Phase 2 of our look back at ’23’s best continues today (in place of our usual ‘Amplified’ newsletter) with another round of critics’ picks. Check ’em out and listen to music from the releases in this roundup.
Michigan Heroes: They made the ‘best of 2023’ list at Local Spins. (Photos/Derek Ketchum/Anna Sink)
Welcome to Part 2 of our annual look at the best music and concerts of the year.
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If you missed the first round of Local Spins writers’ picks for top albums and live shows of 2023 (as chosen by Troy Reimink, Holly Holtzclaw, Ross Boissoneau, Bobby Novak and Chelsea Whitaker), check them out here.
Today, the year-end roundup comes courtesy of Tricia Woolfenden Boot, Dutcher Snedeker, Todd Ernst, Matt Marn and metalhead John Serba — all of whom prove it was a banner year in a wide swath of musical categories.
They also give a nod to several Michigan artists, including The War and Treaty, Moss Manor, May Erlewine, Sufjan Stevens, Dylan Delato and more. Check out their picks and listen to music from all of the releases below.
THE WRITERS’ PICKS: BEST MUSIC OF 2023 (PART 2)
Tricia Boot
BEST SONGS OF 2023
1. Sufjan Stevens, “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” (off “Javelin”) — Michigan-born singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens can deftly pull off any number of musical iterations and identities, but he’s perhaps at his finest when embracing the raw, intimate and achingly beautiful style at the forefront of this year’s “Javelin.” “Will Anybody Ever Love Me,” in particular, earns a lofty position among the artists’ storied catalog of gorgeous tear jerkers. Find a cozy nook, a comfy place to cry and prepare to reflect back on the year that was.
Listen: “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?”
2. Kylie Minogue, “Padam Padam” (off “Tension”) — Sugary sweet, sexy and irresistibly catchy, the eternally gorgeous queen of Australian pop delivered with yet another dance club anthem for the ages.
Listen: “Padam Padam”
3. Great Lake Swimmers, “Flight Paths” (off “Uncertain Country”) — Canadian born-and-bred folk band Great Lakes Swimmers number among the legions of bands whose audience/reach will simply never match their talent (as evidenced by the low–if passionate–turnout for their outstanding Oct. 6 appearance at Pyramid Scheme). All that to say, one should really check out this standout track from their latest studio release.
Listen: “Flight Paths”
4. Mitski, “My Love Mine All Mine” (off “The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We”) — TikTok may have helped catapult this wonderfully melancholy singer-songwriter to new levels of fame, but Mitski’s music deserves to be savored at length, with due respect, apart from the bite-sized morsels delivered by way of the contrived, glossy and surface-level confines of that social media platform. Watch/listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx4kLgnFexo
5. Lana Del Ray, “A&W” (off “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.”) — To be a woman — particularly, a woman in the public eye — is to be assessed. Is it any wonder that Lana Del Ray, whose appearance (and very existence) are the never-ending subject of critique, criticism and derision, would deliver one of the year’s best assessments of the intersection of femininity and fame?: “Look at the length of my hair, my face, the shape of my body/Do you really think I give a damn what I do after years of just hearing them talking?”
Listen: “A&W”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Olivia Rodrigo, “vampire” (off “GUTS”); Christine and the Queens, “To Be Honest” (off “Paranoia, Angels, True Love”); Slowdive, “kisses” (off “Everything is Alive”); Black Pumas, “More Than a Love Song” (off “Chronicles of a Diamond”); boygenius, “Not Strong Enough” (off “the record”)
BEST CONCERT: The Violent Femmes with the Grand Rapids Symphony at DeVos Performance Hall, Oct. 7 — Novelty alone isn’t enough to qualify a performance as among the year’s best, but the unexpectedness (and nostalgia) of this unusual pairing helped to nudge it to the top of my list in a year filled with noteworthy live musical experiences.
(Honorable Mentions: First Aid Kit at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, July 21; Andrew Bird at Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, April 7; Moxie Strings at Midtown, Nov. 15 and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Treme Threauxdown at Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, April 29.)
Dutcher Snedeker
1. “Radio Misterio,” Pedro Martins – After falling in love with his playing on his previous record “VOX,” I was excited to see him forming a group with a solid lineup of the West Coast’s finest fusion players under the name of his new record, “Radio Misterio.” This album is steeped in multiple traditions and disciplines while painting so colorfully within the arrangements, tones, and textures brilliantly displayed throughout.
Listen: “Polos”
2. “Knower Forever,” Knower – This is the first proper Knower album since 2016, and after years of stellar live performances and singles, they’ve expanded their roster to include some of music’s finest players nestled among their usual electro-funk, jazz-infused pop music. One minute you’re flying 1000 mph on a cybernetic freeway and the next you’re washed in a beautiful tapestry of tape warble and cascading soundscapes, the whole experience is equally joyful and grounding.
Listen: “Real Nice Moment”
3. “Solar Music,” Butcher Brown – Watching this album play out live at El Club in Detroit this fall cemented this record as one of my favorites this year. Butcher Brown returns with their tasty blend of jazz, funk, hip hop, rock and soul music with a wonderful pairing against Latin music, dance club/house music beats, and some truly infectious grooves and melodies strung throughout that instantly transport me into their world. Plus, as a musician, there are a lot of things I want to study on this record.
Listen: “I Can Say To You (ft Vanisha)”
4. “Hortela,” MARO – This record provided me calm in moments of great stress throughout the year, as it is MARO in an intimate setting sharing her beautiful stories enriched by the acoustic guitar, piano, and other voices decorating this listening space. It is a record that brings me back into focus and grounds my busy brain in my human spirit, and I’m grateful for artists like her in this often crowded, noisy industry.
Listen: “oxala”
5. “The Omnichord Real Book,” Meshell Ndegeocello – This album opened my ears to Meshell Ndegeocello’s wide range of influences and expressions, such a well done experience with so many styles and colors. It also spoke to a lot of things I was dealing with in 2023, which helped me also keep my ears tuned to those nuggets of wisdom from other artists I was gravitating towards as well.
Listen: “ASR”
LOCAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: “Moss Manor,” Moss Manor – When I first heard this record, I was lying down on a soft, carpeted floor near a cozy fireplace and I felt my stress and tension leave my body immediately. To then go from a listener to an active participant in their live shows sprinkled throughout the year was so special; I’m grateful to all of those guys for extending a hand and inviting me into their creative world.
Listen: “Anywhere”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Lean In” (Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke), , “War of Being” (TesseracT), “Akousmatikous” (Salami Rose Joe Louis), “Forever Forever” by Genevieve Artadi, “It’s Okay, B U” (Kiefer), “Saturday Night” (CARRTOONS), “Tiny Things” (Tiny Habits)
FAVORITE CONCERT: For me, it has to be a tie between seeing Butcher Brown at El Club in Detroit and seeing Meshuggah at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, because both brought stellar supporting acts (DatSunn, CARRTOONS for one, Whitechapel and In Flames for the other) and both are some of my favorites I’ve ever seen live with how things were staged, the selection of tunes, and the energy from the crowds. I’ll also say that being able to see the “Van Andel Scramble” was wild in terms of the spectacle of such an event and catching Mark Lavengood sharing the stage with Billy Strings.
Matt Marn
1. Jon Batiste, “World Music Radio” – New Orleans vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste follows up on his multiple-Grammy-winning 2021 album, “WE ARE.” And this time, Batiste threw in a wide variety of musical styles. Throughout an album featuring notes from a variety of genres, Batiste brings countless artists from several genres onto the tracklist to help him present his versatile masterpiece. He introduces the album as a public access radio programmer, hinting at the variety of music to come as similar to community stations of a similar nature. As a passionate fan of our own Grand Rapids community radio station, 88.1 FM WYCE, this spoke volumes to not only piquing my interest, but the sort of variety in the music that caught my attention along the way, and never let go.
Listen: “Butterfly”
2. NEEDTOBREATHE, “CAVES” – The beloved South Carolina rock band NEEDTOBREATHE is back for more in its newest release, “CAVES.” And true to form, the group brings another round of not only fantastic songs and musical collaborations with other phenomenal artists, but powerful, inspiring messages within the lines of each track.
Listen: “Everknown”
3. May Erlewine, “The Real Thing” – May Erlewine is a regional icon, and with good reason. Her soothing tones and kind, heartfelt messages of peace are pieces of something we – all of us – need to bear in mind and continue to embrace, each and every day. This new album is another fantastic example of music we can use to grow, as well as enjoy.
Listen: “Love and Desire”
4. The War and Treaty, “Lover’s Game” – The powerhouse duo from Albion have released another gospel-rock treasure in “Lover’s Game.” It’s not hard to see why they have caught the national spotlight, and are starting to bring in nominations from the biggest awards in music. As with their 2023 Grand Rapids tour stop at The Stache in the Intersection, they pack equal parts of power and punch from straight out of a rock concert, smooth vocals of Motown legends, and truth and love of a gospel Sunday morning into a powerful force of a release. I won’t be the first to tell you to watch this duo as their name continues to rise, and I won’t be the last.
Listen: “Blank Page”
5. Ally Venable, “Real Gone” – Young blues-rock rising star Ally Venable toured this summer with blues icon Buddy Guy, stopping in Grand Rapids and bringing everyone in the crowd to their feet. The fun on that stage from the two names was hard not to catch yourself. Not to mention, based on the fact that Venable shares tracks on her impressive new album with famous names such as Buddy Guy and Joe Bonamassa, it is safe to say her powerful voice and blazing blues riffs are just getting started on the way to the top of the charts.
Listen: “Real Gone”
BEST CONCERT OF 2023: The War and Treaty, April 20 at The Stache – As mentioned above, The War and Treaty is a true performance powerhouse. Originally hailing from Albion, they soon gained notoriety the likes of which few ever see, got recognition and countless awards the nation over. But, on their tour across the country, when they stopped back home in Michigan, they took the time to thank the fans and groups that helped them get to where they are, including Local Spins and WYCE. Through the evening, they put on a show I will never forget. Powerful, raw passion – from both rock tempos to sensitive ballads – the duo blend together all of the different tones, genres and aspects of music that come together to make the group truly great. From sharing cheering moments with fans over rock-driven upbeat numbers, to literally shedding tears onstage while sharing intensely powerful, moving stories behind some of the songs they have written together, Michael and Tanya Trotter share the stage and the power over the audience with such a moving, unmistakable chemistry. With a room packed to capacity with screaming fans, singing back every word to them, they spent most of the evening simply staring into each other’s eyes, singing just between them. And we were just fortunate enough to be in the same room to see it.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (Albums): Roosevelt Diggs, “Reverie”; Black Pumas, “Chronicles of a Diamond”; ARTEMIS, “In Real Time”; Buffalo Nichols, “The Fatalist”; Robert Finley, “Black Bayou”; Tre Burt, “Traffic Fiction”; Allison Miller, “Rivers in Our Veins”
John Serba
1. Venusberg Cardinal, “Atlas of Dungeons” – The creatively lucrative Quebecois black metal scene hacks up another bilious trichobezoar of mid-paced, abrasive black metal, and those in the know emerge from their dank pits to droolingly rejoice. Featuring members of the (un)godly Departure Chandelier (whose upcoming album “Satan Soldier of Fortune” is destined to be on this list a year from now), this project recorded “Atlas” back in 2010, shelved it and finallty released it this year in all its scratchy glory – weirdly epic riffs, vocals an anguished rasp, production values a notch south of raw, vaguely medieval evilness oozing through the crevices of foul-smelling arrangements. Nonbelievers will hear noise, but aficionados of antisocial screeching obscurity will relish the ugliness and taste the dank-dungeon cobwebbed vibes on their tongues. “Antique black metal” reads the hype sticker on the vinyl. You said it, you misanthropes.
Listen: “The Helmet and Spear”
2. Primordial, “How it Ends” – Another ambitious and sprawling effort from these Irish epic pagan metal stalwarts, “How it Ends” is Primordial’s 10th LP, and their most inspired and muscular work since 2011’s irrepressible “Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand.” The band’s push-pull dynamic of melodicism and aggression rings true as ever, fueled by the passionate vocals of Alan “Nemtheanga” Averill, who’s characteristically rangy and charismatic, feisty like an animal on the cusp of going feral. Primordial’s hallmarks are all here – buried Celtic melodies, roiling drums, clean vocal howls, a keen balance of metals black and classic. The title track, “Ploughs to Rust, Swords to Dust” and “Nothing New Under the Sun” stand out, but this epic LP is is the sound of horses galloping into battle, the armed and armored men strapped to them destined to die, proud and mighty.
Listen: “How It Ends”
3. Overkill, “Scorched” – Twenty albums for Joisey’s finest thrash band. Nah – the world’s finest, among those still standing (there aren’t that many maintaining this level of relevance), and nothing will ever fell these guys. Par for the Overkill course: Ten mighty fine rippers, whether rollercoastering on an epic metal arrangement (the title track), getting slice-and-dicey with quicker tempos (“The Surgeon”), or finding an immense shuck-and-jive groove (“Bag o’ Bones”). Only Overkill does this type of crunchy, unapologetic old-guy metal with such sincerity and conviction. There’s plenty of life left in this growling vintage machine; here’s to 20 more albums.
Listen: “The Surgeon”
4. Urfaust, “Untergang” – That’s the sound of the book slamming shut: Urfaust dropped yet another transcendent LP of beautifully agonizing uncategorizable blackish-doomy-ambient metal – then called it quits on the day of its release. Hence the snuffed candle on the album cover. RIP to the brand of tortured, epic, lurching wails of pain these self-described clochards cornered the market on, not that anyone else does anything like this (or ever will). The magic is over. Kaput. Done. The alchemist has smashed and burned his laboratory and stumbled drunkenly into the graveyard to fall into a pauper’s casket and be covered with a thick, loamy blanket of worm-filled dirt. Time to summon your own existential dread metal, kids. Or you could be like me and just pour booze into your freshly void Urfaust hole and weep.
Listen: “Untergang”
5. Odz Manouk, “Bosoragazan” – Odz Manouk plays what I’ll hereby deem “indescribable void metal” – ostensibly black metal, but so much more, a swirl of discombobulating post-Mayhem riffs intertwined with blastbeat drums in stormy, complex arrangements topped with the bereaved wails of a vocalist unhinged. This project, derived from the now mostly splintered Black Twilight Circle/Rhinocervs collectives from Los Angeles, was dead-silent for a decade before dropping this and accompanying full-length “Tzorr” simultaneously and without warning, much to the delight of basement-dwelling hesher lifers who still feed cassettes full of obscure noises into vintage decks hungry to masticate thin little strips of magnetic tape, thus making it sound all delightfully decayed and warbly. Where was I? Right – “Bosoragazan” at least got a vinyl release, so let’s push you toward that one, but beware the wonderfully unseemly shifts from speedy tempos to off-kilter atonal lurching, which could give those of lesser metal fortitude the bends.
Listen: ԲՈՍՈՐԱԳԱԶԱՆ
BEST CONCERT: Midnight at The Pyramid Scheme (May 1) – The Scheme had a hell of a year, booking Helmet (those ’90s riffs aged very well), Mudhoney (never noticed before how very Stooges they are), Crowbar (succulent tarpit sludge metal) and a towering Boris/Melvins double bill (Melvins played their song “Boris” and Boris, named after the song “Boris,” covered the song “Boris”), all of whom put on memorable shows. But Midnight? Cleveland’s heinous amalgam of Venom and Motorhead? The grimy-ass kings of black rock ‘n’ roll? They were tight, fun and funny, clad in masked hoods and bullet belts, taking nothing seriously but the Power Of The Riff. “Groin Gripper” led into “Evil Like a Knife” led into “You Can’t Stop Steel” led into “Who Gives a F—?”, and I definitely gave at least one of those. If you don’t give at least one of those about Midnight, hey, your loss, poser.
Ernst (Photo/Tony Norkus)
1. Cannons, “Heartbeat Highway” – The L.A.-based indie-pop band’s fourth pressing continues with their trademark sound of reverb-drenched deluxe downtempo. While the hit single is no question the whistling charmer, “Loving You,” if I didn’t know any better, they might be pulling a page out of Taylor Swift’s playbook with the second track called “Crush.”
Listen: “Heartbeat Highway”
2. Poolside, “Blame It All On Love” – It was a gorgeous afternoon when Local Spins had a chance to catch up with Jeffrey Paradise (aka Poolside) during his performance at a Movement client appreciation party in Detroit back in May. Floating somewhere between Chillwave and Nu Disco, my favorite part about Poolside is it is impossible to pin down an exact style, while maintaining a bit of ‘yep, no question it’s them’ sound. Spotify tells me “Blame It All On Love” was my most listened to record of 2023, and with good reason as it’s an absolute treasure.
Listen: “Back to Life”
3. Le Youth, “About Us” – It’s hard to pin down an exact style here on Le Youth’s sophomore effort, as the LA based DJ/producer drifts seamlessly between melodic techno, organic house and dreamy downtempo. His track called “Lost” ended up being my most listened to track of 2023 per Spotify.
Listen: “Lost”
4. Cristoph, “Facet Vol. 1 & 2” – The British DJ/Producer is the embodiment of a blue-collar work ethic as it gets. Cristoph recently wrapped up a 14-city O2C tour (seven of which sold out) where he demonstrated his depth and acumen as a live DJ, playing for as many as seven hours straight on a few of the nights.
Listen: “Consequence of Society”
5. Sultan + Shepard, “Forever, Now” – These guys have been on my radar for a decade now while they were turning out top collabs with artists like Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga and Tiësto for instance. Their newest full-length is exactly what I hope for in an electronic record: diverse with depth. An added bonus effort is called “Forever, Now Remixed.” They will be playing at Electric Forest this summer as well.
Listen: “Making Time”
FAVORITE LOCAL/REGIONAL RELEASE: Dylan Delato, “Sugar Sugar” – Somehow, the Mount Pleasant based high school junior came up with an idea to rework the The Archie’s seminal 1969 hit “Sugar Sugar” into a bass house dance floor masterpiece. Listen to it here.
BEST CONCERT: Cannons at The Riviera Theater in Chicago on Sept. 1 – This was my fourth time seeing Cannons and I absolutely love watching their trajectory. The first show in Detroit at the 500-ish person venue called The Magic Stick, to the 2,500-person sold-out show at Chicago’s Riviera a few months ago. A small group of us are headed to Red Rocks in Colorado for their show in April 2024.
Cassandra Kipp
Pretoria, “Fat Chance” – An incredible release from a band that had previously disappointed me, the retro fun and passion of this track took me by surprise and became one of my favorite songs. The synth riff and vocal delivery and attitude are perfect, and every element is carefully produced and honed.
WSTR, “‘Til the Wheels Fall Off” – Pop-punk has been my mood of choice for the past two years, and I discovered WSTR, a British band, last year. Their September album has some of their best work — every piece is a rebellious anthem, with perfect climatic rises and falls accompanied by wild riffs.
Listen: “I Hate It Here.”
Basic Comfort, “DIMENSIONS” – Interviewing Basic Comfort this summer in preparation for this release bought a personal connection, but regardless the spacey groove would be contagious and dramatic. Thoughtful but fun, the band takes its signature attitude and propels it forward.
Listen: “All About You,” ft. Moorea Masa.
Headband Henny, “Bedroom Pop” – Energetic, new, and excited, Henry Parwoth and his band have been performing intensely through 2023, commanding a powerful stage presence. “Bedroom Pop” has a wonderful rhythm, complemented by a filling synth, well-crafted lyrics and Parwoth’s voice used just right.
Listen: “Bedroom Pop”
Earth Radio, “Mosaic Dreams” – Earth Radio is a Local Spins staple for good reason. Their entrancing, otherworldly soul captured me at Local Spins Fest, and this album is no different. Their truly earthy texture lays itself bare.
Listen: “STOP! Calling Me.”
BEST CONCERT: Hastings’ Fair Ground Festival at Barry County Expo Center, Aug. 28 — The first in hopefully more Hastings’ Fair Ground Festivals, the stage and weather were beautiful and the lineup was varied but in quality overdrive. The audience watched with rapt attention, there for The Crane Wives but stunned by everyone else. Female-lead-focused, each band bought only their best to the table.
Copyright 2023, Spins on Music LLC
