Having released one of our favorite albums of last year with God’s Country, Chat Pile stayed busy in 2023 with a split with Nerver and a lot of touring. They also recently announced that they’ll play Outbreak Fest in 2024.
With 2023 winding down, we’ve asked Chat Pile what their favorite albums of the year were, and Stin, Raygun, and Luther teamed up to make us a list that ranges from their Flenser labelmates/recent tourmates Agriculture to MSPAINT to Paramore, with commentary on each pick. Read on for what they had to say.
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Chat Pile’s 10 Favorite Albums of 2023
Nightosphere – Katabasis
Nightosphere put out the best album of the year. Beautiful, impeccably written, sonically rich and timeless. One of the few times all four members of Chat Pile can agree on anything. – Stin
Temple of Angels – Endless Pursuit
So many bands try and fail to capture the essence of what makes Cocteau Twins style dream pop so great, but TOA have managed (yet again) to prove themselves as the current kings/queens of the genre. Catchy as hell, otherworldly vocal performances and killer guitar work. – Stin
Traindodge – The Alley Parade
It’s seldom that a band can keep the flame burning after eight albums and twenty-some years of existence, but OKC’s hometown heroes, Traindodge have done just that on their latest album. This one has it all, but shines the brightest with its incredibly tight instrumentation and razor sharp songcraft. – Stin
Agriculture – Agriculture
Tearing down the restrictive creative walls surrounding black metal is a noble, and often daring, act. Agriculture has managed to succeed in this endeavor with their ability to inject a palpable amount of heart and spirituality that envelops every second of this record. One can’t help but get the feeling that they’re just getting warmed up to completely take the world by storm.
The Japanese House – In the End It Always Does
One of the best pop albums in years – breezy and sad and exquisite. – Raygun
Native Nod – This Can’t Exist
Numero is truly doing the lord’s work here – perhaps the finest emo band there ever was. -Raygun
Ellen Arkbro – Sounds While Waiting
The perfect album to wander around midwestern towns in search of a bathroom to – a prime loop of repeated suffocating and being reborn. – Raygun
Kostnatění – Úpal
Dense, swirly black metal that sounds more like your brain melting while dying of heat stroke than freezing to death in the middle of a forest. – Luther
MSPAINT – Post American
The most fun I’ve had with any music in the past few years. I look forward to breaking my neck when I jump off the stage finally getting to see them live. – Luther
Paramore – This is Why
It rules that there’s at least one gigantic band still making guitar music with actual hooks. Anything that even remotely reminds me of XTC is always gonna score high. – Luther