It’s still the first week of December, but publications like Pitchfork, Stereogum, and Gorilla vs Bear have all shared their favorite albums of the year. So, as we get closer to the actual start of 2024, I imagine we’ll see fewer new releases between now and January. That being said, artists like Beyoncé, D’Angelo, and SZA have all dropped surprise releases in the final weeks of past years so time will tell what critics missed in 2023 that they’ll foolishly have to include in 2024 lists.
Next week, I’ll start to roll out my own best-of lists featuring a lot of the music you’ve read about in this newsletter all year long. For now, here’s what I assume will be my last update of new music in 2023.
After numerous delays, Nicki Minaj has finally shared her long-awaited new album, Pink Friday 2 which could indeed be the late album drop of the year many wish they could’ve included in their lists. Regardless, it’ll be the last major album release of the year and allow us to enter Nicki’s latest era.
Noise rockers HEALTH have been teasing their new album through a heaping of crushing singles over the past month and they all continue the band’s path of hard hitting blast of surging riffs and battering electronics.
Few musicians have been as prolific as classic rockstar Neil Young over the years. Whether it’s new music on his own, reigning in his long-time backing band Crazy Horse, or simply issuing “lost” albums that have been collecting dust in his legendary vault over the years, there’s always a plethora of new Neil material for his fans. This week he’s shared new and updated acoustic recordings of some of his past work. Diehards rejoice!
Pristine dream-pop has been the focus of New Zealand’s Yumi Zouma for their entire existence and on their new EP, they continue to bring the ethereal pleasures that they’ve already displayed so well on past releases. Even at just four tracks (but with a surplus of remixes and instrumental takes), more of their glowing jams are always welcome.
Big Theif have been one of the most consistently rewarding bands in the recent indie era releasing numerous fantastic records at a breakneck speed. Now, their lead singer, Adrianne Lenker, has shown no signs of slowing down. After stating a new solo record would soon be on the way, they shared the piano ballad “Ruined” this week, continuing the imperial streak of unparalleled, amazing new music.
Dreamy slowcore act Hovvdy enhanced their sound on their last single by adding flourishes of electronics to the mix and on their new track “Bubba,” they commit even further to their new sound. After announcing their first album in nine years, The Libertines have shared the new record’s second single, the slow burn ballad “Walked in the Room,” which might be their most mature sounding track to date.
Albums:
Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday 2
HEALTH | RAT WARS
Neil Young | Before And After
Car Seat Headrest | Faces From The Masquerade [live album]
Yumi Zouma | EP IV
Songs:
Adrianne Lenker | “Ruined”
Hovvdy | “Bubba”
Channel Tres | “Walked in the Room”
Tems | “Not An Angel”
Nicholas Craven / Boldy James | “No Pun Intended”
The Killers | “Spirit”
The Libertines | “Night of the Hunter”
IDLES | “Grace”
Joanna Sternberg | “Without You”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!