Written by: The Administrator
When it comes to jazz rap in the modern era, McKinley Dixon quite simply has no equal. His stellar Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? handily made my Favorite Albums of 2023, and I'm pleased to announce that this follow-up is an even clearer distillation of his uniquely vibrant style. Indeed, the Chicago rapper has only grown more competent when it comes to imbuing his projects with seemingly effortless fluidity and lushness. The live instrumentation feels profoundly alive, relishing in a bold and organic eclecticism. On the title track, for example, jazz guitar flirts with sparkling flutes, chaperoned by scintillating sax. It feels like a whole lot is going on, but somehow the underlying boom-bappy vibe keeps it grounded. Elsewhere, clean piano communes with brash brass, riding funky bass and crisp drums. The percussion is particularly exciting, continuing infusing tracks with an exciting energy. Some tracks are dusty and pattering, some are overtly growling and menacing. Some lean into the wailing lamentation of the saxophone. Some are almost overpoweringly bright and colorful, like unto listening to music through a sun-drenched prism.
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Written by: The Administrator
If you are a purveyor of music review sites, you've undoubtedly learned to skip over the fluff that constitutes AOTY intros. The pointlessness of writing this isn't lost on me, let alone the fact that this is a list for, erm, the wrong year. In the music industry churn, an album released last year might as well be a million years old. Obsolete. Irrelevant. Forgotten. So: why 2023? Why not 2024, like unto a proper music review website? What's the rationale behind publishing this list a whole damn year late? There are two reasons. The first is that I think demonstrable longevity is an important aspect of music appreciation, and the ability of an album to outlast a narrow moment in time is a testament to its particular excellence. The second (and real) reason is that I am a profoundly lazy and frequently overwhelmed person, and compiling this list last December was a very large task that seemed, frankly, insurmountable. So here we are. These are 23 albums from 2023 that are, in significant hindsight, still very much my favorite albums of 2023. In terms of format, this list is alphabetical and purely unranked. The generally arbitrary structure of counting down to #1 simply doesn't demonstrate the way I enjoy music, nor is it an effective or accurate way to make recommendations. I'm also completely unconcerned about genre, as I listen to a lot of different stuff. If I'm writing a list, it should probably reflect the reality of listening habits instead of projecting a false image of metal exclusivity. Be prepared for eclecticism. I hope there's something lurking herein that catches your ear. A massive thank you to every artist who contributed to the releases below. And, dear reader, thank you for your readership and support of artists! You're the best. Yes, you. |
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