15. Yeule- softscars
Yeule’s latest album was an absolute banger, her best work to date. It’s crunchier, louder, more heartbreaking than ever before. The sheer love that Yeule shows to 90s alternative here is outstanding, and more importantly -authentic-. It’s all seeped in a thick layer of atmosphere that feels like it could be cut with a knife. An absolute experience that will definitely leave an impression on any listener lucky enough to come across it’s path.
14. never young beach- Arigato
never young beach are back with yet another gorgeous record- this time going a bit more upbeat and sober than the lazy summer vibes of previous LP “STORY”. It’s got some absolutely outstanding guitar work that may be their best yet- just listen to that lead on “Kaze O Fukasete” (arguably their greatest song to date). Once again, arguably the best band of their ilk- it’s definitely one of my top albums this year.
13. RHYME SO- IAFB
This latecomer is also the most fun record on this list IMO. IAFB- or “I AM FUCKING BRILLIANT” is RHYME SO’s first full length album- that has been many months in the making. Damn does it hit hard– both musically (the highlight being the absolute banger “PICTURESQUE”) and lyrically. Shinichi Osawa’s production is as great as ever- and having special guest Seiko Oomori is an awesome choice for this project. Too damn fun, make sure you check it out if you feel like something as outrageous as it is catchy.
12. boygenius- the record
Boygenius’ debut album was one of the early highlights of 2023 for me. A fantastic supergroup, all three members play off each other with a real symbiosis. One that didn’t leave my playlist for pretty much the entire year, there seems to be a song for any occasion on it. The production value is through the roof, and the structure/song sequencing of the album as a whole is very rewarding. As heartfelt as songs like “Emily I’m Sorry” or “True Blue” are, there’s also some really fun fist bumpers like “Satanist” to help the album be more digestible. One to surely make a lot of end of year lists, it’s a great pickup for sure.
11. TEKE::TEKE- Hagata
Canadian/Japanese outfit Teke:Teke’s sophomore album improves on pretty much every aspect of it’s predecessor. Once again the band combine Eastern and Western elements to create an awesome blend of psychedelic rock that’s consistently thrilling. Maya Kuroki’s amazing vocals carry the twisting songwriting to the next level, and the band’s chemistry really shines on longer cuts. There’s so much to love here, I feel a lot of people who read this blog will really dig this album. Do yourselves a favor and check it out!
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