We live in the age of the playlist. Since the introduction of streaming services, there has been a shifting focus away from the craft of the album, and towards a demand for the single - for a constant output of new music. Since almost every artist, living or dead, is available at the click of a button, modern artists are now under a never-ending struggle to maintain an audience, unless they have the benefit of having already accumulated a massive one.
As a result, it's far more commonplace nowadays for artists to direct their focus toward producing singles, which has to some extent made people – especially from my generation – forget how much time, energy and passion go into making an amazing album. To try and combat this, in 2023 I have decided to listen to a previously unheard album every day, documenting my thoughts along the way, with the hope of countering my short-span musical focus.
January 1: Kala - M.I.A
I started off the year with M.I.A's sophomore and most prolific album, Kala. Having previously only been familiar with Kala's leading singles, I wasn't expecting something so experimental and fresh for its time. The choice of sampling and beats are so out there, while simultaneously not drifting too far from M.I.A's palatable pop sound. With heavy South Asian and African-style influences, Kala is as politically hard-hitting as its punchy beats.
Standouts:
BirdFlu
Mango Pickle Down River
World Town
January 2: Sunshine on Leith - The Proclaimers
An absolutely joyous collection of songs! The Reid twins' instantly recognisable voices bring a comforting realness, as they sing about life in working-class Edinburgh in their heavy Scottish dialect. I was of course familiar with a few of the tracks in here beforehand, but as a whole, blending genres of rock, country and blues, there are simply no misses. From independence anthems to quiet love songs, Sunshine on Leith has it all.
Standouts:
Cap in Hand
Sunshine on Leith
Then I Met You
January 3: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
From the elusive Neutral Milk Hotel comes their second and thus far final album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. With an intentionally rough-around-the-edges sound, this album feels like the soundtrack to every indie movie ever made. I mean that as a compliment, as their melancholy yet grandiose style has clearly influenced so many in the indie-rock genre; think Arcade Fire or Modest Mouse. There's a slight eeriness existing across the album, maybe due to lead singer Jeff Magnum's strange obsession with Anne Frank. Nonetheless, though, the music left a rather profound emotional imprint on me.
Standouts:
Holland, 1945
Oh, Comely
Two-Headed Boy
January 4: Weezer (Green Album) - Weezer
The nerdy garage-rock band Weezer's second self-titled album is unquestionably well-produced and sharp. From start to finish, every track has the feel of an epic rock concert, with glaring guitar solos and non-stop drum beats. In that same vein though, is where my indifference to it lies. There's little room for variation in sound, meaning every song seems to just mesh into the next. If I had grown up on Weezer, though, I'm sure I'd think differently.
Standouts:
Island In The Sun
Don't Let Go
Hash Pipe
January 5: To Bring You My Love - PJ Harvey
From the opening track of the album's namesake, PJ Harvey's powerful voice pierces through your speakers. To Bring You My Love combines an array of incredible sounds, touching on grunge, blues and rock. There's no room for error across the whole tracklist, with every song feeling fully imagined from writing to recording. I hope I one day get the privilege to see her performing live, I imagine it would be quite the experience.
Standouts:
To Bring You My Love
Long Snake Moan
Send His Love To Me
January 6: Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
Fiercely inventive and never dull, every song on Hounds Of Love brings a new surprise. Bush's voice is simply hypnotic, and the ethereal nature of the album transported me to some place greater than thee. Such a transportive effect is truly rare to come by - one listen is enough to realise how special this album is. Hounds Of Love feels like a pop opera at points, with some beautiful piano pieces, as well as a wide collaboration of other instruments and styles thrown in throughout.
Standouts:
Running Up That Hill
The Big Sky
And Dream Of Sheep
January 7: A Light for Attracting Attention - The Smile
Featuring the talents of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, The Smile's debut LP, A Light for Attracting Attention, essentially feels like a Radiohead mini-project. Naturally, then, I was always going to enjoy this. The punchy lyrics and raw instrumentals blend together excellently, with some slower tracks led by Yorke’s instantly-recognisable lethargic vocals keeping everything nicely grounded. These quieter moments are definitely where the album shines, but there are certainly never any flat moments.
Standouts:
Pana-vision
Speech Bubbles
Open the Floodgates
January 8: Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem delivers a sound that is very uniquely its own; I can't quite define the genre – a mix of alt-rock and dance – but I think that freedom is where its strengths lie. The long run time of each track gives them time to build and blossom, before slowly gliding back down again. There's a funky energy throughout that just makes you want to dance, contrasting rather ironically against James Murhpy's often bleak and existential lyrics.
Standouts:
All My Friends
North American Scum
New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down
January 9: Different Class - Pulp
The bar I used to work at would play 'Common People' at least three times a day, every day. This has unfortunately tarnished Pulp's listenability to me, and yes, I did have to skip that track when it came on. That said, this is so clearly a classic Brit-pop album, full of charm and charisma. Jarvis Cocker occupies a unique space in the British music scene, with Different Class delivering a musical theatre style that I'd never really noticed in their singles. Some tracks fade into the background a little, but there are without a doubt some absolute anthems on here.
Standouts:
Mis-Shapes
Disco 2000
Underwear
January 10: Cannot Be, Whatsoever - Novo Amor
Aberystwyth-born Novo Amor digests his innermost feelings in this beautiful record full of intimacy and heart. With a sound that could be comparable to Bon Iver, Novo Amor's voice almost feels like another instrument with its reverberated sound, creating a really comforting sound throughout the album. While listening I feel a strong sense of nostalgia, somehow transported to my teenage years on quiet Summer afternoons. The whole thing is a real treat.
Standouts:
Birdcage
I Feel Better
January 11: Blue Bell Knoll - Cocteau Twins
Having never properly listened to Cocteau Twins before, this was certainly an intriguing one. Blue Bell Knoll feels like a quiet dream come to life with its hypnotic, drawn-out instrumentals. The nonsensical lyrics help put all of your attention into the music, pulling you in from the opening track and never letting go. Listening to this made me feel like I was in an American 80s teen movie, reminiscent of that grand feeling when the credits roll and the music begins to play.
Standouts:
A Kissed Out Red Floatboat
Cico Buff
Blue Bell Knoll
January 12: The Score - Fugees
Witty and hard-hitting from start to finish, The Score is a masterclass in lyrical finesse. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pres each bring their own flare to this collaboration project, complimenting each other in tone and sound throughout. Fuelled by political commentary, The Score tells a story of the state of America in the late 90s, and is a very powerful statement in the hip-hop genre and the wider musical world.
Standouts:
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Cowboys
Ready or Not
January 13: Permanent Damage - Joesef
Pop newcomer Joesef makes a bold statement with his debut album Permanent Damage, which documents his coming to terms with a lost relationship. His elegant voice rides each of the mellow beats, creating a comforting atmosphere that really draws you in as Joesef tackles topics of love, loss and overindulgence. The Glaswegian is seriously on the rise and Permanent Damage let's us know that he's here to stay.
Standouts:
It's Been a Little Heavy Lately
Joe
East End Coast
January 14: Crush - Floating Points
Producer and DJ Floating Points proves that he is an absolute innovator of dance music, making waves at the forefront of the genre with Crush. This album is a beautiful mesh between classical and electronic music - a computerised symphony if you will. Minimal layers build, one after the other, organising together to produce an ambient and other-worldly sound. It's no surprise that he followed this up with a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, the man is a born composer.
Standouts:
LesAlpx
Bias
Requiem for CS70 and Strings
January 15: From Scotland With Love - King Creosote
Created for the soundtrack of a documentary of the same name, From Scotland With Love is a beautiful ode to the country it came from. King Creosote delivers an intimate collection of acoustic songs that seem to take you back to a time you never even experienced. I pictured myself listening to this on a road trip, off on a great adventure to who knows where. It's one of those albums that hits you in just the right spot.
Standouts:
For One Night Only
Cargill
Pauper's Dough
January 16: Wide Awake! - Parquet Courts
Wide Awake! is full of energy and punch from the first strum of the guitar, feeling immediately worthy of a place among the British post-punk wave, despite its American origins. There's a quirky gravitas to it all, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics belted by frontman Andrew Savage, backed by a sharp and never-dull collection of riffs and beats. Yet another entry that I'm now extremely keen to see live, I imagine they'd dominate any lineup they appeared on.
Standouts:
Total Football
Back to Earth
Tenderness
January 17: CINEMA - The Marías
Los Angeles-based indie pop group The Marías debut with a moody and intoxicating collection of breakup ballads. Lead singer Maria Zardoya sings calmly over the mellow beats, painting a picture of a trail of memories left from a previous love affair. While this does have a relaxing ambience to it, The Marías don't seem to be treading into any new musical territory, staying comfortably in their lane on a style brought to major acclaim by the likes of Billie Eilish.
Standouts:
All I Really Want Is You
Un Million
Hush
January 18: Monkey Brain - Baby Dave
With British punk icons Slaves taking a hiatus to regroup and rebrand, frontman Isaac Holman presents us with his first solo project, under the pseudonym Baby Dave. Monkey Brain is a pretty large departure from the loud and angry sound of Slaves, taking a stripped-back approach with more of a focus on Holman's lyrics. This mostly focuses on the day-to-day happenings of life, and while not quite as profound as we may be used to from him, there's still some fun to be had here. Think B-sides from Gorillaz or The Streets...
Standouts:
Too Shy for Tennis
Washing Machine
Stupid Mouth
January 19: Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun
Walking On A Dream does exactly what it says on the tin, taking you on a magical journey that seems to transcend to an otherworldly plain with its mystical and psychedelic sound. Ethereal synths and dreamy vocals produce a truly unique collaboration project between two very intriguing Aussie artists. If you want to forget about your troubles and go on a little journey in your own head, stick this one on right away.
Standouts:
Half Mast
We Are The People
Swordfish Hotkiss Night
January 20: Kind Reminder - Próxima Parada
R&B/soul ensemble Próxima Paradas provide forty-five minutes of easy-listening tunes, and the theme is good vibes only. The guitar rhythms are smooth and the beats roll along calmly - a word to describe it that springs to mind is 'harmless'. That said, there's still plenty to enjoy here, with each song bringing a positive energy that, if nothing else, provides some lovely background noise.
Standouts:
Dusty Seats
Musta Been a Ghost
My Mind Is on One
January 21: Five Easy Hot Dogs - Mac DeMarco
After his previous release Here Comes The Cowboy was a bit of a letdown, I was keen to see in which direction Mac DeMarco would take his latest LP, Five Easy Hot Dogs. An entire tracklist of instrumentals was not what I was expecting, and to be honest, not was I was after. I'm glad he's making the music he wants to be making, and these songs still have the mellow sounds we've come to expect from Mac, but like yesterday's entry, I can't see this acting as much more than background noise for me.
Standouts:
Crescent City
Vancouver 2
Vancouver 3
January 22: Come Find Yourself - Fun Lovin' Criminals
The 90s saw the rise and fall of the rap rock genre, and Fun Lovin' Criminals seem to be one of those bands who capitalised on the style's popularity. Come Find Yourself goes from rocking out to political commentary to tongue-in-cheek tales of bank heists, all without veering too far from its early hip-hop influences. Frontman Huey Morgan brings a deadpan charisma to the album which is too entertaining to ignore, and the whole thing feels like it needs to be blasted out of a pair of car speakers on a long journey.
Standouts:
Scooby Snacks
I Can't Get with That
King of New York
January 23: For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
Armed only with a bust-up acoustic guitar and some recording software, Justin Vernon – AKA Bon Iver – crafted what is now seen as a staple of indie folk, and for good reason. The visceral emotions evoked through Vernon's vocals are enough to make even those with the thickest skin shed a tear; For Emma, Forever Ago is a raw unpacking of a man's headspace following a series of various relationship fallouts. Listening to this on a bright winter's morning felt very apt, as I breathed the cold air while taking in all the brilliance that the debut Bon Iver project had to offer.
Standouts:
Flume
For Emma
re:stacks
January 24: Shake Shook Shaken - The Dø
The talents of Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy deliver a sound that refuses to be rigidly defined, venturing wherever it pleases. Shake Shook Shaken is like a ride you don't want to get off, keen to see where you'll be taken next, with some energetic highs and moodier lows. Merilahti's lyrics are creative and often ambiguous, but for me, this adds to the allure of the record, striking up bold images with her imaginative words.
Standouts:
Sparks
Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy
Trustful Hands
January 25: Modus Vivendi - 070 Shake
Booming synths and 808s guide the alt-pop sound of 070 Shake on her debut album Modus Vivendi. Her androgynous vocals combined with these instrumentals create an alluring sound that seems to be treading into unknown musical territory. Although much of her previous work involved collaboration with other artists, here she dominates the whole tracklist with no features, giving her plenty of room to tell the world what she's all about. Definitely one of the most exciting up-and-coming artists.
Standouts:
Guilty Conscience
Nice To Have
Morrow
January 26: Purple Rain - Prince
The pop icon Prince is one of those artists of whom I've always acknowledged their esteem, but for whatever reason, I'd never invested time into exploring his music. With my first encounter here being Purple Rain, the prolific nature of his character is clear from the opening moments, with his falsetto range flying across the funky tracks. I probably need to spend more time listening, but an initial playthrough didn't have me quite as excited as I'd hoped to dig deeper. But time will tell, I suppose.
Standouts:
Computer Blue
When Doves Cry
Take Me with U
January 27: Fisherman's Blues - The Waterboys
Formed in Scotland but comprised of musicians from across the UK, the Waterboys deliver a joyous delight with Fisherman's Blues. Encompassing a Celtic folk sound, Mike Scott bellows over a string ensemble discussing all sorts from lost love to new adventures. This album brought a warmness to my heart, reminding me of trips to visit my Scottish family when I was younger; it just seems to fill me with some yet unknown purpose.
Standouts:
Fisherman's Blues
Sweet Thing
And a Bang on the Ear
January 28: The Babe Rainbow - Babe Rainbow
It's rare these days to find a band whose sound is so dedicated to that of a previous era: step up Babe Rainbow. Their self-titled album transports you to the psychedelic rock sound of the 60s, giving hints of The Beach Boys and The Zombies. Calm basslines combine with smooth, washed-out vocals, making me wish it was summertime and I was in the park with my mates and a few cold beers. It's no surprise then that this sunny sound hails from Australia, with contemporaries like Tame Impala and The Lazy Eyes providing a similar aesthetic.
Standouts:
Johny Says Stay Cool
Monky Disco
Fall in Love
January 29: SOS - SZA
After a five-year hiatus, R&B royalty SZA returned with her 23-track heavy sophomore album, SOS. Until I saw that this record was spending its seventh straight week at Number 1, I hadn't fully grasped the cultural significance of the Missouri-born artist. There's a lot to unpack here with its heavily-stacked tracklist, but one listen is enough to see there's no denying SZA's generational talent. With influences from all across the board, SOS flows from club bangers to love ballads to throwback rock songs. There's something for everyone here.
Standouts:
Blind
Kill Bill
Open Arms
January 30: Let's Start Here. - Lil Yachty
After seven years on the scene defining himself as one of the mainstays of trap rap, there was no way I expected Lil Yachty's latest release to be a psychedelic rock album. The trippy cover art sets the scene for a galactic adventure into Yachty's mind, with the help of writing collaborators such as Mac DeMarco and MGMT's Ben Goldwasser. This has got to be one of the most exciting switch-ups from an artist in recent memory. New avenues are definitely being paved within the hip-hop sphere; it's a very exciting time to see it all unfolding.
Standouts:
the ride-
running out of time
WE SAW THE SUN!
January 31: Process - Sampha
I finished the month with Sampha's Mercury-winning Process. A gentle mix of acoustic sounds and whirring synths pull you in close to the brutally honest lyrics of Sisay, with his soft vocals laying everything out bare. There's a strong focus on his late mother - his grief seemed to play a large part in the creative process. The result, though, sounds simply beautiful and provided a very relaxing end to my January. After one month, my playlist obsession already seems to be diminishing; we'll see what February brings...
Standouts:
Blood On Me
Under
(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano
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