Curious what notable personalities in the scene think was great this year? So is TGEFM! So we reached out to some of our favorite luminaries ranging from musicians, label personnel, and more for their “Best of 2023” lists. Now, listen: TGEFM is not a taskmistress. Contributors can write these out however they want. So if it doesn't actually look or read like a list… and sometimes it really is just a list with no other observations! Who cares?
Michi Digiulio is the vocalist of Mega Infinity, a progressive ska punk band based out of New York. Mega Infinity consists of Michi and her husband Mike who plays guitar. Mega Infinity released their third EP Chaos Magick on Ska Punk International in 2023. Michi has been performing since childhood. Offstage, Michi is a public relations and digital marketing coordinator, an advocate and job coach for intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a Twitch streamer. Her dream is to one day open an accessible, all ages music venue and record store to create work opportunities for intellectual and developmental disabilities and foster the arts in her local community. Michi was kind enough to share with us her favorite releases by women in 2023.
This is Why– Paramore
While Paramore has been one of the bands at the forefront of the mind for women in music for the last 18 years, This is Why is a standout album for the band. Even after all of these years, they still manage to surprise me with hard hitting lyrics and powerhouse vocals. The instrumentals truly embracing the multitude of influences for each member was what really solidified this album as one I couldn't stop listening to.
Favorite Tracks: “Thick Skull,” “You First”
10,000 Gecs– 100 Gecs
In 2022, Eichlers third album, My Checkered Future was one of my top listened to albums. Eichlers was definitely my introduction to hyperpop and with that I had a deep dive into the duo influencing him the most, 100 Gecs. 10,000 Gecs had singles that were some of my most listened to tracks in 2022 but bringing it all together as an album is its own experience.
I often find myself listening beginning to end, no skips, in all of my commutes. Music being fun is something that I feel is sacrificed way too often by artists but to both have fun and anger reflected in music is a personal love of mine and the duo reflects that sonically and lyrically across the album. The inclusion of straight up ska punk songs also wins my heart.
Favorite Tracks: “Dumbest Girl Alive,” “Frog on the Floor”
Exile– Böndbreakr
Hardcore punk is one of the biggest exports from Long Island that I never really hopped on board for growing up here and that's because the face of LIHC is white and male. Regrettably, while enjoying hardcore especially Every Time I Die and Turnstile, I don't have many experiences finding newer bands I relate to or really pull me in. Which I can hold myself accountable for, I don't try that hard to find them in the first place. I have rarely found a band within the genre not introduced to me by my husband.
Cue Austin TX's Böndbreakr, which I was very excited to be the one to share with my husband.
I was first introduced to Bondbreakr through social media by Hans Gruber and the Die Hards as both are located in Austin, TX. While I have yet to see böndbreakr perform in person, every time one of their performance videos would show up on my screen, I would be completely entranced by their vocalist G. G's stage presence is completely hypnotic and that is not lost on recording with Exile. G inspires me in so many ways. As a performer- I'm a huge fan of her costumes, makeup, and chains on her microphone cable. G is someone who can voice not only the pain of the broken world she sees around her but someone who voices her own pain as a black feminist. G inspires me as an artist and a woman.
The lyrics align with me for their political nature- becoming educated on the United State's true history by decolonizing the lessons we are taught and facing the war on women's reproductive rights. The metal and grunge influences instrumentally are not to be missed.
Don't sleep on Bondbreakr in 2024
Favorite Tracks “Progress and Change,” “Iconoclast”
Prismassive – GHOSH
GHÖSH melds 90s influences that are hard to pin down to one style- nu-metal, electronic, and hip hop. Much like 100 Gecs, there is a level of fun and anger to the lyrics which I just love. Somehow they make bending genres sound so effortless across Prismassive.
The first time I heard the song “Devil Lady,” I could not stop looping it. It goes so hard with the intro riff. The lyrics and performance by vocalist Symphony Spell are the epitome of songs for my villain era. If I ever write a movie, “Devil Lady” would be on the soundtrack.
I'm definitely sad this is this duo's final release. I'll be listening to this EP still into 2024 along with their 2019 track “Dear Daddy.”
Favorite Track: “Devil Lady”
Real Poetry is Always About Plants and Birds and Trees and the Animals and Milk and Honey Breathing in the Pink but Real Life is Behind a Screen– Pacing
I had found Pacing initially on my TikTok algorithm. A lot of the time when I find new (to me) artists on Tiktok, I tend to save them to a playlist and listen back on my extensive work commutes. I loved all of the snakes that Katie (Pacing) would post about and was already a fan of her personality before I had even listened to the music. I had listened to Pacing but it wasn't until the single “Bite Me,” came out that I was hooked.
“Bite Me” is the first track and has the name of the album Real Poetry is Always About Plants and Birds and Trees and the Animals and Milk and Honey Breathing in the Pink but Real Life is Behind a Screen in the first verse. My favorite line though is the chorus, “You can bite me if it makes you feel any better. You can bite me if it makes you feel.”
Once while in a fight with my husband, I listened to “The Attic/Ghostbusters” nearly 15 times in a row while crying. Sometimes I just need music that lyrically can say something I can't find the words for myself.
Pacing definitely writes music that's relatable for late diagnosed ADHD folks like myself, but even if you weren't following along with Katie's fast paced lyrics, it's just well written and catchy music. This album in particular reminds me of one of my favorite songwriters of all time- Regina Spektor. It's quirky, intelligent, and musically lovely. Listening to this album took me back to being 14 years old and hearing Soviet Kitsch and Begin to Hope for the first time. I'm looking forward to getting into more of Pacing's discography and hopefully seeing them perform Real Poetry tracks in real life.
Favorite Tracks: “Bite Me,” “The Attic/Ghostbusters,” “Have You Tried Meditation?”
More Favorites I highly recommend:
As Above- Hoity Toity
Favorite Track: “Over It”
Moonflower- Flying Raccoon Suit
Favorite Track: “Take This With You,” “Swan Song”
Anna– Yours, Sincerely
Favorite Tracks:“The Covers,” “Freezer Cigarettes”
Be Gay, Have Fun– Pinksqueeze
Favorite Tracks: “I'm Thinking of Ending Things,” “Holy Critter”
Past/Present/Future– Meet me @ the Altar
Favorite Tracks: “Kool,” “Say it to my Face”
