If you care about my opinion here are my thoughts on some of my favorites from this list. I’d love to hear some other opinions too!

44. PJ Harvey: I Inside The Old Year Dying

I think most of us know PJ Harvey. This is some of her best work in my opinion.

41. Titanic: Vidrio

This is a collaboration between cellist Mabe Fratti and guitarist Hector Tosta. I’m a fan of anything Fratti has been involved with. It falls somewhere in between experimental, ambient, jazz, and pop.

37. Young Fathers: Heavy Heavy

Almost genreless energy? Excellent album. One of my favorite albums this year. Check out their recent KEXP session.

36. Water From Your Eyes: Everyone’s Crushed

One of the more innovative groups doing stuff right now. Calling it indie pop/rock is an understatement.

32. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter: SAVED!

She changed her name and ditched the metal. But maintained the intensity. It’s religious trauma: the album.

23. billy woods & Kenny Segal: Maps

Likely my favorite hip hop record this year from underground rapper billy woods. It’s dark and thoughtful and Kenny Segal’s production is excellent.

12. Kara Jackson: Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?

Really excellent folk album. Great songwriting and lyricism.

11. Bully: Lucky For You

Nothing groundbreaking here. Just some good fuzzy indie pop/rock.

8. Mitski: The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We

So good that it made it to the album club discussion!

2. Sufjan Stevens: Javelin

For fans of Carrie & Lowell style Sufjan.

1. Wednesday: Rat Saw God

I’m not surprised to see this one at number 1. It’s excellent country tinged noisy alternative rock.

List is not correct. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard put out the three best albums of the year.
#1 PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation (2023)

#2 Live in chicago 23’. 5.5hrs

#3 Live at Red Rocks 22’. 8! Hours.