It was really hard to narrow down my favorite albums of this past year. Here’s the cream of the crop. Stay tuned for my Honorable Mention list soon!
25. Billy Nomates – Metal Horse A solid release from Billy Nomates AKA Victoria Ann “Tor” Maries. Love “Dark Horse Friend,” which features Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers.
24. NewDad – Altar They’re brooding, yet there’s also a lightness. I kept thinking that they reminded me of a darker version of The Glee Club, and it turns out that they’re both from Galway!
23. Anika – Abyss Hearing Anika sing, “Sometimes I know, life can just suck,” resonates with me. Recommended for fans of Broadcast and baroque pop.
22. Juliana Hatfield – Lightning Might Strike Just under the wire, Hatfield’s latest indie rock album came out on December 12. I actually held off publishing this list because I was waiting to hear it. The wait was worth it. If you haven’t kept up with Hatfield’s prolific career, Lightning Might Strike is the perfect album to reconnect with. It’s a nervous breakdown with melodies and hooks for days.
21. Alison Goldfrapp – Flux My favorite dance/pop album of the year.
20. Coach Party – Caramel This album is sweet and energetic. I’m jealous of everyone who got to see the Ash/Coach Party double bill in the UK!
19. Steve Queralt – Swallow Of course, the bassist from Ride released a gorgeous and sublime album of soundscapes. Guest appearances by Emma Anderson (Sing-Sing/Lush) and Verity Susman (Electrelane, MEMORIALS) complete this dreamy concoction.
18. Andy Bell – pinball wanderer Bell is perhaps best known as the guitarist/vocalist of Ride and the bassist for a little act called Oasis. Full of Madchester beats, Andy Bell’s solo foray is groovy.
17. Maria Somerville – Luster A divine album of swirly dream pop.
16. The Cords – The Cords Absolutely charming indie pop from Scotland.
15. Lambrini Girls – Who Let the Dogs Out Fantastic noise-punk from the UK. Be sure to check out the Peaches remix of their instant classic single “Cuntology 101.”
14. Ólafur Arnalds & Talos – A Dawning An understated and gorgeous album of ambient pop.
13. Miki Berenyi Trio – Tripla Former front person of Lush and Piroshka delights with her latest project.
12. Saint Etienne – International Efferfescent pop tunes. Possibly one of the best albums of their storied career.
11. Black Honey – Soak Recommended for fans of Metric and Catatonia. So many great, sing-along earworm tracks like “Insulin,” “Dead,” and “Shallow.”
10. Shame – Cutthroat Ugh. I looooove Shame so much. They’re like a grittier Kaiser Chiefs. Their fourth album is full of vim and vigor.
9. Wolf Alice – The Clearing Upon first listen, I was a bit disappointed, as I felt Wolf Alice had gone in a different direction from their last release. But this album has grown on me, and it’s now in “Bloom Baby Bloom.” It’s full of seventies warmth while still retaining a current edge. They’ve matured and evolved.
8. Goddess – Goddess I am enamored with this project from Fay Milton of Savages. Each track features a different, dynamic vocalist. I sought it out because Ex:Re (AKA Elena Tonra of Daughter) was featured, and I ended up loving the whole album.
7. Deep Sea Diver – Billboard Heart Infectious indie rock! I’m obsessed with this album.
6. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk A stunning sophomore effort from the voice of The National. After releasing his first solo album, Berninger found himself enduring a period of writer’s block. A move from Los Angeles to Connecticut and a new way of writing-scribbling on baseballs-broke the curse. And alas, we found ourselves with two new albums from The National in one year (2023), and with this beautiful, sombre meditation that is Get Sunk. Personal note: Every time I hear “Bonnet of Pins,” I feel happy because Berninger and I sang a few lines from it together at an in-store performance at Rough Trade NYC. He has such a gifted way of connecting with audiences.
5. Nine Inch Nails – TRON:ARES This soundtrack has everything: great score work we’ve come to expect from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, a banging NIN single (“As Alive As You Need Me to Be”), and haunting pieces like “Echoes” and “I Know You Can Feel It.” Do note: “Who Wants to Live Forever?” is not a cover of the Queen song from the classic film Highlander, but rather it’s a duet with Reznor and guest vocalist Judeline.
4. Suede – Antidepressants This album is so good! These songs are anthemic, soaring, and speak to my soul. With lyrics like, “Oh, oh, well it’s broken music and it’s broken people | Who will save the world, oh oh save the world.” Brett Anderson just gets me.
3. Pulp – More I did, indeed, want More from Pulp. I’m glad the Sheffield Britpoppers got back together for their first album in 24 years. More, their eighth studio album, ranks up there with Different Class, His ‘n’ Hers, and This Is Hardcore, and is sort of a mix of the three.
2. Ash – Ad Astra A power pop opus is how I described the ninth studio album from Ash in my full review.
1. Garbage – Let All That We Imagine Be Light Garbage’s eighth album picks up where No Gods No Masters left off, and is, dare I say, optimistic? The whole album sounds fantastic. The quartet, led by the indomitable Shirley Manson, is not going down without a fight. For example, a portion of the lyrics to “Chinese Fire Horse”: “You say my time is over. Over, over. That I have gotten old. So old. That I no longer do it for you. And my face now leaves you cold … And I should just retire. Retire, retire. Just a fucking minute. Who you talking to?”
Pop Culture Omnivore 