(As we have for a long stretch of years, we again included in our 2023 Listmania series an eclectic year-end list of records selected by Seb Painchaud from the Montréal band Tumbleweed Dealer. You can see it here. But turns out the list was incomplete… and so it continues today with a dozen more recommendations.)
Here we are yet again. Some of these I missed, some of these I kept off the AOTY list for brevity, and honestly one of these I just kinda forgot to put on when I wrote up the list.
Let’s keep this short I’ve got a teams meeting in 8 minutes.
Oiapok – OisoLün
This is the one I just forgot to include, it was on my ATOP playlist and I just skipped over it when writing the list for some reason. Midway between prog and post rock, this is challenging yet beautiful. From some of the same people from the french act Camembert, you can expect the more serious side of that scene without the wacky stuff.
Tiny Voices – Make Up Your Place
When THE MATH ROCK TIMES names an album best of the year and I haven’t heard it yet, you better know I am going to listen! And what I heard was something upbeat and catchy while being mathy, my wanna-be-midwest heart skips a beat.
Spiritual Cramp – Spiritual Cramp
Bad-ass post punk with attitude.
Owdwyr – Receptor
Passed on this one initially, it’s actually a band member that convinced me to give it another try and then it clicked. From grind to tech death with a side of The Red Chord, it’s got a bit of everything for anyone who likes getting headfucked.
Slowdive – Everything Is Alive
I just honestly wasn’t in a rush to listen to this one as I figured what are the chances Slowdive releases the best shoegaze release of 2023? Sometimes I’m so fucking wrong it hurts.
Dabda – Yonder
Riffy post rock or atmospheric math rock, take your pick, this shit rips.
EABS meets Jaubi – In Search Of A Better Tomorrow
A spiritual experience of a jazz album that reminds of the all mighty Shakti at times!
Mick Jenkins – The Patience
Gotta admit, his previous shit did NOTHING for me, and honestly, it still doesn’t. He always had the flow but I couldn’t get into the beats, but on this album he got it fucking perfect. Jazzy, smoky, backroom deal-y hip hop.
Deafcult – Future Of Illusion
Shoegaze ain’t always love and reverb, this is fuzzy and creepy without compromising catchiness.
Melancholia – Book Of Ruination
I got into Blackened Sludge through a meme page that kept changing names, but was called Blackened Sludge Owl or something when I discovered it. These guys were one of my favorite bands I found on there, but eventually the sub-subgenre stagnated and I lost interest. And then these guys dropped this new album and really leveled up. Its blackened and melodic but never stops being sludgy and nasty.
Jumper Boy – Songs About Furniture
When it comes to math rock, there’s several levels of appreciation I can have for it, ranging from good to great to fucking amazing, but the top tier is Elk, in reference to the TTNG instrumental track off their Animals album. It’s the highest compliment I can give a math rock release, and this right here, is an of EP of Elk-Level Shit.
Rise Of The Northstar – Showdown
Discovered their classic Welcame this year, how the fuck did I sleep on ’em for over a decade? This new album delivers the fucking beatdown of your life.
I’m late for my meeting, go discover your own music. See you next year.
Sebastien Painchaud