The 2023 Year-End Review

Once again, it's time to ring out the old year and ring in the new one.

It's been several years since I've posted an end-of-year "best of" list. There are two reasons I no longer do. First, I don't listen to nearly as much new music as I used to back in the days when this blog almost exclusively featured current releases. Secondly - and I have no idea why - almost nobody read them.

However, after recently perusing numerous music blogs this week that posted their annual December retrospectives I've decided to feature a few of them here for your reading pleasure. A couple of them are published by writers with national reputations and others are by personal bloggers, like me, who have smaller readerships.

I have a blogroll located on my sidebar that you can access only by clicking on the three parallel lines located at the top lefthand corner of my homepage. All of the blogs mentioned in this post can be found there. Whenever bloggers post something new their articles shoot to the top of the blogroll. If you're site is at least partially music related and you're interested in having yours included please get in touch with me via my contact page.

Here then, in no particular order, are the year-end lists you may find compelling.
  • Culture Sonar is a blog featuring new looks at "......the stuff you grew up with - while also trying to look ahead. We’re aiming for fresh takes on familiar things, and tips on emerging artists we think you’ll enjoy."  Be sure to read their detailed analysis on the music of the Fab Four in their series, Deconstructing The Beatles. Also, check out their list of 2023 Singer/Songwriters You Need To Know. Most are new to me but they also discuss Paul Simon's most recent, critically acclaimed album.
  • Jeff Gemmill, proprietor of The Old Grey Cat, highlights his five favorite posts of 2023 from his own blog. Jeff is another well-rounded writer with seriously eclectic tastes.
  • Bruce Warren, Program Director of  WXPN, the non-commercial FM radio station licensed to the University of Pennsylvania has a Substack page listing his favorite records of 2023. It could be the most diverse list you'll run across this year.
  • If you don't think Bruce Warren's list is eclectic enough for you try another Substack poster, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who is also a major player over at AllMusic. Erlewine is offering something a little different than most year-enders, it's STE's Best Reissues of 2023. It has a lot of good stuff to read, especially if you're a fan of Nick Lowe and Brinsley Schwarz.
  • Here, in no particular order, are the twenty-four best music releases for this year according to Dave's Mix Tape, another interesting blog.
  • Finally, it's not too late to get up-to-date on this year's new Christmas albums and re-issues. As he does every year, my long-time friend and fellow blogger, Bill - who may love Christmas music more than I do, if that's possible - offers his recommendations for this year. Perk up your ears and plan ahead for next year's holiday mirth.

Comments

  1. Todd Mason8:30 PM, December 31, 2023

    Thanks! Glad you were moved to do this...the only one I've seen previously is Jeff's, and we used to work together on PBS/public broadcasting matters at TV GUIDE in olden days...Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Charlie Ricci1:19 PM, January 04, 2024

      Thanks for reading & liking it. I'm probably going to make this a feature at the end of every year & maybe even expand on it a little.

      Delete
  2. Jeff Gemmill3:21 PM, January 03, 2024

    Michelle's Highway Queens is a regular stop for me - always an interesting perspective & I've discovered some great sounds via her reviews.

    ReplyDelete

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