On the record 2023 - wrap up
Published January 2, 2024
I’ve done it, I’ve decided, phew. It’s taken my a week or two longer than it usually does to decide my top five albums of the year just gone but finally I’m ready to put pen to paper, or pixel to screen, and talk about my finalists. There were only eight albums in the shortlist anyway, which somehow made it harder. I narrowed it down to six but then deciding who to drop and what the order should be… oof! But here goes nothing!
1. Power to Play by McFly
“This is such a good album, and quite a surprise. It’s not your usual McFly sound and actually, it’s more like they are pinching sounds from all over the rock world - it’s not original, but it’s a lot of fun, a kind of unashamed honouring of all the most famous rock sounds you know and love. They’re good tunes, done well, and it’s a step in a new (or at least different) direction for the band.”
2. Diamonds & Dancefloors by Ava Max
“This is a properly good pop album, stacked full of tunes that grab you and, in true Ava Max style, don’t let you go until the end. Each is catchy and distinguishable from the other, and it’s just a bit of a joy to experience, to be honest. It feels unfair to compare to Ellie Goulding, as they are different artists, but where that album was pretty forgettable, this one was more memorable fun. A good job.”
3.TRUSTFALL by P!nk
“Obviously, we expect a lot from a P!nk album and thankfully, this one not only delivered but it absolutely outshone a lot of other albums that have come out recently. Is it too soon to declare album of the year? There are obviously some great tunes on there, and some brilliant featured artists. Potentially I don’t think it’s the height of P!nk’s career but it’s another absolutely storming record to add to her catalogue.”
4. Bluebird Days by Jordan Davis
“I feel like I didn’t even know who Jordan Davis was but I did know a couple of the songs and they’re great. Next Thing You Know just drags you along with it, through a well-lived life, and of course Buy Dirt gets stuck right inside your head. But all the other tracks follow the same pattern: great country songs, traditional themes of drinking and looking for love, and ultimately making the most of what you’ve got.”
5. Brothers Osborne by Brothers Osborne
“I had no expectations going into this album so it was a really pleasant surprise, it’s so good! Great songs, great messages, that nice modern country feel without getting too poppy along the way. It’s a five out of five in a way that, it’s never going to make the top lists of all time, but it’s a really good and listenable album that I enjoyed both times through and will enjoy again.”
Honourable mention to Tom Grennan who just missed the cut but was an album that blew me away this year. At this point, I would usually roll out the top ten of all time album list but I’m not going to do that this year, it’s a work in progress. It turns out, when I first started this album reviewing business, I didn’t score them out of five which makes it hard to pinpoint which of the early ones were out of this world for me. So I’m working through the ones with missing scores, and revisiting them so that at some point, I can have a look at my top ten of all time with a slightly more scientific starting place.
Anyway, a good few albums are set for release early this year so I’m looking forward to getting stuck straight back into the listening process - Sheryl Crow, Green Day, Kaiser Chiefs, and so much more!
