Last Minute Album Reviews — 2023 Mid Year Edition
we have already reached the midway point in the musical year of 2023; one that initially got off to a bit of a slow start, but very quickly became one that brought a wide range of amazing albums.
And though this year has already proven to be a very good one so far musically, it has also been a fantastic year for me outside of music as well. In fact, 2023 has been one of the best years of my entire life so far. But on top of that, it has also been one of the busiest.
Keeping on top of music reviews in the way that I have done over the past 5 years or so has been a bit more of a challenge this time around, and at points has also been quite energetically taxing. Nevertheless, I still strive to keep on top of sharing all the amazing new music I discover when I can.
Some of you reading may know of my Last Minute Reviews week, in which I go over some of the albums I missed over the course of the musical year, and I normally create those articles just before my end of year lists.
However, I wanted to approach this in a different way this time around, and essentially double-up on the Last Minute Reviews series for 2023. As well as conducting the usual article at the end of the year, I decided to write a midway edition of this article, as a means to catch up on some of the great albums I may have glossed over so far in 2023, albeit, in a more bite-size fashion.
So without further ado, below are five additional albums I wanted to go over for the midway point of the musical year.
Caroline Polachek — Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
Pop | Electronic | Indie
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
The reason I decided to go over this album is a pretty obvious one; Caroline Polachek’s fourth studio album, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You has been revered by many critics as the best pop record of the year so far, or at least a contender for said spot. Even many of the people I knew personally recommended this album to me, so here I finally am to say my piece.
The general consensus with many female singer-songwriter lead pop records in recent memory is that there are two avenues that serve as the most commonplace; either vouch for a retro 80’s danceability, or instead implement elements of hyperpop. And while the latter is mildly present in Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, Caroline Polachek primarily does her own thing on this record stylistically.
While this album does still carry the fundamental elements of a true pop record, Caroline’s angelic vocals and atmospheric production help it to stand out from the crowd. In short, I totally get the hype around this album.
Favourite Tracks: Welcome To My Island | Sunset | Butterfly Net
Perpetual Novice
Swans — The Beggar
Alternative | Experimental | Folk
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
This album is certainly the most recent album to come out on this list. In fact, it only arrived a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, the sixteenth studio album from Swans as one that I was feeling a little iffy about giving a full review. I mainly knew of swans through listening to little tidbits of their critically acclaimed masterpiece, 2014’s To Be Kind. Though, given how deep and extensive both that record and this one are, I thought it would be better suited as part of a roundup like this one.
In true Swans fashion, this album is both intensely unnerving and oddly beautiful in its sonic atmosphere. Almost carrying a kind of folk element to it, I can imagine this album serving as a suitable summer release, in its own kind of weird, alternative way. I will also say that there are simply a few tracks on here that do extend a little too far in terms of duration (I mean, we have a track on here that’s almost 45 minutes long). And while long tracks are kind of Swans’ bread and butter, it does disallow me to go over it in as much detail as I want, hence why I’m glad it’s on here.
Favourite Tracks: Los Angeles: City of Death | Michael is Done | No More of This
Young God Records | Mute Artists
Sigur Rós — ÁTTA
Alternative | Ambient
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
The Icelandic band known as Sigur Rós were a group that I discovered through Album of the Year, a fantastic resource for discovering new music. That being said, the band’s eighth studio album, titled ÁTTA, is yet another very recent release, which arrived during a week in which there were other more anticipated albums that I wanted to review, hence why it is featured on here instead.
The reason as to why I was interested in reviewing this album at all, lies within just how damn atmospheric and sonically gorgeous this album truly is. With strings and synth swells galore, this album creates an almost classical ambience, which stays present throughout this album. And honestly, some of the resulting sound had me completely captivated by its beauty.
Much like the prior album on this list, ÁTTA is another record which I feel needs more time and attention to fully appreciate. Though I hope that as the year goes on, this album will grow on me exponentially.
Favourite Tracks: Blóðberg | Mór | Gold
Von Dur | BMG
Parannoul — After the Magic
Alternative | Rock | Shoegaze
This was another album I had heard good things about. The third studio album from South Korean shoegaze artist Parannoul, titled After The Magic, has been an album highly praised by critics and fans alike. And despite having not listened to Parannoul previously, I thought I’d jump on the hype.
Much like what critics were praising this album for, I definitely agree that this album really does bring forward a nostalgic aura, courtesy of the bright and soaring rock sound. Nevertheless, there are also a few electronic elements here and there that etch elements of a more current feel into the mix as well. The result of this fusion, is quite the unique rock album, to say the very least.
There’s definitely a theme of atmospheric albums so far on this list that I have noticed. And as a result, the same feelings of needing to give an album more time to fully appreciate it apply to After The Magic as well.
Favourite Tracks: Polaris | We Shine at Night | Blossom
POCLANOS
Breezer — The Lost Tapes
Rock | Britpop
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
I’ve saved the wildcard for last. Hastings band Breezer have been making waves initially through their “AISIS” project, in which, using the power of AI, made their debut album The Lost Tapes sound as if they were being sung by Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher. I discovered such a project thanks to a friend of mine, the same friend that I ended up seeing this band live with shortly after.
The Lost Tapes also came in the format without AI. And honestly, I think I prefer this version even more. Even without Liam’s vocals being generated in, this album feels like the closest thing to Oasis we have gotten since…well…Oasis. Even the solo efforts from both Gallagher brothers don’t come quite as close to the much beloved oasis aesthetic as this album does (though I also understand that neither neccessarily need to be).
But this is where The Lost Tapes comes in to fill that gap. And throyghout the project, Breezer bring forward a plethora of tunes both energegic and atmspheric (but above all else. anthemic). There really is a special kind of potential being emanated from this band, and I cannot wait to see where they go next.
Favourite tracks: Out Of My Mind | Alright | Tonight
8 Years Records
And that concludes this little extra article covering a few more albums that have been released so far this year. The musical year of 2023 has aleady served as a highly generous year when it comes to discovering amazing new music. I also hope that some of you have discovered a project or two yourselves through this article.
