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?
As a member of The End Times, Fat Chance and the recently formed The Chemical Imbalance, its hard to imagine Weston Mohr had much more to say, then they released 3 solo EPs in 3 months as Weftin: a covers EP Unoriginal Asshole Vol 1, The Black Pill and The Blue Pill. Each a more manic, more schizophrenic and more beautiful cacophony erupting from speakers. Mohr somehow find time between all those projects to share his favorite records from 2023.
Lemme start by saying, I listened to A LOT of new stuff this year… it was hard to remember it all, because there was DEFINITELY a lot of cool stuff to come out this year. Making this list was very hard, but after several revisions, I think these stand as my absolute favorite albums of the year (in no particular order) – so let’s get into it.
1 – Scaring the Hoes Vol. 1 – Danny Brown / Jpegmafia
Starting things off strong, this is easily my Album Of the Year. I’ve been a big Danny Brown fan since his album “The Hybrid” and I was always told I’d fall in love with Jpegmafia (and I did) so needless to say, when this project got announced, I was anxiously awaiting it… straight up, this is the first album in YEARS that I torrented just so I could hear it before anyone else! This is truly a unique project – from Danny’s yammering bars of witty dialog to Peggy’s absolute ferocious flows drenched in swagger and steez, all coupled with the weirdest and most uniquely catchy beats produced. I really have nothing but amazing things to say about this record.
FAVE TRACKS: “Steppa Pig”, “Fentanyl Tester”, “Garbage Pail Kids”, “Shut Yo Bitchass Up / Muddy Waters”, “God Loves You”
2 – Fanfare – Dorian Electra
This might come as a surprise to some, but I’m a big fan of hyperpop. Yes I’ll admit it… I’m a sucker for 100 Gecs, Estelle Allen and the like. But Dorian takes the throne for me in terms of the genre. This album, like the one mentioned above, was a project I obsessively waited for. I was not disappointed. The album is an absolute showstopper, hopping between beautiful pop songs and uniquely prog inspired rock anthems. There’s also this looming metal influence over the whole record that especially comes out on “Manmade Horrors” and “Phonies”. Needless to say, this record gets two thumbs way the hell up, Dorian has proved themselves yet again that they are truly one of a kind.
FAVE SONGS: “Idolize”, “Phonies”, “Wanna Be A Star”, “Yes Man”, “Freak Mode”
3 – Self Titled – The Karens
Okay, these people are my friends. So maybe I’m a little biased, but honestly, this record rips. All memes and jokes aside this is a down home, dirty punk record that spits in your face and burns it all down whilst not taking itself too seriously. With Swams scummy but raw vocal delivery and Bean’s pummeling, yet driving basslines, you truly feel like you’re the cashier in the crosshairs of a ill tempered, bad haircut, over entitled white woman in her mid 40s… but this time, you’re itching for more!
FAVE TRACKS: “Piss in the Sink”, “ACAB (Except for RoboCop)”, “Trans Rights”, “Fix the Ice Cream Machine”, “Lemme Speak to Your Manager”
4 – The Inevitable Fork Vol. 2 – Melted Bodies
Melted Bodies have been a favorite of mine since their earth shattering debut album Enjoy Yourself and honestly, I’m surprised why these guys aren’t selling out arenas right now. They kick so much ass and are all the best parts of metal, art, and intrusive thoughts. The Inevitable Fork Vol. 2 is their latest offering and it definitely comes out swinging. It’s a no-nonsense fireball of fury with many twists and turns throughout and a solid message that is heard loud and clear upon completion.
FAVE TRACKS: Every single one.
5 – Body Songs – Circuit Circuit
A band I discovered this year through my buddy and musical partner, Dan Cimino. Ain’t much to say about this record other than DAMN. If you can imagine Every Time I Die and Botch putting a bunch of tiny fluffy animals in a blender and setting it to “Puree” then that’s KINDA what this record sounds like. Experimental, jarring, heavy-hitting, Noisy, and slightly creepy…. oh, and it’s only their second EP. Don’t sleep on these guys! I cannot wait to hear what they do next
FAVE SONGS: “I Dream the World Awake”, “Blood in My Eye (Holy Human)”, “Null”
6 – Ignore Grief – Xiu Xiu
You like losing sleep? You enjoy giving yourself a chill? Well, have I got the record for you! It’s hard to throw this recorded cacophony into a category, but since it’s release, I’ve been torturing myself by letting the album play through on some of my darkest drives of the year. Lemme tell ya… the goosebumps are unlike anything I’ve felt. Definitely gonna be playing this loud to scare away the Jehovah’s Witnesses away in the future.
FAVE TRACKS: “666 Pictures of Nothing”, “Maybae Baeby”, “Brothel Creeper”, “Border Factory”
7 – Ex Machina – Steve Lehman
I feel as though jazz almost never gets the spotlight anymore. Everyone claims to like it, but no one ever talks about it, or, much like people who listen to ska, they’re hung up on the old heroes of yesterday. Well, Steve Lehman is definitely the most forward thinking cat I’ve heard come out of the jazz woodwork. I was a big fan of his previous project “The People I Love” and this new record definitely solidified my love for his work. With horn lines you can’t help but mouth along to and beats that get your toes and hands tapping, along with some atonal delights, It’s impossible for me to NOT like this. Definitely going to be a big source of inspiration for my own writing in the future.
FAVE TRACKS: “39”, “Jeux D’Anches”, “Speed Freeze Part 2”, “Chimera”
8 – We the Cats Shall Hep You (Live) – Cab Calloway
Now I know what you’re thinking “Cab has been dead for years, this album doesn’t count” well guess what, you little jit? It got remastered and re-released this year! This is my list and I can do what I want! This album, and furthermore, Cab himself needs no introduction. Some of my favorite songs are on this record. And I’m happy to experience them all over again, Live and in high definition audio.
FAVE TRACKS: “Exactly Like You”, “That Old Black Magic”, “Russian Lullaby”, “We the Cats Shall Hep You”
9 – Screaming at the Top of My Lungs – Amy Gabba and the Almost Famous
Again, another group of people who are my friends and I may be biased to, but I speak the truth when I say this is a bulletproof record. I am not a fan of Ska music, mostly because I find a lot of bands nowadays trying to emulate their heros too much, or trying to break the mold too hard and failing. Amy and her crew have definitely made it known from the start that they are in their own lane and they are taking no prisoners. This record is undeniably the catchiest and grooviest collection of tunes in the genre to me… and I HATE SKA! So that should say something all on its own. Bouncing between pop punk angst and traditional Two-Tone inspired pop songs, this record has me itching for more everytime it completes a cycle in my car.
FAVE TRACKS: “Punching Underwater”, “One of my Mistakes”, “Asking For It”, “The Way We Changed”, “Uber Over”
10 – Space Heavy – King Krule
Finally, the end of my list, and quite possibly my most played record of the year… Space Heavy is, in my opinion, King Krule’s best record hands down. The amount of emotions this thing managed to pull out of me has been absurd. So many times have I cried my eyes out to the opening track “Flimsier” and spent countless times staring off and pondering my life to “Our Vacuum” – it’s truly something else. I love how soul-wrenching this album gets, just as well as it gets jazzy and groovy. I know this type of thing isn’t really “punk rock” to listen to… but when did I ever give a shit about that? Go listen to this, absorb it, and feel every single thing along the way
FAVE TRACKS: “Flimsier”, “Pink Shell”, “Our Vacuum”, “Hamburgerphobia”, “Space Heavy”
