We’ve been asking artists for lists of their favorite music of 2023, and here’s one from Brooklyn duo Water From Your Eyes. They released their Matador debut, Everyone’s Crushed, this year, which has shown up on lists from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Yard Act’s James Smith, and more.
Nate Amos’ list includes his Matador labelmates Model/Actriz, UK group Mandy, Indiana (who contributed to WFYE’s remix album), and more, while Rachel Brown’s list included live shows by Pavement and Palm, some classic rock (Neil Young, Pink Floyd) and more. Check out their lists and commentary below.
WATER FROM YOUR EYES – 2023 MUSICAL FAVORITES
Nate’s picks:
Mandy, Indiana – i’ve seen a way
There’s a lot of music I love that I can’t really relate to – the first time I heard Mandy, Indiana my immediate reaction was “fuck, I get this, I love this.” One of my favorite albums of the year.
Model/Actriz – Dogsbody
I absolutely adore this album. Also they put on the best live show I’ve seen in years, experienced a lot of these songs for the first time at the Empty Bottle in Chicago and to be honest I was pretty shaken up (in a good way).
Geese – 3D Country
I knew how good this band was before this album came out, touring with them made it clear that A) they had the chops to do whatever they wanted and B) Cameron is the best rock vocalist I’ve ever seen perform. What I didn’t know was how well everything would translate onto record and how adept they would be at using the studio as a creative space.
IC3PEAK @ The Boiler Room NY
I had no idea who IC3PEAK was before stumbling into their set at boiler room few months ago. Immediately knew they had a handful of all time bangers and that their live show was one of the coolest I’ve ever seen.
Deerhoof @ Primavera Weekender
I got to sit in the stands of a jousting arena and watch one of my favorite bands absolutely destroy this set. The finale was maybe the craziest rock moment I’ve ever witnessed and I’m not going to spoil it because you should go see it firsthand.
Rachel’s picks:
After the Gold Rush by Neil Young
I got this on CD for my car and for months and months I kept it in the CD player and I would let it play front to back on repeat. It’s a perfect album, I could listen to it forever. To be honest, that’s sort of my only concrete plan for the future. Everything else is up in the air, but I’ll be listening to this on CD in my car.
L’eau et les rêves by N NAO
We played with N NAO at Pop Montreal this year and this album is so beautiful. Really amazing artist. Also I do not speak French so I have no idea what is being said but I think sometimes it’s nice to not understand a language, there’s a certain kind of pressure that’s lifted. There’s a lot that comes with comprehension, you attach your own interpretation and meaning, and it becomes harder to just sit inside of the sounds. This album is really easy to sit inside of.
Palm at Baby’s All Right
There’s no band that’s ever done it like Palm and I don’t think there will ever be a band to do it again. They’re just so unbelievably good and fun to watch. I was lucky enough to go to both of their concerts at Baby’s All Right on their goodbye run. Such an amazing band. Incredible musicians and incredible people to just be around. We were lucky enough to tour with them last year and they’re all so kind and wonderful, and on top of that it was so awesome to get to see them play every night, they’re just always on. Great songs, great performances, great band, great memories I will cherish forever.
“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
I know this song has been around for a very long time but this is the first year that I really found it for myself. It’s kind of the perfect song to listen to on an airplane. I can’t tell a blue sky from pain. Anyways, I just sorted 24 boarding passes by date and I think I even lost some from this year. That’s sort of where I am at I guess.
“Witchi Tai To” (Live Cover) by Pavement
The first time I saw Pavement play this song was last year at Primavera in Barcelona and I got to see them do it again this year when they played at Brooklyn Steel. There’s this feeling in my chest that almost feels like someone else’s heartbreak when I see them play it. I think maybe it’s an overwhelming sense of nostalgia that I don’t have any right to. Maybe it’s just a beautiful song. I don’t really fully understand the weight of music on my emotions, and that’s fine, I don’t think I need to.
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Water From Your Eyes will be on tour with Squid in early 2024, including a NYC show at Brooklyn Steel on February 10. All dates are here:
Water From Your Eyes – 2024 Tour dates
Feb 2 – Austin, TX at The Parish *
Feb 3 – Dallas, TX at Dada *
Feb 5 – Nashville, TN at Basement East *
Feb 6 – Atlanta, GA at Terminal West *
Feb 8 – Washington, DC at 9:30 Club *
Feb 9 – Philadelphia, PA at Union Transfer *
Feb 10 – Brooklyn, NY at Brooklyn Steel *
Feb 14 – Boston, MA at Paradise Rock Club *
Feb 15 – Montreal, QC at SAT *
Feb 16 – Toronto, ON at Phoenix Concert Theatre *
Feb 18 – Chicago, IL at Thalia Hall *
Feb 19 – Minneapolis, MN at Fine Line *
Feb 23 – Portland, OR at Revolution Hall *
Feb 24 – Vancouver, BC at Rickshaw Theatre *
Feb 25 – Seattle, WA at The Crocodile *
Feb 27 – San Francisco, CA at Regency Ballroom *
Feb 29 – Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory OC *
Mar 1 – Los Angeles, CA at The Belasco *
*w/ Squid
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Top photo: Water From Your Eyes at SummerStage at Central Park by P Squared.