Year in Rock 2023: Albums of the Year #20-16

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Behold! The bottom quarter of my top 20 albums of the year!

What patterns emerge through positions 20 through 16? What clues lie here as to what's higher up? How many other questions can I come up with to generate a false sense of intrigue and mystery?


20

SPIRITUAL CRAMP
S/T
November 3, 2023 • Blue Grape

Highlights
Blowback
Talkin' on the Internet
Better Off This Way


An American band of upstarts that takes sonic cues from many of the punk and indie darlings from the other side of the pond, Spiritual Cramp pack a ton of crackling energy and sharp wit into their songcraft, resulting in a record that helped to break the group through to a more diverse cross section of fans and aging music snobs like myself. Think a less unhinged, more melodic Viagra Boys and you're starting to get the idea.


19

FOO FIGHTERS
But Here We Are
June 2, 2023 • Roswell

Highlights
Rescued
The Glass
The Teacher


Informed by the tragic passing of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters' eleventh album predictably deals with loss and mourning, albeit infused with an exploratory spirit that isn't common of a band as large-scale as Foo Fighters, who could have easily packed it in or continued to churn out passable material and carried on in mediocrity. Taking the chances they do here signals an unwillingness to simply fade away, and the result is the Foos' most consistently engaging album since Wasting Light.


18

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
In Times New Roman...
June 16, 2023 • Matador

Highlights
Paper Machete
Carnavoyeur
Emotion Sickness

It's not quite a misstep, since I don't think Josh Homme and company are really capable of that, but QOTSA's eighth LP does seem destined to get lost in the shuffle in terms of their overall body of work. That said, even a slightly underwhelming Queens record is capable of explosive thrills, and one only needs to give Paper Machete a spin to understand that this band still has the goods in spades.


17

TIGERCUB
The Perfume of Decay
June 2, 2023 • Loosegroove

Highlights
The Perfume of Decay
Swoon
We're a Long Time Gone

Flying under the radar for over a decade now, British rockers Tigercub can't be ignored any longer. Their third album is jam packed with hook-laden slabs of groove rock that don't sound a bit out of place alongside the QOTSAs and Royal Bloods of the world. There are even a few surprises, such as the acoustic haze of We're a Long Time Gone, just to keep you on your toes.


16

CROWN LANDS
Fearless
March 31, 2023 • Universal

Highlights
Starlifter: Fearless Part II
Right Way Back
Lady of the Lake

The sophomore album from Ontarian duo Crown Lands is a culmination of the hard work they've put in on those grueling cross-Canadian tours; the musicianship is elevated to Rush-like levels, and the songwriting has followed suit. Opening with an 18-minute epic and maintaining its energy and sonic impressiveness throughout, Fearless feels like the precursor to a true breakthrough for a pair of very talented artists. Also, having had my face melted by them at Area 506 this year, I cannot recommend their live show enough.


The next five will be revealed soon!

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