In addition to fronting the great San Francisco punk band Western Addiction for two decades, Jason Hall is also a huge music fan who’s constantly keeping up with new stuff, and he always makes great in-depth year-end lists that are full of great commentary on the music itself and the very act of consuming music in the modern world, plus tons of honorable mentions. Here’s his 2023 list.
This was the hardest year I’ve ever had making a top 10. I’m not sure if it’s because of the fallout of Covid, fragmented society, the economy, global unrest, mass distraction, the age of disinformation, etc. I always discover good, new music but it was tough to find great records from beginning to end. The one genre that always delivers though is metal. There is a constant stream of new releases. Maybe it’s because you have to really love playing this style to continue. There’s likely no money, fame, stability, etc., so you get the faithful, and I’m thankful.
Top 10 – 2023
1. Spirit Possession – Of the Sign…
This record is madness. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen someone play guitar like this. A two-piece band. This is like hearing anxiety. I love it.
2. Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm
I think this is the most buzzed black metal band I’ve witnessed in a long time. I loved their Submission and Slavery EP. Everything up to this point had a demo-like quality, which is great in black metal. This is the first time it felt like a bigger/produced record, which I am in favor of. I know this is sometimes frowned upon in the genre, but with metal, you have to be a pretty good player, and I want to hear the riffs and intention.
3. The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons
They’re back and made a good record. An exciting band to watch. The guitarist brother is so great. They have just the right amount of showbiz snark. Punks in suits.
4. Kvelertak – Endling
They are getting so close to making a really good record. They have some incredible riffs, and the next step is to simplify and focus on a few ideas per song. The video for “Krøterveg Te Helvete” is pretty tight except for that hat. Attention bands… no hats, no shorts. There is only one mortal allowed to wear shorts, and that is Angus.
5. Blackbraid – Blackbraid II
This was also very buzzed and they were featured in the New York Times, which is crazy. Great black metal. This sounds big and serious. I love metal but I do fatigue on some of the overused lyrical themes. This is different. I scan the Spotify new releases and it’s always the same old topics. Is there anything new to talk about? I think there is.
6. Bella White – Among Other Things
I like when a young singer can sound authentic and use normal, approachable words and not make cliché diary music. The vocal delivery is a little trippy at first. Pretty solid singer/songwriter country. I first heard on the KEXP country show (R.I.P.).
7. Tele Novella – Poet’s Tooth
The vocal melodies are just so lovely. I still can’t describe their music so I’ll refer to my previous Top 10. Try to sing the melody of “Eggs in One Basket.”
8. Margo Cilker – Valley of Heart’s Desire
I really liked the last record, Pohorylle. This one is still a grower but I like that she sings about towns I know. Again, there is a way to use common language and not sound redundant. It’s possible to feel familiar yet fresh.
9. NTS Radio – London
It’s difficult to find good filters for music. It doesn’t matter if they pick what I like, it matters that they know what to pick. I found NTS by way of a specialty show done by Fenriz from Darkthrone, who is also an excellent filter. This led me to other shows on the station like Midnite Madness and Born for Burning. I’m late to the game so I’m listening to all the old episodes. Top notch curation. I can tell they care.
Other ways to find something to listen to when you’ve heard everything…
- Old playlists – You can find great shows from the past like Rodney on the Roq, Bob Dylan, John Peel, Joe Strummer, Rollins on KCRW, etc.
- New genres from history – I’m constantly finding new genres that are interesting. My latest is Shibuya-kei. You can also find a genre and then pick a year. I love listening to 60s pop from France (yé-yé), Italy, etc.
10. Midnight (live)
This is what a live band should be like, exciting with a hint of danger. Midnight was just incredible. I never say this, but it was so “fun.” The guitarist goes nuts and they look like they actually enjoy what they are doing. It’s not a band running through their songs, it’s a “show.”
I went to the Outside Lands festival this year and it was stunning to see some of the performers that I’ve been “told” are popular. And it’s even more stunning that a curator would put them on a bill, in a setting, like this. It doesn’t matter if I like the band or not, what matters is if the audience is reacting and excited, and people weren’t (except for Foo Fighters, Lana Del Rey and a bit for Father John Misty). They show these big festivals like the whole place is going nuts, and that is just not the case.
Honorable mentions (something to listen to):
- Agriculture – Agriculture – There is something about this band. Black metal with something new to say.
- Anna St. Louis – In the Air – Quite pleasant, nice voice, “Better Days” is the best song
- Beach House – Become – They keep getting better
- Brother Marshall and the Choir of Fire – “All the Gold in California” – Sturgill, epic
- Bright Eyes companion releases – Great songwriter, great songs with a new twist
- Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific – Still the best
- Citrus – Citrus – I’m not a lover of shoegaze, but this gave me pause, very 90s nostalgia
- Dani Miller – “The Hard Way” – This is the singer of Surfbort. The song is really good, but on first listen it will be deceiving. I got the same “this is something” feeling when I heard “Executioner’s Tax” by Power Trip and “Chaise Longue” by Wet Leg, two songs that took those bands around this world. I think someone should have a big pop star cover this, like Olivia Rodrigo. I’m hoping for the best with this song but there are SO many factors that have to land (the youth window, incredible drive, superficial aspects, the right marketplace, etc.) and that’s tough to do. It has slight edge, feels authentic, it’s not diary rock, there is something there. Music supervisors, get on this. Take a listen to “Psychic Surgery” as well.
- Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult – Nocturnal March
- De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising – Finally on Spotify. This is pure youth nostalgia but the songs hold up.
- Devo – 50 Years of De-Evolution 1973–2023 – Watch this show on YouTube – Live In Japan 5-28-79 and think about the year, the context, etc. Extraordinary
- Dominance – Slaughter of Human Offerings in the New Age of Pan
- Esther Rose – Safe to Run – She’s got good songs, someone please let her in
- Galen and Paul – Two releases this year. This is Paul Simonon from the Clash. One of the coolest people to ever live.
- Gallóglaigh – Realms Unknown
- Gladie – Upcoming release, and I don’t even know if it’s good. I didn’t love the first single, but… bands never know their good songs. I made a mistake with my 2022 list. Their last record “Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out” has some seriously great songs. If this was the 90s, they are superstars with Hole, Belly, etc.
- Green Day – The first two singles for the new record are pretty solid. People can scoff but he makes well-structured songs and they are ambassadors for rock and roll. They are nice to their young fans. It’s important to encourage kids who are interested in bands. Even we have kids that come up to us at every show and it’s completely awesome. It’s so flattering, and they deserve the attention.
- Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags – I think I heard this on Seek & Destroy, KEXP’s metal show, it’s the best filter
- Jess Williamson – Time Ain’t Accidental – Squirrelly heartbreak, I like it
- Jesse Daniel – My Kind of Country – Live at the Catalyst – Solid, he cares about the craft
- Jesus and Mary Chain – Sunset 666 (Live At The Hollywood Palladium) – Great songs, sounds good
- Lael Neale – Star Eaters Delight – Not sure, I just liked it
- Lord Huron – Music for the Starling Girl (soundtrack) – I know nothing about this movie but I’ll seek it out because of this
- Nation of Language – Strange Disciple – Liked the last one better but they have such promise. They must get a live drummer, even if they play blip beats like New Order. It would make a world of difference. Please, trust me.
- Nick Shoulders – All Bad – Quirky, modern country
- Paint it Black – Famine – Holy fudge, Dr. Dan’s delivery is L’nuts, screaming this hard, something is sure to pop, a gasket blower
- Power Trip – Live in Seattle – (RIP, I miss their band)
- Reverence to Paroxysm – Lux Morte
- Son Volt – Day of the Doug – Flew under the radar, pretty solid
- Torture Rack – Primeval Onslaught – Solid death
- Warhawk – Dambuster – Simple, Motörhead rock and roll, comforting
- Weeping Slime – Tormented Mind – Sounds like name, excellent name
- Wham! Documentary – This was absolutely fantastic. The best part is that they were great friends who actually cared for each other’s success in a selfless way. It’s a nice story and good things happen.
**
Jason also made this accompanying playlist: