gen genius in the 10s and was really looking forward to this release.  As great is it is, however, there is no shame in losing to Adventures of Jet. 

 

Ghost – Meliora VS. 100 Gecs – 10,000 Gecs

Ghost – Meliora

This one was really tough for me, because I think that in many ways these projects are quite comparable.  Both projects have challenging aspects, but are able to navigate these challenges with adventurous songwriting and good humor.  Meliora wins out on its strong earworm factor. 

 

Sault – Earth VS. Alvvays – Blue Rev

Alvvays - Blue Rev

Sorry, Sault.  Although Earth is one of my favorites from that 5 album drop you laid on us last year, Blue Rev is another one that is going to be really tough to beat.  Its post-shoegaze approach to power pop and compelling songwriting success has provided it with notable staying power.

 

Viewer’s Results

Fleetwood Mac – Tusk VS. Sault – Earth

Sault – Earth

 

Broken Bells – Into the Blue VS. Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew – Gizmodrome LIVE!

Copeland, King, Cosma, and Belew - Gizmodrome LIVE!

Gunship – Dark All Day VS. Nordic Giants – Build Seas, Dismantle Suns

Nordic Giants – Build Seas, Dismantle Suns

Ghost – Meliora VS. The Meters – Rejuvenation

The Meters – Rejuvenation

2023 Album Roundup Series: June Tier 2 Contenders

This post introduces the last six albums up for consideration in the mid-year Top 12:

Big Star - #1 Record (1972) Consider the Source - You Are Literally A Metaphor (2018) Algiers - Shook! (2023) Ryuchi Sakamoto - The 1000 Knives of Ryuchi Sakamoto (1978) Bronze Gods - 私​た​ち​は​ロ​ボ​ッ​ト​を​ク​ソ​で​す​か ? ! (2023) Rich Ruth - I Survived, It's Over (2022)

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And don't forget the newly expanded ever-expanding 2023 playlist.  Stabilized for the time being...