The Best Non-Jazz Albums of 2023
Initial draft collected on Nov. 1, 2023. The file will be updated
as additional worthy records are found (although updating may lag behind
the official
2023 list). Last year's
list was never frozen (OK, let's say it
was frozen on Nov. 1, 2023).
There also exists a parallel list of
The Best Jazz of 2023.
Note: numbering of lists (aside from A/A-) is only temporary, to
make it easier for me to tally up stats. I've made no effort to order
(other than alphaetical by artist) anything in grades below A-.
Also, several A-list albums below were close enough to Jazz that
I duplicated the entries in the Jazz file (sometimes giving them
lower rankings there; the year file rank is more authoritative).
[*] indicates that I reviewed this on the basis of an advance, often
a CDR copy (a good thing, I might add, for vinyl-only releases). [**]
identifies a record that I've only heard via download or through a
streaming service like Napster.
For all lists, I've included a few 2022 (and possibly earlier)
records that I discovered after last year's freeze date, but I've
only included such records if they were released on or after Dec. 1,
2022, or were so little known that they received no mention in the
2022 metacritic file. These are marked, e.g., '22, after the label.
New Music
| 1. |
 |
Olivia Rodrigo: Guts (Geffen)
Second album, her debut at 17 was attention-grabbing, and this one,
where the production goes big and where she pops through the cracks to
claim it all, is even more impressive. A mere two plays through what
may well be the record of the year. **
|
| 2. |
 |
Buck 65: Punk Rock B-Boy (self-released)
Venerable rapper from Nova Scotia, dropped this 19-track limited
edition cassette (all ten unique copies sold out) by surprise, with a
line about the Texas Rangers suggesting he cut that track the day
before this dropped. After a layoff, he popped back last year with the
superb King of Drums -- so superb I was happy enough when this
year's Super Dope sounded just like it. But this one is better
still, with the words popping at a pace that justifies his
"autodidactic polymath" boast. The beats too, until a change of pace
called "Terminal Illiness" seals the deal. **
|
| 3. |
 |
Billy Woods & Kenny Segal: Maps (Backwoodz Studioz)
New York rapper, half of Armand Hammer, albums since 2003, father was
a Marxist writer who moved the family to Zimbabwe for the
revolution. Second album with LA-based producer Segal. I've been
nibbling around his albums for a while without finding one compelling,
but figure I might as well bite here. **
|
| 4. |
 |
El Michels Affair & Black Thought: Glorious Game
(Big Crown)
New York funk/soul instrumental band led by Leon Michels, eighth album
since 2005, lands a world class MC this time, working over some loops
with occasional guest spots. **
|
| 5. |
 |
Robert Forster: The Candle and the Flame (Tapete)
Australian singer-songwriter, joined Grant McLennan in the
Go-Betweens, initially struck me as the lesser of the pair, but he's
the one still ticking, and writing and singing new songs that fit
nicely into the band's aesthetic. **
|
| 6. |
 |
The Hold Steady: The Price of Progress (Positive Jams)
Craig Finn's band since 2003, ninth studio album (plus a few solos on
the side). It's getting hard to tell their (or his) albums apart, but
they're infrequent enough that each comes as a revelation: the stories
interest, the words command your attention, his talkie voice is clear
enough, and the music just fits. **
|
| 7. |
 |
Debby Friday: Good Luck (Sub Pop)
From Nigeria, raised in Montreal, moved on to Vancouver, then
Toronto. First album, no agreement on genre (electronic, hip-hop,
industrial). Only one this reminds me of is Patti Smith, but digging
for music roots, substitute Cabaret Voltaire for MC5. **
|
| 8. |
 |
Janelle Monáe: The Age of Pleasure (Wondaland/Bad
Boy/Atlantic)
Funk/pop star, from Kansas City (the one in Kansas), dropped last name
Robinson, fourth album, a more modest effort than her last couple,
clocking in at 31:49, but still a delight. **
|
| 9. |
 |
Buck 65: Super Dope (self-released)
This grabbed me from the first scratches -- having started way back in
1986, he's sounding pretty old school -- beyond which numerous clever
lines shoot across the horizon. **
|
| 10. |
 |
Iris DeMent: Working on a World (Flariella)
Church-trained folksinger from Arkansas, released three stunning
albums in the 1990s, contributed the anchor duets on John Prine's
In Spite of Ourselves (1999), has appeared only rarely since.
This is her first album of new songs since 2012. The time has taken a
toll on her still-unmistakable voice, and the times on her patience,
but not on her fundamental decency and good sense. Hits a rough patch
midway through which might tempted me to cavil, but in the end I'm
just happy to hear more. **
|
| 11. |
 |
Amaarae: Fountain Baby (Interscope)
R&B singer, Ama Genfi, born in New York, raised in Atlanta and
Ghana, where she is based now. Second album. Interesting in various
subtle ways until the punk "Sex, Violence, Suicide" erupts, which
makes one wonder about the rest. **
|
| 12. |
 |
The Handsome Family: Hollow (Loose)
Husband-and-wife duo, Brett and Rennie Sparks, he from Texas and she
from Long Island, he the singer (although he never seemed like a
natural), eleventh studio album since 1994. They have a distinctive
sound, but this seems slightly more refined, comfortable, and
fascinated with the world. **
|
| 13. |
 |
Morgan Wade: Psychopath (Ladylike/RCA)
Country singer-songwriter, from Virginia, second album, fine voice,
solid-plus writing, a bit too much guitar-heavy production but not as
annoying as McBryde's. Christgau says this "exemplifies Nashville's
evolution away from down home country toward a less regional style of
autobiographical pop." That doesn't sound like a good idea to this
old-timer, but the middle ground can still be fertile for someone with
the talent to work it. **
|
| 14. |
 |
Navy Blue: Ways of Knowing (Def Jam)
Rapper Sage Elsesser, ten EPs 2015-19, seventh studio album since
2020, this his major label debut, has also done production for MIKE
and Mach-Hommy. Underground, beats ambling seductively, words
knowing. Featured spot for Kelly Moonstone a highlight. **
|
| 15. |
 |
Arlo Parks: My Soft Machine (Transgressive)
British neo-soul singer, parents Nigerian and French-Chadian, second
album. **
|
| 16. |
 |
Yussef Dayes: Black Classical Music (Brownswood/Nonesuch)
British drummer, first solo album although he had a group called
United Vibrations, and duos with Kamaal Williams and Tom Misch. Big
album (19 songs, 73:54), a dozen guest spots, I wouldn't say it's
jazz, much less classical, but crosses over into a rarefied atmosphere
of groove and light, an ambience you can dance in. **
|
| 17. |
 |
Lori McKenna: 1988 (CN)
Singer-songwriter from Massachusetts, 12th album since 2000, title
refers to the year she got married, at 19, a union that endures, for
better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and
increasingly in well-observed song. **
|
| 18. |
 |
Bill Scorzari: The Crosswinds of Kansas (self-released
'22)
New York-based singer-songwriter, fourth album since 2014, before
which he was some kind of hot shot attorney. Thirteen songs,
stretched out to 71 minutes, has a long list of supporting musicians
with a few tracks each, suggesting this was recorded over multiple
sessions, perhaps going back to 2012. Christgau suggests reading
along with the lyric sheet, but he has one, and would do that. Still
mostly guitar and words, the latter almost talky. Seems like the
surest way to a high grade around here is to remind me of John Prine,
which happens when his usual Dylan gets off on a story. **
|
| 19. |
 |
Romy: Mid Air (Young)
Singer-guitarist in The XX, Romy Madley Croft, the last of the trio to
spin off a solo album. Dance pop, strong beats, rich tones but trimmed
back a bit, very catchy, romantic interests female, but not too
close. Fred Gibson (Fred Again) conspicuous among the
collaborator. **
|
| 20. |
 |
Joy Oladokun: Proof of Life (Amigo/Verve Forecast/Republic)
Singer-songwriter, born in Arizona, parents from Nigeria, fourth
album, follow up to the highly recommended In Defense of My Own
Happiness. Another batch of superb songs, which fit comfortably
between guests ranging from Chris Stapleton to Maxo Kream. **
|
| 21. |
 |
Andy Fairweather Low: Flang Dang (Last Music)
Welsh singer-songwriter, recorded three low-key but remarkably catchy
albums 1974-76, but virtually nothing after 1980 up to 2006 (exception
is the 1983 Moments of Madness, credited to Local Boys). Since
then he's turned out several live albums, coasting on his reputation,
such as it is. But it appears the lockdown got him to concentrate, to
write some new songs and play everything but the drums. The label
calls this "a remarkable return to form," but it's also a disarmingly
engaging return to basics. **
|
| 22. |
 |
Danny Brown: Quaranta (Warp)
Rapper, actual last name Sewell, sixth album since 2010 -- not
counting his recent JPEGMafia duo, which continues to confound
me. This rolls on so easily I gave it three plays before I decided all
I had to do was tack on a grade. **
|
| 23. |
 |
Allison Russell: The Returner (Fantasy)
Singer-songwriter from Montreal, absent father from Grenada, had a
harrowing childhood, ran away to Vancouver at 15, joined a Celtic
folk band, navigated through several other groups, including roots
supergroup Our Native Daughters. Second solo album, no reason to
file this under folk -- well, bits of banjo and French, but the
hooks are pop, and the barbs pointed. Hits its stride with "Eve
Was Black." **
|
| 24. |
 |
Ice Cold Bishop: Generational Curse (Epic)
Los Angeles rapper, hasn't made it big enough for Wikipedia yet, debut
album not yet in Discogs (which has 2022's single), credit jammed
together in all-caps but Pitchfork review repeatedly refers to
"Bishop." Tight loops, hard to follow, with high voices tracked
cartoonishly but something deeper in the message. **
|
| 25. |
 |
Joanna Sternberg: I've Got Me (Fat Possum)
Singer-songwriter, visual artist, multi-instrumentalist, based in New
York, second album. Holds your attention with just guitar or piano and
voice. **
|
| 26. |
 |
Jenni Muldaur/Teddy Thompson: Once More: Jenni Muldaur &
Teddy Thompson Sing the Great Country Duets (Sun)
Maria Muldaur's daughter and Linda Thompson's son: she released albums
in 1992 and 2009, he has a few more since 2000. They teamed up for a
4-song EP of Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton duets in 2021, followed
by another of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Those are rolled up
here, along with four more from Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. Aside
from jazz (sometimes even there), we tend to deprecate repertory, but
these sound great, near perfect till they ad lib a bit on "Pickin'
Wild Mountain Berries," where they show more chemistry than Loretta
and Conway could ever muster. **
|
| 27. |
 |
Yo La Tengo: This Stupid World (Matador)
Indie band, goes way back, many albums, guitar remains distinctive (as
much so as Sonic Youth), and that's the payoff in most of the songs
here (in what they describe as their "most live-sounding" Yo La Tengo
album in years"). Lyrics and vocals less so, but I've never been a
stickler on that account. **
|
| 28. |
 |
The Cucumbers: Old Shoes (self-released, EP)
New Jersey group founded in 1983 with Deena Shoshkes and Jon Fried,
released a delightful EP then, and an eponymous album in 1987 that
remains a favorite. Since then, Deena has released several solo albums
while occasionally reviving the group, as she does here, for a brief
seven songs (23:11), as delightful as ever. Like old shoes, "I'm the
one that fits you."
|
| 29. |
 |
Islandman Feat. Okay Temiz/Muhlis Berberoglu: Direct-to-Disc
Sessions (Night Dreamer)
Turkish groove merchant Tolga Böyük, debut 2015, credits: drum
machine, electric bass, synthesizers. Percussionist Temiz (b. 1939)
has been on the fringe of the European free jazz scene since the 1970s
(including albums with Johnny Dyani and Monghezi Feza). Berberoglu is
younger, plays baglama and cura (plucked string instruments used in
Ottoman classical music), while others play guitar (Erdem Baser) and
drums (Eralp Guven). **
|
| 30. |
 |
Felo Le Tee/Mellow & Sleazy: The III Wise Men (New
Money Gang)
South African amapiano trio, affiliated somehow with DJ Maphorisa
(Themba Sonnyboy Sekowe), although the producer names that appear here
areTshelofelo Mokhine, Phemelo Sefanyetse, and Olebogeng Kwanaite
(plus Mlotlasi Phoshoko on one track). Beats are inscrutable enough
they take quite a while to settle in, and will be hard to distinguish
from future efforts. But pretty good for now. **
|
| 31. |
 |
Bettye LaVette: LaVette! (Jay-Vee)
Soul singer, raised in Detroit, was 16 when she recorded her first hit
in 1962 but struggled after that, until the breakthrough of her 2003
album A Woman Like Me. All tracks here were written by Randall
Bramblett, who I remember as a singer-songwriter in the mid-1970s, who
dovetailed into soul but couldn't pull it off himself. LaVette can,
and then some. **
|
| 32. |
 |
Homeboy Sandman: I Can't Sell These Either (self-released)
New York rapper Angelo del Villar II, has dropped short albums/long
EPs several times a year since 2007, the best in recent years a
compilation of stray tracks called I Can't Sell These, hence
the title of this 20-track, 59:07 monster. I suspect the commercial
lapses have more to do with uncleared samples than any weakness in the
material, which certainly isn't obvious. **
|
| 33. |
 |
Jessie Ware: That! Feels Good! (PMR/EMI)
British singer-songwriter, several albums, goes hard disco for this
one, proclaiming "pleasure is a right." A little glitzy. Sometimes
I'm reminded of Chic, then find myself missing the signature bass
lines. But most songs are pure pleasure. **
|
| 34. |
 |
Noname: Sundial (self-released)
Rapper Fatima Warner, second album after a breakout mixtape, subtle
beats under a torrent of words, some from guests who threaten
politics. Before I got to this I heard cries of "antisemitism" just
because Jay Electronica dropped a verse that namechecked Farrakhan --
far from the only preacher who wishes God's wrath on others, but the
one whose name automatically elicits instant opprobrium -- and delved
into the murky prophecies of Armageddon. (Perhaps even more
politically incorrect these days, he says "a joke like Zelenskyy.")
More explicitly political is the later verse by Billy Woods, recalling
his childhood with revolution in Africa, or for that matter the closer
with the more liberal Common. All reflect back on racism, which I
figure is fair game, especially done this seductively, in a brief
31:54. **
|
| 35. |
 |
Dan Tyminski: God Fearing Heathen (8 Track Entertainment)
Bluegrass singer-songwriter, plays guitar in Alison Krauss's band, did
an album in 1985, had a bit part in O Brother, Where Art Thou?,
has a couple more albums. Finishes strong with a song about Occam's
Razor and an ode to Jimmy Martin. **
|
| 36. |
 |
Bounaly: Dimanche à Bamako (Sahel Sounds)
Guitarist Ali Traore, from Niafounke in north Mali, recorded live
at a wedding bash in Mali's capitol city, a haven for many refugees
from the jihad in the north. With vocals, drums, and calabash, the
recording a little crude but powerful. **
|
| 37. |
 |
Corook: Serious Person (Part 2) (Atlantic, EP)
Singer-songwriter Corinne Savage, apologies for misspelling their name
in previous reviews (identity "queer and non-binary," per
Wikipedia). Five songs, 14:20. Second sounds like the Moldy Peaches
merged into a single person. First and fourth trace the growth of "a
pretty cool person." **
|
| 38. |
 |
Taj Mahal: Savoy (Stony Plain)
Eclectic roots bluesman Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, started in 1965
in a group with Ry Cooder called Rising Sons, reunited last year in a
Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee tribute. Goes back even earlier here,
reminiscing about Chick Webb in the Savoy Ballroom (some years before
he was born in 1942). He sticks to top shelf songs here, risking
comparison to Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, Jimmy
Rushing -- even the sureshot Maria Muldaur duet, "Baby, It's Cold
Outside." Of course, he has his own take, but I wonder how useful this
really is. **
|
| 39. |
 |
Okwy Osadebe and Highlife Soundmakers International: Igbo
Amaka (Palenque)
Nigerian, the son of Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe (1936-2007), an Igbo
highlife star in Lagos from his first album in 1958. During the 1970s,
highlife was eclipsed by juju and afrobeat, but I always found the
early stuff especially charming, as is this slight update. **
|
| 40. |
 |
Clarence "Bluesman" Davis: Shake It for Me (Music Maker)
Born 1945 in or near Eufala, Alabama, where he still lives. Seems to
be his first album, but has a steady sound, with a little extra jangle
to the guitar -- reminiscent of the label's 2020 compilation
Hanging Tree Guitars. **
|
| 41. |
 |
Water From Your Eyes: Everyone's Crushed (Matador)
New York duo, Nate Amos and Rachel Brown, specify pronouns but not
instruments, several albums since 2017, although this is the first one
to get any real notice. Disjointed, which seems to be the sound of the
year -- one that makes me despair of ever being hip again, but much
here that I do appreciate. **
|
| 42. |
 |
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: Weathervanes (Southeastern)
Singer-songwriter, started in Drive-By Truckers, went solo in 2007 and
started co-crediting his band in 2009. Reputation precedes him, but
I've never had the patience to figure out whether it's deserved. But
he's singing as passionately as ever, and for once the sound is
ingratiating enough to invite further inspection. For instance,
consider: "I thank God you weren't brought up like me, with all that
shame and certainty." **
|
| 43. |
 |
Margaret Glaspy: Echo the Diamond (ATO)
Singer-songwriter, from California, based in New York, third album
since her 2016 debut (Emotions and Math, a Christgau A-). She
is at her best defending her "Female Brain," not least because her
estimable guitar conjures up something a bit funkier than usual. Then
comes the critique, from "people who talk don't say a thing" to "when
you're only thinking of yourself you're missing out on everybody
else." **
|
| 44. |
 |
Tyvek: Overground (Ginkgo)
"Garage lo-fi punk band" from Detroit, self-released debut 2006,
eponymous album on a small but real label 2009, somewhere along the
timeline added a saxophone (Emily Roll), adding some overtones to the
guitar thrash. Kevin Boyer sings. Reminds me of the early
Buzzcocks. **
|
| 45. |
 |
Slowthai: Ugly (Method/Universal)
British rapper-turned-singer Tyron Frampton, third album, title
supposedly an acronym for "U Gotta Love Yourself" (spelled out but not
expanded on in the title song). **
|
| 46. |
 |
Elle King: Come Get Your Wife (RCA)
Singer-songwriter from from Los Angeles or New York, daughter of
comedian Rob Schneider, took her mother's name, started as an actress
in 1999, recorded an EP in 2012, followed by an album in 2015, with
this her third, and most country, right down to the trailer cliché,
which she treats as a badge of honor. **
|
| 47. |
 |
Aja Monet: When the Poems Do What They Do (Drink Sum Wtr)
Poet, from Brooklyn, last name Bacquie, four books since 2012, first
album, songs co-credited to the musicians: Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
(trumpet), Weedie Braimah (percussion), Luques Curtis (bass guitar),
Marcus Gilmore (drums), Elena Pinderhughes (flute), and Samora
Pinderhughes (piano). Much remarkable here, but it does go on awfully
long (83:00), and demands a lot of attention. **
|
Also added (or promoted) the following older albums after freezing
the 2022 year-end file:
| 1. |
 |
Angela Strehli: Ace of Blues (Antone's/New West '22)
Originally from Lubbock, moved to Austin and worked as stage manager
at Antone's. There she released an album in 1987, and was part of the
trio Dreams Come True in 1990. Since then she's recorded
occasionally (including an album as The Blues Broads with Tracy
Nelson and two others), while running a blues club in Marin County,
California. Now 77, this is her first since 2005, twelve golden oldies
united by guitar and voice that stands up to the originals, even when
eclipsing them is impossible. **
|
| 2. |
 |
Mud Morganfield: Portrait (Delmark '22)
McKinley Morganfield, legendary as Muddy Waters, grew up with his
mother as Larry Williams, only took up the family trade in 2008, well
after his father's death. (Same for his younger brother, now known as
Big Bill Morganfield, who cut his first -- and probably best -- album
in 1999.) Still, Mud's vocal likeness is uncanny. He also claims
eight (of 14) writing credits (one for his father, and one for John
Lee Williamson, aka Sonny Boy I). **
|
| 3. |
 |
Hermanos Gutiérrez: El Bueno Y El Malo (Easy Eye Sound '22)
Duo based in Switzerland, brothers Estevan and Alejandro, father
Swiss, mother from Ecuador, fifth album, produced in Nashville by Dan
Auerbach. Very tasteful instrumental music, mostly guitar, not in any
niche. **
|
Honorable Mention
Additional non-jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.
- Gracie Abrams: Good Riddance (Interscope) **
- Armand Hammer: We Buy Diabetic Test Strips (Fat Possum) **
- Atmosphere: So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously (Rhymesayers Entertainment) **
- Bambii: Infinity Club (Innovative Leisure, EP) **
- Bar Italia: Tracey Denim (Matador) **
- Belle and Sebastian: Late Developers (Matador) **
- Eric Bibb: Ridin' (Stony Plain) **
- Gina Birch: I Play My Bass Loud (Third Man) **
- Bombino: Sahel (Partisan) **
- VV Brown: Am I British Yet? (YOY) **
- Zach Bryan: Zach Bryan (Warner) **
- Buck 65/Doseone/Jel: North American Adonis (Handsmade) **
- Rodrigo Campos: Pagode Novo (YB Music) **
- Sarah Mary Chadwick: Messages to God (Kill Rock Stars) **
- Tyler Childers: Rustin' in the Rain (Hickman Holler/RCA) **
- Margo Cilker: Valley of Heart's Delight (Fluff and Gravy) **
- Brandy Clark: Brandy Clark (Warner) **
- Slaid Cleaves: Together Through the Dark (Candy House Media) **
- CMAT: Crazymad, for Me (CMATBaby/AWAL) **
- Corook: Best of Corook (So Far) (Atlantic) **
- Corook: Serious Person (Part 1) (Atlantic, EP) **
- Chuck D as Mistachuck: We Wreck Stadiums: Homage to Rap & Baseball Heroes (SpitSLAM) **
- DJ Black Low: Impumelelo (Awesome Tapes From Africa) **
- Doja Cat: Scarlet (Kemosabe/RCA) **
- Dream Wife: Social Lubrication (Lucky Number) **
- Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom (Legacy) **
- Open Mike Eagle: Another Triumph of Ghetto Engineering (Auto Reverse) **
- Avalon Emerson: & the Charm (Another Dove) **
- Feeble Little Horse: Girl With Fish (Saddle Creek) **
- Robbie Fulks: Bluegrass Vacation (Compass) **
- Georgia: Euphoric (Domino) **
- Gloss Up: Before the Gloss Up (Quality Control) **
- Alison Goldfrapp: The Love Invention (Skint/BMG) **
- Hemlocke Springs: Going . . . Going . . . Gone! (Good Luck Have Fun, EP) **
- Hieroglyphic Being: There Is No Acid in This House (Soul Jazz '22) **
- The Hives: The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons (Disques Hives) **
- Carly Rae Jepsen: The Loveliest Time (Silent) **
- Jlin: Perspective (Planet Mu, EP) **
- Karol G: Mañana Será Bonito (Universal Music Latino) **
- Kaytraminé [Aminé/Kaytranada]: Kaytraminé (Venice Music) **
- SG Lewis: AudioLust & HigherLove (PMR/EMI) **
- Liquid Mike: S/T [Self-Titled] (Kitschy Spirit, EP) **
- The Long Ryders: September November (Cherry Red) **
- Mahalia: IRL (Atlantic) **
- The Malpass Brothers: Lonely Street (Billy Jam) **
- Model/Actriz: Dogsbody (True Panther Sounds) **
- Gurf Morlix: I Challenge the Beast (Rootball) **
- Azuka Moweta & Anioma Brothers Band: Nwanne Bu Ife (Palenque '22) **
- Róisín Murphy: Hit Parade (Ninja Tune) **
- The National: First Two Pages of Frankenstein (4AD) **
- The National: Laugh Track (4AD) **
- Bobbie Nelson and Amanda Shires: Loving You (ATO) **
- No-No Boy: Empire Electric (Smithsonian Folkways) **
- Oddisee: To What End (Outer Note) **
- Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy: O Yinne! (Philophon) **
- PinkPantheress: Heaven Knows (Warner UK) **
- John Primer: Teardrops for Magic Slim: Live at Rosa's Lounge (Blues House) **
- Ratboys: The Window (Topshelf) **
- Whitney Rose: Rosie (MCG) **
- Rough Image: Rough Image (WV Sorcerer) **
- Jeffrey Scott: Going Down to Georgia on a Hog (Music Maker) **
- Shalom: Sublimation (Saddle Creek) **
- The Shootouts: Stampede (Soundly Music) **
- Skyzoo & the Other Guys: The Mind of a Saint (First Generation Rich) **
- Slayyyter: Starfucker (Fader) **
- Sleaford Mods: UK Grim (Rough Trade) **
- Snooper: Super Snõõper (Third Man) **
- Sunny War: Anarchist Gospel (New West) **
- Brit Taylor: Kentucky Blue (Cut a Shine) **
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway: City of Gold (Nonesuch) **
- Stephen Ulrich: Music From This American Life (Barbès) **
- Underscores: Wallsocket (Mom + Pop) **
- Colter Wall: Little Songs (Black Hole/La Ronda) **
- Wild Up: Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? (New Amsterdam) **
- Jess Williamson: Time Ain't Accidental (Mexican Summer) **
- Withered Hand: How to Love (Reveal) **
- Jamila Woods: Water Made Us (Jagjaguwar) **
- Wreckless Eric: Leisureland (Tapete) **
- Yeule: Softscars (Ninja Tune) **
- Young Fathers: Heavy Heavy (Ninja Tune) **
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2022
year-end file:
- Bas Jan: Baby U Know (Lost Map '22) **
- Big Joanie: Back Home (Kill Rock Stars '22) **
Reissues/Historic Music
The standard for historic music is a record where everything was
recorded 10+ years ago, regardless of whether it's ever been in print
before. Some past lists may have treated previously unreleased music
as new (regardless of actual age), but I've never been able to manage
that distinction consistently. This category also includes compilations
of previously released music, including straight reissues, although my
selection is very erratic.
| 1. |
 |
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens: Music Inferno: The
Indestructible Beat Tour 1988-89 (Umsakazo)
Breakout stars from the 1986 compilation The Indestructible Beat of
Soweto, followed by superb albums by each and together -- his
groan gains most from the collaboration, and a justly revered live
album from Paris. This was scraped together from several stops in
Britain at the time, and is as catchy and moving as you'd
expect. **
|
| 2. |
 |
Pet Shop Boys: Smash: The Singles 1985-2020 (Parlophone,
3CD)
Fifty-five songs, most from worthy albums -- even such recent ones as
Super (2016) and Hotspot (2020) -- the first two discs
largely recapitulating the 2003 2-CD compilation, PopArt: The
Hits, plus an extra 68:37 from the later period. **
|
| 3. |
 |
Todd Snider: Crank It, We're Doomed (2007, Aimless)
Long-shelved album, recorded after The Devil You Know (perhaps
his best studio album ever), "paradoxically [he] felt the album was
both too much and too little, needing more but already too much." Some
songs were salvaged for Peace Queer and The Excitement
Plan, and several were re-recorded later, so much of this is
semi-familiar. Perhaps reassuring to recall the doom we (mostly)
survived, as opposed to the doom still to come. **
|
| 4. |
 |
Thomas Anderson: The Debris Field: Lo-Fi Flotsam and Ragged
Recriminations, 2000-2021 (Out There)
Singer-songwriter from Oklahoma, been throwing out his homemade
records since 1989, the barrel scrapings often more compelling than
his first-run albums. **
|
| 5. |
 |
Piconema: East African Hits on the Colombian Coast
(1978-84, Rocafort)
Various artists compilation, all groups appear to be from Kenya or
Tanzania, active in 1978-84, plus or minus a couple years, with all
songs available as singles or in some cases on albums, although
Discogs provides few dates. Title derives from the compilers having
first heard these songs on Colombian sound systems. **
|
| 6. |
 |
Taylor Swift: Speak Now (Taylor's Version) (Republic)
I'm pretty indifferent to this series, which may be why I'm filing
this under "reissues" even though I take them at their word that
they're all new recordings. Both sides of the dispute are rich, and
Taylor's only getting richer. I've heard the originals, but don't
remember them enough to nitpick, and I'm not interested enough to go
back. As a first approximation, I'd say they're pretty even, with a
bit more excess baggage on the new ones, but they've tracked my
original grades. This, her third album, was the first I graded A-, and
I'm hearing it all again. Except this time I have a better picture of
how big she promised to become in "Mean." **
|
| 7. |
 |
Nastyfacts: Drive My Car + 2 (1981, Left for Dead,
EP '22):
Per Robert Christgau: "three white male NYC teens with their
18-year-old senior partner, black female composer-vocalist-bassist
Kali Boyce. All three kick ass and then some." That shortchanges some
details, like the skids and crashes on the title romp, or the male
interjections on the closer. I might cavil about the length (7:38),
but this is pretty tightly packed, with each song building on the
previous. **
|
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2021
year-end file:
Honorable Mention
Additional non-jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.
- Alan Braxe/Fred Falke: The Upper Cuts [2023 Edition] (2005, Smugglers Way) **
- L'Orchestre National Mauritanien: Ahl Nana (1971, Radio Martiko) **
- Les Rallizes Dénudés: Citta' '93 (Temporal Drift) **
- Sonic Youth: Live in Brooklyn 2011 (Silver Current) **
- Tolerance: Divin (1981, Mesh-Key) **
- Ali Farka Touré: Voyageur (1991-2004, World Circuit) **
- Neil Young: Chrome Dreams (1974-77, Reprise) **
Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2021
year-end file:
Notes
Additional new non-jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed
alphabetically by artist).
- 6lack: Since I Have a Lover (Interscope) ** [B+(**)]
- 100 Gecs: Snake Eyes (Dog Show/Atlantic, EP, '22) ** [B+(*)]
- 100 Gecs: 10,000 Gecs (Dog Show/Atlantic) ** [B+(*)]
- Aesop Rock: Integrated Tech Solutions (Rhymesayers Entertainment) ** [B+(**)]
- African Head Charge: A Trip to Bolgatanga (On-U Sound) ** [B+(**)]
- Alaska & Steel Tipped Dove: The Structural Dynamics of Flow (Fused Arrow) ** [B+(**)]
- Rauw Alejandro: Playa Saturno (Duars Entertainment/Sony Music Latin) ** [B+(**)]
- Algiers: Shook (Matador) ** [B+(*)]
- Emil Amos: Zone Black (Drag City) ** [B+(*)]
- André 3000: New Blue Sun (Epic) ** [B]
- Anitta: Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story (Republic, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Anohni and the Johnsons: My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (Secretly Canadian) ** [B+(**)]
- Aphex Twin: Blackbox Life Recorder 21f/In a Room7 F760 (Warp, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Amber Arcades: Barefoot on Diamond Road (Fire) ** [B+(*)]
- Nia Archives: Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall (Island, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Asake: Work of Art (YBNL Nation) ** [B+(**)]
- Assiko Golden Band de Grand Yoff: Magg Tekki (Mississippi) ** [B+(*)]
- Nanny Assis: Rovanio: The Music of Nanny Assis (In + Out) [B+(**)]
- Baby Rose: Through and Through (Secretly Canadian) ** [B+(*)]
- Corinne Bailey Rae: Black Rainbows (Thirty Tigers) ** [B+(**)]
- Kelsea Ballerini: Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (Black River, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Caterina Barbieri: Myuthafoo (Light-Years) ** [B+(**)]
- Bark: Loud (Dial Back Sound) ** [B+(**)]
- The Baseball Project: Grand Salami Time (Omnivore) ** [B+(**)]
- Jon Batiste: World Music Radio (Verve) ** [B+(**)]
- BC Camplight: The Last Rotation of Earth (Bella Union) ** [B]
- Bdrmm: I Don't Know (Rock Action) ** [B+(*)]
- Be Your Own Pet: Mommy (Third Man) ** [B+(**)]
- Beach Fossils: Bunny (Bayonet) ** [B]
- William Bell: One Day Closer to Home (Wilbe) ** [B+(**)]
- Big Freedia: Central City (Queen Diva) ** [B-]
- BigXthaPlug: Amar (United Masters) ** [B+(*)]
- Selwyn Birchwood: Exorcist (Alligator) ** [B+(*)]
- Bktherula: LVL5 P1 (Warner, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Black Country, New Road: Live at Bush Hall (Ninja Tune) ** [B+(*)]
- Robert Sarazin Blake: One Summer Night: Live at the 2018 Subdued Stringband Jamboree (Same Room) ** [B+(**)]
- Rory Block: Ain't Nobody Worried: Celebrating Great Women of Song (Stony Plain -22) ** [B+(**)]
- Blondshell: Blondshell (Partisan) ** [B+(*)]
- Blue Lake: Sun Arcs (Tonal Union) ** [B+(**)]
- Blue Moon Marquee: Scream, Holler & Howl (Ilda '22) ** [B+(*)]
- Blur: The Ballad of Darren (Parlophone) ** [B+(*)]
- Joe Bonamassa: Tales of Time (J&R Adventures) ** [B-]
- Boygenius: The Record (Interscope) ** [B]
- Boygenius: The Rest (Interscope, EP) ** [B]
- Pony Bradshaw: North Georgia Rounder (Black Mountain Music) ** [B+(**)]
- Zach Bryan: Boys of Faith (Warner, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Buck 65: 14 KT Gold (self-released, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Bully: Lucky for You (Sub Pop) ** [B+(**)]
- Julie Byrne: The Greater Wings (Ghostly International) ** [B+(**)]
- Daniel Caesar: Never Enough (Republic) ** [B+(*)]
- Gail Caesar: Guitar Woman Blues (Music Maker) ** [B+(**)]
- John Cale: Mercy (Domino) ** [B+(*)]
- Lewis Capaldi: Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent (Captiol) ** [B+(*)]
- Eddie Chacon: Sundown (Stones Throw) ** [B+(*)]
- Chai: Chai (Sub Pop) ** [B+(**)]
- Grian Chatten: Chaos for the Fly (Partisan) ** [B+(**)]
- Che Noir: Noir or Never (Poetic, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- The Chemical Brothers: For That Beautiful Feeling (Virgin EMI) ** [B+(*)]
- Clark: Sus Dog (Throttle) ** [B]
- The Clientele: I Am Not There Anymore (Merge) ** [B+(*)]
- Brent Cobb: Southern Star (Ol' Buddy/Thirty Tigers) ** [B+(*)]
- Shirley Collins: Archangel Hill (Domino) ** [B+(*)]
- Luke Combs: Gettin' Old (River House Artists) ** [B+(*)]
- Conway the Machine: Won't He Do It (Drumwork/Empire) ** [B+(**)]
- Hollie Cook: Happy Hour in Dub (Merge) ** [B+(*)]
- Bethany Cosentino: Natural Disaster (Concord) ** [B+(**)]
- Rodney Crowell: The Chicago Sessions (New West) ** [B+(**)]
- Cydnee With a C: Confessions of a Fangirl (Bread & Butter, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Miley Cyrus: Endless Summer Vacation (Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
- Dave and Central Cee: Split Decision (Neighbourhood, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Davido: Timeless (DMW/Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
- Defprez: It's Always a Time Like This (Closed Sessions, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Dazegxd & Quinn: DSX.FM (DeadAir, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Indigo De Souza: All of This Will End (Saddle Creek) ** [B+(*)]
- Olivia Dean: Messy (EMI) ** [B+(*)]
- Deer Tick: Emotional Contracts (ATO) ** [B+(*)]
- Lana Del Rey: Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (Interscope/Polydor) ** [B+(**)]
- Depeche Mode: Memento Mori (Columbia/Mute) ** [B-]
- Hannah Diamond: Perfect Picture (PC Music) ** [B+(*)]
- Fatoumata Diawara: London Ko (Wagram Music) ** [B+(*)]
- McKinley Dixon: Beloved! Paradise! Jazz! (City Slang) ** [B+(*)]
- DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ: Destiny (Spells on the Telly) ** [B+(*)]
- DJ Shadow: Action Adventure (Mass Appeal) ** [B+(*)]
- En Attendant Ana: Principia (Trouble in Mind) ** [B]
- Drayton Farley: Twenty on High (Hargrove) ** [B]
- Dropkick Murphys: Okemah Rising (Dummy Luck Music) ** [B+(*)]
- Bokani Dyer: Radio Sechaba (Brownswood) [B+(**)]
- The Ekphrastics: Special Delivery (Harriet) ** [B+(*)]
- Eluvium: (Whirring Marvels In) Consensus Reality (Temporary Residence) ** [B+(*)]
- Emperor X: Suggested Improvements to Transportation Infrastructure in the Northeast Corridor (Dreams of Field, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Ensemble 0: Jojoni [Made to Measure Vol. 49] (Crammed Discs) ** [B+(**)]
- Entoto Band: Entoto Band (Guitar Globetrotter) ** [B+(**)]
- Everything but the Girl: Fuse (Buzzin' Fly/Virgin) ** [B+(*)]
- Jad Fair and Samuel Lock Ward: Happy Hearts (Kill Rock Stars) ** [B+(**)]
- Kari Faux: Real B*tches Don't Die! (Drink Sum Wtr) ** [B+(*)]
- Feist: Multitudes (Polydor) ** [B+(*)]
- Fever Ray: Radical Romantics (Rabid/Mute) ** [B+(**)]
- Amanda Fields: What, When and Without (Are and Be) ** [B+(**)]
- Foo Fighters: But Here We Are (Roswell/RCA) ** [B-]
- Robert Finley: Black Bayou (Easy Eye Sound) ** [B+(**)]
- Sue Foley: Live in Austin Vol. 1 (Stony Plain) ** [B+(**)]
- Miya Folick: Roach (Nettwerk) ** [B+(**)]
- Ruthie Foster: Healing Time (Blue Corn Music '22) ** [B]
- Fred Again/Brian Eno: Secret Life (Text) ** [B]
- The Front Bottoms: You Are Who You Hang Out With (Fueled by Ramen) ** [B+(*)]
- Fruit Bats: A River Running to Your Heart (Merge) ** [B+(*)]
- Gabriels: Angels & Queens (Atlas Artists/Parlophone) ** [B+(**)]
- Gel: Only Constant (Convulse, EP) ** [B]
- Rhiannon Giddens: You're the One (Nonesuch) ** [B+(**)]
- Vince Gill & Paul Franklin: Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys (MCA Nashville) ** [B+(*)]
- Girl Ray: Prestige (Moshi Moshi) ** [B]
- Girl Scout: Real Life Human Garbage (Made, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Gloss Up: Shades of Gloss (Quality Control) ** [B+(**)]
- Charles Wesley Godwin: Family Ties (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
- Grrrl Gang: Spunky! (Big Romantic) ** [B+(*)]
- Grupo Frontera: El Comienzo (VHR Music) ** [B+(**)]
- Laurel Halo: Atlas (Awe) ** [B]
- Hamell on Trial: Bring the Kids (Saustex) ** [B+(**)]
- Cory Hanson: Western Cum (Drag City) ** [B+(*)]
- Jack Harlow: Jackman (Generation Now/Atlantic) ** [B+(*)]
- PJ Harvey: I Inside the Old Year Dying (Partisan) ** [B+(*)]
- Hamish Hawk: Angel Numbers (Post Electric) ** [B]
- Heinali: Kyiv Eternal (Injazero) ** [B+(*)]
- High Pulp: Days in the Desert (Anti-) ** [B+(**)]
- James Holden: Imagine This Is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities (Border Community) ** [B+(*)]
- Lonnie Holley: Oh Me Oh My (Jagjaguwar) ** [B+(*)]
- Home Is Where: The Whaler (Wax Bodega) ** [B+(**)]
- Homeboy Sandman: Rich (Dirty Looks) ** [B+(**)]
- Horse Lords: Live in Leipzig (RVNG Intl) ** [B+(*)]
- Heather Lynne Horton: Get Me to a Nunnery (Pauper Sky) ** [B-]
- Ben Howard: Is It? (Island) ** [B+(*)]
- Ian Hunter: Defiance Part 1 (Sun) ** [B+(*)]
- Ice Spice: Like . . ? (10K Projects/Capitol, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Império Pacifico: Clubs Hit (Variz) ** [B+(**)]
- Kara Jackson: Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? (September) ** [B+(*)]
- Boldy James/Rich Gains: Indiana Jones (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- Loraine James: Gentle Confrontation (Hyperdub) ** [B+(*)]
- The Japanese House: In the End It Always Does (Dirty Hit) ** [B+(*)]
- Jelly Roll: Whitsitt Chapel (BBR Music Group) ** [B+(**)]
- Jeremiah Johnson: Hi-Fi Drive By (Ruf '22) ** [B]
- Durand Jones: Wait Til I Get Over (Dead Oceans) ** [B+(*)]
- Marc Jordan: Waiting for the Sun to Rise (Linus Entertainment) [B+(*)]
- Sass Jordan: Bitches Blues (Stony Plain '21) ** [B+(*)]
- Wesley Joseph: Glow (Secretly Canadian, EP) ** [B]
- JPEGMafia x Danny Brown: Scaring the Hoes (AWAL) ** [B+(*)]
- Larry June and the Alchemist: The Great Escape (Empire) ** [B+(*)]
- JustVibez + Negro Justice: Art of the Craft (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- K-Lone: Swells (Wisdom Teeth) ** [B+(*)]
- Kala Jula & Gangbé Brass Band: Asro (Buda Musique) ** [B+(**)]
- Faten Kanaan: Afterpoem (Fire) ** [B+(*)]
- Kate NV: Wow (RVNG Intl) ** [B]
- Tyler Keith & the Apostles: Hell to Pay (Black & Wyatt) ** [B+(**)]
- Kelela: Raven (Warp) ** [B+(**)]
- Kesha: Gag Order (Kemosabe) ** [B+(*)]
- Kid Koala: Creatures of the Late Afternoon (Envision) ** [B+(**)]
- Kiko El Crazy: Pila'e Teteo (Rimas) ** [B+(**)]
- Kill Bill: The Rapper: Fullmetal Kaiju (Exociety) ** [B+(**)]
- Killer Mike: Michael (Loma Vista) ** [B+(**)]
- Kimbra: A Reckoning (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- John Carroll Kirby: Blowout (Stones Throw) ** [B-]
- Kool Keith: Black Elvis 2 (Mello Music Group) ** [B+(**)]
- Sofia Kourtesis: Madres (Ninja Tune) ** [B+(**)]
- L'Rain: I Killed Your Dog (Mexican Summer) ** [B+(**)]
- Yazmin Lacey: Voice Notes (On Your Own/Believe) ** [B+(**)]
- Ladytron: Timie's Arrow (Cooking Vinyl) ** [B+(*)]
- Lankum: False Lankum (Rough Trade) ** [B+(**)]
- Jessy Lanza: Love Hallucination (Hyperdub) ** [B+(*)]
- Låpsley: Cautionary Tales of Youth (Believe) ** [B+(**)]
- Laufey: Bewitched (AWAL) ** [B+(*)]
- The Lemon Twigs: Everything Harmony (Captured Tracks) ** [C+]
- Jinx Lennon: Walk Lightly When the Jug Is Full (Septic Tiger) ** [B+(**)]
- Jenny Lewis: Joy'all (Blue Note) ** [B+(**)]
- Lewsberg: Out and About (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- Lil Tjay: 222 (Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
- Lil Uzi Vert: Pink Tape (Generation Now/Atlantic) ** [B+(**)]
- Lil Wayne: Tha Fix Before Tha VI (Young Money) ** [B]
- Lil Yachty: Let's Start Here (Quality Control Music/UMG) ** [B+(*)]
- Lindstrøm: Everyone Else Is a Stranger (Smalltown Supersound) ** [B+(**)]
- Ivan Lins: My Heart Speaks (Resonance) [B+(**)]
- Liquid Mike: A Beer Can and a Bouquet (self-released '22, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Aynsley Lister: Along for the Ride (Straight Talkin' '22) ** [B]
- Liv.e: Girl in the Half Pearl (In Real Life) ** [B+(**)]
- Logic: College Park (Three Oh One/BMG) ** [B+(*)]
- Loscil & Lawrence English: Colours of Air (Kranky) ** [B+(*)]
- Lydia Loveless: Nothing's Gonna Stand in My Way Again (Bloodshot) ** [B+(*)]
- Low Cut Connie: Art Dealers (Contender) ** [B]
- M83: Fantasy (Mute/Virgin) ** [B]
- Baaba Maal: Being (Marathon Artists) ** [B+(**)]
- Mach-Hommy/Tha God Fahim: Notorious Dump Legends Vol. 2 (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
- Mandy, Indiana: I've Seen a Way (Fire Talk) ** [B+(**)]
- Gia Margaret: Romantic Piano (Jagjaguwar) ** [B+(*)]
- Ashley McBryde: The Devil I Know (Warner Music Nashville) ** [B+(**)]
- Nellie McKay: Hey Guys, Watch This (Hungry Mouse) ** [B+(**)]
- Greg Mendez: Greg Mendez (Forged Artifacts, EP) ** [B-]
- Vic Mensa: Victor (Roc Nation) ** [B+(*)]
- Metro Boomin: Heroes & Villains (Boominati/Republic '22) ** [B+(**)]
- Metro Boomin: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse [Soundtrack From & Inspired by the Motion Picture] (Boominati/Republic) ** [B+(*)]
- Haviah Mighty: Crying Crystals (Mighty Gang) ** [B+(**)]
- MIKE: Burning Desire (10K) ** [B+(*)]
- MIKE/Wiki/The Alchemist: Faith Is a Rock (ALC) ** [B+(*)]
- Militarie Gun: Life Under the Gun (Loma Vista) ** [B]
- Luiz Millan: Brazilian Match (Jazz Station) [B+(**)]
- Buddy & Julie Miller: In the Throes (New West) ** [B+(**)]
- Blake Mills: Jelly Road (New Deal/Verve Forecast) ** [B]
- Kylie Minogue: Tension (BMG) ** [B+(**)]
- Joni Mitchell: Joni Mitchell at Newport (Rhino) ** [B]
- Mitski: The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (Dead Oceans) ** [B+(*)]
- Victoria Monét: Jaguar II (RCA) ** [B+(**)]
- Money for Guns: All the Darkness That's in Your Head (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- Gurf Morlix: Caveman (Rootball '22) ** [B+(**)]
- Van Morrison: Moving on Skiffle (Exile/Virgin, 2CD) ** [B]
- MSPAINT: Post-American (Convulse) ** [B+(**)]
- Nakhane: Bastard Jargon (Star Red/BMG) ** [B+(**)]
- Nakibembe Embaire Group: Nakibembe Embaire Group (Nyege Nyege Tapes) ** [B+(**)]
- Graham Nash: Now (BMG) ** [B-]
- Meshell Ndegeocello: The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note) ** [B+(*)]
- Tracy Nelson: Life Don't Miss Nobody (BMG) ** [B+(**)]
- Willie Nelson: I Don't Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard (Legacy) ** [B+(**)]
- Willie Nelson: Bluegrass (Legacy) ** [B+(*)]
- Billy Nomates: Cacti (Invada) ** [B+(**)]
- Nourished by Time: Erotic Probiotic 2 (Scenic Route) ** [B]
- Lisa O'Neill: All of This Is Chance (Rough Trade) ** [B+(**)]
- Octo Octa: Dreams of a Dancefloor (T4T LUV NRG, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Dave Okumu & the 7 Generations: I Came From Love (Transgressive) ** [B+(*)]
- OMD [Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]: Bauhaus Staircase (100%) ** [B+(**)]
- Oneohtrix Point Never: Again (Warp) ** [B]
- Rita Ora: You & I (BMG) ** [B+(**)]
- Orbital: Optical Delusion (London) ** [B+(*)]
- Bill Orcutt: Jump on It (Palilalia) ** [B+(*)]
- Kassa Overall: Animals (Warp) ** [B+(*)]
- Overmono: Good Lies (XL) ** [B+(*)]
- Genesis Owusu: Struggler (Ourness/AWAL) ** [B+(**)]
- Palehound: Eye on the Bat (Polyvinyl) ** [B+(**)]
- Paramore: This Is Why (Atlantic) ** [B+(*)]
- Parannoul: After the Magic (Top Shelf) ** [B]
- Graham Parker & the Goldtops: Last Chance to Learn the Twist (Big Stir) ** [B+(**)]
- Joel Paterson: Wheelhouse Rag (Jalopy) ** [B+(**)]
- Grant Peeples: A Murder of Songs (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- Pere Ubu: Trouble on Big Beat Street (Cherry Red) ** [B+(**)]
- Kim Petras: Feed the Beast (Island) ** [B+(*)]
- Phiik & Lungs: Another Planet 4 (Tase Grip/Break All) ** [B+(*)]
- P!nk: Trustfall (RCA) ** [B+(**)]
- Yunè Pinku: Babylon IX (Platoon, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Rozi Plain: Prize (Memphis Industries) ** [B+(*)]
- Peso Pluma: Génesis (Double P) ** [B+(**)]
- Caroline Polachek: Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (Perpetual Novice) ** [B]
- Pony: Velveteen (Take This to Heart) ** [B+(*)]
- Iggy Pop: Every Loser (Gold Tooth/Atlantic) ** [B+(*)]
- Popcaan: Great Is He (OVO Sound) ** [B+(**)]
- Shelton Powe: Shelton Powe (Music Maker '22) ** [B+(*)]
- Pretenders: Relentless (Rhino) ** [B+(*)]
- Margo Price: Strays (Loma Vista) ** [B+(*)]
- Princess Nokia: I Love You but This Is Goodbye (Arista, EP) ** [B+(**)]
- Quasi: Breaking the Balls of History (Sub Pop) ** [B-]
- R. Ring: War Poems, We Rested (Don Giovanni) ** [B+(*)]
- Rae Sremmurd: Sremm 4 Life (EarDruma/Interscope) ** [B+(*)]
- Raye: My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources) ** [B+(**)]
- Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (Amusement/Island) ** [B+(**)]
- Smokey Robinson: Gasms (TLR) ** [B+(**)]
- Rome Streetz: Wasn't Built in a Day (De Rap Winkel) ** [B+(*)]
- The Rolling Stones: Hackney Diamonds (Polydor) ** [B]
- Caroline Rose: The Art of Forgetting (New West) ** [B+(*)]
- Esther Rose: Safe to Run (New West) ** [B+(**)]
- Frankie Rose: Love as Projection (Slumberland) ** [B]
- Jeff Rosenstock: Hellmode (Polyvinyl) ** [B+(*)]
- Bobby Rush: All My Love for You (Deep Rush/Thirty Tigers) ** [B+(**)]
- Rust Dust: Twere but It Were so Simple (Omad) ** [B+(**)]
- Ryuichi Sakamoto: 12 (Milan) ** [B]
- Samia: Honey (Grand Jury) ** [B+(*)]
- Sampha: Lahai (Young) ** [B+(*)]
- A. Savage: Several Songs About Fire (Rough Trade) ** [B+(**)]
- SBTRKT: The Rat Road (AWAL) ** [B]
- Screaming Females: Desire Pathway (Don Giovanni) ** [B]
- Travis Scott: Utopia (Cactus Jack/Epic) ** [B+(**)]
- Sexyy Red: Hood Hottest Princess (Heavy on It) ** [B+(*)]
- Nick Shoulders: All Bad (Gar Hole) ** [B+(**)]
- Paul Simon: Seven Psalms (Owl/Legacy) ** [B]
- Troye Sivan: Something to Give Each Other (Capitol) ** [B+(**)]
- Skech185 & Jeff Markey: He Left Nothing for the Swim Back (Backwoodz Studioz) ** [B+(**)]
- Skrillex: Don't Get Too Close (OWSLA/Atlantic) ** [B+(**)]
- Skrillex: Quest for Fire (OWSLA/Atlantic) ** [B+(*)]
- Slow Pulp: Yard (Anti-) ** [B+(**)]
- Sam Smith: Gloria (Capitol) ** [B]
- Smoke DZA & Flying Lotus: Flying Objects (The Smoker's Club, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Son Volt: Day of the Doug: The Songs of Doug Sahm (Transmit Sound) ** [B+(*)]
- Kate Soper Feat. Sam Pluta: The Understanding of All Things (New Focus '22) ** [B-]
- Sparks: The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte (Island) ** [B-]
- Speaker Music: Techxodus (Planet Mu) ** [B+(**)]
- Speedy Ortiz: Rabbit Rabbit (Wax Nine) ** [B+(*)]
- Squid: O Monolith (Warp) ** [B+(**)]
- Chris Stamey: The Great Escape (Car) ** [B+(*)]
- Chris Stapleton: Higher (Mercury Nashville) ** [B+(*)]
- Steep Canyon Rangers: Morning Shift (Yep Roc) ** [B+(*)]
- Sufjan Stevens: Javellin (Asthmatic Kitty) ** [B+(*)]
- Tamara Stewart: Woman (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives: Altitude (Snakefarm) ** [B]
- Stuck: Freak Frequency (Born Yesterday) ** [B+(**)]
- Sundy Best: Feel Good Country (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
- Susanne Sundfør: Blómi (Bella Union) ** [B+(*)]
- Superviolet: Infinite Spring (Lame-O) ** [B+(*)]
- Earl Sweatshirt & the Alchemist: Voir Dire (ALC/Tan Cressida) ** [B+(*)]
- SZA: SOS (Top Dawg/RCA) ** [B+(**)]
- Tainy: Data (Neon16) ** [B+(*)]
- Dudu Tassa/Jonny Greenwood: Jarak Qaribak (World Circuit) ** [B+(*)]
- That Mexican OT: Lonestar Luchador (Manifest/Good Talk/Good Money Global) ** [B+(**)]
- Teddy Thompson: My Love of Country (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
- Tinariwen: Amatssou (Wedge) ** [B+(*)]
- Tinashe: BB/ANG3L (Nice Life, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Tiny Ruins: Ceremony (Ba Da Bing) ** [B+(*)]
- Tirzah: Trip9love (Domino) ** [B+(*)]
- TisaKorean: Let Me Update My Status (Jazzzy) ** [B]
- Don Toliver: Love Sick (Cactus Jack/Atlantic) ** [B]
- MF Tomlinson: We Are Still Wild Horses (Prah) ** [B+(*)]
- Josie Toney: Extra (Like You Mean It) ** [B+(**)]
- The Tubs: Dead Meat (Trouble in Mind) ** [B+(*)]
- Tanya Tucker: Sweet Western Sound (Fantasy) ** [B+(**)]
- Tujiko Noriko: Crépuscule I & II (Editions Mego, 2CD) ** [B]
- Yves Tumor: Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) (Warp) ** [B+(**)]
- Kali Uchis: Red Moon in Venus (Interscope) ** [B+(**)]
- Uncle Waffles: Asylum (Kreativekornerr) ** [B+(**)]
- U.S. Girls: Bless This Mess (4AD) ** [B+(**)]
- Veeze: Ganger (Navy Wavy) ** [B+(*)]
- Ally Venable: Real Gone (Ruf) ** [B+(*)]
- VHS Head: Phocus (Skam) ** [B+(*)]
- Ramana Vieira: Tudo De Mim (All of Me) (self-released) [B+(*)]
- Pabllo Vittar: Noitada (Sony Music) ** [B+(**)]
- Pabllo Vittar: After (Sony Music) ** [B+(*)]
- Waco Brothers: The Men That God Forgot (Plenty Tuff) ** [B+(**)]
- Rufus Wainwright: Folkocracy (BMG) ** [B]
- Joe Louis Walker: Weight of the World (Forty Below) ** [B]
- The War and Treaty: Lover's Game (Mercury Nashville) ** [B+(**)]
- Wednesday: Rat Saw God (Dead Oceans) ** [B+(*)]
- WiFiGawd & Soudiere: 36 Chambers of Pressure Vol. 2 (Purple Posse, EP) ** [B]
- Yaeji: With a Hammer (XL) ** [B+(*)]
- YMA & Jadsa: Zelena (self-released, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Yonic South: Devo Challenge Cup (Wild Honey, EP) ** [B+(*)]
- Young Nudy: Gumbo (RCA) ** [B+(*)]
- Young Thug: Business Is Business (Atlantic) ** [B+(**)]
- Youth Lagoon: Heaven Is a Junkyard (Fat Possum) ** [B+(*)]
- Bailey Zimmerman: Religiously: The Album (Warner Nashville/Elektra) ** [B+(**)]
- Zulu: A New Tomorrow (Flatspot) ** [B+(*)]
Additional reissued/archival non-jazz records rated B+(**) or below
(listed alphabetically by artist).
- Ruth Anderson/Annea Lockwood: Tête-À-Tête (1974-2020, Ergot) ** [B+(*)]
- Atmosphere: Sad Clown Bad Dub II (2000, Rhymesayers Entertainment) ** [B+(**)]
- Roger Bekono: Roger Bekono (1989, Awesome Tapes From Africa) ** [B+(**)]
- William Bell: Never Like This Before: The Complete 'Blue' Stax Singles 1961-1968 (Kent Soul '22) ** [B+(**)]
- William Bell: The Man in the Street: The Complete 'Yellow' Stax Solo Singles 1968-1974 (Kent Soul) ** [B+(**)]
- Julee Cruise: Floating Into the Night (1999, Sacred Bones) ** [B]
- Ernesto Djédjé: Roi Du Ziglibithy (1978-82, Analog Africa '22) ** [B+(**)]
- Dream Dolphin: Gaia: Selected Ambient & Downtempo Works (1996-2003) (Music From Memory, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
- The Frustrated Bachelors: In the End It Wasn't Enough: All the Good Ones 2003-2006 (Money for Guns) ** [B+(**)]
- Ibrahim Hesnawi: The Father of Libyan Reggae (Habibi Funk) ** [B+(*)]
- Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul: A Higher Power: Gospel, Funk & Soul at the Crossroads 1971-83 (Soul Jazz) ** [B+(*)]
- Galcher Lustwerk: 100% Galcher (2013, Ghostly International -22) ** [B+(**)]
- Money for Guns: Dead Tracks (2007-20, Money for Guns '22) ** [B]
- Nkono Teles: Love Vibration (1982-84, Soundway) ** [B+(**)]
- RP Boo: Legacy Volume 2 (2002-07, Planet Mu) ** [B+(*)]
- Arthur Russell: Picture of Bunny Rabbit (1985-86, Audika) ** [B+(**)]
- Tolerance: Anonym (1979, Mesh-Key) ** [B+(**)]
- Tyler, the Creator: Call Me if You Get Lost: The Estate Sale (2021, Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
- Muddy Waters Blue Band Featuring Otis Spann: Live Paris 1968 (Lantower) ** [B+(**)]
- Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers: Somewhere Under the Rainbow: Nov. 5, 1973 (Reprise) ** [B]
New non-jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or
better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them (limited
sampling grades appear here, but 2% chances drop significantly under ++):
Reissued/historical non-jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2%
(or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them:
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