So just like the last couple years, my top ten ballooned past its intended size. Instead of a top ten, I’ve got a top twenty, but I’m telling you this: I couldn’t willingly leave any of the following albums off my best-of-the-best shortlist. I recommend every one of these sixty unbelievable albums with my whole heart, but I recommend these top twenty a little bit more. It’s merely a drop in the ocean compared to all the miraculous music released during 2023, but one guy can only listen to so much of it and still get sleep. Of all the music I enjoyed, these are very favorites, the albums I fully expect to revisit for years.
Just like with the rest of the list, these are presented in the order I heard them.
• • •
Imaginary Softwoods – The Notional Pastures of Imaginary Softwoods
Field Records
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Powers / Pulice / Rolin – Prism
cachedmedia
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Andrea – Due In Color
Ilian Tape
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Masahiro Takahashi – Humid Sun
Telephone Explosion
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Moufang & Czamanski – Recreational Kraut
Source Records
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Eddie Chacon – Sundown
Stone’s Throw
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Rod Modell & Taka Noda – Glow World
Silentes
There are some copies left on the Silentes store but otherwise you can stream it on the label’s youtube.
• • •
Maara – The Ancient Truth
Step Ball Chain
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Greg Foat & Gigi Masin – Dolphin
Strut
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
John Beltran – Serendipia
Oath
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Jonny Nash – Point of Entry
Melody As Truth
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Greg Foat & Art Themen – Off-Piste
Athens of the North
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Slowdive – everything is alive
Dead Oceans
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Irreversible Entanglements – Protect Your Light
Impulse!
Listen on streaming I guess or pick it up on vinyl or cd at Center Stage.
• • •
a.s.o. – a.s.o
Low Lying records
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Purelink – Signs
Peak Oil
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Laurel Halo – Atlas
Awe
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Loraine James – Gentle Confrontation
Hyperdub
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
Gigi Masin & Rod Modell – Red Hair Girl At Lighthouse Beach
13 (Silentes)
Preview the album here (it sold me). This one went out of stock instantly but there’s a repress coming you can preorder on Norman Records.
• • •
Joseph Shabason – Welcome To Hell
Western Vinyl
Listen and buy on Bandcamp.
• • •
You have my sincere thanks for reading. I hope you find something here to fall in love with, and that some of these artists find new fans and get some well deserved attention and album sales and people at their shows. I know I missed a lot of great music, as I do every year, and gladly welcome any suggestions!
Optimistic Underground 
Dope list as always mate – killer joints I know and love and a few that I missed to enjoy over the summer break xoxo from down under.
LikeLike
Hey hey hey… it’s my favorite list of the year! I don’t know how you do it, my friend.
LikeLike
Love this list as it has quite a few of my faves are on there
Wish my Beach Ready album could have sneaked on there as I think it’s worthy but nevertheless a great list 🙏https://beachready.bandcamp.com/album/archipelago
LikeLike
It is always a pleasure to check your list, most of the albums also match my favorite albums.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Missed a lot of new music this year. Something to do with a midlife crisis and the retreat to the music of my youth. Looking forward to checking out these releases as you turn me onto something great every year.
Any new mixes in the works?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! This year was kind of crazy between my wife’s hospitalization for months and starting a new job so mixtapes fell to the side but I’ve got one cooking for early next year :) I feel you on the midlife crisis!
LikeLike
Thanks for the list, David. I’ve left Twitter but will be sure to keep following your blog. Sorry to read about your wife’s illness, wishing your family a peaceful 2024!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the list, David. I’ve left Twitter but will be sure to keep following your blog. Sorry to read about your wife’s illness, wishing your family a peaceful 2024!
LikeLike
Thanks for taking the time to curate yet another phenomenal list. Lost track of the number of records I’ve found on this blog that I still return to again and again, glad I have this many more to maybe add to the list. My world is brighter for them and I’m grateful to you! Peace from NZ :)
LikeLiked by 1 person