Albums I Never Got Round To Reviewing In 2023: Andre 3000, Drake, Foo Fighters and more…

I catch up on albums from Andre 3000, Avenged Sevenfold, Caroline Polachek, Drake, Foo Fighters, PinkPantheress, Sampha, Squid, Sufjan Stevens, Thantifaxath, Tomb Mold and Wednesday.

My Top 20 Favourite Albums of 2023

It’s time for my favourite albums of 2023. Which records made the cut?

Review of 'Playing Robots Into Heaven' by James Blake

After a decade of ethereal ballads, James Blake returns to his roots and delivers some exciting experimental EDM.

Review of 'Scarlet' by Doja Cat

Doja’s claws are out. Gone are the horny alien pop bops. She’s now making angry demonic rap. And it’s both fun and frustrating to listen to.

Review of 'Guts' by Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo proves on Guts that she’s one of the more exciting artists to come out of Mickey Mouse’s pop star assembly line – especially when she leans more towards her rock side.

Review of 'Knower Forever' by Knower

The fact Knower aren’t more well-known is an absolute crime. The duo’s latest jazz-funk banger bonanza is one of the most fun albums I’ve heard in a while.

Review of 'UTOPIA' by Travis Scott

The guestlist is impressive and the production is fun, but it’s still not enough to conceal the fact that Travis Scott is an utterly unexciting rapper.

Review of 'The Age Of Pleasure' by Janelle Monae

 

Janelle Monae trades Afrofuturist android adventures for radio-friendly raunchy reggae.

Review of ‘Post-American’ by MSPAINT

Mississippi band MSPAINT make hip-hop-infused hardcore punk with synths – which is every bit as fun and unique as it sounds.

Review of '10,000 Gecs' by 100 Gecs

Goodbye hyperpop. Hello hyperrock.

Review of '72 Seasons' by Metallica

Metallica continue to stay true to their thrash roots. But with so few risks taken and such clunky songwriting, you have to ask yourself ‘is this really more enjoyable than St Anger?’.

Review of 'Scaring The Hoes' by JPEGmafia and Danny Brown

Scaring The Hoes sees rappers JPEGmafia and Danny Brown celebrating their mutual weirdness. If you want to get kicked out of a house party for ‘scaring the hoes’, play this album (although I can think of much worse examples if you really want to cause utter chaos. Imagine putting Trout Mask Replica on the aux. Or maybe some Merzbow? That’s how you scare the hoes.)

Double Review: 'Gigi's Recovery' by The Murder Capital and 'Food for Worms' by Shame

British/Irish post-punk continues to thrive in 2023. But it looks like spoken word is out, and singing is back in.

Review of 'Like..?' by Ice Spice

Ice Spice? Is she, like, the secret sixth member of The Spice Girls? I decided to check out.

Review of 'Let's Start Here' by Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty has evolved. Enter Mega Yachty.

ALBUMS I NEVER GOT ROUND TO REVIEWING IN 2022: Beyonce, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys and more...

Time to catch up on albums from Beyonce, FKA Twigs, The Garden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fontaines DC, Meat Wave, Polyphia, Arctic Monkeys, Father John Misty, Vince Staples, Open Mike Eagle and Alvvays.

My Top 20 Favourite Albums of 2022

I’ve put off this list long enough. So without further ado, here are my favourite albums of 2022.

Double Review: 'Stumpwork' by Dry Cleaning and 'Hellfire' by black midi

You’ve heard of mumble rap. But what about ramble rock? Yes, that’s the term I’m now using to describe these types of bands (it’s better than ‘windmill scene’).

Review of 'I Love You Jennifer B' by Jockstrap

Jockstrap’s crazy debut album is definitely an AOTY contender.

Review of 'Will Of The People' by Muse

Muse deliver their latest batch of bombastic protest songs – which includes surprise metal riffs, an Adele-flavoured piano ballad and a random Halloween anthem.